'the present sate of relations between China and Great Britain.' Vol. III., p. 237.

27th. The governor issues an edict requiring the hong-merchants and linguists to admonish lord Napier to obey the laws, &c. Vol. III., p. 187.

30th. The governor issues an edict reprimanding the hong-merchauts for having allowed lord Napier to come to Canton without " a red permit." Vol. III., p. 189.

31st. The governor repeats his injunctions and orders the immediate return of the superintendent to Macao, in a new edict addressed to the hong merchants. Vol. III., p. 190.

September 2d. The governor by proclamation stops the British trade, and all intercourse with British subjects. Vol. III., p. 238. The commissioner of customs issues an edict, repeating the old prohibitions of non-intercourse, &c. Vol. III., p. 191.

3d.

5th. In a letter of this date to the Brtish merchants, lord Napier intimated that the frigates had been desired to move up the river, and a guard of inarines come to the factories. Can. Reg., Sep. 9th.

At 5 P. M., H. B. M. ships Imogene and Andromache, under command of captains Blackwood and Chads, cleared for action off the Bogue. Vol. III., p. 333.

6th. The cutter Louisa arrived at Chuenpí, bringing Mr. Davis and capt. Elliot from Macao.

Lieutenant Reed of the Andromache, with two midshipm en, a serjeant, and twelve marines, landed at Canton at 8 o'clock A. M. Corresp. p. 35.

7th. Soon after noon the two ships weighed anchor, moved up the river, and anchored just below Tiger island, the forts firing as they passed, and the firing was returned.

8th. Lord Napier addressed a communication to foreign merchants animadverting on the governor's edict of the 2d. Vol. III., p. 285.

The governor addressed a long memorial to the emperor, setting forth the state of affairs in Canton. Vol. III., p. 327.

9th. The ships again moved, and again were fired on; and one man was killed in each, and others wounded.

11th.

The governor issued an edict to the hong-merchants exculpating himself, blaming them, and deprecating the presence in Cantan of the superintendents. Vol. III., p. 286.

The two frigates anchored at Whampoa, the Imogene having grounded, once near the Second bar, and once near Brunswick shoal. Vol. III. p. 334.

12th. Overtures for accommodation were made by the Chinese, and a messenger dispatched to Whampoa, to stop any movement of the boats to Canton.

14th. In a letter to the secretary of the British merchants, lord Napier expressed his determination to leave Canton and retire to Macao. Vol. III, p. 339.

15th. The governor addressed a second peror, respecting the state of affairs at Canton.

memorial to the emVol. III., Vol. III., p. 335. particulars of the ne

The following correspondence contains the gotiations with the Chinese from this date till the 18th.

No. 1.

Letter from the hong-merchants to the British merchants, dated September 15th, 1834.

A respectful notification. You, gentlemen, sent us, yesterday, a letter from your honorable officer to you. We immediately took the letter, and, having laid it before the Kwangchau fú, received his commands, saying, that he had minutely looked over the letter,-in which is the expression "endeavors on my part to reason the viceroy," &c. As to this reasoning, it is undiscovered what is the subject reasoned about. If what is spoken of approach to reason, the governor will assuredly report it to the great emperor, and perhaps it may be granted. If not reasonable, an order must also be awaited, commanding its refusal. As to what the affairs are which your honorable nation has sent your honorable officer to Canton to transact, it is necessary and right to explain them fully,—that a report thereof may be at the same time made for the information of the emperor, and his mandate awaited, to be obeyed and put in operation. As to the ships of war entering the port--it is a thing long prohibited by the laws. All the nations know it. How is it that on this occasion the ships of war have presumed to break into the port, throwing down the forts? Let it be examined what is the cause. At the end of the letter it is said, "I therefore request you to move the proper authorities to order the British cutter up from Whampoa, that I may carry the same into effect." It is not understood what is the meaning of the word " carrying into effect." We pray you to take the above, and having ascertained each point clearly, immediately to reply, that we may be enabled to report. Again, in the present letter, your honorable officer wishes the cutter to come up to Canton. When, then, will the war ships, which the other day broke in and came up to Whampoa, set sail? Wo pray you first inform us, that we may report for you to the Kwangchau fú, and await his orders as to what is to be done. We pray you to inform your honorable officer of everything in this letter, and then reply. This burden we impose &c., &c. (Subscribed by eleven hong-merchants.) To Messrs. Jardine, Dent, Boya, Whiteman, Framjee, and other gentlemen. No. 2.

