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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 53

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
The Elliot Negotiations
1840 (Sept.) (c.) a long narrative from John Silverlock describing and translating the Chinese Edicts issued in September 1840 and, apparently, sent with a covering letter. The four pages are in his small and neat handwriting and come with a complete transcription.


The first outlines the laws banning the smoking of opium and any lawbreakers caught after December 19th will be strangled to death. This goes on to list the damages of those opium smokers in China and admonishes the people of Canton for not doing more to uphold the law.

The second is about the communication from Kishen to the Emperor after his negotiations with Elliot. This is about the situation where the English military forces had moved to the North of China near Pekin River, requesting an extension of favour, and commanding Kishen to instruct and order for the purpose of allowing English to proceed to Canton to seek entrance.

The third is about the dissatisfaction of the performance of Lin in respect of his work on controlling the smuggling of opium and the subsequent turmoil with the foreigners in China; ordered to take away Lin's official seals and command Lin to return to Pekin immediately.

The fourth is about commanding a criminal board to deliberate the punishment to be imposed on Lin and Tang Tingching's unskilful management. In addition, the Emperor officially directed Kishen to become the Governor of the two Kwang provinces and [Ellepu] was expected to take charge of the government before Kishen's arrival.

This is a stunning and highly important document which outlines how the Chinese were reacting to the situation


1840年9月約翰·西爾弗洛克 (John Silverlock) 的長篇敘述, 他描述和翻譯了 1840 年 9 月頒布的中國詔書, 並且還附上了一封信. 這四頁是他細緻而整潔的筆跡, 並附有完整的譯錄. 本信函共記載了四封重要詔書: 第一封是關於誡勉廣州人民對實施反吸食鴉片煙的新法, 並闡述了鴉片煙對人民造成的傷害及對鴉片煙施加的嚴厲懲處; 第二封是有關琦善與義律的會談, 當時英遠征軍正靠近北京, 並要求擴大通商口岸範圍, 及落實優惠英國人可在廣州自由進出入境之政策; 第三封是關於對林則徐在廣東禁煙而引起戰爭的不滿, 因此將他革職查辦, 並調返北京接受審查; 第四封是關於道光皇帝正批示成立專案組查辦林則徐, 鄧庭楨的禁煙事件, 及派琦善到廣州接替林則徐為两廣總督. 琦善抵達前, 由伊里布欽差大臣暫代執行. 這是一份令人驚嘆且非常重要的文件, 它概述了中國對當時中英因鴉片煙引起衝突的反應.

Sold for
HK$15,000

Starting price
HK$15000