Page 291 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

277.

merchants. Immediately the river filled once again with boats

and ships, while residents returned to the Foreign Factories.

In a letter to his old friends, Bennet and John Forbes, Houqua

took credit for getting the trade reopened. During the clash

at the Bogue he and Mouqua remained at Canton instead of leaving

with every one else. He stated, 11 My presence and advice to the

Mandarins I believe hastened the arrangement with the English

for the resumption of trade. 11 But he added, 11How long the
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trade will go on is uncertain.11 The trade did not remain
open very long. As soon as the merchants filled their vessels

with spring teas and silks, Elliot ordered the residents to

leave Canton. At the same time he demanded that the Chinese

stop their preparations for hostilities.

All the residents at Canton, including the Americans,

began putting their books in order so they could leave the

Factories. But, as one American wrote, 11the storm burst upon

us much sooner than we expected. 11 On May 19 William C. Hunter,

in charge of Russell & Co., ordered the house's books and papers

packed aboard a vessel. The partners and clerks spent the early

morning hours completing the task. With most of the other

Americans, they evacuated Canton just in time. On May 20 the

Chinese attacked the English fleet at Whampoa after setting

fire to the Foreign Factories. Mobs plundered all the Factories,

although they managed to burn only three of the buildings. This

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Letter, Houqua to R.B. Forbes and J.M. Forbes, Apr.
12, 1841, Houqua's Letterbook. Chinese Repository, X, 4 (April
1841), 233-34.