Page 283 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

269.

bills of exchange and pick up from British vessels English

manufactures and Indian cotton consigned to American houses.

Both transactions had been performed previously at Whampoa.

The Commissioner in reply sanctioned the American trade, spec­

ifically stating, 11If because the English merchants are pro­

hibited by Elliot to enter port, the Americans privately act­

ing in their stead transport their merchandise, this also

comes within the limit of excusable business. 11 At this point

Lin was not concerned with the trade except for the possi­

87
bility of foreigners bringing opium into China. Apparently
too he viewed his approval of American actions as a slap at

Elliot, who had blatantly refused to obey Chinese laws. Above

all, Lin believed foreign residents in China had to be convin­
ced that they were liable to Imperial law and its jurisdiction.

Commissioner Lin continually persisted in his demand

that Elliot surrender the suspects in the homicide of Lin Wei­

hsi. Since July Lin had increased his pressure on the English

Superintendent, even cutting off all supplies to English ves­

sels. The two sides had already traded shots at Kowloon over

an attempt by the English to procure provisions. In the latter

part of October Elliot resorted to negotiations in a last

effort to ease the situation. The Superintendent would allow

the English merchants to resume trading at Canton, if the

87 1 1
Lin s edict of Sep. 15 and Snow s reply of Sep. 25 are
in Consular Despatches: Canton, Sep. 25, 1839. The Commissioner
sanctioned American transshipping of English goods in an edict of
Oct. 14, enclosed in Consular Despatches: Canton, P.W. Snow,
1
Oct. 21, 1839. Snow specifically pointed out Lin s reply to
the Secretary of State.