Beschreibung:

Title: Manuscript "Draft of proposed reply to the Yum-Chi's Proclamation" relating to demands by the Chinese government to cease the trade in opium Author: Wetmore, William & Mr. Fox Place: [Canton, China] Publisher: Date: c.1839 Description: 3 pp., in ink, on 4-page conjugate folio, docketed on the 4th page. 37.5x23 cm. (14¾x9¼"). Rare and highly significant manuscript draft prepared as a reply by the foreign traders resident in Canton to the demands by the Chinese government that they end the trade in opium, a key issue at the time, as primarily British, and some American, traders were dumping cheap Indian opium into a Chinese market that had proved largely unresponsive to other goods being offered by the merchant traders. The issues addressed in this document were shortly to lead to the First Opium War (1839-1842). The tactics presented in this proposed reply were quite conciliatory towards the Chinese desires, but, as indicated in the docketing, they were rejected by the committee of merchants. In part: "The foreigners of all nations in Canton have received with profound respect the Edict addressed to them by the Imperial Commissioner, and a meeting of their Body was convened immediately... They are the more desirous to place speedily before H.E. the result of their deliberation being now fully made aware of the Imperial command for the entire abolition of the traffic in opium and they beg to assure His Excellency that they highly reverence the will of the Great Emperor..." However, "the expectations... that the trade in opium would be legalized... [encouraged] parties at a distance to continue in the Trade, even to increase the production in India... but as these doubts are now set to rest by the lucid Proclamation of H.E. the Imperial Commissioner it remains only for the foreigners to meet the Imperial Mandate as far as they have within themselves the power of doing so. The opium on board the ships anchored in the outer waters is however principally the property of merchants residing in Bengal and Bombay, and in many cases valuable consideration has been made in India in advances of money, such money to be paid back before the opium can be released from the control of the commanders or super cargos of the ships. And thus all that the Foreign Merchants residing in Canton have the power of doing is to come under the solemn engagement not to buy or sell opium.... They will also take every measures in their power to induce the vessels anchored in the outer waters to depart immediately to their respective countries, pledging their good faith that they will never in any way be parties to their return..." The document does go on to make the point that it is not all the fault of the foreign traders, and despite their flaws, they "have also been much misunderstood, which has subjected them in China to great and underserved odium and humility, and even at the present moment they are held prisoners in Canton and many of their laden ships refused permission to proceed not withstanding that they have in all particulars complied with the regulations of the port..." Wetmore and Fox go on to relate some of the aspects of world trade with reference to China, and to opium, and note that "in other parts of the world opium is used extensively as a medicine and its soothing properties are of vital importance in many severe diseases to which the human frame is subjected. It is also largely consumed in other countries contiguous to India, namely Persia, Arabia and Turkey, as well as throughout the Malayan Peninsula, and all the Islands of the Eastern Archipelago including Sumatra, Java, and Borneo..." The document concludes with the advice that "the local government should, previously to their permitting any foreign ships to entry, demand a bond from the commander and officers that neither themselves nor the crew have any opium in their possession and thus they hope that the ends of the Imperial Government will be fully a