Pottinger had a military background and did not take kindly to being advised by civilians. One member, John Morrison, a brilliant young Chinese linguist, died within a few days of his appointment. Another councilor, the colorless former Administrator, Alexander Johnston, went on a very long sick leave. As Pottinger was a major-general, and the sole remaining councilor, the redoubtable William Caine, only a humble major, the Governor was able to do exactly what he wanted, often with disastrous results. Pottinger's cavalier approach to government caused enormous problems.
All treaties are unequal, but some treaties are more unequal than others.
The Commercial Treaty of the Bogue in 1843 was unique because the English and the Chinese versions were different. This created chaos in shipping and trade, but Pottinger, although embarrassed at being misled, did not seem to harbor any resentment toward Keying over the incident. He treated it as a part of the political game and they occasionally got drunk together. Pottinger even named his son after the Chinese Commissioner. Gutzlaff tried to save the souls of those he was poisoning Keying inserted his secret clauses after the final draft had been approved, but the blame for the incident fell rather unfairly on the shoulders of the interpreter, Robert Thom, who with Morrison had prepared the original document.