CHAPTER XI. Our Commercial intercourse with China from 1596 up to the present period-Bond given by our Merchants to cease trading in or introducing Opium into the Celestial Empire - The pledge violatedOfficial reasons for commencing the War with China-Imperial Edict -The Treaty of Nankin. IN the year 1596, England's merchants first turned attention, seriously, to the manifold advantages which could be derived from intercourse with the Celestial Empire, and the following document is the first official communication we have on record, and which was addressed by our mighty sovereign lady, Queen Elizabeth, to the Emperor of China : "Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, France, and Ireland, the most mighty defender of the true and Christian faith against all who falsely profess the name of Christ: To the most high and sovereign prince, the most puissant governor of the great kingdom of China, the chiefest Emperor in those parts of Asia, and the islands adjoining, and the great monarch of the oriental regions of the world, wisheth health and many joyful and happy years, with all plenty, and abundance of things most acceptable. Whereas our honest and faithful subjects which bring these letters unto your highness, Richard Allot and Thomas QUEEN ELIZABETH TO THE EMPEROR. 237 Broomfeild, merchants in the city of London, have made most earnest suit unto us, that we would commend their desires and endeavours of sailing to the regions of your empire for traffic's sake. Whereas the fame of your kingdom, so strongly and prudently governed, being published over the face of the whole earth, hath invited these our subjects, not only to visit your highness's dominions, but also to permit themselves to be ruled and governed by the laws of your kingdom during their abode there, as it becometh merchants, who for exchange of merchandise, are desirous to travel to distant and unknown regions, that they may present their wares, and musters* of divers kind of merchandize, wherewith the regions of our dominions do abound, unto the view of your highness, and of your subjects, that they may endeavour to know whether there be any other merchandize with us fit for your use, which they may exchange for other commodities whereof in ports of your empire there is great plenty, both natural and artificial. "We, yielding to these requests of these honest men, because we suppose that by this intercourse and traffic, no loss, but rather most exceeding benefits will redound to the rulers and subjects of both kingdoms, and thus help and enrich one another. And we do crave of your most sovereign majesty, that these our subjects, when they arrive at any of your ports or cities, that they may have full and free liberty to egress and regress, and of dealing with your subjects; and may * Musters, samples or patterns of all kinds of goods, both manufactured and edible. by your clemency enjoy all freedoms and privileges as are granted to the subjects of other princes. And we, on the other side, will not only perform the offices of a well-disposed and willing prince unto your highness, but also, for the greater increase of mutual love and commerce between us and our subjects, by these present letters of ours, do most willingly grant unto all and every one of your subjects, full and entire liberty into any of our dominions, to resort there, to abide and traffic, and then return, as it seemeth best to them. "All and every of which promises we have caused to be confirmed, by annexing hereunto our royal seal. "God, most merciful and Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, continually protect your kingly majesty. "Given at our palace of Greenwich, the 11th of July 1596, and thirty-eighth of our reign." This document never reached its destination, as the vessel foundered during a violent storm at sea: the value of commercial intercourse with China seems at this period to have been fully appreciated, as in the Lansdowne manuscripts will be found "The draft of a warrant to discharge ware bound for Kathay (China) which had been petitioned for and granted to the Earl of Leicester, and other adventurers for the discovery and finding out Kathay." Walter Mildenhall was sent out by Queen Elizabeth to the court of the Great Mogul, and we find that in 1613 we had gained a footing in Japan, and established a factory there; this excited the jealousy of the Dutch, who also had a factory in Japan, and FLEET SENT UNDER CAPTAIN WEDDELL. 239 differences of a serious nature arose between the English and Dutch East India Companies, which were put an end to by the British Government and the States-General of Holland entering into a treaty of defence, both countries engaging, and binding themselves, to endeavour to open and establish a free trade with China. Unfortunately, no beneficial results accrued to either from this treaty; but it would be foreign to our subject were we here to endeavour to prove who were the culpable parties. Matters remained in a most unsatisfactory state until 1634, "when a truce and free trade" to China, and every part of the world to which the Portuguese had access, was agreed to by the viceroy of Goa, and a company of English merchants was formed, pursuant to a license issued by Charles the First. Immediately after this agreement had been entered into, a fleet of ships were sent out under the command of Captain Weddell, the merchants giving him credentials, and introductions to the Governor of Macao. As soon as the fleet arrived at Macao, the Portuguese consul informed Captain Weddell, that the Chinese would not consent to the English trading to, or in China. Captain Weddell, who was an enterprising man, determined that his long expedition should not be entirely without some good result; and as the Chinese would not allow the English to trade, he resolved to explore, and discover the entrance to the Canton river. Captain Weddell fitted out a barge and pinnace, which were manned with about fifty men, and in two days, to his great joy, came within sight of the mouth of the Canton river: it is stated that the Portuguese had never been permitted to approach Canton by this route, but were compelled to use small craft; which were navigated through circuitous narrow straits amidst numberless islands. In a short time a Chinese san-pan approached the barge, and a Chinaman informed Captain Weddell through the Portuguese interpreter, that he would navigate their craft to Canton if he were well paid for so doing. This offer was gladly acceded to, but Captain Weddell had proceeded but a short distance up the river, when he fell in with some Chinese war-junks, the commander of which, ordered Captain Weddell to lay-to. The Admiral inquired who had shown the barbarians the way into the Canton river, and expressed surprise that any should have the hardihood to attempt to explore, the interior of the "Son of Heaven's" dominions. Captain Weddell intimated that the English desired to trade with the Chinese, upon the same terms as the Portuguese. The Chinese Commander, agreed to allow some of the officers to proceed to Canton, giving them the use of a small junk for that purpose; but when near Canton, a Chinese official boarded the junk, ordering them to return to Macao, and a license should be given them to trade. When Captain Weddell returned to Macao, the promised permission to trade was refused by the Chinese authorities (owing to the misrepresentations of the Portuguese); this incensed Captain Weddell, and he resolved to proceed at once to Canton; accordingly the whole fleet weighed anchor, and sailed up the river to the Bogue forts. The Chinese authorities, promised to give Captain Weddell letters to the mandarins of |