The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-03-14
To his Excelency CHING, &c.

UNITED STATES LEGATION, April l6, 1874
SIR have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
of your Excelency's communication of the 18th in
slant.
BY this learn that no Commissioner has yet been
appointed to meet me behalf of the august Sove-
reign.
Also tha, reply from Picking to the despatch of
your Excellency announcing the arrival OF the Anne
rcan legation and its intention to repair TO Picking,
may be expected in three months time.
Under these circumstances, inasmuch as your En-
ceency does not propose to open to me the inland
road to Pekng, in the event Of my waiting here UNI
Ill the favorable for proceeding to the
North by sea shall have passed away, aud as can.
not, without disregard of the commands Of my Gov
eminent, permit the season to elapse without pursu-
ing the objects of my mission | shall Immediately
leave Macao in the Brandywine.
feel the less hesitation in pursuing this in
consideration Of the tenor of the several commun
cations which have received from your Excellency.
1t is obvious that if the Court had entertained any
very particular desire that should remain here il
would have caused Imperial Commissioner to be
on the spot, ready to receive on my arrival or at
any rate instructions would have been forwarded to
your Ercellency for the reception Of the legation
SINCE in order that proper act Of courtesy towards
the Chinese Government should be left unobserved
notice was duly given last autumn, by the Consul Of
the United States that my Government had appoint
ed M mister to China. The omission of the Court
take eli her of these steps Indicate ex pee
lson It's part, that should probably land at some
port in the North.
Besides which, your Excellency is well aware that
II IS neither the custom IN China consistent with
the high characte, of its Sovereign decline to re-
ceve the embassies Of friendly States. TO do so,
indeed, would, among Western States be considered
an act OF national Insult and just cause Of war
Permit me 10 observe that your Excellency misap-
prehends the nature n my communications, if you
look upon them as conveying an importuna,e request
any subject whatever; not having understood that
your Excehency has any power to negotiate with for.
eign Ministers, and having contenled myself with
courteously replying to what seemed to zoe the inn
Fortunate request OF your Excelency 10 have alb.
stain from gong TO Picking.
Indeed, my sole object originally, in addressing your
Exceency was to signify my high personal respect
aud that OF my Government Tor the august Sovereign
by Selling the earliest moment after my arrival IN
China 10 make inquiry for his health.
Difference TO the Government OF the Province de.
handed that this inquiry should be sddr, ssed to your
Ercellency,
In doing this had the opportunity, also, Of Ten
deung my compliments 10 your Exceency, who thus
became incidentally informed of tue arrival OF the le
CATION.
These were acts Of courtesy which seemed 10
me proper TO be performed by The representative OF
The Government Of the United States to the nearest
great functionary ofIhst Of China
And here the corresponds nee on my part would have
stopped bot for the fact that your
II 10 be your duty in reply, to enter into Arguments
on the question OF whether II convenient f1r the
Legations TO proceed 70 fssng, and whether tLe was