CHINA; GEOGRAPHICAL, POLITICAL, COMMERCIAL, AND SOCIAL. CHAPTER I. BRITISH INTERCOURSE WITH CHINA, SINCE THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH; DETAILS OF THE RECENT WAR, AND TREATIES WITH ENGLAND. THE finite capacity of man, and his consequent fallible judgment, render experience a safe guide in mundane affairs, particularly in national intercourse, for the character and ruling motives of a nation are less liable to change than those of individuals. If then we find, that in the intercourse of China with foreign countries for more than 2000 years, submission has been received with arrogance, and quiescence rewarded with oppression, that resistance has been treated with respect, and force alone procured concessions to justice,-we have a guide, when pursuing an upright course of policy, for our conduct towards China. The previous chapters will corroborate the truth of these remarks, and in further elucidation of them, independent of historical interest, the following narrative is given of English intercourse with China, since the reign of our truly national sovereign Elizabeth, during whose reign (A.D. 1596) we have the first official intimation of public communication with China. The following is a copy of a letter from Queen Elizabeth of England, to the Emperor of China, A.D. 1596. "Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, France, and Ireland, the most mightie Defendresse of the true and Christian faith, againste all that falsely profess the name of Christ. "To the most high and sovereign prince, the most puissant 2 QUEEN ELIZABETH TO THE EMPEROR OF CHINA. governor of the great kingdom of China, the chiefest Emperor in those parts of Asia, and the islands adjoining, and the great monarch of the oriental regions of the world; wisheth health, and many joyful and happy years, with all plenty and abundance of things most acceptable. "Whereas our honest and faithful subjects which bring these letters unto your highness, Richard Allot and Thomas Broomfield, merchants of the city of London, have made most earnest suite unto us, that we would commend their desires and endeavours of sayling to the regions of your empire for traffiques sake; whereas the fame of your kingdom so strongly and prudently governed, being published over the face of the whole earth, hath invited these, our subjects, not only to visit your highnesses dominions, but also to permit themselves to be ruled and governed by the laws of your kingdom during their abode there, as it becometh merchants, who for exchange of merchandise are desirous to travel to distant and unknown regions, having this regard only, that they may present their wares and musters of divers kind of merchandise, wherewith the regions of our dominions do abound, unto the view of your highness and of your subjects, that they may endeavour to know whether there be any other merchandise with us fit for your use, which they may exchange for other commodities, whereof in parts of your empire there is great plenty, both natural and artificial. We yielding to the most reasonable requests of these honest men, because we suppose that by this intercourse and traffique, no loss, but rather most exceeding benefits, will redound to the princes and subjects of both kingdoms, and thus help and enrich one another. And we do crave of your most Sovereign Majesty, that these our subjects, when they arrive at any of your ports or cities, they may have full and free liberty of egress and regress, and of dealing with your subjects; and may by your clemency enjoy all freedoms and privileges as are granted to the subjects of other princes; and we on the other side, will not only perform all the offices of a well and willing prince unto your highness, but also for the greater increase of mutual love and commerce between us and our subjects, by these present letters of ours, do most willingly grant unto all and every your subjects, full and entire liberty into any of the parts of our dominions to resort there, to abide and traffique, and then return as it seemeth best to them. "All and every of which premises we have caused to be confirmed, by annexing hereunto our royal seal. God most Merciful and Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, continually protect your Kingly Majesty. "Given at our palace at Greenwich the 11th of July, 1596, and 38th of our reign." A storm prevented the ship which conveyed this letter reaching, its destination. That considerable importance was attached to a growing trade with China at this period, is further evidenced by the following" draft of a warrant to discharge ware bound for China," which is to be found in the Lansdowne manuscripts. It appears to have been granted in favour of the " Earl of Leicester and other adventurers for the discovery and finding out Kathay." (China.) The following is a copy of this singular document. Elizabeth, by the grace of God Queen of England, &c., &c. "Greeting. Whereas there is due unto us for our subsidy of poundage of certain wares and merchandises entered into our book of entries, of the said subsidy due of merchandise carried from a port of London, and then shipped in divers ships, in the month of April last past, in the names of our right trusty and right wellbeloved Robert Earl of Leicester, and other adventurers, for the discovery and finding out Kathay, (China) to pass in the voyage to that land divers several sums of money amounting to the sum of £45 12s. 2 d. growing due of the value of the said wares, being valued at £912 4s. 2d., after the rate of twelve pence for every pound, thereof as by the said book reported by Robert Daw our collector, for our said subsidy in the said port disbursed into our said exchequer, and then remaining in the custody of our remembrancer, amongst other things more plainly appeareth; and whereas also there is due unto us for the custom of our hundreth, and wine, woollen cloths, and twenty yards of woollen cloths, entered in our book of entries of our petty custom of cloths and other merchandize, transported from our said port, and then shipped in divers ships in the month of March last, in the name of the said Earl and other adventurers, to pass on the said voyage divers several sums of money, amounting to the sum of £36 12s. 3d. after the rate of 68. 