Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-05-03

The Opium Trade--England and China.
The bellIgerent attitude recently assumed by Eng
hand towards China has produced, and is still crea.
ting, consequences which must ere long end IN the
entire suspension, if not utter annihilAsn, oil our
valuable Chinese trade. In either case, the most
ruinous results will fall heavily upon the Interests
of our wealthy and enterprsing mere hants, many OF
whom are largely engaged in IT, and who are Tree
from the slightest suspicion OF having traihcked In
the interdictsd druga practice held IN such abom-
inatioa by the Chinese emperor.
A. the opium traffic 10 China from the time Of its
commencement until the enactment OF the bloody
drama lately produced by il in that country, has
throughout combined TO call into existence the mea'
sure by which commerce Is likely to suffer
permanent ard irreparable injury, its history, aud
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 course OF pglcy, Tor ITS suppression,
can be fully understood.
Watson, then officer in the East India company,
TSt proposed to take advantage oil the taste mani
Tested by the Chinese for opium by shipping 1t from
British India TO support the revenue OF the comPa-
nv NJ consideration OF morality or religion were
urged against the novel, and to christian men, some
what startling expedent, which was at once adopt
ed by the council, and measures taken Tor carrying
1t into immediate effect
Before this period, the amount consumed by the
Chine .e did exceed two hundred che is annual
ly This was admitted by their emperor, upon the
payment Of a slight duty, entirely account OF ITS
medic nal qualities, and wholly ignorant OF the bale
ful Influences produced by II, when habifualy used
In 1901 the number Of chests had increased to one
thousand at whiea annual rate II continued for sew
era wears after
Tae East India Company were, during this peri
Cd IN the full and profitable enjoy ment OF the trading
menop ly Of half the eastern world; and the Guilt
vatisn of opium within their territory and It's I'M
portatiou, was insignificant, when compared with
ether vast interests rom which their revenue was
derived And this affords an explanation OF the in
xiffcrence manifested by them towards increasing
a.. tho trcQ DEF yah a WAS
no Itt.e necessary to their prosperity, and at the
same time fully accounts for its immense increase
after their commercial and trading franchise were
thrown open TO all British ssbects, and freely shar-
ed by individual competition
In ISL larger adventures were made IN opium
for the Chinese market, and immense prohts were
realized from its sale. As a natural consequence,
the trade was continued upon scale Of increased
magnitude, and during the same year the bengal
xov,rnment freighted an armed vessel with *, the
proceeds Of which were paid INTO the treasury OF
the company at Canton. Three years afterwards
another ship, containing still greater quantity hsH
sny that had preceded a., was sent TO China from
British IEdfa throughout the territories 0i Whcs
IL wa. annually cultivated.
This extensive introduction OF the drug among
the Chinese, and the incorporate use which they
made NJ IT, gradually injured great portion OF them;
and instances Of its destroying the physea and m
telectuai energies, and saly the lives of its vota-
ries. were aarmingiy frequent
To those unaequsinted with the destructive con.
,eoue resulting from the continued use OF epi.
nm the reel al would be sufficient TO I'LL their imsg
,,aiieps with the most fr.ghtfal images Of hum N
sulIering The habit, slowly yet surely, eois hsei
round the miserable victim, until ne Is chainee IN
the tslf-clutched grasp OF death and wnes once he
hecoss enslaved by u. his doom - sealed, and no
none On earth left for him Tie resist the destroy
er evond his strength and we have the testiino-
nv Of eminent medical men, men OF experience 700,
that direfu consequences, and even dtsth, WOMB "
ter result from sudden and total abstinence
Like alcehsl, opium, in the mind 81 ITS new Iota-
nv creates brg ht and pleasing visions, although us
~hset j. much more powerful. When taken BY
those "a hose constitution. and ntellscts are unim-
pairsd all objects appear clothed in a gorgeous and
heavrnlv light The most bright and glorious ina
xinines are ceniured mp by it, influence, aud their
faEr ~ are bound IN the gttering spe of NJ ghty
~pcbtsfrsss Bat when u has brought ppon the
,wre'ehed victim disease Of mind aud constitution,
Che eject produced by the drug Is fearuly changed.
lasted IT creating plessurs5le sensation the i'm
sip ION clothes surrounding objects IN all the sht.
fnl horrors of hell Every gloomy thing when a
distrntpered vision create baunts the mind. PEG
nil 4 with dreary and revolving imagery sleep
no lager furnishes rePose, for brings WIN " the
- Mccarthy and frirhtful dreams; and state of
mel nisery too dreadful 10 be borne nhicts "a
dail. md nightly curse bat the effects Of the poi.
soo m no, step with intellectual destruction. While
v,der its influence the gestures Of the victim are
frhirl the ewes have an unnatural briilisHcY. and
tbe oression of his countenance j. fcarfuliy wild.
Th rhy sical debility which results from The excite
mort Is awful The appetite Is soon destroyed eve-
re- fire in the BODY embes, the nerves OF the neck
become Affected, the muscles get rigid the digestive
org,,s are rspidly impaired, the frame becomes
emaci,,ed, tho memory speedily falls and ne De-