My Lord, No. 13. Mr. Bonham to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received May 24.) Victoria, Hong Kong, March 22, 1849. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's despatch of the 30th December last, in reply to mine dated October 23, with reference to the admission of British subjects into the city of Canton. I have already had occasion to state to your Lordship that, in my opinion, many and serious objections exist to our having recourse to hostilities to enforce the concession of the right; and I now learn from the despatch under acknowledgment, that Her Majesty's Government are opposed to my making any appeal to the Court at Pekin, in the event of the Commissioner continuing to declare himself unable to fulfil the engagements entered into with Sir John Davis by his predecessor. In my despatch of the 19th instant, I acquainted your Lordship with the state of affairs at that date; and I am now waiting for the communication from the High Commissioner, informing me of the result of his application to the Court at Pekin. Should this communication prove satisfactory, I shall, of course, immediately wait on his Excellency; but as I foresee no real advantage from an indiscriminate entry into Canton, I should endeavour to confine the privilege, in as far as in me lies, to the Consul, and such other persons as he might, from time to time, have occasion to send in. But should the communication prove the reverse, and the Commissioner persist in pleading his inability to control the people, I shall repeat to him my views as above expressed, and what I have already stated at the Conference, and use every effort to induce him at least to receive myself and the Consul, and allow us to pay him an official visit; if he be still impracticable upon this demand, I shall, of course, according to my present instructions, refrain from taking any further steps in the matter, but again refer the question, as it may then stand, for the information and orders of Her Majesty's Government. (Signed) I have, &c. S. G. BONHAM. No. 14. My Lord, Mr. Bonham to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received May 24.) Victoria, Hong Kong, March 30, 1849. I HAD the honour to inform your Lordship in my despatch of the 19th instant of the state of things, as it had been reported to me, at Canton, and to state to you the partial opinions at which I was enabled to arrive upon information so imperfect. Nothing of importance has since occurred, but a private letter from Acting Consul Elmslie of the 28th, states that there was a rumour to the effect that the Commissioner Seu had received the Imperial reply to his report of my conference with him at the Bogue on the 17th ultimo, and that the reply in question was in favour of our being admitted into the city. In the hope of receiving some communication from his Excellency, I have requested the naval Commander-in-chief to detain the mail steamer until noon to-morrow, but I hardly expect to hear from the Commissioner before the 1st or 2nd of April, when my course of proceeding must necessarily depend upon the tone of his letter. I have before expressed my belief that the admission of myself and suite is not impracticable, and if any credence is to be given to reports current among the mercantile community of the feeling now apparently pervading the same class of the Chinese population, it was not without grounds; but I must confess that the rumours hourly received are very contradictory, and at best but unsatisfactory data upon which to form conclusion. any I take this opportunity of forwarding for your Lordship's perusal sundry translations, with which, within the last few days, I have been furnished by the Chinese secretary, Mr. Gutzlaff. He assures me of his belief in their authenticity, of which his long residence in China, and extensive acquaintance with the language, necessarily render him a more competent judge than myself; and as such I submit them to your Lordship. The most satisfactory intelligence that I have yet received is, that the late Commissioner, Keying, has positively arrived in the province of Che-kiang, and is now said to be staying at a large city in the vicinity of the port of Ningpo. What the object of his mission may be has not transpired, but it has, at least, brought him half the distance between the scat of our negotiations and the capital, and favours the supposition that he may have been sent to facilitate the fulfilment of the stipulations to which he agreed with Sir John Davis in April 1847. I have, &c. (Signed) S. G. BONHAM. Inclosure 1 in No. 14. Memorial, (Translation.) SEU-KWANG-TSIN, Governor-General of Kwang-tung and Kwang-se, presents, kneeling, this memorial:-- The minds of the people are extremely excited on account of the barbarians (wishing to) enter the city, and the whole provincial city has raised volunteers, trained bands, in order to protect the place and be prepared against attack. Whilst presenting this memorial, I ask the sacred glance thereon. The gentry and people of Canton represented to your slave on the 8th day of the second month (2nd March) that "the English barbarians from their very nature are as greedy as wolves, and harbour the poison of serpents and vipers in their breasts. In the 19th year of Taoukwang (1839) they disturbed our Celestial Empire, and reduce the whole nation to general wretchedness. They are indebted, however, to your Majesty's great favour, for having granted them a peace, that was to last ten thousand years. All those who have the breath of life in them ought to endeavour to be grateful for this boon. Nevertheless they dared in the 27th year of Taoukwang (1847) in a most wanton and violent manner clandestinely to spike our guns and shut up the thoroughfare of Hog-lane, to erect a church. Our people have been led astray by them, and the inhabitants of Hwang-chuh-ke suffered calamity on their account. "We, your subjects, looking up to the earnest intention on the part of the Sacred Son of Heaven, to put a stop to disturbances and