The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-15
TRADE WITH A STA
The Government Mission 20 Cochin China,
Slam, Java, and BcrneO.

We Law before aders sclec. ions lIom the re-
port Of Mr.. Balester, the United States Envoy an
pointed 10 visit those countries, with the view Of
opening commercial intercourse. We gave III .be
NRw York HERALD, on the arrival Of Mr. Bsliester
from his mission, n sketch Of his negotiations But
new that the government has taken decided
course of action in reference to Japan such mater
possesses the highest interest aud il keenly appre-
siablc by the enterprsing spirit Of the age, and
we therefore 60 more largely into details This
country, from its position and influence. must re-
serve to itself the civiizing this distrcs Of Asia
and the benefits of its commerce.
Mr.. Balester received his instructions from Mr..
Secretary Clayton, in August, lSl9, and in accord
anee with them he Immediately embarked for Liy
erpool and took the Mediterranean route, aud
sived at Hong Kong in November, but owing 20
delay on the part of the naval commander, did
not embark in the flag ship Plymouth until the 2ist
February; and anchored in the bay of Turong, near
Hue, the capital of Cochin China, the 10Th Of
The month. Mr.. Baliester then proceeds to
detail the course of his mission and its results
few hours after the ships arrival IN the bay,
two Cochin China officers of inferior rank came on
board to inquire the object Of her coming. Having
foreseeD this, had prepared in English comnu-
nication, which Mr.. Dean had translated ia Chinese
which stated the friendly object Of nay visit. ana
which having atentiycly read, they declined
eoiying, and could not be persuaded to take
would faithfully communicate its imports, for they
said they were forbidden to take charge OF any
papers from foreigners; and they left the ship On
the morning following, was visited by another
officer Of higher rank, to whom, after he had in
quired the object of our coming, the paper OF the
day before was presented, with request to convey
u to the chief officer in command over the province.
But all my efforts were in yan though he promised
10 make known its contents. saying that 'what the
eye hath seen the mouth will faithfully report
and then he left us.
No further communication was held with the
shere Indeed not the smallest market-bOat ever
came to the Plymouth. until the Ist Of March,
when two boats, with an officer of higher rank,
with a native interpreter, who spoke little Eng
6sh and the Malay language huently, visited the
rhp The other officers who had previously visited
us, were also present. | presented the Chinese
translation Of my communication to the chief Off
Ger, and explained in Malay, through the native
Interpreter, my desire TO see the governor of the
province about presenting the letter had in charge
Cor the King, from the President, which letter. and
IT'S translation in Chinese, took care to show them.
On seeing the letter enclosed in sardawood box,
which DR.. Parker had had manufactured in Canton
in strict accordance with the etiquette of Pekn.
the chief officer took his leave, promising that in
three or four days q great man would attend me
from Hue. The demeanor of the whole party was
courteous and polite, but very cautious, for they
said that they had been deceived by foreigners in
ships of war; who came and were received as friends
but who committed acts Of hostility them, des-
troyng their ships and killing their people by
hundreds.
In an excursion which l made to the principal
town near our anchorage, on expressing my surprise
to the local authorities who accompanied NE in my
walk, at finding place. famous even TO q re cent
tme for its great commerce, reduced now to none
whatever, it was replied to me that the governor
had ceased TO encourage the industry of the coun-
try, by Withholding the advances formerly given to
the eutivators Of the soil and to the copper miners:
that the King would not allow of any foreign
trade; and that he had caused the ships which had
escaped destruction TO be taken into the river on
which the city Of Hue is placed.
The translation of the Presidents letter was read
aloud They objected, in the first place, TO the
given to their country and in the second place, TO
she closing remarks of the President, which they
construed into threat to their King. Ia reply.
observed, that rs they held no regular diploma tic
intercourse with western nations, and gave them no
notice fthe accession Of their kings of theirties
IL could not Justly be thought extraordinary if Euro
peans fell into errors about such matters. which
were known only 10 themselves That. in the second
place, what they considered a threat was not
i'll reality, for the President had merely warned
their King, that if, after having received his
letter Of friendship and Cancellation, disavow-
ing any act of hostility by an officer OF the
Omitted States against his kingdom, and offer
ing to make amends, on being satisfied of the
truth Of the complaint, he should persist in
harboring enmity, and to execute his threat to
avenge himself upon such Americans fell in his
power, then the President would feel himself obliged
to send armed ships to Anam, to demand satisfae-
tory explanations of such revengcful feelings Night
having come on the conference was suspended until
the next morning, when returned to the shore and
II was renewed, and as usual, terminated in nothing
definite, rs they had to return to Hue with the
copy which had consented to let them take of the
Presidents letter, done in Chinese.
On the morning of the 18th, officer came Off
from the town to inform that the Governor of the
province Of Kwangnam had arrived, and that he in
vited me to meet him on shore.
To his inquiry about the object of my coming to
Cochin China. replied that l was the bearer of a
letter, to which pointed from the President of the
n bn IF Ann
which, as instructed, was anxious TO deliver. He
raid that the letter could not be received because
ii referred to the killing Of Cochin Chinese by the
crew Of an American vessel of war, which was not
true, as the records of the country had been
searched, and no record of the kind could he found
that the King knew the contents of the letter.
and there need Of having the letter itself de-
Gvered-that the King was the proper judge of what
he ought to do.
To these observations / replied and made numer.
Gus attempts to prevail on him to allow the Presi-
dents letter to take its proper saying that
10 deny the killing and wounding of people by the
crew OF the United States ship Constitution, after
the formal complaints the former king had made
through me, at Singapore, to my government,
could not help considering but q pretext on
their part to get rid OF the responsibility which
would weigh heavily their government, should
they, after formal receipt Of the letter. commit any
hostile act the persons property of citizens of the
United States. That it was unusual in subjects or
citizens OF countries to stop written communications
from one sovereign to another or from the chief of
nation to another one, ard that so uncourteous
an act could not fail to be highly offensive to the
President of the United States. who had been at
great pains and put to great expense TO send me
here on a mission Of peace.
After three hours conference, during which time
he was polite and courteous having minated to me
his determination to leave Tdrorg Immediately,
forced to renounce any further attempts at ne.
gotaton. Having remained az the anchorage until
the morning Of the 10Th of March, ia hopes Of re-
ceiying some favorable communication, whereby
negotiations might be reof ened and resolving none
the Plymouth left the haIbor.
The course Of the Plymouth being altered 10
west the wind and current became favorable to ps
and in few days the slip, ~ TIC oath Of March,
anchored Of the bar Of INC river on which tie city
OF Bangkok, the CAP .tal % siam, Is built.
On the 18th. the plymouth Nas visited ~
Siamese officer of inferior ram, seB5 by tins a.n.-
mander Of the fort at the entrance of the rfer 70
inquire who we were, and our business
The Samesc having completed their srranpements