Page 430 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

416.

friends. He replaced his father as leader of the Co-hong in the

late 1830's. But A.iuerican merchants continued to regard the

elder Houqua as their confidant and advisor. He aided them

during their confinement at Canton in the spring of 1839 and, by

assuaging their fears, kept them at Canton after the English left.

Though interested in all Americans, he was a special friend and

benefactor of Russell & Co. Houqua was instrumental in the
many partners of the house in the 1830's and l840's returning

home with a fortune. His significance to these men was evident

in the journal of Paul Sieman Forbes, who arrived at Canton in

1843 to begin a career in Russell & Co. Remarking on Houqua's

death, Forbes wrote that when he "considered that Ola Houqua had

become identified with all my hopes & plans, that his life in­

sured me a for�une & a short stay in this country; that with

him was not only connected my own prcsperity but that of all my

children." Less emotionally, Forbes also commented that "his

great characteristic was honesty, & in his unbounded confidence

in Americans he has never been equalled. Along with the

Anglo-Chinese treaty, the death of Houqua signified an end of

an era in the American China trade.

During the months that commercial affairs remained fluid,

American merchants received important news from the United States.

In September Consular-agent King relinquished his duties in favor

of a duly-appointed consul. Paul Sieman Forbes received a con­

sular commission from Secretary of State Daniel Webster, who

42
Journal of P.S. Forbes, Sep. 9, 1843, Forbes MSS. Houqua
had been a special friend to Forbes' cousins R.B. and J.M. Forbes.
Ac the time of his death the Chinese merchant had begun to invest
in various American railroads, the construction of which was
financed by the Forbes brothers.