The Sun.
London, England, 1822-05-29 00:00:00

PRICE SEVENPENCE.

CHINA.

We yesterday insetted a letter from Wey-
mouth; relative to the' unfortunate occurrence
which has suspended for the present our com-
mercial intercourse with China. Our intelli-
gence, as we stated, came from the Farquharson
East Indiaman, which left China on the first of
April, and reached Weymouth on the c27th inst.
The following are the particulars of this unlucky
transaction, as related in another letter from
"Weymouth, and the subjoined accounts are de-
rived from other channels
" This morning, George Adams, Esq. Purser of tife Hon.

East India Company's ship Farquharson, landed b'ere froth
China, after a passage of 117 days, charged wish official
despatches to the Directors of the . Hon. East India-,Company,
stating, that his Majesty's ship Topaze, Capt. Richardsen, was
anchored off Lintin, and had sent a party of men on shore to
procure water; they quarrelled with the inhabitants, who had
assembled to the number of nearly 300. Capt. R, being absent,
from the ship, and the First Lieutenant perceiving the danger
the party were in, gave orders to Are from theship, to cover
their retreat, by which one native was killed and five wounded,
one of them since dead; fourteen of the crew a the Topaz,: are
wounded, and inconsequence of Captain It. refusing to give up
his men (who killed the Chinese) to their Government, an
Edict, dated December 31, 1821, has been issued; prohibiting
all -trade with England. Commercial people. concerned. with
the English, and all resident agents, are ordered to quit the
country immediately, only allowing the ships six months' pro.
visions. One ship only, which had completed her cargo, and
the passport signed, was allowed.to proceed; all others to de-
part *'ithout their cargoes~"

We subjoin here an accuratc account of the
events which follovfed. It was on the .mod of
December that the trade was first stopped by
the Viceroy of Canton.
On the 4th of January all the Hon. Company's treasure was
shipped at Canton in the boats of the fleet, and put onboard
the Waterloo; and on the Bth, all British subjects were realm-
mended to quit Canton and Macao, and the Hon:Company's
ships Windsor and Farquharson were despatched to 31acoa- to
afford shelter and protection to those who chose to embark ;
with one exception, all the British in 'Macao embarked on the
10th ; and on that day the President of the Factory hauled
down the British Union, and, carrying it with him, accom-
panied by the other Gentlemen and Commanders of the fore
Company's ships, proceeded td Wharnpoa, (where the ships
had made previous arrangements for sailing, having completed
their water and provisions), and the following day sailed for
Second tan Pilots were forbidden all the Company's ships.

During the stay of tht fleet at Second Bat, the Select Corn.
mittee had several communications with the Chinese Govern.
merit, through the medium of the Hong merchants, but all to
no purpose. The Committee were placed in a very delicate
and embarrassing situation; but, as on former occasions, dis-
played steadiness and firmness. -
On the 18th of January, whilst his Majesty's frigate Topaze,
Hon. Company's ships Windsor and Farquharson, and several
country ships, were lying at Lintin, dispatches were received
from the Select Committee, and in half an hour after all the
ships had weighed under orders of the frigate, and stood to-
wards the Forts of Bocca Tigris ; it was then understood the
fleet was to pats through.

When the frigate hove in sight of the forts, they fired a few
shots, as did the war junks, which were collected in great num-
bers; but they were soon silenced by a shot from the bow guns
of the Topaze, and all the junks weighed and sailed in dif-
ferent directions.

On the 2f)th of January, the fleets passed the forts Bocca
Tigris in line of battle, and anchored at Chuenpee, where they
were joined by his Majesty's frigate Topaze, Hon. Company's
ship Farquharson, and several country ships.

The Hong merchants came to Chuinke on the •2)th of Ja-
nuary, and left the following day to return as soon as possible
with the result of an interview they anticipated. the Viceroy
Would give them. Matters had assumed a most serious ap.
pearance, and it was the opinion of those immediately charged
with the management of the negociations, that no amicable
adjustment would take place.

The boats of the fleet were employed in discharging to the
several ships, in portions, the cargo of the country ship Susan.
(which was freighted by the Bengal Government to China with
cotton), and also in foading the Hon. Company's ship Kent
with teas from the other ships that hail received some part of
their cargoes on board before the rupthre took place.
The Repulse (whose cargo is completed) anti the' Kent will
be the only two ships\ to follow, but are likely to be detained
some time to carry home despatches..
On the day the Farquharsoleft China, it was said a 'copy of
an Edict; received from the Chinese by the Portuguese Governor
of Macao, had been transmitted to Chuenpee, requiring the im-
mediate departure from Macao of all British subjects, which
caused much apprehension for their safety.
The Edicts or Letters of the Viceroy of Canton are full of re-
petitions of the argument that the English Richardson's ship
of war (as the Topaze is styled), hating been employed to con-
voy the trade, ought to be altogether on the same footing as
the Company's ships, and that 'therefore' the affair should not
he regarded as between the two Governments, but should be
left to the management of the Hong merchants.
,An offer is
made to collect the Chinese present at the affray, and give the
English an opportunity of selecting those by whom any of
them were wounded; and, on the other hand, it is required that
one of the British crew shall be given up to be tried and pu-
nished, on the ground that it is a general rule in and out of,
China that "he who kills a man shall forfeit his life." This
was the general substance of the answers to the applications of
" the English Chief and his colleagues." The last of. these
Edicts, dated the ltith of January, concludes thus : -
" I now hereby order the 1-long merchants to enjoin my or-
ders on the said Chief and his colleagyes, and say, since the
foreigners in the said ship of war of the said Nation, within our
territory, caused the death of natives, the murderer or mur-
derers who killed the people is or arc in the said ship of war,
and, according to the Laws of the Celestial Empire, it is. in-
cumbent to bring forward the parties, try, judge; and penis::
them at the place where the crimes were ,committed.—
Since the said Naval. Officer knows this is an afiliir of
importance, he ought, forthwith, to take the murderers and de.-
liver them up, nor can he succeed in making preteitts of return-.
ing home and departing to the said country.
Let the Hong merchants immediately communicate my
orders to the Chia and the others, saying that their minds may
,be perfectly quiet, and they may, in the first place,, return to
the Foreign Factories, and, at same time, address themselves
to. the Naval OfFecer of the said country, telling and command.
inghim to deliv!: up the foreign murderers, for he is not again
permitted with empty words to annoy by statements. As for
the rest, obey former Edicts, and manage according to the tenor
thereof. A SPECIAL EDICT.

. ‘rl'aott 'Luang, Ist year, 12th Moot, and 30th diiy."
It is believed that the Chinese hpve been influenced in some
measure in this affair by their suecessiri their demand upon the
Americans in Octobei last, • when, it will -be recollected, a fo-
reign sailor under that flag was given up foi an alleged murder
bf a woman, and after a mock trial at Canton was crualy tor-
tured and put to death.