CHINA.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 44, 30 December 1842, Page 4

CHINA.

ORIGIN OF THE WAR

(Continued from No. 43 J JOURNAL OF OCCURRENCES : COMPRISING A SUCCINCT RECAPITULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL INCIDENTS ESPECIALLY CONNECTED WITH FOREIGNERS DURING THE YEAR 1839. January I.—The trade of the port of Canton, by command of the local government , was reopened to foreigners. It was reported that the party opposed to the admission of opium on payment of duty, had gained the entire ascendant in the Imperial Councils; that three princes had been punished for opium smoking; that Hen Naetse had been dismissed from the public service ; and that memorials from all the provincial governments had been laid before the Cabinet, the General Council, the Imperial House, and Board of Punishments, for final consideration. A proclamation to the people was published by the acting magistrate of Nanhae against the lise of opium, with a recipe for curing the habit of smoking the drug. 3d.—Lin Tsihseu, governor of Hookwang, was appointed by the Emperor to repair to Canton, in order to stop the traffic in opium. 3d and 7th. —Public meetings of foreign residents were held for the formation of a Seaman’s Friend Association. 7th. —An edict was issued bythe magistrates of Nanhae, by order of the Governor, admonishing all smokers at once to break off the “ vile habit.” Native houses in Canton were searched for opium and apparatus for smoking it. Gates were erected in the streets to impede the policemen in order to search their persons for opium before they searched the houses. 10th. —An edict was issued by the Governor against ships bringing opium to Whampoa, and declaring that if they did so, they would be sent back to their own country. Another edict came out from the Governor, commanding the Hong merchants to secure sundry vessels then at Whampoa. 14th.—The cohong paid the first dividend, of four per cent., on the debts of Kinqua, to the foreign creditors of that Hong. 16th.—A new form of bond was proposed bv the Hong merchants to the Chamber of Commerce, to prevent the smuggling of opium and sycee. 22d.—Several European passage-boats were licensed to run between Canton and Macao, for the purpose of conveying letters and passengers. 23d. —A despatch was received by the Governor from the Board of War, giving conveyance to an Imperial edict of the 3d, respecting the new Commissioner. A proclamation was addressed to foreigners by the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, giving notice of the approach of a Special Commissioner, and urging the immediate removal of all the opium and store-ships from the Chinese waters, threatening a stoppage of the trade in case of non-compliance. 27th. —A regulation that the debts of one Hong merchant to foreigners shall not exceed a hundred thousand taels, was ordered, by the local authorities, to be engraven on stone, and kept in everlasting remembrance. February Ist.—All the back doors of the foreign factories were ordered to be blocked up. 4th. —Rules and regulations were promulgated by the British Chief Superintendent for the establishment of a maritime police in the Chinese waters. A document was published “ on the best mode of arresting the opium plague,” written by Chew Teentseo, Superintendent of the transport of grain. A dividend of three per cent, was paid on Hingtae’s debts, making the total hitherto paid amount to seven per cent. 3rd.—The schooner Attaran, Captain Jackson, was lost near the island Nanpang, a few miles westward of Macao, with 130 chests of opium. 16th. —A Coroner’s inquest was held, by the Magistrate of Nanhae, at the Opthalmic Hospital in Canton, respecting the death of a Chinese. 26th.—A Chinese, accused of trafficking in opium, was strangled in front of the foreign factories. All the foreign flags thereupon ceased to be hoisted. 28th. —A request was made by the British merchants to their superintendents of trade, to detain her Majesty’s ship Larne in the Chinese waters. March 7t’n.—The British Chief Superintendent required all British owned passage boats, not haviug licences, immediately to proceed outside of the Bogue, and not return yrithin the same. 10th.—Lin Tsihseu, the Imperial Commissioner, made his entrance into Canton, and took up his residence in one of the collegiate halls. 11th.- —A Europaan boat, belonging to the St. Vincent at Whampoa, on her way from Canton to the ship, was run down by a Chinese lighter, and nine of the crew lost. r •18th. —Two edicts were issued by the Commissioner—one to the Hong merchants, and the other to the foreigners, the latter requiring ** every particle of the opium in the store-ships”

