Page 173 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

159.

size of the American conununity in 182 1 (fifteen residents at

most), the complete lack of armed support, and their consuming

interest in a successful trade, Americans had no alternative

to the course of action they chose. Given the importance of

the trade to Americans at Canton, their decision to respect

Chinese law was neither surprising nor culpable. Consul

Wilcocks best stated the American position: "As to resisting

the Constituted authorities. , I declared it was improper

17
in the extreme and could only be productive of great mischief.11
On October 19 the consul, in a note to the Chinese,

disowned all responsibility in the affair because of his lack

of any judicial powers. Shortly thereafter the conunittee re­

stated their unwillingness to surrender Terranovia. But they
also intimated to the Chinese that no American would resist

the removal of Terranovia from the "Emily." The Chinese

allowed the Americans to "save face, 11 and without ceremony

they boarded the "Emily" and took Terranovia away. By Octo­

ber 28 the affair was over. Governor-general Yuan declared in

an edict that the American trade was again open. He praised

the obedience to the laws of the Celestial Empire of the Ameri­

"Chief" (consul) who had "on the whole, behaved respectfully,
11 18
& submissively. In the meantime Terranovia had died by

strangulation.

17
Consular Despatches: Canton, B.C. Wilcocks, Nov. 1, 182 1.

18 1
Both Wilcocks disavowal and Governor-general Yuan's
edict are in Consular Despatches: Canton, B.C. Wilcocks, Nov. 1,
182 1.