The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-07-07 00:00:00

LINES LETTER TO THE QUEEN

The Governor Lin had no sooner despatched his letter to
the Queen of England, of which we gave a translation on the
11th of January, and which was forwarded to England by the
Thomas Coutts, the captain of that vessel giving a receipt
for the same, thari he had it printed, published, and widely
circulated, for the edification of his countrymen. who no
doubt will think more highly than before of the imperial com-
missioner, seeing him engaged in penning admonitions to
foreign potentates.—Canton Press, March 21.

(From the Pekin Gazette.)

THE PALACE.—The empress has died, and in consequence
of this mournful event the whole nation is to go for one month
into morning, whilst the mandarins are not to shave for 100
days. She was not long married to Taoukwang, and bore
him, if we do not mistake, three children, the eldest of whom
is seven or eight years old. She is allowed to have been a
woman of singular beauty, who during the years 1835 and
1836 exercised great power over her husband, and exerted a
paramount influence over public affairs. But though endowed
with considerable intelligence and much admired, her sway
was not of long duration. During the zenith of her glory
she sent many of her creatures into the provinces, where they
held the highest offices. Since that her servants have stood
latterly alone, almost a nullity at the crowded court. It was
generally believed that she was at the head of the party which
we might style whigs, though they are very staunch con-
servatives in their own way. Heu nae tsze and others be-
longed to her coterie. The choice of a new empress, if Ta-
oukwang in his declining years would hit upon the expedient,
will give rise to numerous intrigues, we shall not wonder to see
the present ministry, with Ke-shen to boot, replaced by another
set of favourites. The Emperor himself is verging towards
old age, and if he should make his exit from the world at this
critical moment, we might certainly expect a great revolution
at the capital. Though a Chinese monarch is by no means
obliged to choose for his successor a child of his own, yet
the Manchoo emperors have always done this. In that case
a regency would be instituted, a rule which has been invaria-
bly fraught with great convulsions in the country. If, on
the contrary, one of his brother's nephews is nominated to
hold the reins of goVernment, there is every probability of a
contest between a number of ambitious men, who have either
in reality an equal claim to the throne, or think themselves
entitled to wear an imperial diadem.
Great sacrifices had been prepared for one of the departed
empresses, and the mandarins were all assembled to com-
mence the ceremonies, when all of a sudden the cry of lire
was heard. On examining the cause of this disturbance, it
was found that a coal fire had reached some rafter, at least
such is„the repprt, but with some exertion on the part of the
overseer in the temple, it was extinguished. Old Taouk-
wang is very indignant at this want of caution, and has given
orders that the attendants should meet with condign punish-
ment ; and they are likely to 'lose their heads. From the
frequent repetition of the same occurrence in the very centre
of the imperial palace, fears of the existence of some dan-
gerous plot are entertained, of which the object does not ap-
pear to be very patriotic. This is already the fifth time that
something was hinted of a deep laid plan for disturbing the
public tranquillity, and that then such trifles as the burning
of a few rafters, or the cutting down of a fir-tree, or a little
fighting between the workmen employed in the building of
the palace, were to be the signal to the conspirators. Time
must show whether the fears of the court are real or pre-
tended.

EDICT REOPENING THE PORTUGUESE TRADE.
" Lin, viceroy of Kwanutung and Kwangse, &c, E. Fooy-
uen of Kwangtung, and Yu Hoppo of Canton, &c, hereby
conjointly issue this proclamation that all men may know
and understand :

" Whereas on a previous occasion the English foreigners
continued to reside at Macao, and would not submit to be
expelled, and whereas the Portuguese foreigners dared of
their own accord, to harbour the said English, against our
express commands, therefore it was that at that time, we de-
clared the place shut, and stopped their trade.
" But now it appears that the civil and military mandarins
of Macao have petitioned us stating that the Portuguese
foreigners, after receiving our previous proclamation, were
filled with penitence and fear, and that even now all the
English are already driven out of Macao. And it further
appears that the Portuguese barbarian eye' (or Weido, i.e.
Procurador) has stated to the mandarin face to face that
after this they will never to all eternity dare to permit the
English to enter Macao or harbour them there, thus opposing
the laws, &c.
" Now this coming before us, the said Viceroy, Fooyuen,
and Hoppo, and we having duly examined the same, find
from what the civil and military native authorities have peti-
tioned us, that from the dispositions and circumstance of
the Portuguese, these foreigners still cherish some fear of the
laws at heart, for which reason we ought to permit them to
resume their commercial intercourse as of old, thereby to
manifest (celestial) compassion ; and for as much as we now
conjointly issue this our proclamation, addressed to all the
shopkeepers of Macao, to all the traders and people of the
other provinces, and to all those employed in stowing and
transporting cargo, &c, that they may thoroughly know and
understand, all ye who are engaged in transporting up or down
the cargo or merchandise of the Portuguese foreigners whether
export or import, after the issuing of this proclamation it is
permitted you to carry on your intercourse as heretofore in
due submission to the fixed regulations by which the said
merchandise must be sent to the Custom-house, there to be
duly inspected and taxed forduty, after which it may be con-
veyed away for consumption ; but ye are not permitted clan-
destinely to convey any goods or merchandise belonging to the
English foreigners, or illicitly relic them up with others to go
in or out, thereby trying to to deceive us, which will lead to a
very severe investigation. _ .

" Let every one tremble and obey ! A special proclama-
tion !
" Taoukwang, 20th year, 2d moon, 14th day.—ibid."

" Canton, Mar"Ch 9."
CANTON,_ MARCH 24.—There were some indications
among the American residents at Canton of an intention to
more. to Macao, consequent upon the reports which had
reached of the impending hostilities—one of their firms had
issued a cii•cular intimating that they found themselves under
the necessity of refusing further .consignments of English
property, or commissions of any description, and it was ex-
pected there would be a general withdrawal to Macao, as
soon as they had managed to close their present business at
Canton. _ _ . .

It was expected that thc retirement of the American firms
from Canton, in conjunction with a new order prohibiting
vessels from going dowi! from Whampoe with deck cargo,
and the prospect of hostilities with Britain, would materially
affect the export of tea, which some of our correspondents
do not expect to exceed 23,000,0001b5. for the season, should
a force arrive, and a fall in the price of teas seemed to be
confidently looked forward to on the Chinese finding that it
was the intention of the Americans to quit Canton.
The opium market was in a very unsettled state, some
holders being willing to sell at 500 dollars ; but the more ex-
tensive dealers were holding out for 650 dollars to 700 dollars
for Patna. Freights still continue high, and first class ton-
nage was all engaged at £7 and :,C8 per ton.—Exchange on
England is still 4s 10d 6 mos and few transactions—on Bengal
at Rs. 222.—Singapore Free Press, April 9.

OPIUM SMOKING.—A high civilian in the metropolis of
Keaugse was denounced for having smoked opium. He at
first denied the charge, was tortured, and then confessed,
When the cause was brought before the tribunal, the cus-
tomary punishme?it of one hundred blows and banishment
was considered too light, and he was, therefore sentenced'to
be transported to Ele, in order to strike terror into evil
doors of the same description. Several officers in Shantung
have been delivered over to a court, of justice on a similar
charge. Soldiers belonging to the eight standards, who were
found inhaling the noxious vapour, have been banished to
Chekeang.