Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-29
II "A. N " Joa..ai .r cOm..,,,,

Bosros. Nov. cad, isII.
The course OF lectures before the historical Soe.
ely OF Massachusetts was commenced this evening,
by the Introductory from MIR ]. q Adams
Ills sobiect was "rhe present. war bet~ cen Eo
gland and ChinS" and the points discussed were s
l9snee-hs probable fesults-and the duties OF the
United States in view Of them.
The room at the Masonic female was crowd
though the evening had been extremely unpleasant
The venerable lecturer opened the subject by a
specimen OF his happy seaTcasm. directed toward the
seihshness OF most nations, which has often led them
TO interpret the laws of nations TO favor their
policy and exclusive interests. lie then took up
'he 'hree or Tour preliminary principles Of Waite
atef eanNaSsing them, applied them TO the sub
Jact ana drew his differences the Justice of the
war on tho part of Britain. lie went throush the
whole history OF the Intercourse between tb, En-
ropeans aud the Celestial Empire and gave partic,
Jar ana graphic accounts OF the different Embassies
from the Court OF St. James To the "Father of The
howery land" lie considered the opium ouestioo
buta uihing incident IN the causes OF the pt,,,nI
war with China, and no more the origin OF IL tina
IN, the throwing overheard OF few chests Of tea in
the harbor OF Boston was the origin Of the war OF
the Revolution. AMI he is right. He carried bnrk
tue causes OF the war To the nJisnity first given TO
Lord Napier, IN the rejection OF the communen.
uonS' winch nc was ordered by his government to
make directly To the Vceroy OF Canton, and the
proceedings that succeeded thrt transaction Chin,
has always assumed wrong grounds-and they hny
oeen yielded to, submisSSely and nsloriously by
,o'.'sneIs' Tor the temporary advantages OF trade
II
India Company, the English government ,,bIish.
ell ssion TO China, which, its action by insist.
ing on independent, manly, aud equal terms OF in
tercourse, has brought about the state of thinss
winch SOW exist and will probably result IN the
establishment ~ an embassy at the court of Pekin
ahi open Chna 10 the commercial inIetcnurs, OF
the world. Tbs result, the lecturer a III med i'm
view oi the principles OF national .aw involving IN.
duties OF diff rent ntlions TO each othe- wa. iust
anu the wGr which Was electing this final result
was lusl war.
MIR adams, IN the statement Of facts in his mar
fatINe', was as accurate 1t he had made visit In
the celestial empire himself lie was in error, how
ever, as to one pirticuar He affirmed that Macao
was cgded to tie Portuguese, as a reward for thc,r
haNnE cIlrpotcdu band Of PIRATES that Inieste m.
l>lind auu coast near Canton. THIS has bs n n fir
mhi oy TIE Portuguese, but the Chinese deny hay-
'hE ever c'G,d any ltnd TO foreigners, while thew
admit that they did give the Polusutse ,hc prvI-
ledge OF establishing themselves at Macao as re.
w"d Tor ihor services IN the case oi the Pirates
ana that the Chinese are Iish', may be referred
i'om Inc i'et that the Portuguese have paid yearly
trbdio 10 the Chinese Government even To the pre.
sem moment as consideration or ground rent, for
the privilege oi holding the sire uf their city, which
would not be the case Il tha Portuguese tos.ess.l
me soyeregniy over the pOrtfun OF the Island ON |
which the Guy of Macao IS located.
MIR Adams concluded his lecture by an alusion /
10 the incident oil Lord Napiers messenger be,n, |
DISMISSED from the gate Of tue CITY UI Canton a few
years since, without being able to gain a transmits
Son OF his letter 10 the Vceroy la ISL but three
or tour yeHrs after, the city Of Canton has been ran
somct from The Butsh arms by the paying of FIVE /
millions OF dollars. Does tot this say TO the p,u-
pie OF th'se United States, "prepire for war that
you may preserve your peace 2"