Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 86

Review of Public Occurrences During the

JAN

I would recommend none of that ostentation practiced in the instances of Macart ncy and Amherst; leave all presents behind, all musicians and idle amateur gen. tlemen, literary and scientific; and go to work in a mauner determined to carry what you mean. This is a vigorous incasure which might possibly ‘alarm the proju - dices' of the Celestial empire, were I to make my ideas commonly known among the bong. They are now only thrown together for more special consideration ; and till I have your authority to proceed upon more active principles, your lord ship may rely on my forbearance towards a government, which is too contempti ble to be viewed in any other light than that of pity or derision. What advan tage, or what point did we ever gain by negociating or bumbling ourselves before this people, or rather before their government? The records show nothing but subsequent humiliation and disgrace. What advantage or what point, again, have we over lost, that was just and reasonable, by acting with promptitude and vigor 1 The records again assure us that such measures have been attended with complete success."

"

My present position is, in one point of view, a delicate one, because the trade Is put in jeopardy, on account of the difference existing between the viceroy and myself. Iain ordered by his majesty “to go to Canton; and there report myself by letter to the viceroy." I use my best endeavors to do so; but the viceroy is a presumptuous savage, and will not grant the same privileges to ine that have been exercised consantly by the chiefs of the committee. He rakes up obsolete orders; or, perhaps, makes them on the occasion; but the fact is, the chiefs formerly used every year to wait on the viceroy, on their return from Macao; and continu- ed to do it until the viceroy gave them an order to wait upon him, whereupon they gave the practice up. Had I even degraded the king's commissiou so far as to pe- tition through the hong-merchants for an interview, it is quite clear, by the tenor of the edicts, that it would have been refused. Were he to send an armed force, und order me to the boat, I could then retreat with honor, and he would implicate himself; but they are are afraid to attempt such a measure. What then remains but the stoppage of the trade, or my retirement? If the trade is stopped for any length of time, the consequences to the merchants are most serious, as they are so also to the unoffending Chinese. But the viceroy cares no more for commerce, or for the comfort and happiness of the people, as long as he receives his pay and plunder, than if he did not live among them. My situation is different; I cannot hazard millions of property for any length of time, on the mere score of etiquette. If the trade shall be stopped, which is probable enough in the absence of the fri- gate, it is possible I may be obliged to retire to Macao, to let it loose again, Then has the viceroy gained his point; and the commission is degraded. Now, iny lord, I argue, that whether the commnission retires by force of arms, or by the in- justice practiced on the merchants, the viceroy has committed an outrage on the British crown, which should he equally chastised. The whole system of govern- ment here is that of subterfuge, and shifting the blame from the shoulders of the one to the other."—Corresp. pp. 13, 14, 15.

16th.

Another public meeting of British merchants was held in Canton, and the establishment of a Chamber of Commerce suggested by lord Napier.

The hong-merchants, in consequence of the edicts being refused acceptance by lord Napier, put a stop to the shipping off of cargoes on British account.