On March 23, every Chinaman in the Factories, from the Compradore to the cook, left by order of the 'Kin-Chae,' and were threatened with decapitation if they dared to return. The day before, Mr. Lancelot Dent, chief of Messrs. Dent & Co., had been invited to enter the city and meet his Excellency, which he declined to do. Other but ineffectual attempts by the authorities to induce him to go were also made, when, on the 24th, Captain Charles Elliot, Her Majesty's Superintendent of Trade, arrived from Macao, and immediately assumed charge, on behalf of the English residents, of the perplexing question of the 'total surrender of the opium.' The street in rear of the Factories was now filled with soldiers, a strong guard was also placed in the 'Square,' and a triple cordon of boats drawn up from the Creek to the Danish Factory. The whole community were thus prisoners in the hands of the Chinese. Provisions were not allowed to be brought in, no one was permitted to go beyond the 'Square,' and matters assumed a decidedly serious aspect. We overcame the difficulty of provisions in this way. The Chinese soldiers being entirely unaccustomed to foreigners, there was a danger that 'trouble would arise;' the Hong merchants therefore represented this to the City authorities, and offered to send their own coolies to keep watch at the different gates of the Factories.[76] This was agreed to, and the double object was gained in supplies of firewood and provisions, which were at night stealthily brought to us by them.

On March 27, on the 'Kin-Chae's' demand to Her Majesty's Superintendent 'that all the opium under the control of the English merchants should be given up,' 20,283 chests were tendered and accepted, and 'Chunpee' fixed upon as the place of delivery. To control the delivery, Mr. Alexander Johnston, Deputy Superintendent, was furnished with a conveyance, and left Canton on April 3. The 'receiving ships' moved up to the Bogue, where the entire quantity was handed over to officers (appointed by the 'Kin-Chae'), who caused it to be destroyed in deep trenches on Chunpee heights. Thus 'reverent obedience' was shown. Captain Elliot remarked, in his despatch to her Majesty's Government, dated March 30, 1839: 'This is the first time, in our intercourse with this Empire, that its Government has taken the unprovoked (?) initiative in aggressive measures against British life, liberty, and property, and against the dignity of the British Crown.' No words could more strongly confirm everything herein said in relation to the safety of property and life which we had enjoyed at Canton. But the despatch contained not a word of the provocation given by foreigners in continuing the condemned traffic under constantly repeated injunctions against doing so, and persistent warnings to discontinue it. I, of course, do not blame my brother merchants at Canton, no matter to what nation they belonged, as we were all equally implicated. We disregarded local orders, as well as those from Pekin, and really became confident that we should enjoy perpetual impunity so far as the 'opium trade' was concerned.

The night of March 24 was one of unusual brilliancy in its cloudless sky and full moon. The Factories, forcibly abandoned by several hundred Chinese (estimated at eight hundred) at a moment's notice, resembled somewhat places of the dead! Their foreign occupants were thus left literally in a complete state of destitution as regards service of any kind, not even a scullion being allowed to remain. The consequence was that they were compelled, in order to live, to try their own skill in cooking, to make up their own rooms, sweep the floors, lay the table, wash plates and dishes! It may be supposed that it produced discontent, complaints, and impatience. Not at all; we in the Suy-Hong—and it was the same with our fellow-prisoners in the other Factories, with few exceptions—made light of it, and laughed rather than groaned over the efforts to roast a capon, to boil an egg or a potato. We could all clean knives, sweep the floors, and even manage to fill the lamps. But there were mysteries which we could not divine; our chief, Mr. Green, after a vain attempt to boil rice—which, when prepared, resembled a tough mass of glue—proved a most wretched cook, and took to polishing the silver, but abandoned that and finally swept the floor! Mr. Low conscientiously did all he could, but after toasting the bread to death, and boiling the eggs till they acquired the consistency of grape-shot, he abandoned that department, and took to one not exacting so much exercise of mind, and 'laid the cloth' dexterously and well. The rest of us, from modesty or a feeling of sheer incapacity, did no more than was absolutely necessary. It would have been unfair to rob the others of their laurels! Some one had to fill the pitchers; anyone could draw a cork, or even boil water. Thus, by hook or by crook, we managed to sustain life—of which the 'bread' was nightly supplied to us by Houqua's coolies. They also brought (made up in bags, as if 'personal effects' or 'blankets to keep off the dew,' thus passing the guards) edibles of all sorts.

During the day we met in the Square, which became 'High 'Change' of experiences in desperate efforts to roast, boil, or stew. Some went the length of considering it great fun; others heaped unheard-of blessings upon the heads of His Celestial Majesty, Taou-Kwang, and his envoy 'Lin.'

