The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-04
ENGLAND.
Arrival Of the Chinese Ambassn dors-What In
Thought Of the Mlssions

Arrival Of the Chinese Ambassn dors-What In
Thought Of the AIissions
From the London Standard tDisraeii Organb Sep.
The chinese Ambassadors uio = have arrived. Tha,
event. which should have stirred the very depths Of
our British curiosity has somehow or other failed tt
excite any particular enthusiasm. Whether II Ii
that our diplomatic relations with the Celestial En-
pre have ceased to ne OF an interesting character
whether We nave ad ess o. rsav 81 I
we do not appear to be greatly moved by the
news Of the Chinese plenipotentares arrival. Mr.
BurlinRame with his polygiOt train, have landed on
our shores with scarcely more eclat than would be
commanded oV a troupe or Japanese js00iey.s.
There IL an evident indifference to the arrivals
hardly explained by the fact that they possess
no accomplishments In iegerdcmain. that they pre-
tend to skill In butterflies and would probably be
beaten In top-spinning by the youngest member OF
the late Lyceum company.
In truth, we must regard this embassy as one
OF q most enigmatical character. We know the
Chinese TO be great adopts In the art OF polite
mystncation. We have had some experience OF
profound craft which characteristics their diplomacy,
and we confess to be fairly puzzled by this
latest Chinese dertce. Whdt, N he name Of
What do they represent and what is their business
hereS Never there so paradOxical an embassy In
the annals OF diplomacy. In the first place, the
plenipotentiary in chief Is not Chinaman but fun
blooded Yankee who only the other day held posi-
ton precisely the inverse OF his present one, being
an ambassador to China from the United states
or the personnel OF the Embassy the first secretary
Is an Irshman and the second a Frenchman
Germ, or rather, to use the polite language OF
one OF our liberal contemporaries, only one "whose
illustrions line is free from every faint OF barbar-
isrn.n The association Of nati0naites Ii 80 odd "a
almost to provoke suspicion OF the genuineness OF
the whole affair. II we did not know the Chinese TO
be Incapable Of this KIND OF humor we might sup
pose that they had sent this collection OF insect
laneous gentlemen by way OF an elaborate bur-
lesque OF the forms OF barbarian diplomacy.
Brown and NJ Descnamps may be highly
estimable and worthy gentlemen, inspired by
Of CANA and posae ssed OF lively interest In ia
affairs; but they will pardon US IL we are unable TO
refrain from viewing the comic side OF their mission.
They have done their best TO accommodate them
serves to the parts which they have to sustain.
Poe-Au-Chen Chin Chi-C hoong len Facheu, b.
Choong-Au and De-Chan may have certain i'm.
posing erect which is undeniable and II we aid not
know that the ustrous Poe, &c., comes from Bos-
ton, that 30, &C., halls from Belfast and that De-
Chan IL simply pigeon-Chinese for Deschamps, we
should be greatly struck at least by the nomenca-
ture Of the new ambassadors.
Az 1t is we cannot help saying that we are not
much impressed by the Chinese character OF this
very remarkable embassy. What Is the nature OF
the process by which the Emperor Of China APP
proaches the Queen OF England' dexterous
American politician comes over from the United
states with an irish secretary and a French assist
ant and claims our attention as an ambassador
from China Let IL not be supposed that we
intend for moment to doubt the genuineness
OF Mr.. Arson Burngames mission. But
with us In this queer masqueradlng fashion, Indi-
vidually-we learn from the liberal journal
which from the mist mas been IN an ecstasy
at the arrival OF these distinguished strangers
they unite all the attractlvencss OF the
show Chinaman TO the dignity OF the diplomatist.-
This may be all very well; but a. Mr.. Burlingame
could scarcely have come only 10 exhibit himself
as an attractive Chinaman or a dignined dpo-
matist we are still forced TO inquire what Is the
special object OF his mission. Was II only to deliver
tho compliments OF the Emperor OF China to the
British peopleS The Chinese are too old In polite
ness to send a company OF strangers on such mis-
sion: nor can Chih-U-kang. the associate minister,
weighing ~ we are told with impressive partcu-
larity only 100 pounds, be accepted giving due
Chinese flavor to the expedition. What important
between China and England TO justify such
an embassy The present state OF our relations
with China are OF the simplest character. Tho
Chinese government have made several treaties
with US, none OF which they have faithfully OBJ
served. We are their creditors In respect Of nlner-
Gus services performed by In their behalf and
OF solemn obligations by them systematically ne,
elected. They have agreed to certain terms df
amity ana intercourse which they have deliberately
violated. ON our side we have carried forbearance
and generosity to the utmost limits. We have
refrancd from pressing our treaty claims upon the
Chinese government, out or magma Gus so,icf.
ttde ror their trtdkness ana their psyjudscps we
have allowed them to take MS at every possible adj
vantage, to exact from the strctest obedience to
the letter OF our engagements while they, on their
part have never attempted to carry out some OF the
most important clauses OF the treaty clauses tend.
England and China and TO the cultivation OF mutual
good Will and OF peace.
There Is only one ineligible object in any Chinese
mission 10 England, and that " TO explain and to
excuse the nonfulnment OF the obligations entered
into by China towards England. Is this what
may raculase upon . fair and patient hearing,