Janus: Papers of Sir Harry Parkes

Manuscripts/MS Parkes contains:
<-- See earlier
38	Maps
39	Architectural drawings
40	Railway photographs
41	Portrait photographs
42	Envelopes and covers
43	Documents in Chinese re Second Opium War
44	Documents in Chinese re the Taiping Rebellion
45	Documents in Chinese re Sino-Japanese relations and Liu-ch'iu
46	Miscellaneous documents in Chinese
47	Documents in Japanese
48	Letter in Korean

More information

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Papers of Sir Harry Parkes

Title	Documents in Chinese re Second Opium War
Reference	MS Parkes 43
Covering Dates	circa 1854-circa 1866
Extent and Medium	1 folder

Content and context

Documents in Chinese relating to the Second Opium War and British attempts to open the mid and lower areas of the Yangtze River to foreign trade in its aftermath. Many of the documents include short notes in English describing their contents. The papers are in Chinese only unless otherwise indicated.

Parkes 43/1-22 originally formed one bundle of documents.

Manuscripts/MS Parkes 43 contains:

Wrapper. A sheet originally used as a wrapper for Parkes 43/2-22 and containing two paragraphs of notes (in English): 'Chinese authorities (Governor Hoppo &c). In communication with Plenipotentiaries or Foreign Authorities other than Commanders in Chief' and 'Also (?) Coms in Chief with Peh Kuei (?) & Tartar General on their Reinstatement Jan 1858'.
1 sheet.

circa 1858

Despatch from Harry Parkes. A copy of a despatch from Harry Parkes to the Governor of Kwangtung Province regarding the appointment of A-li-ke (Rutherford Alcock) to the British Consul at Canton as the replacement for Pao Ling (Sir John Bowring). The despatch is undated, but its contents indicate it originates from c. August 1854. It is in Chinese, with a pencil note in English describing the contents.
1 sheet.

circa 1854

Letter from the Hoppo. A copy of a letter from the Hoppo, Board of Revenue, to Rutherford Alcock announcing the resumption of business, written in Chinese, with an English note describing the contents. The note is dated 31 October, but no year is given (Alcock's tenure at Canton was from August 1854 to November 1858).
1 sheet.

circa 1856

Despatch from Lord Elgin. A copy of despatch from Lord Elgin, Hong Kong, to Governor-General Yeh of Liang-Kwangs, 12 December 1857, in Chinese, with a short descriptive note in English. Elgin reports that since the opening of five ports for trade, Kwangtung has been the worst one, and foreigners are often bullied there. The agreements made in the treaty of Nanking have not been fulfilled, and there has been a refusal to provide compensation for the losses occasioned by the event of the insulting of the British flag and British negotiators entering Canton. Elgin insists that the British be allowed to enter the city, and demands compensation. He sets a time limit of ten days for a reply, after which he will attack Canton if Yeh rejects his demands or remains silent.
2 sheets.

1857

Despatch from Allied Commanders. Copies of two despatches from the Naval and Military Commanders-in-Chief of the Allied Forces to the High authorities at Canton regarding their plan to attack the city:. (1) The final diplomatic despatch from the Allied Commanders to the High Authorities of Kwangtung, dated the 7th year, 11th month, 9th day of Xianfeng's reign (24 December 1857). The note is undersigned by Li (Rigault de Genouilly), the French Commodore; Hsi (Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour), the English Commodore; and Ssu (Charles Van Straubenzee), the Major-General of the British garrisons at Hong Kong. It records that the negotiations of E-er-chin (Lord Elgin) and Ke [Lo] (Baron Gros) with Imperial Commissioner Yeh have lasted a long time but have failed to reach an agreement. As a consequence, the Anglo-French Allied Army have been ordered to attack Canton. They are informing the authorities of their plans, and have postponed the attack for 48 hours, in order to allow the citizens and troops to withdraw. They welcome peace negotiations, but these must begin no later than noon of the next day. (2) A despatch from the Allied Commanders to the High authorities at Canton stating that because all their demands have been refused force must be used, dated the 7th year, 11th month, 12th day of Xianfeng's reign (27 December 1857).
1 sheet.

Dec. 1857

Envelope for despatch to Po-kuei. An envelope labelled (in English) 'Lord E[lgin] to Pihkwei - Speech &c. Prisons. Com[mander] in Chief to Pihkwei & Tartar General & answers January 1858.'.
1 envelope.

