关于林则徐研究的若干史实补正

Addenda and Corrigenda to Some Historical Studies on Lin Zexu

今年是伟大的爱国者林则徐诞辰二百周年,本期发表《关于林则徐研究的若干史实补正》等四篇文章,以资纪念。

This papers seeks to supplement and emendate some studies on a few well-known historical events in which Liu Zexu figured. 1. It argues on the evidence of Si Zhou Zhi, a Chinese translation of Hugh Murray's Cyclopaedia of Geography, that Lin was the first Chinese who had a clear vision of the world and that he left an unmistakable impact on the Chinese understanding of other peoples. 2. It deals with some questions concerning Lin's interview with E. C. Bridgman, an American missionary, and others who witnessed the destruction of the imported opium at the Bogue. 3. It verifies the time when the opium was entirely consumed and also the number of pits dug for destroying the illicit goods. 4. It re-examines Lin's letters to Yi Ling, Governor of Guangdong, giving the exact total number and the dates respectively and correcting some previons misinterpretations. 5. It shows that Lin's calling upon the Guangdong gentry to gather and oppose the ceding of Hongkong had nothing to do with his attempt to persuade Yi Liang to report Qi Shan's offences to the Emperor. 6. It corrects the misconception that Lin rebuked Lu Xiauji, an ad- vocate of resistance to the British invaders.