Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-12
From the Providence (R. H. Journal.
Our new Secretary Of Legation 60 chin

new emma.
1t is SO occurrence for the Admnstra-
| ton. to make diplomatic appointment except for
political services that it affords pleasure when
we are enabled to announce for other reasons.
The appointment of Mr.. S. Wells Williams as
Secretary of Legation in China, is the very best
one that could have been made to that important
place, and will give great satisfaction, not only to
all merchants engaged in commerce with China,
but to phllanthropsts and Christians who desire
to pure religion, sound morals, and better
civilization transplanted there. 1t will be a source
of qualifications too, to oriental Scholars both Of
this country and in Europe. He is native of
Utica, in the State of New York, and went TO
that country many years ago as the agent Of the
American Missionary Society. Having philo-
logical turn of mind, he made study of the Chi
nese language, which, after few years, he nc
-quircd, when he established printing press and
became one Of the editors of the Chinese Reposi-
tory, monthly publication issued in Canton.
Some seven eight years ago he returned to New
York, where he published sThe Middle King
dom" work descriptive of the Chinese Empire,
that being the term which the Celestials apply to
their country All other nations are to them
"outside barbarians,' surrounding the great cen
trail or middle kingdom of China, This excellent
work is in two stout volumes, and is justly con-
sidered the best work extant on the country of
which it treats.
When we say that our new Secretary OF Lega-
ton is the best living scholar Of the Chinese Ian
guage out of China, we but repeat the opinion of
several distinguished Frenchmen well versed in
the language, expressed in Paris at the time Mr.,
Williams visited that city OH his way TO the Uni
ted States. Attorney General Gushing found him
Of great service at the time of his mission TO
China, and we are inclined to give the General
the credit of the appointment Mr.. Williams
has besides been very useful to all our ministers
in that country, from his thorough understanding
of the language and character Of the people.
But Mr.. Williams has claim beyond that Of
being a Chinese scholar. Some ten twelve
years since he accompanied some Japanese
men, picked up at sea, and sent by Messrs. Oil
plant & Co. in one of their ships to Japan. They
were not permitted TO land, or even to put the
japanese on shore, but were fired into and driven
of, Returning to Canton, Mr.. Williams kept
the Japanese with him, taught them English,
and learned through them the language of Japan.
When Commodore Perry sailed on his late mis-
sion from Canton, he took Mr.. Williams with
him as his interpreter We may, therefore, claim
for our friend some credit for the successful issue
Of this expedition. We received letter from
MIR Williams, dated in the Bay of Jeddo, giving
some particulars of his visit, but the news
anticipated by previous arrivals
We should add, that while in the United States
at the period referred to, Mr.. Williams married
the daughter of Chancellor Walworth, of New
York