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manded the hong merchants to question him with authoritative sternness as to what he wished to do in presumptuously coming to Canton without having obtained a permit, and in suddenly bringing the ships of war into the inner river; and we required that he should make plain and distinct answers, in which case he should be permitted to leave Canton; but if otherwise, (we threatened) that exterminating power should assuredly be brought into operation, and that there decidedly should be no alleviation or indulgence.

Thereafter, on the 16th day of the 8th moon (September 18th), the hong mer-. chants, Woo Tunyuen and the others, reported that the said nation's private merchants, Colledge and others, had stated to them, that lord Napier acknowledged that, because it was his first entrance into the inner land, he was ignorant of the prohibitions, and therefore he had come at once to Canton, without having obtain.. ed a permit; that the ships of war were really for the purpose of protecting goods, and had entered the Bocca Tigris by mistake; that now he was himself aware of his error, and begged to be graciously permitted to go down to Macao; and that the ships should immediately go out, and he therefore begged permission for them to leave the port. We, your majesty's ministers, again considered, that, although the said barbarian eye repented of his fault, yet it had been repeatedly inquired on what account he came to Canton, and what was written in the letter originally presented; but from first to last he had not told plainly; that as to the statement," that the sudden entrance of the ships of war into the port was an offense committed through mistake,” that was but a glossing pretense; and that when the soldiers opened from their guns a thundering fire upon them, they had the daring presumption to discharge their guns at them in return, thereby causing rafters and tiles within the forts to be shaken and injured;-how came they to be thus bold and audacious! On these points we further commanded the hong mer chants to inquire with stern severity.

This being done, the said barbarian merchant, Colledge, on the 18th day (Sept. 20th), again stated to Woo Tunyuen and the others, that lord Napier had really come to Canton for the purpose of directing commercial affairs, and therefore considering himself an officer, is called superintendent; that what was written in the letter formerly presented was that he, being an officer of the barbarians, was not the same as a taepan (supracargo), and wished therefore to have official correspondence to and fro with the civil and military officers of the celestial empire, which is what courtesy entitles to; nothing else whatever was said in the letter. That, as to the ships of war entering the port, it was really because the merchant ships having their holds closed, apprehensions were entertained, that owing to the long continuance of the goods therein, evils of remissness might arise, and therefore they entered the port for the purpose of protecting. That the soldiers of the maritime pass having opened on them a thundering fire, the barbarian force also fired off its guns in self defense, whereby the forts received injury; and that the error is deeply repented of, and the damage done shall be immediately repaired; but that he, lord Napier, begs to be graciously permitted to have a passport to go down to Macao. A prepared report, as above, having come before us, we, your majesty's ministers, with the Sze and Taou officers, (the heads of the territorial, financial, judicial, gabel, and commissariat departments,) have maturely consulted together. Lord Napier has repeatedly resisted and adhered to his own opinion, that he being an official eye among the barbarians, there is no distinction of honorable and low rank between him and the officers of the inner land: and he has thought to contend respecting ceremonies. But the dignity of the nation sets up a wide barrier; and we, your majesty's ministers, would not suffer the progress of encroachment. The ships of war, having entered the port nominally, for the purpose of protecting goods, immediately felt themselves to be closely restricted. At this time the naval and land forces were ranged out in order, arrayed as on a chess-board; the fire vessels also were made ready: were advantage taken of this occasion while the ships still found it impossible either to advance or recede, and an attack made on them on all sides, there would be no difficulty in instantly having their lives within our power. But our august sovereign cherishes those from far virtuously, and soothingly treats outside barbarians, exercising to the utmost limit both benevolence and justice. If any be contumacious, they are corrected; if submissive, they are pardoned; but never are extreme measures adopted towards them. Although lord

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Napier has entertained absurd visionary fancies, he yet has shown no real disregard of the laws: it would not be well precipitately to visit him with exterminating measures. Besides the private merchants of the said nation, several thousands in number, all consider the barbarian eye's disobedience of the laws to be wrong. There is not one who unites and accords with him. Still more improper, therefore, would it be, to make no distinction between common and precious stones. Now, lord Napier, having acknowledged his error, and solicited favor, and all the separate merchants having repeatedly made humble supplications, there certainly should be some slight indulgence shown; and he should be driven out of the port; to the end that, while the foreign barbarians are made to tremble with terror, they may also be rendered grateful by the favor of the celestial empire shown in its. benevolence, kindness, and great indulgence.

We having all consulted together, the views of every one were accordant, where upon permission was given that he should be let go. And it is authenicated, that the said hong merchants went to the Canton custom-house to request and receive a red passport; while I, your majesty's minister Loo, deputed trusty civil and military officers, who on the 19th (September 21st), took lord Napier, and under their escort (or guard) he was driven out of the port. At the same time orders were given to wait reverently until the imperial mandate has been received, that it may be obeyed and acted on. The two said barbarian ships of war got under weigh, also, on the same day, and dragging over shallows the whole way, were on the 22d, driven out of the Bocca Tigris. All the government forces, naval and military, which had been appointed to guard places, were ordered back again, and returned severally to their regiments, or to their cruising grounds.

