To John Jay from Samuel Shaw, 21 December 1787
From Samuel Shaw
Canton in China 21st. Decr. 1787.
Sir
Having in the letter which I did myself the honor of addressing to you towards the close of the last season, mentioned the several matters which came within my observation, relative to the commerce which the Europeans carry on with this part of the world, I have only to remark generally on this subject, that a detail of it at present, such is its uniformity, would be to involve merely a repetition of the greater part of what was then written.1 I shall therefore confine myself rather to the quantity, if I may be allowed the expression, than to the manner, of the commerce for the current year.
Since the Year 1784 the trade here has been constantly tending to the disadvantage of the Europeans. The imports collectively taken, hardly defray the first costs, and the exports have increased in a ratio beyond all possible conjecture. By an average, at the most moderate computation, the price of every sort of Tea, bohea only excepted, is advanced more than forty per cent, nor is it yet at the highest. Such is the demand for this article, that the chinese hardly know how much to ask for it, and should the rage of purchasing continue only another year, it is not improbable that it may double its price. I shall for your information annex a list of the shipping at Whampo; and though the number for the English does not exceed that of the last year, yet from the size of the ships, the quantity of tonnage is greatly increased. In the opinion of judicious observers, the English seem to be aiming not only at a monopoly of the tea trade for Europe, but appear to have in view the exclusive commerce of this division of the Globe.2 The new plan of Government for Bengal and its dependencies—their late establishments both eastward and westward—the prohibition to their subjects in India against selling their ships to foreigners—3and in short their whole conduct strongly favour the suspicion. This object, and to be sure it is no trifling one, is now considered as the great idol of the English nation; and in consequence of it the current of popular opinion carries rapidly along every measure which the Company think fit to adopt. How far our republican friends the Dutch, whom it most nearly concerns, will suffer any attempts of this kind, a few years must determine. The settlement of the English at Pulo Pinang,4 which enables them to command the whole of the navigation from the Peninsula of India, that of Malayo and of the island of Sumatra, has not a little alarmed them; and the settlement at Botany Bay on the south east coast of New Holland, has increased their apprehensions. I say nothing of the opposition the English might expect from the Swedes and Danes, who certainly find their advantage in this Commerce, or from the French, invariably their Enemies. Perhaps a commercial confederation of these nations, for their mutual benefit, not unlike the armed neutrality during the late war, may be adopted, as the best means of checking and defeating such exorbitant pretentions.5
With respect to our own Commerce this way yet in its infancy, I shall only observe that inconsiderable as it has hitherto been and is this year especially, it is viewed with no small degree of jealousy by our late mother Country. Gentlemen in all parts of the World, of whatever nation they may be, can esteem and sometimes love one another. But Englishmen and Americans merely as such, in any place as at Canton, where the former have the ascendency, can barely treat each other with civility. It is to national prejudices only, not yet done away, that I have reference, for I have found among them men who are an honor to their species. No national civilities on their part have been offered us at Canton, either last year or the present; but at Macao, in the interval, there was a full tender of them made me, with a general invitation to their table. These however I thought proper to decline without assigning a reason, as circumstances rendered any explanation unnecessary. In my own particular I have no cause of complaint. The usual compliment of a visit has been mutually paid and returned—and we frequently meet at other tables, and also at the Danish Concert. They have themselves a public weekly concert, but for the reasons mentioned I never attend it. After saying thus much concerning the English, I should be guilty of the highest ingratitude were I to omit testifying on this occasion, my entire satisfaction in the reception and treatment I have met from the chiefs and gentlemen of the other nations, not only at Canton, but during a residence of six months at Macao. It has been and continues to be in all respects proper, and in many instances really friendly.6
Though little can ever be known of China by persons restricted to such narrow limits as are the foreigners who trade here, yet we see enough to give us very unfavorable ideas of its Government. The laws may be good, but its police is extremely defective. It would shock your humanity were I to give a sketch of the misery which is here daily exhibited; and what excites the indignation of every foreigner, is that the number of these wretched objects not being considerable, it is evidently in the power of the Magistracy amply to provide for them. This is not the only instance which contradicts the generally received idea of the excellence of the Chinese Government. At present there are great disturbances in many parts of the Empire, and the insurrections in the Island of Formosa and the adjacent country threaten consequences of a serious nature. The war in that quarter has raged upwards of a twelvemonth, and its issue is yet doubtful. The oppressions exercised by Government have reduced the inhabitants of those parts to a state of desperation which has had the most pernicious effects on the agriculture and commerce, not only of that but of the neighboring Provinces.
