Page:Twentieth Century Impressions of Hongkong, Shanghai, and other Treaty Ports of China.djvu/50

42 war with America. In April, 1814, the Doris arrived in Macao Roads with, as a prize, the American ship Hunter, captured off the Ladrones. A communication was addressed to the President by the Chinese authorities pointing out that the action taken was a violation of the functions of the Celestial Empire, and desiring that the Doris might be directed not to intercept American ships going out of the river. Protracted discussions ensued as to the legitimacy of the course which had been pursued. As the American ship had been taken without the limits of the Chinese jurisdiction the Committee did not consider that the Chinese Government had any locus standi. They caused it to be known that the Americans had declared war against the British, and that the British commander had orders to capture American vessels. The Chinese retort was that "if the English and Americans have petty quarrels let them go to their own country and settle them." At the same time the Select Committee were required to order the Doris away. While the war of words was at height the Viceroy aggravated the situation by issuing an order prohibiting the employment of native servants at the factory. In vain the Select Committee represented that for one hundred years they had been allowed to employ native servants, and that a change in the custom now would cause great confusion. The Government, finding that their edict was not obeyed as promptly as it anticipated, or at least wished, sent emissaries into the factory with orders to seize all native servants they might find there. A vigorous protest was lodged by the Committee against the outrage, but its only effect appeared to be to stimulate the Chinese authorities to greater insolence. Traffic was suspended, one of the Company's captains on his way from Whampoa to Canton, though travelling with an official pass, was stopped and forcibly carried to the official headquarters, and, finally, the Committee's linguist was seized. The Select Committee, after deliberating over the best course to pursue in the face of this outrageous conduct of the Canton officials, decided ultimately to depute Sir George Staunton to Canton to open up negotiations for a settlement with the Viceroy. In furtherance of the arrangement Sir George Staunton, on the 20th of October, proceeded to Canton accompanied by Sir Theophilus Metcalfe. At the interview which took place Sir George stated "that he was charged by the Committee with several communications of importance, but in none of them was anything proposed for themselves more than the prosecution of a fair and equitable commerce under the protection of His Imperial Majesty; that they entertained every disposition to obey his laws; that they sought for no innovations, nor were desirous of interfering in any affairs of Government in which they were not concerned." After a series of meetings the Viceroy suddenly broke off the negotiations. Sir George Staunton therefore quitted Canton, having previously desired all British subjects to leave also. The Company's ships were by his directions removed from Whampoa to a point near the Bocca Tigris. Here they remained until the middle of November, when deputations of the hong merchants came from Canton to request that further movement of the ships might be suspended in view of the fact that the Viceroy was willing to depute a Mandarin to discuss the remaining points in dispute. Sir George Staunton, responding to the representations made by the deputations, returned to Canton; but he had no sooner arrived there than he was informed by Howqua, the leading merchant, that the Mandarin would not be sent until trade was resumed. Incensed at this double dealing, Sir George Staunton announced his intention of immediately quitting Canton and at the same time took occasion to point out "the unparalleled disgrace and dishonour which must fall upon himself (Howqua), his Government, and his country if the promises, upon the truth of which the English gentleman had returned to Canton, were to be so shamefully violated." The hong merchants pleaded that if the Mandarins retracted it was not their fault. Sir George Staunton retorted that such a breach of national faith could not take place without infamy and heavy responsibility attaching somewhere. The interview ended with a promise on the part of the merchants that they would consult the Mandarins. They did so, with the result that a meeting was after all arranged and took place without the stipulated prior opening of trade. A series of proposals bearing upon recent incidents were subsequently drawn up for consideration by the Chinese authorities. Some days after they had been submitted the Viceroy's reply was given through Howqua. Most of the demands made were conceded, though in one or two points the language of the reply seemed to be deliberately obscure.

The capricious and vexatious action of the local authorities at Canton in this and other cases, combined with a desire to establish the China trade on a footing of permanent stability, suggested the advisability of sending another mission to the Emperor of China. In the first instance the proposal emanated from a gentleman who had been a member of Lord Macartney's suite, and Lord Liverpool's Government were not disposed to think that there was sufficient to justify the great expense involved in the despatch of the mission. But the Court of Directors adopted the scheme so warmly and brought forward such strong arguments in its favour that the Government ended by extending to the project their hearty support. Lord Amherst was selected to fill the office of ambassador. This nobleman had not the great qualifications for the office which were possessed by his predecessor and in the light of subsequent events it may be questioned whether the Government choice was altogether a wise one. He was, however, no novice in public affairs and had had training in diplomatic work for some time previously as British representative in Sicily. He embodied in his person the average qualifications of a British diplomat of the period. What he lacked was a knowledge of Orientals and their ways—a very serious shortcoming in the circumstances. With Lord Amherst went as chief assistant Mr. Henry Ellis, who had carried through some delicate negotiations with the Shah of Persia, and the Ambassador's son, the Hon. Jeffery Amherst, also accompanied him. The Alceste, a frigate of forty-six guns was set apart for the accommodation of Lord