The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-03-14
Joint Chinese Secretary to Legation.

A true translation:
PETER PARKER,
JOINT Chinese Secretary to Legation.
Macao, March 90, 1874.
SIR The undersigned, Commissioner and Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotcntiary of the
United States OF America to the Court Of Pekine and
bearer OF letters from the President of the Utited
States 10 the August Sovereign, and also invested
with iull and all manner of power, for and il the
name Of the United States, to meet and confer with
any Ierson or persons bearing the like authority
from the Chinese Empire and to negotiate and con
cde and sign treaty or treaties for the purpose OF
regulating the intercourse Of The people of the two
countries, and for establishing aud confirming pena.
nent relations Of justice and friendship between Chi
ma and the United States, has the honor to acknpw-
ledge the receipt this day Of your excellencys com
munication Of the 18th instant.
The undersigned tenders his hearty thanks to pur
excellency for the information given of the happy
old age and good health of His Majesty the august
Sovereign, and fthe peace which the Empire en-
joys. The undersigned will lose no time in cosnmu-
nicating intelligence OF these gratifying facts to the
President of the United States.
The undersigned has read the residue of your ex
cellencys communication with that respectful atteD-
ton which IS due to your exceencys character and
to the distinguished station which you occupy in the
Chinese Empire
Your excellency presents various considerations
WHICH uucc you 10 thlnk In the nrSt place, that II
is not convenient Tor the undersigned to proceed to
the North; and, in the second place. that there is no
occasion for treaty between China and the United
States of America.
The undersigned regrets that he cannot, consist
emily with the views and instructions of his Govern
ment, discuss either of these questions with any per-
son, however eminent in character and station az
cept that person be an Imperial Commissioner.
If the undersigned we're permitted to discuss those
questions with your excellency, he feels abu ,danay
confident that he should be able TO exhibit satsiac
~ reasons in reply to the arguments presented BY
your excelency. And he feels constrained to express
his disappointment that he does find in the frontier
province an Imperial Commissioner having powers
co-extensiye with his own and authorized to ad Just
with him the terms and conditions of the future inter
course of the two nations, especially if the Imperial
Government be DESTROYS not TO have the legation pr
coed to the North. Under any view OF the later
paint, questions Of commerce might well have been
settled here, reservng other and higher questions to
be discussed and settled at the Court of the august
Sovereign.
The undersigned cannot forbear respectfully to ad-
vert 10 of fact in the communication of your
excellency. In that communication the following
expressions occur, namely: GAS to the public des.
patch, in which it is stated the Gigate Brandycins
has gone 10 Manila, TO take in full supply Of pro-
visions" &C.
Your excellency will see on reverting to the tom
muncation which the undersigned had the honor to
make, that the above expressions do not occur in it,
and that 1t IS impossible they should have done 80 in
asmuch as, at the time that communication writ
ten, the undersigned was on board the Brandywne
then lying at anchor in Macao roads. Her voyage
10 Manila was subsequent event And, while alb
staining from all present discussions suggested by
your eXceency, the undersigned desires to advert to
two Of the statements incidentally made in your
munication.
Your excellency observes that it has been cusom-
airy, in the case of previous foreign embassies for
the chief magistrate Of the frontier province TO me-
moriaiize the Emperor on the subject and 10
tain his viii as 10 an interview with the Envoy.
The Undersigned suggests, as TO this, that It was
10 afford opportunity OF conveying TO the Emperor
such preliminary intimation OF the contemplated
mission of the undersigned, that the Consul of the
United States at Canton was commanded by the Pre-
sident Of the United States 10 make known that fact
to the public authorities Of the two kwang Provin
The undersigned is highly hattercd to learn, from
your sxceiencs 5 communication, that the Emperor,
on receiving the above intimanop, was graciously
pleased to take interest IN the welfare of the Envoy
OF the United States, and TO desire to relieve him
from the additional toll and trouble Of continuing on
from the frontier Province TO the Imperial Court.
This act of kindness, which Il in full accordance
with the benefcent character Of his Imperial Males
y, with the civilization and courtesy Of the Central
Empire, and with the spirit Of distinguished hosp-
taitS which II has manifested IN times past towards
the ENJOYS of other Governments, augments the so-
cItudc OF the Undersigned to present 10 the Emperor
IN person the letters Of BUSINESS and of amlty which
he bears from the President of the United States
Furthermore, your exceltncy deprecates any such
course OF procedure the part OF the undersigned
might produce suspicion and anxiety.
The undersigned assures your excellency or this
point that hs admission to the court Of the august
Sovereignis of peace and friendships that the
Government of the United States is animated only
with sentiments Of respect and good will for that Of
China and that he himself, while firmly adherng To
the discharge of the substantial parts of his duty and
the puDctua fulhmeni of the Instructions OF the Pre-
sdent of the United States that head, yet is both
willing and ready, In the mode Of doing this and OF
approaching Peking, to consult the opinion of the
high fUDci,onares OF the Empire, far he copss-
tently can, in order TO avoid all possible cause of
picop and anxiety He deems himself bound by bis
instructions 10 continue hs journey to the North
but if the Imperial Government prefer to have him
proceed 10 the Court by some other route, rather
than to be conducted by the squadron Of the United
States TO the mouth Of the Pih-ho, whatever addi-
tional personal inconvenience he may sustain by
adopting such other route, he will cheerfuy encoun
ter this m order that he may thus eyncc the friendly
disposition OF the United States II America towards
China.
In conclusion, the undersigned tenders TO your (.
eellency the expression of his high respect aud Of
his wishes for your health and happiness.
G.. CUSHING.
To his EYcellency the AcrIso GovERNoR GrNIRAL
OF kwAHc Tune AND KwAxe ST.