236 REMARKS ON [Cuar. XII. 
edicts against it, which are only consigned to 
oblivion in the pages of the Peking Gazette, and 
have no effect whatever in restraining the Km- 
peror’s loyal subjects. It is now the opinion of all 
intelligent foreigners, and also of many of the more 
enlightened amongst the Chinese themselves, that 
the importation of opium ought to be legalised, and 
that it should be admitted at a small duty, as, by 
this means, much of the demoralising effects of smug- 
gling would be got rid of, and a considerable revenue 
would flow into the coffers of the Chinese treasury. 
Many instances of the feeble kind of opposition 
which the Chinese government employ to stop the 
opium trade, occurred during my residence in the 
country. Sometimes an admiral, renowned for his 
valour, was sent with a number of war junks to a 
particular station, where the opium ships were 
anchored, for the purpose of compelling them to 
leave the Chinese shores. Gongs were beat, guns 
were fired, at a respectful distance, however, and 
the junks came down with all that pomp and 
parade which the Chinese know so well how to 
assume, and which seem to form a principal part of 
their warlike operations. In the meantime the 
little opium vessels were laying quietly at anchor, 
apparently paying but slight attention to all these 
_ threatening demonstrations. Presently a message 
was sent from the admiral, ordering them to get 
up their anchors and stand out to sea, and never 
more to dare to enter the waters of his celestial 
majesty under the penalty of being completely an- 
nihilated. 
