412 REMARKS ON THE PRESENT POSITION AND 



guage, which has led us to take offence where no offence was in- 

 tended. The allusion of Sir George to the rendering of barbarian 

 eye in the preceding extract, is most happy ; for instead of consider- 

 ing it an insult that Lord Napier should be styled the Southern Fo- 

 reigner's Eye (as it should have been rendered), that is, The Chief 

 OF THE Southern Foreigners, we ought to have considered it the 

 very reverse, as the precedence is given to our nation in preference 

 to the Dutch, the Portuguese, and even the Americans. 



In conclusion, it may not be amiss to remark that, instead of send- 

 ing a person merely to take charge of the customs, as suggested by 

 Mr. Lindsay and approved of by Sir George Staunton, it would be 

 much better to send out a person well acquainted with the language, 

 of known integrity, as the bearer of a letter to the Emperor of China, 

 informing him of the discontinuance of the Company's charter, and 

 of his Majesty being desirous of continuing to trade on honour- 

 able principles with his subjects, which letter should be consigned to 

 the care of the Viceroy. At the same time address another letter 

 to the Viceroy, informing him that the bearer of the said letter will 

 take charge of the trade, but that his powers are limited, and con- 

 sequently, in case of any serious misunderstanding occurring, he 

 will have to consult with his sovereign. This would always leave 

 the President of the Trade an excuse for not acting on the spur 

 of the moment. The time that would necessarily elapse before an 

 answer could be received from England would be such that the 

 matter in dispute would be nearly or entirely forgotten. 



Indeed, we would even recommend an acknowledgment that Lord 

 Napier had acted, in the late affair at Canton, on his own respon- 

 sibility in attempting to obtain a residence at Canton by force, in- 

 stead of seeking it in an honourable and peaceable manner. The 

 Emperor and Viceroy would then understand the principles on which 

 we continue to trade, and a reciprocal cordiality might be established. 

 But the attempt to pass by all the great officers of the Chinese go- 

 vernment, and to obtain redress direct from the Emperor, as though 

 he did not act under due deliberation of his ministers at Canton, or of 

 the Six Public Boards at Peking, indicates very imperfect knowledge 

 of the Chinese government. All the Viceroys have the power of 

 writing directly to the Emperor; while all affairs of business are 

 sent to one or the other of the Six Boards for deliberation, according 

 to the nature of the business, whose decision is then submitted to 

 the Emperor; thus the dignity of the Emperor is maintained, and 

 the great ministers of state have an influence in the government. 

 In our country vox populi rules, but in China the Teen-tsze, " the 

 man who is appointed by Heaven to rule.'' At the same time, he 

 is sensible that so vast an empire cannot be governed without the 

 unremitting attention of his ministers, from the Viceroy down to 

 Heen, or the district magistrate. If this be correct, whoever is sent 

 out should be courteous, yet dignified, and of an unimpeachable 

 character, in the strictest sense of the word. Let this be reversed, 

 and, though his titles should rank him next to the king of Great 

 Britain, he will not be respected. His servants will publish his 

 faults, foreigners will magnify them, and his slight failings (if they 

 may be so termed) will certainly reach the ear of tlie Viceroy. 



