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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 54

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
The Elliot Negotiations
1840 (16 Nov.) entire letter from John Silverlock in Macao to his father in Chichester and marked "via Marseilles", rated at "2/8" (British rate 1/10d. and 10d. to France) with a good strike of "INDIA" in oval and, on the flap, London c.d.s. (11.3) and manuscript "Recd at Bombay 12th Jany 1841 by Birtles"; carried privately by the 'Mary Gordon' to Bombay. Clean and fine.


Another long and informative letter which includes, "My last letter informed you that the Admiral had returned to Chusan from the mouth of the Pekin river, that Capt. Elliot has had interviews with the High Imperial Commissioner Kishen that the letter from Lord Palmerston to the Pekin Government had been received in court, and arrangements were made by the appointment of Kishen for carrying on negotiations at Canton or its neighborhood for the settlement of the differences between the two country...". The letter further records the official notice as issued on H.M.S. 'Melville' regarding, amongst other things, the ceasefire matters, "HMS 'Melville' 6th November 1840. The Commander in Chief has now to give notice to the Expedition that a truce has been agreed to between the High Imperial Commissioner and himself pending negotiations between the two countries, the terms of which are generally that neither party is to interfere beyond the boundary assigned to him, and that native intercourse is not to be interrupted. The English Boundary has been defined as taking the island of Chusan, and the small islands immediately adjacent including all within a line run round ... By order (sgd.) A.H, Mountain, Major Dpty. Capt. Genl,". An important letter. Ex Sir Percival David


1840年11月16日澳門John Silverlock 寄給住在英國Chichester 父親之信函, 此信函首先由私人輪船 "Mary Gorgon" 携往孟買再途經馬賽, 遞送費為"2/8" (英國費用 "1/10d" 及 10d 到法國), 帶㰐圓型"INDIA" 戳記, 封舌蓋3月11日倫敦日戳, 並有手寫 "Recd at Bombay 12th Jany 1841 by Birtles" 字句. 本信函所提及的當時情况為: 1840年定海被佔領後轉入休整狀態, 之後義律與清廷琦善展開談判, 但不暢順, 近年底雙方南下廣州繼續和談...當中關於割讓香港一款, 琦善拒絕, 重申割地是「天朝從來未有之事, 其勢斷不能行」. 而對於英軍暫屯香港的要求, 琦善以《巴麥尊照會》公文所無為由拒絕. 一件重要及極具歴史性的信函.

Sold for
HK$27,000

Starting price
HK$17000