TRADE CONTINUED AS BEFORE. 487 at Canton and on the coast, until circumstances compelled the Chinese to act: "that which we now require is, not to lose the enjoyment of what we have got," said the Duke of Wellington, on hearing the finale of Lord Napier's experiment, and his advice was followed in most respects. A few thought it would be the wiser way to disseminate juster ideas of the position, power, and wishes of England and all foreign nations among the Chinese in their own language, in a way that both people and monarch could understand, before attempting any further measures; they argued very properly that ignorance on these points would vitiate every attempt to bring about a better state of things, that although the Chinese were greatly to blame for their uncompromising arrogance, it was also their great misfortune that they really had had little opportunity to learn the truth, and acquire correct information respecting their visitors. All these suggestions looked forward to no long continuance of the present undefined, anomalous, relations, and all of them contained much pertinent advice, and many valuable items of information; but it was a question not more difficult than important what course of procedure was the best. Amid all the advice they received, and the risk there was of failing in whatever was attempted, the British ministry did what most men would have done,-wait till the way was clearer. The British superintendents lived in Macao pending the action of their government, merely keeping a clerk at Canton to sign manifests. They issued a paper of recommendations to English subjects, stating in it that prudence dictated entire silence on the part of every one, while they hoped too, that unusual care would be taken not to give the Chinese any new ground of complaint. Mr. Davis, on a review of the events of the season, expressed his gratification to Lord Palmerston at the peaceable manner in which the tea had been shipped. After his departure, Sir George B. Robinson, bart., succeeded to the office of chief superintendent, and exercised its duties at Macao and Lintin, until the office was abolished. Mr. Astell and Captain Elliot filled the offices of second and third superintendents, A. R. Johnston was secretary, J. R. Morrison and Rev. C. Gutzlaff, Chinese translators, &c. During this season, the foreign residents made their first united effort to impart the blessings of knowledge to the Chinese, by the institution of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge among the Chinese. A meeting of British subjects was also held in March, to make arrangements for a hospital at Whampoa or elsewhere for the relief of British subjects. The trade on the coast in small vessels was now almost entirely confined to opium. Two attempts were made to penetrate the country in 1835, by Mr. Gordon of Calcutta, under orders of the Bengal government, to learn how the tea-plant was cultivated, but they were mainly unsuccessful. He landed at first near Tsiuenchau fu, and hired sedan-chairs to take his party to the Ankoi (or Nganki) hills, about forty miles from the coast. Mr. Gutzlaff accompanied him as interpreter, and their reception furnished an additional instance of the friendliness of the people. Some of the villagers lighted them on their way, and all received them kindly, even the officers, on learning their object, offered no serious obstruction. The second attempt by the same gentleman to reach the Bohea hills, by ascending the river Min, was forcibly stopped by a detachment of troops near Min-tsing firing upon the boat containing the party, and compelling it to return. In this excursion, the people manifested the same willingness to hold intercourse, but when under the surveillance of their rulers, a not unfounded fear of being implicated kept them aloof. The result fully proved the impossibility of entering the country in an open manner without the permission of the rulers; intercourse with the people, limited as it was, also showed that the name and character of foreigners were generally associated with the opium trade, and that this contraband traffic was becoming a strong argument in the minds of the better class of Chinese against the extension of all trade. The dwellers immediately on the coast were eager for an extension of the traffic, because it brought them large gains, and the officers at the principal ports were desirous of participating in the emoluments of their fellows at Canton; but those who had the good of the country at heart, and there are many such in China, thought that the extension of foreign trade would bring with it unmitigated evil, chiefly from the increased use of opium. That was the only article which would sell, and every effort was made to diffuse it along the coast by both natives and foreigners. The chief superintendent remained at Lintin on board a small cutter among the opium and other ships anchored there, during the season of 1835-36, and was so well satisfied with his position SIR G. B. ROBINSON'S REMARKS ON OPIUM TRADE. 489 that he recommended his government to purchase a small ship for the permanent accommodation of the commission there beyond the reach of the Chinese officers, and also to vest its powers in a single individual, and not in a joint Board. He also remarked respecting the opium trade, and expressed his conviction that there was little hope of establishing a proper understanding with the Chinese government, except by a resort to force and the occupation of an island off the mouth of the river: "I see no grounds to apprehend the occurrence of any fearful events on the north-east coast, nor can I learn what new danger exists. I am assured, from the best authority, that the scuffles between different parties of smugglers and mandarins, alike engaged and competing in the traffic, are not more serious or frequent than in this province. In no case have Europeans been engaged in any kind of conflict or affray and while this increasing and lucrative trade is in the hands of the parties whose vital interests are so totally dependent on its safety and continuance, and by whose prudence and integrity it has been brought into its present increasing and flourishing condition, I think little apprehension may be entertained of dangers emanating from imprudence on their part. Should any unfortunate catastrophe take place, what would our position at Canton entail upon us but responsibility and jeopardy, from which we are now free? On the question of smuggling opium, I will not enter