Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 89

1842.

12th.

Last Ten Years, from 1839 to 1841.

Overtures for accommodation were made by the Chinese, and a messenger dispatched to Whampoa, to stop any movement of the boats to Canton.

14th. In a letter to the secretary of the British merchants, lord Napier expressed his determination to leave Canton and retire to Macao. Vol. III., p. 339.

15th. The governor addressed a second memorial to the em- peror, respecting the state of affairs at Canton. Vol. III., p. 335.

The following correspondence contains the particulars of the ue- gotiations with the Chinese from this date till the 18th.

No. 1,

Letter from the hong-merchants to the British merchants, dated September 15th, 1834.

A respectful notification.—You, gentlemen, sent us, yesterday, a letter from your honorable officer to you. We immediately took the letter, and, having laid it be fore the Kwangchau fú, received his commands, saying, that he had minutely looked over the letter,-in which is the expression "endeavors on my part to reason the viceroy," &c. As to this reasoning, it is undiscovered what is the sub- ject reasoned about. If what is spoken of approach to reason, the governor will assuredly report it to the great emperor, and perhaps it may be granted. If not reasonable, an order must also be awaited, commanding its refusal. As to what the affairs are which your honorable nation has sent your honorable officer to Canton to transact, it is necessary and right to explain them fully, that a report thereof may be at the same time made for the information of the emperor, and his mandate awaited, to be obeyed and put in operation. As to the ships of war entering the port--it is a thing long prohibited by the laws. All the nations know it. How is it that on this occasion the ships of war havo presumed to break into the port, throwing down the forts? Let it bo examined what is the cause. At the end of the letter it is said, "I therefore request you to move the proper authorities to order the British cutter up from Whampoa, that I may carry the samic into effect." It is not understood what is the meaning of the word "carrying into effect." We pray you to take the abovc, and having ascertained each point clearly, immediately to reply, that we may be enabled to report. Again, in the present letter, your honorable officer wishes the cutter to come up to Canton. When, then, will the war ships, which the other day broke in and came up to Whampoa, sot sail? Wo pray you first inform us, that we may report for you to the Kwángchau fú, and await his orders as to what is to be done. We pray you to inform your honorable officer of everything in this letter, and then reply.

This burden we impose &c., &c. (Subscribed by cleven hong-merchants.)

To Messrs. Jardine, Dent, Boya, Whiteman, Framjee, and other gentlemen.

No. 2.

Canton, 15th September, 1831.

To W. S. Boyd, esq., secretary to the Chamber of Commerce, Sir,-As the Kwangchau fú does not understand my letter, I have to request you will afford him the following explanation.

Istly. In respect to reasoning with the viceroy, I showed his excellency from many examples that Englishinen of rank had been admitted to private commiuni.