The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-25 00:00:00

force to protect them. It might therefore be arranged that
for some time the entrance of British residents into the city
should be subject to fixed regulations as to times, number,
escort, etc., so as to insure the safety of those who might
go in. It is probable that when the novelty of their ap-
pearance was over, and when the shopkeepers and mer-
chants of the town found that the visit of foreigners tended
to the advantage of their trade, as would probably be the
,ease, the people would grow indifferent to that which they
would have become accustomed to, and that thus, in pro-
cess of time, the precautionary regulations might be re-
laxed, and in the end a better state of feeling might be es-
tablished between the Chinese and the foreigners. But as
long as the foreigners are wholly excluded from the city,
it seems difficult to see how the first steps towards such a
result can be taken."
Mr. Bonham, who was a man of great personal expe-
rience in China, wrote in answer to this—
, "Itis my belief that no material advantage to com-
merce would be gained by the admission of British sub-
jects, at all events nothing commensurate to the cost."
The result of the whole was summed up in a letter
written by Lord Palmerston's direction to the India and
China Association on June 25, 1849.
" I am to state to you, in reply, that her Majesty's Go-
vernment have no intention to renounce the right of en-
tering the city of Canton, although they are not prepared,
at present, to resort to hostilities with China in order to
enforce that right. Her Majesty's Government are not
ignorant that some inconvenience may result from the
adoption of a policy of moderation in this instance; but
as the
practical advantage which could be derived by Bri-
tish trade from free access into the interior of Canton is
probably not very great • while the effort to obtain the
immediate fulfilment of the Chinese engagement in this
respect would be costly, and might lead to a great loss of
life and destruction of property, and to a considerable in-
terruption to British trade in that quarter of China, and
might, moreover, seriously affect the trade at the other
ports, her Majesty's Government are of opinion that the
general commercial interests of the country are best con•
suited by not pushing matters to extremities on the pre-
sent occasion."
Thus your lordships will see that in 1849 Lord Palmer-
ston, acting upon the information of Mr. Bonham, a gen-
tleman thoroughly versed in the subject, came to the
conclusion that it would be inexpedient to proceed to en•
force the treaty which had been concluded. I now come
to the period when Mr. Bonham retired for a period
from his post, and was succeeded by Dr., nowSirJ. Bow-
ring. Now Ido not wish to say anything disrespectful
of Sir J. Bewring, for whose attainments I have a sin-
cere admiration, but I must frankly confess it appears to
me that upon the subject of admission to Canton he
labours under a species of monomania. (Hear.) I be-
lieve he thinks of his admission into Canton the first
thing in the morning and the last thing at night—indeed
if he wakes in the middle of the night I should think his
thoughts at once run on the same subject. (gear.) I do
not imagine that he would think any sacrifice too great
which should end in the official reception of Sir J. Bow-
ring by the authorities of Canton. (Laughter.) In the
despatch which was addressed to Sir J. Bowring upon
his appointment as governor of the colony, it was im-
pressed upon him that n. o endeavours were to be made
to carry out the treaty by which British subjects were to
have admittance to Canton which would endanger life.
The words of this important despatch ran thus :
" Her Majesty has been pleased. to grant to you a com-
mission appointing you a superintendent of the trade of
British subjects in China, under the act of 3d and 4th
Will. IV., cap. 0 ; and in order to avoid any cavil on the
part of the Chinese authorities, her Majesty has been fur-
ther pleased to grant you a full power as her Majesty's
plenipotentiary. I have to state to you that it is the
anxious desire of her Majesty's Government to avoid all
irritating discussions with that of China. It will, of
course, be your duty carefully to watch over, and to
insist upon, the performance by the Chinese authorities
of the engagements which exist between the two coun-
tries. But you will not push argument on doubtful points
in a manner to fetter the free action of your government ;
and you will not resort to measures of force without pre-
vious reference home, except in the extreme case of such
measures being required to repel aggression, or to protect
the lives and properties of British subjects."
dater t
In reply h
ttoe judgmentthisSir J.
of Bowringh says, of course, he will
theome authorities, but he
concludes by at least hinting that he did not himself con.
cur in that judgment. His reply contains this expres.
sion—

" Had I not felt that the strong expressions in your lord-
ship's despatch, which call upon me to avoid all irritating
discussions with the Chinese, imposed extreme caution and
hesitation in all ray proceedings, I ;Mould have ventured
to anticipate the pleasure of communicating in my very
first despatch that this vezatageestio had been happily and
peaceably decided, and that I had been received within
the walls by the high authorities of China."
Among his other acquirements, Sir J. Bowring has, I
believe, a considerable proficiency in the Chinese lan-
guage ; and he at all times appears to have thought that
if he could only obtain admittanee into Canton, and have
an opportunity of haranguing the Chinese, in their own
tongue, all difficulties would be at an end. (" Hear,
hear," and laughter.) About the period at which I have
new arrived a change of ministry took place, and my
noble friend near me (the Earl of Malmesbury) became
Foreign Minister, My noble friend addressed a despatch
to Sir J. Bowring, requesting that nothing might be
done in the matter until the return of Mr. Bonham. Of
course Sir J. Bo wring bowed to the orders of the Secre-
tary of State, but he concludes his reply thus :
" I venture, most emphatically, to assure your lordship
that I never should have presumed to solicit the authority
from her Majesty's Government, for undertaking the set-
tlement of the long-protracted question as to our right of
access to that city, had I not been fully persuaded, after a
very long residence ilk, and knowledge or, Canton, that the
time was singularly favourable for effecting the object, mad
that I could have effected it without endangering the pub-
lic peace, and with great advantage to our social, political
and commeroial relations with China." ,
It is one of the peculiarities of Sir J. Bowring's views of
this subject that every time is the most favourable time
for putting those views into effect. At one time it is
because things are tranquil, at another because they are
disturbed, but in the end it is always the same, always
a time " singularly favourable for the effecting the
views " which he had as much at heart. The following
extract would perhaps put their lordships more fully in
possession of this characteristic than any further state-
ment he could make. In February, 1854, Lord Claren-
don sent to Sir J. Bowring a despatch containing this
passage
" There are, unquestionably, points which it would be
desirable to secure, and to which we have even a right by
treaty ; and amongst those I would mention free and un-
restricted intercourse with the Chinese authorities, and
free admission into some of the cities of China, especially
Canton. The treatment of these questions requires, how-
ever, much caution ; for if we should press them in menac-
ing language, and yet fail in carrying them, our national
honour would require us to have recourse to force ; and,
in order to obtain results, the practical advantage of which
is not clearly demonstrated, we might place in peril the
vast commercial interests which have already grown up in
China, and which, with good and temperate management,
will daily acquire greater extension."
In reply to this comes the following from Sir J. Bow-
ring :

