Two Interesting letters related to the Opium War of 1841
Two letters, one from Singapore and the other from Canton were sold by Frajola of U.S.A. bearing interesting contents related to outbreak of the war between Great Britain and China. The former fetched US$306 and the latter realised US$835. The description below came from the sales.
1840 Letter from Singapore to London, main letter dated May 20 with additions of May 23 and May 25 signed by August Behn (German founder of the Behn Meyer Group which still exists), carried out of the mails to Calcutta, India with two line Forwarded By Carr Togore & Co. handstamp, entered the mails in boxed "Calcutta Steam Letter Paid" handstamp with "14" (a) rate, boxed "India" handstamp, London October 6, 1840 arrival backstamp and manuscript "2/8" rate, excellent letter regarding the volatile situation in the area (Opium War) describing the various participants and the British force that left Singapore for China in June, 1840, letter includes:
... the results of this expedition is looked upon with great
anxiety & the consequences of it may reach farther than we may expect at present.
Singapore is, I should say, an interesting place so watch this result & also near
enough to derive beneficial of it, in order to take immediate advantage of profitable
prospects. ...
(May 23rd postscript) The British Steamer Queen is to day from Calcutta for China,
nothing new by her. The expedition is still expected to leave this on Monday 25th inst.
The vessels have a store on board for 6 mos., except this a lot of provisions is shored up
here. There is now a report circulating that the expedition is not to proceed, before but
the whole force is assembled here, but others say, that they are going up 1st June.
(May 25 postscript) The mail man from China brings advices from Macao 18th April. The
American Consul had left Canton for Macao. Foreign vessels had met with many difficulties
on the Bogue, as it was said, they had had connections with the English shipping at Tankao
& some were kept waiting out side for permission to go up.
1840 Letter from Singapore to London "Canton (China), letter dated 12 April 1841 from Canton, endorsed per "Acbar via New York" to London, carried privately to New York where it received the Forwarded By Grinnell Minturn & Co New York red oval forwarding backstamp, then it was placed on the "Great Western" (endorsed by forwarding agent at bottom left), received "Bristol Ship Letter" two line entry postmark and "8" (d) manuscript due, when it reached London received their red arrival backstamp of "21 Aug 41,"
The "Akbar", of 650-ton register, was bulit by Samuel Hall's Medford Massachusetts shipyard in 1839. On her maiden voyage she sailed to Canton against the monsoon in 109 days.
letter of William Leslie, written prior to opening of Hong Kong Post Office during Opium War includes:
"We cant trust to this unsatisfactory armistice continuing more than 2 or perhaps 3 months, for by that time we shall have the Commadore back from Calcutta or please God a New Admiral ... we are again obliged to quit Canton, we are to all intents & purposes past now trading by compulsion in direct violation of the commands of the Emperor, but how long this can continue even if some of the Men of War remain here is doubtful. It would not be inconsistent with Capt. Elliot recent proceedings to find ourselves left perfectly unprotected & without any notice some morning.
We may be reaching the bottom of all this but just now the Chinese are stunned & if there is any appearance of further disturbance among them I have my bed whenever I like in HMS Hyacinth about 3 miles down the Macao Passage. Dent sleeps in a schooner but comes ashore for business every morning, but Dent is a marked man & must be cautious ..."