The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-19
RUSSIAN CLERICAL MISSION TO CHINA.
rcorresponasneo Of tho London Telegraph

before the aplomass who under the clauses Of the
Teinn treaty to act as the representatives of west
Europe at the Court of Pekn have been selected the
Russian charges daarc already beyond the Chinese
frontiers. Not the diplomatic charges afaires properly
speaking but fresh edition of that so-caled spiritual
mission of Russian orthodoxy. whose clerical members
have been gradually superseded by emissares OF
worldly character That mission being present headed
by dplomast of rank, the very appearance of
ecclesiastical purpose has been taken off The mission
is merely supplement- to the embassy about TO be
established Considering the immense interest connected
with every circumstance relating to the opening of China
extract from the Ikutsk Official Gazae the following
description of the departure Of the mission Pekin
At the end Of July the Chino Siberian frontier town of
kiachta filled with strangers who hocked in to wit
the departure Of Pvy Councillor Perowski and Arch
mandre tArchdeacon) Gooree with their staff to Pckn
The Archbishop of rtsk and the head adutant of the
of East Siberia together with many officers and
priests had likewise repaired TO the town to give the mis-
sion their official support far the frontiers Another
class of guests consisted OF troops of the Trans Baia
army, encamped some miles from Troizkosawsk, on the
banks of the river Keerau At this point were drawn to
gether two cavalry regiments of Cossacks two other reg
mens of regular cavalry two batteries of the Trans Bal
kal field artillery two Cossack batteries and battalion
of Siberian infantry of the altogether than
1000 men, and commanded by Major General Michael
owski,
Before all persons constituting the mission had gath
cred at Kiachta the Russian merchants residing at the
latter place took the opportunity of performing those
Italian evoutions which much admired in the cap
entertained by the wealthy tradesmen Of the town
The Chinese from Mamachin (which is only half mile
from Kachta passed the frontiers and heartily par
cipatcd in the merriment of their Russian ncighbors
To combine the useful with the agreeable. the commander
of the camp ordered part of the troops to quit the table,
take arms, and manoyre in the presence of the
bled Ceestias The latter perfectly amazed ut tho
der and rapdity OF the evoutions thought they had
never before seen any thing wonderful Their aston
ishcnt had reached its highest pitch when the chief of
artillery suddenly giving the German and Russian word
of command Marche, Marche, caused his guns to pro-
coed in laundering gallop, then come to sudden
stand-stl and fie The matter appeared to them per-
ccty supernatural To give vent to his feelings the
mayor Of Kachta at the end of the military evoutons.
requested the Russian authorities to apt present
for those wonderful fellows whose manvres had given
him and his countrymen much delight, slight pres
ent of tea, of the value of 700 roubles.
On the 4tl and 5th Of August, the fe dag of her Ma
iesty the Empress Maria Alexandrowna celebrated by
divine service lasting during the whole of the night
On the succeeding day liturgy performed by the
the open field and afterwards in the church
The Chinese Mayor of Maimatchn, having previously
asked permission of the Russian commander present
at the service with his and suite IL was the first
time that the highest Chinese magistrate at this part of
the frontier entered the church of Knchta He appeared
greatly struck with the splendid decorations of the nte
ror, and the various magnificent garments Of the Rus
sian priesthood He likewise seemed to take much in
erest in the subject matter and tone of the prayers On
the priests leaving the church at the close of the service
he expressed wish to pay his respects to the archbishop
This being acceded to- he approached the dgnay Of the
Russian church before the church door, and presence
of all assembled bowed and by way of Chinese conpl
ment touched the forehead of the highly reverend father
in God This example was initiated by his sons, who
kissed the hands of the archbishop and like their father
were rewarded with shake of the pestly palm As if
not satisfied with thisin Chinese high officials most
extraordinary mark of condcscension mayor Diar
gooche at late hour Of the day. requested the pardon
of the Russian commissioner Of the frontiers In he
by his demonstration of respect and esteem should have
offended acted contrary to the Russian
toms
The three following days were again occupied with
field manGuvrcs and grand parades of the forces Again
the Chinese delighted beyond The sight of
solemn cavalry march, executed under the inspiring
music of the National Hymn, was feature of the
military festival to them; but the rapid movements and
of the artillery appeared nevertheless
retain the first place in their feelings of wonder and be-
On the 9th of August the members of the mission were
entertained at grand dinner by the mercantile com
munity of the place. In the evening of the day
the Russian dpomatsts priests and suite conduct
cd to the Chinese temples, theatres, and magazines of
that half Celestial frontier town. NJ Dcspot Snowitch
the Russian commissary of the frontier accompanied the
guests on this excursion and afterwards conducted them
to pay visit to the Chinese mayor at Mamatchn There
every possible honor known in the Chinese code of
monial bestowed the Russians The day concluded
with visiting in the society of the mayors son number
Of the wcalthiest Chinese merchants
1t having become known that the 7th of August was
the date appointed for the departure of the mission the
population of Kiacht assembled in the streets in the
night previous to that day to be ready take last look
Mt the delegates of the Emperor AT nine o'clock in the
morning divine service performed In presence of the
diplomatic travellers and military and civil authorities
but only comparatively few of the crowd assembled with
out could gain admittance into the sacred cdifcc The
preached the text et your light shine
before that they may your good works and glor
y your Father which s in heaven. He interpreted the
meaning of this to contrast it with attempts
1T prosclytism carried mainly by Of theoretical
argument At the end of his the preacher alud
ID to the immense importance Of the Chinese empire, and
cqucsted all Christians present to pray for the
If the neighborng hcathen
The moment had now arrived when the members of |
he mission had TO leave Kachta and with it Russia
Emerging by from the portal of the church. they
iclcd foot through the streets of Kiachta and Mai
natchn, escorted by the authorities and troops curl
,us fact, and highly illustrative of the means by |
which the Russian empire has been founded and is still
xtendcd is the circumstance Of the three officers
handing the Russian troops this occasion, (MM |
suisse Kuge and Devigncr,) being two of German and
me of French extraction.
The mercantile population took the lead in the process
ion, the crowd bringing up the and the salvos of
rtery sending their roaring salucs into the Celestial
mprc. The impression produced ON the Chinese all |
hat could be wished Chinese carriages awaited the
assy at the gate of Maimatcin to convey them to the
rst station, Germ At the latter place the travellers
net their tran aud received by the Mongolian Off
ers, who had to accompany them To Urg (Oorgee
r--------
There is considerable feeling at Buffalo, New York. in
elation to the building of the international bridge
lie scheme proposed by Mr. Ross Large meetings have
held both sides and from the latest accounts it