correspondence-relating-to-china-1840 — Page 17

soon the life and property of innocent men might fall a sacrifice to the
violence of the Government itself, if none were on the spot.
It might therefore be declared, in conclusion, that whilst things
remained as they were, Her Majesty had no other resource than to leave a
naval force on the coast, in order that the peaceful subjects of Her
dominions, carrying on a lawful trade, should not be hindered or injured
in their pursuits.
Upon the whole, it seems to me, that the time has fully arrived when
Her Majesty's Government should justly explain its own position with
respect to the prevention or regulation of this trade; give its own counsels,
or take its own alternative course.
Neither does it appear to be unsuitable, that the same occasion should
be taken to attempt such further relaxations in point of general inter
course and regular commercial facility, as may be deemed advisable.
In these last respects, I would say, that the Commissioner should
rather be instructed to gain all he can, than be furnished with precise
points for insistance.
The Chinese would probably refuse whatever is asked, merely because
it is asked, and offer more than was expected, because the proposition
came from their own side.
Every arrangement of this kind should undoubtedly be accompanied
by the proposal of a reasonable scheme for the controul and government of
Her Majesty's subjects in their intercourse with each other, and with the
people of this empire.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT.



No. 111.

Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmcrston.— (Received May 15, 1838.)

My Lord, Canton, November 29, 1837.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge your Lordship's despatch, of June
12, 1837, which reached me, at this place, on the 21st inst.
The first point for consideration was a new mode of superscription; and
after some time it was determined to substitute for the character Pin—the
further use of which your Lordship had forbidden —the following characters :
Tac with the Tseen characters, Ching on the side of the Shang address ; the
 246-

whole meaningj as nearly as it can be literally translated, " Presented before his
high place.'*
Agreeably to the genius of this language, and the usages of Chinese polite
ness, some form of superscription is necessary beyond the bare title of the func
tionary to whom a paper be addressed. And as the characters now selected are
not in use for such purposes by Chinese officers, and involved no signification to
which I believed her Majesty's Government would object, the accompanying
note to his Excellency was sealed up, and superscribed in the new form.
The senior merchants themselves were of opinion, that his Excellency,
taking into consideration the instructions I had now received, would consent to
this modification in the manner of the address.
He opened and read it attentively ; but, after some consideration, wrote
upon it with his own pencil, the words " Cannot be permitted," and desired the
merchants to return it to me with that comment.
I now felt that it was proper to adopt some more formal mode of signifying
to his Excellency, that I was acting under instructions just received. And!
therefore prepared the accompanying note (superscribed as Inclosure No. 1 had
been), ana sent it to the city gate by the hands of Messrs. Morrison and Elmslie,
desiring them to deliver it to the Kwang Heep, and to wait till that functionary
had reported to them that it had reached his Excellency's hand.
This was accordingly done ; and on the next day (the 26th), the merchants
brought me, by his Excellency's command, an edict addressed to them in reply
to my note delivered at the city gates.
I refused to receive it. But they said, in the course of conversation, that
it was a very courteous explanation of his Excellency's obligation to adhere to
ancient custom in the respect of intercourse with the foreigners.
I observed that it was not my purpose to discuss with them. His Excel
lency, I presumed, was acting upon his orders as I was upon mine. But I
added, that at a proper time, and to proper persons, there would be no difficulty
hi showing that, according to ancient custom, the intercourse between officers
had always been directly official.
I then handed them a third note ; but they returned it the next day (the
27th), saying that his Excellency had declined to receive it on account of the
alteration in the manner of the address.
I remarked, that the Governor had already opened two under the like form
of address—one taken to him by the Kwang Heep; and I was afraid the present
refusal would be very ill received by my own Government, and form a just
ground of complaint against him to the Emperor, which would be difficult of
*atisfactory explanation upon his Excellency's part.
The merchants at once admitted, that in their opinions his Excellency had
made a considerable mistake in this respect: he should either have refused the
first, or have taken all the papers.
I closed my communication with the merchants, by placing in their hands
an open paper, under my seal of office, precisely to the same effect as the Inclo
sure No. 3; telling them that they might lay it before the Governor, or not, as
they saw fit : at all events, I should strike the flag, and proceed to Macao in the
2nd prox.
They urged me to stay, and held out hopes of adjustment; but I said I had
fulfilled my instructions. And looking around me I saw enough of reason to
anticipate serious difficulties, and to be glad to be out of Canton whilst I could
neither communicate with the Governor nor learn his pleasure ; and was thus
deprived of all means of preventing or remedying disaster.
They then hinted that the Governor did not seem to consider there was
any insuperable objection to yielding the point of direct official intercourse.
But he desired them to say, that he could not sanction any change in the
superscription of my addresses.
I merely remarked, that my orders were positive on both points, and must
be strictly observed.
It is proper to add a word in explanation of my reason for proposing the
continuance of the manner of direct official intercourse, which was pursued in
the case of the Inclosure No. 4 of my Despatch of November IS, 1837.
In the former discussions with the merchants upon that subject I had
avoided a proposal of a visit from the Kwang Chow Foo and the Kwang Heep,
 247

