Chap. XXII. DISPUTE WITH THE CHINESE. 



423 



CHAPTEE XXII. 



Dispute with the Chinese about the lorcha "Arrow" — Lorchas and 

 their crews — Abuse of the Enghsh flag — Eight of entrance into 

 the city of Canton — The Chinese outwit us in diplomacy — True 

 causes of our position in Canton — We have ourselves to blame — 

 The policy which ought to be pursued — The city of Canton must 

 be opened — Foolish restrictions on foreigners and their trade ought 

 to be abolished — Direct communication with the court of Peking 

 — Method of carrying out these views — Eemarks on the climate 

 with reference to the health of our troops — Conclusion. 



The narrative of my travels in China ends with 

 the last chapter, and in ordinary circumstances 

 that chapter would have been the last in this 

 work ; but since I left Hongkong a disturbance 

 has broken out at Canton of a most serious kind, 

 which day by day assumes a more important 

 aspect, the end of which is most difficult for those 

 even who are best acquainted with China and the 

 Chinese to foresee. 



It is not my intention in this place to attempt a 

 history of the original cause of the dispute in so 

 far as the unfortunate lorcha Arrow " is con- 

 cerned, or to express my opinions on a subject 

 upon which the highest legal authorities in Eng- 

 land cannot agree. It is sufficient for me to refer 

 the reader to the despatches of the English and 

 Chinese authorities in China, and to the speeches 



