Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-10-09
FROM CANTON,


received by mercantile house of this,
city, dated-Boston Press d Post
Z CANTON, April 10, l838-On the
18th uit.. the imperial Commissioner issu
ed an edict to foreigners, dated the 18th,
demanding the immediate delivery of all
the opium in the Chinese waters and re-
curing OF them bond of such charac-
ter that it was impossible to comply.
On the 22d, the whole foreign trade was
stopped, and the river was partially guard
ed to prevent any one from leaving Can
ton. At one o'clock in the evening of
this day, a meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce, comprising the heads of all
the houses established here, agreed to de-
liver up about one thousand chests of OPT
um, 10 save the lives of the Hong merch-
ants, who solemnly declared they were in
great danger.
On the 23d, the Hong merchants de-
clared that the Commissioners could not
be propitiated unless the whole of the OPT
um was delivered up. In the course of
the day. Mr.. Dent, the principal of one of
the flrst British houses, was required to go
INTO the city TO communicate with the
Commissioner; the whole community
strongly objected to his going, unless that
high officer would give him safe con-
duct under the imperial seal. Houqua
and Mauqua, with chains about their necks
and the official button removed from their
caps, entreated him to 90, declaring that
their lives would be in danger if he did
not comply. He adhered to his first de-
termination, but in the evening one of the
partners of his house, accompanied by
three other English gentlemen, consented
10 go into the city and state why MIR. Dent
could not voluntarily appear before the
Commissioner. They returned about
nine, p. NJ, after having been civiIly Ia.
terrogated by some of the city govern
ment
Sunday, 24th at about six o'clock, P.
NJ, Captain Elliot, Chief Superintend-
ent of British Trade in China landed,
having come TO within few miles of the
city in his Gutter from Macao, and from
her in the boat of the Larne' sloop-of
war, which he brought up for the pur-
pose; he was repeatedly ordered back
and pursued by the guard boards, but
having advantage of fair wind and tide.
eluded their vigilance; he Immediately
took Mr.. Dent to the public hall under
protection of the British flag, and CON-
menced his negotiations with the Commits
sioner. In few minutes after Captain
Elliot landed, the foreign factories were
surrounded by an armed force and CON-
plete line Of Chop Boats, moored side by
side, and filled with armed men, effectual-
ly cut off all retreat, at the same time all
Chinese servants, and others connected
with foreigners, were ordered to leave our
houses, and we were, in short, prisoners
On the 9th, Captain Elliot demanded
that all British owned opium should be
surrendered to him for the service of her
Majesty and upon the direct requisition
of the high Commissioner, under pain of
the most severe consequences, threatened
by this functionary, to be inflicted on us in
case of refusal.
The British merchants, and all others
holding British opium, accordingly sur
rendered to Captain Elliot taoentv thou-
sand taco hundred and eighty-s;r chests.
which has cost British subjects over ten
m1Lt10nS OF dollars.
INTERESTING sIGHT.-Race betmeen n
deer and steam engine While the
cars were coming down on Wednesday, a
fine buck made his appearance on the
track and had trial of speed with the
locomotive. He kept the track for two
miles, when he was finally run off, or he
would have been run over. The oht
must have been deeply exciting and hi OH
ly interesting-as the line of road is per-
fectiy straight, every inch of the contest
was witnessed by the passengers.-W WI
mington ~ C. Gazette.
IHE BRITISH NAVAL CONTRACTS
The contracts for supplying the British
navy this year, near double the ordinary
( amount. disqualification fiom the admii-
rally requires 5000 tierces of beef and
$4,000 tierces of pork. Last year the
contract was for 5000 tierces Of beef and
10000 of pork. The increase of the ma
w is, of course, the cause of,this very
considerable augmentation.
A LAMENTABLE ACCIDENT, happened
in this village on Sunday last. While
Mr.. Luther Thrall.- with little son Of
his, Of the West parish, was going from
the church TO a relations, Immediately at
ter divine service in the morning, in a
wagon, in passing down the west hill hi:
horses took fright from coming in contact
with loaded wagon, run out of the road
and turned over the vehicle with grea
force. Mr.. T. was thrown upon his necL
and mead with such violence that his life
is considered in great danger. He wa
taken up helpless and carried to the house
4 of Mr.. R. r. rhrali, where he still re