to be delivered up to the Government, and bonds given that they will never again bring any more on penalty of death, and promising in case of compliance a remission of the past and the continuance of commerce. The term of three days was given for a reply. 19th>-r-By an edict from the Hoppo, addressed to the Hong merchants, all foreigners were forbidden to go to Macao. One of the licensed passage-boats, the Snipe, was stopped at the Bogue on a charge of smuggling, and brought back to Canton. She was afterwards broken up. 21st. —All communication with Whampoa was stopped, and troops assembled on the river and in the suburbs near the factories. The Chamber of Commerce assembled and 1,037 chests were tendered for surrender. 22nd.—Mr. L. Dent was invited to go to the city gate to meet the Commissioner. By circular from Captain Elliot at Macao, all British ships were ordered to rendezvous at Hongkong, and put themselves in a posture of defence immediately. 23rd.—The hong merchants appeared early this morning, two of them with chains on their necks, urging Mr. Dent , to go into the city. Messrs. Inglis, Slade, Thom, and Feron went in his stead. Another circular was issued by Captain Elliot at Macao, enjoining all British subjects to make immediate preparations for. removing with their property from Canton. 24th. —At sunset Captain Elliot arrived in Canton, and immediately hoisted the British flag, and conducted Mr. Dent to his own consular hall, at which place he summoned a public meeting. All natives were withdrawn, provisions stopped, and a triple cordon of boats placed in front of the factories. Captain Elliot demanded passports. 24th. —The foreign merchants pledged themselves “not to deal in opium, nor to attempt to introduce it into the Chinese empire.” 26th.—A new proclamation was issued by the Commissioner, urging four reasons for the immediate surrender of the opium. By order of the Government of Macao, all the opium in the settlement was sent on board ship. 27.—Captain Elliot required the surrender to him of all British-owned opium in China, holding himself, in behalf of his Government, responsible for the same; 20,283 chests were surrendered. 28th.—An edict was addressed to all the foreign Consuls, requiring them to make a surrender of opium—as Captain Elliot had done. April 3rd.—Arrangements for the delivery of the opium at Chuenpe having been agreed upon, Mr. Johnston, accompanied by Mr. Thom, started for Macao, affording an opportunity for sending letters “ outside.” 7th.—Mr. Johnston arrived at Macao, and embarked in the cutter Louisa for the Bogue. The illicit traffic renewed. 9th.—Meeting of merchants and officers at the consul house continued till near midnight, discoursing about the “ bond and nothing but the bond.” 10th.—The Commissioner and Governor proceeded to the Bogue to witness in person the delivery of the drug. The hoppo preceded them. 12. —A communication of this date, from Mr. Johnston at Chuenpe, announced the delivery of 650 chests. 15th.—A notice was issued inviting sealed tenders for a British clipper, to bear despatches to the Home Government. 19th.—An order was promulgated by the Prefect of Canton, for the return to the factories of servants and compradors. . Special and earnest commands v/ere given by edict from the high officers, for the immediate presentation to them of the bond, in order to evince “ on the part of every one a mind respectfully submissive.” 20th.—Half of the opium was delivered, but the passage boats were not allowed to run—the stipulation for this notwithstanding. Deliveries stopped. May 4th.—An order promulgated for the passage boats to run, and for the resumption of trade. Sixteen individuals named were not to, leave Canton until further notice. sth.—This afternoon the triple cordon before the factories was broken up, and a part of the guards removed. 6th.—The European boats, with about fifty passengers, left Canton for Whampoa and Macao. Bth.—An edict was published from the Provincial Government and Commissioner, addressed to the British Superintendent and Foreign Consuls, allowing them their request that, at the head of the people and vessels of their several countries, they might return home; adding, “ after you have thus returned, you will not be allowed to come again; let there be no turning backwards and forwards, no inconstancy.” : , ; 14th.-—An edict was issued by the local authorities, commanding all the streets leading into the square (except Old China-street), to be closed up, and the shopmen in them to remove'.' - '•> 19th. —Public notice was given, by Captain Elliott, to preveiit British subjects, vessels, and any other property, from entering the port.

