( 541 ) 



XXXI. Two Edicts from the Hoppo of Canton to the Hong Merchants, 

 translated Inj John Francis Davis, Esq., M.R.A.S. 



From the new Hoppo to the Hong Merchants. 

 Copy received by the Britisli Factory on the 20th of October 1825. 



Ta, Hoppo of Canton, &c. &c. issues this mandate to the Hong Merchants. 

 The present dynasty instituted the office of Hoppo (invested with the 

 general superintendence of maritime commerce), on account of its com- 

 passionating feeUngs towards distant foreigners ; surely not in consequence 

 of any necessity that it has for the foreigners' clocks and watches, broad- 

 cloth, long-ells, &c., or for the sake of the annual duties, amounting to 

 some hundred thousand tales. The Central Nation possesses silk and cotton 

 manufactures of various kinds, enough to clothe all its people ; and 

 abundance of dials, clepsydras * and hour-glasses,* as well as clocks and 

 watches from Soo-chow and Yang-chow, sufficient to ascertain the lapse of 

 time. With regard to the rare articles which are brought from the Four 

 .Seas,t and by the nations of the north and south, these are piled up in the 

 Imperial Palace in mountainous heaps. When any of the provinces are 

 afflicted with famine, millions of tales are issued from the national treasury 

 for their relief: what necessity, then, can there be for the trifling commodities 

 of foreign nations ? In consequence of the various people of the western 

 ocean having long been dependent upon the tea, rhubarb, and other goods of 

 China, for their existence, therefore the office of Hoppo was estabhshed, 

 to superintend the trade on just and impartial principles: but as it was 

 to be apprehended that the foreigners coming from afar over a tempestuous 

 ocean, ignorant of the language, and unable to procure food for themselves, 

 would be deceived and cheated by wicked natives, the Hong merchants 

 were instituted to buy their goods, and the Linguists to be their inter- 

 preters ; while pilots and conpradores were provided them, as well as food 



• Called Slni-uy-lmv and Sha-loxv. For tlie Chinese characters see Plate XIII, Nos. 7 and 8. 

 f All the Morld out of Chhia. 



