members of a Christian church, or as merchants, has but one tendency: the British, by the immoral lives too generally adopted, by smuggling and cheating in the sale of opium, to produce in the minds of the heathen Chinese, thoughts and sentiments which we have heard expressed in the following words: "Englishmen cheat and swear, indulge in practices which they say are immoral; they act as we do; therefore how can their religion be better than our own?" The line of conduct here alluded to, is indulged in by men who attend the house of God with regularity, are entertained and received by the highest local authorities; thus conveying to the minds of the Chinese, that dishonest and immoral practices, are sanctioned by our sacred religion, and by our Government.

Baneful, then, must be our religious and political example, especially when taken in conjunction with that of many of the American missionaries, for the Chinese know not in general the difference between the English and Americans, calling both Europeans; but grievous as it may appear to the reader, the terrible effects of the line of conduct pursued by too many professing Christians in China, can only be known to, or appreciated by those who have witnessed the results in the Celestial Empire.

Fervently do we hope, that pernicious examples may be counteracted by the precepts and practices of the Bishop of Hong-Kong, the Colonial Chaplain, Mr. W. Medhurst, Mr. Robarts, Dr. Parker, Mr. McClachie, and other pious men: we trust also that efficient, pious, humble, honest, hard-working, golddespising men, may be sent out to aid those already

there, in pointing out the way of truth, and undeceiving the natives of China, by exemplifying practically as well as theoretically, the true character of Christianity; convincing the heathens that all who call themselves Christians are not the followers of our blessed Saviour, unless they practise what His words inculcate.

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 turhed 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

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.