About’ ; this ] time a new regulation? was promulgated’, requiring that all vessels should be measured before entering the port; officers, in consequence, went on board the fleet of ships in Macao Roads, and, measured them. 21st. —At two o'clock this morning, the delivery of the 20,283 chests was completed, and the whole stored at Chunhow, near, a creek east of the Bogue. * 22d. —In a public notice from Captain Elliot, he recapitulated the items of complaint' against the Commissioner, and repeated his injunction against the introduction of property, and cautioned all British subjects against continuing their residence in Canton beyond the period of his own stay. 23d.—An order was issued by the Commissioner, requiring ten of the 16 proscribed persons to give bonds that they would never again return to China. Some had given bonds previously. A memorial dated this day was addressed by the British merchants to Lord Palmerston, respecting the recent acts of the Chinese vernment. Commissioner Lin appointed to the 'governorship of the Leang Keang, e. i. the three provinces of Keangse, Keangsoo, and Nganhwuy. 23d.—P. W. Snow, Esq., the American Consul, left for Macao in the inside passage. 24th.—At about 5 p.m., Captain Elliot, accompanied by a number of the British merchants, left Canton. 27th. —U. S. A. frigate Columbia, George C. Read, Esq., Captain, arrived from Singapore. She was soon after joined by the sloop-of-war John Adams, Thomas Wyman, Esq., Captain, from Manilla. 29th. —A mandate was received from the Emperor ordering the whole 20,291 chests (eight additions having been surrendered by one of the merchants outside) of opium to be destroyed, so that all the inhabitants of the coasts, and foreigners in Canton, might see it and be admonished. Her Britannic Majesty’s sloop-of-war Larne, Captain Blake, sailed from Macao for the Indian station. 30th.—The clipper Ariel, Captain Warden, on her Britannic Majesty’s service, sailed from Macao with despatches for the Home Government. June Ist. —The number of foreign residents in Canton, reduced to about five and twenty, among them a few English and Parsees, British subjects. 5 th.—The Commissioner and Governor issued orders for all vessels to enter the port, or immediately to return to their own countries. 11th.—An American ship entered the Bogue, and others soon followed, all yielding to the bond. 12th.—At a meeting of British merchants in Macao, the preparing to send British ships and property to Canton was viewed with regret. 14th.—The local officers issued an edict for the purpose of hastening the entrance of all the ships within the Bogue. . 16th.—The Ann Jane, the last of the British ships in port, passed out of the Bogue heavily laden with cargo for England. 17th.—Mr. King and others, in the ship Morrison, Captain Benson, visited Chunhow to witness the process of destroying the opium. 21st.—Captain Elliott published a manifesto declaring against the conduct of the Commissioner in endeavouring to induce British subjects to disregard his (Captain Elliot’s) lawful injunctions. 23d.—New port regulations, were issued by the hoppo. A form of bond finally agreed upon and signed by Americans bringing ships to Whampoa. Chinese officers seized and detained on board ships at Hongkong. Rumours of renewed operations outside in the traffic of opium. 27th. —The terraces on the top of all the Foreign factories owned by the Hong merchants were taken down by order of the Magistrates, lest, as it was said, the Foreigners should overlook the city. July 7th.—Commissioner Lin, Governor Tang, and the other high provincial officers, visited the Foreign factories. An affray occurred at Hongkong, in which a native, named Lin Wellie, lost his life. 10th and 15th.—Correspondence between the British chief superintendent and merchants respecting a scale of demurrage. 26th. —Rules and regulations promulgated, which were to be observed in the court of justice with criminal and Admiralty jurisdiction, for the trial of British subjects in China, and on the high seas within one hundred miles of the coast. / August 3rd.—A meeting of British merchants was held in Macao for the purpose of organizing a British Chamber of Commerce. A provisional Chamber only was formed. sth.—Captain Elliot issued a public notice for the first session of the Court of Criminal and Admiralty jurisdiction. 6th.—-The U.S.A. frigate Columbia, Commodore Reid, and the - sloop-of-war John Adam, Captain Wyman, sailed for the Sandwich Islands. , (To be continued.)