Jan. 1858

Despatch from Allied Commanders. A copy of a despatch from the Naval and Military Commanders-in-Chief of the Allied Forces to Po-kuei proposing four regulations for maintaining order in Canton, dated the 7th year, 11th month, 25th day of Xianfeng's reign (9 January 1858). The despatch is undersigned by Real-Admiral Li (Rigault de Genouilly), the French Commodore; Real-Admiral Hsi (Michael Seymour), the English Commodore; and Ssu (Charles Van Straubenzee), the Major-General of the British garrisons at Hong Kong.
1 sheet.

1858

Despatch from Allied Commanders. A despatch from the Naval and Military Commanders-in-Chief of the Allied Forces to Mu k'e-te-na, General of Garrisoning Kwangtung, ordering that he give notice to the citizens of Canton of the prohibition of carrying weapons, dated the 7th year, 11th month, 25th day of Xianfeng's reign (9 January 1858). The despatch is undersigned by Real-Admiral Li (Rigault de Genouilly), French Commodore; Real-Admiral Hsi (Michael Seymour), English Commodore; and Ssu (Charles Van Straubenzee), the Major-General of the British garrisons at Hong Kong.
1 sheet.

1858

Despatches from Mu k'e-te-na and Po-kuei. Copies of two despatches from the Kwangtung authorities to the Naval and Military Commanders-in-Chief of the Allied Forces, dated 7th year, 11th month, 25th day of Xianfeng's reign (9 January 1858): (1) Mu k'e-te-na, General of Garrisoning Kwangtung, acceding to the Allied Commanders' demands; and (2) Po-kuei, Governor of Kwangtung, accepting the Allied Commanders' four proposals.
1 sheet.

1858

Despatch from Lord Elgin. A copy of a despatch from Lord Elgin to Po-kuei, dated 7th year, 12th month, 6th day of Xianfeng's reign (20 January 1858), preceded by an extract from a speech delivered by Elgin at a meeting with Po-kuei. Elgin states that the Anglo-French Allied forces will not withdraw from Canton before the peace agreement is achieved, and asserts that the new foreign government at the city has worked efficiently. The document includes an English note in pencil reading 'Lord E. to Pihkwei - 20th Jan. /58 Speech at Interview.'.
1 sheet.

1858

Despatches from Lord Elgin. Two despatches from Lord Elgin to Po-kuei, dated 7th year, 12th month, 17th day of Xianfeng's reign (31 January 1858), including an English note reading 'Lord Elgin to Pihkwei Prisons. Jan 1858.'. (1) Elgin records that the reason for the visit to the prisons by the Officials of the Bureau of Occupation is to check whether there are any foreign prisoners. He states that Yeh Ming-ch'en would be sent far away under escort and receive proper treatment, and urges Po-kuei to publicised widely his notice of an amnesty for all Chinese who have been employed by foreigners. (2) Elgin records that the prisoners in Nan-hai and Fan-yü prisons were treated with great cruelty, and that as Canton is now under the British and French flags such a thing cannot be tolerated. If China wants to be on good terms with foreign authorities, the maltreatment must be stopped. A clinic for the sick prisoners is to be established. He requests that Po-kuei order his officers to carry out frequent inspections in order to prevent the misconduct in prisons happening again.
1 sheet.

1858

Despatch from Po-kuei. A copy of despatch from Po-kuei to Parkes, 3 March 1858, notifying him of the dismissal of Yeh Ming-ch'en and his replacement by Huang Tsung-han (Huang Zonghan) as Governor-General of Liang-Kwangs. The document includes an English note reading 'Sent by Pihkwei to Mr. Parkes appt 3 March.'.
1 sheet.

1858

Report of armed conflicts. A detailed report by Teng Chao-sung, acting magistrate of Ch'iung-chou, and Chen Chih-pang, a regimental commander of the Ya-chou garrisons, regarding several armed conflicts between Chinese troops and foreign ships in the Yü-lin t'ie-lu area of sea and land, caused by armed foreign seamen robbing Chinese villages along the coast, dated 8th year, 7th month, 26th day of Xianfeng's reign (4 September 1858). The document includes an English note reading 'Foreigners in Hainan. Rec'd from H.E. Pihkowei. Dec. 9. In reference to French demand for surrender of certain strugglers who had been left behind on the Island'.
1 sheet.

