CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO CHINA.
澳門大學下載連結
Presented to both Houses of Parliament, by Command of Her Majesty.
1840.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY T. R. HARRISON.
LIST OF PAPERS.
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No. Page
1. Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier (Chief
Superintendent) Foreign Office, January 25, 1834 1
Two Inclosures.
2. Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier Foreign Office, January 25, 4
3. Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier Foreign Office, January 25, 6
4. Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier Foreign Office, March 7, 6
5. Viscount Palmerston' to Lord Napier Foreign Office, March 8, 6
6. Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston Canton, August 9, 7
One Inclosure.
7. Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston Canton, August A4, 11
Five Inclosures.
8. Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston Canton, August 21, 22
Two Inclosures.
9. Mr. J. F. Davis (Second Superintendent) to
Viscount Palmerston Canton, August 7, 25
10. The Duke of Wellington to Lord Napier .... Foreign Office, February 2, 1835 26
11. Lord Napier to Earl Grey Canton, August 21, 1834 29
26
12. Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston Canton, August 27,
One Inclosure.
13. Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston Canton, August 28, 32
14. Memorandum . - Foreign Office, February 1840 32
•15. Mr. Astell (Secretary) to Mr. Backhouse. . . . Macao, September 28, 1834 39
16. Papercommunicated by the Eastlndia Company Macao, September 29, 41
17. Mr. Astell to Mr. Backhouse '. Macao, October 3, 43
18. Mr. J. F. Davis (Chief Superintendent) to
Viscount Palmerston Macao, October 12, 43
19. Mr. J. F. Davis to Viscount Palmerston Macao, October 28, 44
20. Capt. Elliot (Secretary) to Mr. Backhouse . . Macao, November 1, 45
One Inclosure.
21. Mr. J. F. Davis to Viscount Palmerston .... Macao, November 2, 46
Two Inclosures.
22. Mr. J. F. Davis to Viscount Palmerston .... Macao, November 5, 48
One Inclosure.
23. Memorandum by the Duke of Wellington . . Foreign Office, March 24, 1835 51
24. Mr. J. F. Davis to Viscount Palmerston .... Macao, November 11, 1834 52
Three Inclosures.
25. Captain Elliot to Mr. Backhouse Macao, November 17, 58
One Inclosure.
26. Mr. J. F. Davis to Viscount Palmerston .... Macao, November 18, 61
Two Inclosures.
27. Petition to the King in Council Canton, December 9, 68
28. Minutes of Conversation between Howqua and
Mowqua, Hong Merchants, and Mr. Jardine Canton, September 14, 71
29. Extracts from the " Records of Proceedings " Macao, December 6, 73
30. Mr. J. F. Davis to Viscount Palmerston .... Macao, January 2, 1835 76
Two Inclosures.
31. Mr. J. F. Davis to Viscount Palmerston .... Macao, January 19, 78
32. Extracts from the " Records of Proceedings " Macao, January 19, 80
33. Sir G. B. Robinson (Chief Superintendent) to
Viscount Palmerston Macao, January 24, 81
34. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, February 3, 81
35. Extracts from the " Records of Proceedings " Macao, January 29, 81
36. Sir G. B. Robinson to the Governor General of
India Macao, February 21, 86
37. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, February 27, 86
38. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, March 30, 87
One Inclosure.
39. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, April 13, 94
40. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, July 1, 95
41. Sir G. B. Robinson to the Duke of Wellington Macao, July 26, 100
42. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, October 1 6, 100
43. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, November 11, 101
44. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, ■ November 20, 102
45. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, November 24, 104
One Inclosure.
46. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston ... Lintin, December 1, 105
47. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston ... Lintin, December 10, 106
Bayerische
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LIST OF P.
Pag*
48. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, December JO, 1835 109
108
49. Sir G- B. Robinson to Viscount Palmentan Lintin, December 10,
One Inclosure.
SOi Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, January 5 1836 1M
51. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston 1J«
One Inclosure.
52. Viscount Palmerston to Sir G. B. Robinson Foreign Office, May 28, Ill
63. Viscount Palmerston to Sir G. B. Robinson Foreign Office, June 6,■ Ill
54. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Macao, January 16, IM
55. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, January 29, 113
56. Viscount Palmerston to Sir G. B. Robinson Foreign Office, June % U»
57. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, January 29, I'M
58. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, February 1, 118
59. Viscount Palmerston to Sir G. B. Robinson Foreign Office, June 15, 119
60. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, June 15, 119
61. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, February 5, 119
62. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, February 8, 120
63. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, February 10, 121
64. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, February 27, 121
65. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, July 22, 121
66. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, July 22, 123
67. The Hon. W. Fox Strangways to Cap. Elliot Foreign Office, Septemb. 14, 123
68. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, March 1, 124
Three Inclosures.
69. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, November 8, 126
70. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, November 8, ' 127
71. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, November 8,
72. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot ..■.. Foreign Office, November 8,
73. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, November 8, 130
74. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, April 18, 131
75. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, December 6, 132
76. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Macao, May 10, 133
Three Inclosures.
77. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Macao, October 13, 135
78. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Lintin, Novemb. 28, 135
79. Sir G. B. Robinson to Viscount Palmerston Macao, Decemb. 14, 136
80. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston .... Macao, January 25, 136
81. Captain Elliot to the Foreign Office Macao, March 14, 136
82. Captain Elliot to the Foreign Office Macao, July 27, 137
83. Captain Elliot to the Foreign Office October 10, 138
84. Captain Elliot, (Chief Superintendent,) to
Viscount Palmerston 14,
85. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston 30,
Eight Inclosures.
86. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston «,
One Inclosure.
87. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Macao, January 12, 1837 148
149
One Inclosure.
88. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot .... Foreign Office, June 12,
89. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston .... Macao, January 27,
Two Inclosures.
90i Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston .... 2,
Eight Inclosures.
91. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston .... -7,
Three Inclosures.
92. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston February 10,
Two Inclosures.
93. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston 21,
Two Inclosures.
94. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot Foreign Office, 2, 192
95. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot Foreign Office, 2,
One Inclosure.
96. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston .... 18,
One Inclosure.
97. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston 22,
Two Inclosures.
98. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . . . . . Macao, March 29, 196
99. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Macao, April 196
100. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Canton, April 27,'
Seven Inclosures.
101 . Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Canton, May 24,
One Inclosure.
102. Captain Elliot to John Backhouse, Esq Canton, 2,
Two Inclosures.
103. Captain Elliot to John Backhouse, Esq. ...» Macao, July 3,
Four Inclosures and Three Sub inclosures.
104. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Macao, July 5, 214
105. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Macao, July 5, 214
106. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Macao, August 29, 215
107. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Macao, 4, 215
Three Inclosures. .
4 LIST OF PAPERS.
No. Page-
108. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, Septemb. 26, 1837 231
109. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, Novemb. 18, 233
Five Inclosures
110. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, Novemb. 19, 241
• One Inclosure. • v
* 11. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, Novemb. 29, 245
Four Inclosures.
112. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, Decemb. 4, 249
113. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, Decemb. 7, 250
Two Inclosures.
114. Captain Elliot to the Foreign Office . . Macao, January 18, 1838 253
115. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, February 5, 253
One Inclosure.
116. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot Foreign Office, June 15, 258
117. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Macao, March 29, 259
Five Inclosures.
118. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, April 2. 291
119. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, April 18, 294
Five Inclosures.
1 20. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, April 20, 299
One Inclosure.
121. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, April 38, 301
Four Inclosures.
122. Captain Elliot to John Backhouse, Esq. . Macao, April 30, 307
One Inclosure.
123. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, May ai, 308
124. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, August 7, 308
125. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, August 1 0, 309
Ten Inclosures.
126. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot . Foreign Office, February 27, 1839 317
127. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot . Foreign Office, March 23, 317
128. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot . Foreign Office, March 23, 318
129. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot . Foreign Office, March 30, 318
130. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot . Foreign Office, June 13, 319
131. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, October 13, 1838 319
Three Inclosures.
132. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . . Macao, Decemb. 2, 321
Two Inclosures.
133. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . WhampOa, Decemb. 8, 223
134. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, Decemb. 13, 324
135. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot . Foreign Office, April 15, 1839 325
136. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, Decemb. 31, 1838 325
137. Captain Ellio* to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, January 2, 1839 326
Fourteen Inclosures.
138. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, January 2, 339
139. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, January 8, 340
140. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, January 21, 342
141. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, January 30, 342
142. Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot . Foreign Office, June 13, 344
143. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, February 8, 344
One Inclosure.
144. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston , Macao, February 21, 348
Two Inclosures.
145. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, March 22, 349
Two Inclosures.
146. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Canton, March 30, 1839 355
Thirty Inclosures.
147. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Canton, April 3, 384
148. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston Canton, April 6, 385
Fifteen Inclosures.
149. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, May 6, 405
Three Inclosures.
150. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Canton, May 18, 409
Eight Inclosures.
151. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, May M, 418
One Inclosure. f
152. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, June 14, 420
Eight Inclosures.
153. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, July 8, 427
Five Inclosures.
154. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Macao, July 18, 431
One Inclosure.
155. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston ; Hong Kong, August 27, 433
Thirteen Inclosures.
156. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Hong Kong, Septemb. 3, 442
Three Inclosures.
157. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Hong Kong, Septemb. 5, 446
Five Inclosures.
158. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Hong Kong, Septemb. 8, 450
One Inclosure.
159. Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston . Hong Kong, Septemb. 23, 454
Six Inclosures.
CORRESPONDENCE
RELATING TO : ■
CHINA.
No. 1.
Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier.
Extract. . Foreign Office, January 25, 1334.
I HEREWITH transmit to your Lordship a Commission under the
Royal Signet and Sign Manual, appointing your Lordship, together with
William Henry Chicheley Plowden, Esq., and John Francis Davis, Esq.,
to be " Superintendents of the Trade of British Subjects in China."
I also transmit to your Lordship His Majesty's general instructions
under the Sign Manual, for the guidance of your Lordship and of your
colleagues, in the discharge of the duties of the situations above mentioned.
Inclosure 1 in No. 1.
Extract from the Royal Commission appointing Lord Napier, Mr. Plowden, and
Mr. Davis, to be " Superintendents of the Th-ade of British Subjects in China."
Extract. December 10, 1833.
AND in the event of the death of any or any one of you, the said William
John Lord Napier, William Henry Chicheley Plowden, and John Francis Davis,
while in the execution of this Our Commission, or of the incapacity, absence
from the limits to which such Commission extends, or removal from office
of any or any one of you, We do hereby declare Our pleasure to be, and We do
direct and appoint, that the vacancy so created in the said Commission shall be
supplied on the spot provisionally, and until Our pleasure can be known, in
such manner and according to such rules as are, or shall be, in that behalf pre
scribed in such general or further instructions as aforesaid.
