The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LUND

CHINA.
(From the Pekin Gazette.)
THE TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION OP HIS
EXCELLENCY COMMISSIONER ELEPOO..
TRANSLATED FROM THE " PEKIN GAZETTE," BY J. L. S.
The Hereditary Prince Hosnih, and the High
Minister Jinchow, and others, kneeling re-

spectfully, lay their report before the Throne :
In obedience to the Imperial will, having as-
sembled together to sit in' judgment upon
the affairs submitted to our deliberations, and
having previously received the Imperial in-
structions to institute an investigation in
relation to Elepoo, who formerly held the
office of Governor of the two Keang
provinces (Keangnau, i. e. Keangsoo and
Ginhwny and Keangse), in obedience there-
to, we have had him brought before us in council
assembled, and have ascertained by investigation
the clear import of every circumstance; and
Elepoo, bowing to the ground and knocking his
head, through alarm and fear lost all command
of himself. It appears that Eiepoo received
an Imperial Commission, last year, to ex-
amine into and arrange the affairs of
the barbarians in Chekeang ; and after he
had arrived in the province, he employed skilful
spies, summoned together the bravest of the mi-
litia, collected provisions, selected the most able-
bodied of the troops, and laid many plans for
advancing upon and exterminating the enemy.
Afterwards, he earnestly desired to order
the said barbarians to repair to Canton, there
to wait until affairs could be examined into
and arranged. To gain renown he concluded
to offer them presents, and to order persons
to proceed to them and clearly explain his com-
mands, and at the same time to spy out their real
strength. He deemed it proper to dispatch
Chaugke, a person of his household whom he
had promoted six degrees, with an official mes-
senger Chin Chekang, over the sea (to Tinghae)
to offer bullocks arid sheep, and various articles
as presents, in return for which the said bar-
barians presented foreign broadcloths and
various commodities. Elepoo feared to make
an absolute refusal of the whole of the said
articles, which would have struck the bar-
barians with suspicion and dread. But in-
stead of being thus effected, they acted de-
ceptively with regard to the time of their pro-
ceeding to Canton, and Elepoo under these
circumstances received their presents. In reply
to a memorial touching the above, the imperial
will was received, strongly enjoining that the
articles be sent back. Eleepo, in obedience
thereto, forthwith took the various kinds of pre-
sents, and ordered Chin Chekang to go and give
them back to the barbarians, who would not
receive them.

During the second month of the present year,
the barbarians wishing to deliver back Chusan,.
Changke and Chin Chekang were sent to take
one barbarian man and one woman to proceed
and make known the strict injunctions, that
when the city had been given up then all
the barbarians should be delivered. The pre-
sents which they had previously made were all
sent back, and having received them, they set
sail for Canton. But Elepoo did not, in
obedience to the imperial will, forthwith advance
and slaughter, and make an immediate and
thorough extermination of them. The whole of
his proceedings being improper and really
marked by imbecility, and being unworthy to
hear so high an office; he earnestly besought
that his crimes might be visited with heavy
punishment. We, the Ministers, having taken
into consideration from first to last the whole of
the evidence which he in person has laid before
us, respectfully memorialise that in relation
thereto the sacred commands may be recorded.
Respecting the above case of Elepoo, the Im-
perial Commissioner and High Minister, his ma-
nagement of the barbarian affairs in Chekeang,
and his not being able at once to recover Tinghae,
the Imperial will was repeatedly transmitted
that he should proceed to exterminate the enemy;
but on every occasion he delayed and idly
looked about him, and through excessive timidity
did not go forward, and that for every purpose he
proved himself weak and useless. We therefore
jointly solicit the imperial will, that Elepoo may
be forthwith disgraced from the office he for-
merly held as governor of the two Keang pro-
vinces, and be sent to Ele, that, by strenuous
exertions, he may make amends for his offences.
Changke and.the official messenger Chin Che-
kang, who formerly proceeded to the barbarian
ships, as we have found by examination, only
acted in obedience to Elepoo, and accordingly
we acquit them of crime. Let Chin Chekang
return to his military station,- and let Changke
be released.

That which your Majesty's Miuisters,have ad-
judged of the cases brought before us in Council
assembled, we now reverently report to the
Court, that the Imperial will may be received
and recorded.

The Imperial reply. His Majesty's commands
have been received as follows :

"In consequence of Elepoo having unsatis-
factorily Managed the military affairs -of
Chekeang, our imperial will was delivered to
the princes and high ministers to adjudge the
crimes of which he was guilty, and it appears
that prince Jinchow and others, in council
assembled, have now reported • upon the
above case Elepoo, holding the office of
high imperial commissioner for the arrangement
of affairs in Chekeang was unable forthwith to
recover the captured territories. The imperial
will was repeatedly transmitted to him, that 41e
should advance and set about really proving
himself to be imbecile; and let him be forthwith
disgraced from the office he formerly held as
Governor of the two Keang provinces, and let
him be sent to Ele, that by strenuous exertions
he may make some amends for his crimes, and
be a warning to others. Respect this."—Chinese
Repository for November.