Page 374 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

360.
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Anchorages near Macao. The consul himself resided in apart-

ments neighboring those of Russell & Co. in Suy Hong (Swedish

Factory). During the opium crisis in 1839-40, Snow represen­

ted his countrymen in negotiations with'the Chinese over Com­

missioner Lin's collection and destruction of opium and the

bond he required all foreigners to sign. As Wilcocks had done

earlier, Snow relied on the advice of American merchants,

especially the partners of Russell & Co. He was powerless to

do otherwise. When Snow counseled the Americans to leave
Canton with the English in late spring 1839, they disregarded

his advice and remained. The consul reported this disagreement

over the course Americans should pursue to the State Depart­

ment. As relations between the Chinese and the English dPter­

iorated throughout the summer, Snow proposed that the Secretary

of State despatch an agent with the requisite power to nego­

tiate independently with the Chinese. This request was an

indication of Snow's lack of authority over the American resi-
43
dents.

During the Opium War in 1840-41 the consul confirmed the

unofficial leadership exercised by Russell & Co. Departing first

42
Consular Desnatches: Canton, P.W. Snow, Oct. 5, 1836.
Sturgis, at Canton since 1809, had been Bryant & Sturgis' agent
in their Northwest trade. In 1834 he retired to Macao from
where he himself speculated in the Pacific trade, including
the Hawaiian Islands and the West Coast of south America. He
never was very successful in the latter and his cousins in Russell
& Co. aided him financially. Sturgis died in 1851 en route to the
United States.
43
Consular Despatches: Canton, P.W. Snow, May 13 and
Aug. 23, 1839.