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all his nationals to prepare for taking refuge on board ship. Undoubtedly Commissioner Lin did not show much moderation. He probably thought that the day for moderation had passed, nor is it conceivable that an European or American official, circumstanced as he was, would have acted differently. As for justice, however, the story of the complication does not indicate any monopoly of that quality on the foreign side.

Arrived at Canton, Captain Elliot took Mr. Dent openly under his protection, but at the same time offered to accompany him into the city, provided that the commissioner promised not to separate them. He entertained no doubt of Lin's good faith; and indeed it is worthy of note that throughout the long years of stormy intercourse here recorded not one instance of treacherous violence against foreign life stands to the discredit of Chinese officials.

The commissioner, interpreting Captain Elliot's arrival as preliminary to the withdrawal of the whole foreign community, doubled the guards and drew around the Factories a cordon of troops and cruisers, marshalled in menacing array. In the face of this demonstration the foreign merchants of all nationalities, with few exceptions, signed a document pledging themselves "not to deal in opium or to attempt to introduce it into the Chinese Empire." But Commissioner Lin wanted more. He wanted to have all the opium delivered over, and he wanted bonds placing the