Year: 1868

Il
lrIom tne Oacutta Engiishman April oil
One OF the most interesting Of The papers nuh
Ia the memorial OF the Yamen OF Poreign sfaI.s "a
favor Of the establishment of conere Tor he einca ~
tion OF Chinese students IN foreign science ana Ian
memorial without feeling that taee 10 yet some hone
for the most obstnatey exclusive and stationary of
peoples.


Some Of the strong common sense arguments Of
the iamen are worth quoting. For instance:-
"There will be a discussion OF what is proposed
without due examination OF its merits. Some per.
sons VIII be TO lay down that there is no nme-
date necessity for the measure brought forward by
your servants; some, that to abandon the ways lor
artsl OF China and follow the men OF the West is
wrong; some will go So far as to urge that utterly
OF the West These are the arguments OF men who
do not know the requirements OF the crisis Now,
whereas the true policy or China Is that she should he
time to lose; and among, those who do know what
the crisis requires, there Is not one that does not re-
ern science, In order to the construction OF foreign
machinery, as the right road to self-strength."


The fact is II Is impossible for people so thor
oughly uttarian as the Clnese TO stand stu long
when once brought seriously into contact with
more advanced state or civilization. Yet one OoStf
nate 0d MigisteT' the Grand Secretary woJen, was
found to stand up for the ancient order othings in
opposition to the Yanen, ana the following was the
to the report presented by desire by the Yanen
or Foreign Affairs upon the memorial OF the Grand
Secretary Wojen praying that the proposal to invite





School OF Foreign Know ledge be dismissed, the
above proposition haa been the subecr OF success
sion Of memorials presented by Tso Tsung Tang and
other Ministers, and the Princes and Minister'S In
whose department 1t lies have exhaustvely dis,
cussed IT, and are unanimous lin their approval OF It'll
there can, therefore, he no more indecisOn about It,
We command the Yamen accordingly to proceed In
earnest to the examination of all candidates who
may present themselves and to send all who pass to
the college to study With regard to that passage in
the memorial OF WOjen in which he urges that the
extent OF the empire considered, there be fear
about want OF ability and that II the study of
noiny and arithmetic be an essential, persons con-
versant with those sciences will be forthcoming II the
advisers OF the Throne be extensively consulted: as
such persons must OF course be known to the Grand
Secretary, let him recommend number OF officers
as candidates. and let him establish school for them
apart from the other himself superintend their
studies ana let them De itted against The students
or tie school or FOREIGN Knorled1e, that so both es
tdbltslentS mag succeed. II will behoove the Prince
and the Ministers of the Yamenl and the Grand Sec
retary alike TO apply themselves zealosly to the
duct of this course of instruction.. Where there is
resolution to succeed there must The pro-
position is not to be regarded as matter OF FORM
Respect this" Wojen, however, instead of accept
ing the challenge thus held out TO him. appears to
have taken the matter SO much to heart as 10 have
declined his appointment to the establishment OF the
innOvatng Yamen.


But as win be seen from the following he was not
permitted TO excuse himself BY the way one cannot
but admire the cOurtly manner OF the imperial be-
hests:--"The Grand Secretary WOen having request
ed Us TO recall our decree appointing him TO the va
men of Foreign Affairs, We commanded the Ministers
OF the Great Council to signify to him verbally that We
would not allow him to persist In declining the ap
polntment He has now presented another memorial
IN which he states his approximations that being by
nature slOc ana sticEting he may do mischief and
prays us to dispense with his services In the Yamen
of Foreign Affairs The business OF Yamen Of
Foreign Affairs Is business OF great importance;
Wojen holds high position, and Il Is his undoubted
duty the present OF difficulty to do all he
can TO help in the post to which he Is appointed.
How can he possibly be allowed, were IL ever 90
Itle &c excuse himser2 No further notice need be
taken O. SiS memorial