Page:Chinese account of the Opium war (IA chineseaccountof00parkrich).pdf/22

 Consul at Canton. This was the first great change in foreign affairs. When the Viceroy first came to Canton, he was ignorant of our true interests, gave car to the suggestions of the foreign traders, and sent a despatch to England directing a Consul to be sent as before. The first was [Lord ] who forced his ships past the Bogue, began hostilities, and was finally constrained to return home. The next was, who had been at Canton for three years when he was besieged in the factory as above described. Within a week or two he sent in an official petition, offering to surrender the opium as instructed, and also to send back to Canton all the opium-ships on their way to Japan. The total number of chests thus surrendered was 20,283, or, at 120 catties apiece, 2,376,000 catties of the drug. and the Viceroy proceeded to the Bogue to superintend the delivery, which was completed in the month of May. It was agreed to bestow three catties of tea for each one of opium, and the opium was ordered by the Emperor to be destroyed, instead of being sent to Peking as proposed, the object being to impress the people by this public spectacle. This destruction was carried out at the Bogue in the presence of, the Viceroy, and the Governor. At an elevated spot on the shore a space was barricaded in; here a pit