The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-25
WASHINGTON CITY, wEDNDAY, AUGUST 25, 1858

arote this as the first Chinese entertaminent ever
saen without the presence OF that universal bcver-
ag not wanted however, for there WAS no room
foth and humor. Earnest business absorbed the az
te Of the high diplomatic functonaries and, though
tpos good feeling prevailed there was not an ndi-
yiDf either nation among those who were adhiittea
tdnterview who WAS not impressed Win the soieh'-
al the occasion After agreeing to the proposition
of imperial commissioners to ascertain the VIII OF
t4aster on important preliminary, the United
Stnnster and his corye took leave, end returned %
thtelope, From all that / saw and heard on ths |
och, would have gathered the inference II nad
ndwn II from other premises long ago, that WINE
Clf junk Is contemplate in comparison Win our
spill steamers and Chinese fort pitable when ex-
pop the artillery Of floating batteries, Chinese
diIAt is not to be despised by the most accomplished
staan select for our negotiators Ignorant
OF r countries, he Is not deficient In acquaintance
wife affairs Of his own and schooled III an unyeid-
inervatis it is his chief duty to defend its ancient
polganst aggression while our envoy has the hard-
er tot carrying by dint OF argument the entrench-
meIpf hereditary prejudice. Before dismissing the
subj this interview. may remark that an observer
coulddly fail to be struck with the grave dignity OF
the hChnese officials, while to my taste, perverted
perhsy long residence among them, their long SILK
ro embroidered breast plates and caps decorated
with killing rubes and flashing feathers, oontrasted
rathorably with the palmer attire OF their western
guest
Mo. Mr.. Reed came in this morning from the
comIpners at H. a. IN. Proceeding TO the landing,
he Sc messenger shore to ascertain whether s,it-
BILE agements had been made for his reception. The
answturncd was, that landing was out OF order, the
sesarf in waiting, and more than all, that the com
missits had not arrived. Hearing this, Mr.. Reed not
withdoe feeling Of Indignation gave orders to return
to thatelope.
MARTIN, however who in the mean time had gone
ashorscerained that the report OF the first messenger
was jrrect in its most essential feature. The three
4 -. L. T.. . loy,II IaArlf
said htenaut Colonel Chin sinking his voice to whis
per We giving the information, that though IT may
be sacing their dignity to say so, those high officers
hayesualy been the ground waiting the arrival OF
the Ercan minister since the hour Of o clock MI
Martinquirng for one OF the higher authorties 70
Whole might explain the mistake, Is ientanjin, the
Trcaer of the Province presented himself Mr. Martin
suggtd that while the sedan and waders were being
got badness an officer should DO despatched to tho
Antee with the card of the three commissioners TO as
sure Reed that they had been on the ground from
an ca hour aud were still expecting his arrival This
was tantIy complied with, and Mr. Martin spent the
hour ich ntervened before the arrival of the minister
and So In blue tent the tabernacle OF audience,
sirrolcd by group of mandarins who expressed their
opn without restraint and exposed their ignorance
wtht shame
Ihinoui,ed the distinctions of official costumes in
use ang us asked many questions relating to the &C.
ogra and history of country, and inquired parc-
ularlts to the principle by which official appointments
are rdatcd They heard with unrestraned admiration
that tn the chief magistracy and nearly all other
civil ices at the disposal of the people, and expect
ed toe bestowed on those who merit popularity by in
tegriand abilities; that have classics in three Ian
gagmore ancient than those of Confucius that while
the bs of the Jews the foundation OF our reliSio
and dies those of Greece and Rome are the basis OF
Jlts Tres Nor did anything surprise them more than
a that we 'ibarbarians as we are, actually nave
gnes Of literary merit and competitive examinations in
she respects answering to their own They nveighec
Ihout reserve against the conduct of England ano
hnce in carrying on the present war and when tole
TIT the ''aes desirous OF peaceful negotiations
divided the high commissioner will exhibit credentials
his full powers such as Keying exhibited in 1872 the,
sThose Of Keying were forgery, manHiac
lred for the occasion, but present high commission
is incapable of so base an act and our Emperor is no
,customed TO issue such documents From this the,
rocceded to discuss the characters of the British and Rus
an interpreters Learning that Mr. Martin was person
y acquainted with Mr. Wade and the senior Russian in
,rpreter they very considerably spared them. They
owever censyired Mr.. l.. in measured terms for hi
ocnt and uncoureous bearing and criticized the schol
rship of Minglaonyia the junior Russian interpreter
Mr. Reed and suite were received and greeted as OF
he former OCCASION when Mr.. Il. introduced the bust
ess of the day by inquing for the summary of topic
discussion which he had sent to the high comnssione
n the previous Saturday Fan tu-jin produced copy
But where is the original paper sent you y asko
Ir. II
! 4Ihis is true copy" said Fan, "and will answe
ust al we'll.
But would like to see the original documents,
aid Mr.. Reed.
Commissioner Fan g The original is reserved for til
Inspection Of his Majesty was afraid OF soiling 1t, an
ook copy for my own use. 1t is true one you ma
est assured would not dare to falsify it,
Mr. Reed "Is the original within reach or at hand !!
Commissioner Fan. :. 1t is
Mr. Reed. '.Can you send for it
Commissioner Fan . 1t is not convenient
Mr. Reed g Now, tell me the truth, have you nc
ont / to Pekin :"
Commissioner Fan. ~ have
Mr. Reed 'But did you not soy it was at hand y
Commissioner Fan lt may as truly be said to be
handat Pekin as if it were here for obtain it,
dcsiled.'
a. this puerilc suJterugo Mr. Reed lost patience an
Cautioned the high commissioner against resorting
such prevarcaton in future, 1t would inevitably unde
mine that mutual confidence necessary to successful m
gotiaion Commissioner Fan renewed his protcstntior
Of vacity and sincerity, and had he been required
,wc 10y Styx ITSELF it is probable that he would not ha,
declined the oath.
The Importance attaching to this apparently trifn
may not at be apparent to your reader
Mr. Reed had the sagacty to suspect that Commission
ai had already violated his engagement 10 agree upc
Tho whole treaty before asking the imperial sanction
lny part of it, by submitting in advance the program1
Of points, which must ombarrass all further negotiation
4 lot check them ltmne. Commissioner Fan, too, ho
,ease enough TO discover Mr. Reed object by his
ist inquiry and hence his desire to eude direct a,
Iwer
All the proposed amendments then passed in review
The champions Of conservatism and Of progress exered
heir powers The auditors of both nations held
,renthless suspense The contest kept up until
light Particular advantages gained and lost, b,
40 important or permanent result was achieved.
After agreeing TO the subject on the next da
It noon in case the imperial rescrpt copy Of whic
to be sent in the morning. shond satisfactor
iis exceency and suite took leave and returned to u
Antelope. Before parting, however, Commissioner Fan
hough 10 reluctant to oonccdo even the most modera
leans or TO satisfy the most just claims such as tho
II indemnity for American property destroyed by u
il,h Mr. Eef