give peace to the people, would not measure ourselves with those barbarians. Yet they again want to force our high authorities to let them rent ground and admit them to the city, and similar demands. If we yield to their extravagant notions and their ravenous cravings, our minds will be direly afflicted, and we really fear that some extraordinary changes will take place, on which we shall not dwell to the full extent. "We, your subjects, have therefore unanimously raised a militia, and at our nod assembled a million of champions, for whom each according to the amount of his landed property has subscribed, and there are rich men who have placed a thousand granaries at our disposal. If we bear down with this force upon an enemy, what enemy will not be brought to terms; if we enter with this host upon exploits, what exploits can we not perform! Should those barbarians dare to act overbearingly and insult us, we swear never to rest until we have exterminated them." On receiving the above petition, I, your slave, was apprehensive that these people are not gifted with sufficient reason, and that they have more than enough of animal courage. If they avail themselves of the present state o affairs, they may give rise to a sudden commencement of hostilities and endless calamities. I have, therefore, persuaded and prepared them to yield to the decision of Your Majesty, and not to begin a strife beforehand, so as to bring upon themselves the wrath of Heaven. The inhabitants have also obeyed and now wait for the Imperial orders. The determination of the whole community is a city in itself, and the Government cannot control them. If once a collision takes place, the power of the barbarians and the people can never exist together. Having received many rich favours from your Imperial Majesty, I shall endeavour to repress this ebullition, whilst sincerely sharing with the people the bitter and sweet. I shall act with my whole heart advisedly in this matter, to display the anxiety which our Sacred Lord shows in regard to the South. I hope to act thus, even if I should have to sacrifice myself and to encounter death. Whilst presenting this memorial, I humbly beg that your Majesty may vouchsafe a glance on it; and respectfully forward this representation. 2nd month, 14th day. (March 8, 1849.) (Translation.) Inclosure 2 in No. 14. Decision of the Canton Question by the Privy Council. MUH-CHANG-AH, and other members of the Privy Council, make the following representation : Having received the Imperial commands to consult together, we now, in obedience thereto, forward this memorial, and request the sacred glance thereon. The Governor-General of Kwang-tung and Kwang-se, Seu, reported that the English barbarians firmly demanded admission to the city, and to rent ground, and that the public feeling was opposed to this. 6: On the 28th day of the 29th year of Taoukwang (22nd of February) a reply, in the vermillion pencil, was received to the following effect: Let the Great Ministers of the Privy Council conjointly deliberate on this affair, and forward a report. Respect this!" We find, on examination, that our own people and barbarians are mixed up with each other in the metropolis of Kwang-tung. This has been the case for more than two centuries. The entrance into the city and the renting of ground, were conceded to them by the late Commissioner and Governor Keying. That the barbarians should now insist upon this privilege is a matter dictated by common reason, and is not a very important question. It may be said that these barbarians are of an insatiable nature, and that after being admitted into the city, and having rented ground, they will again give rise to disturbance and cause the commencement of hostilities. But you do not consider that the outside of the city is the same as the inside of the city; the ground of the foreign factories does not differ from that of Chang-chow (French Island). If they may give rise to disturbance inside the city, may they also not give rise to disturbance outside the city? Can they commence hostilities on Chang-chow, and can they not also commence hostilities at the foreign factories? The said barbarians are allowed at Fuh-choo, Amoy, and the other emporiums, to enter the city and to rent ground, and it has never been found that they gave rise to disturbance; should, then, Canton form the sole exception where they might engage in strife? We therefore conclude that (the repugnance there) proceeds from the ignorant populace, which relies on mere animal courage, and is deluded by false reports. One takes the lead, and a hundred join him in this (outcry). If such a trifling affair as this is to be magnified, it will cause the greatest misfortunes of a war on our frontiers. We do, at the same time, not take into consideration, that the people of Canton will with difficulty repel the enemy, and that our country will suffer insult and our property be lost. Allowing even that the (Cantonese) proved victorious and succeeded in their attacks, they might protect the provincial city against accidents, yet would the annoyance by the barbarians solely be confined to Canton? Would it not likewise extend to 1 Those barbarians Fokien and Che-keang? How could we oppose them then? We have ascertained that the barbarian men of war are always at anchor in Canton river; and that they have thus already access to the very heart of our country. If they do not attack Canton, the inhabitants of Canton will on no account dare to attack them first. If they first attack Canton, they will throw rockets and grenades into it which will be like a sudden thunder, that leaves no time even to stop the ear. And how shall we then be able to engage with them in battle? Such enterprise could only end in defeat. Some years ago the said barbarians invaded Kwang-tung, Fokien, Che-keang, and Keang-se; the slaughter was terrific, and their tremendous power was sufficiently displayed. Owing to the sacred penetration of our Emperor, which embraces heaven and earth, we entered into a good understanding with those barbarians, that was to last 10,000 years. Our people were thus protected, and by this means lasting quietness was ensured by a single effort. We now look up to your Sacred Majesty to issue orders to the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of that province, that they must persuade and guide the people, and impress upon them the great principles of justice. Let them not act wantonly, and cause hostilities on our frontiers. (To avoid these) would be extremely fortunate for the whole empire, and the nation would on that account be happy. Whether our views be right or wrong, it behoves us to represent this respectful memorial as the joint report of the Ministers of the Privy Council, and, whilst humbly submitting the memorial, we beseech your Sacred Majesty to peruse this respectful representation. 