"reverently obeyed the established regulations and never shown the least dissatisfaction." Thus it is on record," that the two countries ever have been at peace, and on terms of friendship. In this situation of allairs, a visitor arrives from the United States, and "on account of adverse winds," and "for no other reason," anchors for a little time, when forthwith appears the following mandate.

"AN edict from Pang, by imperial authority acting director of his majesty's flower gardens, commissioner of customs at the port Canton, &c., &c., to the hong merchants.

to me,

"The deputy officers at the custom-house in Macao have sent up a statement that on the 16th of the 11th moon (January 4th 1836), the pilot Tăng Kingnang reported to them as follows: "On the 15th of the present moon, (January 3d,) an American cruiser, Aulick, came and anchored at Lintin, and I instantly inquired the reason of his doing so; whereupon the captain declared: " After leaving my native country and visiting other distant marts, I was compelled on account of adverse winds to anchor here for a little time; there is no other reason for my doing so, nor any occasion for you to repeat your inquiries." Now I have ascertained that such is the cause of her coming, and also that in his ship there are men, guns, and weapons as follows; namely, 200 sailors, 26 guns, 100 muskets, 100 swords, 800 catties of powder, and 800 bails. These facts are authentic." We, besides having ordered the pilots to keep a rigorous watch over the ship, do also, as it is proper, submit this statement of the case for your excellency's examination.'

66

"Such is the report which has been made to me, the commissioner of customs. And on inquiry, I find that the said cruiser is not a merchant ship, nor for the protection of such ships, and that she has men, guns, and weapons, in very unusual numbers. It is not fit, therefore, that she should make any excuses for anchoring, and thereby create disturbance. She ought to be driven away. When these orders reach the hong merchants, let them, in obedience thereto, immediately communicate them to the person who has the direction of the affairs of the said nation, (commanding) him to guard her out to sea and order her to return home. Let her (captain) not frame deceits and loiter about to create disturbance. If there be any opposition, it shall be investigated. Moreover, report the day of her departure. Hasten! Hasten! A special edict. • Taoukwang, 15th year, 11th moon, 21st day." (January 9th, 1836.) Eunuchs. The Peking gazette for the 13th of September last, contains a long account of the elopement of two of his majesty's eunuchs. The case was reported to the emperor by the governor of the province of Cheible, and is briefly as follows. Two of the younger eunuchs, whose names are Chang Hingwang and Chang Sheën, having by accident, as they testified, committed some error in the management of their business, and fearing chastisement from their superior, Leaoutih the chief of the eunuchs, fled from the imperial residence to their native village, taking with them all their effects, and money to the amount of twenty-nine tales. This occurred about the middle of July. In about two weeks they reached their place of destination incognito; but they had not been there long before the house in which they resided was broken open, and their effects and money taken away. The next morning after this was done, they went to the chief magistrate of the district, who immediately sent out his runner to pursue and apprehend the thieves. The eunuchs returning from the office of the magistrate, found all their effects replaced; the money, however, had not been brought back. Believing that this must have been done by the villains themselves, they went again directly to the magistrate to urge him to hasten their seizure. The magistrate was sitting in his open court, when the eunuchs arrived, who gave orders that they should be brought before him and be made to kneel; but as soon as they were in his presence, instead of kneeling, they seized the insignia of authority-slips of bamboo, &c., lying on the table before the sitting magistrate, railing at him furiously at the same time. A quarrel ensued which ended in the apprehension of the two eunuchs by the magistrate, who forthwith sent them up to the governor of Cheille; and by him they were handed over to one of the tribunals for judgment.

Priests of the Taou sect. Extract from the Peking gazette of the 17th day, 7th moon, of the 15th year of Taoukwang: September 9th, 1835.