Canton, 15th September, 1834.

To W. S. Boyd, esq., secretary to the Chamber of Commerce, Sir,-As the Kwangchau fú does not understand my letter, I have to request you will afford him the following explanation.

Istly. In respect to reasoning with the viceroy, I showed his excellency from any examples that Englishinen of rank had been admitted to private communi.

cation with his excellency, and it would have been but courteous in him to have placed me on a similar feeting,

2dly. In reterence to the entry of the ships, it would have been but wise and politic had the authorities provided me with a 'copy' of such 'prohibition;' as according to the governor's own showing I was quite ignorant of the laws of the celestial empire,'—and

3dly. As to the departure of the ships. One of them will be dispatched imme. diately to the ad niral in the East Indies bearing the governor's reply to this letter, and who will act accordingly; and the other will remain at Whampoa to convey myself and suite to Macao. And 4thly, as to the nature of my business here, I have already told him that I can only communicate on that subject by letter or by person to the viceroy.

I hope this is plain enough for the comprehension of the Kwángchau fú.

Letter from the hong-merchants to the British merchants, desiring further information respecting the frigates, dated September 16th, 1834.

A respectful notification.-You, gentlemen, have to-day sent us a letter from your honorable officer to yourselves. Therein, it is said, "As to the departure of the ships, one of them will be dispatched immediately to the admiral in the East Indics, bearing the governor's reply to this letter, and who will act accordingly." Why not send the ships of war out to the outer sea immediately, at tho saine time giving information of the day and time of sailing, to enable us to report to the governor, that he may issue orders to all the military posts to let them pass? "The other will remain at Whampoa, to convey myself and suite to Macao." Why not first send this ship of war to soa outside the Bogue, and then have the cutter up to take your honorable officer on board the ship, to return to Macao? At the end of the previous letter it was said, 'I request you to move the proper authorities to order the British cutter up from Whampoa, that I may carry the same into effect.' Do the words 'carry into effect' refer to the mode of acting mentioned in the hoppo's reply, on a former day, to Mr. Whiteman's petition, namely, that your honorable officer should first go to Macao. In our letter of the 13th (September 15th), it was required to examine for what cause the ships of war enter. ed the port and broke down the forts. On this point we have not received an We pray you to inform your honorable officer, and reply again to day,—

answer.

to enable us to report.

For this we write, &c., &c.

To Messrs. Jardine, Dent,

(Subscribed by the cleven hong-merchants.)
Boyd, Whiteman, Framjee, and other gentlemen.

No. 4.

To W. S. Boyd, esq., secretary to the Chamber of Commerce.

Sir,-In further explanation, I beg to acquaint you that the ship for India will remain at Whampoa on account of the more ncar communication with this place, and will sail as soon as I receive the viceroy's reply; therefore his excellency had hetter give orders to allow her to go out as soon as possible. The other ship will remain at Whampoa to receive me from the cutter, and will not move from thence on any account previous to my arrival. The words carrying into effect' alluded to the hoppo's reply to the petition of Mr. Whiteman. river for the purpose of affording greater security to the

The frigate came up the persons and property of

British subjects, after the most barbarous and cruel edict of the 2d of September, which yet remains in operation. The authorities have to blame themselves for having acted in that base manner towards the representative of H. B. M., and if the prohibitions did actually exist, they ought to have been communicated to the superintendents officially beforehand. The frigates did not fire upon the forts until they were obliged to do so in self-defense. Your obedient servant, NAPIER.

Canton, September 10th, 1834.

No. 5.

