Page 366 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

352.

American merchants. Without outside authority the consul

could not oppose the merchants' decisions. Also a member of

that community, the consul did not wish to alienate his own

countrymen. In the Terranovia Affair Consul Wilcocks immedi­

ately called together the Americans at Canton to decide his

course of action. They formed a committee to advise the con­

sul, but in reality the committee replaced the consul in deal­

ing with the Chinese over the fate of Terranovia. When Wil­

cocks supported the A..uerican seacaptains, who desired to pro­

tect Terranovia at all costs, the committee no longer invited

him to its meetings. Consequently, Wilcocks did not attend

Terranovia's trial. Wilcocks, who in this instance took his

position as consul seriously, believed his presence would

indicate official approval of the trial. He previously opposed

the Americans' acquiescence to allow the Chinese to try Ter-
. 29
ranovia.

After the conclusion of the affair and the death of

Terranovia, Wilcocks reported all the details of the case to

the Secretary of State with a request for instructions as to

the consul's actions in future circumstances similar to these.

Consul Wilcocks was especially concerned about the amount of

authority the Consul possessed over his countrymen" II . . I

shall be glad to have your opinion as to the manner it was

29
For Wilcocks' despatches to the State Department
concerning the Terranovia Affair, see Consular Despatches:
Canton, B.C. Wilcocks, Nov. 1 & Dec. 12, 1821, Jan. 30, 1822,
all with enclosures. Wilcocks' reports of the matter were
very thorough.