Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-10-11

In note, Mr. Medhurst adds, that during
the year ending in the spring 1887, $4,000
chests were imported, and the deliveries du-
ring the month of July Of the same year,
amounted to 1000 chests.
This quantity Of opium, thus grown in In.
dia, and annually imported into China, APP
pears large bu, what is surprising in refer
ence TO j, is, that every one of these chests
are Struggled into the Celestial Empire
As early as the year 1876, the evils resul.
ting from the practice Of smoking opium had
awakened the attention of the Chinese Gov
eminent and the practice was accordingly
forbidden, under penalties which have been
continually increasing in severity. ln 1921,
the Hong merchants of Canton were called
upon to give securities that no opium was
contained in any Of those vessels which were
permitted to enter The harlor Of Canton, and
discharge their cargoes there. Nay. so full
" were the East India Company convinced
of the importance OF carrying on their rcgu-
lar trade with China with clean hands, that
any one OF their regular captains, or officers,
who had brought with him TO Canton sin
gle chest Of opium. would have been instant
y and forever dismissed from the Compa-
nv's service. All the opium. therefore,
which is now, or which has been for the last
forty.tbree years. introduced into China by
us, has been Struggled into the country in
defiance ofthe laws and regulations OF the
Chinese Government
A few extracts from some authentic docu-
ments vii! serve TO show the light in which
the people of this country are viewed as en-
gagged in this traffic. as also the desire OF the
government of China TO effect its suppress
ion The following is from the memorial
of Hen NaetSe. an officer olthe local courts
of Pekin. addressed 10 the Emperor -
In the first year OF Keaking, 1896. those
found gniiy OF smoking Opium were subject
only 10 the pillory end'bamboo Now they
have, in the course of time, become liable 10
the seyeresl penal,ies--transporiat in var
ious degrees, & death after the ordinary con-
iinaancr in prison. We, the smokers of the
drug have increased in number. and the
practice has spread almost lhronehou the
whole empire. In the year Of Keaking
there arrived, it may be, some hun
dreds of chests annually. The number
has now increased 10 upwards of 10000
chests, containing each hundred catlies--
The total quantity sold during the year,
amounted IN value 10 ten and some odd mill
ions OF dollars so that. in reckoning the dol
lar al seven mace, standard weight of silver,
The annual waste Of money somewh hat ex-
ceeds ten millions of taels. Formerly The
barbarian merchants brought foreign money
10 China, which being paid in exchange
for goods. was a source OF pecuniary advan-
tage TO the people Of all the scaboaId prov
inces but laltery, the barbarian merchants
have clandestinely sold opium for money.
which has rendered il necessary for .hem to
export foreign silver. Thus foreign money
has been going out Of the county, while
none comes INFO H." At9S
This memorial was presented on the Cd of
July, 1886. and an imperial edicI was issu-
ed for inquiry into the subject. The great
object, il will be seen. which Flea Naeise
had in view, was TO prevent The opium from
being clandestnely brought, in, and the mon
ey off country, by that means, from being
drained of,
Choo.Tsun. Member of the Council OF the
Board Of Rites. in a Memorial addlessd 10
the Emperor about the sameume took anoth-
err view ofthe matter, AMI prayed for the
suppression Of this injurious traffic as
great injury TO the army and 10 the peoples at
large
ITO sum upthe matter" he says the
wide spreading and baneful influence Of OPT
um, when regarded simply as injurious TO
property, is Of inferior importance; but when
regarded as hurtiul TO the people, i demands
mos, anxious consideration, for in the people
lie the very foundation of the empire -
Property, lis true, is thai on which the sub
sisience ofthe people depends. yet de6cen.
cy of il may be supplied, and an :mpoverish,
ed people improved whereas il is beyond
The power OF any artificial means TO save a