With regard to Macao, Lantao, and other places, I, your majesty's minister Loo, ordered the footseäng in command on the Heängshan station, Tsin Yuchang, and the tsantseäng of the Lymoon station, Tan Seungming, severally to cruise about, guarding those places. Afterwards I also appointed, in addition, the toosze commanding at Woochow, Wang Kinsew, to proceed with a body of 300 soldiers to Macao, to join the garrison in guard of the place: and I appointed also a naval force of vessels from Yangkeäng to cruise about, with real activity, in the anchorages near to Macao. The said barbarian ships of war having now gone out of the port. it is still more requisite and necessary to keep up a strict and close preventive guard. While we again inculcate directions to cruise about with fixed purpose of maintaining guard, and also to bring to trial the careless and negligent naval officers, that they may suffer the punishment of their stupidity; we will prepare likewise a distinct memorial respecting the regulations of the forts. Besides which, we now respectfully take the circumstances of having driven out, under guard, the barbarian eye and the ships of war, and in conjunction with the garrison lieutenant-generals, your majesty's minister Lun, of the imperial kindred, and your majesty's minister Tso, as well as with the commander in chief of the land forces, your majesty's minister Tsang, we unite in forming this reverent memorial, to be forwarded by the post conveyance, whereon we, prostrate, beg our august sove reign to cast a sacred glance, and to grant instructions. Respectfully reported.

(No. 15.)

Imperial edict in reply to the government report of lord Napier's having left Canton and of the frigates having retired without the Bogue, dated at Peking, October 7th. 1834. A report has this day been received, by a speedy post conveyance, from Ha Fungah (the general-commandant of Canton,) and his colleagues, announcing that the English ships of war and the barbarian eye had all been conducted, under guard, out of the port.

On this occasion, the English barbarian eye, lord Napier, having come to Canton for trade, did not pay obedience to the laws and statutes, and the said governor, according to law, closed the ships' holds; after which, the said barbarian eye still did not request a permit, but presumed to order two ships of war to push in through the maritime entrance, and to proceed straight up to Whampoa in the inner river. The said governor appointed civil and military officers with troops, and addressed communications, requesting the appointment of naval vessels from the Tartar force, and from those under the admiral's command, as well as cruising vessels from Sinhwuy and other districts; which he stationed severally along the passages before the ships of war, and at narrow and important places on either shore.

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The people of the said barbarian ships of war saw before them wooden spars ranged across and all around on the surface of the river, with guns and muskets (in number) as the trees of a forest, and large and small naval vessels stationed over a space of several miles in length, while on shore military officers and men were encamped, presenting a compact and united force, and a military array imposing and alarming. The said barbarian eye and others remained therefore secluded in their boats, there being no interchange of intelligence between those within and those without, and no way either to advance or to go out. With dread and fear they repented of their offenses, and supplicated earnestly for a permit to go down to Macao.

The said governor considered, that as the said barbarian eye and others had transgressed the prohibitions with daring contempt, if they were at once permitted to leave Canton, thus coming and going at their own pleasure, there would not be the power sufficient to intimidate and bring under the barbarians' tempers; and therefore he commanded the hong merchants, Wootunyuen and others, to question them sternly as to what the said barbarian eye wished to do; why he came to Canton without having obtained a permit, and presumed to bring the ships of war suddenly into the inner river; also why, when the soldiers opened a thundering fire upon them, they presumptuously dared to discharge their guns and return resistance; requiring from them plain and explicit answers, before permitting them to leave Canton..

Afterwards, a merchant of the said barbarians,. Colledge, answered, saying, "that lord Napier is indeed a barbarian eye, not the same as a taepan; that he was unacquainted with matters of dignity; that the cause of the cruisers coming into the port was really for the protection of goods, in consequence of the holds of merchant ships having been closed: and that, in consequence of the military of the maritime entrance having opened a thundering fire upon them, the barba rian force also discharged its guns in self-defense; but that they have deeply repented of their fault." Also, the said nation's merchants and seamen, several thousand in number, all considered the said barbarian eye's disobedience of the laws and statutes to be wrong, and there was not a single person who joined in harmony with him.

The said governor considered that, as the said barbarian eye, lord Napier, had confessed his fault and besought favor, and as all the merchants had repeatedly made earnest supplications, it doubtless behoved him to extend a slight trifling indulgence and to drive him out of the port; and he therefore permitted the said hong merchants to proceed to the superintendent of customs, to request and obtain a red permit. The said governor immediately appointed trusty civil and military offieers, who, on the 19th day of the 8th moon, took lord Napier under guard, outside of the port. Both the said barbarian ships of war, also started on the same day, and were conducted under guard, outside of the maritime entrance of the Bogue. All the naval and military officers and men who had been stationed at various places were every one recalled, and returned severally to their stations.

