No. 29. Edict re-opening the trade No. 30. Captain Elliot's notice to British subjects 57 57 58 58 Captain Elliot's notice concerning the proscribed sixteen Edict from the Kwangchow foo concerning trade Captain Elliot's notice enjoining British ships not to enter the Bogue - No. 38. Captain Elliot's notice announcing delivery of opium Captain Elliot's notice enjoining British subjects to leave Canton 68 Edict from the commissioner to the sixteen proscribed Captain Elliot's notice, announcing his departure for Macao Crisis. IN THE OPIUM TRAFFIC. THE extraordinary growth of the traffic in opium, and its present crisis, will long remain memorable events in the annals of foreign intercourse with China. In the tariff, published near the close of the last century, opium was placed among the imports, as a medicinal drug, subject to a duty of five mace per catty. Its importation from Bengal-a plan suggested by colonel Watson, and adopted by Mr. Wheeler, vice-president in council-seldom exceeded 200 chests prior to 1767; that year it amounted to 1000, at which rate it continued a long time in the hands of the Portuguese. In 1773, the British East India Company made a small adventure. In 1781, the Bengal government freighted an armed vessel with it—the proceeds of which were to be paid into the Company's treasury in Canton. In 1794, a ship, laden exclusively with it, came to Whampoa. In 1800, it was interdicted by the Chinese government. In 1821, the traffic was driven from the port, and has since extended along the whole coast, and increased with amazing rapidity. In the summer of 1836, a high officer at court, Heu Naetse, in a memorial to the emperor, proposed its legalization, and was supported in his recommendation by the local government of Canton. In the autumn of the same year, another high officer, Choo Tsun, came forward remonstrating against, its admission, followed by Heu Kew and other. The reader will find these several documents in the former volumes of the Repository. The immediate result of them was an edict from the emperor, requiring certain foreigners to leave Canton. That edict was partially evaded, and the traffic continued through the year 1837, and until the summer of 1838—and it was said by the dealers, at that time, that the local authorities received $75 per chest for connivance. Of the occurrences during the last twelve months, recorded in the previous numbers of this volume, it is sufficient to allude here to those of the 12th of December and the 26th of March last, the sequel of which is now to be detailed. His excellency Lin, high commissioner from the court of Peking, arrived in this city on the 10th of March. He came with plenipotentiary powers authorized to do whatever should seem to himself right. Born and bred in one of the maritime provinces, and having (as he says) early had intimate acquaintance with all the arts of foreigners, he was therefore, it would seem, selected for this new and difficult service. He is now about fifty-five years of age; and is described by natives (no foreigner has yet seen him) as of middling height, rather stout, and of stern demeanor. For his other qualities, as statesman, &c., his public documents and proceedings give us no unequivocal testimony. His instructions, respecting the traffic in opium, he received in person from the emperor. And report says, that the monarch-having called before him his faithful servant Lin, recounted the evils that had long afflicted his children by means of the flowing poison; and, adverting to the future, paused and wept then, turning to the commissioner, said, "How, alas! can I die and go to the shades of my imperial father and ancestors until these direful evils are removed!" At the same time the emperor put into his hands the seal of his high commission-investing him with power (if report be true) such as has only thrice been delegated by the monarchs of the present dynasty and then bade him go, examine and act. Thus charged, he came. Having made his entrance into the city, eight days were occupied with inquiries, and in preparing edicts. Late in the evening of the 18th of March, one of the foreigners (Mr. Thom) was called to Howqua's to translate a paper to foreigners. The following appeared the next day. No. 1. Edict from the imperial commissioner to foreigners of all nations. Lin, high imperial commissioner of the Celestial Court, a director of the Board of War, and governor of Hookwang, issues his com mands to the foreigners of every nation, requiring of all full acquaintance with the tenor thereof. It is known that the foreign vessels, which come for a reciprocal trade to Kwangtung, have derived from that trade very large profits. This is evidenced by the facts,-that, whereas the vessels annually resorting hither were formerly reckoned hardly by tens, their number has of late years amounted to a hundred and several times ten; that whatever commodities they may have brought, none have failed to find a full consumption; and whatever they may have sought to purchase, never have they been unable readily to do so. Let them but ask themselves whether between heaven and earth, any place affording so advantageous a commercial mart is elsewhere to be found. It is because our great emperors, in their universal benevolence, have granted you commercial privileges, that you have been favored with these advantages. Let our ports once be closed against you, and for what profits can your several nations any longer look? Yet more,- our tea and our rhubarb, seeing that, should you foreigners be deprived of them, you therein lose the means of preserving life—are without stint or grudge granted to you for exportation year by year beyond the seas. Favors never have been greater! Are you grateful for these favors? You must then fear the laws, and in seeking profit for yourselves, must not do hurt to others. Why do you bring to our land the opium, which in your own lands is not made use of, by it defrauding men of their property, and causing injury to their lives? I find that with this thing you have seduced and deluded the people of China for tens of years past; and countless are the unjust hoards that you have thus acquired. Such conduct rouses indignation in every human heart, and is utterly inexcusable in the eye of celestial reason. The prohibitions formerly enacted by the celestial court against opium were comparatively lax, and it was yet possible to smuggle the drug into the various ports. Of this the great emperor having now heard, his wrath has been fearfully aroused, nor will it rest till the evil be utterly extirpated. Whoever among the people of this inner land deal in opium, or establish houses for the smoking of it, shall be instantly visited with the extreme penalty of the laws; and it is in contemplation to render capital also the crime of smoking the drug. And you, having come into the territory of the celestial court, should pay obedience to its laws and statutes, equally with the natives of the land. I, the high commissioner, having my home in the maritime pro- vince of Fuhkeën, and consequently having early had intimate ac quaintance with all the arts and shifts of the outer foreigners, have for this reason been honored by the great emperor with the full powers and privileges of a high imperial commissioner, who, having repeatedly performed meritorious services, is sent to settle the affairs of the outer frontier.' Should I search closely into the offenses of these foreigners, in forcing for a number of years the sale of opium, they would be found already beyond the bounds of indulgence. But, reflecting that they are men from distant lands, and that they have not before been aware that the prohibition of opium is so severe, I cannot bear, in the present plain enforcement of the laws and restrictions, to cut them off without instructive monition. I find that on board the warehousing vessels which you now have lying at anchor in the Lintin and other offings, there are stored up several times ten thousand chests of opium, which it is your purpose and desire illicitly to dispose of by sale. You do not consider, however, the present severity of the measures in operation for seizure of it at the ports. Where will you again find any that will dare to give it escort? And similar measures for the seizure of it are in operation also in every province. Where else then will you yet find opportunity of disposing of it? At the present time the dealings in opium are brought utterly to a stand, and all men are convinced that it is a nauseous poison. Why will you be at the pains then of laying it up on board your foreign store-ships, and of keeping them long anchored on the face of the open sea, not only spending to no purpose your labor and your wealth, but exposed also to unforeseen dangers from storms or from fire. When these commands reach I proceed to issue my commands. the said foreign merchants, let them with all haste pay obedience thereto. Let them deliver up to government every particle of the opium on board their store-ships. Let it be ascertained by the hong merchants, who are the parties so delivering it up, and what number of chests is delivered up under each name, and what is the total quantity in catties and taels. Let these particulars be brought together in a clear tabular form, and be presented to government, in order that the opium may all be received in plain conformity thereto, that it may be burnt and destroyed, and that thus the evil may be entirely extirpated. There must not be the smallest atom concealed or withheld. At the same time let these foreigners give a bond, written jointly in the foreign and Chinese languages, making a declaration of this |