" It cannot be denied that wo are entitled to demand re-
dress of grievances which we have suffered from violations
and disregard of treaty obligations, and in my communica-
tions to the supremo authorities I propose to specify the
following as among the most prominent—Non-admission
into Canton city; difficulty of obtaining personal inter-
course with the authorities. It is not my intention to de-
mand an interview with the Imperial Commissioner at the
present moment. Au a general rule of conduct in China, I
intend to demand nothing which I am not prepared to en-
force. But Ido not think I should be warranted in pro-
ceeding to Pekin without giving the Imperial Commis-
sioner the opportunity of meeting me, if he be willing to
recognise my right to an official reception within the walls
of Canton. Should he consent to this we shall have gained
a very important point ; should he refuse, we shall have
another important grievance."
(Loud laughter.) To this there came a further commu-
nication from Lord Clarendon, in these words :
" It is on all accounts desirable that you should obtain
access to the Imperial Commissioner at Canton ; but there
is no reason to expect that you will be more successful in
doing so than the ministers of France and the United
States—(laughter)—and you will use every precaution for
ascertaining beforehand that you will not meet with any
indignity that will require to be avenged, and this more
particularly at a moment when the aid of the British naval
force in the Chinese seas might not be available for that
purpose."
It is certainly to be regretted that my noble friend (Lord
Clarendon) used the concluding expression of this de-
spatch, as it would seem to imply that there was some
idea that at a future time there certainly might be a
British naval force available for the purpose hinted at.
Ido not Wipe. Oho♦ :.Ica 111 Lie mind of
my noble friend, but the choice of words is by no means
fortunate. One more extract from these papers will
show your lordships that Sir J. Bowring was by no
means inclined to give up his opinions on this subject.
On the 9th of July, 1855, he wrote thus :

" Finding that Mr. Consul Alcock has experienced many
difficulties in communicating with or getting access to the
higher authorities in Canton, I thought the opportunity a
favourable one—(laughter)—of again makitb-, overtures to
the Imperial Commissioner, with a view to the establishment
of more amicable intercourse. I enclose to your lordship a
copy of my letter to his Excellency dated the 11th of June.
To that letter ho has not condescended to reply, and I can
bare to proceed to the
her
r
now anticipate nothing but a continuance of the proud re-
pulsiveness of the Viceroy. It wouldmbaojeidstlye fforrigmateetNo
use
any language of displeasure or of menace, altogether help-
less as lam in the absence of the fleet. lam informed by
theNan-
kin,
oiDr
ilitlfh,oaantn.
dhCi
sat potalioninl
peremptory .h
einstructions Stewart,
Admiralof there.
But I am still of
opinion that, until the city question at Canton is settled,
a
there is little hope of our relations being placed on any-
might be brought
thingth e
about h
settlementlike
without
itao satisfactoryut
of h
anyt
reisc said
city
(,ri
(g
foundationane dancer
t
questionto
o our
; and, moreover, that
groat interests in
China. In my matured judgment it has been delayed much
too long."
Now, my lords, I have shown the state of these two
questions, totally different from each other, which I have
been obliged to take up separately and dwell upon at
some length, because from this moment the two are com•
bined and intertwined together in such a manner that it
is no longer !possible to separate them. In looking at
the further correspondence I confess that I look with
feelings of some shame at the contrast between the lan-
guage and the tone of the correspondence oe the part of
the British officials, as compared with that on the part
of the Chinese. I must say, my lords—and a few pas-
I me out in so saying—that the language of the Chinese
is throughout courteous, respectful, and gentlemanly,
sages which I will call to your notice will, I think, bear
while that of the British officials is discourteous, disre-
spectful, and ungentlemanly. These are strong terms,
my lords, but I think that I can justify there. It was
on the Bth of October that the grievance took place in
connection with the lorcha the Arrow. On that day,
Consul Parkes, who appears to
possess great activity,
made representations to Sir J. Bowring, to Commis.
sioner Yeb, and to Commodore Elliot. lu reply to this
' Sir J. Bowring writes in these terms with his instruc-
tions to the consul :--
"You will inform the Imperial Commissioner that I re-
cluia an apology for what has taken place, and an 1444uK7