# * # * * # # ■
And We do hereby straightly charge and require you, that., in the execution
of this your Commission, you do conform to and observe all such rules and
regulations as are or shall be given to you for your guidance, either in the
general instructions under Our Signet and Sign Manual, accompanying this your
Commission, or in such further instructions as shall from time to time be given
to you under Our Signet and Sign Manual, or in Our Privy Council, or by Us
through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State.
2
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
Extract from the Royal Sign Manual Instructions to the Superintendents of
Trade in China.
Extract. December 31, 1833.
1. WITH these Our instructions, you will receive a Commission under
Our Signet and Sign Manual, constituting and appointing you to be Super
intendents of the trade of Our subjects to and from the dominions of the
Emperor of China ; together with an Order made by Us with the advice of
Our Privy Council, for regulating the said trade, and for the government of
our subjects within the said dominions ; together with a certain other Order
made by Us with the advice aforesaid, creating a Court of Justice for the
purposes therein mentioned ; together also with a certain other Order also
made by Us with the advice aforesaid, imposing duties upon the ships and
goods of Our subjects trading to China, for the purposes therein mentioned :
—which several Instruments have by Us been issued in pursuance, and in
exercise of the powers in Us vested by a certain Act of Parliament made
and passed in the Third and Fourth year of Our Reign [cap. 93,] intituled
" An Act to regulate the trade to China and India."
2. In execution of the said Commission, you will take up your residence
at the Port of Canton, in the dominions of the Emperor of China; and you
will discharge the several duties confided to you by the said Commission
and Orders in Council respectively, at Canton aforesaid, or at any other
place within the river or port of Canton, or at any other place which may
for that purpose be hereafter appointed by Us, and not elsewhere.
4. And whereas, &c [here is recited the first one of the two clauses
extracted from the Royal Commission; it then proceeds]. Now "We do direct
and appoint that if any such vacancy should so be created, by the death,
resignation, or incapacity, absence or removal, of you, the said William John
Lord Napier, the Chief Superintendent, or of the Chief Superintendent for the
time being, the same shall be supplied provisionally by you, the said William
Henry Chicheley Plowden, Esquire, the Second Superintendent, or by the
Second Superintendent for the time being : [and so on, providing, in order of
succession, for supplying, provisionally, vacancies in the offices of the Second and
Third Superintendents ; the vacancy of the Third Superintendent, for the time
being, to be] "supplied provisionally by the Secretary to the Superintendents
for the time being." [In the event of either Mr. Plowden or Mr. Davis being
absent from China, on the arrival there of Lord Napier, or of their declining to
accept the offices of Second or Third Superintendent, respectively,—in such
contingency, the Secretary for the time being was not to enter upon or succeed to
the vacant office,— but such office or offices, as the case might be, should be held
provisionally (and until the Royal pleasure should be made known) by any such
person or persons as should for that purpose be selected by Lord Napier, from
amongst such of the servants of the East India Company as might be resident at
Canton on the arrival of the Commission at that place]. And the persons so to
be selected by you, the said William John Lord Napier, shall, by you, be appointed
to such office or offices, by an instrument or instruments to be by you, for that
purpose, executed under your hand and seal : and every person so by you,
the said William John Lord Napier, appointed to be such Second Superintendent
or Third Superintendent, as aforesaid, upon any such contingency as afore
said, shall, until further or other provision be made by Us in the premises,
have, exercise, and enjoy all such and the same rights, powers, and authorities,
as if he or they had been appointed by Us, by name, in and by the said Com
mission.
16. And We do further declare Our pleasure to be, that one of you, the said
Superintendents, shall be specially charged with the duty of ascertaining by all
practicable ways and means, and with the utmost attainable precision, the state
of the trade carried on between our subjects, or the subjeqts of any other foreign
power, with the inhabitants of China; and especially the number of the vessels
annually arriving from Our United Kingdom, and from Our several possessions
abroad, and from the territories under the Government of the said Company in
India, and from all other foreign States; and the tonnage of such vessels, and the
number of the person* on board of them as mariners or passengers; and the
3
amount and nature, and value of the goods from time to time imported in such
several vessels into China; and of the goods exported thence in such vessels,
together with the prices current at the port of Canton, of such imports and
exports; together with all material facts, illustrative of the course and nature of
the said trade ; and of the difficulties by which the same may be impeded ; and
of the means which may be taken for the extension, or support thereof; together
with such information as can be collected, respecting the cultivation of tea, and
of other articles of export from China; and of the amount of the duties there paid
upon the importation and exportation of different goods; and respecting the effect
of any such duties, or of the duties levied under such Order in Council * as aforesaid,
upon the course of the said trade; with all other statistical information which
may tend to illustrate or explain the interests of our subjects, and of the subjects
or citizens of other foreign nations, as connected with the commercial intercourse
subsisting between them and the Chinese Empire. And We do direct that all
such information as aforesaid, shall be exhibited in the form of Tables ; which
Tables shall be transmitted once in each year to Our Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs.
17. And in the discharge of your duties as such Superintendents, as afore
said, We do require and enjoin you to watch over and protect the interests of
Our subjects resident at, or resorting to, the Empire of China for the purposes
of trade; and to afford to them all such advice, information, and assistance, as
it may be in your power to give, with a view to the safe and successful
conduct of their commercial transactions ; and, to the utmost of your ability,
to protect them in the peaceable prosecution of all lawful enterprises in
which they may be engaged in China ; and, by the exertion of your utmost
influence and authority, to adjust by arbitration, or persuasion, all disputes in
which any of Our subjects may be there engaged with each other, or with the
inhabitants of China, or with the subjects or citizens of any Foreign State;
and to mediate between Our said subjects and the officers of the Chinese
Government, in order to protect Our subjects aforesaid from all unlawful
exactions or hindrances, in the prosecution of their commercial undertakings.
