Hello! I'm currently writing the script for a play set on board a cargo ship just before the first opium war, and while the script in its current form focuses largely on jingoism and national pride, I also would like it to be as accurate as possible. I have a few questions, namely;
The other questions are more semantics, but
I would greatly appreciate any help on the matter. I find the subject and time period deeply interesting and often completely overlooked.
Trade of opium was not handled directly by the British government, though that's not to say their hands weren't in it. Private firms and traders were doing the actual sales.
in 1796 opium imports were forbidden because it became more popular. This didn't stop the smuggling, which is that the traders in part (1) were engaging in. The general public – at least by the mid 30's – were very much aware of the drug as something the British were doing to weaken China. That didn't stop merchants, both foreign and Chinese, from profiting on it. Nor did it stop addicts from feeding their additions. There were also definitely traders who felt that selling opium reflected negatively on their companies, but apparently not enough to stop engaging in the trade, as it was just too profitable.
Greenberg, Michael (1969). British Trade and the Opening of China, 1800-42. Cambridge Studies in Economic History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wei, Yuan (1888). A Chinese Account of the Opium Wars. Translation by E. H. Parker. Shanghai: Kelly & Walsh, Limited.