Page 370 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

356.

constituted a sizable salary, amounting to less than one thou­
1 34
sand dollars per year i n the late 1830 s. The consul had

to rely on his own business for his major source of income.

This circumstance was not unique to the consular position at

Canton but extended throughout the entire consular service.

Virtually any American merchant who resided at a port could

apply for the position of consul. Even if the foreign govern­

ment would not recognize an American consul, the State Depart­

ment would at least designate the merchant as a consular-agent.

Many merchants sought an appointment for themselves or their

sons in the belief that the position would be profitable to

35
their commercial enterprise. The consular service had early
acquired a reputation for extortionate collection of fees,

bribery and corruption, and unethical use of information.

American merchants in the China trade continually called for

34
"Consular Statement of Fees Received at the Consulate
of Canton," 836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840 (Jan.-Jun.), 1844, in
Consular Despatches: Canton. These Statements of Fees covered
a six-month period and were used by every American consul. Cate­
gories for which consuls received compensation included: certi­
ficates of invoices, noting protests, deposit of ships• papers,
extending protests, declarations, powers of attorney, copies of
documents from record, contracts, passports, certificates of
citizenship, and certificates of burial. Most fees averaged
under ten dollars per service.

35
Letter, E. Thomson to J.Q. Adams, Aug. 31, 1822, in
Consular Despatches: Canton. Thomson thanked the Secretary of
State "for the prompt attention paid to my request 11 for a consu­
1
lar commission to Thomson s son Richard. See also Letter, J.
Balastier to A. Heard, May 20, 1834, Heard MSS.