No two men were so unctuously abused; as if the vilifiers themselves had always followed strictly the 'Eight Regulations' under which they lived! What amusement all this created.

By May 2, 15,501 chests had been given up, when the servants were allowed gradually to return, and the whole quantity, 20,283 chests,[77] completed on the 21st. On the 27th Captain Elliot returned to Macao, and on the 30th the opium clipper 'Ariel' left for Suez direct with despatches for the British Government. She returned on April 2, 1840.

Between May 6 and 21 many foreigners were permitted to leave the city, and went to Macao or Whampoa. Captain Elliot, before going himself, on the 22nd issued a notice to British subjects that they also were to leave, and by the end of the month they had left; and there remained no foreigners but Americans, about twenty-five in number. On the 29th I left with all books, papers, &c., not actually required at Canton, in company with six other boats for Macao, containing Parsees and several English, including Doctors Cox and Dickson. On the way down we were joined by four large chop-boats with Messrs. Lindsay & Co.'s establishment, and John Shillaber and others from Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, & Co.'s. The trip was most enjoyable; we dined or passed the day with one another, and arrived nearly at the same time at Macao on the night of June 1. The Mandarins who came on board at Che-Nae and at Heang-Shan were civil as usual, and seemed perfectly indifferent to what had passed at Canton.

The surrender of the 'British-owned opium' was followed by events to which the foreign trade had from its foundation at Canton been a stranger. Now were initiated political relations between the vast and unknown Empire of China and European nations—the first that had existed. No treaty had yet been entered into, except with Russia for regulating its trade and arranging boundaries. Russian and Chinese commercial relations had existed between two frontier towns (separated but by the boundary line) well known as Kiachta and 'Mae-Mae-Ching.'[78]

No Western officer was yet officially recognised, even of the rank of Consul or Vice-Consul, and all communications between one or the other and the Canton Government were through the intermediary of the Co-Hong. The consequences, therefore, that might grow out of the delivery of the opium filled the foreign community with anxiety. The Americans had not delivered any American-owned opium, of which we held at the time of surrender about fifty cases of Turkey, but they determined to remain in the Factories and continue their business. The English on leaving placed theirs in charge of the American houses. A large share of it fell under the control of Russell & Co., and, to facilitate negotiations with its new constituents outside, one of the partners opened an office on board the English ship 'Heroine,' at 'Kow-Lung,' and subsequently, when all foreign vessels were driven away from that anchorage, at Toon-Koo. Several ships of the firm, including the 'Lintin,' were kept running between these places and Whampoa with British goods at thirty to forty dollars per ton, and Indian cotton at seven dollars per bale, and receiving on board no freight unless consigned to the house. A very active business was carried on under the American flag, greatly to the convenience of English friends, as well as to their profit. Teas were the returns for these inward cargoes, which were brought down to the anchorage and shipped from Toon-Koo for England.

While the shipments were going on an English vessel of about 900 tons arrived from Singapore, named the 'Cambridge' under the command of Captain Douglas. Being offered for sale, she was purchased by Russell & Co., and her name changed to 'Chesapeake' of eventful memory. Loaded with British goods, valued at 150,000l., with her deck full to the top of the rail, she was despatched for Whampoa, in charge of Captain Gilman. She had of course been put under the American flag. There was very little time to spare, as a blockade was to commence in a few days. On June 22, 1840, H.M.S. 'Volage,' and subsequently the 'Hyacinth,' took up their positions off Chunpee[79] at the moment the 'Chesapeake' sailed by. She was the last vessel that entered the port. She arrived at her destination and delivered her cargo, which was landed at Canton in regular course.

The Chinese had thrown a great raft across the river just above the second bar, in anticipation of hostilities with the English. They then thought the best thing to do was to purchase a large foreign ship, arm and man her, and anchor her above the raft, as an additional protection against the barbarian war ships. Application being made to Mr. Delano, the then chief of Russell & Co., who had never left Canton, a bargain was concluded for the 'Chesapeake.' The American flag and papers were removed, and she was made over to the Mandarins. Her 'Cumsha and Measurement' charges, amounting to about $8,000, were abandoned. The Mandarins took charge and began to fit her out as an 'auxiliary defence' to the raft, and thus stop 'English men-of-war' which 'from vainglory or conceit might dare to attempt the inner waters.' Two great eyes were painted on her bows. Great streamers hung from every mast to the deck, a multitude of flags of all colours and shapes—bearing such words painted thereon as 'Courage,' the 'Yang-Yin,' and the 'Pā-Kwa,'[80] together with the rank of the officer in command—were arranged around the taffrail. In short, she became the Chinese emblem of everything 'mighty and victorious!' She would strike would-be assailants with consternation and despair!

