Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 669

1841

Manifesto by the People of Tinghai.

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It now happens that the great awe-inspiring general Yiking has issued a proclamation to the effect that those who can kill these rob bers will be rewarded, and if their houses are burned or their perties destroyed, they will be refunded. How much better then that in the midst of death we should have a chance of life by screw- ing up our courage for their attack and destruction, than that we should set as with our hands tied awaiting death, or that we should leave behind us the stigma of traitors, and that our ghosts should blush to see our fathers in the other world! For that end we must summon up our resolution, every man of every district must unite like so many pillars of the glorious cause; we must go to the temples and there solemnly swear, with hands and hearts as one, that wherever we can meet them and find an opportunity, we shall kill them, and wherever we see a ship unprepared we shall burn her. Perhaps some may say, "they are strong and we are weak." But then I answer, they are few and we are many; they cannot afford to be a moment off their guard, and we can conveniently wait for op- portunities; they cannot move a step from where they are, whereas we may carry out our plans anywhere; if we do not succeed the first time, we may try it a second; if we fail in an attack by sea, let us next try a land attack; if fair means miscarry, foul means may obtain the same end. By using poison, by concealing a dagger, we may cause their guards to be no guards, and render all their prepara- tions of no avail.

They have come from the distance of several tens of thousands of miles, and they have entered into the midst of our territory; this then becomes a war of the few and the many. If we kill a man of their's, it is always a man lost to them; if we burn a ship, it is always a ship the less; until by this means we shall speedily see all their ships and men perishing imperceptibly before their eyes. Besides their little country has already been well nigh exhausted by the length of the contest, they have no resources to make up for losses, so that even without exterminating them, they must erelong die off of themselves. Lately there was a ship added to their number, but she is a French ship, which the English have invited to assist them, by which we may see that their strength is at a low ebb, and their ability not equal to the task they have undertaken. But the people of France are in their dress and appearance somewhat like the na- tives of China, and they are also respectful and kind. Let us, the ple of Chusan then proclaim [to the French] that the English fo- peo- reigners sold opium, and deluged our Central Land with their poison :