for the purpose of verbally communicating his Excellency's pleasure, because
I was apprehensive such a mode of intercourse might grow into practice.
But, in the event of difficulties, I knew how easily the Governor would
always declare that the officers who had made the verbal communications had
misunderstood his meaning; and, upon the whole, it appeared to me to be of
great moment in this business to keep hold of a system which supplied us with
the exact written words of the chief authority of the province.
Direct written communications from the Governor to a person in my
station, your Lordship may be assured are impossible of attainment till her
Majesty's officers are here supported by the presence of force ; and then it is
certainly probable that the point may pass without much difficulty.
In my present circumstances I was satisfied to take copies of his Excel
lency's edicts, attested under the seals of the Kwang Chow Foo and Kwang
Heep, and forwarded direct to my address by those officers ; the more so as
this course of communication was perfectly compatible with the terms of your
Lordship's Despatch of 22nd July, 1836.
The Inclosure No. 4 is a circular I have addressed to the British subjects
resident at Canton on this date.
It is my purpose to forward to your Lordship a separate Despatch, in fur
ther reply of the Despatch of June 12th, 1837, and I therefore confine myself
on this occasion to a mere report of proceedings.
I hope your Lordship will consider that the good understanding which
continues to subsist between the Governor and myself, notwithstanding the
interrupted state of the communications, is a source of satisfaction. He desired
the merchants to inform me that he entertained a respect for me, and that he
had reported in that sense to the Emperor.
The trade is proceeding tranquilly for the present ; but the vast opium
deliveries at Whampoa, under extremely hazardous circumstances, may cer
tainly, at any moment, produce some grave dilemma.
[ lltlVC ccc*
(Signed) ' CHARLES ELLIOT.
< ■

Inclosure 1 in No. 111.

Captain Elliot to the Governor of Canton,

Canton, November 23, 1837.
THE Undersigned, &c, &c, has the honour to make the following state
ment for the information of your Excellency.
He has now received Despatches from the Government of his nation,
severely censuring him for receiving any communications from the officers of
this Empire not directly addressed to himself. And he is now peremptorily
ordered to signify that he has received these special commands to return them,
except they be officially and directly addressed to himself.
He is further commanded to observe that the British Government means
no disrespect to your Excellency's high dignity in desiring the undersigned to
discontinue the use of the character Pin on his addresses to your Excellency.
These orders, he is instructed to say, are founded on the fact that such a
mode of address, by an officer commissioned by the English Sovereign, is not
congenial with the customs of his nation.
Your Excellency, in an elevated station, and practised in public affairs,
will know that the Undersigned docs not dare to disobey these strict commands
of his Government, and that he could not presume to propose any changes
upon less urgent grounds than are now faithfully stated.
If your Excellency shall think fit always to forward your pleasure directly
to the address of the undersigned, through the Kwang Chow Foo and the
Kwang Heep, as was lately done, and will further consent to receive his
respectful addresses in reply, without the specification of the character Pin,
all difficulty will be removed.
The Undersigned concludes with sentiments ot highest consideration.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT.
 248


Inclosure 2 in No. 111.

Captain Elliot to the Governor of Canton.

Canton, November 25, 1837.
THE Undersigned, &c, &c, has received very important instructions
from one of the Great Ministers of his nation, which he is specially ordered to
make known to your Excellency.
The least mistake or omission in the communication of these instructions
might be attended with unhappy consequences. And he has therefore the
honour to request that your Excellency will be pleased to command the chief
civil and military officers of the district* to repair to his residence, and having
examined all things, and taken a faithful copy of the Minister's letter, to convey
to your Excellency a full and clear statement of the particulars.
According to the regulations, the Undersigned cannot wait upon these
officers at their residences in the city, and he has therefore requested that they
will visit him here.
The Undersigned concludes with the expression of his highest con
sideration.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT.


Inclosure 3 in No. 111.

Captain Elliot to the Governor of Canton.

Canton, November 2G, 1837.
THE Undersigned, &c, &c, has this day received back his statement of
the 23rd instant, with your Excellency's notification that the arrangements he
had the honour to submit, in conformity with the orders of his Government,
cannot be permitted.
These commands are peremptory, and the Undersigned does not dare to
disobey them in the least degree.
Your Excellency's decision, therefore, will have the effect of interrupting
the communications till further orders can be received from England.
Under these circumstances, the Undersigned most formally declares him
self free oP all responsibility in the adjustment of any difficulties or disputes
which may arise ; and he will immediately announce to the merchants of his
country that such is the case.
The Undersigned concludes his intercourse with your Excellency with the
expression of his highest consideration, and with sincere wishes for your
Excellency's happiness.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT.


Inclosure 4 in No. 111.

Captain Elliot to the British Subjects resident in Canton.

Gentlemen, Canton, November 29, 1837.
I HAVE recently had the honour to receive instructions from Her
Majesty's Government, directing me to make a communication to the Gover
nor of these Provinces, concerning the manner of my intercourse with His
Excellency.
The Governor has declined to accede to the conditions involved in these
instructions ; and whilst these difficulties subsist, all communication between
us has necessarily ceased. In this posture of circumstances, I can only assure
you, Gentlemen, of my sincere disposition to afford you any public assistance
in my power, either in the form of counsel, or in any other way which may be
consistent with my situation.

* The Kwang Chow Foo and (he Kwang Heep [the Prefect and Counriiindant of Police.]
 249

Neither can I conclude this letter without respectfully and earnestly sug
gesting to you the expediency of taking this occasion to draw from the Pro
vincial Government a definite explanation of its intentions with relation to your
claims against the Hingtae Hong : claims, it will be remembered, which have
been examined and certified in strict conformity with arrangements required
and sanctioned by this Government.
It seems to me to be an object of considerable importance to the general
interests of the trade, that my report to her Majesty's Government, detailing
the interruption of the public communications should be accompanied by a
statement of your own position in respect to these particular claims.
I will only detain you, gentlemen, to offer you the expression of my best
thanks for the courtesy and consideration which I have always received at
your hands.
I have, &c,
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT.



No. 111.

Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston.—(Received May 15, 1835.)

