Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-08-02
From the Washing ton Union.
THE BIG CHINESE LETTER.

GUITARS of composition, any State paper
which was ever addressed to our gov.
eminent, arrived al the Department OF
State Yesterday. We have had an oppor.
tunity 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 trans
miited with the original document. The
whole accompaniment is almost as unique
as tho document itself. 1t will be deposit
ed with the archives Of our government,
10 crafty the curiosity Of ViriuoSoS. Ac-
companying this letter, is one addressed 10
Mr.. Gushing, our late commissioner to Chi
na--ol which we furnish also translation.
The reader will recolect that we recent.
y published an inter esting communication
from Chinese scholar in this city descrip.
tive Of the characters OF the letters written
by the Chinese; and proving that the higher
the respect intended TO be shown, the larg.
er was the dimension Of the letter. II this
rule be a correct one, no higher respect
could scarcely be shown to the President
Of the United States, or perhaps TO any
potentate on the face OF the earth, than in
this extraordinary composition.
The contents Of the letter to the Pres
dent are very agreeable. 1t brea,hes the
pure spirit Of peace, and a sincere desire TO
extend the benefits Of intercourse between
the two great natons-"the Central FloiU-
cry Kingdom" as the Chinese call their
own empire, and the "Nation Of the Flow
cry Flag" as they call US. (See the senti
ments of the scholars and people Of Canton
in Mr.. Cushing's Documentary Correspon
dence submitted 10 the last Congress, page
66.)
1t amusing to see with what an air OF rein.
ed courtesy the emperor excuses himself for
not seeing Mr.. Gushing at Pekin. Our Com
missioner was most anxious TO take the
trouble Of the visit; but the emperor plays
the dipomatist, and DISCUSSES his policy Of
keeping strangers from his capital, under
the appearance of the greatest considera
lion Tor the comfort Of the ambassador.
The letter to the President consists OF a
roll feet, one inch long, by 2 feet, / in.
ches wide. The writing IS on a field OF
plain yellow silk, with a margin Of silk Of
the same color, embroidered in gold thread.
The letter is in two languages, Chinese and
Manchu Tartar.) in characters Of large
size, and in perpendicular columns, which
are separated in the middle by the imperial
seal-which is composed OF Chinese char.
acters enclosed in a cartouche about inches
square. This roll is enclosed in a wrap.
per of yellow silk, yellow being the i'm.
perial colorD which again is enclosed in
a round box covered with yellow silk, and
closed BY two fastenirgs Of jade stone; and
finally is enclosed in an oblong square box
Of rosewood, and padded and lined with
yellow silk.
COPY
The GREAT EMPEROR presents his regards
to the PREsIrENT, and trusts HE is well.
! the EMPEROR having looked up and re-
ceived the NANTES, ,oiH of HEAVEN, hold the
reins Of government over, and soothe and
tranquize the Central FloDery Kingdom,
regarding all within and beyond the border
seas as one and the same family.
Early in the spring, the ambassador Of
your honorable nation, Caleb Gushing, hav.
ing received your letter, arrived from aiar al
my province of Yue. He having passed
over the vast oceans with unspoakabIe toll
and fatigue, |, the EMPEROR, not bearing TO
cause him further Inconvenience Of travel.
ling by land and water, to dispense with
his coming to Pektng TO be presented at
court, especially appointed Re Ying OF the
IMPERIAL HOUSE, minister and commissioner
extraordinary to 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 IN,
sPEoTIoN; and YOUR sincerity and friendship
being in the highest degree real, and the
thoughts and sentiments being with the vi,
most sincerity and kind truth, at the time
OF opening and perusing it, my pleasure and
delight were exceedingly profound.
All and every thing they had settled re.
garding the regulations Of commerce, ], the
EMPEROR, further examined with utmost
, scrutiny, and found they are all perspicu
Gus, and entirely and perfectly judiCious
and forever worthy OF adherence.
To Kwang Chou, Hen Nun, Fiji Chou
Ming. Pc, and Shang Hae,* it is alike per
mitted the citizens OF the United States &c
proceed and according to the articles o
the treaty, at their convenience TO carry or
commerce.
f Now, bound by perpetual amity and con
cord, advantage wilt accrue TO the citizen!
Of both nations, which l trust, must Ger
tainly cause the PREslDENT also 10 be ex
tremely well satisfied and delighted
f Taon Kwang, Gath yr. 18th m. and 6lf
d. 18th December l844.)
: Great seal the empire }Signet OF lhel
in Chinese and Tartar. Imperial wiIl.}
/ (SigneO PETER PARKER
Late Chinese Secretary to the Legation.
r the five ports in the Chinese empire