ABSTRACT
The unpleasant relations between the Supercargoes and the Hong merchants during the last years of the monopoly led Sir James Graham to state explicitly the policy of His Majesty's Government towards China. The standing instructions to the British Navy show that Her Majesty's ships were sent to China primarily to protect the increasing commerce and interests of British citizens there engaged. British fleet was dependent upon the East India Company for surveys of the China coast until the period of Britain's first war with China. The Admiralty Board sensed the probable objections of the Chinese Government to British surveying operations and advised the Foreign Office against such work at the time of Lord Napier's mission. More surveys of China, the Gulf of Tartary, Japan and its waters were reported in a later Return to Parliament. Pioneer surveying activities were only a part of the development of maritime frontier which the Admiralty Board called upon their commanders-in-chief to promote or direct.