(Extract.) Macao, December 4, 1837.
In my mind, my Lord, the peaceful establishment of direct official inter
course is no longer of questionable or difficult accomplishment.
The principle that officers were not to reside in the Empire, has been
formally renounced by the Emperor himself, and that was the main obstacle;
the clearest admission of my right to direct sealed communications with the
Governor upon the ground of my official character, has been conceded ; an
official mistake in an edict describing me to be a merchant, has been publicly
acknowledged and corrected ; facilities (especially upon the plea that I was an
officer, and involving a direct official intercourse with the Mandarin here) have
been accorded; striking proofs of the disposition to devolve upon ine in my
official capacity the adjustment of all disputes, even between Chinese and my
own countrymen, have been afforded. On one occasion the Provincial Govern
ment has already communicated with me in a direct official shape ; and upon
my late departure from Canton, it was easy to perceive that the Governor was
prepared to fall entirely into that course, upon the condition that I should
waive the proposed change in the superscription of my addresses.
When to these circumstances be joined the consideration that the Pro
vincial Government has now been accustomed to a measured mode of official
address, which it is certain has been more agreeable to it. than the less guarded
tone of irresponsible individuals, I think, I may say that it is probable the
communications will be opened upon the required footing before the replies to
these despatches can arrive.
But at all events, I entertain a persuasion that a letter from your Lord
ship to the Cabinet at Pekin, written by Her Majesty's command, and sent to
the mouth of the Pei Ho, in a ship-of-war, would at once draw from the
Emperor an order for the concession of the point.
Your Lordship's letter might be sent here for translation ; and if the
communications were open, authority might be given to me to return it to
England.
If Her Majesty's Government, however, should be of opinion that the
proposition contained in my Despatch of November 19, 1837, were deserving
of attention, perhaps the object of direct official intercourse might form a
part of the instructions to the Special Commissioner.




2 K
 250

No. 112.

Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston.— {Received May 15, 1838.)

My Lord, Macao, December 7, 1837.
THE Edict I have now the honour to forward, reached me on the day
before your Lordship's despatch of 12th June, 1837.
I had drafted the accompanying note in reply, but the interruption of
the communications prevented me from transmitting it.
Perhaps your Lordship may be of opinion, that the menaces to stop
the regular trade, and to expel me from the empire, involved in this Edict,
strengthens the reasoning submitted in the memorandum inclosed in my
despatch of the 19th ult., in the advocacy of immediate and earnest ap
proaches to this court by Her Majesty's Government.
The language in which the stoppage of the regular trade is threatened,
if the opium ships have not sailed away in a month, is of questionable
construction.
It would rather seem to imply, that the Emperor shall be moved to
sanction the stoppage of the trade in a month, than that the trade itself
should be stopped in a month.
The original text has been very carefully translated ; and Mr. Morrison
concurs in my opinion, that a dubious interpretation is purposely intended ;
that is to say, that the foreigners should in the first place understand, that
the trade was to be stopped in a month, failing the departure of the opium
ships ; and if the menace should be of none effect, that his Excellency
might shape his conduct upon the more moderate reading, namely, seek
the Emperor's sanction in a month hence to close the holds.
Before His Imperial Majesty's commands could arrive, the trade of
the season would have been completed.
The whole state of circumstances, however, connected with this
opium question is in a condition of such uncertainty, that it is impossible
to devine what is meant ; and, indeed, it is not difficult to conceive, that
the Government itself does not know what it means, but is, in point of
fact, wandering, without fixed purpose, from project to project, or, it might
more properly be said, from blunder to blunder.
In the midst of all this incoherent conduct, it seems to me to be
highly necessary, for the protection of British interests, that a small naval
force should immediately be stationed somewhere in these seas.
I have, &c,
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT,
Chief Superintendent.

Inclosure 1 in No. 112.

The Prefect and Commandant of Canton to the Hong Merchants.
TANG, Governor of Kwangtung and Kwangse, and Ke, Lieutenant
Governor of Kwangtung, &c, Sic, &c Having before received a
despatch from the Council of State, communicating an Imperial Edict
which had been respectfully received, on the subject of driving away
the opium receiving-ships, We, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor,
have already given particular orders on this subject. We prescribed
a period, and commanded the said merchants to enjoin it earnestly and
impressively on the Superintendent Elliot, that he should require the
receiving-ships to take their departure. So long a time as two
months have now elapsed, and those receiving-ships remain still at
anchor as before. And the said Superintendent having plainly repre
sented to us, that the commands so enjoined could not be brought by him
to the knowledge of his King, we also directed the civil and military
authorities of the department of Kwang-Chow, to make a copy of our joint
commands, and to enjoin the same on the said Superintendent ; that in
obedience thereto, he might with speed send away the receiving-ships, and
require every one of them to depart and return to their country ; also, that
he might make it known to his King, in order that their return may for
the future be interdicted. This is on record. ■ ,
 251

