Regulation and Legislation

This is a broad category which covers several different areas. First and foremost is international trade, which was governed by legal and diplomatic regulations.

 The Canton System placed rigid restrictions upon how trade could be executed, with a wide variety of tariffs, fees and controls to be adhered to. Some of the documents in China, America and the Pacific offer an in-depth look into this complex world. One highlight is The Chinese Commercial Guide of 1863 – a fascinating compendium of facts, figures, treaties, rules and procedures designed as a how-to manual for foreign traders.

Accounting of 1892 Season Losses 1891-1913 Accounts
Act for Regulating the Fur Trade, upon Merging of the Hudson's Bay Company and North-West Company 02 Jul 1821 Business Records
An Act to Prevent Chinese from Acquiring Crown Lands 1884 Business Records Government of British Columbia
Address to the People of Great Britain, Explanatory of Our Commercial Relations with the Empire of China, and of the Course of Policy by which it May Be Rendered an Almost Unbounded Field for British Commerce 1836 Pamphlet
Affidavit of Margaret Chase Regarding Payment to her from the Town of Sherborn for Aiding a Stranger, Adam Riley 12 Feb 1771 Ephemera
Agreement and Account of Crew for Schooner Penelope 1893-1895 Shipping Papers
Agreement and Account of Crew for Schooner Venture 1893-1895 Shipping Papers
The Americans in Japan : an Abridgment of the Government Narrative of the U.S. Expedition to Japan, under Commodore Perry 1857 Printed Book Perry, Matthew Calbraith
Appeal Against the Railway Being Carried Across the Selkirk Range 1885 Pamphlet, Printed Book Veritas, Philo
Appointment as Escort for Japanese Envoys, 1860, Signed by Lewis Cass, Secretary of State 1860 Correspondence, Manuscript Cass, Lewis
Article Questioning the Validity of the Hudson's Bay Company Charter c.1846 Pamphlet
Augustus W Loomis Letter: San Francisco, California, to Henry Wm Moulton, 30 Mar 1870 30 Mar 1870 Correspondence, Manuscript Loomis, Augustus Ward
Bill of Health 1892 Ephemera, Business Records
Booklet Regarding Government Regulation of Chinese Immigration 1876 Pamphlet Government of British Columbia
British Columbia Proclamation Revoking Hudson's Bay Company Rights to Trade with Natives 3 Nov 1858 Pamphlet
British Relations with the Chinese Empire in 1832. Comparative Statement of the English and American Trade with India and Canton. 1832 Printed Book
Broadside Scrapbook 1824-1908 Scrapbook, Newspaper, Clipping
Business Correspondence 1849-1851 Correspondence, Manuscript, Pamphlet Anthony, Edward G H
Business Correspondence from Robert Bennet Forbes in Milton and Boston Including Information on the Massachusetts Humane Society 1886-1889 Correspondence, Journal, Manuscript
Canadian Pacific Railway and its Assailants 1882 Pamphlet Mohawk
Catalogue of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs Collection, at the United States International Exhibition, Philadelphia 1876 Printed Book Hai kuan tsung shui wu ssu shu
Cereno J Kelley Correspondence 27 Jun 1892 - 29 Mar 1905 Correspondence
Charles Spring Declaration 1884-1906 Business Records
Charles Spring Photographs 1895-1918 Photograph
China. An Outline of Its Government, Laws, and Policy: and of the British and Foreign Embassies to, and Intercourse with, That Empire 1834 Printed Book Auber, Peter
Chinese and Japanese Immigrants, 1897-1898 1899 Business Records Government of British Columbia
The Chinese Commercial Guide, containing Treaties, Tariffs, Regulations, Tables, etc., Useful in the Trade to China and Eastern Asia; with an Appendix of Sailing Directions for those Seas and Coasts 1863 Printed Book Williams, S Wells
Chinese Immigration into Canada 1900 Business Records Government of British Columbia
The Chinese in America 1877 Printed Book Gibson, Otis
Chinese in California 1888-1920 Clipping, Manuscript, Business Records
Chinese Regulation Act, 1884 1886 Business Records Government of British Columbia
The Chinese Security Merchants in Canton, and Their Debts 1838 Printed Book
