Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-07-24
From the ssUnion," June 81.
TIE BIG CHINESE LETIEf

From the "Union," June 2l.
THE BIG CHINESE LETTER.
This singular document, which per-
haps surpasses in It's dimentions, and
in particulars of composition, any State
paper which was ever addressed to oul
government, arrived at the Department
of State yesterday. We have had an
opportunity Of seeing The extraordina-
~ missive, and been favored with the
following copy of a translation, which
was made from the Chinese by Mr..
Parker, and transmitted with the orr
ginal document. The whole accom-
paninent is almost as unique as the
document itself. Ii will be deposited
withthe archives of our government,
to crafty the curiosity of ristuosos.-.
Accompanying this letter, is one address
sed TO Mr. Cushing, our late commits
sioner to China-of which we furnish
also a translation.
The reader will probably recollec
that we recently publish an interesting
communication from a learned Chinese
scholar in that city, descriptive Of the
characters Of the letters written by the
Chinese; and proving that the higher
sefhe respect intended to be shown, the
larger was the dimension of the letter.
Ifthis rule be correct one, no higher
respect chould scarcely be shown to
the President Of the United States, or
perhaps TO and potentate upon the face
of the earth, than in this extraordinary
composition.
The contents Of the letter TO the
President are very agreeable. 1t
breathes thepur spirit of Peace, and a
sincere desire tosex.end the benefits Of
intercourse between the two great ma
tions-'the Central Flouery Kingdom
as the Chinese call their own Empire,
and 'tbe Nation ofthe Flowery Flay,'
as they cali US. {See the sentiments
of the Scholar and. People Of Canton,
ga: 20 A.. esa isss.s documentary Cor
respondence submitted to the last Con-
gross, page &C..
1t is amusing to see with what an
air of refined courtesy the Emperor ex
cuses himself for not seeing Mr.. Cush-
ing al Pekin. Our commissioner was
most anxious to take the trouble of the
visit; but the Emperor plays The diplo-
yasist; DISCUSSES his policy of keeping
fagers from his capital, under the
hAsnce Of consideration for the
CO, 10 ssftke ambassador.
TA,,og1er to ahe President consists
ola rdIi 7 feet ] inch long, 2 feet IL
inches wide. The writing is ON a
sheet Of plain yellow silk, with mar
gin of the same color, embroidered in
gold thread. The letter is in two Ian
guages, Chinese and Manchu Tartar
in characters oflarge size, and perpen-
dicular columns, which are separated in
the mil my BY the imperial seal which
is COMPOSED of Chinese characters, en-
closed in cartouche about 3 inches
ass3iiare- This roll is enclosed in a
wrapper ofyellow silk, (yellow being
the imperia! color;) which again is en-
closed in a round box covered with
yellow silk, and enclosed by two fas-
Jennings ofjade stone; and finally en-.
closed in an oblong square box ofrose-
wood, and padded and line with yell
low silk.
[copy.
- The GREAT EMPEROR presents his
regards to the PRESIDENT, and trusts
he is well.
I the EMPEROR having looked up
and received the manifest aciH Of HEA-
VEN, hold the reins OF government o.
yer, and soothe and tranquillize the
Central Flo,cegy 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 Gush-
Eng, having received yoss letter, arris.
ed from afar at my province Of Tue.-
He having payssd over the vast oceans
with unspfakable toll and fatigue, 1.-the
EMpERoR, NOT bearing to cause him
further Inconvenience Of travelling by
land and water, to dispense with his
corning to Pehin TO be present at court,
pecially appointed Ke Yang, Of the
IMPERIAL HOUSE, minister and COM
esioner extraordinary, to repair
ass and to treat HIM with courte-