The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-08
CURIOUS AND ORIGINAL CHINESE DoCU-
MENT

| mfsN
The recently-published letter from the Emperor
of China to the President Of the United States, is
evidence of the progress which has been made IN
bringing that great empire, hitherto insulated rom
the rest of the world within the pale of the diplo-
macy of Christendom and there has come to our
knowledge an equally curious proof Of the fact that
the Chinese government is becoming sensitive on
the subject of the opinion and estimation of foreign
countries. forged document appeared some time
since in an English newspaper, purporting to be
the report of the imperial commissioner to his gov
eminent, communicating the treaty he had just con-
cuded with the minister of the United States, and
which publication contained certain expressions
derogatory to the United States upon which the
imperial commissioner, expressing deep regret that
his integrity and sincerity should thus be exposed
to suspicion abroad, took pains to cause to be
the forgery committed and copy of the genu-
inc report and in addition to this document which
has already appeared in the New York papers, we
have been favored with manuscript copy of the
report of the Treasury Board at Peking to which
the treaty was referred by the Emperor, for advice
on the question of its ratification
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF REVENUE UPON THE
| COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS OF THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
| The Board Of Revenue have complied with the
| imperial will, that they deliberate upon (the Amer
lean treaty. and speedily memorialize the throne
The commissioner of the province Of Kroang Chow
having laid this subject before the minister Of the
Privy Council, together with our board and the
Board of Appeal, we have deliberated upon, and
ported on the commercial regulations Of the United
| Stat IF Inns uhicb the nd
minister extraordinary, Ike Ying, and others, had
transmitted to his Majesty; and on Taow Kwang
Oath year, 7th month, and Cd day, august Is,
lS44) we, the aforesaid boards, transmitted duly
prepared memorial to the Emperor, and upon the
same day respectfully received the following reply
at is the imperial pleasure to accord with your
deliberations. By the Emperor" As he honoreth
| u.s. we copy original memorial, and address
| flying despatch to He Ying, the governor general
of the Two kwang provinces. copy Of our me.
mortal is enclosed, which is as follows:
! We, the ministers of the Privy Council and the
respective boards, with serious care and attention.
memoriallZe the throne, in conformity with the
imperial mandate, speedily to hold deliberations and
duly TO report to the throne. Upon the 9th month,
and 4th day of the present year, august %, l844)
| ke Wing and associates transmitted to the Emperor
that they had negotiated and settled treaty of
commerce with the United States of America, and
! his Majesty's pleasure was thus received.
| Let the ministers of the Privy Council, together
with the appropriate boards, speedily deliberate and
duly report thereon TO the throne. The copy of
the treaty, and an calculation thereof (by Keying
and others,) both forwarded. BY the EN-
| peror."
| Your ministers have examined the regulations
of the five ports, and find that originally il was
granted to all nations to trade in and the same
manner. Now, the United States of America have
sent an envoy to Yue, positively desiring and ear
nestly begging clearly TO settle reatv in order to
place on permanent basis relations of peace
and harmony. And the said governor Ike Yng)
having ordered referees Cor deputed oicers) to dis
,nguish between the admissible and the Objectionable
| (thngs proposed by the envoy) they have delibe-
rated upon and settled thirtv-four articles, and them
at Macao, wrote out copies and affixed the seal
thereto for each to receive, in order TO exhibit a
soothing and tranqulzing disposition, Your min
listers, further close Investigations, ascertaned
that originally he Ike Ying) did it in compliance
| with the disposition Of foreigners, and that the
great interests of free commerce might sustain no
| detriment. These were his motives. Among them
are fifteen articles which concern port charges and
duties. The Board Of Revenue have examined and
asccrtaned that the said governor and others have
delberated and settled every article relating to COM
merce: as payment of duty which is wholly in ac
cordance with the existing tariff Of the five ports
Besides there articles prohibiting foreigners from
rambling into the country; the permission TO i'm
port and export every kind of merchandise; in
travelling baggage, not subject to duty, and boats
/
pointment of custom.house officers to guard ships
and the prohibition of extortion and in importing
and exporting cargo, fair and lust examination
shall be made; and weights and measures to be fur
nished by the custom-house officer and when the
duties and port charges are all paid a grand cbop
is to be granted. Merchants vessels having come
to anchor, not permitted clandesnely TO tram
ship goods; the Co Hong to be abolished, and trade
to be carried on with. whom they please; aud the
government Is not to be responsible for debts con-
tracted by the merchants
/ All these eleven articles we fnd on examination,
are, for the most part, the same the regulations
settled in previous year; and it is right do ac-
cordng to that which has been negotiated.
| As to the article which provides that cargo not
yet entirely disposed of at one port, may be sent to
another to dispose of, without additional port
charges; and another, providing that vessels having
entered port, but not having broken bulk, are al
lowed to depart within the period of eight and forty
hours, not being subject to port charges; anothec
article is, that ships entering port, and having
paid the duties, and then taking the residue
of the cargo, and transporting it to another port,
avoid additional duties; although these slightly
differ from the new regulations lnasmuch as the
said governor and associates have memoriazed the
Emperor, we have examined the circumstances of
the case, and find that they have deliberated upon,
| and taken due precauon, for whatever (the mer-
chants) request shall be clearly explained in the
port clearance, and communication shall be adj
dressed TO the custom house officers of the other
ports that they may examine accordingly They
have limited the time TO eightand-forty hours for
| going out of ports, which cannot be exceeded.
Moreover they are to examine clearly the original
cargo and the original packages, that there may be
10 evil of changing the merchandise; all of which,
il is agreed, shall be entered in the ships papers ac-
| cordingly, which are to be given to the said mer-
chants to receive. In every respect, ateach CUSTOM
house, it is necessary that full examination be
made there cannot be any undertaking covertly to
convey other merchandise causing disturbance and
candestine oozng out Of the duties, so that neither
the duties, nor the interests Of foreign merchants
will scarcely sustain any injury.
Again: there is an article that every year an an.
nual report shall be made by the consuls, or other
officers, Of the number ofvessels the amount Of car
go and of duties paid, and the true value of the
cargo, and reported clearly to the governor general
of each province, to be transmitted the hoard of
| revenue. The motive for this is to ascertain, the
true amount of duties. 1t is proper, therefore to
require the said governor, and Others every year to
transmit this report, and lay it before this board
|