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wise unequivocal issues with which Commissioner Lin had to deal in 1839.

No attempt was made to seize the person of Mr. Dent: he received an invitation to meet the commissioner at the city gate. But when he refused to go without a written guarantee of safety, the invitation was changed to an order conveyed through two of the Hong Merchants who came with chains on their necks as an indication of the fate awaiting them if their errand failed.

At this stage Captain Elliot began to take an active part in the drama. He happened to be residing in Macao at the time, and having determined that duty called him to Canton, he prefaced his coming by a despatch to the governor expressing readiness to use "sincere efforts for fulfilling the pleasure of the great Emperor as soon as it was made known to him."

It is difficult to understand the sentiments animating Captain Elliot at this critical juncture. Almost simultaneously with the drafting of the above despatch, which clearly implied willingness to co-operate in putting down the opium traffic and even competence to control it, he issued two circulars, one ordering all British vessels—inclusive of smugglers—to proceed to Hongkong and prepare to resist acts of aggression; the other declaring that he withdrew all confidence in the "justice and moderation of the provincial Government," and that he advised