The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-21

CITY OF WASHINGTON,
SATURDAY NIGHT, JUNE 81, 1916.
THE BIG CHINESE LETTER.

sny State paper which was ever addressed to our gov
eminent arrived at the Department Of State yeser'
day. We have had an opportunity Of seeing the
extraordinary missive and have been favored with the
following copy of translation, which was made
from the Chinese by Mr.. Parker, and transmitted
with the original document The whole accom-
paniment is almost as unique as the document 1t
self Il will be deposited with the archives of our
government crafty the curiosity Of pirtosos Ac-
companyng this letter. is addressed to Mr. Cush-
inc. our late commissioner to China-of which we
furnish also a translation.
The reader will probably recollect that we recent
" published an interesting communication from o
learned Chinese scholar in this city descriptive Of
the characters of the letters written by the Chinese
and proving that the higher the respect intended to
be shown, the larger the dimension OF the letter.
II this rule be correct one, higher respect
could scarcely be shown to the President of the
United States, perhaps to any potentae upon the
face the EARTH than in this extraordinary compo-
sition.
The contents of the letter to the President are very
agreeable 1t breathes the pure spirit of peace and
sincere desire 70 extend the benefits of Intercourse
|
| sry Kingdom" as the Chinese call their own en-
pre, and 'the Nation Of the Flowery Flag" they
call u.s. (See the sentiments of the Scholars and
| People of Canton, in Mr. Cushings Documentary
| Correspondence submitted to the last Congress,
page 66.)
It is amusing to see with what an air Of refined
courtesy the Emperor excuses himself for not see
NJ Dolr, n,,, ,;s,;nr,
most anxious to take the trouble of the visit but the
Emperor plays the dpoA,atis and DISCUSSES his
policy of keeping strangers from his capital under
the appearance Of the greatest consideration for the
comfort of the ambassador.
The letter to the President consists of roll feet
inch long, by Q feet IL inches wide. The writing
is on field of plain yellow silk, with margin Of
silk of the same color, embroidered in gold thread
The letter is in two languages, Chinese and Man
chu Tartar in characters of large size, and in per-
pendicular columns, which separated in the mid
die by the imperial seal--which is composed Of
Chinese characters, enclosed in caiouche about
inches square. This roll is enclosed in wrapper
of yellow silk, (yellow being the imperial color;)
which again is enclosed in round box covered with
yellow silk, and closed by two fastenings Of jade
stone; and finally is enclosed in an oblong square
box of rosewood and padded and lined with yellow
silk
coPY.l
The GREAT EMPEROR presents his regards 10 the
President, and trusts HE is well.
| the EMPEROR having looked up and received the
manifest iciH of HEAVEN, hold the reins of govern
msnt over, and soothe and tranquilize the Central
Flo,cey Kingdom, regarding all within and beyond
the border seas one and the same family.
Early in the spring, the ambassador Of your honor
able nation, Caleb Gushing, having received your let
ter, arrived from afar at my rorince Of Yuf. He hav-
ing passed over the vast oceans with unspeakabIe
toll and fatigue, l, the EMPEROR, not bearing to
cause him further Inconvenience of travelling by
land and water, to dispense with his coming to Pc
king to be presented at court, specially appointed
Ke Ying, of the IMPERIAL HOUSE. minister and COM
missioner extraordinary, repair thther and to treat
him with courteous attention.
Moreover, they having negotiated and settled all
things proper, the said minister took the letter. and
presented it for MY INSPECTION; and YOUR sincerity
and friendship being in the highest degree real, and
the thoughts and sentiments being with the utmost
sincerity and truth kind, the time of opening and
perusing it, my pleasure and delight were exceed
ingly profound
All and everything they had settled regarding the
regulations of commerce, the EMPEROR further ex-
amlned with utmost scrutiny, and found they are
alperspicuous and entirely and perfectly judicious,
and forever worthy of adherence
To k,cang Chou, Hen Nun, Fab Cho,c, Ning-Po,
and shang Haes it is alike permitted the citizens of
the United States to proceed, and according to the
dcles of the treaty, at their convenience to carry on
commerce. .a
Now, bound by perpetual unity and concord adj
vantage will accrue to the citizens Of both nations,
which, trust, must certainly cause the PREsrpEsT
also to be extremely well satisfied and delighted.
Taon Kwang, Oath yr. llth m. and 7th d. (16th
Dec. A. D. 1s44.)
Great seal of the empire in Chi signet of the
nese and Tartar imperial will {
(Sgned) PETER PARKER,
Late Chinese Secretary to the Legation
opens to the commerce Of the United Siates.-EpIroR
' [coPY.
Isl Ying of the Imperial House, governor gene
raj of Kwang Tang and Kwang Sc, director of
rent, minister and commissioner extraordinary OF
Inc Isl Using empire, makes this communication,
&C.:
Whereas, on former OCCASION l, with the honor
able envoy, negotiated and settled treaty of amity
and commerce, and fortunately received the august
hmperor's Injunctions to the operative boards who
have ratified the same, due notice whereof has been
gwen by me, the minister. This is on record.
lhave now received the august Emperor's reply
70 the presidential letter of your honorable nations
august Presidents and, as behooveth me, i, the min
iser, appoint two high officers, (Hwang,) the pro-
vincal treasurer, and Chow the commissary, TO
take 1t and deliver it to (Dr.) Parker, the officer
whom your excellency deputed to receive and rans-
NIT it.
After your excellency shall have received it, re-
guest you will, without delay, respectfully present
IL TO the President in order To manifest perpetual
Amlty and concord,3 an this I unake this
Communication, and take the opportunity of pre-
sentng my regards for your daily increasing happi-
ness As is requisite, make this communication.
The foregoing communication is to Caleb Cush.
ing, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
hary of the United States of America to China.
,ol deon kwang Gath year, 18th month"; 10th day,
(23d January, 1845.)
(Signed,) PETER PARKER,
Late Chinese Secretary of the Legation.
AMERICAN AND ENGLISH FEELING.
When the President delivered his inaugural ad-