Page 410 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

396.

covered their identity, the two foreigners had been imprisoned

at Canton. Morss, moreover, had suffered wounds in the attack.

He and Coolidge now sought indemnity for the Chinese and peti­

tioned Kearny to procure it for them. On receiving this informa­

tion, Kearny sailed the squadron up to Whampoa to investigate

the matter with the Chinese authorities. These ships were the

first American warships to sail beyond the Bogue forts. Amaz­

ingly, the Chinese offered no opposition to the ships' voyage

up the river. There were not even warnings to leave once the

ships reached Whampoa. Instead, Kearny received a friendly

welcome from the Chinese.

Previously the Chinese had not sanctioned the presence

of any foreign warship inside the Bogue. Other warships had

forced their way with military and commercial repercussions, cir­

cumstances which resulted in the infrequent appearance of such

vessels at Whampoa. But when Kearny sailed up the Pearl River,

the Chinese had recently suffered serious military defeats from

the English. Chinese army and naval forces alike failed to

prevent English warships' ingress to Whampoa in 1841. Less than

a year later, with the English in control of several coastal

ports, the Chinese did not care to risk another incident. More

importantly, the Chinese did not want to incur the hostility

of Americans. Throughout the Opium War the Americans had main­

tained a neutral stance. Although Chinese officials would have

preferred the Americans to have pressured the English into a

settlement by severing all commercial connections, they at least

appreciated the neutral political and military position of the