Wetmore to Russell Young, September 18, 1882

Mr. Wetmore to Mr. Young.

My Dear Sir: Referring to my letter of the 18th instant, in regard to the cotton-yarn manufacturing company which I have organized at this place, I must apologize for further troubling you in the matter, and trust the deep interest I have in the success of the undertaking will be considered a good reason for so doing. The status of the persons or company which have opposed me, and their authority for doing so are, according to the best information I can command, exceedingly questionable. I am informed on good authority that a quasi monopoly, or some exclusive privilege for making cotton cloth, was granted, about five years ago, to a Chinaman named Peng. He formed a company, which, however, broke up before its organization was fairly completed. Some time after, another company was organized which, it is said, acquired from Peng his license, but I am informed that the transaction was not strictly regular; that is, the license was a personal one and not transferable, at least without the sanction of the authority originally granting it. However this may be, and even admitting the right of the Chinese Government to grant monopolies, excluding others from participating in the trade or business affected, I contend:

• First. That public notice of such grant should have been given to prevent other persons from embarking in suck enterprises and perhaps suffering great pecuniary loss thereby.
• Second. As I have before stated, that the exclusive right to make cloth could not confer, without express language to that effect being used, the exclusive right also to make cotton yarn any more than the right to gin cotton or pass it through any other preliminary process. This view is generally taken here among the Chinese, and I have heard of expressions of opinion among those who are supposed to know something of the views prevailing among the high Chinese officials at Peking, that my position in the matter is so strong that I cannot be interfered with, and that though a little patience may be necessary to convince the authorities at the capital that I am really in earnest persistence in asking for what I believe to be my rights, I will eventually induce them to accord me justice in the premises. Even should they eventually decide to restrict enterprise in the way of manufactures generally, they cannot, it appears to me, interfere with undertakings which, like mine, have been entered upon in good faith and without notice that they were interfering with the rights of others in the same direction. I am informed, however, that some show of opposition is likely to be made at first to my claims, as some of the subordinate local mandarins here, and perhaps at the north, have rather committed themselves in favor of those who are opposing me, but that the merits of my case are so clear that any resistance which may be made will be comparatively feeble. Trusting I may not be imposing any trouble of magnitude upon you,

I remain, &c.,