18. And it is Our further pleasure, that, so often as it may be necessary
for you, in conducting any such mediation as aforesaid, to prefer any com
plaint or remonstrance to the officers of the Government of China, you do
observe all possible moderation; and do cautiously abstain from all unne
cessary use of menacing language; or from making any appeal for protection
to Our military or naval forces, unless, in any extreme case, the most evident
necessity shall require that any such menacing language should be holden,
or that any such appeal should be made. And We do further command and
require you, in the general discharge of your duties as such Superintendents,
to abstain from and avoid all such conduct, language, and demeanour, as
might needlessly excite jealousy or distrust amongst the inhabitants of
China, or the officers of the Chinese Government; or as might unnecessarily
irritate the feelings, or revolt the opinions or prejudices of the Chinese people
or Government; and that you do study by all practicable methods to maintain
a good and friendly understanding, both with the officers, civil and military,
and with the inhabitants of China, with whom you may be brought into
intercourse or communication.
» 19. And We do require you constantly to bear in mind and to impress, as
occasion may offer, upon Our subjects resident in, or resorting to China, the
duty of conforming to the laws and usages of the Chinese Empire, so long as
such laws shall be administered towards you and them with justice and good
faith; and in the same manner in which the same are or shall be administered
towards the subjects of China, or towards the subjects or citizens of other
foreign nations resident in, or resorting to China.
20. And We do further enjoin and require you to transmit 1o the Governor
General of the territories under the Government of the East India Company
in India, duplicate copies, for his information, of all despatches which may by
you be addressed to Our Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with
copies of all despatches which you may receive from our said Secretary of
State. And if, on any occasion, you should see cause to address despatches
* This Order in Council, dated December 9, 1833, was rescinded by Order in Council, dated
March 5, 1834.
B 2
4
irectly to the said Governor General, We do further direct you to communi
cate to Our Secretary of State, aforesaid, full copies thereof, and of all
despatches which you may receive from the Governor General. All which
copies it is Our pleasure that you do transmit, as aforesaid, by the first
convenient opportunity.
21. And We do further declare Our pleasure to be, that neither you, the
said Superintendents, nor any person who may hereafter be a Superintendent,
under the said Commission, nor the Secretary to the said Commission for the
time being, nor any other subordinate officer employed by you, or by the
Superintendents for the time being, in the discharge of the duties confided to
you, shall engage in trade in China aforesaid ; or act as the factor, broker, or
agent, for any person or persons engaged in such trade, on pain of the
forfeiture by you, or such Secretary or other officer, as aforesaid, of the
office so by you or him holden.
No. 2.
Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier.
My Lord, Foreign Office, January 25, 1834.
YOUR Lordship's Instructions, under the Royal Sign Manual, contain
all that is essentially necessary for your guidance, in the general conduct of
the superintendence- entrusted to your charge. But there still remain some
particular points, upon which I am commanded by His Majesty to convey to
you, for your information and guidance, the further instructions which you
will find in this despatch, and in my others of the same date.
Your Lordship will announce your arrival at Canton by letter to the
Viceroy.
In addition to the duty of protecting and fostering the trade of His
Majesty's subjects with the port of Canton, it will be one of your principal
objects to ascertain, whether it may not be practicable to extend that trade to
other parts of the Chinese dominions. And for this end you will omit no
favourable opportunity of encouraging any disposition which you may discover
in the Chinese authorities, to enter into commercial relations with His
Majesty's Government. It is obvious that, with a view to the attainment of
this object, the establishment of direct communications with the Imperial
Court at Pekin would be desirable; and you will accordingly direct your
attention to discover the best means of preparing the way for such commu
nications: bearing constantly in mind, however, that peculiar caution and
circumspection will be indispensable on this point, lest you should awaken
the fears, or offend the prejudices, of the Chinese Government; and thus
put to hazard even the existing opportunities of intercourse, by a precipitate
attempt to extend them. In conformity with this caution, you will abstain
from entering into any new relations or negotiations with the Chinese autho
rities, except under very urgent and unforeseen circumstances. But if
any opportunity for such negotiations should appear to you to present itself,
you will lose no time in reporting the circumstance to His Majesty's
Government, and in asking for instructions; but, previously to the receipt of
such instructions, you will adopt no proceedings but such as may have a
general tendency to convince the Chinese authorities of the sincere desire
of the King to cultivate the most friendly relations with the Emperor of
China, and to join with Him in any measures likely to promote the happiness
and prosperity of their respective subjects. I have to add, that I do not
at present foresee any case in which it could be advisable that you should
leave Canton to visit Pekin, or any other parts of China, without having
previously obtained the approbation of His Majesty's Government.
Observing the same prudence and caution which I have inculcated
above, you will avail yourself of every opportunity which may present itself,
for ascertaining whether it may not be possible to establish commercial
intercourse with Japan, and with any other of the neighbouring countries:
5
and you will report to this Department, from time to time, the results of your
observation and inquiries.
It is understood that a survey of the Chinese coast is much required ;
and your attention should, therefore, be directed to this subject, with a view
to ascertain the best means, and the probable expense of such an undertaking;
and you will have the goodness to transmit to me an early and full report of
your opinion thereupon. But you will not take any steps for commencing
such a survey, till you receive an authority from hence to do so. Your
attention should also be directed to the inquiry, whether there be any, and
what, places at which ships might find requisite protection in the event of
hostilities in the China Seas. Upon these points, I recommend to your
attentive consideration the inclosed observations of Captain Horsburgh, the
correctness of which your Lordship will make it your duty to investigate.
