Page 421 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

407.

ventured to Ningpo, one of the new ports, but local officials
28
had denied it permission to trade because of its American colors.

Confirming the unique status of English merchants, an English ad­

miral had remarked to Kearny that "other nations must look out
29
for themselves." When Kearny sought an indemnity for A. Heard

& Co., he decided also to straighten out the status of American

merchants in China.
1
Ch i Kung politely agreed that Heard should be reimbursed

1 30 1
for his house s losses. Regarding Kearny s inquiry on Ameri-
1
can rights and privileges, the Governor-general s response was

more vague. He reiterated that he could not press for guarantees

to the American trade until the Imperial Commissioner had de­

liberated with the English. The first Commissioner had recently

died, so matters would remain static. Ch'i Kung anticipated the

appointment of another Commissioner shortly� Kearny responded that

he merely desired reassurances from the Governor-general that the

Chinese government would protect American commercial interests.

He proposed a treaty between the United States and China for
that purpose, but the Governor-general quickly averred that a

treaty was superfluous. Ch'i Kung, not wanting to complicate

28
The Emperor approved the actions of the local officials
in an edict. I-wu-shih-mo: Tao-kuang, LXIII, 3-10, and Swisher,
Management of American Barbarians, pp. 103-04.
29
"Squadron Letters," East India Squadron, Jan. 16, 1843.
Letter, Russell & Co. to W. Appleton & Co., Jan. 27, 1843, William
Appleton & Co. MSS.
30
correspondence on this matter among Kearny, Heard, Con­
sular-agent King, and Ch'i Kung is enclosed in "Squadron Letters,"
East India Squadron, Nov. 15, 1842.