Now, it appears, from the several successive reports and examinations
of the Commander of the Tapang Squadron, the naval and civil authorities
of the district of Heangshan, and the Sub-Prefect residing at Macao,
that the various receiving-ships have not yet taken their departure. This
is a gross act of contumacy and contempt.
We have now again received the following Imperial Edict :—
" Tang and his colleagues have presented a Memorial, in reference to
measures taken for driving away the receiving-ships, and to regulations
determined on for apprehending and punishing the brokers and smug
glers of opium. It appears from this Memorial, that the receiving-ships
of the English, and other nations have, of late years, under pretext of
taking shelter from the weather, been in the practice of entering the inner
seas. Commands have now been issued to the Hong merchants, to be by
them enjoined on the Superintendent of affairs of the said nation, requiring
that all the receiving-ships anchored off Lintin and other places, be sent
away and ordered by him to return to their country ; and that they be
not allowed as before to remain lingering at anchor. The senior Hong
merchants have also been commanded, as soon as the receiving-ships
start to return to their country, immediately to report the circumstance,
that it may be authentically ascertained by examination. The class of
' fast-crab boats ' has been completely swept away ; but there are yet
many smuggling boats under various other designations. These, as well
as the depraved gang of brokers, it is indeed impossible to suffer to con
tinue their unrestrained courses. The military officers of the circuits and
departments, and all the Vice Admirals and Commanders of Squadrons,
have, therefore, been directed to set an example to all their subordinates,
and to keep up a constant and unbroken guard for the purpose of
discovering and apprehending the guilty.
"The anchorage of foreign ships in the inner seas, and their combining
with natives, to introduce what is contraband, are the most aggravated
evils now existing in the province of Kwangtung. The Governor and his
colleagues, aforesaid, must faithfully and strictly make examination, and
clearly ascertain, whether, since they have issued these orders, the said
foreign Superintendent has or has not paid obedience to them ; and whether
the receiving-ships have or have not taken their departure ; they must
require the ships, one and all, to return to their country, and must not
suffer them to linger for a moment. If they dare to suffer gradual
encroachment, and to let the matter rest, at a future day, when I, the
Emperor, on inquiry hear of it, or am by any one informed thereof, the
said Governor and his colleauges alone will I hold responsible. In regard
to the various classes of smuggling vessels, it is still more important that
measures should be adopted with strictness to make seizure of them, with
the hope that they may be utterly destroyed and rooted up. Nor must
they, when perchance they have made a few seizures, forthwith declare
that they have entirely succeeded in removing them, and so still occasion
a continuance of the evil. Respect this,"
It is our duty immediately to pay respectful obedience to this, and
to issue orders, commanding the obedience of others. We, therefore,
forthwith issue these commands. When they reach the said Hong
merchants, let them immediately enjoin them upon the said Superin
tendent Elliot, that he likewise may obey the same. He must, within the
space of one month, pay respectful obedience to the declared Imperial
pleasure, by sending off various receiving-ships anchored in the outer
seas, requiring them, one and all, to return to their country ; and he must
report their departure for our official investigation, that we may report
the same to the throne. If they dare again, in any measure, to linger,
then the kindness and tenderness of the Celestial Empire having been
carried to the utmost, and there being no room left for additional favour,
it will remain only display the celestial terrors, and to make apparent the
glory of the established laws. We shall have to report plainly to the
Great Emperor, that the merchant ships may be denied permission to
open their holds, and that grasping the laws, we may pursue with them
the receiving-ships. And further, seeing that the said Superintendent, in
the discharge of his official duties, sits hand-bound idly looking on at the
2 K2
 252

unrestrained and illegal practices of depraved foreigners, even kicking
against our commands, and resisting the Imperial pleasure, we shall find
it difficult to believe that he is not guilty of the offence of sheltering and
giving license to these illegalities. We will assuredly proceed to expel
im, and drive him back to his country.
We, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, will, in the maintenance
of the laws, stand firm as the hills, and of a surety, will show no indul
gence. The said senior merchants are men to whom the Imperial pleasure
has allotted the duty of conducting forth this matter. If then, they
cannot, within the stated period, guide and instruct these foreigners in
the path of duty, and if the various receiving-ships continue to look
around them to view the course of events, and still remove far off the day
of their departure, in that case they shall also be degraded, and their
offences shall be visited with severity. Tremble at this—intensely,
intensely !
Taoukwang, 17th year, 10th month 22nd day (20th November, 1837.)
Translated from the Chinese,
(Signed) J. Hobt. Morrison,
Chinese Secretary and Interpreter.




Inclosure 2 in No. 112.

Captain Elliot to the Governor of Canton.

Canton, November 21, 1837,
THE Undersigned, &ic &c, has had the honour to receive your
Excellency's Edict of the 20th instant, addressed to the senior Hong
merchants, declaring that the general trade shall be stopped, and that he
shall be driven forth from the Empire, if he does not send away and
report the departure of the opium ships within the space of one month.
He has already faithfully and plainly signified the nature of his
situation with relation to the ships declared to trade in opium. And he
now again announces in distinct terms, that he has no authority to pursue
the course indicated in the Edict of the 20th.
Your Excellency is, in all respects, the fit judge of your own duties
and responsibility, and it certainly consists with your Excellency's power
to adopt these, or any more violent measures which may be determined
upon.
The Undersigned has only to remark upon this subject, that it will be
his immediate duty to report to Her Majesty's Government, and to the
Government of India, these menaces of an interrupted commerce, and of
his own expulsion from the Empire ; because he cannot, within the space
of one month, carry into effect extensive measures, which your Excellency
knows he is without authority or power to take at all.
It is to be feared that this intelligence will occasion extreme distress
to distant men, and too probably, serious misunderstandings between the
two Governments.
Upon these grave considerations, it is not the province of the Under
signed to do more than touch, and he will, therefore, only avail himself of
this occasion to renew to your Excellency, &c &c
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT.
 253




No. 113.

Captain Elliot to the Foreign Office.—{Received May 24, 1838.)

(Extract.) Macao, January 18, 1838
THE boat of a Mr. Just (a British subject, and a watch-maker,
resident at Canton) was visited a few evenings since, being then about
two miles above the Factories, by some Mandarin runners, and there they
discovered three cases of opium. This is the first instance, for many
years, of a searching visit on board European boats, and it is to be
apprehended the practice may be inconveniently extended: the more so,
as several of these boats are armed.
It seems that this affair might have been settled on the night it
happened, by a bribe of 2,000 dollars to the seizing officer, but Mr. Just
would not go beyond the half of that sum. On the next day, the
matter necessarily fell within the knowledge of a wider circle of Man
darins, who would all require bribery to keep the business out of the
Viceroy's public sight. In due course, therefore, the demand for bribes
amounted to 6,000 dollars; and at the date of the last advices from
Canton (the 16th), the affair was still unfinished, and the terms for accom
modation were rising rapidly. If the seizure is publicly reported to the
Viceroy, it will lead to some serious mischief ; and at all events, the
Hong merchant, who is the landlord of Mr. Just's house (and who has
no more to do with the business than I have) will be a severe sufferer.




No. 114.

Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston. —(Received June 4, 1838.)