From this painful view of the effects of despotism, I turn with pleasure to the contemplation of that happiness which an American enjoys, under the Government of equal laws and a mild administration. Surely, if we avail ourselves of the experience of other nations, and make a proper use of the advantages with which heaven hath blessed us, we cannot fail in due time of becoming a great and happy people.
In addition to the observations in my former letter respecting the article of Genseng, I shall only observe that the sales of it this season confirm me in the opinion of the great advantages which our country may derive from it. The annexed list will show the quantity brought here; and the price for the best has been from one hundred thirty to two hundred dollars the pecul, (133 1/3 lbs English) at which it now stands, though probably it will rise twenty or thirty dollars before the departure of the last ships.
It was my intention after dispatching our ship last season to have gone to Bengal, but the vessel in which I had engaged my passage lost so much time at Macao that her destination was changed for Manilla, and I was reduced to the necessity of remaining behind. I am now making a second attempt, have engaged my passage, and expect to sail the first week in January. On my return here in August next I hope to meet Mr. Randall from America, by whom I flatter myself I shall have the honor of receiving your commands. The commercial engagements I have made, in behalf of Mr. Randall and my self, will involve the necessity for me, if not for us both, to return at the close of the ensuing season to America. I therefore take the liberty of begging you will be pleased to communicate this circumstance to Congress; and I humbly hope that honorable body will not be offended that I take this step without their permission previously obtained. The loss of time which the waiting for such permission must involve would be prejudicial to us in the extreme, and this with the consideration that the office of Consul at Canton is rather honorary to the person vested with it, than essential to the commerce of our Country, I presume to flatter myself will be admitted as my excuse.7
Be pleased Sir, to do me the honor to accept my acknowledgments for the favours I have received from you, and to believe me most respectfully, with the highest esteem and regard &c.
(signed) Samuel Shaw
| Peculs | ||||
| English | 28 | Genseng 500 | 38 Cattis. | |
| Dutch | 5 | 25 | 5 | |
| Swedes | 2 | 19 | 51 | |
| Danes | 2 | 9 | 48 | |
| French | 3 | 115 | 99 | |
| Prussian | 1 | 3 | 69 | |
| Tuscan | 1 | - | - | |
| American8 | 1 | 52 | 18 | |
| 43 to pass the Cape of Good Hope |
726 | 28 | ||
| Country ships not allowed to pass the Cape |
 |
34 | ||
| Loading at Macao for Lisbon | 1 Portuguese | |||
| 78 | ||||
LbkC, , 3: 381–86 (EJ: 2284).
1. See Shaw to JJ, 31 Dec. 1786, above.
2. On the Commutation Act of 1784 (also called the Smuggling Act and the India Act), which drastically reduced the duty on tea and enabled Britain to dominate the tea trade, see 2: 532–34; 447–65, and “The Commutation Act and the Tea Trade in Britain 1784–1793,” Economic History Review, n.s., 16 (1963): 234–53, and “Trends in Eighteenth-Century Smuggling Reconsidered,” Economic History Review, 28 (1975): 28–43; and 280–95.
3. See JJ’s report on a Letter from John O’Donnell, 5 Aug. 1786, above.
4. On the Malay Peninsula, largely controlled by the Dutch until Francis Light took possession of the island of Penang on 11 Aug. 1786 in the name of King George III and the British East India Company, see H. P. Clodd, Malaya’s First British Pioneer: The Life of Francis Light (London, 1948).
5. On the deal negotiated by the Dutch firm, J. J. Voute & Company, to supply tea to the British East India Company, see 460–64. On the decline suffered by the Swedes, Danes, and French, see 290.
6. On the civility initially shown the Americans by the British at Canton, see Shaw to JJ, 19 May 1785.
7. For Shaw’s commission as consul, see JJ to Shaw, 30 Jan. 1786, above.
8. The American vessel was the 120-ton Columbia, Capt. Solomon Bunker, which had arrived on 31 July from New York. British East India officials mistook her for a tender. On 30 Dec. the 800-ton Alliance, Capt. Thomas Read, a former Continental Navy vessel now owned by Robert Morris, reached Canton via New Holland and New Zealand. The 190-ton Eleanora, Capt. Simon Metcalfe, from New York via Calcutta and Batavia, also reached Canton some time in December. See 6, 10; 8: 481–82,860; and Jonathan Goldstein, Philadelphia and the China Trade, 1682–1846 (University Park and London, 1978), 34.