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Auction: 26066 - Historical Documents, Autographs and Ephemera
Lot: 1309

(China) / Singapore
First Opium War
1840 October 27 Entire letter written from Singapore to Huth & Co, London, manuscript 3/6d postage, with boxed INDIA, Calcutta Steamer Letter/ Paid transit datestamps and London arrival postmark, containing important news regarding the ongoing First Opium War betweeen China and Great Britain.
Written by August Behr, who reports from Singapore that "The cruizer is just in from China...She left Chusan 30th September and proceeded to Calcutta with despatches. The Admiral has arrived at the Peiko river...The Emperor has received Lord Palmerston's letter...at Canton, where the Emperor's answer should be delivered by a third officer of the Empire and where the difficulties should be, as it was expected, amicably settled. Much doubt is expressed that this will be immediately the case and this measure is more looked upon as a plan from the part of China to get rid of the English ambassador at Peking. Other reports say that the Emperor has actually agreed to pay the money for the Opium, but not the expenses of the expedition. This I do not believe, as no interviews with the Emperor has as yet taken place, whose answer to the demands of the English would only be known with the interviews at Canton. The Melville & Wellesley with greater part of the fleet were to leave Chusan for Macao to be in time for the mutiny. Very active measures are expected against Bogueforto and Canton, with the case, that the Emperor did not comply with the demands of the English. The blockade of Canton was strict...The troops at Chusan suffered much from illness and of a regiment of 900...only 150 were able to do their duty." The writer refers to a "humbugging system from the part of the Chinese" and that the Emperor hopes to keep the English fleet away from Peking and the monsoon will delay terms of agreement. Further reference made to an English officer taken prisoner "while making a sketch of Chusan".
An important letter referring to the Daoguang Emperor, and the crisis that resulted following the Chinese seizing opium stock from British merchants.

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Estimate
£250 to £300

Starting price
£200

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