The Opium Question and the Northern Campaigns: Including Notices of Some Strictures by Reviewers of the Former; and Indications of the Salient Points of the Latter, Down to the Treaty of Nanking

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1875 - 68 pages
 

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Page 37 - They then evinced much interest, and eagerly requested to know why we would not act fairly towards them; by prohibiting the growth of the poppy in our dominions, and thus effectually stop a traffic so pernicious to the human race. This, he said, in consistency with our constitutional laws, could not be done ; and he added, that even if England chose to exercise so arbitrary a power over her tillers of the soil, it would not check the evil...
Page 63 - For to what purpose should our thoughts be directed to various kinds of knowledge, unless room be afforded for putting it into practice, so that public advantage may be the result...
Page 38 - ... procure the drug in spite of every enactment; would it not, therefore, be better at once to legalize its importation, and by thus securing the co-operation of the rich and of your authorities, from whom it would thus be no longer debarred, thereby greatly limit the facilities which now exist for smuggling...
Page 26 - ... their abode, they had died where they had fallen, from the loss of blood. Stepping over these bodies, we entered the hall, and met, face to face, three women seated, a mother and two daughters ; and at their feet lay two bodies of elderly men, with their throats cut from ear to ear, their senseless heads resting upon the feet of their relations. To the right were two young girls, beautiful and delicate, crouching over, and endeavouring to conceal, a living soldier.
Page 37 - Pottinger] said, in consistency with our constitutional laws, could not be done; and he added that even if England chose to exercise so arbitrary a power over her tillers of the soil, it would not check the evil, so far as the Chinese were concerned, while the cancer remained uneradicated among themselves, but that it would merely throw the market into other hands. It, in fact, he said, rests entirely with yourselves.
Page 27 - ... in floods of tears, which apparently, if anything could, relieved her. She came close to me, and seized me by the arm, and with clenched teeth and deadly frown pointed to the bodies — to her daughters — to her yet splendid house, and to herself; then stepped back a pace, and with firmly closed hands and in a hoarse and husky voice, I could see by her gesture, spoke of her misery — of her hate, and 1 doubt not, of revenge. It was a scene that one could not bear long.
Page 64 - One science only will one genius fit ; So vast is art, so narrow human wit : Not only bounded to peculiar arts, But oft in those confin'd to single parts.
Page 14 - If he resolved to venture upon the dangerous precipice of telling unbiassed truth, let him proclaim war with mankind — neither to give nor to take quarter. If he tells the crimes of great men, they fall upon him with the iron hands of the law ; if he tells them of virtues, when they have any, then the mob attacks him with slander. But if he regards truth, let him expect martyrdom on both sides, and then he may go on fearless ; and this is the course I take myself.
Page 22 - Court was solely chargable with the bad-faith and treachery shewn toward Foreigners ; in the second place, Canton was the sole port whence Tea could be obtained, and it was part of the policy of the Ministry of the day to avert from a needy Treasury...

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