TRANSPOKT BY SEA PROHIBITED. 169 



this restriction constantly in view. There is in the 

 minds of the Chinese an apprehension of evil from 

 the opening of this port ; and though neither the 

 Imperial nor the local Government might be dis- 

 posed to commit themselves by interposing any 

 direct impediments in the way of the trade, yet 

 they show no anxiety to favour its extension at 

 this port. 



The edict alluded to, when first issued, pro- 

 hibited the shipment of all tea from this port. The 

 merchants engaged in the northern trade petitioned 

 against this prohibition, and obtained an exemption : 

 but the restriction remained in force against the 

 shipment of teas to the southward. The grounds 

 also on which the law was framed are offensive 

 to Europeans; and, since the motives for its con- 

 tinuance no longer prevail, in consequence of the 

 extension of our commercial privileges, no favour- 

 able opportunity should be lost sight of to procure 

 the repeal of this edict. 



It appears, by a statement transmitted to the 

 Court of Peking by the Viceroy of the province of 

 Quorig Tong, that the quantity of tea thus brought 

 by sea amounted in the year 1813 to 1,019,720 lbs. 

 English; and that in the year 1816 it had pro- 

 gressively increased to 8,965,200 lbs. : thus exhibit- 

 ing an increase of nearly nine-fold in three years. 

 In the report here alluded to, the Viceroy jDroceeded 

 to state that — " If the transit of tea coastways be 

 permitted, there will be no security that traitorous 



