Page 278 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

264.

Elliot had appealed to Russell & Co., as the other houses

would presumably follow its decision. Forbes, now chief of

the house, replied in the negative. He explained that "the

restrictions imposed on us are galling but I made the great­

est possible sacrifice in leaving wife & family & shall I

not submit to minor inconveniences to gain my point." Forbes

commented that the English were "very angry with the Americans

but I dare say will be coming back again." Russell & Co., as

well as the other American houses, put the interests of their

constituents and their own commissions above any other considera­

tions. With the English leaving, Forbes corniuented that the

house even expected "to add to their regular business some
- - 82
of the trade carried on by the Jno iJoh.D/ Bulls. 11 By June

only A.iuericans still resided at Canton. Thus began an unpre­

cedented boom to date in the American China trade.

IV

In June 1839 the Chinese Repository reported, "With two

or three exceptions, none but Americans now reside in Canton .

. . Many of the thirteen hongs are left without an inhabitant,

82
Consular Despatches: Canton, P.W. Snow, May 13, 1839.
At the same time Russell & Co. wrote that many American ships
had arrived and were outside "waiting- very impatiently" for trade
to resume, Letter, Russell & Co. to J.M. Forbes, May 13, 1839,
Forbes MSS. At the end of May ll Bennet Forbc�s wrote that Houqua
had told him that as soon as Cormnissioner Lin left "the trade
will be restored to its former footing as far as we are inclined
to have it--" Journal of R.B. Forbes, May 26, 1839, Forbes
Family MSS. The reply by Forbes to Elliot most often quoted is:
"I replied that 1_ had not come to China for health or pleasure,
� that .!_.should remain at� post as long as 1. coulasell � yard
of goods or buy� pound of tea," R.B. Forbes, Personal Reminis­
cences, p. 150� Letter, R.B. Forbes to P.S. Forbes, May 28,
1839, Forbes MSS.