Elliot may not have taken Arthur's suggestions regarding trade negotiations with China to heart, because from both the Foreign Office's and Elliot's perspective, there are very few people in the entire United Kingdom who truly understand this far Eastern nation.
Even if someone in Britain truly understands China, that person is most likely already employed by the East India Company's Trade Commission in Guangzhou, such as John Davis, the Foreign Office's intended second Superintendent of Trade with China, and George Robinson, the third.
Among them, John Davis joined the East India Company after graduating from Oxford University. At the age of 18, he held the position of secretary at the board of the East India Company's Trade Commission in Guangzhou. In 1816, he accompanied the diplomatic mission led by Earl Amherst as an advisor and translator to meet with the Chinese Emperor.
