Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-04-26
CHINESE DIPLOMACY.

his government, While engaged IN form-
ing treaty between the United States
and the Chinese Empire, is certainly
one of the most curious and amusing,
as well as instructive and important, il
has ever fallen our lot to pcruse. He
went to China as commissioner and as
Envoy Extraordinary and minister
Plenipotentiary to the Imperial court,
and arrived in Macao roads on the 9th
Of February, 1914, about year ago.
From the Brandywinc frigatc, in which
he arrived there, he addressed letter
to the Governor General of kwang
Tong, and Kwang Su, informing that
functionary ofhis fixed intention to land
at Macao for a few weeks to provision
his ship, and then 10 continue his voy-
age to the mouth Of Pisho, on his way
to the city of Picking, there TO deliver
a letter to his Imperial Majesty from
the President of the United States
Meantime. in diplomatic phrascology,
He asks the Gouernor General, how
his august Sovereign does!
10 this, Ching, OF the Celestial dyn-
asty, acting Governor General of
Kwang Tung, and kwang Sc. Direct
or Of the board Of war, assisting Impc-
rial adviser, acting commissioner Of the
grand departments &c. ,rcplie2 at length
and tells the American Envoy, that
the great Emperor is in the enjoyment
of happy old age, and quiet hi alth, and
at peace with all bot, far and near; of
which it is proper in reply, to inform
the honorable Pl@nipotentiary, in order
to answer his serious desire of what is
just and proper" But as to the pro-
ject of going to Picking, the Governor
General says, with native caution,
:" hitherto it has been necessary 10 de-
liberate whether it be feasible sub
iect which it is not light matter to
agitate. Some Plenipotentiary arrange
ments are clearly necessary /; he sug-
gests; otherwise there will be put an
end to ciyility, and to rule without har-
mony." And he spreads before Mr..
Gushing, the political obstacles in the
way: covering them up, however. un.
der the guise of physical impossibilities
with tact and cautiousness denoting
his cxcellency Ching, to be rival in
diplomacy, to the Plenipotentiary Cush-
ing. He tells the latter, that Mr..
Forbes, the American consul at Can
ton, had already apprised his govern
ment that the American Minister would
come, expecting TO go without delay,
once TO Pckin;" and" he adds, sal
ready has the Imperial edict been re-
ccivcd, directing me TO await the arri-
vol Of the Envoy at Canton, and there
TO soothc and stop him, as it is not con-
ycnicnt at this time to hurry to the
north. Cling then goes on to suggest
that there is no necessity for treaty
with the United States. China, having
been on good terms with American mer-
chants, and that therein the case was
quite different one from that with
England,w which the Flowcry king
dom had been in a war. Besides, by
that treaty, the United States and
France were to be treated exactly like
England.
The American Minister, is not, how
ever, 10 be so put off, and in few days
sends master Ching, "a Roland for an
Oliver" lie begins by yicing with
the Chinese, diplomatic in the array of
titles and powers which his government
has invested him, and then he very
courteously expresses great joy at hear
ing Of "thc happy old age and good
health" of the August Sovereign. and
then coolly expresses his regret that,
as to the questions Of his going TO Pc
kin, and the necessity Of a treaty, he
cannot discuss them with any body but
an Imperial commissioner. Ching,
persists. Mr.. Gushing asks for copies
of the English and Portuguese treaties;
they are transmitted; then Mr.. Cush-
ing asks where he shall reside, while
waiting the deci.ion Of the Emperor,
as 20 his Pehin voyage, and When he
will hear from the court on this point
/ to which Ching replies, that Mr.. e.,
had bettar stay at Macao. and that he
expects to hear from the Emperor, in
about three months. This despatch
closes thus and we give it as fair
sample Of the courtesy with which the
Chinese diplomacy was conducted
"Uniling these circumstances make
this reply, and take the opportunity Of
presenting my compliments. and my