"The commander-in-chief of the infantry in the capital, has presented a memorial to the emperor requesting the imperial will respecting persons delivered over for trial and looking up, he begs that a holy glance may be bestowed on the case. The captain of the troops stationed at Poyang, having taken on suspicion a taousze, (a priest of the Taou sect,) named Sun Punchin, brought him with certain books, and delivered them to my care. Examining, I found two prohibited books among them; namely, Wanfäkweitsung, and Shintaoupeche; and also some charms. When I inquired where he obtained all these, he said, 'they belong to Wang Yungkwei u taousze who accompanied him to Peking.' Immediately I sent a warrant and brought the said taousze, who, when put on trial declared, "he was a native of Hanyang foo in the province of Hoopih, and entered the priesthood in the temple Yuhhwang at Teëntsin. In the 6th moon of the current year, Sun Punchin came and took up his residence in the same temple, where I became acquainted with those books and charms which are truly his property. From Teentsin I came to Peking, and went with permission to reside in the monastery of the White Clouds; Sun Punchin did not accompany me; and I beg he may be called and examined, then the truth of the case will be known." "Sun Punching, in his evidence declared, "I am a native of Tsingchow foo in the province of Shantung, and entered the priesthood in the temple of Lingkwan in Tsenan foo, and have since been begging from place to place. In the 4th moon of this year, I prayed for rain in my native village, the people having promised to allow me to reside in their temple and to reward me with a small piece of land. My prayers proving ineffectual, the people drove me from the temple; I afterwards engaged in telling fortunes, traveling towards Peking. Having reached the district of Fowching in the departmeut of Hokeën, I took lodgings in the temple of Yuhhwang: while there, an individual, whose surname was Chaou, requested me to tell his fortune, which I did, and he gave me in return a parcel of medicine. In the 6th moon of the year, I reached Teëntsin, where I lived in the temple Yuhhwang, and went daily into the street to calculate fortunes. I used yellow paper, and drew pictures of the divine master to expell evil spirits: these I sold in the streets. At that time, Wang Yungkwei, the taousze, wished me to go with him to Peking. We proceeded together as far as Tungchow; there we separated, and I came here alone, bringing with me some printed books, for calculating fortunes, and also the medicine. As for the charms, I heard Wang Yungkwei say they belonged to a taousze, the person who gave them to me.'

"On inquiry. I find that the people of his native village did engage Sun Punching to pray for rain, and that he has also presumed to bring prohibited books and seditious charms to the capital. He has confessed that the books are his, but declared that the charms were not. This is evidently false, and there is reason to fear he is plotting mischief. As for the other taousze, who came begging to Peking, there is also reason to fear that he has not told the truth. It was my duty, therefore, to examine them both thoroughly, and also to request the imperial will for their being delivered over, with the books and charms, to the Board of Punishments for trial. All this is requested. The same is granted, and recorded."

Yuen yuen. His majesty has sent down his wilt, directing that this his faithful servant-now near three-score years and ten-be admitted to an audience without attendants from the Board of War: "this is done to show the emperor's tender regard for his aged minister." See the gazette for October 14th. Not long ago, we saw a memorial from Yuen Yuen; he was then acting as governor in one of the western provinces of the empire, although he had some time before been appointed one of his majesty's chief ministers of state. The audience noticed above, we presume, was granted immediately after his return from his gubernatorial duties.

Hengan, it appears by an extract from the gazette for the 19th of October, is again rising into notice. The emperor having gone and examined the new tombs recently constructed for his deceased consorts, was pleased to improve the occasion to confer special favors on certain individuals at court, and among them was that of secondary guardian of the crown prince" on Hengan.

THE

CHINESE REPOSITORY.

VOL. IV.- FEBRUARY, 1836.- No. 10.

ART. I. Treaty with the Chinese, a great desideratum; probability of forming one, with remarks concerning the measures by which the object may be gained. From a Correspondent.

THE recent efforts to open a free trade with the northeast coast of China are attracting considerable notice, and producing a growing interest; although by some persons they are discountenanced, by others regarded as ruinous, while by a few they are considered as directly tending to open a free intercourse with the people of this country. Notwithstanding this diversity of opinions, the commercial world cannot but feel an interest in such a prospect of the extension of trade and the establishment of friendly relations with the greatest nation on the globe. As early as 1560, the Portuguese carried on an extensive commerce at Ningpo, Chusan, and Tseuenchow, from which, however, they were soon driven, while the Dutch were content with an establishment on Formosa, which they also soon lost. The supercargoes of the English East India company, after encountering many difficulties, were finally allowed to repair to Canton, Amoy, Ningpo, and Chusan; but the many obstacles which were thrown in their way at the latter places, and the generous offers of the local government at Canton, that they should enjoy great privileges here if they would abandon the other ports, induced them to confine themselves to this provincial city; however, they soon found the same hinderances to trade here which they had met elsewhere. They now regretted their having relinquished the northern ports, and dispatched Mr. Flint, who was acquainted with the Chinese language, to Ningpo and Teëntsin to request an extension of commerce. He received many fair promises; but on his return to Canton, he was seized by the Chinese and thrown into prison, and commerce remained restricted as before.

It would have been natural to expect that as trade increased, it would open new channels and find new facilities. The reverse of this has here taken place. British spirit of enterprise, which in all other parts of the globe has pressed onward with vigor, has here been cramped. During a period of more than seventy years no efforts were made to gain new privileges and chanuels for our trade, and we came at length to believe that there were no other accessible ports in China besides that at Canton.

