THE OPIUM TRADE. 167 



number yearly to a premature grave, and destroys in 

 man s loins that procreative seed, from which would 

 spring into birth a great number more. 



England, whatever my attachment may be to some of 

 your citizens individually, I must here represent yours 

 as one of the worst governments that ever cursed the 

 human race. And I here state before God and man, 

 that you murder and destroy more people than all the 

 governments or nations over the face of the earth put 

 together ; that your government is a stigma and shame 

 to every white man, and that it is the scourge of the 

 weak and powerless a government, oh, England ! that 

 is bringing a curse upon yourselves. 



The first assertion that an apologist for this trade 

 would make, and which England makes, is that China is 

 satisfied, or they would not buy opium. I will simply 

 give the following memorandum of the Chinese govern 

 ment acts to save their people, and all may then judge of 

 its truthfulness ; and it might as well be said, that the 

 father was satisfied with the gambling-house, the brothel, 

 and grog shop, because his infatuated son, over whom he 

 had lost all control, frequented them. 



In 1800, the Emperor of China prohibited the impor 

 tation of opium into the Empire, and death and con 

 fiscation of property were decreed against all retailers or 

 cultivators of it. 



In 1809, under the Emperor Kea-king, the Hong 

 merchants were required to give bonds of security, that 

 all -ships discharging cargo had no opium on board. 



In 1815 the Emperor directed that the laws should be 

 rigorously enforced against natives dealing in opium. 



