Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/41

Rh way of intimating that the policy pursued hitherto would not be altered, notwithstanding all that had been urged against it. This, in fact, was the attitude assumed later and persisted in in the face of the most strenuous representations from the British trading community. One feature of the administration, which at this period was productive of bitter resentment, was the practice of naming security merchants for each ship. Under the system a particular merchant was held responsible to the Government for the payment of all duties and customs on goods imported in the ship, whether purchased by the security merchant himself or any one else. In like manner he was made accountable for the duties on export cargoes, while he was subjected to heavy financial charges of an irregular character on the strength of his position. The natural effect of the system was to prejudice the Company's business transactions in various ways, but more particularly in enhancing the cost of commodities which its agents purchased. In 1754 the Isontock was approached with a view to the abolition of the practice. These merchants were received courteously, but the Isontock declined to give them a written reply. Afterwards he appointed two security merchants to each ship, in the illusory hope, apparently, that the increase in the number of the sureties would meet the objections of the merchants.

Marked by some vicissitudes, but on the whole showing a satisfactory measure of progress, the trade continued until 1757. In that year a striking change in its conditions was made by the issue of an imperial edict confining the foreign trade of the Empire to Canton. Up to this point, as the narrative has shown, Amoy and Limpo in Chusan had both been the resort of British ships, and though Canton had with the advance of the century become more and more the real centre of the China trade, thoughts were from time to time longingly directed by the Court of Directors towards other ports. At the very time that the edict was being promulgated a vessel despatched by the Company was on its way to China charged with a mission to open up a more regular trade with Chusan. Mr. Flint, who went as supercargo, was instructed to reside if possible for some time at Nanking, and while there to direct attention to the silk trade to which the Company attached great importance. Mr. Flint, on arriving at Limpo, found it impossible to get even common necessaries, much less to carry on a trade. This attempt to open a trade after the issue of the edict was keenly resented by the Chinese authorities, who saw in it a deliberate defiance of the imperial orders. On Mr. Flint proceeding to Canton in December, 1759, to report himself, he was summoned to the presence of the Isontock. The supercargoes deemed it expedient that they should accompany him, and accordingly the entire party proceeded to the Isontock's palace. The officials there would have confined admission to Mr. Flint, but the supercargoes determined not to be excluded. They were received by a Mandarin and proceeded through two courts with the apparent acquiescence of the officials. On arrival at the gate of the inner court of the palace, their swords were taken from them and they were hurried into the Isontock's presence. There an attempt was made to compel them to pay homage after the Chinese fashion, and on their resisting they were thrown down. The Isontock perceiving that the supercargoes were resolute in their determination not to humiliate themselves, ordered the attendants to desist. Afterwards he directed Mr. Flint to advance towards him, and this gentleman having separated himself from his colleagues he was told that an order had been received from the Emperor for his banishment to Macao for three years, and for his ultimate exclusion from China, for going to Limpo after His Imperial Majesty had positively ordered that no ship should trade there. It was further intimated that a man, who had written a petition which Mr. Flint had caused to be publicly displayed at Tientsin with the object of attracting the notice of the Emperor, was to be publicly beheaded that day for treacherously encouraging such a step. The indignation which this extraordinary episode excited found vent at a united meeting of European traders at the British factory three days later. All present agreed to send home lo their respective companies a report of the unwarrantable action of the Isontock, and they doubted not that a method would be found and measures taken to make the facts known to the Emperor, "who they were convinced would avenge the affront put upon them as they were fully persuaded he was well disposed to favour them." The sanguine belief here expressed in the ultimate repudiation of the Isontock's despotic behaviour was not justified by events. Mr. Flint was kept in close confinement at a place near Macao for nearly three years. Such was the rigour of his treatment that even letters were not allowed to reach him.

With a view to ameliorating the situation the Court, in 1760, determined to send out a special mission to Canton. To represent them they appointed Captain Skottowe of the Company's ship Royal George, and they entrusted him with a letter from themselves to the Isontock. Elaborate instructions were given to the envoy as to his behaviour in the Far East. He was not to be seen in the shops, &amp;c., purchasing chinaware; if he wanted any goods he was to send for the merchants, and not go for them himself; he was never to appear in undress in the streets, or at home when he received visits; above all he was to be called Mr. Skottowe, not Captain, and it was to be given out that