Directory_and_Chronicle_1934 — Page 944

A528

HONGKONG

Canton should proceed forthwith to Hongkong, and, hoisting their national colours, be prepared to resist every act of aggression on the part of the Chinese Government. When the British community left Canton, Macao afforded them a temporary asylum, but their presence there was made the occasion by the Chinese Government of threatening demonstrations against that settlement. In a despatch dated 6th May, 1839, Captain Elliot wrote to Lord Palmerston :— "The safety of Macao is, in point of fact, an object of secondary moment to the Portuguese Government, but to that of Her Majesty it may be said to be of indispensable necessity, and most particularly at this moment"; and he urged upon his Lordship "the strong necessity of concluding some immediate arrangement with the Government of His Most Faithful Majesty, either for the cession of the Portuguese rights at Macao, or for the effectful defence of the place, and its appropriation to British uses by means of a subsidiary Con- vention. Happily for the permanent interests of British trade in China this suggestion came to nothing, and Great Britain found a much superior lodgment at Hongkong.

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The unfortunate death of a Chinese during a riot at Hongkong be- tween British and American seamen and natives precipitated events, and, in view of the measures taken by the Chinese in reference to Macao, Captain. Elliot felt that lie ought no longer to compromise the safety of that settlement by remaining there. He accordingly left for Hongkong on the 24th August, 1839, Mrs. Elliot and her child having previously embarked.

previously embarked. It was hoped that his own departure, with the officers of his establishment, might satisfy the Chinese, but it soon became evident that they intended to expel all the English from Macao. It was accordingly determined that they should leave, and on the 25th August the exodus took place. The whole of the British community (with the exception of a few sick left behind in hospital) em- barked, and under the convoy of H.M.S. Volage arrived safely at Hongkong. At that time there was, of course, no town, and the community had to reside on board ship. The next measure of the Chinese was to stop supplies of food; the water also was reported to be poisoned, a placard being put up on shore warning Chinese against driuking it. This led to a miniature naval battle in Kowloon Bay. On the 4th September Captain Elliot, in the cutter Louise, accompanied by the Pearl, a small armed vessel, and the pinnace of the Volage, went to Kowloon, where there were three large men-of-war junks. whose presence prevented the regular supplies of food. A written remon- strance was sent off to the junk of the commanding mandarin. After six hours of delay and irritating evasion a boat was sent on shore to a distant part of the bay with money to purchase supplies, which the party succeeded in doing, and they were on the point of bringing their purchases away when some mandarin runners approached and obliged the natives to take back their provisions. The English returned with this intelligence, and Captain Elliot, greatly provoked, opened fire on the three junks. It was

It was answered with spirit by the junks and a battery on shore. After a fire of almost half- an-hour the English force hauled off, from the failure of ammunition, for anticipating no serious results they had not come prepared for them. It was evident, however, Captain Elliot says in his account of the engagement, that the junks had suffered considerably, and after a delay of about three-quarters of an hour, they weighed anchor and made sail from under the protection of the battery, with the obvious purpose of making their escape. By this time the English had made cartridges, and they drove the junks back to their former position. Evening was now closing in, and in the morning it was decided, for reasons of policy, not to renew the attack. A complete relaxation of the interdict against the supply of provisions followed. Some little time after this event an arrangement for the resumption of the trade was arrived at, and there was a partial return to residence at Macao. The arrangement was of but a few weeks duration, however, and on the 3rd November a naval engagement took place off Chuenpee, when the Chinese retired in great dis- tress. The British ships returned to Macao, arriving on the evening of the same day, and arrangements were immediately made for the embarkation of

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