Peculiar caution will be necessary on the part of the Superintendents,
with regard to such ships as may attempt to explore the coast of China for
purposes of traffic It is not desirable that you should encourage such
adventures; but you must never lose sight of the fact, that you have no
authority to interfere with, or to prevent, them.
It is generally considered, that the Bocca Tigris, which is marked by a
fort immediately above Anson's Bay, forms the limit of the Port of Canton* :
and as this appears to be the understanding of the Chinese authorities them
selves, a notification to that effect has been made to the merchants in this
country. Your Lordship will, accordingly, conform to that understanding.
The Master Attendant will have charge of all British ships and crews
within the Bocca Tigris.
Your Lordship is aware, that the Chinese authorities have invariably
made a marked distinction between ships of war and merchantmen in
regard to the privilege of intercourse. It is contrary to their regulations, that
ships of war should enter that part of the river which lies above the Bocca
Fort; and you will, therefore, take care to apprize the commanders of British
ships of war, of the desire of His Majesty's Government that these regu
lations should be strictly observed ; and that no British ship of war should
pass the Bocca Tigris, unless an extraordinary occasion should require it to
do so. This prohibition extends, of course, to the frigate which is to convey
your Lordship to your destination ; and you will, moreover, understand that
such frigate is not to remain in the Canton river.
With respect to questions of law, the Order in Council appears to give
you ample instructions ; but I have to apprize your Lordship, that, although
it has been deemed advisable at once to constitute a Court of Justice, yet it is
His Majesty's pleasure that you should not, unless in case of absolute
necessity, commence any proceedings under such Order in Council until
you have taken the whole subject into your most serious consideration. And
you will, in the mean while, fully report to me, for the information of His
Majesty's Government, the result of your deliberations upon this most
important branch of your duties.
It may hardly be necessary for me to add, that, if you should be com
pelled to have recourse to the unpleasant duty of ordering the arrest of any
British subject for irregularity of conduct, you will take care to issue for that
purpose a formal warrant under your hand and seal.
I have, Sec,
(Signed) PALMERSTON.
• By an Instruction to Sir G. B. Robinson, dated May 28, 1836, the limits of the jurisdiction of
the Superintendents were extended, so as to include Lintin and Macao.
6
No. 3.
Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier.
Extract. Foreign Office, January 25, 1834.
YOUR Lordship is aware that the gentlemen whom His Majesty has been
pleased to associate with you in your Commission, are the senior Supracargoes
of the East India Company's service. It is possible that Mr. Plowden and
Mr. Davis may decline the office thus conferred upon them ; but in such case,
as it is considered desirable that you should be assisted by officers having had
experience in China, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government that the
office or offices so declined, as well as the office of Secretary, shall be offered to
other gentlemen of the Company's factory, in the manner which will be pointed
out to you in a separate instruction. The officers however, who, under the
circumstances supposed, may accept the situations which you may offer to
them, must understand that those situations are only conferred upon them
provisionally, and until His Majesty's pleasure can be taken.
No. 4.
Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier.
Extract. ^ Foreign Office, March 7, 1834.
I HAVE to inform your Lordship that it has been deemed expedient, with
a view to the advantage of the mercantile community, that His Majesty's Order
in Council dated the 9th of December, 1833, imposing certain duties upon the
tonnage and goods of His Majesty's subjects trading to the Port of Canton, for
the support of the establishment of the Superintendents at that port, should be
revoked ; and the necessary steps are accordingly now in progress for rescinding
the said Order in Council.
No. 5.
Viscount Palmerston to Lord Napier.
My Lord, Foreign Office, March 8, 1834.
WITH reference to my despatch, I herewith inclose for your infor
mation and guidance, a copy of the Order of His Majesty in Council,
bearing date the 5th instant, revoking the previous Order in Council of the
9th of December, 1833, whereby certain duties were imposed on British ships,
and goods on board thereof, trading to the Port of Canton.
I have, &c,
(Signed) PALMERSTON.
7
No. 6.
Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston.— (Received January 31, 1835.)
My Lord, Canton, August 9, 1834.
I HAVE the honour to acquaint your Lordship of the arrival of His
Majesty's ship Andromache, in Macao Roads, on the 15th of July last; from
whence I landed, on the afternoon of the same day, at the city of Macao, under
a salute from the Portuguese forts.
Here I had the pleasure of finding the Select Committee and Supra-
cargoes of the late Establisment of the Honourable the East India Company, to
whom I communicated the contents of His Majesty's Commission, and the
other documents supplied to me by His Majesty's Government.
On the 17th, I received a communication from John Francis Davis, Esq.,
in the absence of Mr. Plowden, accepting the situation of Second Superinten
dent, from Sir G. Best Robinson, Bart., accepting the situation of Third
Superintendent, and from John Harvey Astell, Esq. , that of Secretary to the
Superintendents, according to the terms of His Majesty's Commission and
General Instructions.
On the 19th, Commissions were granted by the Superintendents to Mr.
Astell, as Secretary and Treasurer,—to the Rev. Dr. Morrison, as Chinese Se
cretary and Interpreter,—to Captain C. Elliot, R.N., as Master Attendant,—
Mr. Colledge, as Surgeon, —and Mr. Anderson, as Assistant Surgeon, according
to His Majesty's Instruction No. 3.
