Chap. XXII. 



TO BE PURSUED. 



429 



few attractions. But although this is the case the 

 vexed question has assumed an importance not its 

 own, and it is really absolutely necessary now that 

 we force a compliance with our demands if we 

 mean that the lives and property of our country- 

 men should be safe and commerce go on. 



Had we enforced our treaty-rights at first all 

 this would have been avoided, much blood would 

 have been spared, and the Canton Chinese would 

 have treated us with more civility and respect. 

 When the port of Foo-chow-foo, the capital city of 

 Fokien, was opened to foreign trade, an effort was 

 made by the authorities there to prevent us from 

 having a footing in the city. Our consul, the late 

 Mr. Lay, alone and unaided, forced his way 

 through the gates and took up a temporary resi- 

 dence in a joss-house within the walls. The man- 

 darins, finding one man determined to secure our 

 treaty-rights, gave up the point, and never after- 

 wards objected to our having the consulate in the 

 city. Had a little of such spirit and determination 

 been shown at Canton, and supported by a suffi- 

 cient force, this vexatious question might have 

 been settled long ago. 



In making treaties with a nation like the 

 Chinese we ought not to look upon them as we 

 do upon the more civilized nations of the west. 

 They cannot appreciate our motives of clemency 

 or consideration. During the last war we spared 

 Canton when it lay entirely at our mercy, and the 

 Cantonese to a man gave it as their opinion that 



