The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-20
From he Canton Register, Of Oct. in, 1910.

From the Canton Register, Of Oct. tn l64O
MOST IMPORTANT AND CALAMIToUs
INTELLIGENCE FROM PECHELE AND
CHUSAN.
At 9P. M. on Oct. 6, H. M. S. Cruizer, H. W.
Clifford, Esq, commander, arrived from Chusan Her
letters were delivered to H NJ S. Columbine the
packet was large but few have yet reached Macao.
We presume orders from his superior officer prevented
captain Clifford from remaining; but her arrival in
should she be the first to arnve-without COM
merca letters from China will cause great disappoint
ment to thousands.
The intelligence brought by the Cruzer is that an
imperial commissioner is on his way TO Canton invest
ed with imperial powers to amicaby arrange the diff
culties between China and Great Britain; and that
corresponding with his progress, admiral Elliott is
proceeding with the whole fleet to the southwark,
with the intention of meeting the imperial commits
sioner in Canton, and to commence negotiations for
the arrangement of affairs. The commissioner may
be expected to arrive in Canton about the 18th Goth
! inst
| Lin, the present Governor Of Canton, and formerly
high commissioner, placed under what the Chinese
call crdmindtorS who to investigate his conduct
since his arrival in Canton on March 10, 1889
The state of matters in Chusan is very lamenable.
Mrs Noble, of II. Ms officers and 25 men Ca boats
crew had been seized by the Chinese and over
to Ningpo; they are well treated and, with fair
speeches. the Chinese promise they shall be restored
Immediately the English evacuate Chusan. The last
words we have heard are that captain Eliot and Mr.
their release Keshen has been repeatedly in commu-
ncaon with admiral Elliot; the Chinese statesman
is described being peculiarly bland in his manners
but the chief drift of his conversations to depre-
the opium trade and it is said some kind of half
promises have been made by the chief commissioner
that the opium trade shall be of the questions of
the future negotiations.
We have headed the foregoing intelligence as being
most important and calamltous; we consider it the
most disastrous, the most miserable intelligence that
.kron, 81 II L.. a
interest of England.
Mark and remark the absurdity of the proceedings:
British naval force arrives off the Peiho river; the
appearance of these ships bends the Picking go
vernmeDt down to the measure of deputng OF the
highest officers in the empire to confer with the Eng
Hsh barbarian the subject Of grievances WELL
why does not the barbarian, with his armed force
the effect of its presence in the waters of the province
of Pechele he has already proved commence his
gotlaons-if negotiations are TO be again commenced
-on board H. M. ship OF at Iientsin, only so miles
from the Pekng, the CAPT al Of the empire and where
the of heaven, the sacred and supreme ruler ro-
sides2
Mo- he is cajoed by the bland, polite, and willy
Kcshen TO remove the only evidence of his power
the only efficient part of his misson-her maiesty's
ships of warnear 2000 miles to the southwark at the
commencement of the northeast monsoon, and renew
his negotiations in Canton that city lehers The Bri
tiEh and nation has been hampled in the dust
and robbed Of its property that city lohieh the
Engtsh .ttdg should hare 1odped three months ago!
that city 1cich the British superintendent declared IN
April 1882 he Mould make too hot TO hold any one -
O most lame and impoent conclusion The result
Of the capture Of Chuson Of the loss of British lives,
the pining sickness of gallant British soldiers, the
wrecks of British ships, OF large military and naval
expedition on which the eyes Of the world are liked
is-the presence of British admiral in Canton nego
hatng on that spot where his countrymen were impri
soned' robbed dsg aced How can he put his foot
hoard Chinese boat the laughter, tho derison ofthe
emperor, Keshen Lin the hong merchant, linguists,
&c everv fisherman and Tankea boatwoman and child
an tbe nearly river of Canton
The end then of nearly two years of intense ankle
~ is that British affairs and interests in the autumn
Of s4O are exactly where they were in the spring of
1889 mo mot where they then were, but in an in
fntely more complicated, and consequently in
disgrdced condition
Another imperial commissioner s to come TO Can
ton settle matters this devouty wished
contamination, would have resulted before the end Of
July, had the Bocco Tgs been garrsoned by British
troops June % and Immediately afterwards posses
sion taken of the city Of Canton.
The effect of these negotiations will be to disturb
mems minds, TO great fluctuations in the mar
ketS, and njurs very materially British commerce.