in this place, though, indeed, smuggling carried on actively in the government boats can hardly be termed such. Whenever his majesty's government directs us to prevent British vessels engaging in the traffic, we can enforce any order to that effect, but a more certain method would be to prohibit the growth of the poppy and the manufacture of opium in British India; and if British ships are in the habit of committing irregularities and crimes, it seems doubly necessary to exercise a salutary control over them by the presence of an authority at Lintin.” Taking all things into consideration, this is a remarkable dispatch to be sent by the representative of a Christian government writing from the midst of a fleet of smugglers on the shores of a pagan country. "The scuffles caused by the introduction of opium are," he remarks, "not more serious or frequent on the coast than about Canton;" though even there, probably, not one half which did occur were known; but Europeans never engaged in any of them. They only brought the cause and object of these collisions where the people could get it, and then quietly looked on to see them fight about it. The “ prudence and integrity" of the merchants were engaged in cherishing it to a high degree of pros Knowledge among the Chinese. A meeting of British subjects was also held in March, to make arrangements for a hospital at Whampoa or elsewhere for the relief of British subjects. The trade on the coast in small vessels was now almost entirely confined to opium. Two attempts were made to penetrate the country in 1835, by Mr. Gordon of Calcutta, under orders of the Bengal government, to learn how the tea-plant was cultivated, but they were mainly unsuccessful. He landed at first near Tsiuenchau fu, and hired sedan-chairs to take his party to the Ankoi (or Ngankí) hills, about forty miles from the coast. Mr. Gutzlaff accompanied him as interpreter, and their reception furnished an additional instance of the friendliness of the people. Some of the villagers lighted them on their way, and all received them kindly, even the officers, on learning their object, offered no serious obstruction. The second attempt by the same gentleman to reach the Bohea hills, by ascending the river Min, was forcibly stopped by a detachment of troops near Min-tsing firing upon the boat containing the party, and compelling it to return. In this excursion, the people manifested the same willingness to hold intercourse, but when under the surveillance of their rulers, a not unfounded fear of being implicated kept them aloof. The result fully proved the impossibility of entering the country in an open manner without the permission of the rulers; intercourse with the people, limited as it was, also showed that the name and character of foreigners were generally associated with the opium trade, and that this contraband traffic was becoming a strong argument in the minds of the better class of Chinese against the extension of all trade. The dwellers immediately on the coast were eager for an extension of the traffic, because it brought them large gains, and the officers at the principal ports were desirous of participating in the emoluments of their fellows at Canton; but those who had the good of the country at heart, and there are many such in China, thought that the extension of foreign trade would bring with it unmitigated evil, chiefly from the increased use of opium. That was the only article which would sell, and every effort was made to diffuse it along the coast by both natives and foreigners. The chief superintendent remained at Lintin on board a small cutter among the opium and other ships anchored there, during the season of 1835-36, and was so well satisfied with his position SIR G. B. ROBINSON'S REMARKS ON OPIUM TRADE. 489 that he recommended his government to purchase a small ship for the permanent accommodation of the commission there beyond the reach of the Chinese officers, and also to vest its powers in a single individual, and not in a joint Board. He also remarked respecting the opium trade, and expressed his conviction that there was little hope of establishing a proper understanding with the Chinese government, except by a resort to force and the occupation of an island off the mouth of the river: : "I see no grounds to apprehend the occurrence of any fearful events on the north-east coast, nor can I learn what new danger exists. I am assured, from the best authority, that the scuffles between different parties of smugglers and mandarins, alike engaged and competing in the traffic, are not more serious or frequent than in this province. In no case have Europeans been engaged in any kind of conflict or affray and while this increasing and lucrative trade is in the hands of the parties whose vital interests are so totally dependent on its safety and continuance, and by whose prudence and integrity it has been brought into its present increasing and flourishing condition, I think little apprehension may be entertained of dangers emanating from imprudence on their part. Should any unfortunate catastrophe take place, what would our position at Canton entail upon us but responsibility and jeopardy, from which we are now free? On the question of smuggling opium, I will not enter in this place, though, indeed, smuggling carried on actively in the government boats can hardly be termed such. Whenever his majesty's government directs us to prevent British vessels engaging in the traffic, we can enforce any order to that effect, but a more certain method would be to prohibit the growth of the poppy and the manufacture of opium in British India; and if British ships are in the habit of committing irregularities and crimes, it seems doubly necessary to exercise a salutary control over them by the presence of an authority at Lintin." Taking all things into consideration, this is a remarkable dispatch to be sent by the representative of a Christian government writing from the midst of a fleet of smugglers on the shores of a pagan country. "The scuffles caused by the introduction of opium are," he remarks, "not more serious or frequent on the coast than about Canton;" though even there, probably, not one half which did occur were known; but Europeans never engaged in any of them. They only brought the cause and object of these collisions where the people could get it, and then quietly looked on to see them fight about it. The "prudence and integrity of the merchants were engaged in cherishing it to a high degree of pros |