Meanwhile her armament was sent on board. Cannon of every available size were ranged on her two decks; round shot, stones, and other missiles were accumulated in quantities; nor were bows and arrows forgotten, nor quantities of muskets, flint-lock and percussion, and the more familiar matchlock. Her crew consisted of Whampoa Chinese (amongst many others)—these were accustomed to foreign vessels, and no better sailors than they—Manila men, Seedies,[81] and Lascars, runaways from country ships. There were probably four or five hundred men on board.

Thus equipped she was towed down to her appointed station amidst an inconceivable beating of gongs, the explosion of fire crackers, flying serpents, and fiery dragons—thanks to which and her two bow 'eyes' she arrived in safety and anchored.

This was a few days before February 26, 1841, when the Bogue Forts were captured by Sir Gordon Bremer. The 'Unconquerable' was then taking powder on board in large quantities, packed in jars, which were promiscuously stowed on deck and between decks, as usual. She was so engaged also on the 27th, having a great number of chop-boats and other small craft alongside. Suddenly appeared the smoke of a steamer approaching from the Bogue! It turned out to be H.M.'s ship 'Nemesis,' Captain Hall. She had the 'singular audacity to approach the barrier,' and when within an easy distance, the 'unheard-of temerity' to try the effect of a Congreve rocket on the emblem of 'victory and might.' The aim was true, and like a flash—or in a 'flash'—ship, crew, and contents, boats, all disappeared from the face of the waters! The explosion was terrific, and was distinctly heard at Canton, a distance of thirty miles. Not a human creature was reported to have survived! For years after there was to be seen on the left bank of the river the bottom of the ship. It had been separated from the hull as if sawn off in all its length; and it gradually disappeared through the combined efforts of Chinese boatmen, who broke up and carried it piecemeal away.

The English forces having moved up to Canton, a suspension of hostilities was agreed upon on March 20, 1841, and the port was again free. Local disturbances, however, broke out, and, on May 22 following, a mob of Chinese plundered and burnt down the East India Company's new Factory, the Dutch, and the Creek. On the 25th, Sir Hugh Gough landed near Pwantingqua's country house and took possession of the heights overlooking the city. The authorities then ransomed it for six millions of dollars, of which five millions were paid on the 31st, when the forces left Canton and foreign vessels again entered the port.

The carrying trade on the river now ceased. Lying in the outer waters we had the 'Lintin,' the 'Lantao' the 'Lema,' and the 'Ladrone.' The former commenced her career in China as Russell & Co.'s 'receiving ship' in 1830. She was well constructed to carry a large cargo, and her sailing qualities were fair. Her career and ultimate fate were singular. With the exception of shifting stations during the taiphoon seasons, her anchors were never raised for nine years, when in 1839, as related, she resumed her original vocation of a sailing ship up and down the 'Pearl' River.

During this state of idleness for our ships, I received information from Mr. Delano that Houqua was disposed to send orders to India for cotton. Prices had naturally fallen there during the blockade and troubles at Canton, while the non-importation for several months had caused a great rise. Three of the ships were despatched and 100,000l. remitted to Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. The funds were in East India Company's bills on Calcutta. The 'Lintin' sailed for Madras, the 'Lantao' for Calcutta, and the 'Lema' for Bombay, thus securing so much tonnage for the cotton, while other vessels were to be chartered at those ports. The first vessel, however, that arrived with a portion of the purchases was the Swedish ship 'Calcutta,' and she had anchored in the Taypa only a few days when she was driven on shore in a taiphoon. In due time our own ships arrived. The 'Lintin' was then despatched a second time, but got no further than Singapore, when her captain, Townsend, in direct breach of orders, and under various pretexts, took in a cargo of rattans and returned to Macao! His 'accounts' being refused, he brought an action against us in the Macao court.

It was still going on when I left Macao in 1844. The legal papers had so accumulated that they seemed sufficient to 'dunnage' the ship. Asking the clerk of the court one day if he thought it would ever be settled, he made the same reply that he had repeated for years: 'Se senhor, mā, hum poco tiempŏ!' ('Certainly, sir, but it requires a little time').