Circular: To the Merchants and Planters of the Hawaiian Islands 1876 Ephemera
Coffin Journals 1774-1785 Journal
Constitution of the Hawaiian Islands 1864 Ephemera, Business Records
Copy of Will of Rebecca Chase (Beebe) (Chadwick), Wife George Brown Chase, Daughter of Nathaniel and Margaret Chadwick (Baxter) 20 Feb 1868 Business Records
Correspondence 1895, 1906-1912 2 Oct 1895; 8 Jan 1906 - 30 Dec 1912 Correspondence
Correspondence 1913-1914 10 Jan 1913 - 7 Apr 1914 Correspondence
Correspondence 1917-1926 26 Oct 1917 - 28 Jul 1927 Correspondence
Correspondence 1927 22 Mar 1927 - 29 Nov 1927 Correspondence
Correspondence 1928 17 Jan 1928 - 28 Dec 1928 Correspondence
Correspondence 1929-1930 19 Apr 1929 - 30 Nov 1930 Correspondence
Correspondence 1931-1934, 1937 5 Jun 1931 - 9 Mar 1937 Correspondence
Correspondence Between Francis Blackwell Forbes and R S Gundry of London 1902 Correspondence, Manuscript
Court Papers, Police Charges and Related Documents 1891-1893 Business Records
Custom House Papers 1780-1822 Manuscript, Shipping Papers, Accounts
David Folger Chase, Son of Peter and Elizabeth (Hussey), Proof of US Citizenship 8 Jan 1811 Ephemera
Declaration of John Clark 4 Oct 1893 Business Records
Deed and Power of Attorney Signed by Edward Cunningham 1871-1872 Business Records, Manuscript
Disallowance of Chinese Immigration Act 1884 Business Records, Memoranda Government of British Columbia
Documents and Facts Illustrating the Origin of the Mission to Japan : Authorized by Government of the United States, May 10th, 1851; and which Finally Resulted in the Treaty Concluded by Commodore M C Perry, U. S. Navy, with the Japanese Commissioners at Kanagawa, Bay of Yedo, on the 31st March, 1854 1857 Printed Book Palmer, Aaron Haight
Documents Relating to Opium, &c. 1837 Printed Book
Draft of Letter to the Publishers of the National Home Magazine 19 Jul 1934 Correspondence
Drafts of Letters from Robert Bennet Forbes to Officials in the State Department 1857 Correspondence, Manuscript
Drafts of Letters from Robert Bennet Forbes to the Secretary of State 1857 Correspondence, Manuscript
Facts and Evidence Relating to the Opium Trade with China 1840 Printed Book Fry, William Storrs
The 'Fan Kwae' at Canton Before Treaty Days 1882 Printed Book
General Instructions for his Majesty's Consuls 1871 Ephemera, Business Records Harris, C C
His Majesty's Speech at the Opening of the Legislature 1870 Ephemera
An Historical and Descriptive Account of China; Its Ancient and Modern History, Language, Literature, Religion, Government, Industry, Manners, and Social State; Intercourse with Europe from the Earliest Ages; Missions and Embassies to the Imperial Court; British and Foreign Commerce; Directions to Navigators; State of Mathematics and Astronomy; Survey of Its Geography, Geology, Botany and Zoology. Volume 1 1836 Printed Book Murray, Hugh
An Historical and Descriptive Account of China; Its Ancient and Modern History, Language, Literature, Religion, Government, Industry, Manners, and Social State; Intercourse with Europe from the Earliest Ages; Missions and Embassies to the Imperial Court; British and Foreign Commerce; Directions to Navigators; State of Mathematics and Astronomy; Survey of Its Geography, Geology, Botany and Zoology. Volume 2 1836 Printed Book Murray, Hugh
Hudson's Bay Company Fur Trade Post Manual 31 May 1933 Printed Book
The Hudson's Bay Company, Canada West, and the Indian Tribes n.d. Pamphlet, Printed Book
In the Matter of the Seizure by the United States Government of the British Schooner Favorite 1898 Pamphlet, Business Records
Indictment for Robbery against Pierre Pambrun of the Hudson's Bay Company Mar 1818 Business Records
Joseph C Chase, son of Stephen and Dinah (Folger), Copy of Will 24 Sep 1875 Business Records
Journal of the Commission, Consisting of Capt. Samuel F Du Pont U.S Navy and his Associates, Commander Sidney Smith Lee U.S. Navy and Lieutenant David D Porter U.S. Navy in Charge of the Japanese Embassy to the United States, May 1860 May 1860 Journal, Correspondence, Manuscript
