Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 84

66

Review of Public Occurrences During the

JAN.

form of communications from the governor, all of which were to be, by the hong-merchants, enjoined on the foreigners in general, and on the new commission in particular.* Chi. Rep., Vol. III., p. 190.

8th. A meeting of British merchants was held at the office of H. B. M. superintendents with the object of forming a post-office esta- blishment at Canton and Macao.

9th. Lord Napier wrote to viscount Palmerston, giving a full ac- count of the proceedings of the commission, up to this date; and clos- ed his letter with the following paragraphs, which indicate the spirit with which that nobleman came to China.

"It may be here proper to explain to your lordship, that, from private informa- tion, on which I have the most perfect reliance, I am assured that up to this date, no report, even of my expected arrival, or of the change of circumstances con- nected with the trade, has ever been forwarded by the viceroy to the court at Pe- king. At the same time, I have reason to believe that the emperor has been par- tially made acquainted with the circumstance through other channels. The viceroy, thus finding himself in a dilemma, on hearing of my arrival at Macao, dispatched Howqua and Mowqua thither by the inner channel (a branch of the river), with an order to prevent my proceeding to Canton. Previously to their arrival, we had embarked in the Andromache, as before stated; on which the hong-merchants returned with all expedition to Canton. The viceroy then dispatched the Kwáng- hie, or his military aide-de-camp, by the river. to meet us on our progress, with the view of inducing me to return to Macao. This message also miscarried like the former. The viceroy, continuing to refuse the acceptance of iny letter, is thus at a loss for information on the nature and object of my instructions; and conse- quently has not the means of making his report to the emperor: thus he is desi- rous of persuading me to return to Macao, in order that when once there, he may have an opportunity of recommencing the ceremony of arriving and reporting, or perhaps of issuing an order tʊ me to remain there altogether. Having so far the advantage, it shall be my duty to hold on for the purpose of forcing him in time to receive my letter, and not my petition; to which he must yield before he can trans- mit an authentic official report to his own government; although perhaps he may be enabled to supply the deficiency to a certain extent, from information ga- thered by his emissaries among the British merchants. My great object is to open and maintain a direct personal communication with the viceroy; so that I may be enabled to get redress from him in all commercial grievances connected with the hong-merchants, or on criminal proceedings connected with the duties of the Kwangchau fú, or the criminal judge, instead of leaving myself at the mercy of those hong-merchants, who, in fact, exercise no official powers whatever, and can never be depended upon for the transmission of complaints to the different heads of departments when circumstances require. I have reason to believe that his majesty's subjects here have several causes of complaint. I forbear to trouble your lordship with these at present, as long as a chance exists, within a moderate time, of laying the same before the viceroy, for his consideration and redress. In the meantime, I shall endeavor to maintain harmony between all parties. There * Note Several of the governor's edicts will be found in the same voline, on the pages immediately preceding, 187, &e