My Lord, Macao, February 5, 1838.
THE paper I have the honour to inclose, is a Memorial from the
Provincial Government to the Emperor, regarding the contraband trade;
and proposing the stoppage of the regular commerce, till the opium-
receiving ships shall have finally taken their departure from Lintin and
the neighbouring anchorages.
This document, to which the Chinese appear to attach considerable
importance, left Canton for the Court, towards the end of December, so
that the answers may be expected in the course of a few weeks. And I
have been led to understand, it is possible that the same despatches will
furnish the Provincial Government with instructions, in reply to the
report of my retirement from Canton.
In my judgment, the interruption of the trade is less likely to ensue
from the commands of the Court, than from some grave disaster arising
out of collision between the Government craft and our own armed boats
on the river.
Loss of life in a conflict of that kind, would at once compel the
Government to adopt the most urgent proceedings ; and the actual con
dition of circumstances, certainly renders such a catastrophe probable in
the very highest degree.
I have, &c,
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT,
Chief Superintendent.
 254


Inclosure in No. 1 14.

Memorial from, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Hoppo, to the
Emperor, regarding the existing state of the contraband Trade, §c.

THE Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Hoppo, forwarded on the
30th of December, 1837, a joint memorial to the Emperor, respecting the
measures adopted against the receiving-ships, the actual condition of
those ships, and the repeated seizures made of sycee silver and opium, and
of the boats which supply the ships with provisions, in answer to the Im
perial Commands. They intreat His Majesty graciously to condescend to
examine these subjects.
We received, in the month of October, through the Grand Council of
State, an Imperial decree, of the following tenor :—

" Tang and the others (the Lieutenant Governor and the Hoppo)
have sent in a report, from which it appears, that they had given orders
to drive the receiving-ships away, and adopted measures to seize the opium
dealers and smugglers.
- " The English receiving-ships and merchantmen, with those of other
nations, under pretence of seeking shelter against storms, have, of late
years, sailed into the inner seas. The Hong merchants were, therefore,
ordered to enjoin it upon the Superintendent of the said nation, that he
should make all the receiving-ships, anchored at Lintin and other places,
return to their country, and should not permit them, as formerly, to remain
at anchor and loiter about. As soon as the receiving-ships should get
under weigh to return to their country, the Hong merchants had orders
to report the same.
" It is found, on examination, that an entire clearance of the fast
boats [a class of smuggling boats] has been made; but the various classes
of vessels still engaged in smuggling, are yet numerous; and their nefa
rious practices, as well as those of the opium dealers, are such as cannot
be permitted to go on. Therefore orders have been issued to the civil as
well as naval authorities, diligently to direct the cruizers under their
command, in making careful search and seizing all such offenders.
" One of the greatest evils under which the province of Canton groans,
is, that barbarian vessels, anchoring in the inner seas, form connexions
for smuggling. The Governor and the others ought to investigate care
fully, whether the said foreign Superintendent has indeed obeyed the
injunctions, and the foreign ships have now sailed, or not: and they must,
by all means, compel them all to return home without delay. If, however,
they dare to compromise this matter, and I, the Emperor, should after
wards, upon inquiry, hear of it, or any one should bring an accusation to
that effect, I shall, in that case, only hold the said Governor and his
colleagues responsible. The most severe measures must be adopted
against the smuggling craft, that their seizure may be effected ; and my
expectation is, that they may be extirpated, root and branch. After
having made an occasional seizure, do not immediately say, that you have
annihilated the whole, and so leave room for continued illegalities and
crimes.
" Acquaint with these orders, Tang and Ke, and let them transmit
the same to Wan (the Hoppo). Respect this."
[Here ends the quotation of the Imperial Order recently received,
to which the authorities make the following reply.]

We, your Ministers, read this, in a kneeling posture, with deepest
veneration, admiring the care bestowed by your Majesty upon a corner of
the sea, and the earnest desire shown to remove with energy, the existing
evils.
Having .carefully examined the charts of the inner and outer seas, we
find that the Ladrone Islands constitute their boundary. Beyond them
is the wide and boundless ocean, the black water of the foreign seas, which
are not under the controul of the central tei-ritory. Inside of them, at
the offings, for instance, of Lintin, the Nine Islands, and other places,
 255

are the " outer seas," which are under the jurisdiction of Canton. Where
the sea washes the shore of the interior districts, it is called the " inner
sea," and of such inlets Kumsingmoon affords an instance. Barbarian
ships, since 1830, under pretence of seeking shelter from the winds, have
sailed frequently in Kumsingmoon, during the fourth and fifth months,
and remained at anchor there until the ninth. As soon as the north wind
set in, they removed to Lintin and anchored there. In the winter of last
year, we prohibited this most severely, and also erected a battery at the
entrance, whilst we stationed there a naval squadron to prevent most
strenuously the ingress of the ship. No barbarian craft, therefore,
entered, but they continued to anchor at Lintin and the adjoining places.
Whilst, thus, no receiving-ship now remains in the " inner seas," it is
nevertheless a fact, that they still exist in the " outer seas."
Formerly, in regard to the receiving-ships anchored in the outer seas,
the commanders of the cruizers always stated, that their coming and
going were so uncertain, that their actual number could not be ascer
tained. We, your Ministers, however, conceiving that the names and
number of the receiving-ships were generally known, and that it was
requisite to obtain accurate information regarding them, before adopting
measures against them, would not permit them thus to conceal the facts,
and refrain from speaking out freely; thus "to close the ear while the
earrings were being stolen." We, therefore, last year, gave orders to all
the naval cruizers, to ascertain their exact numbers, and if, from time to
time, any newly arrived or went away, and to present reports regarding
their movements every ten days. They communicated the result of their
investigation, having found, after due examination, that there were
altogether twenty-five sail, which had staid there for a long time. The
greater number were English country ships; and there were, besides,
vessels under the American, French, Dutch, Manilla, and Danish flags, of
each from one or two, to three or four. Some came, and others went, but
their average number did not exceed this. These, then, are the facts as
to the existing number of the receiving-ships.
When, in obedience to the Imperial Orders, we had issued, this year,
our strict injunctions to the said Hong merchants and the Superintendent
Elliot, to send these ships back to their country, a Naval Captain subse
quently reported, that in September, one single ship, a Dutch one, had
lifted her anchors and sailed out beyond the Ladrone. The truth of this
we have ascertained by inquiry. Since, however, only one vessel had left,
we could not then report the circumstance ; for the remainder, although
they also had hoisted their sails, and lifted their anchors, yet, moving
some to the east, and others to the west, they had none of them proceeded
beyond the Ladrone Islands. Though unwilling to offer contumacious
disobedience, yet they cannot refrain from lingering about, indulging
hopes and anticipations. For these are not matters of one year alone,
nor are the vessels from one country only. Though the opium is con
traband, yet to them it is a property highly valuable ; and these depraved
barbarians, hankering after gain alone, are therefore unwilling to throw
this commodity away, and use every possible expedient and means to
obtain some temporary respite. This is the true cause why it is yet a fact,
that all the receiving-ships have not within the allotted period sailed
away.
We, your Ministers, are under the highest obligations, for having
been vouchsafed the great and high favour of being entrusted with the
command of the sea-coast ; and our duty is to eradicate every depraving
and vicious practice. We received, on a previous occasion, the expres
sion of your Majesty's pleasure, enjoining us to issue severe orders to the
Hong merchants, in regard to the sending home of the receiving-ships.
We have now again received a proof of your Majesty's condescension
in investigating these matters ; and, burning with the deepest anxiety, we
are filled with fear and trembling. Having again issued severe orders to
the Merchants, Howqua and the others, to command the instant depar
ture of these vessels, they reported to us, that the Superintendent, Elliot
would not give them precise and true answers to this requirement, and
that, in reply to their inquiries addressed to the foreign merchants ; they
were told, that the receiving-ships were not the property of those mer
 256

