The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-06 00:00:00

CLOSE OF THE TRADE WITH

CHINA.

CANTON, MAY 11, 1839.
Dear Sir,—We hand for your perusal, translation of an
edict just issued by this Government, which,may be consi-
dered almost tantamount to closing the port against foreign
trade, as we believe, with the examples before us of the
impetuous and arbitrary manner with which the Chinese so
often condemn without even a hearing or trial, hardly any
foreigners feel inclined to peril their lives by remaining
here under the new law ; and it is thought probable all
will leave with Captain Elliot, on completing the delivery
of the opium which he has pledged to the Government.
Edicts have also been issued ordering the departure from
China of a member of the firm of Messrs. Dent and Co.,
and three members of our firm ; a flagrant violation of the
pledge held out that no penalties would be inflicted for
past dealings in the drug. We have reason to believe
that this will in due time be righted along with the other
acts of violence and spoliation of which Foreigners in
China have recently Leon made the victims.
Mean while, as our reme.;ning partner, Mr. Henry
Wright, with the rest of our establishment, will be en
titled to do business on the same footing as other foreigners,
should business be at all practicable, our constituents may
rely on every attention being paid to their interests, aided
by the advice of the other members of the firm, who will
remain in the vicinity of the port till the storm blows over.
We, remain, dear Sir, your most obedient servants,
JARDINE, MATHESON, and CO.

PUBLIC NOTICE TO BRITISH SUBJECTS.
The Chief Superintendent yesterday received an Edict,
of which the annexed is a copy, to the joint address of the
Consul of the King of Holland, the Consul of the United
States, and himself.

By this law the ships and crews of all nations, hencefor-
ward arriving in China, are liable to the penalties, the
first, of confiscation, and the last, of death, upon the deter-
mination of this Government that they have introduced

opium.
The danger of confiding to this Government the admit.
nistration of any judicial process concerning foreigners,
can scarcely be more strikingly manifested than in the list
of names lately proscribed by the High Commissioner.
Evidence that has been good to satisfy his Excellency
that these sixteen persons are principal parties conc.nmed
in introducing opium, and therefore to justify their deten-
tion as hostages, would of course be equally good for other
conviction of the like nature.

It may be taken to be certain, however, that the list
contains the names of persons who have never been en.
gaged in such pursuits, or, let it be added, in any other
contraband practice.
In investigation upon such subjects, the Chinese Au-
thorities would probably b, guiltless of any deliberate
intention to commit acts of juridical spoliation and murder.
But it is plain that in the present state of the in-
tercourse there would be excessive risk of such conse-
quences, and therefore the present law is incompatible
with safe or honourable continuance at Canton, if nothing
else had happened to establish the same conclusion.
It places, in point of fact, the lives, liberty, and property
of the whole foreign community here at the mercy of any
reckless foreigners outside, and more immediately at the
disposal of the Hong merchants, Linguists, Compradores,
and their retainers.

The Chief Superintendant by no means ascribes general
wickedness to those parties, but their situation and liabili-
ties make them very unsafe reporters, and yet it is mainly
upon their reports that the judgment of the Government
will be taken.

It will be particularly observed that persons remaining
are understood by the Government to assent to the reason-
ableness of the law.

CHARLES ELLIOT,
Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British
Subjects in China.
Canton, 11th May, 1839.

Orders from the Imperial Commissioner, the Governor,
and Lieutenant Governor, permitting the Foreigners of
all Nations to leave China.
From the Kwangchow Foo communicating the orders of
the Commissioner, Governor, and Lieut. Governor, re
garding the punishment of Foreigners for dealing in opium.
Choo, by special appointment, Prefect of Kwangchow
Foo, issues commands to the English Superintendent,
Elliot, the American Superintending Officer, Snow, and
the Dutch Superintending Officer, Van Basil, for their
full information.
He has now received from Lin, the High Imperial Com-
missioner, &c., Tang, Governor of the two Kwang, and
E, the Lieutenant- Governor of Kwantung, the following
orders :
" It appears that the English Superintendent Elliot,
the American Superintending officer Snow, and the Dutch
Superintending Officer Van Basel, have presented ad-
dresses, requesting that they all should return home at
the head of the people and the vessels of their several
nations.
" These addresses coming before us, the Commissioner
and the Governor, and being duly authenticated, we reply—
" China has indeed no need of commercial intercourse
with outer Barbarians, But because you have come from
far over the seas, it cannot bear to push you utterly away ;
you have enjoyed the overshadowing, the comprehensive,
and deep benevolence of the Great Emperor, who has
given sanction to the trade with Kwangtung. You who
have come to the territory of the Celestial Empire, have
not only eat of the herbage and trod the soil equally with
the people of the land, but have also by your buying and
selling acquired very rich advantages. It is naturally
your duty to rest in your stations, observing the laws. But
fur tens of years past, you have on the contrary employed
a thing hurtful to men, as a means of gaining and posses-
sing yourselves of the people's wealth.
" The great Emperor, anxiously regardful of the gene-
ral well-being, has declared his pleasure that this should
be severely prohibited. And if the laws be not plainly
declared, how shall the future ingress be a put a stop to ?
While now, all you Superintendents and Consuls aforesaid
are aware that the prohibitory enactments of the Celes-
tial Court may not be opposed, you are yet anxious in re-
gard to points of difficulty as relates to your own countries,
and request that, at the head of the people and vessels of
your several countries, you may altogether take your de-
pa,ture to return home.
" Those of the foreigners whose names are prominent
as having been habitual sellers of opium, have already ere
this been ordered away. But besides Jardine and others
who have gone away back to their countries, there vet
remain many lingering behind. If indeed all leave China
for ever, there will of course no opium gain entrance into
the inner land, and this evil may be removed.
" After tl en the full completion of the present deli-
veries, let it be even as requested. It shall be left to you
entirely to return your countries. Only you will not be
allowed to make pretexts for procrastinating and delaying.
And after you have thus returned, you will not be allowed
to conic again. Let there be no turning backwards and
forwards, no inconstancy, whereby investigation and pro.
ceedi ngs thereon will be involved.
" Having reference to the great numbers of the fo-
reigners of various nations, and the openness of com-
munication by sea in every part, and considering that
the laws and enactments of the Celestial Court are ex-
tremely strict, it is still requisite that the punishment
attaching to the prohibition against the importation of
opium should be plainly proclaimed. All you fo-
reigners of every nation—should you not come hither
there the matter rests; but should you come to the terri-
tory of the Celestial Court, be you people of any country
whatsoever, so often as opium is brought, in all cases, in
accordance with the new law the parties shall be capitally
executed, and the property entirely confiscated. Say not
that it was not told beforehand
"We proceed to issue these orders, commanding the
Prefect immediately to enjoin the orders on the original
Hong merchants, and on the several senior and other Hong
merchants, that they may plainly enjoin the same on the
several superintending officers aforesaid, that they having
knowledge thereof may offer no opposition "
This having been received by the Prefect, he proceeds
to issue these command.; when these reach the said Su-
perintending officers, let them, having knowledge thereo
offer no opposition. A special command.
Taoukwang, 19th year, 3d month, 25th day,
(Ith May, 1839.)