Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-04
From the Mero are Magszine-May.l
The Opium Trade--E nglaad and China.


The Opium Trade--E nglaad and China.
The belligerent attitude recently assumed by Eng.
land towards Chna has produced, and Is stu crea-
ting, consequences which must ere long end IN the
entire suspension, if not utter humiliation, OF our
valuable Chinese trade. In either case, the most
results will fall heavily upon the Interests
Of our wealthy and enterprising mere hants, many OF
whom are largely engaged IN 1T, and who are Tree
from the slightest suspicion Of having traicked in
the interdicted drug-a practice held in such abom-
jnation by the Chinese emperor.
As the opium traffic to China, from the time OF its
commencement until the enactment of the bloody
drama lately produced by il in that country, has
throughout comb ned to call into existence the mca-
by which our CON merce Is likely To suiier
permanent and irreparable injury, its history, and
the effect il has produced upon the inhabitants, and
incidentally upon the government OF China, must be
known and appreciated, before the great causes
which have influenced the emperor to adopt strict,
perhaps severe course Of pcy, Tor ITS suppression,
can be fully understood.
Its now more than 10 years SINCE that Col Watson,
then officer the service OF the East India Compa-
nv st proposed to take ad OF the taste mani
tested by the Chinese for opium by shipping il from
British India TO support the revenue OF the compa-
No Considerations of morality or religion were
urged against this novel, and, 10 christian men, some
what startling exPedieht, which was at once adopt
ed by the council, and measures taken Tor carrying
lato immediz effect.
Before this pc Rod, the amount consumed by the
Chinese did not exceed two hundred che Is annual
ly. This was admitted by their emperor, upon the
payment Of slight duty, entirely on account Of ats
medicinal quAiities ~Aoily ignorant OF the bale
ful influences produced D. i, when hAbfuaily used
as a stimuiant.
In 1861 the number of chests had increased to one
thousand, at wacs annual Tae Continued for sew
eral years after
The East India Company were, during this peri
Cd in the full and profitable enjoyment Of the trading
monopoly OF half the eastern world; and the culti-
walton Of opium within their territory, and ITS im
portation, was Insignificant, when compared with
other vast interests from which their revenue was
derived And this affords an explanation OF the in
difereace manifested by them towards increasing
this traffic, when the income derivabe from II was
30 little necessary to their prosperity and at the
time fully accounts for it's immense increase,
after their commercial and trading franchises were
thrown open 70 all British subjects, and freely shar
ed bv individual competition.
In I7sI, larger adventures were made IN opium
for the Chinese market, and immense profits were
realized from its sale. As natural consequence,
the trade continued upon scale ef increased
magnitude. and during the same year the Bengal
government freighted armed vessel with IT, the
proceeds Of which were paid into the treasury o.
the company at Canton. Three years Afterwards
another ship, containing still greater quantity than
any that had preceded ~, cent To China from
British Irda throughout the territories OF which
- was annually cultivated.
This extensive introduction Of the drug among /
the Chinese, and the incorporate use which they |
made Of u, gradually injured great portion oi then
and instances of it, destroying the physical and in
telectusi energies, and finally the lives Of s vota
ries. were alarmingly frequent.
To these unacquaiuted with the destructive con !
sequences resulting from the continued use OF opt
um, the recital would be sufficient TO I'LL their imsg'
nations with the most fr,ghtul images OF human
suffering The habit, slowly yet surely, coils itself
round the mise able victim until he a. chained IN
the haf-clutched grasp OF death; and wnen once he
becomes ensiaved by IL, his doom - sealed, and no
hope 90 earth IL left for him. To resist the destroy
or beyond his 9Th; and we have the tesumo-
nv Of enine nj medical men, men OF experience t1o,
that dreful consequences, and even dtsth'wonid"
ten result from sudden and total abstinence
Like alcohol, opium, in the mind 81 ITS new ,oia-
~ creates bright and pleasing visions, although ne
eject - much powerful when takcn oy
those whose constitutions and intellects are unin
paired. all objects appear clothed IN gorgeous ana
heavenly light The most bright and glorious INA
gnings are conlured mp by it, influence. sno their
fancies are bound IN the elttering spell OF I'D Rhty
enohantress But when !, has brought upon the !
wretched victim disease Of mind aud constitution,
the effect produced by the drug fesrfay changed
Instead of creating plcasurabc sensations the i'm
agnation clothes surrounding objects IN all the hit
fnl horrors of he'll Every gloomy thing which a I
distempered vision can create haauts the mind, PEG 4
plisg II with dreary and revolving imagery. Sleep
no longer furnishes rspose for u brings with u the
most uaearhly and frishtful dreams; and state Of
mental misery too dreadful IN be borne inAicts is
daily and nightly curse. But the effects of the poi
sor 30 no, step with intellectual destruction. While
nader its influence, the gestures OF the victim are
frshful; the eyes have an unnatural brilliauov, and
the expression " his coHntenance is fearuliy wiid
The physical debility which results from the excite
rnent - awfu The appetite Is soon destroyed, eve
~ fore ia the body ebles. the nerves Of the oeok
become affected, ths muscles get rigid, The digestive