1858

Order from Po-kuei. A copy of an order from Po-kuei to the magistrate of Hai-k'ang hsien not to persecute Christians in Lei Chow (Leizhou) and to detain Liang Lo-ch'in for questioning, issued in response to a despatch from Ma [Martineau], the French Secretary of Chinese Affairs, of the 19th day, 2nd month, 9th year of Xianfeng's reign. The document includes a short English note describing its contents.
1 sheet.

Apr. 1859

Despatch from Pi. A despatch from Pi, Acting Governor of Kwangtung, to Martineau, the French Secretary of Chinese Affairs, regarding a local legal case between the Christian Chinese Mai Yü-shu and the non-Christian Chinese Liang Lo-ch'in in Hai-k'ang hsien, Lei-chou fu (Leizhow prefecture), dated the 9th year, 5th month, 2nd day of Xianfeng's reign (2 June 1859). The document includes an English note describing its contents, including that it was translated by 'H.S.P.' [Harry Smith Parkes].
1 sheet.

1859

Notice from Lord Elgin. 'Fan-i Ying-wen hsiao-shih kao', a draft of an Chinese translation from English of an official notice from Lord Elgin to the Hong Kong people announcing that according to the agreements between the Chinese and British authorities, Kewloon is now under British governance, and that before the arrival of the new governor it will come within the jurisdiction of Lo, Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 10th year, 12 month, 9th day of Xianfeng's reign (19 January 1861). The document includes a brief English note in pencil about its contents.
1 sheet.

1861

Agreement for British settlement at Chen-chiang. A copy of the agreement for British settlement at Chen-chiang, Kiangsu province, undersigned by Parkes and Chiang, Superintendent of River and Army Tao, Kiangsu, dated the 11th year, 1st month, 14th day of Xianfeng's reign (23 February 1861), including an English note: 'A true copy. A Davenport'.
1 bifolio.

1861

'Nanking Land' envelope. An undated envelope labelled 'Nanking Land', originally used to hold Parkes 43/20-23.
1 envelope.

Agreement for British settlement at Hankow. A copy of an unapproved agreement for the British settlement area at Hankow, Hupei province, undersigned by Parkes and Tang, provincial Treasurer of Hupei, dated the 11th year, 2nd month, 11th day of Xianfeng's reign (21 March 1861).
1 bifolio.

1861

Agreement for British settlement at Chiu-chiang. A copy of an agreement for British settlement areas at Chiu-chiang, undersigned by Parkes and Chang, Provincial Treasurer of Chiang-hsi, dated the 11th year, 2nd month, 15th day of Xianfeng's reign (25 March 1861).
1 bifolio.

1861

Arrangements for British settlement at Chiang-ning. The arrangements for measuring the land for the British settlement at Chiang-ning (Nanjing), sent by Po [Chuo'an] (John McLeavy Brown) to Ying [Pao-shih], 6 pages. The document is dated the 4th month, 26th day of the reign of Tongzhi, but does not include the year, which may be the 4th (1865).
3 sheets.

circa 1865

Regulations for opening Chiang-ning to British trade. 'Ying-kuo tsai Chian-ning k'ai-k'ou t'ung-shang chung-wai hui-i chang-ch'eng' [Regulations for opening Chiang-ning (Nanjing) to British trade agreed by the Chinese and British sides]: an official note from Tsung-li ya-men (?) [Chinese Foreign Office] to T.F. Wade, 8 pages. The note contains a brief account of the progress of the survey of the permanent British settlement areas in four places at Chiang-ning, and a detailed account of the agreement of eight clauses concerning boundaries, rent, building warehouses and godowns, the use of the land by British residents and merchants, etc. The document is undated, but according to the content it was created after Parkes 43/22 (c. 1865 or later).
4 sheets.

circa 1865

Despatch from Oliver Perry. A despatch from Pi [Li] (Oliver H. Perry), United States Consul at Canton, to Pi, Acting Governor, denying a claim that an American ship has been loading coolies at Whampoa, dated the 5th year, 4th month, 1st day of the reign of Tongzhi (14 May [1866]). The document includes an English note describing its contents and including the date of 14 May.
1 sheet.

circa 1866