Final answer:
In the letter to Queen Victoria, Lin Zexu criticized the British opium trade for hypocrisy, societal damage in China, and ethical irresponsibility by highlighting addiction and depletion of silver reserves.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the letter to Queen Victoria, the Chinese official Lin Zexu made several arguments against the opium trade. Firstly, he highlighted the hypocrisy of Britain by pointing out that the substance was illegal in Britain yet they were forcing it upon China for profit.
Secondly, Lin emphasized the societal damage caused by opium addiction in China, which affected the welfare of the population and led to the depletion of China's silver reserves.
Lastly, Lin appealed to Queen Victoria's moral sensibilities, suggesting that Britain should not impose something harmful onto another country that they would not accept for their own. This appeal underscored the ethical problem of the opium trade and Britain's pursuit of profit at the expense of Chinese society.