Lot
529 
China, 1833 (Jun. 10) London, England to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "London 10 June 1833" from J. Cryder to Messrs. N Dunn & Co. at Canton, green "Forwarded by Baring Brothers & Co., London" oval on flap with manuscript "June 15 1833" date, endorsed "P Elizabeth" at top left, duplicate of letter originally enclosing money to be used if agreement with W. Wetmore goes through; light aging, F.-V.F. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $375
Lot
530
China, 1834 (Aug. 28) Macao to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Macao, August 28. 1834" from J. Archer to William Wetmore at Canton, carried privately, content regarding Lord Napier's negotiations, "…Lord Napier seems to have a good deal of finesse, it is what the Chinese have not been accustomed to in the intercourse with the company, possible some important results may grow out of the present negotiations. I am however not so sanguine that matters will be satisfactorily resolved so soon as some imagine, there is a vast deal of policy about the Chinese and the visit of the Mandarins to his Lordship may have been nothing more than a feeler to learn how far his powers extended. I sincerely hope he may succeed in establishing the trade upon a permanent and liberal footing…"; some letter bleed through, Fine and scarce. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
In 1834 England sent Lord Napier to Macao to discuss trade with government officials. He wanted to negotiate the terms of the Canton system now that the East India Company no longer had a monopoly. However, the Canton system did not allow direct contact with Chinese officials and Napier was turned away by the governor. The governor closed trade on September 2nd and the British, despite Lord Napier's desire to force open the port, agreed to continue trading under the old terms.
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Realized: $1,600
Lot
531
China, 1834 (Sep. 2) Macao to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Macao Septemr 2nd 1834" from J. Archer to William Wetmore Esqr. at Canton sent privately, manuscript Chinese character docketing on top and bottom flaps, some interesting historical content concerning Lord Napier and Maderins, "The measure adopted by Lord Napier of issueing the Chinese Chop is generally considered here as an unadvised one, such is my own opinion. It can do no possible good, and will probable only exasperate the Madarines….Mr. Robertson tells me it is in contemplation to permit goods to be entered here in entrepot by paying a duty if re-ship'd of 1½ to 2 per ct he thinks it probable the measure will be carried into effect. It will facilitate matters much if it does…I am sorry to hear that Fatqua is likely to be declared bankrupt. It think it would be adviseable to get a receipt from Hinqua & Lin chong for the amt of the cotton yarn sold them being in payment for duties per Coliseum"; horizontal fold. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
The Thirteen Factories also known as the Canton Factories, was a neighborhood along the Pearl River in southwestern Guangzhou in the Qing Empire from circa 1684 to 1856. These warehouses and stores were the principal and sole legal site of most Western trade with China from 1757 to 1842. The factories were destroyed by fire in 1822 by accident, in 1841 amid the First Opium War, and in 1856 at the onset of the Second Opium War. The factories' importance diminished after the opening of the treaty ports and the end of the Canton System under the terms of the 1842 Anglo-Chinese Treaty of Nanking. The Hong merchants included Howqua (Wu Bingjian), Puankhequa, Mowqua, Goqua, Fatqua, Kingqua, Sunshing, Mingqua, Saoqua, and Punboqua.
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Realized: $1,200
Lot
532
China, 1834 (Sep. 6) Macao to Canton, China via Whampoa, folded letter datelined "Macao September 6. 1834" from Joseph Archer to William Wetmore at Canton, endorsed "Fav'd by G.R. Sampson Esqr." at lower left, manuscript "From Whampoa with G.R. Sampson, Compts" forwarder's endorsement, interesting content concerning the Lord Napier reading in part "…that Lord Napier has come to hard knocks with the Chinese attempted to place a chop on the Factory, that his Lordship mustered all his forces, there it … and threw the board as which it was pasted at the head of the Madarins whose attendants retaliated by pelting his Lordship with brickbrats, there are however various versions to the story…", Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A REMARKABLE 1834 LETTER FROM MACAO DESCRIBING LORD NAPIER'S INITIAL MILITARY ACTION IN CANTON.
Lot
533
China, 1834 (Nov. 29) Macao to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Macao Nov 29 1834" from T. Bainbridge to Moses Wetmore begging for assistance as he is pennyless and has run up a debt for board, reads in part: "…I have never expressed an unwillingness to return to my native country, but as you will know and as I was told that no Capt would take me on any terms…If the amount of which you have mentioned could be appropriated to paying for my passage to Calcutta, of one hundred dollar the remainder would nearly exonerate me from debt here…", manuscript Chinese character docketing on bottom flap and "10. Cents" notation on top flap; light overall toning, Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Lot
534
China, 1834 (Nov. 30) Macao to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Macao Nov 30 1834" from T.V. Bainbridge to C. Bradford, Ship John Gilpin at Canton in care of Messrs. Whitmores Archers, flap notation "Should Mr. Bradford has left Canton this may be opened by Mr. Wetmore", manuscript Chinese characters on bottom flap; horizontal fold, F.-V.F. Estimate $600 - 800.
Realized: $500
Lot
535
China, 1834 (Dec. 5) Macao to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Macao 5th December 1834" from T. Bainbridge to Moses Wetmore concerning business matters and enclosed boarding bill, manuscript Chinese character docketing on flap; horizontal file fold, Very Fine. Estimate $600 - 800.
Lot
536
China, 1835 (Feb. 22) Ship Hope, At Sea to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Ship Hope Febr. 22nd 1835" from J. Archer to William Wetmore at Canton, flap with two different Chinese character endorsements, letter asked to forward any mail to Philadelphia or handle accordingly, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $350
Lot
537
China, 1835 (Mar. 28) Macao to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Macau 28 de Março 1835" to William Wetmore at Canton, Chinese character docketing on flap, also includes copy of letter datelined "Philada October 24th 1834" concerning business matters including a Goodhue & Co. draft, Very Fine. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $350
Lot
538
China, 1835 (May 10) Macao to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Macao 10 May 1835" sent privately to Canton, manuscript Chinese characters on flap as possible forwarder's endorsement, some interesting content concerning cholera deaths and opium traded, reading in part: "…We have nothing new, except it is reported that Howqua died of Cholera, I hope it is not true, and also that Governor Loo has kicked the bucket - with the same complaint- I shall take another trip to Linton on Friday to see how the second sale of opium goes…", Very Fine. Estimate $600 - 800.
Howqua (1769-1843) was the most important of the Hong merchants in the Thirteen Factories, head of the E-wo hong and leader of the Canton Cohong. He was once one of the richest men in the world. He became rich on the trade between China and the British Empire in the middle of the 19th century during the First Opium War. He obviously did not die from cholera in 1835.
Realized: $500