6o KcnnctJi S. Latourctte, 



map as Fanning's Island and Sandal Wood Bay bear witness to 

 the existence and pioneer nature of the early American trade 

 in those far away regions. 



After the second war with Great Britain the life of the Ameri- 

 cans at Canton was without unusual excitement until the Terra- 

 nova affair, in September and October, 1821. This gave rise 

 to the only cessation of American trade previous to the opium 

 troubles, and illustrates well the position of the foreigner in 

 China prior to the treaties of 1842-4. Three fundamental facts 

 explain it : the complete lack of diplomatic intercourse and 

 treaties between foreign nations and China, and hence of a 

 mutually recognized means of adjusting international difficulties; 

 the firm conviction of the natives that foreigners were of an 

 inferior barbarous race which must be governed with a firm 

 hand ; and the policy of western governments, especially of the 

 United States, of keeping entirely aloof from the Chinese gov- 

 ernment and of granting no powers other than commercial to the 

 consvil. These three conditions made all intercourse uncertain. 

 The system was admirable as long as all was harmonious, but 

 the moment that difficulties arose it broke down. The Terra- 

 nova trouble began in the latter part of September, 1821. While 

 near the "Emily," Captain Cowpland, of Baltimore, a woman 

 fell from a boat and was drowned. It is probable that her death 

 was accidental, but the Chinese authorities at once accused 

 Terrahova, an Italian sailor on the ship, of having killed her by 

 dropping a fruit jar on her head,^^ and demanded his surrender. 

 Cowpland, although putting Terranova in irons, refused to sur- 

 render him. The Americans organized a committee of five resi- 



7829, 1830, 1831, etc., New York, 1833, and Thomas Jefiferson Jacobs, 

 Scenes, Incidents, and Adventures in the Pacific Ocean .... during 

 the Cruise of the clipper "Margaret Oakley" under Captain Benjamin 

 Morrell, New York, 1844. The first voyage was in 1828, the second in 

 1829, the third in 1830, and the fourth in 1834 The records of the last 

 are given by Jacobs. 



^^ George Thomas Staunton, in Miscellaneous Notices Relating to China, 

 etc., London, 1822-1850, pp. 409-432, denies that there was a Chinese law 

 requiring a life for a life in case of accident, and says that even in case of 

 punishment, a death penalty was not necessarily inflicted. He assigns 

 the Chinese severity in the Terranova afifair to the desire to "inspire 

 foreigners with awe." 



