The Sun.
London, England, 1822-06-01 00:00:00

" Yutx, Governor of Canton, &c.

" Hereby issues an Order to die Hong Merchants, requiring
them to make themselves fully acquainted therewith.
" Concerning the ease of the foreigners, belongin3 to the
English Richardson's ship of war, having killed natives, I, the
Governor, commanded the Hong merchants to enjoin my com-
mands on the said nation's Chief to order the delivering up of
the foreign murderers for prosecution. In consequence of their,
delaying to deliver them up, I next shut the hatches (interdict-
ed trading) to operate as a warning. These proceedings were
all agreeabb. to repeated precedents and former regulations (er
laws).
"Further, 1 have repeatedly, over and over rgain, issued
clear and explicit Edicts on the subject, which are on record.
"After this, the Chief and the others retired to the ships..
On examining into the occurrence, the appearances seemed
true and real ; and I, the Governor, compassionately considered
how these foreign merchants were all irophcated by the man of
war, and forthwith allowed the trade to be opened, and that
they should return to the factories and do business; but how
the murderous foreigners who killed the men were to be forth-
coming, was still made necessary for the said Chief and the
others to state to me distinctly and truly, before the Hong.
Merchants were allowed to present lists of goods to pay the du-
ties.

The Hong Merchants have now declared to me verbally~,
that the Chief and the others had again presented a statement.,
On questioning them as to its contents, whether or not my
orders•had been obeyed in the reply contained in this paper, the.
Hong Merchants answered, that they did not know; they merely
said, that still the Chief and the other had declared to them
verbally the same as before, that they could not exercise control ,
in this matter. Therefore 1, the Governor, would not take the •
statement sent, nor break it open, but ordered the Hong Mer-,
chants to take it back and open it themselves, and see whether
the said Chief had obeyed the former order, and stated in what •
manner the foreign murderers were to be forthcoming and de-
livered up, and declare the same perspicuously; and then all the •
Hong Merchants might send in goods to pay the duties and
ship them ; but if still they (the Committee) gazed and stared
about, and floated hither and thither, it would still be necessary
to prohibit the shipping of goods.
" Uniting these things, 1 again commanded the Hong Mer-.
chants to go immediately and enjoin my commends on the
Chief and the others; saying, that 1, the Governor, permitted
the opening of the trade, in consideration of the great distance
these foreign merchants come to Canton ; and I could not bear
the thought that they should be implicated because of the man
of war, and that country lose such great wins. But since fo-
reigners of that nation have killed men, it is absolutely neces-
sary that a life should be paid as the penalty. How can the
Chief and the Committee place themselves outside the con-
cern ?

" Since the said Chief and the others will not utter the word,
in obedience to my orders, and say, in an official document, how
thosaid foreign murderers are to be forthcoming (or placed in
security) now, and afterwards delivered up, it shews that the
said Chief and the Committee are not in the least pressed by the
business, but voluntarily renounce the commerce, and are self-
determined to cross the ocean with empty ships.
" And I, the Governor, will not by force detain them ; but it
is by no means the Iloppo's office that has ordered them away
out of the port, and therefore it cannot give them permits (or
port clearances).
" It is perfectly optional with all the said ships to set sail
and go out at the Bocca. I have already given orders to all the
forts on the passage, that on this occasion there is no necessity
to fire at or intercept these merchant ships.
" The Celestial Empire exercises perfect good faith towards
men, and it is quite out of the question to attack those mei.,
chant ships, after giving them permission to go. There is na
occasion for suspicion or doubt on this subject. This is a vo-
luntary act of the said merchants, who themselves desire to set
sail : It is not I, the Governor, who have ordered them to re-
turn home with empty ships; nor will I by force prevent them
from going again to their country.
"As to the goods and debts left at Canton, the proverb ap-
plies,—" he who kills a man must pay for it with his life ; and
he who owes a debt must pay for it with his money :"—there
is no occasion for anxiety about them.
" I, the Governor, have on this occasion shewn pity and com-
passion to these persons from remote parts, and indeed have
carried benevolence to the extreme limits, and justice to the ut-
most possible degree. These acts have been piled up, one upon
another, and the reasonableness of my conduct is sufficient in a
ten thousandth degree. In the whole province, both the officers
of Government and the people know this to be the case.
" The Chief therefore and his Colleagues may forthwith ask
the Naval Officer how the foreign murderers are to be forth-
coming, and let the statement to me pass through the Chief and
the Committee.

16 If the said Chief will write an official document, and de.

liver it to the Hong Merchants in order to lay before me, let
the Hong Merchants immediately, in the presence of the Chief
and Committee, open the document; and if in obedience to my
orders it contains a clear declaration concerning the delivering
up of the foreign murderers, let the said Hong Merchants at
the same time present a list of goods to be examined, the duties
paid, and the goods shipped.
4 This opening of the document is to be considered as done
by order . of me the Governor, and not as a private act of the
Bong ➢terchants.
But if still no decisive language be used (on this subject
of delivering up the men), and the Chief and the Committee
with the Naval Captain cannot forthwith communicate to site
in language which may be uttered in the presence of heaven
and the sun, then let the Hong Merchants immediately throw.
back the document ; there is no occasion to present it to me,
and thus uselessly labour in going backwards and forwards ;
and the delay of hours and days will be prevented.
" And on this subject the Hong Merchants need not further
urge nor make inquiries of the said Chief and his colleagues.
" A SPECIAL EDICT. " TAOW KwANG.
" 12th Moon, 24th day (16th Jan. 1822.)"