Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-02-06

him. consisted Of Isl Yeng, an I'm
perial delegate and plenipotentiary
Wang, treasurer of the provinces of the
two Kwangs; and pwan, another high
dignitary of State.
Tsi Yeng is Tartar of the Imperial
blood, and the same person who nego-
tiated with Sir Henry Potinger. His
name, we might as well state here, has
been enormously spelled Kying in the
English papers This parsonage see
med to have the full confidence of his
sovereign, and he was appointed, with
all the powers of a plenipotentiary, to
negotiate with the French and Ameri-
can legations, as soon as they arrived.
One very interesting fact is worthy of
rotice. No obstacles were placed in
the way Of Mr.. Gushing proceeding to
Pekin, one great object of former en-
bassies from England. He was told
there would be none, and finding the
imperial commissioner had power fully
to treat with him, he yielded his per-
sonal curiosity and pride, if he enter
tanned any such feelings, to the consi-
deration Of his country's interests. He
therefore entered at once upon the ne
gotiation, and was an immense gamer
by this considerate course.
The Chinese commissioners were in
telligent and gentlemenly men, they
had a retinue of civil and military at
PENDANTS, and so large was it, that it
was with great difficulty that they could
find quarters for them all. Isl Yeng
very unceremoniously took possession
of an immense temple dedicated to "our
Lady of Mercy" in the village of Wang
Hiya, where he kepthis state. The diff
culties of the languages were obvlated
by the frankness and tact Of Mr.. Cush-
ing in declaring at once the real objects
of his mission, disclaiming any resort
to finesse or force, and appealing to the
good sense and high character of the
Chinese ambassadors. These with e.
quail frankness and confidence propos-
ed to employ the American interpreters
exclusively, and by SO doing paid our
| national character, and our national re-
preventative, the very highest colnpli
ment in their power.
For two weeks the two commissions
were employed day and night, with
the exceptions of their meal times, and
a few hours giveu to repose, in discus
sing and arranging the various ques-
tons in controversy between the two
governments, and in negotiating the
treaty now before the Senate of the U.
States. 1t was at last agreed upon and
d.~".- IT, - 0i-:----- II H. ell. L..4
finally prepared in the Tartar dialect,
which is the language of the Emperor.
twas signed at ten o'clock at night,
on the Sd Of July last, in the sanctuary
of the temple we have already mention
ed, from which the priests and their
idols had been previously displaced,
without the slightest hesitation, to make
room for the commissioner and his suit.
This circumstance confirms the opin-
ion entertained by many residents in
China, that at the Imperial Court there
is no particular regard paid to any re-
ligion.
When the treaty was signed, splen-
did repast was given in the temple to
the American minister. Indeed, dur
ing the fortnight of negotiation at Ma
Gao, the respective legations were con-
stantly giving and receiving entertain
ments. At one given by Mr.. Gushing,
all the American ladies at Macao We're
present, and the Chinese dignitaries,
for the first time in their lives, perform
ed the extraordinary duty of handing
in foreign ladies to the dinner table, and
of paying them the usual attentions
there. Many of the officers of the
squadron were also present.
The next day Isl Yeng was taken so
i'll that he was obliged to be removed
to Canton, and there various other mi
nor questions were afterward settled by
Gull SpOH0CACS3 duo tAC pClSOudl dl- |
tention of some members of our lega-
ton acting for the minister at Macao.
Indeed, from the 4th of July for two |
months following, an official correspon.
dence was kept up increasingly in rela-
ton to matters connected with the me-
gotiation-among these especially was
that of the personal safety of Americans
in China, arising out of the circumstance
of a Chinese, one, of mob, having
been shot by an American in the streets
Of Canton, while engaged in the popu-
lar work ofinsulting foreingners.
After closing his arduous labors, and
as we believe, achieving more for his
country by far than Sir Henry Pottinger
hes done for his, he left China on the
29th of August last, in the US. bring
Perry. A successful voyage of sixty
FIVE days brought him to San Bias,
touching at Maxatlan, by the way
L I i I |