Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 595

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. XI.-NOVEMBER, 1842.—No. 11.

ART. I. Retrospection, or a review of public occurrences in China. during the last ten years, from January 1st, 1842, to December 31st, 1841. (Concluded from page 528.)

On

NEGOTIATIONS, commenced at Tientsin in August, 1840, were pend- ing at this remote part of the empire at the close of that year. the part of the Chinese they were conducted by Kishen, and by captain Elliot on the part of the British. Captain Elliot strove to obtain, by fair words and arguments, indemnity for the past and security for the future. In this strife of words, it was not difficult to foresee on which side the victory would rest. The Chinese, from the very nature of their civil constitution, could not yield to the demands made on them, unless forced to do so; nor would they, in plain terms, give that which they knew they had not the power to withhold. Their only chance of success was in foiling their adversary by pro- mises and delays; and in this way month after month had slipped by. The protestations of friendliness, assumed at the north when the British squadron appeared off the mouth of the Pei ho, were gradually laid aside, and a menacing attitude began to be assumed. Secret orders had been dispatched from Peking to all the generals, go- vernors, and lieut.-governors along the coast, requiring them to in- crease the strength of their defenses. At length an edict came out, from which the following is an extract, dated

January 6th, 1841. * * * If the said forcigners (the Englishı) again come to prosent any pot tins, let them all be utterly rejected; should any of their ships sail near the ports on the coast, at once let matchlocks and artillery be opened, and the thundering attack be made dreadful. There must be no wavering, so as fo exibit the slightest degree of fear. Chi. Rep., vol. X., p. 118.

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