The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-14 00:00:00

CAPTAIN ELLIOT.

In the Indian Papers, the circumstances of the two
ships under American colours being allowed by Captain
Elliot to withdraw from Canton rived laden with tca,
after having remained there some months, when it
was declared to be in a state of blockade, is warmly
discussed. The British merchants at Macao ad-
dressed a letter to the Calcutta Chamber of Com-

merce, in which they express their conviction that
the case of the American vessels is not such a one as
shows a single circumstance in their favour accord-
ing to which a relaxation of the law of blockade
might be justified. It is said, they both entered the
port with a knowledge that a blockade was intended,
and in undoubted violation of it ; that even admit-

ting the entry to have been excusable, they might hate
retired with their original cargoes, or in ballast, or have
remained within till the blockade was raised, and that
it can be fully proved that the teas forming the
cargoes in question were not in Canton till some
months had elapsed since the establishment of the
blockade, and, indeed, were only purchased a few
days before the departure of the vessels. A circum-
stance that is considered aggravating in this case is,
that the intention of relaxing the law in favour of
these American ships was concealed for many weeks
from everybody but those immediately interested in
these vessels by the Superintendent of. Trade, who
admitted the Vice-Consul of the United States to a
private visit, to make known to him the intended sus-
pension of the law in favour of the Americans, and
also, besides soliciting such suspension by the naval
commander, guaranteed him against all consequences
with the British Government. The merchants conclude,
after announcing their intention• of petitioning the
House of Commons, by soliciting the co-operation of
the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce in preventing a
recurrence of similar proceedings, to the injury of
British interests. The, Chamber of Commerce, it
seems, on considering this letter, have condemned
the indulgence shown by Captain Elliott to the Ame-
rican vessels, but refuse to interfere on the ground
that the subject being purely Chinese, does not fall
within their province. Su far the view of the ques-
tion is entirely on the side of the British merchants,
but the Indian journals that oppose these merchants
are also opposed to the policy adopted by Captain
Elliot, contending that the blockade has been in-
efficient, and as such injurious to British interests.
With respect to the merchants, they say, that, notwith-
standing the disaffection they now show at the depar-
ture of the American vessels, they themselves carried
on considerable traffic from Macao with the blockaded
city of Canton.
These journals seem willing to admit that the Ame-
rican ships having been once allowed to enter the
port were rightly permitted to retire, but they regard
the inconvenience arising from this case as a mere
consequence of the half measures which have ren-
dered the blockade inefficient. The blockade being
such as it is, the whole affair of the American
ships follows, they say, as a matter of course ; and
as for such an unsatisfactory policy, they regard it as
threatening destruction to the prosperity of British
commerce, ns opening a source of disputes be-
tween the British merchants in China, and as cal-
culated to lower the importance of the English
in the eyes of the Chinese. Thus it is worthy of
remark that on the one band the merchants are
dissatisfied with Captain Elliot for allowing the vessels
to break through the blockade, on the other hand
the papers who oppose the merchants are against
Captain Elliot's policy in general ; so that in fact
the only point in discussion is whether he has been
wrong in a particular instance, or whether, in fact,
he has not been wrong altogether.—Times.