Letter from the hong-merchants to Mr. Boyd, dated September 17th, 1834. A respectful notification.-We yesterday received a letter, wherein it is said, 'The ship for India will remain at Whampoa on account of the more near communication with this place, and will sail as soon as I receive the viceroy's reply... The other ship will remain at Whampoa to receive me from the cutter.' It may thus be seen that the two vessels are both willing to go out of port; but that they sail at different times. But for ships of war to sail into the inner territory has long been a subject of prohibition. Now the letter says that both are willing to go out of the port. If these two ships immediately set sail and go to the outer sea at Lintin, then afterwards we can report to the great officers that they may order the cutter up to Canton, to take your honorable officer back to Macao. This method will be safe and right. As to the manner of ships of war going out, spoken of in yesterday's letter, it is indeed difficult to request the great officers to grant it. For this purpose we reply, praying you to communicate this to your honorable officer, and reply to us to-day. or this we hope.

With compliments, &c., &c. (Subscribed by the eleven hong-merchants.) To Mr. Boyd, and other gentlemen.

No. 6.

To W. S. Boyd, esq., secretary to the Chamber of Commerce,

Sir,-Lord Napier's continued indisposition rendering it desirable that his lordship should not be harassed by a continuance of the negotiation now going on with the Chinese authorities, and that his departure from Canton should not be delayed, I beg to inform you that I have undertaken, with his lordship's concurrence, to make the requisite arrangements with the hong-merchants, in reference to the communication which you yesterday received from them.

T. R. COLLEdge,

Your's obediently, Canton, September 18th, 1834.

Surgeon. to H. M. superintendents. 19th. At the public hall of the hong-merchants, it was agreed to on their part. in behalf of the Chinese government, and by T. R. Colledge and William Jardine esquires, in behalf of lord Napier, that his lordship and suite should retire to Macao, and the two ships remove from the river, on condition that the trade should be immediate ly reöpened. Vol. III., p. 283.

21st. Lord Napier addressed a letter to captain Blackwood, stating that, in consequence of at understanding come to with the Chinese authorities, H. B. M. ships Imogene and Andromache were no longer required at Whampoa; and requesting him immediately to proceed with both ships to the anchorage at Lintin; adding that the Chinese

VOL XI. NO. 11.

10

authorities had provided means for the conveyance of himself and suite to Macao.

At 7 o'clock P. M., his lordship and suite embarked in two boats provided by the Chinese government, and lieut. Reed and the marines soon after left for Whampoa in another boat-thus opening the communication between the factories and the shipping, which had been closed for sixteen days. Can. Reg., Sep. 23d.

22d. The boats for Macao, having anchored at the fort in sight. of Canton the preceding evening, proceeded slowly and tediously, under a convoy of eight armed boats. Vol. III, p. 283.

25th. The boats having arrived at Hiángshán on the 23d, remained there till this morning, to the great annoyance and serious injury of his lordship's health. Vol. III., p. 284.

26th. On the morning of this day his lordship and suite arrived at Macao, his illness having been exceedingly aggravated by the concerted annoyances of the Chinese. Corresp. p. 39.

October 11th. Died at Macao, at 10 o'clock and 20 minutes P. M., the right honorable William-John lord Napier, &c., in the 48th year of his age. Vol. III., pp. 272, 281.

15th. At 10 o'clock A. M., the funeral took place in Macao, and the remains of lord Napier were temporarily deposited in the English burial-ground there.* Vol. III., p. 281.

16th. H. B. M. ship Andromache, captain Chads, sailed with dispatches for India.

19th. The governor of Canton received from Peking replies to dispatches, announcing lord Napier's departure from Canton, and the withdrawal of the ships of war. Vol. III., pp. 336, 337, 340, &c. On the same day the governor issued the following edict, addressed to the hong-merchants.

“Lú, governor of Kwangtung and Kwangsí, &c., to the hong-merchants, requiring their full acquaintance with the contents thereof.

In the trade of the English barbarians to Canton, the responsibility of transacting all commercial affairs has hitherto rested on the said nation's taepan. This year the Company has been terminatea and dispersed; and without any other appointment of a taepan having been made, a varbarian eye (lord Napier) came to Canton, saying that he came for the purpose of examining into the affairs of trade. I, the governor, commanded the merchants to inquire and investigate. The said barbarian eye did not obey the old regulations, but was throughout perversely obstinate. Now the assistant Fú, magistrate at Macao, has reported that lord Napier has expired at Macao, in consequence of illness. For all affairs

Note. A short biographical sketch of lord Napier's life was given in a funeral sermon preached at Canton before the foreign community, the next Sabbath after hus decease. Sce vol. III. p. 272.