At the time when it was equally impossible for the said barbarians to advance or to recede, what difficulty would there have been in immediately exterminating them ? But these outside barbarians are in search of gain; to intimidate them on points whereon they are altogether unacquainted with the laws aud prohibitions, and to refuse altogether arguing with them, is, what I, the emperor, am extremely unwilling to do. If contumelious, they should then be chastised; if brought under subjection, they should then be tolerated. The said governor and colleagues, in conducting this affair, have yet acted skillfully and correctly. Before, on account of the said governor and colleagues not having been able to take due preventive measures before the business, thereby admitting the said ships of war to push into the river, causing to the military the labor of driving them out, my pleasure was therefore made known, that they should be severally degraded from their rank and openly punished. Now, having driven the said barbarian eye and others out of the port, the said governor and others, although at the beginning they failed in a preventive guard, having in the end been able to settle the thing well and securely, without loss of the national dignity, and without incurring any bloody strife, I, the emperor, am exceedingly well pleased.

Let Loo have favor shown him, by restoring to him the title of 'guardian of the heir apparent;' and also let the double eyed peacock's feather be given back to him.

The neglect of guard on the previous occasion rendered it difficult for him to free himself wholly from blame; let him therefore still continue degraded from official rank, though retained in office. With regard to all maritime guard officers, and the naval commander in chief; the special responsibility rested on the late commander in chief, Le, who has been already degraded. Now, as the matter has been brought to an end, let further inquiry be dispensed with, and let him be directed immediately to return to his native place. Let Kaou Eyung, the degraded tsantseäng of the admiral's own squadron, wait till after the month of wearing the cangue be accomplished, and then be released. Let all the officers who guarded the fort with so much carelessness be made to wear the cangue, and after the expiration of the time let them be released.

In this, I, the emperor, show favor beyond the measure of the laws. The said governor and others ought but to feel shame, and arouse to diligence, strenuously exerting themselves to stimulate a reform in the affairs of the camp and of the maritime guard, from time to time instructing and admonishing with sincerity. It is peremptory, that they take their former accumulated habits, and with contrition, eradicate them singly, in order to cause the military to be all strong and powerful, so that the martial name and dignity may be strengthened, and the appointed duties may be performed. Respect this.

Our limits do not afford us opportunity to notice here the many distortions, misrepresentations, and coucealments, contained in the foregoing documents. The principal circumstances connected with his lordship's death, have been narrated in the papers, relative to that mournful event, published in our last number. We shall resume this subject in our next; but dismiss it for the present with the following supreme mandate:

The English barbarians have an open market in the inner land: but there has hitherto been no interchange of official communications. It is, however, absolutely requisite that there should be a person possessing general control, to have the special direction of affairs. Let the said governor immediately order the hong merchants to command the said separate merchants, that they send a letter back to their country, calling for the appointment of another person as taepan, to come for the control and direction of commercial affairs, in accordance with the old regulations. Respect this.

ART. V. Journal of occurrences: edicts against the outside merchants; military examinations and reviews; fire at Macno: death of an imperial commissioner; earthquake in the northern provinces. In order to make room for more important matter, we again reduce the limits usually allowed to passing occurrences. Among the scores of edicts, published in Canton during the last three months, one of them prohibited all outside merchants from trading with foreigners. Great numbers of the people were affected by this measure, and went to the governor's gate by thousands to obtain a removal of the grievances, which they speedily obtained.-Military reviews took place in the neighborhood of the city on the 17th, which were attended by the governor; his excellency has just left the city, on the same duty, to make a tour in the southwestern departments of the province.-On the 5th inst. a fire broke out in Macao, among the Chinese buildings, and about four hundred houses were destroyed.-The old commissioner, Shing, who recently set off for the capital, enriched with the bribes of the late chefoo, died before he crossed the Meiling.-Destructive earthquakes occurred in Honan, Shanse, Cheihle, and Shantung, last summer just at the time the late troubles commenced in Canton.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. III.- DECEMBER, 1834.- No. 8.

ART. I. British authorities in China; petition to the King in Council from the British residents in this country; with remarks on the proposed measures for the regulation of future intercourse between China and Great Britain.

However the plans of the British government, as they have been developed by the proceedings of the new commission, may have failed in their main point, they have served to settle effectually several questions, respecting which hitherto there seems to have been many doubts. It is now certain, if any language of the Chinese can make it so, that their government considers the king of Great Britain as a tributary, and reverently submissive to the laws of the celestial empire; that he has several times sent tribute to the son of heaven; and that hitherto there has been no official intercouse between the nation absurdly called Great Britain (ta Ying kwŏ,) and the great officers of this flowery land. It is certain that the Chinese government regards all foreigners as barbarians, situated far beyond the bounds of civilization; that the more forbearance and indulgence are shown to them, the more proud and overbearing they become; and that it is necessary to take special care to break down their minds to submission. It is certain that this government regards the commercial duties, arising from the trade with foreign realms, as effecting the treasures of its revenues not the value of a feather's down; that it deems the broadcloths, and camlets, and clocks, and watches, brought from the lands of barbarians, as still more unimportant; while at the same time it considers the rhubarb, the tea, the raw silk, the China ware, and the bamboos of these inner dominions, as absolutely necessary for the support of life throughout the whole extent of the barbarian territories. It is certain that the tender compassion of the great pure dynasty, the Mantchou Tartar, condescends to nurse and cherish with equal benevolence and charity all within and without the

CH: REP: VOL. III.

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