Journal of Occurrences at Canton during the Cessation of Trade at Canton, 1839 1839-1964 Journal, Manuscript Hunter, William C
Jurisdiction Act, to End Conflict between the XY Company and the North-West Company 11 Aug 1803 Business Records
Land Transactions of Zenas Coffin 1798-1819 Business Records
Legal Document Signed by Alexander Henry and Alexander Auldjo 1798 Business Records, Manuscript
Letter from Robert Bennet Forbes in China to Paul Siemen Forbes 1839 Correspondence, Manuscript
Letter from Robert Bennet Forbes to Secretary of State William L Marcy 1854 Correspondence, Manuscript
Letter from the Secretary of State, Relative to the Productions, Trade and Commerce of the Oriental Nations with which the United States have not made Treaties; in Compliance with a Resolution of the House of Representatives of the 9th Instant 17 Feb 1847 Correspondence Buchanan, James
Letter to the Hon. Charles J Ingersoll, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, Containing some Brief Notices respecting the Present State, Productions, Trade, Commerce, &c., of the Comoro Islands, Abyssinia, Persia, Burmah, Cochin China, the Indian Archipelago, and Japan... 27 Mar 1846 Correspondence Palmer, Aaron Haight
Letter to the Hon. John M Clayton, Secretary of State, Enclosing a Paper, Geographical, Political, and Commercial, on the Independent Oriental Nations; and Containing a Plan for Opening, Extending, and Protecting American Commerce in the East, &c.: Respectfully Submitted to the President and Cabinet, by Aaron Haight Palmer, Counsellor of the Supreme Court of the U.S. 06 Sep 1849 Correspondence Palmer, Aaron Haight
Letter to W D Scott from Yip Sang 1904 Correspondence
Letters and Documents of Captain Nathan Chase, son of Nathan and Sally (Nobles) 26 Jun 1834 - 15 Oct 1877 Correspondence, Accounts
Letters and Memoranda Related to a Passport Question 1901-1902 Correspondence, Manuscript
Letters from Robert Bennet Forbes to Various Business Associates, Including a History of Russell and Company 1878-1879 Correspondence, Journal, Manuscript
Letters to Robert Bennet Forbes from Various Business Associates and Government Officials 1846-1879 Correspondence, Manuscript
Letters, Papers and Reports from Francis Blackwell Forbes in China 1858-1902 Correspondence, Manuscript, Clipping, Ephemera, Business Records
Loose Business Papers 1816-1823 Manuscript, Mercantile Papers
Loose Business Papers 1824-1825 Manuscript, Mercantile Papers
Loose Business Papers 1789-1797 Manuscript, Mercantile Papers
Loose Business Papers 1815 Manuscript, Mercantile Papers
Loose Business Papers 1826-1832 Manuscript, Business Records, Mercantile Papers
Memorial of Canadian Sealers Respecting their Interests 1898 Pamphlet, Business Records
Memorial of the Owners of Sealing Schooners 18 Nov 1898 Pamphlet, Business Records
Memorial Respecting the Seizure of SS Coquitlam 1898 Pamphlet, Business Records
Message of the President of the United States, Transmitting a Report of the Secretary of the Navy, In Compliance with a Resolution of the Senate of December 6 1854, calling for Correspondence, &c., Relative to the Naval Expedition of Japan 1855 Printed Book Perry, Matthew Calbraith
Miscellaneous Legal Documents 1796,1810-1838 Manuscript, Shipping Papers, Accounts
Naomi Chase, Wife of Francis, Daughter of Reuben and Theodate Gardner (Gorham) (Coffin), Copy of Will 25 Jun 1827 Business Records
Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan, Performed in the Years 1852, 1853, and 1854, Under the Command of Commodore M C Perry, United States Navy, by Order of the Government of the United States ... / Published by Order of the Congress of the United States. Volume I 1856 Printed Book, Correspondence Perry, Matthew Calbraith
Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan, Performed in the Years 1852, 1853, and 1854, Under the Command of Commodore M C Perry, United States Navy, by Order of the Government of the United States ... / Published by Order of the Congress of the United States. Volume II 1856 Printed Book, Correspondence Perry, Matthew Calbraith