The Superintendents being so constituted with their Assistants, copies of
Instructions from His Majesty's Government were supplied to each, and duly
read over and discussed ; after which I laid before the meeting a letter from the
Right Honourable Charles Grant, of the date of London, 18th February,
acquainting me that His Majesty's Government had resolved to relinquish the
duties on goods and tonnage, and that the expense of the establishment would
be borne, one-third by India, and two-thirds by Great Britain. It may be here
agreeable to state, that several vessels having sailed from the river of Canton
to England, between the 22nd April and the date hereof, with cargoes of tea,
notice had been received from the merchants of their willingness to pay up
the duties if required so to do. In consequence of Mr. Grant's letter, the
Superintendents were unanimously of opinion, that it was no longer necessary
to carry into effect any steps for the recovery of the same.
A letter was this day addressed to Captain Chads, of His Majesty's ship
Andromache, requesting him to send the usual surveying officers on board
the cutter belonging to the Honourable the East India Company, to meet there
competent persons to be appointed by the agents of the Company, to make a
survey of the hull, rigging, equipment, and spare stores of the said cutter, with
the view of purchasing her for the use of His Majesty's Government ; copy of"
which report made by■ the King's officers, and that by the servants of the
East India Company, will be found in the copy of proceedings herewith
annexed.
On the 23rd, the Superintendents embarked on board of His Majesty's
ship Andromache, and proceeded to the anchorage at Chuen-pee, below the
forts at the Bocca Tigris, where she anchored at midnight ; next morning, a
Chinese war junk weighed, and came to an anchor near His Majesty's ship,
firing a salute of three guns, which was returned by an equal number.
At noon, the Superintendents left His Majesty's ship under a salute of 13
guns, and proceeded on board the cutter on their way to Canton, where they
arrived at 2 o'clock on the morning of the 25th.
On the 26th, a copy of the King's Commission to the Superintendents was
supplied to the editor of the Canton Register, to be printed and circulated by
him as a notification to the trade in general.
8
In obedience to His Majesty's commands, conveyed to me by your Lord
ship, of the date of the 25th January last, desiring me to announce my arrival
at Canton by letter to the Viceroy, a letter, a copy of which is inclosed, was
addressed to his Excellency the Viceroy, which, being rendered into Chinese by
the Rev. Dr. Morrison, the Chinese Secretary and Interpreter, was carried to
the City gates by Mr. Astell, accompanied by a deputation of gentlemen from
the establishment.
It may be here stated, that during the interval employed in translating my
letter, the Hong merchants, Howqua and Mowqua, arrived with the copy of an
Edict, addressed by the Viceroy to themselves, for the purpose of being enjoined
on the Superintendents by their body. Long experience having already proved
to the servants of the East India Company the utter futility of such a medium
of communication, and the compliance therewith only tending to degrade His
Majesty's Commission and the British public in general, in the estimation
of the Chinese people, and to render the exertions of the Superintendents to
perform their various duties altogether ineffectual, the Hong merchants were
courteously dismissed with an intimation, " That I would communicate imme
diately with the Viceroy in the manner befitting His Majesty's Commission and
the honour of the British nation."
Mr. Astell was, therefore, instructed to deliver my letter to a Mandarin,
and to avoid any communication through the Hong merchants, which might
afterwards be represented as an official communication and a precedent on all
other occasions.
On the arrival of the party at the City gates, the soldier on guard was
dispatched to report the circumstance to his superior. In less than a quarter
of an hour a Mandarin of inferior rank appeared ; whereupon Mr. Astell offered
my letter for transmission to the Viceroy, which duty this officer declined;'
adding, that his superior was on his way to the spot.
In the course of an hour several Mandarins, of nearly equal rank, arrived
in succession; each refusing to deliver the letter, on the plea that "higher
officers would shortly attend."
After an hour's delay, during which time the party were treated with much
indignity, not unusual on such occasions, the Linguists and Hong merchants
arrived, who entreated to become the bearers of the letter to the Viceroy.
About this time a Mandarin, of rank higher than any of those who had
preceded him, joined the party, to whom the letter was in due form offered;
and as formally refused-
The Mandarins having seen the superscription on the letter, argued, " that
as it came from the Superintendent of Trade the Hong merchants were
the proper channel of communication ;" but this obstacle appeared of minor
importance in their eyes, upon ascertaining that the document was styled a
Letter and not a Petition.
The Linguists requested to be allowed a copy of the address, which was
of course refused.
About this time the Kwang-Heep, a military officer of considerable rank,
accompanied by an officer, a little inferior to himself, arrived on the spot ; to
whom the letter was offered three several times, and as often refused. The
senior Hong merchant, Howqua, after a private conversation with the Kwang-
Heep, requested to be allowed to carry the letter in company with the Kwang-
Heep, and ascertain whether it would be received.
This being considered as an insidious attempt to circumvent the directions
of the Superintendents, a negative was made to this and other overtures of a
similar tendency.
Suddenly all the Mandarins took their departure, for the purpose, as it was
afterwards ascertained, of consulting with the Viceroy.
Nearly three hours having been thus lost within the city, Mr. Astell
determined to wait a reasonable time for the return of the Mandarins, who
shortly afterwards re-assembled ; whereupon Mr. Astell respectfully offered the
letter in question three separate times to the Kwang-Heep, and afterwards to the
other Mandarins, all of whom distinctly refused even to touch it ; upon which
Mr. Astell and his party returned to the factory.
