Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 589

1913

Journal of Occurrences

571

the self sufficient and audacious, but heaps blessings on the obedient and humble. Those who rebol against human feelings, providence protects them not. Our con. tral nation has, for successive ages, guarded against arrogance and self-sufficiency, and we have held fast by humility, through good report and bad report, for profit or lows, for good or for evil, waiting upon the will of heaven. Your honorable country has the most profound reverence for providence, and the greatest respect for the truth. I have now offered my most private thoughts before heaven, and they are evident as seen in a mirror. As we are both inclined to be friends, and to put away hatred, cease from war, and give repose to the people; and hereafter, your honorable nation will enjoy profit inexhaustible.

To establish his morit, by exertions of zeal, ability and fidelity, with his native country, is the task of the honorable public embassador; will he not, then, act a great and splendid part, illustrious and eminent as he is!—If the two armies again join battle, on both sides there will be killed and wounded. Each party should be faithful to its sovereign; and there are not sufficient causes for anger. Fur. ther, China did not first put her army in motion; but because your honorable coun. try attacked us, we were obliged to defend ourselves. Your honorable country's troops coming from afar, you must necessarily be involved in great expense; and the necessary expenditure for the defense of our central empire will he fivefold. I am a civil officer, unaccustomed to military affairs. 1 look up, with humble gratitude, to the cniperor, who has appointed me to the important duty of guard. ing the maritime boundaries; and I dare not but exert my utmost strength both of body and mind in return and recompense for the favor of my prince. And seeing the people fleeing from their habitations, and native banditti everywhere plundering, my head sickens and my heart is deeply pained. I consider that all my life, I have not done the least praiseworthy action; but I am true and guile. less; and I can swear before the sky and its sùn, and announce it to the demons and gods, that I am perfectly sincere in the sentiments I have written, and order to be delivered to the public embassador by the two deputies; and I beg that he will adjust all matters, according to heavenly principles and human feelings = with speed decide on his great measures, choosing that which is good, and follow- ing it out.-If I have uttered one insincere word, may I be punished both by gods and inen.

A lucid communication.

When the British forces, moving on from Chinkiáng, took up their position before Nanking, the high officers saw at once that con- tinued resistance must prove ruinous to the empire. On the 11th of August, the British commanders-in-chief made a reconnoisance, and, it is supposed, determined on the plan of attack. The next day a deputation came from the commissioners to know the plenipotentia- ry's demands, and returned with them the same evening, the prepa- rations for attack proceeded in the meanwhile, and the "red flags" were kept flying. The next day the 13th, they sent up their memo- rial, stating the dangerous position of their affairs, and begging the emperor to grant the demands of the plenipotentiary. The attack was suspended, and the arrangements for a treaty went on, till at length the high contracting powers were brought together. The translation of this memorial we borrow from the Canton Register of Oct. 7th. It has no date in that paper.

The imperial commissioner and great minister, Kiying, the acting adjutant. general of Tsopú, l'lípú, and the governor of the two Kiang provinces, Niú Kien, take the articles of peace which have been decided upon with the English nation, and send up a duly prepared report of all circumstances.

1st. The said barbarians begged that we should give them twenty.one millions of dollars. On examination it is found that the said barbarians originally wanted to extort thirty millions of dollars, but Chángi and his colleagues, argued the point strongly again and a third time, and at length the sum was fixed at 21 millious of dollars. They said, that 6 millions was the price of the opium, 3 milhong