CHINA. REFUSAL TO OPEN CANTON. (From Allen's Indian Mail.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 377, 24 November 1849, Page 3

CHINA. REFUSAL TO OPEN CANTON. (From Allens Indian Mail.)

Thk following is a copy of Seu's despatch to the British Plenipotentiary i— " At 12 noon on the 31st March, I hail the honour respectfully to receive the following commands from the Emperor relative to the confeience we had concerning the opening of the city, and about which I had despatched a memorial by an extraordinary express — " Walled cities are erected with the view of protecting the peop'e, 'and by protecting the people only c n the country be preserved. And that to which the hearts of the people incline is the will of heaven. Now, ■ince the people of Kwangtung are all of one fixed opinion, in being averse to the entrance of foreigners into the city, shall we circulate and post up a luminous proclamation transcribed on yellow paper, constraining them to the opposite course ? The Chinese government cannot thwart the inclination! of its people in order to comply with the wishes of strangcn from afar ; and foreign governments ought also to pay attention to the feeling of our people, and spare the powers of merchants. You ought still more rigorously 10 guard against native banditti and prevent them from availing themselves of the opportunity for creating disturbances and thi owing the inhabitants into a state of disorder ; and as the foreign merchants who come from, a great distance across the vast ocean undoubtedly desire to live in tranquillity and take delight in their occupations, you ought, therefore, to render them also protection ia the same manner. Thus all will for ever act in harmony and enjoy universal tranquility.-~ite« sped this. •'You will perceive from the foregoing that the language I held during the personal conference I had with you was not based on an obstinate adherence to my own views, but that the linpeiial rescript which I have received from a dis'ance tlio corresponds with the view of the public. For this reason I send you a communication, and at the same time take the opportunity of wishing you happiness and tranquillity, 11 A necessary communication." On the 4th of April the following was circuited in Canton :— " Government Notification.*— The Chinese goferument having declined to carry into effect the stipulations entered into between Her Majesty's late Plenipotentiary and Keying, the late Imperial High Commissioner, by which it was agreed that the city of Canton should be open to British subjects on the 6th initant. the same ia hereby notified for general information, and Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c, &c. directs that no 'British subjects shall for the present attempt to enter the city." The Friend of China observes: — ' The agreement of April 6, 1847, has thus been dishonoured. The in« dignity is no doubt keenly felt by the Plenipotentiary and by the naval and military commander*, and the feeling is common to us. It is understood that stringent orders were received from home last month not to enforce the right of entry. Had these instructions been forwarded a few months earlier, we would lu\c been in a leis humiiiitins; position. Being uncertain as to the wishes of Her Mjjusty's Government, and pos* sibly feeling the necessity of carrying the city question by arms, if necessary, a strong naval force was collected in the vicinity of Canton, and we assumed a decidedly warlike attitude. Our position is thus more unpleasant. The Chinese naturally suppose that we attempted to bully them, and no earthly means, short of a severe castigation, will ever disabuse them of this belief. Two years ago we entered the river, and seized their forU when they were unprepared for us. Tlrs act they avenged by the butchery of six Englishmen at Hwang-chu-kee, and by various other aggressions. They no* say, *We were prepared for you— our forts manned— our militia raised ; further, we have dishonoured yo ir country in the face of the world, and you did not dare to resent the insult.' But enough of this painful sub. ject ; we must wait patiently to he»r how the intelligence is received in England. In the whole dusky picture there is only one clear spot— no one attaches blame to either Plenipotentiary, Admiral, or General." On tht 3rd of March the guilds (i. c. mercantile corporations, dealing in certain commoditiei) issued a proclamation, prohibiting purchases from foreigners till

the city question was settled. This was in force until the 10th of April, wliou dealers were again permitted to purchase. Notwithstanding the prohibition, a highly respectable man who had long dealt with fo. refgners, named Shing-Lhee, purchased some bales of cotton ynrn by auction ; for the doing which, he was stized, carried into the city, by order of tbe magistrates, rut to the torture, and it is feared either de« capitated or died in piison from the barbarous treatment he received. "Chops" were circulated, in the city and vicinity, fromvaiious towns and from the soldiery, breathing hatred and defiance towards the •' rebel barbarians."