When free British merchants, under the name of foreign consuls, were allowed to reside at Canton, they could but ill brook the restrictions which shut them out from all the northern ports. In 1823, one of these gentlemen made a voyage along the eastern coast of Canton, and visited several of the ports in the province of Fuhkeën. This enterprise was followed by others, and great profits were realized. Soon a large number of ships, freighted with opium, appeared on the coast; but the local officers, fearful of an invasion, seized, beat and imprisoned those who ventured to trade with foreigners, and the profits began to decrease. In the mean time the trade, which had been commenced at Lintiu, grew to an enormous extent, and is still flourishing, imperial edicts notwithstanding.

In 1832, the Lord Amherst was sent northward to visit the principal ports of China, Corea, Japan, and the Lewchew islands. Before her return, three other vessels were dispatched for the coast; and in October of the same year, the adventurous voyage of the Sylph was undertaken. From that time to the present the trade has been prosecuted with vigor, though confined chiefly to a single article, which, for the welfare of mankind, one could wish had never been cultivated in India or imported into China. This trade is carried on in defiance of the regulations of the imperial government. The people will trade even at the hazard of their lives and property. They have offered to furnish cargoes of teas for the home market; they have repeatedly expressed their regret that all foreigu commerce should be restricted to Canton; and have always shown themselves to be the staunch supporters of free trade and friendly intercourse.

But it is not from illegal trade that we expect real benefit to accrue to British commerce. Such can be carried on only upon a comparatively limited scale. The great desideratum is to establish and secure our commercial relations by a regular treaty, which shall be strictly binding on both parties, based on the grand principle of mutual advantage. We will now endeavor to examine candidly the probability of forming such an arrangement, and point out those measures by which we may attain our object, hoping they may receive the approbation of the public of Great Britain. Our remarks are based on actual observation and personal acquaintance with the Chinese character and government, and are the results of careful reflection.

The constitution of China differs from that of every other country. The monarch, as heaven's son, is heaven's vicegerent, the sole and absolute ruler of the whole earth. His inmediate subjects constitute the celestial empire, all others are barbarians, whom his clemency

cherishes or his just indignation repels. Princes reign under his sunction, and are in duty bound to pay him homage. Such is the creed of the cabinet at Peking; somewhat different, however, are the sentiments which influence its decrees. Though firm in the belief of the incomparable greatness of the celestial empire, and of the superiority of its inhabitants both in civilization and understanding, nevertheless, great officers of state aver that barbarians are fierce and crafty and therefore somewhat dangerous. Blending the terin barbarian with that of foreigner, and deriving their ideas of the rest of the world from what they see of their neighbors, they apply the same opprobrious epithet to all foreigners indiscriminately. It would be degrading to the majesty of the celestial empire to stoop so low as to consider any nation civilized, which has not experienced the transforming influence of China, or to condescend to enter into a treaty with barbarians on terms of equality. It is evident, therefore, that no foreign envoy can find favor before the Chinese monarch, or derive any substantial benefit from negotiations, while looked upon in such a degrading light. If he hesitate to subscribe to the humiliation of the government from which he is sent, he is dismissed with anger; if he be mean enough to stoop and do homage, he is viewed as the representative of a humble vassal, and his nation registered in the imperial statistics as a tributary

state.

The early embassies of the Portuguese during the Ming dynasty, and their subsequent envoys to the Tartar monarchs, all shared this fate. Though the most able Jesuits advocated their cause at the throne, they could not obtain a ratification of their right to Macao. The pope sent two embassadors to the foot of the dragon-throne, and found, but too late, that the emperor of China disputed with him the supremacy of the earth. In the reign of Shunche, about 1650, the Dutch sent their first embassador, who traded at Peking, and submitting to every indignity, in order to conciliate the Chinese, was treated with scorn. A repetition of the act of homage, met with the same result. They were restricted to a few commercial privileges, which they originally obtained by force, and subsequently preserved by bribes. Their embassador near the close of the last century, yielded to the most humiliating demands, and was sent away in disgrace, although he enjoyed many friendly professions. The ill success of our own diplomatic missions is well known. Our first embassador was treated politely because he did not degrade himself by making prostrations; however, he gained no advantages. Our second representative was dismissed in high dudgeon to atone for his stubbornness. Russian embassadors, their treaty notwithstanding, have been tortured by petty annoyances, and sent back with scorn. Their residents at Peking are viewed as hostages, and are watched with a vigilant eye. The periodical envoys of the Coreans, Siamese, &c., are mere royal monopolists, and are treated with indescribable contempt.

Such is the manner in which the representatives of sovereign states and empires are received by the court at Peking. We have still to learn how we ought to treat a haughty, semi-civilized, despotic go