The 'Lintin,' however, was sent to Whampoa. The first English treaty with the Chinese having been broken, further preparations were made for defence, and the authorities, not discouraged, sought for another foreign ship—this time for service nearer the city. They took a fancy to the 'Lintin;' she was sold to them, and towed up the river by a great fleet of small boats. An eye[82] was painted on each bow; she was completely unrigged to her lower masts, and, amidst a confused noise of gongs and fireworks, she was anchored just below the Dutch Folly, opposite the city.

On the day appointed for 'making her over' various high Mandarins with many followers came on board. Captain Endicott, who was in charge, had caused certain refreshments to be laid out on the cabin table with which to regale these officers. They consisted of several junk bottles of gin and brandy, a jug or two of water, hard biscuits and cheroots! Before accompanying them over the ship, he invited them to the cabin.

As he said when relating the circumstance to us, 'after drinks all round and a weed' we returned on deck to look about the vessel; next we visited the between-decks, and the Mandarins pronounced everything highly satisfactory. Seeing a Scuttle-Butt[83] pump, it attracted the attention of one of them, who took it to be an 'engine of war,' and asked to be informed as to the manner of its use! They soon after took leave and returned to the city. 'Thank heaven,' said Captain Endicott to a gentleman whom he had asked on board to see the Chinese officials, 'that's over; now that they are off, let us go down and take a drink and a smoke.' On getting to the cabin they found that everything—the gin and brandy, cigars, biscuits, even the water-jug, pitcher, and tumblers—had all been walked off with by the followers of the high dignitaries! A Chinese crew and naval Mandarin took possession, as Captain Endicott pulled away from his 'old home' for so many years. She was then duly turned into a Chinese man-of-war. There were the usual insignia of invincibility, triangular flags, on which were figures of dragons swallowing the moon, the 'Yin and Yang,' circles and zigzag lines, emblematical of thunder and lightning.

The commanding officer of all this destructive paraphernalia, with the peacock's feather in his cap, a large silk umbrella held over his head, seated himself comfortably in a bamboo chair, smoking his pipe.

Other formidable preparations for war were duly made in a provision of worm-eaten guns, matchlocks, spears, and shields. She would soon have been ready for an encounter with any of the English sloops, whether the 'Modeste' or the 'Algerine,' perhaps even the 'Herald;' but one night a great freshet took place. The violence of the tide was such that she swerved at her anchor from right to left, struck on the rocks close to the 'Folly,' slid off, and went down in deep water! The Chinese then set to work and unshipped her masts, leaving a stump of the foremast about seven feet above the deck, and placed upon it a diminutive lantern. This served thenceforth as a 'lighthouse' to guide boats up and down the river! It was the first lighthouse in Canton waters 'on record.' When I last saw the stump of the mast, twenty-eight years after, a great bank of mud had formed around the hull, and a faint glimmer from a penny dip in a small paper lantern marked the last resting-place of the 'Lintin.'

The seizure of the opium in its consequences was the feature in the breaking up of the exclusive conditions of foreign trade at Canton, as it had existed since 1720. The peculiar conditions also of social life were doomed, as was that perfect and wonderful organisation, the Co-Hong.

On August 10, 1841, Sir Henry Pottinger arrived at Macao as Her Majesty's sole plenipotentiary and Minister Extraordinary. Negotiations with the Mandarins were carried on simultaneously with the capture of cities on the coast. The material losses and destruction of life to the Chinese were incalculable, particularly through suicide by those helpless people. An English officer who was present at the taking of Chā-Po in May 1842 wrote to a friend at Macao that on landing, about 3,500 strong, under cover of the men-of-war, the most terrible enormities were committed. He then goes on to say: 'After the city had been captured, I entered more than a hundred houses, and in each there were not less than two, and in many eight, persons found dead. They were the bodies of mothers and daughters who had committed suicide from a dread of becoming prisoners; 1,600 dead were buried after the battle, of which more than one-half were Tartar soldiers, who in despair of repelling the enemy, and preferring death to defeat, had nearly all destroyed themselves. Is not this a splendid exhibition of patriotism?'

The losses of the English on this occasion by the official accounts were one colonel, one sergeant, and seven men killed, seven officers and forty-seven men wounded; and so on to the end, the pigmy against the giant!

At length the treaty of Nanking, in which the Chinese consented to pay an indemnity of $21,000,000, was signed off that city, on board of H.M.S. 'Cornwallis,' on August 29, 1842, by his Excellency Sir Henry Pottinger, the Imperial Commissioners Ke-Ying and E-Leepoo, and New-Keen, the Viceroy of Keang-Nan and Keang-Se. And thus concluded the first European war with China, one of the most unjust ever waged by one nation against another.