Narrative of the Late Proceedings and Events in China 1839 Printed Book Slade, John
National Independence Oration 1885 Ephemera Baker, Robert H
Newspaper Clippings from 1770-1864 1770-1864 Ephemera
Notes on Caleb Cushing's first American Diplomatic Mission to China Written By Elisha Kent Kane c. 1844-1845 Manuscript, Notebook
Notes on Caleb Cushing's first American Diplomatic Mission to China Written By Elisha Kent Kane c. 1844-1845 Manuscript, Notebook
The Open Door Policy 1923 Printed Book En Tsung Yen
Orders and Receipts for Payment of Debts 1892-1898 Accounts, Business Records
Papers and Vouchers Belonging to the Schooner Favorite 1892 Shipping Papers
Papers and Vouchers Belonging to the Schooner Kate 1884-1922 Shipping Papers
Papers of the Ship Essex, 1815-1816 Voyage 7 Jul 1815 - 25 Dec 1816 Shipping Papers, Business Records, Ephemera
Papers of the Ship Essex, 1817-1819 Voyage 7 Jan 1817 - 21 Nov 1819 Shipping Papers, Business Records, Ephemera
Personal Letters from Robert Bennet Forbes to Rose Smith Forbes from China 1839 Correspondence, Journal, Manuscript
Peter C Brock Documents 1819 - 1864 Ephemera
Petition to Canadian House of Commons 1914 Pamphlet, Business Records
Portfolio Chinensis: Or A Collection of Chinese State Papers 1840 Printed Book Shuck, J Lewis
The Present Position and Prospects of the British Trade with China; Together with an Outline of Some Leading Occurrences in Its Past History 1836 Printed Book Matheson, James
Priam P Brock Documents 25 Oct 1816 - 15 Jul 1835 Ephemera
Proclamation! 1854 Ephemera Wyllie, R C
Proclamations From the Chinese Government Regarding Prohibition of Opium 1839 Memoranda
Property Loss Declaration Drafts 1892-1913 Business Records
The Rationale of the China Question. By an American. Part Second n.d. Pamphlet
Re-assignment of Hudson's Bay Company Stock from Simon McGillivray to Edward Ellice on the Merging of the Hudson's Bay Company and North-West Company 29 Sep 1830 Business Records, Manuscript
Remarks on China and the China Trade 1844 Printed Book Forbes, R B
Report by Robert Bennet Forbes for the Boston Board of Trade 1857 Correspondence, Manuscript
Report of a Committee of Boston Merchants on Commodore Perry's Expedition to Japan n.d. Manuscript
Report on China Written by Robert Bennet Forbes for Secretary of State William L Marcy 1854 Correspondence, Manuscript
Report on Sea life on the Pacific Coast of Canada 23 Aug 1913 - 31 Dec 1913 Logbook, Notebook, Pamphlet
Resolutions Challenging Rights of the Hudson's Bay Company in Western Canada 1858 Pamphlet
Resolutions for Renewal of Rights of the Hudson's Bay Company in Rupert's Land, Indian Territory, Toronto, Western Canada 1858 Pamphlet
Restriction of Chinese Immigration 1892 Business Records Government of British Columbia
Review of the Management of our Affairs in China, Since the Opening of the Trade in 1834; with an Analysis of the Government Despatches from the Assumption of Office by Capt. Elliott, on the 14th December, 1836, to the 22d of March, 1839 1840 Printed Book
Rights and Powers Claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company in North America 12 Jul 1850 Pamphlet
Rights of Chinese 1858 Pamphlet
Rough Notes of the Ke-Ying Visit in Macau 1844 Manuscript, Notebook
Schooner Winifred Documents 1869-1913 Shipping Papers
Sealing Commission Memorandum 1911 Memoranda
Sealing Commission Oaths 1913 Business Records
A Short and Truthful History of the Taking of California and Oregon by the Chinese in the Year A.D. 1899 1882 Printed Book Woltor, Robert
SS Mist Documents 1890-1900 Shipping Papers
The Trade and Administration of the Chinese Empire 1908 Printed Book Morse, Hosea Ballou
Translations from the Original Chinese, with Notes 1815 Printed Book
Treaty of Commercial Reciprocity between the Hawaiian Islands and the United States of America 1876 Pamphlet
A Voyage Round the World; Including an Embassy to Muscat and Siam in 1835, 1836, and 1837 1838 Printed Book, Journal Ruschenberger, W S W; Waithman, William Samuel
Voyageur Contracts: 20 Printed Documents with Manuscript Additions 1800-1806 Business Records, Manuscript