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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 71

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
The First Battle of Canton
1841 (19 Mar.) printed circular from Dent & Co based in Macao. This circular accurately depicts the sentiments of the merchants at that time. "... It was expected that, after overcoming all obstacles in the way to Canton, the forces would have proceeded to take military occupation of that city, but H.M. Plenipotentiary paused with half a dozen miles of place, and renewed "Negotiations" with Kwang-chow-foo or Prefect of Canton. The result was a proclamation that the City would be spared, and on the understanding that trade would be allowed to go on with the connivance of the Mandarins. Subsequent events seem however to prove that the proposal was a mere trick on the part of the local authorities and Howqua, to get the American trade allowed, and that insuperable difficulties would have been placed in the way of any business being done by the English. We presume that it is owing to the discovery of this fact, coupled with renewed warlike preparations of the Chinese, the hostilities are again proceeding within the river ...Three high Mandarins are either in Canton or the immediate neighbourhood charged with the imperial order to exterminate the English; and as the Emperor is now committed to a warlike course of proceeding, an early settlement seems hopeless; nor do we see much chance of any trade of importance being carried on for some time; indeed, the anxiety so openly displayed by H.M. Plenipotentiary to force a trade in any way and at all hazards, must be obvious to the Chinese, and be likely to defeat itself. The Chinese seem quire resolved on doing all in their power to prevent the English from trading; and we are assured by the Naval Commander of Chief that he is fully resolved on maintaining in the blockade until the port is equally open to British and other vessels...". An interesting snippet about the tea trade, "The 'Parrock Hall' ... takes a Cargo of Tea which hs been brought down by the smugglers in small parcels during the past 2 or 3 months...". The lower right corner has been repaired and there are a few light age marks but still in a very good state of preservation


1841年3月19日來自澳門 Dent & Co 的印刷公文, 這個通告準確地描繪了當時商人的心情. 這公交有如下的重要闡述: "…..預計在清除通往廣州方面的一切障礙後, 部隊將對該城市 (即廣州)採取軍事行動以冀佔領…, 三個清廷高官 (這裏指的奕山, 隆文, 楊芳) 如不是在廣州那便是在鄰近地區, 正執行清廷殲滅英軍的命令; 正如清帝現正致力積極備戰工作, 似乎無望能早日解決此事, 有一段時間我們也看不到任何重要貿易的機會, 事實上, 全權大使義律就貿易以強制方式和不理後果進行公開表示憂慮, 這對中國人來説是頭然易見的, 這亦將是徒勞無功. 華人似乎決意及用盡一切力量去阻止與英方進行貿易; 但我們得到海軍總司令的保證, 他將全力封鎖這裏直至這港口 (指廣州) 能對英國和其他船隻開放....." 另有一段關於茶葉貿易的有趣片段:"Parrock Hall’....帶走了一批茶葉, 在過去的 2 或 3 個月裡被走私者以小包裹的形式帶走了……” 這公交有些摺痕及輕微老化, 但仍處於非常好的保存狀態.

Estimate
HK$15,000 to HK$25,000

Starting price
HK$12000