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

ION bnt ronned not even hint OF any intention to an
swer 1t at all much less equal terms Inc eonu'v NJ
of the proposed interview not fuilled, anu h,
Reed seat MI Martin and two other gentlemen ON snoe
TO saw that written reply to the communication OF ,S
morning might be expected by H. o. M, 10 niorio"
They conducted 10 the "blue tent, where ,hsy W
liyered their message, and soon surrouhaeu ~
group Of nandarins bearing the sounding ute OF Ia
laonyia," great old tathers or patricians
The official interview not taking place these men were
disengaged and entered into conversation sds eaeAs0e
Frut and confectionery wec placed before MS, and the
delightful aroma Of our smoking tea the eaiuine. u
China and next to the unhdulterated fountain the pe
beverage that earth affords, relaxed the ingu c''s -
suspicion and warmed into life the better ieenss Vi u
hearts Classic ests and highiown compliments passed
round the circle As proof of the extent TO when .
kindly feeling prevailed may say that one OF 'ne mar
darins the project of Chaon Chow, actually inviea me
to allow myself few days of relaxation to visit him AZ
the chief city of his prefecture There was no o
my accepting the place was two hundred anu my
miles distant but in an exclusive country ike .s the
very thought treason and II reported TO ms sule
rors might have been visited upon the nnwary oeer ia
the shape of degradation if not grayer punishment
Some Christian almanacs, which Mr. Martin ds'riou.eu
among the company, attracted much attention. wang
Yalaonya the same who had invited me to his house,
turned the leaves until he came to the len Com
mandmens and ran his eye hastily over them until
rested on the tenth, when he exclaimed, Admiiapie'
this is indeed equal to the teachings OF our holy sage
Confucus II all would obey this precept no"
happy the world would be- Mr. Martin, not forgetting
his function an interpreter OF the divine law TOOK TINS
for text and, recapitulang the whole DecaioBue ois
coursed attentive audience of the first minds IN The
province concerning their relations the creatures OF
| God and members of the human family
's But what nations, asked Wang, I" beside your hon
orable country, profess the Christian faith =
Russia France, England, and ~
| emo" interrupted Wang /" not England. They
can't profess the Christian faith, for II they did they
would observe the Tenth Commandment, and not covet
our cities OF lands and the SIXTH too, which they would
not violate they do, by vending opium and dliusng
death and misery throughout our provinces
1t was not without feeling of sadness that we TOOK
leave of this interesting group Many of them were
of strong minds, polished manners, and genial DIS
position Several days of frequent intercourse had oD-
aincd them place in our kindly regards and we could
think without pain of the approach of that tempest
now almost inevitable, which would probably stretch
their bodies the very ground lately consecated to
the rites of hospitality Mr.. Martin, in preaching to
them of God and the SOUL administering oaaticnH'
which they might require only too soon.
i MAY l2.--Dr Williams secretary of legation and Mr.
Martini interpreter sent to the forts with the COM
muncaton promised yesterday having as usual, the
privilege to be of the party DIR. Williams was re-
ceved in the ''Yellow Tent" Tabernacle OF Audi
cnce' according to previous arrangement, by lsen-
ia Jin treasurer of the province, red-butoned mana
rim of the second grade whose name, by happy conc
, deDce with the office which he holds, signifies money
The ceremony reception the in the case OF
our minister. except that the musical salute was omitted
The troops drawn up in front of the tent partly io
display and partly demonstration of respect may
say here that arrival of the commissioners yesterday
all the troops drop their knees and remain IN
that posture until the three magistrates had entered h'
, yellow Tent
On this occasion the tables were arranged much il
the interviews with the imperial commissioners, except
ing that several blue aud white butoned mandarns wht
Ind been compelled to stand in presence of those grea
officers allowed to sit and join in the oonver
sation well partake of the repast,
DR.. Williams referred to the foreign trade existing
at other ports than the five acknowledged in the treaty
Tscn-taJin That Illegal trade is productive OF NOR
evil than benefit for example, opium, notwithstanding
4 Sir j. Bowrng, in interview had with him in 1855
maintained that it is harmless as tea, is destroying
!, multitudes of our people.
: Dr. Williams For that they have themselves t
. blame.
Tsicn. The English have grown rich by trade wit
I Dr. Williams 1t has been mutually beneficial an
the advantages would be increased if ministers wer
admitted to the northern capital like those OF Siam an
i | Cochin-China
g Tsicn. They are vassas and you are brethren.
r are afraid you might be offended by the of you
reception audng to the rcquston of the zotoao, 70
!, prostration.)
: Dr. Williams Does any man when visited by hi
n brethren keep them standing outside his doort
Tsicn But when brethren choose to separate, "a thin
;, which takes place in China without quarrel
may be best for them not to come together again LEI
70 they should disagree.
After this topic had been considered in several aspects
Tsicn stopped the discussion by saying that 1--WE mgf
well drop the subject, it had been tabooed by I'll
;, high commissioner
Dir. Williams attempting to show the reasonabencss
the demand made by the allies that the high commi
soner shall exhibit credentials of full powers before the
meet him for negotiation the treasurer interrupted h
by appealing to his knowledge of the Chinese classics
The very idea of minister plenipotentiary would not
inconsistent with the genius of absolute empire an
a. If in all his reading of Chinese history he had
N with instance of the Emperor comforting full powe
subject
ID When Dr. W. referred to the difficulty with the Frencl
TO and asserted that the of their missionaries
r. oreligonsts had given them just for war, II
treasurer replied that those native Christians had bee
MS put death for taking the lives of their countyme
to and that the martyred Chapedelane had suffered M
for his faith but for his and atrocous crime
He further added that he had always treated the Frenc
missionaries with Kindness and that he had caused hr
of them to be conveyed TO their places of destination
On of Manchouria One of the mandans charged Sir job
to Bowrng and Commissioner Ych with being the auho
ne of the Canton 1sen said Mr. Consul Parks wa
s In his opinion, the of 1t. NJ
ld Throughout the whole interview Wang sat with Il
almanac which he had received yesterday open befo
u him. and with his hand the Decalogue, reassertt
his conviction that England cannot be Christian nj
W. ton.
I'll Several topics of agreeable character we
in touched ON in the of this Interview and Dr. Wi
ams before taking leave expressed the sentiment tn
ut frequent meetings of the kind between the officers of Chi
and the United States would be alike pleasant and pro-
~ table To this Wang responded by hoping that his
Gu ceency the treasurer might be promoted TO the COVER
orshp of Canton, where DR. Williams could convenient
he call at his Yamun and Picn supplemented the sentme
n In the true style of Chinese aduation by horing tn
TO Wang would be appointed Taonai of Shanghae where
sc and Mr.. Martin could have tho pleasure of fequc
ne meetings