chants, and it wag, therefore, out of their power to drive them away.
Thus, they on all hands make excuses, and again seek for delay.
We, your Ministers, have on examination, found that, according to
law, whenever foreigners prove refractory, the trade ought to be stopped,
in order to give a fair warning and merited punishment. As they are
thus determinate in pursuit of gain, and can come to no resolution [to
send away the ships] there ought to be a temporary stoppage of the
trade, in order to cut off their expectations. Yet, so many nations parti
cipate in this commerce, while the receiving-ships belong only to a few
States, that due investigation ought to be made, so as to distinguish
between them, and to prevent good foreigners from suffering by this
measure.
We have, therefore, ordered the Hong merchants to inquire, how
many nations have hitherto had commercial intercourse? how many
amongst them have traded honestly, and had no receiving-ships? and
how many there have really been possessed of such ship? We directed
them to send in a distinct and clear statement of these matters, for our
guidance in adopting measures.
We, at the same time, gave the strictest orders, that they should
again enjoin your Majesty's strict commands upon the resident foreign
merchants, not permitting them to make excuses to obtain delay and
extricate themselves from this dilemma; but threatening, if again they
should prove dilatory, and still should nourish hopes, that the hatches
shall be immediately closed, and a stoppage of the trade ensue. We
desired those foreign merchants to consider fully, whether it be better
that they suffer these receiving-ships still to exist, or that they should
continue to reap for ever the advantages of a free [legal] commerce,—
to weigh well, which of these two things will be the gain, and which the
loss, we desired that they should carefully make their election, and that
they should no longer, by persevering in their blindness and refusing to
be awrakened, bring upon themselves cause for bitter repentance.
We find, on examination, that every nation earns a subsistence by this
trade. All the merchants run together, bringing hither their goods to
exchange for our commodities. They certainly will not consent to throw
away their property by waiting here at a ruinous loss of time. The
rhubarb, the teas, the porcelain, the silk, and other articles of this
country, are moreover necessary to those nations. On account of distur
bances created by barbarians, in 1808, and in 1834, the hatches were
closed, and afterwards they earnestly supplicated to have them re-opened.
Hence it appears, and past events fully prove it, that the various nations
cannot withdraw themselves from looking up to the flowery central land.
Tf they be now intimidated, therefore, by the stoppage of trade, they will
probably no longer allow the receiving-ships to remain, lest by such con
tumacious conduct they effectually damage their means of livelihood.
And if in this way they be indeed aroused and awakened, and the vessels
be sent away by them, then matters will fall into their former quiet
course, and there will be no need to take any further measures. If, how
ever, they, with inveterate obstinacy, still offer open defiance to the laws,
it will then be for us to adopt new expedients, and propose to the Court
other measures for their punishment.
We have, while suggesting this course, written at the same time to
the Naval Commander-in-chief of the province, that he may, in concert
with the captains of the cruizers, himself adopt measures for expelling
the receiving-ships ; and have earnestly desired him to watch carefully
their movements, and to instil into them a wholesome terror and dread ;
not to allow any to be careless and neglectful of their duty ; nor yet to
commit such blunders as may give rise to affrays and strife. It is our
confident expectation, that these steps will be attended with advantage.
We call to mind, that the receiving-ships anchored in the outer seas,
need a daily supply of the necessaries of life, for which they are de
pendent on our country. Worthless vagabonds from the coast are
accustomed to embark in small boats, pretending to go out fishing, whilst
they in fact put a variety of provisions and other articles on board, and
go to the ships to sell them : these are called ' bum-boats.' The depraved
barbarians, while they can look to these for supplies, are thereby enabled
 257

