Page 214 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

200.

the Company's charter. Although the private merchants were once

again dissatisfied that the Select Committee did not take a

harsher stand against the Chinese, they bided their time. The

Company continued its policy on the same basis it had for cen­
1
turies, that is, a policy of give-and-take. Until the 1830 s

such an approach had been effective in maintaining a profitable
86
trade and a stable relatbnship with the Chinese. But now

such policy was criticized both by the private merchants and

by the Americans. The latter residents characterized the Com­

pany•s actions in this unpleasant business" as neither "firm
11
or judicious." This was especially true, since Americans

87
felt the Company had been the one to force the issue.

During the years 1832 and 1833 trade at Canton continued,

although all merchants anticipated the imminent change in the

English trade. In 1834, as the charter of East India Company

expired, the new Chief Superintendent and the Commissioners of

Trade were expected to arrive from England. Reporting on the

demise of the Company at Canton, American Consul to Batavia John

Shillaber analyzed the implications of the appointment of a

Superintendent of Trade. The most significant aspect of the

new mission was that the Chief Superintendent and his Commis-

86
Letter, A. Heard to S. Russell, Jul.· 28, 1834, Russell
& Co. MSS.
87
Morse, Chronicles of the East India Company, IV, 293-305,
245. Morse quotes from many of the communications of the Company
and the governor-general. In effect the Chinese compromised by:
allowing foreign merchants to stay at Canton until all vessels
were despatched; acknowledging Hong merchants' investments abroad;
allowing foreigners to have servants in the Factories. All of
these had been in practice, but now they were legally sanctioned.
Foreign women and fire-arms were still prohibited from the Fac­
tories and all transactions still had to pass through the Hongs.