8d. for every cloth, as by the said book kept by William Phillips and Robert Young, collector of the said customs in the said port, and delivered into the custody of our remembrancer among other things, more plainly appeareth :-We let you to wit that we have agreed and granted to the said Earl and other adventurers aforesaid, to allow towards the charges and furnishing the said voyage as our adventure, to be accounted for after the rate to our use, according as the voyage shall have success, the said several sums due unto us as aforesaid, wherefore we grant unto you full power and authority, and we will and command you by these presents, that you cause our said courts to allow and permit the said Earl and others aforesaid, to retain in their own hands the said several sums of money due unto us as aforesaid, to be employed about the said voyage, or having already received it, do forthwith re-pay the same to that use, and that you do by virtue hereof, give clear and full allowance, discharge and exoneration, upon record for ever against us, our heirs and successors, to our said courts, and 4 TRADE ATTEMPTED WITH CHINA. every of them, in the several accounts to be made unto us, of the profits of the several officers of, for, and concerning the said sums, any statute, law, course of our said Exchequer, or any other matter or thing, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding, and these our letters," &c. In 1613, the English East India Company having successfully established a factory in Japan, the want of an opening with China was severely felt, and efforts were made by the payment of large sums of money to many Chinese merchants, who promised to interest themselves to gain that object. The differences between the English and Dutch Companies in India and Japan, had risen to such a height, that the British government and the States-General entered into a treaty of defence, by which both countries bound themselves to endeavour to open a free trade with China. No part of this treaty was fulfilled by the Dutch, who were very jealous of the rising power of England. The dreadful slaughter of English subjects by the Dutch at Amboyna, and the cruel persecution which the East India Company's officers were subjected to in Japan (see vol. i., p. 300) were allowed to pass with impunity, owing to the state of affairs between England and Spain. In 1634, 66 a truce and free trade" to China and all other parts where the Portuguese had trade, was agreed to between the Viceroy of Goa and several English merchants, who had obtained a license from King Charles the First (Courteen's association). By virtue of this agreement, Captain Weddell sailed for China, with letters of introduction to the governor of Macao. The details of this expedition illustrate the character of the Chinese to the present day, and are worthy of note. When Captain Weddell's fleet arrived at Macao, the Portuguese governor, so far from giving them encouragement to trade (lest, as he represented, he might offend the Chinese), advised our ships to depart. Captain Weddell, unwilling to return fruitless after his long journey, determined to explore the Canton River; and fitted out a barge and pinnace, with fifty men, which discovered the mouth of the river. After several days' delay, a small boat approached the pinnace, sold them refreshments, and agreed to bring them to Canton; they had not sailed far when they fell in with a fleet of Chinese junks, consisting of twenty sail, commanded by an admiral, who called on them to anchor, which they did; some Portuguese on board acted as interpreters. Nothing could exceed the wrath of this functionary on finding that the Barbarians" had discovered the mouth of the river, (it appears the Portuguese were not permitted to approach Canton by this route; probably it was the "inner passage,") or, as he CAPTAIN WEDDELL'S EXPEDITION TO CANTON. 5 termed it, "the prohibited goods, and the concealed parts and passages of so great a prince's dominions." The Chinese admiral required the English to tell him who were their pilots. The spokesman of this adventurous crew asked permission to trade on the same terms as the inhabitants of Macao. Permission was granted for three of the crew of the pinnace, to sail for Canton in a junk furnished for that purpose by the Chinese admiral. The next day, when near Canton, they were hailed, and a request made to return to Macao, and that every assistance would be given to them in obtaining a license to trade. The proceedings of Captain Weddell, the treachery he experienced, and the concessions immediately granted from fear, are so similar to the proceedings during our late war, that they deserve special notice. The pinnace returned from Canton on the strength of these promises; and being satisfied with the knowledge they had acquired of the river, were anxious to relieve Captain Weddell from the suspense their long absence must have occasioned. During their absence six vessels had sailed from Macao for Japan, which the Portuguese were afraid Weddell would have intercepted: he allowed them, however, to proceed on their voyage. But instead of receiving any aid from either the Chinese or Portuguese, the English were prohibited to trade, the Chinese being freed from the fear that Captain Weddell would surprise their vessels. A consultation was held by the English, and a plan of the river being laid before the captains of the ships, it was decided that the whole fleet should sail for Canton without delay. 66 Having made good passage on their way to Canton, and being furnished with some slender interpreters, they soon had speech with mandarins in the king's junks, to whom the cause of their arrival was made known; to the request these mandarins promised to lend every assistance with the prime men in Canton; but requested a delay of six days, which was granted; and the English ships rode with white ensigns on the poops. But the perfidious Portuguese had so slandered the English, that in the night-time, the Chinese put forty-six pieces of ordnance into the fort lying close to the river; and after the end of four days, having fortified themselves, they discharged divers shot, though without hurt. Herewith the fleet being incensed, did display their bloody ensigns; and weighing their anchors, fell up with the flood, and berthed themselves before the castle, from whence came many shots, yet not any that touched hull or rope. Whereupon, not being able to endure their bravadoes any longer, each ship began to play furiously upon them with their broadsides; and after two or three hours, perceiving their cowardly fainting, the boats were landed with about one hundred men; which sight Occasioned them, with great distraction, instantly to abandon the |