CHAPTER XI. A FEW SPECIMENS OF CHINESE EDICTS AND DESPATCHES. The Chinese are difficult to be understood.-Proclamation of Rewards.-Lieutenant-Governor Woo.-Commander Chuh. —Imperial Edict.-Lin Tsihseu and Tang.—Admiral Kwan Teenpei. A flying Despatch.-Governor Keshen's Communication. The Emperor's Reply, containing Sentence of Death. IF I give you a few specimens of Chinese edicts issued during the contention between the British and the Celestial Empire, you will be better able to judge of the ways of thinking of the Chinese. Whether we regard this singular people as to their conduct in time of peace, or war, in private or in public, in common circumstances, or when under the influence of difficulty and danger, there is that among them which we cannot reconcile to European habits. Nothing can be more opposed to our English impressions of courage, uprightness, and honour, than the act of bidding a reward, in time of warfare, for the destruction of an enemy. Branded as the brow of war is with in PROCLAMATION OF REWARDS. 91 humanity, it has its degrees of meanness, deceit, and cowardice, as well as of highmindedness, fairness, and courage. The following scale of rewards made public by the Chinese, in their contention with the British, does little credit to their national character. "Any one, either of the military or the people, who shall seize and deliver up Elliot, shall be rewarded with 100,000 dollars, and reported for promotion to the fourth degree of rank. "Those who seize and deliver up Elliot's subordinates, Bremer, Morrison, Dent. Thom. Keaheape, shall be rewarded with 50,000 dollars, and be reported for promotion to the fifth degree of rank. "Those who concoct a plan for burning the English barbarians' ships of war, with reference to the number of their masts, at the rate of 1,000 dollars for one mast; for a schooner 3,000 dollars. "Those who seize alive any head thieves (captains, &c., of Her Majesty's ships,) besides the settled scale of rewards, if there are any goods on board the ship, they shall be divided amongst the captors. The rest of the nations which continue respectful and obedient, are allowed to continue their trade as usual; and the military and people must not seek causes of quarrels with their ships, in order to manifest a distinction between the obedient and disobedient. CHAPTER XI. A FEW SPECIMENS OF CHINESE EDICTS AND DESPATCHES. The Chinese are difficult to be understood.-Proclamation of Rewards.-Lieutenant-Governor Woo.-Commander Chuh. -Imperial Edict.-Lin Tsihseu and Tang.—Admiral Kwan Teenpei. A flying Despatch.-Governor Keshen's Communication. The Emperor's Reply, containing Sentence of Death. IF I give you a few specimens of Chinese edicts issued during the contention between the British and the Celestial Empire, you will be better able to judge of the ways of thinking of the Chinese. Whether we regard this singular people as to their conduct in time of peace, or war, in private or in public, in common circumstances, or when under the influence of difficulty and danger, there is that among them which we cannot reconcile to European habits. Nothing can be more opposed to our English impressions of courage, uprightness, and honour, than the act of bidding a reward, in time of warfare, for the destruction of an enemy. Branded as the brow of war is with in PROCLAMATION OF REWARDS. 91 humanity, it has its degrees of meanness, deceit, and cowardice, as well as of highmindedness, fairness, and courage. The following scale of rewards made public by the Chinese, in their contention with the British, does little credit to their national character. "Any one, either of the military or the people, who shall seize and deliver up Elliot, shall be rewarded with 100,000 dollars, and reported for promotion to the fourth degree of rank. "Those who seize and deliver up Elliot's subordinates, Bremer, Morrison, Dent. Thom. Keaheape, shall be rewarded with 50,000 dollars, and be reported for promotion to the fifth degree of rank. "Those who concoct a plan for burning the English barbarians' ships of war, with reference to the number of their masts, at the rate of 1,000 dollars for one mast; for a schooner 3,000 dollars. "Those who seize alive any head thieves (captains, &c., of Her Majesty's ships,) besides the settled scale of rewards, if there are any goods on board the ship, they shall be divided amongst the captors. The rest of the nations which continue respectful and obedient, are allowed to continue their trade as usual; and the military and people must not seek causes of quarrels with their ships, in order to manifest a distinction between the obedient and disobedient. 92 REWARD FOR SETTING SHIPS ON FIRE. "If any dare obstinately to oppose, they shall be heavily punished without any remission. "Those who seize a steam-vessel, shall be rewarded with 6,000 dollars, and her cargo shall be divided amongst them; and their services shall be esteemed of high military merit. "Merchants of any foreign nation who seize and deliver up Elliot, and aid China in the meritorious work of exterminating the English, shall be rewarded as follows, under the Season's regulations; they shall be reported to be released from half the usual duties, in order to rouse them to exertion. "Those who are thoroughly acquainted with the dispositions of the barbarians, and can outwit by stratagems their adherents, or cut off their race, or make fire utensils and vessels to destroy the lives of the barbarians, will be all allowed great merit. If they wish to become public officers, they shall be reported for that purpose; if they do not wish to become public officers, they shall be rewarded with 20,000 dollars. "Those who seize alive a native-born Englishman, shall be rewarded with 200 dollars; those who cut off an Englishman's head, shall receive 100 dollars; for a live native of India 50 dollars, and for his head 30 dollars will be given.” If in reading over this proclamation, we could discover that it proceeded from a hatred of war and a love of peace, or indeed from any virtuous |