In 1833 the monopoly of the East India Company on trade with China was abolished. This opened up the trade to all British merchants. However, there were still strong restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on their activities.
The British Government sent William John Lord Napier to China to try to work out new arrangements with the authorities in Canton. He was a somewhat unusual choice as his “two great interests had been sheep and ships” rather than Chinese matters. His China mission was a dismal failure and his name was even translated into Chinese as “Laboriously Vile” in official communications. There was no way that the Chinese government was going to recognise anyone claiming to be a representative of a government which thought itself the equal of China. Foreigners were barbarians and that was that. Napier caught a fever and died in Macau on 11 October 1834.
The funeral took place in Macao at 10am on 15 October and it was attended by all the British and Portuguese leaders and traders. In the harbour the Royal Navy warships, Andromache and Imogene fired salutes. A guard of honour, formed by the coloured troops of the Portuguese led the funeral procession, with two British sailors holding up the British flag. His wife and daughters were in the procession. Opium traders William Jardine, James Matheson and James Innes also walked behind the coffin.
The foreign community in Canton (Guangzhou) and Macau collected funds and put a monument on Napier´s grave.
In 1953, this monument was discovered in a marble shop where it was about to be pulverized. It was rescued and erected in the Hong Kong Cemetery, at Happy Valley. Now, with the permission of Napier´s descendants, it has been moved to the Hong Kong Museum of History where it is on display.
The photograph does not show all the wording clearly. If anyone can supply the missing words this would be appreciated.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
WILLIAM JOHN LORD NAPIER
OF MERCHISTON
CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY
HIS MAJESTY´S CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT
OF THE BRITISH TRADE IN CHINA
WHO DIED AT MACAO, OCTOBER 11 1834
AGED 48 YEARS
AS A NAVAL OFFICER
HE WAS ABLE AND DISTIBGUISHED
IN PARLIAMENT
HIS CONDUCT WAS LIVERAL AND DEEPLY(?)
ATTACHED TO THE PURSUIT OF SCIENCE
AND THE DUTIES OF RELIGION
?UPRIGHT, SINCERE, AFFECTIONATE..?
HE WAS THE
FIRST SUPERINTENDENT
CHOSEN BY HIS MAJESTY
ON THE OPENING OF THE TRADE IN CHINA
TO BRITISH ENTERPRISE
?VALUABLE LIFE WAS SACRIFICED?
??ENDEAVOURED TO DIS??
??DUTIES OF THE SITUATION
THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED BY THE BRITISH COMMUNITY
***
©Phillip Bruce 2009
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