Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 590

572

Journal of Occurrences.

OCT.

for the hong-nerchants' debts, and 12 millions for the expenses of the army. The shiwei (an officer of the emperor's body-guard,) Chánghĩ, and his colleagues repeated that the price of the opium, 6 million of dollars, had already been paid by the city of Canton; how could payment be extorted a second time? And the debts of the hong-merchants should be liquidated by themselves; how could the officers of government be called upon to pay them? As to the necessary ex- penses of the army, why should China be called upon to pay them?—and these matters were discussed again and again. The said barbariaus exclaimed, that opium was not prodnced in England; but that it was all sent forth from a neigh boring country. That upwards of 20,000 chests had been destroyed, and it required no small sum to pay for them; the six millions that had been paid, did not amount to half of the prime cost; and therefore the deficiency must now be supplied. As to the hong-merchants' debts, the hong-merchants, originally, should have dis charged them; but as they delayed the payment for a long time, the accumula- tion amounted to a vast sum; on that account, therefore, they required 3 million of dollars, which did not amount to more than a tenth part of the original claims; and they particularly requested that a dispatch should be sent to Canton, direct- ing that a clear inquiry should be made into all the hong-merchants' debts; and to limit a time for their recovery; but if they (the hong-merchants) had no funds forthcoming, that it will be necessary to require the government to pay the debts. As to the item of expenses of the army; as peace has already been made, the soldiers and sailors should be rewarded, before they are sent home; as to the amount of those necessary expenses if it is not decided to pay, you must say nothing more to us about the retirement or not, of the army and fleet; but if hostilities do not cease, we apprehend that the expenditure of China, in future, will not stop at 12 million of dollars. Further, the men of war have already taken Kingkau, and have blockaded the passage; and if we are soon enabled to order them to retire, the advantages to China will be very great indeed! and so forth. The said shíwei and his colleagues, again authoritatively questioned as to the difficulties; but the said barbarian only stared at him indignantly; the shíwei was not listened to. I, your servant, have examined and found what are the unwarrautable demands of the said barbarians, which they so importunately urge; and they are deserving of the utmost hatred. But considering that they have already attacked and laid in ruins Kingkau; and it is proved that not only the rivers and Chinking, will be difficult to recover speedily, but I am apprehen. sive we shall be blocked up, both on the north and south; which will be the heaviest calamity. The ships that formerly blocked the entrances were far differ. ent from these in the Yangtsz kiáng, and great expense is unavoidable; as yet, our reputation is not lost. As to the extorted 21 million of dollars, they are to be reckoned at 7 mace each of sycee silver, which will amount to upwards of tacls 14,700,000; the hong debts are $3,000,000, weighing taels 2,100,000; which must be recovered from the hong-inerchants of Canton, when a clear examination has been made. There still remains tacls 12,600,000. This year, the first payment of $6,000,000 has been made, equal to tacls 4,200,000. Now one inillion has al ready been carried to the account of the people and merchants of Kiángsú; which the officers must pay in the first instance. And in time, money may be looked for from the purchase of honors-buttons and peacock's feathers. The remainder is to be cleared off in three years, not requiring three million of taels for each year. Moreover, the duties that the said nation will pay should be taken into account, which will help the expenditure of the imperial family, and disturbances will be prevented. Comparing one year's expenses of the army with the sum paid to the English, it is as three to ten; and there is only the name of fighting, without the hope of victory; it is better to adopt plans in accordance with circumstances, and The 4,200,000 tacls, the first payment made of ut an everlasting stop to war. this year, has been collected from the funds of the treasurers and salt-commis- sioners of the three provinces of Chekiang, Kiangsú, and Gánhwui; which will be repaid hereafter by the duties on the inerchants and people. We wait to receive the imperial will, that we may send post-haste orders to the treasurers and salt commnissioners, to be respectfully obeyed.

2d. The said barbarians begged that Hongkong might be conferred on them ¿s a place of residence; they also requested to be allowed to trade at Kwangchau,