to prolong their stay : but if these supplies were cut off, we might succeed
in getting rid of them.
We, your Ministers, have for some time past, made seizure of opium
dealers and smugglers of every description, without mercy, in order to
prevent the exportation of Sycee silver and the importation of opium, and
thus to put a stop to this contraband traffic We have now also given
orders to capture these bum-boats, and not to permit them to have com
munication with the ships on the outer seas, in order that we may cut off
the supplies of those vicious men. The said barbarians will then have
nothing to hope for; their expectations will be groundless; matters will
come to extremes; and circumstances will then necessarily be changed;
so that the fountain may be purified, the stream of impurity being in fact
arrested.
According to the reports forwarded by the officers of the Tapang
and Heangshan stations, four of these bum-boats, with some cargo,
and twenty-eight vagabonds in them, had been taken, and sent to the
provincial city, where the men will meet with a most severe judgment.
Lin Tszelin, Chin Aark, and Ting Asan, together with other scoundrels
formerly taken with Sycee silver and opium, have been repeatedly
examined, and their sentence has been forwarded for the Imperial
approval. During the present year, according to the report transmitted
by the military and civil authorities and other official persons, they have
made, from the beginning of spring, until the close of December, thirty
seizures,—in all a hundred and forty-four offenders ; of silver, eight
thousand six hundred and sixty-one taels in Sycee, and three thousand
and twenty-seven taels in foreign money ; and of opium, three thousand
eight hundred and forty-two catties. The criminals were all severally
judged ; the money was given as a reward to the captors, and the opium
was burned. The haunts of opium dealers have also been found out, and
after investigation, the public seal was placed upon them, while orders
were issued for the apprehension of the persons frequenting them. The
above particulars are all authenticated by entries on the records.
Your Ministers have now been earnestly engaged in these measures
for one year. They dare not yet say that their efforts have had the full
effect to be desired. But, with regard to the existing state of things in the
Provincial city, it may be observed, that the price of Sycee silver is at
present very low ; and that opium, one ball of which, on board the foreign
vessels, formerly cost the traitorous nations about thirty dollars, brings
now only from sixteen to eighteen dollars. Of the smuggled silver, too,
that has been seized, a large portion has been foreign money, which would
seem to imply that to export silver is now comparatively difficult. The
proofs of the foreigners having to sell at reduced prices, and of their
receiving payment in foreign money, being thus clear, the course that has
now been adopted, if pursued with vigour and firmness, for a long period,
and if followed up by the seizure of Sycee silver, and the capture of bum-
boats, as measures of the first importance, will greatly tend to increase
the wealth of the port and to remove abuses, and will thus prove
extremely beneficial.
But, there being many crafty and cunning devices which fail of
success, numerous complaints have hence arisen, proceeding from
malicious tongues, that these failures are brought on by the measures now
adopted. Some there are, bobbling scandal-mongers, who represent, that
w^e, your Ministers, if besought by those who bring reach offerings in their
hands, are not unwilling to accept gifts. Others, speculating men, of
ruined fortunes, declare, that the civilians and the military officers, when
bribed, liberate,—and apprehend only when unfee'd; that, in searching
[for contraband articles], they contrive only to annoy the [honest] mer
chant ; and that, if they perchance do make a seizure, they then make it
appear, that the contraband goods have been sunk, and are lost. Others,
again, are there, anxious, fearful-minded men, who lament these proceed
ings, saying, that since these urgently-preventive measures have been
adopted, the foreign merchant-vessels that have come hither have been
but few ; that the teas and silk have come into a dull market ; that the
circulation of capital and interchange of goods has been far from brisk,
so that the merchants cannot preserve themselves from overwhelming
embarrassments, and that part of Canton province must be reduced to
wretchedness ; further, that since search is now being made in every place
for idle people and vagrants, in order to seize them, man)' of the boat
people are in consequence thrown out of employment, and it may justly be
feared, that they will be driven to plunder, and that robberies will daily be
multiplied.
These and similar rumours are confidently circulated ; but they are
all the slanderous assertions of the credulous or the malicious, intended to
trouble the minds of us, your Ministers, to disturb the steadiness of our
hearing, and confuse the correctness of our vision.
Though we venture [not] to be wholly wedded to our opinions, nor to
act as if we heard nothing, and though, therefore, we seek to examine,
with the greatest impartiality, every well-founded rumour, and all well-
authenticated accusations of abuse, with the hope of preserving the
whole system of affairs free from taint or imperfection ; yet will we not
give way to apprehensions, which would render us fearful to begin
anything, or afraid to carry it to an ending, and would reduce us to the
condition of him, who having a hiccough, left off swallowing food.
We will faithfully, with our whole heart and soul, discharge our duty
in managing these affairs, and will allow in ourselves no remissness in the
issuing of orders to that end. Having received such great and abundant
favours from your Majesty, we dare not screen ourselves even from the
malice of rancourous slander, and never will we incur the guilt of acting
deceitfully or ungratefully. Thus we would hope to meet your Sacred
Majesty's most earnest wish, that we should make truth our motto.
We have thus minutely represented matters to your Majesty, and
have united in preparing this memorial, in reply to your Majesty's
commands.
True Translation.
(Signed) J. Robt. Morrison,
Chinese Secretary and Interpreter.


No. 1 16.

Viscount Palmerston to Captain Elliot.


Sir, Foreign Office, June 15, 1838.
HER Majesty's Government have had under their consideration your
despatches of the 29th November and 4th December, 1837, in which you
report your proceedings in execution of the Instructions conveyed to you in
my despatch of last year, relative to the manner in which you should send
communications to, and receive them from, the Chinese Authorities at Canton.
I have to acquaint you that Her Majesty's Government approve the course
which you have pursued ; and as the Chinese Authorities persisted in their refusal
to communicate with you in the manner required, Her Majesty's Government
consider that you were perfectly right in retiring from Canton to Macao.
With respect to the smuggling trade in opium, which forms the subject of
your despatches of the 18th and 19th November, and 7th December, 1837, I
have to state, that Her Majesty's Government cannot interfere for the purpose
of enabling British subjects to violate the laws of the country to which they
trade. Any loss, therefore, which such persons may suffer in consequence of the
more effectual execution of the Chinese laws on this subject, must be borne
by the parties who have brought that loss on themselves by their own acts.
Withrespect to the plan proposed by you in your despatch of the 19th No
vember, for bending a Special Commissioner to Tchusan, to endeavour to effect
some arrangement with the Chinese Government about the opium trade,
Her Majesty's Government do not see their way in such a measure with suffi
cient clearness to justify them in adopting it at the present moment.
I am, &c,
(Signed) PALMERSTON.
 No. 117.