The next treaty was that of the United States, which was signed at the village of Mong-Hā (Macao) on July 3, 1844, by Mr. Caleb Cushing and Ke-Ying. Together they were the 'knell, the shroud, the mattock, and the grave' of Old Canton.

The Chinese had not looked with satisfaction upon the concessions they had been obliged to make to an overwhelming military and naval force, which had caused them the loss of myriads of lives, often under circumstances of great atrocity, of unheard-of suffering, as well as of many millions of dollars independently of the war indemnity. The ordeal was a terrible one; but they gained by it the, to them, unenvied privilege of falling in with Western ideas. Encouraged by the confidence inspired by so great a privilege, they now contract for loans of money, they build vessels of war on European models, and drill their soldiers in foreign tactics; they provide themselves with Western arms of precision—in short, they are putting on their armour. They are in full career of a diplomacy in which Ambassadors or Ministers—that is to say, 'spies upon one another'—watch over the interests of their respective countries. With the sword at their throat they have become members of what is facetiously called the 'Brotherhood' of Nations!

MESSRS. RUSSELL & CO., CANTON.

The house of Russell & Co. was constituted on January 1, 1824, in succession to that of Samuel Russell & Co., which had existed from December 26, 1818, to December 26, 1823. It is known amongst the Chinese as 'Kee-Chang-Hong.' It confined itself strictly to agency business. From January 1, 1824, until the middle of 1830 the sole partners were Mr. Russell and Philip Ammidon. In September 1829 Mr. Wm. H. Low arrived from Salem in the ship 'Sumatra' (Captain Roundy); and in November 1830 Mr. Augustine Heard, Senior, arrived from Boston in the bark 'Lintin' (Captain R. B. Forbes). These two gentlemen (Mr. Low and Mr. Heard) became partners in the house, the first until the end of the year 1833, when, having been obliged to leave Canton from ill health, he was landed and died at the Cape of Good Hope.

During the term of 1834-5-6, consequent upon the death of Mr. Low, were admitted Mr. John C. Green (special agent at Canton of Messrs. N. L. and G. Griswold, of New York), Mr. John M. Forbes, who had arrived in the 'Lintin' to join the office in 1830, and Mr. Joseph Coolidge, who arrived in 1832; and Mr. Heard retired.

The term of 1837-8-9 saw the withdrawal of Messrs. Forbes and Coolidge, the first on December 31, 1838, and the latter on December 31, 1839. Were admitted on January 1, 1837, Mr. A. A. Low (nephew of Mr. W. H. Low), who had come out to join the office in 1833), and Mr. W. C. Hunter. Mr. Edward King (who came out in the 'Silas Richards,' Captain Rosseter, 1834), was taken in the office on arrival, and became a partner on July 1, 1837; Mr. Robert B. Forbes (who arrived in the 'Bashaw' in October 1838) was admitted January 1, 1839, and became the chief of the house.

The term of 1840-41-42, Mr. A. A. Low having retired, began with the admission of Mr. Warren Delano (formerly of the house of Russell, Sturgis, & Co., of Canton and Manila). He succeeded Mr. Forbes as chief of the house when the latter left for New York in the 'Niantic' on July 7, 1840. Mr. Russell Sturgis, also a former partner of Russell, Sturgis, & Co., became a partner on January 1, 1842. Mr. King and Mr. Hunter retired on December 31, 1842, left Macao in February 1844 for New York, viâ the Cape (in the ship 'Akbar,' Captain Hallet), and the retirement of Mr. Sturgis took place on December 31, 1843.

This is but a rapid résumé of an interval of twenty years. A history of the house from its foundation to the present time—a period of sixty years—has been compiled by a former partner. The work, which would prove of interest to its many friends, its old associates, and their successors, may be published.

EPILOGUE.

Just a Cycle ago, a gentleman came on board the ship 'Citizen,' as she anchored at Lintin, China, from New York, to hear the latest news she may have brought—125 days old!—the interval was a short one at that time.

Such as Canton then was in its commercial, social, and domestic life it has been for two generations a sealed book; nor will the world ever see its like again! May those who now seek China Opened be as well received, as little molested, as much protected, as were those over whom the ægis of treaties never existed, and as bountifully rewarded as those whose enterprise led them to what was then a 'mysterious land.'

It is now, through the untiring encouragement and assistance of the gentleman above referred to (and who will, I trust, excuse my naming him)—Robert B. Forbes, Esq., of Boston, U.S.A.—that I have reproduced in the foregoing pages the days of Old Canton, with which we became familiar; regretting that to restore those scenes—all of which we saw, and part of which we were—it fell not to a more able pen.

FOOTNOTES