9
Next day, the 27th, the Hong merchants waited in a body on the Super
intendents ; and after a long desultory conversation, marked on their part
by cunning and duplicity, Howqua at length proposed that a new address should
be affixed to my letter ; in the first place, substituting the word Petition for
that of Letter ; and, secondly, making a trifling alteration in the designation of
the Viceroy : the first of these was of course firmly rejected; the second, being a
matter of courtesy, was willingly complied with ; and Howqua having dictated a
copy of the same for the approval of the Viceroy, took his departure with
a promise of returning next day with a reply.
On the morning of the 28th, a ticket was addressed to me by Howqua,
announcing his intention of coming to me at one o'clock. It may be here
proper to state, that, although Howqua had already seen the Chinese character
used by Dr. Morrison, to represent my name, on this occasion he was pleased to
use another one, not of the most courtly description, expressing and signifying
the sense of " Laboriously Vile." On being requested to explain the reason
for such a gratuitous insult, being already in possession of my name, he artfully
avoided all explanation beyond the fact of his having been " so instructed by
the pilot."
At the appointed hour, the Hong merchants arrived ; and Howqua alone
being admitted stated that my letter would not be received, unless it was
superscribed as a Petition. This being refused, Howqua was dismissed
accordingly.
It may also be here remarked, as evidence of the hostile disposition of the
Government, that every petty annoyance has been offered since the arrival of
His Majesty's Commission in Canton ; such as wantonly breaking open my
baggage-chests by the officers of the Custom-House, while the keys were
within their reach, a circumstance hitherto unprecedented; by recalling the
Chinese boat-men employed by the Europeans on the river ; and by intimidating
the compradores, or purveyors, belonging to the agents of the East India
Company, so as to cause them to desert the service.
On the 31st, Howqua and Mowqua waited on the Superintendents, to
deliver the copy of an Order, transmitted through their body., to be enjoined by
them on the Superintendents for their observance ; which was of course refused.
Howqua then asked the nature of my instructions ; on which he was informed,
" that whenever the Viceroy was pleased to receive my letter, he would be made
fully aware of the contents thereof."
I had no further communication with the Hong merchants until the 8th
instant, when Howqua and Mowqua paid a visit to the Superintendents, the
pretended object of which was to endeavour to persuade me to return to
Macao, as being the more agreeable residence during the hot weather.
It may be here proper to explain to your Lordship, that, from private
information on which I have the most perfect reliance, 1 am assured that up to
this date no report, even of my expected arrival, or of the change of circum
stances connected with the trade, has ever been forwarded by the Viceroy to
the Court at Pekin. At the same time, I have reason to believe that the
Emperor has been partially 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 Kwang-Heep, or 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 my 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 is he
desirous 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 to me to remain there altogether.
10
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 transmit an authentic official report to his
own Government : although perhaps he may be enabled to supply the deficiency
to a certain extent, from information gathered 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 Kwang-Chow-Foo, or 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 mean time, I shall endeavour
to maintain harmony between all parties.
There are some other points connected with the medical establishment ; the
more efficient duties of the Master-Attendant ; improvement of the navigation, by
completing the survey of the China seas ; and the accommodation eventually to
be occupied by the Superintendents and their Assistants, which, on further
experience, I shall have the honour of reporting to your Lordship in a more
specific manner than I am yet prepared to do.
Having now clearly explained to your Lordship the position in which I
stand, in respect to the Viceroy, up to the date hereof, (9th August, 1834) I beg
to acquaint your Lordship that all these measures have received the full
concurrence and support of my two Colleagues.
Endeavouring also always to bear in mind the nature and spirit of His
Majesty's instructions, regulating my conduct towards the Chinese authorities,
and enjoining respect to the laws of the Empire, I conceive, in adopting the
line so approved, and which has given entire satisfaction to His Majesty's
faithful subjects at this port, that I have, in fact, adhered most strictly to those
instructions, without compromising the honour of His Majesty's Commission,
and without relinquishing that right or practice which has been so often exercised
in times past by the President of the Select Committee, of enjoying direct com
munication with the Viceroy, whenever circumstances might render such
communication necessary or desirable.
I have, &c,
(Signed) NAPIER,
Chief Superintendent.
Inclosure in No. 6.
Lord Napier to the Governor of Canton.
IN pursuance of orders from my most gracious Sovereign, William IV.,
King of Great Britain and Ireland, I have the honour of notifying to your
Excellency my arrival at the city of Canton, bearing a Royal Commission con
stituting and appointing me Chief Superintendent of British Trade to the
dominions of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China. By this Commis
sion are associated with me, John Francis Davis, Esq., and Sir George Best
Robinson, Bart., late of the Honourable East India Company's Factory at this
place.
The object of the said Royal Commission is to empower us, His Majesty's
Superintendents, to protect and promote the British trade, which, from the
boundless extent of His Majesty's dominions, will bear the traffic of the four
11
quarters of the world to the shores of the Emperor of China,—the exclusive
privileges and trade hitherto enjoyed by the Honourable East India Company
of merchants having ceased and determined, by the will and power of His
Majesty the King and the Parliament of Great Britain.
I have also the honour of acquainting your Excellency, that His Majesty,
my most gracious Sovereign, has been pleased to invest me with powers,
political and judicial, to be exercised according to circumstances.
At present, I will only further request that your Excellency will grant me,
with my colleagues, the honour of a personal interview, when it will be my duty
to explain more fully to your Excellency the nature of the changes which have
taken place, and upon which our present duties and instructions have been
founded.
Allow me to convey, through your Excellency, to His Imperial Majesty,
the high consideration of His Majesty the King, my master; and with the
utmost respect for your Excellency, allow me to subscribe myself your
Excellency's very faithful and obedient servant,
(Signed) NAPIER,
Chief Superintendent.
