New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-21

40 II
which fiv met had nothing about il worthy Of note,
either IN ils dsmensons, IT. workfesnsnp, or so2rn-
nents Il was secluded, neat, ana 9uieti and nus
adapted 70 The purposes ior whlon y wa, se's 49,
intgoducd the Object Of hs mssiOn, the exchange OF
tl rstaeations 81 the late treaty, and the delivery Of
he Presideuts letter 70 the Emperor. But The Com
fnrOuers would discuss nothing but the proposes au-
dieree with the Emperor, which Mr.. Ward did not
request aware Of the embarrsments and even @>rous
ddcuites which the subject might create, even by the
discusfion and the utter mpOssbity Of he admitting
10 the humiliafions which audience invariably
reouires. On the other hand the Commissioners
were soictous that Mr.. Ward should request an an-
dience which, toe third Commissioner told Mr. WI
Iams, the Emperor himself wa desrons OF confer
mig having evidently been favoraby impressed ~
what be had learned Of America and Americans, and
wishing to the first representative OF that nation
and that continent who had appeared in has caf-
tai. The Emperor, whore name II Hien-i9ng, IL
young man. being only % years old, and in addition TO
naturally good powers Of mind devotes himself, az
Of the ministers stated earnestly TO business every
day, early and late with them. Whatever exasgera-
ton there may possibly be in bs enough remains 70
indicate even Of mind, and the dawning
OF new ideas which, Joined 20 The ardent temperament
Of young man, may have prompted the expressed
desire % zee Mr.. Ward. The Commissioners niged
Mr. Ward 10 comply with the old and established
usaQes upon presentation 70 the Emperor insisting
that al b. had come 10 the capital, be must conform
10 the rites they called them, or customs oil tne
empire. The rite called the kO-tow ~ performed
whenever the highest native dgnitaies approach the
Emperor and was performed by the Dutch and POrtu-
guefe ministers in repeated instances, and az the C
affirm, and circumstances lead every one ~ De-
heve by Lord Mccartney, the English ambassador IN
1893. Tie late treaty with England provides that IN
future no English ambassador 70 the Court OF PekIn
shs be required TO render any homage TO NE
Emperor Of China, beyond what Ne would
be required 10 render 10 his own Sovereign. Un-
harpily the late occurrence al the mouth OF the Peho
have rendered that treaty nulity, and it, advantages
could not be claimed under the most favored nation
al ll.Af tsk O-fn md
how degrading in the eyes Of Western nations, will be
both understood by relation Of the experience Of the
Russian Embassy in l72O
Count Ismailof had been sent by Peter the Great
with an imposing retinue 70 negotiate treaty which
should adjust all difficulties which had occurred N the
frontiers Of the two empires and prevent their occur
renee in future Admitted 10 the city under the most
importing FORMS three Commissioners we're appointed,
just az was the case now upon The entrance OF the
Minister from the United States, 70 conduct the nego-
taons and nOw then, officers Of the highest dignity
and power. Count Ismailof informed the Imperial
Commissioner that he had brought an autograph letter
from the Gar TO the Emperor, just az Mr. Ward had
brought one from the President Of the United States
which be was required 70 present with his own hand
Beside this the Gar had also sent present 70 the
Emperor which he required 70 deliver. While
these Ireiminares were under discussion in the I'm
pera Hail. dinner was sent in by the Emperor hmself
before partakiDg Of which, the Russian ambassador
required to perform the Ko-tow before the table
itself az the representative OF hs Majesty who had
laid upon it, This the Count peremptory refused
when tie matter at length compromised by the
consent Of the Count 10 render common act Of obeis
ance before it. Then came long struggle between
the Emperor the Commissioners, and the Count; the
Count insisting delivering the Cars letter to the
Emperor with his own hand into the hands OF the En-
perOr and still perssting with infexibe obsnacy IN
bis determination not TO perform the k0-tow,
maintaining that as his master was the equal
of the Emperor, it was degrading TO the Gar
for his ambassador and representative to submit to
such ceremony. So anxious was the Emperor TO Se-
cure the homage that with his own hand he wrote let
tiers TO Count Ismaof urging his rendering II, though,
TO save his dignity, be required his Commissioners 20
send them as their Still the Count refused, and
matters were assuming threatening aspect, when the
Emperor cent Mandarns directly from himself 10 the
Count who said that the Emperor considered the
family OF the Gar bis own, and his honor as his
own and that if he should ever send an ambassador TO
the Court of the Gar he should be required TO stand
uncovered in the presence Of the Gar though this If
considered most dsgraceful 10 the Chinese, among
whom condemned criminals are required TO expose
their heads bare; al the time the chief Mandarin
uncovered his head taking off his cap and standing
bareheaded before the Count, the representative OF
the Gar. This decisive; the Count could not re-
fuse 10 meet the Emperor upon equal terms, ana at
once promised TO perform his part, and enact the NO
tow and place the letter upon table, instead OF into
the bands Of the Emperor, according TO the Chinese
ites a Mandarin then taking IT from the table and
presenting it to the Emperor.
Tie day appointed for the audience arrived. The
Count and suite waited here at the yesbule OF the Hall
of Audience, where at length the Emperor entered,
followed by his principal officers, and mounted mag
nfcent throne, ascending by steps on the lett az being
the side Of honor while others assembled on the night
Three officers were seated on the right on cushions,
while at greater distance were officers standing Al
the foot OF the throne the floor OF the Great Han,
sat upon cushions in different rows the rst Mandarns,
the lords of the imperial family, and many handarns
of inferior rank. Before the throne at the entrance OF
the Hail. stood table prepared with sweet meats for
the use Of the Emperor, while in the open veslbue,
4. a. - a.. Hall thnr fah q Nraa
set. beyond which Count Ismailof was standing, nc
cording TO Court usage. The Count should have placed
the Cars letter upon this table; but the Emperor Or
dered il TO be brought into the Audience Hall and NJ
the same time the Count advanced also, winch was
thought great honor 10 him. The Count at once en-
tered the Hail. Immediately prostratng himself before
the table, and holding up the Cars letter IN both
hands The Emperor, who had showed the Count 40
much honor thus far now determined to mortify him
by making him remain some time in this dlsagreeable
and offensive posture. The proud Russian became IN
dignant showed il by motions OF his lips and by Turn
ing his face aside, which, under the circumstances,
could not be but highly offensive 10 the Emperor a.
well rs daring the part of the Count. Upon this,
the Emperor requested the Count To RISE and take the
letter and bring il TO himself This the Count DID,
kneelng down at the Emperors feet, who received It
with bis own hands, and thus gave the Count another
mark Of his regard.
After the presentation of the letter, the Count, at
tended by the OF ceremonies, returned TO his
former place in the vesbnle from which be soon re-
moved 10 the center OF the h OppOrtt 10 tue tIuhc
on which the Emperor seated, and back of which
were his principal attendants and soldiers When all
We're maIshaled, at signal given by the master OF
ceremonies all fell upon their knees, and after the
lapse Of few minutes, beat their heads three times
upon the ground. After this, they TO their feet,
aud then again fell upon their knees, aud three
knocked their heads upon the ground before, when
they rose again. and then repeated the kneeling and
head-knocking the third time, thus kneeling three
times and knocking their heads nine time. The Count,
having suffered essential injury in his eranium was