The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-03-02
Burlingame's Account Of his Chinese
appointment.

The State Department has received the
following letter from Mr.. Burlingame -
SHANGHAI, December II, 1867.
Sr-You will have learned from my telegram
from Pekin Of my appointment by the Chinese
Government as Envoy to the treaty Powers,
and Of my acceptance OF the same. The facts
in regard to the appointment are as follows:
I was in the Percipy, proceeding to the treaty
ports Of China, to ascertain what changes our
citizens desired TO have made II, the treaties,
provided a revision should be determined
upon after which it was my intention to resign
and 90 home. The knowledge OF this intention
coming to the Chinese, Prince Kung gave
farewell dinner, at which great regret was e1,
pressed at my resolution TO leave CHINA, ana
urgent requests were made that Would, Ike
Sir Frederick Bruce, state China's difficulties
and inform the treaty Powers of their sincere
desire to be friendly and progressive. This
cheerfully promised to do. - -
During the conversation, Wensiang, lead-'
ing man OF the empire said: why Will you
not represent us officially 2" repulsed the
suggestion plsyfuy, and the CONVERSATION
informed that the Chinese were most deslrous,
and 8 request was made through MIR. Brown,
Secretary Of fthe British Legation, that should
delay NV departure for a few days, until
proposition could be submitted to me. ! had
no further conversation with them until the
proposition was made in form requesting me
to act for them as Ambassador to all the treaty
Powers.
had in the interim, thought anxiously upon
the subject, and, after consultation with my
friends determined, In the interests OF our
country and civilization, to accept. The mo-
meutc the position was formally rendered l IN
formed my colleagues of all the facts. and am
happy to.say that they approved Of the action
OF the Chinese, and did all they could to for
ward the interests of the missien..-.J j. McLeary
Brown, Chinese Secretary of British Lega-
tion, Was aspersuaded, id n>ths common, interest,
to act as Post Secretary 10 the Mission; and
Mr. Dechamps. French Gentleman, who had
aouompsha6d cPrang on yisit TO Europe, was
Two Chinese eenflsmen Of the highest rank
waTa .SkaMat from theForeign Object to con,
duct the Chmesa correspu dehce, and as cou- \
riers. MY suite;wlH number about thirty per-.
son5.c r shaM leave tor the United States by
the return steamer from California, Ihmlt
myself 10 this side to the above brlef history OF
ing it to 8 personal interview at Washington.
I maybe permitted to add that when the
oldestmation in 1.-The world, containing one-thlrd
of the human race, seeks, tor theIf1st time, to
come into relations with the West, anu re.
quests the youngest nation, through its repre-
sentative, to act as the medium Of such
change, the mission is one not to be solicited
or rejected.
DIR. s. williams, for the sixth time, has been
left in charge OF the United States Legation in
China, and is in every respect competent to
continue its affairs.
Permit me to request the government most
earnestly not to name my successor until can
give it information which may be useful in ma
king selection.
have the honor to be, sir, your obedient
servant, ANSON BURL1NGAME.
Hon. WIN. H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.