THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Opposition to opium trade heard at Belfast meeting

The 98th Regiment of Foot at the attack on Chin-Kiang-Foo (Zhenjiang), 21 July 1842, effecting the defeat of the Manchu government. Watercolour by military illustrator Richard Simkin (1840–1926). Picture: Wikimedia Commons

A public meeting was convened by the Mayor of Belfast in the Custody Court “for the purpose of putting before the public facts connected with the opium trade with China” with the purpose of advancing new legislation to deal with the trade, reported the News Letter.

Speaking at the meeting the Rev Bristow proposed the first resolution which read: “That this meeting deplores and condemns the opium trade, by which grievous harm and wrong are being inflicted upon the Chinese.”

He continued: “It is the urgent duty to make the facts generally known in this country, that the conscience of our people may be aroused to demand the removal of this great national scandal.”

In supporting the proposal another member of the clergy, the Rev Charles Seaver, spoke from experience, he said: “We have no right to force upon the Chinese nation a drug which the Chinese government object to.”

The Rev Seaver remarked that he was a member of “one of the great missionary societies” who worked in Asia and he had himself experienced the opium trade as “a great hindrance to the work of Christianity” in the region.

He added: “I trust that efforts will now be made to bring this matter before the Houses of Parliament in such a way that they will be able to see the injustice they have perpetrated, and alter their course and conduct towards China.”