PROSPECTS OF OUR TRADE WITH CHINA. 405 



During the writer's residence in China he received many trifling- 

 presents from the Chinese, which were generally accompanied by 

 the simple expression VVo-kung-ne, "I offer you this or that," 

 the use of the word Kung indicating respect for the person ad- 

 dressed. From the above remarks, it appears that the Chinese, by 

 the words Tsin-kung, " introducing presents," whether from the 

 king of England or from any other quarter, means no offence. 

 Kung-sze signifies " envoy," the bearer of presents, the personator 

 of the king. Dr.' Morrison has it, " he who does homage in the 

 name of the king." The writer would say, the person who transacts 

 the king's business. He knows of no envoy that goes expressly to do 

 homage. At one time we were offended because we were called 

 Hung-maou-kwei, " red-haired devils ;" but, having shown that Kwei 

 was applied to good spirits as well as bad, and that consequently 

 the expression might mean red-haired ge7iti, " beautiful, or handsome 

 people," in contradistinction to black-haired people, which they style 

 themselves, he has heard no further complaints on that subject. 



We quite agree with Mr, Matheson in what immediately follows 

 the preceding extract, that " in the management of so extensive a 

 trade, where between two and three thousand individuals are 

 daily coming in contact with the lowest of the Chinese, they 

 have, or the Company had, a tremendous responsibility devolving on 

 them, to say nothing of their dangerous situation." 



At page 51, the melancholy death of Lord Napier is alluded to 

 as being " yet unrevenged." We are further told that Lord Napier 

 was sent out to China at the express instance of the Chinese govern- 

 ment. Query, Did this originate with the Viceroy? or rather was it 

 notsuggested to him by theHong Merchants, and were not these again 

 influenced by those who wished to facilitate the destruction of the 

 East India Company? His lordship's mission being a lamentable 

 failure — a catastrophe which years will not repair — Mr. Matheson 

 in his pamphlet strenuously urges on our government the necessity 

 of visiting China for the insult thus offered, and requires them 

 to demand the right to pass by the whole machinery which that 

 government has thought proper to set up, — of the Hong Merchants, 

 the Hoppos, and the Viceroys, — and to address the Emperor direct 

 on all matters of dispute ! 



At page 55 Mr. M. remarks, 



" It is impossible to foresee to what lengths of outrage and oppression the 

 Canton authorities may be emboldened to proceed, should their unwarrant- 

 able treatment of his Majesty's representative be permitted to pass without 

 even a show of remonstrance : the consequence of which, it is but too proba- 

 ble, would soon be developed in such a systematic aggravation of existing 

 evils, as would lead to constant collisions and stoppage of trade. When these 

 interrujitions occurred during the East India Company's monopoly, their 

 united influence and capital enabled them sometimes to make a stand against 

 the Chinese, and to sustain the heavy commercial losses attendant on the struggle. 

 Widely different, however, would be the case under present circumstances ; 

 when the free traders, pursuing each his separate and disunited view, and 

 having no common head recognized by the Chinese, must fall a sacrifice, in 

 detail, to their well-combined machinations." 



The above extract (which is written by one who advocates the 