No. 7.
Lord Napier to Viscount Palmerston. — (Received January 31, 1835.)
My dear Lord, Canton, August 14, 1834.
MY public Despatch, addressed to your Lordship, gives an outline of
affairs up to the 9th instant, chiefiy relating to what has passed on the sub
ject of communication with the Viceroy. The Mangles not having sailed to
her time, I am desirous of supplying the latest information; and if anything
transpires subsequent to this date, and prior to her departure, I will add it as
a Postscript.
I may here state, that which has been omitted in the Despatch, that on
the 3rd instant I had a letter from Captain Chads of the Andromache, at
Chuen-pee, stating "that the Chinese Admiral had threatened to fire into our
cutter if she attempted to pass up and down the river as heretofore; and that
he had assured the Admiral if he did so, the insult would be resented.'' A
similar communication having been made by the Hong merchants to one of the
British merchants about the same time, in respect to his schooner passing
and repassing, I thought, perhaps, on the Andromache's departure some vio
lence might occur; and, therefore, by way of strengthening my own hands,
I requested Captain Chads, on his putting to sea, to cruise outside the islands
for a week, and then resume his anchorage at Chuen-pee, without communicat
ing at another place. In the mean time, I would be enabled to judge ol their
intentions. The Andromache left Macao Roads .three or four days ago, and
of course has not yet returned.
On the evening of the 10th instant, it came to my knowledge that a requisi
tion from the Hong merchants had been issued that day to the British merchants,
calling upon them to attend a meeting of the Hong at the Consoo House, as
next day, at one o'clock. Tiiis appearing to me rather a novel and unprece
dented measure, I immediately called a general meeting of all British inhabit
ants, to be held at the hall of the Suptrintendents at half past ten; in order to
deliberate on the propriety and the consequences of attending such a meeting.
Mr. Davis and myself addressed the meeting, deprecating such an attendance
as that proposed ; and a draft of the letter to the Hong merchants, being
proposed and read, was carried unanimously with some verbal alterations.
The object of the Hong merchants was evidently to create a schism
among the British, in order to set up one party against the Suptrintendents,
with the view of forcing me to retire by threatening to stop the trade. In
this, however, they made a decided failure; and their meeting not having taken
place, they inclosed all the late Edicts refused by me, to the three principal
12
merchants, Jardine and Co., Dent and Co., and Framjee Munchajee, the
head of the Parsees, desiring them to enjoin the Edicts upon me : a duty
with which, of course, they at once refused to comply. I have, however,
acquired privately copies of these documents. They afford a strong example
of the want of authority, and the weakness of the Government. But there
is also to be gleaned information on one point connected with my instruc
tions, which, I think, plainly demonstrates that there is no " disposition on
the part of the Chinese authorities to enter into commercial relations with
His Majesty's Government." (Vide third paragraph of your Lordship's
Despatch of January 25th, 1834.)
Now, my Lord, I cannot help thinking that by a careful perusal of this
paragraph, you will find that I am, in the first place, instructed to " ascertain,
how far it may be practicable to extend the trade ;" but I am only to do so
by "encouraging certain dispositions which may be discovered," (the dis
position discovered by the Edicts is not very encouraging) and, "in case of
putting to hazard the existing opportunities of intercourse, I am not to enter
into any negotiations with the Chinese authorities ; but if an opportunity of
a negotiation should appear, I am to lose no time in reporting the same to His
Majesty's Government :"—in doing which I must lose at least ten months, and,
perhaps, the opportunity of effecting good, for ever.
Now, my Lord, I would merely ask, and I do so in the most respectful
manner possible, and without the slightest feeling of disrespect to His Ma
jesty's Government, and as little towards your Lordship, if that paragraph
does not instruct me to do one thing, a very material thing, and then deprives
me of the means of doing it? Suppose, now, the Viceroy relents, and admits
me to a conference, and I may have an opportunity of improving our commer
cial relations at this port, by urging any claim or praying the removal of any
difficulty, I am " not to negotiate without first reporting to His Majesty's Go
vernment." I cannot help thinking that the whole of this paragraph has been
framed without a just consideration of the real state of feeling of the Chinese
and their authorities, and without due reference to the history of past times.
When was it ever known, within the last century, that the Chinese authorities
evinced a disposition to encourage foreign trade ! On the contrary, all the pri
vileges formerly enjoyed by the British have been curtailed from lime to
time, till we are at this moment tied down under dreadful restrictions to the
mere port of Canton. Our commerce has, no doubt, wonderfully increased ;
but not through the disposition of the authorities, but through the enterprize
of our merchants and seamen, and the great desire of the people to obtain
our manufactures, and participate in the general advantages of trade.
The house of every Chinaman in these extensive suburbs, is a shop of
one sort or another. Every man is constantly at work; nobody seen loitering
about and idle; and, in fact, every man is a merchant; yet, does one of these
same Edicts speak of the "petty affairs of commerce,"—as if commerce were a
matter of no concern in the empire! This is, indeed, an argument they have
used on occasions, times without number; and having long acted on the prin
ciple, it is quite impossible to suppose they will ever show any desire to join
with His Majesty, " in measures likely to promote the happiness and pros
perity of the two kingdoms." The Chinese authorities pretend to spurn at
the idea of our gracious King's desire of "cultivating friendly relations for
the common good of both people." " England has her laws," says the Edict,—
" How much more, the Celestial Empire,—how flaming bright— more terrible
than awful thunderbolts! ! ! "
Notwithstanding that there are forty thousand men in garrison at
Canton continually, four Edicts have been let off against me, for landing
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