The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-09 00:00:00

SIR JOHN DAVIS TO THE CHINESE MINISTER.

Victoria, Hong- Kong Jan• 22, 1846.
I -have had the honour to receive your Excellency's
note respecting the difficulties attendant on opening
the city of Canton to British merchants.
In the Treaty of Nanking, the second article states
that "British subjects with their families and esta-
blishments shall be allowed to reside, for the purpose
of carrying on their mercantile pursuits, without mo-
lestation or restraint, at the cities and towns of Can-
ton, Amoy, Foo-chow-foo, Ningpo, and Shanghae."
Now, the treaty has already been equitably fulfilled
at four of these ports, and Canton remains the only
exception. Even at Foo-chow-foo, where difficulties
were last year urged exactly similar to those alleged
regarding Canton, your Excellency's Government has
enforced the provisions of the treaty.
In the first article of the Treaty of Nanking, it is
stated that the subjects of our two Governments re-
spectively "shall enjoy full security and protection
for their persons and property within the dominions
of the other."

It is a matter of high satisfaction to reflect that at
four of the ports the greatest security and tranquil-
lity prevail. Even at Foo-chow-foo, where 1 had
last year so much reason to complain, the people have
been brought, in consequence of my representations,
and by means of proper examples, to behave with
perfect correctness towards foreigners. But, unfor-
tunately, at Canton the evil is far from being confined
to a mere exclusion from the city. Your Excellency
knows that the Vice-consul himself, a public officer,
was wantonly and outrageously assaulted on the
opposite side of the river, and no redress whatever
has yet been afforded for that and another similar
instance reported to me by the Consul.
Your Excellency's long experience of public life
must convince you that such a state of things cannot
continue. At Canton was the origin of those troubles
which were happily terminated by the peace ; and it
is my wish for the continuance of our present friendly
relations that makes me desirous to urge in the least
unpleasant manner, and before it is too late, the com-
pletion of treaty engagements at Canton.
In the twelfth article of the Treaty of Nanking it
is expressly provided, that " the islands of Koolangsoo
and Chusan will continue to be held by her Majesty's
forces until the money payments and the arrange-
ments for opening the ports to British merchants be
completed.''
In July, 1843, your Excellency addressed the an-
nexed paper to my predecessor, distinctly admitting
the justice of opening the city of Canton in common
with the others, and solemnly engaging that it should
be done. I have myself repeatedly pressed this en-
gagement on your Excellency, and now urge it with
the authority of my Government. Koolangsoo has
already been delivered up; and her Majesty's forces
will evacuate Chusan the moment some arrangement
has been effected according to the treaty. Your
Excellency is aware that scarcely any buildings
whatever have been constructed at Chusan, in antici-
pation of its speedy evacuation.
Adverting now to your Excellency's last note, the
tumult in which the rabble attacked the Prefect of
Canton's house is publicly and universally known to
have originated in the undue severity exercised by
that officer on an individual who impeded his way,
and not in any rumoured attempts of foreigners to
enter the city. I have gone to an extreme length in
prohibiting British merchants and others from the
exercise of their, just and admitted rights. But even
supposing that such a tumult arose from a mere ru•
moured attempt of foreigners to exercise a right
secured by treaty, this only proves the extent of the
evil to be remedied.
The control of Chinese subjects belongs exclu-
sively to your Excellency's Government. I have
only to require for British subjects those privileges
and that protection which have been so often urged,
and so long postponed— and having now received
positive instructions from my Government, I cannot
do otherwise than be guided by them.

I take this occasion— to renew to your Excellency
the assurances of my highest consideration.

J. F. DAVIS.
(True copy) ADAM W. EMSLIE.
COMMISSIONER KEYING TO SIR JOUR DAVIS.
(Translation.--Extract.)_

-JULY, 1843.
As to the free entry into Canton, the two nations
are now at peace, without the slightest ground for jar
or altercation • what difference, therefore, can there
be between the inside and the outside of the city ?
When, too, Ningpo, Foochow, Shanghae, &c., may
be entered, why should Canton be solitary in this
respect ? The evil is that the temper of the Canton
population is so unlike that of the Chekiang and
Kiangnan people. The former, since they have felt
the misery and disasters of war, have been filled
with consternation ; and, unsettled in mind, they
are easily accessible to doubts and suspicions. The
High Commissioner, on his first arrival at Canton,
issued a proclamation earnestly and clearly ex-
horting them, and at that time hoped that the
popular mind was becoming by degrees quieter.
But, when returning from Hong-Kong, with a
mind fully decided OA inviting, the Plenipotentiary
to conference there, that he might in some measure
exhibit his feelings towards him, he was to his
astonishment saluted with representations from one
Ho-Yushu, who, with more than eighty other of the
gentry, joined in presenting addresses against his
doing so, at the offices of himself, the High Commis-
sioner, and of all the principal offices. Though the
High Commissioner admonished them face to face,
and refused to receive their addresses, yet, observing
day by day the actual disposition of the people, he
finds their suspicions and surmises still unremoved.
The High Commissioner has now, in conjunction
with the Governor-General and Governor, commanded
all local magistrates and other officers to adopt
measures for inculcating a better spirit. And he
only waits till the port is opened and commerce in
progress, when all parties settling into a state of
quiet, they shall meet together to consult within the
city, whenever business may call them thither. If
there be the slightest falsehood in this, may the
Highest regard it !