Captain Elliot to Viscount Palmerston.—(Received November 12, 1838.)

My Lord, Macao, March 29, 1838.
I HAVE the honour to transmit a letter from Mr. Robert Inglis,
Chairman of a meeting of certain creditors on the bankrupt Hong Hing-
tae, covering a memorial to your Lordship, and a printed copy of the
correspondence which has taken place between the foreign creditors and
the Provincial Government upon the subject of their claims.
The Inclosure No. 4, is my reply to Mr. Inglis.
Your Lordship will no doubt desire to be placed in possession of the
fullest means of forming a decision on this appeal to Her Majesty's
Government.
And I have, therefore, considered it right to transmit a statement
recently published at this place, entitled " The Chinese Security Mer
chants in Canton and their debts." It is the work of a gentleman
formerly in the Company's China Service, and subsequently of many years'
mercantile experience in this country.
A diligent application to the subject may entitle me to testify to that
portion of this able exposition which is matter of record, and 1 feel that
I am only performing an act of duty to your Lordship, in respectfully
drawing it under your attentive notice.
The extremely serious embarrassments which form the ground of the
memorial I have had the honour to transmit, have had their origin since
the opening of the trade, and are altogether the result of commercial
transactions, in strong distinction to former bankruptcies, which arose
for the most part out of speculation of money advances on a high rate of
interest.
This first occasion of such a crisis as the present, seems to me to be
a necessary and a favourable conjuncture for combining just demands for
prompt payment, with earnest efforts to establish our commerce in this
Empire on a sounder basis.
The free traders, it will probably be felt by Her Majesty's Government,
are not in a situation to sustain a long deprivation of large portions of
their trading capital. Or, indeed, looking to the period for payment either
yet offered, or likely to be offered, and having regard to the rate of interest
in the country, the state of facts might more properly be described to
amount to a total absorption of their capital.
They are wholly without the means which the Company possessed of
re-establishing the balance, by the power of practically regulating the
market here, and also to a very considerable extent in Europe.
Indeed, my Lord, there is strong reason to conclude, that nothing
but considerable modification of the Chinese monopoly can prevent the
frequent recurrence of disasters of this description, each more complicated
and extensive than the last. •
Being anxious to forward these papers just received from Canton, by
the present opportunity, I would beg your Lordship to accept my excuse
for a hurried despatch on a very important subject, to which, however, I
shall recur in the course of a few days.
I have &c
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT.


Inclosure 1 in No. 117.

Mr. Inglis to Captain Elliot.
Sir, Canton, March 24, 1838.
IN pursuance of the resolution of a public meeting of British
merchants, held in Canton, on the 21st instant, I have the honour, as
Chairman of the meeting, to hand you a memorial, adopted by the firms
whose signatures are attached to it, addressed to Her Majesty's Chief
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, upon the subject of their claims upon the
Chinese Hong merchants. I have further to request, in the name of the
2 L 2
 260

memorialists, that you will transmit it to the Foreign Secretary, accom
panied by such explanation and remarks as, in your opinion, may be
desirable for the information of Her Majesty's Government, upon the
subject of which it treats ; and I have great pleasure in concurring in
■ the hope of the subscribers, that the prayer of the memorial will be found
to merit and obtain your most cordial and zealous support.
The document is accompanied by a printed copy of the correspond
ence referred to in it, between the foreign creditors of the Hongs, and the
Chinese authorities of Canton.
I have, &c,
(Signed) ROBERT INGLIS.


Inclosure 2 in No. 117.

Memorial to Viscount Palmerston.

My Lord, Canton, March 21, 1838.
WE, the Undersigned British merchants, trading at Canton in
China, have the honour to address your Lordship, through the mediation
of Her Britannic Majesty's Chief Superintendent, respecting certain heavy
debts owed to us by the Chinese Hong merchants ; and we respectfully
but earnestly intreat your Lordship to lay our case before Her Majesty's
Council, with a view to obtain the powerful interposition of our own
Government, with that under which we at present live, to endeavour to
obtain an early payment of our actual claims, and a readier means of
recovery of those which, under the existing circumstances of the foreign
trade with this country, we must, we fear, inevitably incur in future.
Your Lordship is aware, no doubt, that we are limited in our
dealings in all the principal staples of the legal foreign trade with China,
to about a dozen parties, called Hong or Security merchants. These
merchants trade separately, but they are mutually responsible for the
Government dues which each may incur, and also for their respective
debts to the foreigners. Your memorialists are allowed no voice in the
nomination of these security merchants ; nor have we any means to ascer
tain their capital or other qualifications for their trust ; but the Chinese
Government, which takes this responsibility upon itself, guarantees the
engagements which the Chinese merchants form with us; and the prin
cipal of the Hong debts, without interest, has always been paid for the
last twenty or thirty years, by the whole body, or Co-Hong, under the
authority of the Government.
The period, however, within which the debts should be paid, has been
left to be settled between the security merchants and the foreigners, and
has always been a point of much contention. The former have usually
succeeded in fixing a term of years within which the foreign capital in
their possession might double itself almost twice over by compound in
terest ; and the British merchants have been indebted for the attainment
of even this boon to the influence of the East India Company's late factory
in China, as well as for the means of repayment through their large
transactions with the Hongs ; facilities which your memorialists no longer
enjoy.
Of the thirteen Hong merchants which existed at the beginning of
1837, three or four are now avowedly insolvent. Their united debts,
according to their own report, amount to upwards of 3,000,000 dollars,
besides about 750,000 dollars which they owe to the Government for
duties. One of these security merchants, named Hing-tae, has been
formally declared bankrupt, and his debts to foreigners, proved by a com
mittee appointed for the purpose, by the Co-hong and foreigners mutually,