Copies or English translations of papers by, to or concerning the Chinese authorities, comprised mainly of edicts, proclamations and orders from officials and petitions to the authorities from merchants and trading companies. The official edicts are usually addressed to the Hong merchants, with orders for the instructions to be enjoined on the foreigners. Most of the material concerns the trading activities of the foreign merchants and their relations with the native Hong merchants, and many of the documents involve the Hoppo, Commissioner of Customs at Canton. Three of the principal topics are the Hong merchant Manhop's seizure of cotton belonging to Magniac & Co.; the efforts of the authorities to remove Baker's hospital ship the 'Hope' from Whampoa; and the ban on the foreigners' use of sampans (small boats). Other subjects include the repayment of debts owed to the foreign merchants by various Hong merchants; the foreign merchants flaunting of the restriction on trading outside Canton; the authorities' orders for the departure of various foreign ships; the illegal presence of foreign women at Canton; and the banning of the foreigners' use of sedans at Canton.