2nd month, 1st day. (February 23, 1849.) (Translation.) Inclosure 3 in No. 14. Commissioner Keying to Commissioner Seu. A CHINESE correspondent writes in a letter dated 26th instant :The Imperial reply arrived in the evening of the 25th. Seu sent instantly for the Lieutenant-Governor, the Judge, Treasurer, and Sub Inspector, to communicate the contents. In this document it is said, "We command the Lieutenant-Governor, Manchoo General and Superintendent of Customs, to manage this matter conjointly, and act according to circumstances, without sending in another memorial. Respect this!" Three other edicts are addressed each in particular to the above-mentioned officers. None of the local authorities seems to be willing to act against the determination of the people, and concede to the barbarians the entrance into the city. So far the words of the correspondent. I myself have not yet seen the Imperial reply, but heard from other quarters that the mandarins are directed to temporize, throw the whole blame upon the people, and carefully avoid a collision. No. 15. My Lord, Mr. Bonham to Viscount Palmerston.-(Received May 24.) Victoria, Hong Kong, March 31, 1849, 11 A.M. LATE last evening I received a private communication from Mr. Elmslie, of which the following is an extract: "Here is a translation of the Imperial autograph. I received it last night at 11 o'clock, too late to send by the steamer : "Compassionate the feelings of the people; observe on what that turns, and manage the business!' "The interpretation whereof is: If compassion to the people requires that the city be entered by foreigners, you are not to regard their prejudices against it. If denying the foreigners the right will not be attended with consequences inconsistent with compassion for them, then deny it. "It would appear, therefore, that our plan is to show Seu that the denial of our entry into the city will be attended with consequences inconsistent with compassion for the people; but I doubt much whether Seu sees the matter in the same light as ourselves. It is really impossible to form an idea of the result of this question." This is all the information that I have it in my power to furnish your Lordship with, beyond that which I have already communicated. I confess I am by no means pleased with the tenour of this despatch from the Emperor, should it prove to be true; for it leaves the question of our entry into the city at the discretion of the Imperial Commissioner, who, I much fear, will be entirely guided by the will of the populace, which there is every reason to believe is in unison with his own. Had the Emperor's directions been positive, I think the entry would have been effected; but, under present circumstances, it seems to me to be very doubtful if it will be permitted. For some days past the agitation and alarm existing at Canton appeared to have somewhat suhsided, but, in consequence of the tenour of the Emperor' orders having become known, it is reported that considerable commotion again exists. I trust that your Lordship will be satisfied that I shall do all in my power to allay all unnecessary excitement and alarm at the present juncture, and to the best of my means take care that no collision ensues. I have already reported to your Lordship that I do not expect to receive any communication from the Imperial Commissioner on this subject until the 2nd or 3rd proximo, and if the mail were detained until that time, the chances are that she would arrive too late at Galle to meet the Calcutta packet, by which this despatch will be conveyed to your Lordship. (Signed) I have, &c. S. G. BONHAM. My Lord, No. 16. Mr. Bonham to Viscount Palmerston.—(Received June 23.) Victoria, Hong Kong, April 18, 1849. BY my despatches of the 19th and 31st ultimo, your Lordship will have been informed of the progress of events at Canton up to the departure of the mail, at which time that place was reported to be in a state of considerable excitement. On the evening of the 1st instant I received from the Imperial Commissioner the letter in which he was to communicate his instructions from the Emperor, respecting our admission into the city. This I now have the honour to inclose. From it your Lordship will perceive that the Emperor declines altogether to comply with the wishes of foreigners in opposition to those of the people, and makes no reference whatever to the existence of a Treaty; while the Commissioner merely adds a remark that it will now be seen that his idea of the impracticability of our demand is not his alone, but that of his Sovereign as well. In replying to Seu, on the 4th instant, I regret that after the numerous promises made, during six years of negotiation, by his Government, to overcome the hostility of the Canton people, the plea of their aversion to our exercise of the right disputed, is again, and more unfavourably than ever, put forward to excuse the evasion of Treaty rights. I quote the restitution of Chusan as an instance of our own good faith. I remind him of the consequences which he has already been warned, by my own Government, must follow upon the breach of solemn engagements, and propose, as a step towards the removal of the popular |