: Brief Account of the English Character by Marjoribanks Charles Morrison Robert Translator - British China; China Commerce Great Britain; Great Britain Commerce China

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Translator: Robert Morrison

Brief Account of the English Character ???????

Compiler's Note ??

Believing in the power of print in converting and "educating" the Chinese, nineteenth-century European traders and missionaries invested significant amounts of energy and money in the dissemination of tracts on the China coast. One of these ephemera was ?? ?????, "Brief Account of the English Character." It was first drafted in English by Charles Marjoribanks, president of the English East India Company's Select Committee in Canton. Robert Morrison , a missionary-cum-sinologist, translated the manuscript into Chinese and printed hundreds of copies at his ???? in Malacca . In 1832, despite his colleagues' objection, Marjoribanks engaged Charles Gutzlaff , a German missionary, and Hugh Hamilton Lindsay, the Company's supercargo, to make an illegal voyage to China's coastal waters in order to "ascertain how far the northern ports of the Chinese empire may be gradually opened to British commerce" . He asked the voyagers to load a ship with English products for sale as well as cases of his pamphlet for distribution.

Ting Man Tsao, Ph.D. Brief Account of the English Character The Canton Register 5.10 : p.68-69

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BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH CHARACTER.

The English have traded for upwards of two hundred years with China, and from sixty to eighty vessels under the English flag, are frequently within twelve months, in the Chinese waters. To how many tens of thousands of natives does not such a commerce give useful employment!

The policy of the English government has often in China been most falsely represented, and it has been stated to be ambitious, and desirous of increase of territory. No assertion can be more distant from truth. The dominions of England are already so large, that the policy of the government is rather to diminish than to enlarge them. Besides the mother country, it has several valuable possessions in Europe; it has large territories in North America; and numerous islands in the West Indies. The Cape of Good Hope, in Africa, belongs to it; it has several prosperous settlements in Australia; numerous islands in Asia are subject to its rule; and the ancient territory of Hindostan with all the regions pertaining thereto, is now included in the British Empire. The small settlements of Penang, Martaban, Malacca, and Singapore, are those most contiguous to China. The government of so great an Empire has no thirst for conquest. Its great object and aim is to preserve its subjects in a condition of happiness and tranquillity. But while most desirous of doing so, it is very jealous of insult, and ever ready to avenge oppression and injustice.

The object and endeavour of the English in China have always been to carry on a pacific and amicable intercourse, but their anxiety to do so has, on several occasions, been frustrated. The benevolent disposition of the great Emperor of China has induced him to state his desire, to treat remote foreigners with indulgence and consideration: but the Imperial benevolence of mind has, on several occasions, in past years, been opposed, by subordinatel officers of his government. Foreigners trading to Canton have been heavily taxed and oppressed; and commerce has been greatly impeded by the exactions to which it has been exposed. Natives have repeatedly been heavily fined and punished, sometimes cruelly tortured and put to death, for alleged treasonable connection with the English, whose only object was to conduct a commercial intercourse in tranquillity, and to obey the Imperial laws. In addition to the government duties, large sums of money have been forced from native merchants, and bribes have been received by inferior officers. Both natives and foreigners have been subject to these oppressions. The Imperial ear is too remote that even the echo of such things should be heard, for they are often done in darkness and silence; but the great and enlarged mind of the Emperor can never approve of such acts on the part of his servants.

Printed placards have even been affixed to the walls of public buildings, traducing the foreign character, and encouraging low and degraded natives to insult strangers who resort to China. Affrays and riots have frequently in consequence taken place; the public peace has been disturbed, and commercial intercourse interrupted. How much are the police officers to blame, who do not put an end to such improper and unjust proceedings! English sailors are often rude in manner, though kind in disposition. They cannot bear insult;--hence riots take place, wounds are inflicted, and death is sometimes the consequence. On board English ships that resort to China, strict discipline is preserved, and the men are immediately punished, if they commit violent acts, towards natives or others: but discipline is of little avail, if low natives are encouraged by low officers, to insult and attack them. The laws of England make no distinction of persons, and an Englishman is as severely punished for an act of violence towards a Chinese as he is for one towards a fellow-countryman.

The manners and customs of all nations are different. With just allowance made for such difference, why should not Chinese and Englishmen live together on terms of friendly cordiality? The commands of the Sovereign of England to his subjects are, wherever they go in the world, to endeavour to maintain an amicable and pacific intercourse with the people of the country, but never to be forgetful of their national name or honor. When Chinese subjects arrive in England, or in any other part of the English dominions, they live under the protection of the laws, which are equally administered to them with the natives of the country. Their wrongs and injuries are all equally redressed.

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