trading ships fitted up as cruisers, proceeded to Cowloon, where, under pretext of demanding food, he engaged our naval force in battle. Captain Lai En-tsioh[1] succeeded in sinking a two-masted foreign ship, two sampans, and a Spanish hulk hired by the British. In the eighth moon [October] Elliot got the Europeans at Macao to send a message for him, to the effect that he was willing to send away the hulks and the disloyal traders, and also that the trading ships were willing to give bonds agreeing to the confiscation of ship and cargo in cases of smuggling [opium]; but he objected to the words "the individuals concerned to be executed at once." This was the third turning-point in Canton affairs. LIN TSEH-SÜ, however, insisted upon the insertion of these words, so that the bonds of all nationalities might be alike; and, moreover, demanded the surrender of the murderer. Shortly after this, two English trading ships did sign bonds as required, but Elliot sent two men-of-war [the "Volage" and "Hyacinth"] after them to prevent it. He also petitioned us not to attack and destroy the ships at Tsim-sha Point, so that he might await despatches from England: but Admmiral Kwan T‘ien-p‘ei[2] returned his petition because the murderer was not given up. During these premises, five of our war-ships went to preserve order on the sea-board, and, the petition
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