What is known historically as the neptune affair" occurred in 1807. Some English sailors were robbed, and un affray took place in which fa Chinese was said to have been Killed, The authorities held three trials' and Europeans were permitted to be present officially for the first time. Guilt could not be fixed en any individual of the 52 sailors tried, but one named Sheen was adjudged most likely to be_ the culprit, and the Chinese officials entreated the Committee to force] confession, Trade and safety were threatened, and—_boyeott methods ured; but the Chinese feond that the Committee were ready to imperil the safety of five million taels worth of property and their ern. liberty rather than deliver a common sailor over to the Chinese demand for a victim when no one had been proved guilty of anything more serious than rioting. The charge was reduced to accident war t6 purge hined payment of @ small fin Robert Morrison Robert Morrison, the pioneer Protestant missionary, reached Macio in 1807. His position was very difficult and precarious until im 1669 he was engaged og Inter" prefer yo the Company's establishment ut Canton, Sir Staunton was then" away in Eng-The Court of Directors did firet correctly appreciate the of Mr. Morrison's services, 3 but the local Committee more clearly how necessary he was, and continued to employ and pay him, and he was soon a tvlne member of the staff. Merrie son urged junior members to study Ghinese, and he acted in the capacity of teacher. The Chinese discouraged the learning of their Janguaze, and it was once noted, "The Viceroy has most openly declared that he will receive no communication from us if written in Chinese Character, but that if we wish to address him it must be in Englis The Chinese interpreters could not nlwaye ko relied upon, moreover they were subject to official pressure, nnd it was essential that some foreigners, should understand what, war written and said.
Lord Amherst's Embassy took lace in 1816; no special account of it need be given here; it was net so fortunate as Lord Maczrtney's, yet it had come useful Tt is summed up in the long-drawn-out ween the East India Com-und the provincial at Canton. In the rejection of the the Emperor, the provireial authorities had won their vieteay, and the Compary had been tunpht that appeals to Peking against the rapacity and oppression were of no avail."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.