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LORD MACARTNEY'S AMBASSY TO PEKING.

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native and foreign merchants, each party endeavoring to get along as advantageously to itself as practicable. Nor was there any acknowledged medium of communication between them, for the consuls not being credited by the Chinese government, came and went, hoisted and lowered their flags, without the slightest notice from the authorities. Trade could proceed, perhaps, without involving the nations in war, since if it was unprofitable it would cease; but while it continued on such a precarious footing, national character suffered, and the misrepresentations produced thereby rendered explanations difficult, inasmuch as neither party understood or believed the other.

The death of the unfortunate gunner, in 1784, and the large debts owed to the English by the hong-merchants, which the re seemed no probability of recovering, induced the British government to turn its attention to the situation of the king's subjects in China with the purpose of placing their relations on a better footing. The flagitious conduct of a captain M'Clary, who seized a Dutch vessel at Whampoa, in 1781, which Davis narrates, and the inability of the Company to restrain such proceedings, also had its weight in deciding the crown to send an ambassy to Peking. Colonel Cathcart was appointed envoy, in 1788, but his death in the straits of Sunda temporarily deferred the mission, which was resumed on a larger scale in 1792, when the earl of Macartney was sent as ambassador, with a large suite of able men, to place the relations between the two nations, if possible, on a well understood and secure footing. Two ships were appointed as tenders, to accompany his majesty's ship Lion, 64, in which he went out, and nothing was omitted, either in the composition of the mission, or the presents to the emperor, to insure its success. Little is known 'regarding its real impression upon the Chinese; they treated it with great consideration while it remained in the country, although at an estimated cost of £170,000, and probably dismissed it with the feeling that it was one of the most splendid testimonials of respect that a tributary nation had ever paid their court. The English were henceforth registered among the nations who had sent tribute-bearers, and were consequently only the more bound to obey the injunctions of their

master.

To the English, however, this expedition may be said to have opened China, so much interest was taken in it, and so well

calculated were the narratives of Staunton and Barrow, to convey better ideas of that remote country. "Much of the lasting impression which the relations of Lord Macartney's ambassy leave on the mind of his reader," to quote from a review of it, "must be ascribed, exclusive of the natural effect of clear, elegant, and able composition, to the number of persons engaged in that business, the variety of their characters, the reputation they already enjoyed, or afterwards acquired; the bustle stir of a seavoyage; the placidity and success which finally characterized the intercourse of the English with the Chinese; the splendor of the reception the latter gave to their European guests; the walks in the magnificent gardens of the son of heaven;' the picturesque, and almost romantic navigation upon the imperial canal ; and perhaps, not less, for the interest we feel for every grand enterprise, skilfully prepared, and which proves successful, partly in consequence of the happy choice of the persons, and the means by which it was to be carried into effect." This impression of the grandeur and extent of the Chinese empire has ever since more or less remained upon the minds of all readers of Staunton's narrative; but truer views were imparted than had before been entertained concerning its real civilization and rank among the nations.

That the ambassy produced some good effect is undeniable, though it failed in most of the principal points. It also afforded the Chinese an opportunity of making arrangements, concerning that future intercourse which they could not avoid, even if they would not negotiate, and of acquiring information concerning foreign nations, which would have proved of great advantage to them. Their contemptuous rejection, ignorant though they are of the real character of these courtesies, of peaceful missions like those of Macartney, Titsingh, and others, takes away much of our sympathy for the calamities which subsequently came upon them. With characteristic shortsightedness, the Chinese government looked upon the very means taken to arrange existing illunderstood relations as a reason for considering those relations settled to its liking, and a motive to still further exactions.

For many years subsequent to this ambassy, the trade went on without interruption, though the demands and duties were rather increased than diminished, and the personal liberty of foreigners gradually restricted within narrower limits. The government

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generally, down to the lowest underling, systematically endeavored to degrade and insult foreigners in the eyes of the populace and citizens of Canton, in order, in case of any disturbance, to have their co-operation and sympathy against the "barbarian devils." The dissolute and violent conduct of many foreigners towards the Chinese, gave them, alas, too many arguments for their aspersions and exactions, and both parties too, frequently considered the other fair subjects for imposition.

In 1802, the English troops occupied Macao by order of the governor-general of India, lest it should be attacked by the French, but the news of the treaty of peace arriving soon after, they reembarked almost as soon as the Chinese remonstrated. The discussion was revived, however, in 1808, when the French again threatened the settlement, and the English, under Admiral Drury, landed a detachment to assist the Portuguese in defending it. The Chinese, who had previously asserted their complete jurisdiction over this territory, and which a little examination would have plainly shown, now protested against the armed occupation of their soil, and immediately stopped the trade, and denied provisions to the ships. The English were ordered by the Committee to go aboard ship, and the governor refused to have the least communication with the admiral until the troops were withdrawn. He attempted to proceed to Canton in ships' armed boats, but was repulsed, and finally, in order not to implicate the trade any further, a step not at all apprehended in protecting the Portuguese, he wisely withdrew his troops and sailed for India. The success of the native authorities greatly rejoiced them, and a temple was built on the river's bank to commemorate their victory, and a fort, called "Howqua's Folly" by foreigners, erected to guard the river at that point.

The Chinese, ignorant of the principles on which international intercourse is regulated among western powers, regarded every hostile demonstration between them in their waters as directed towards themselves, and demanding their interference. They are utterly powerless to defend even themselves against their own piratical subjects, as was manifested in 1810 and previously, and also in 1660, when Koxinga ravaged the coast, and the governor of Fuhkien called in the aid of the Dutch; and still they assume that they are able to protect all foreigners who " range themselves under their sway." This was exhibited in 1814, on

occasion of the British frigate Doris cruising off the port of Canton to seize American vessels during the war with that country, when the provincial authorities ordered the Committee to send the Doris away, saying, that if the English and Americans had any petty squabbles they must settle them between themselves, and not bring them to China. The Committee stated their inability to control the proceedings of men-of-war, whereupon the Chinese began a series of petty and vexatious annoyances against the merchants and shipping, such as prohibiting the employment of native servants, entering their houses to seize natives, molesting and stopping ships' boats proceeding up and down the river on business, hindering the loading of the ships, and other like harassing acts, so characteristic of Asiatic governments, when they feel themselves powerless to cope with the real object of their fear or anger. These almost hostile measures proceeded at last to such a length, that the Committee determined to stop the British trade until the governor would allow it to go on without molestation as usual, and they had actually left Canton for Whampoa, with all the factory, and proceeded down the river some distance, before he showed a sincere wish to arrange matters amicably. There had been several meetings between the Committee and deputies from his excellency previous to the former leaving the city, but it was not until the Chinese saw them actually depart that they believed them to be in earnest. A deputation from each party accordingly met in Canton, and after considerable negotiation, the principal points in dispute were gained.

One thing which the English justly remonstrated against, was the banishment of a linguist, who had been sent to Peking with the implied permission of the authorities, to Sung, the amiable conductor of Macartney's ambassy, in order to carry him a gold box and a complimentary letter from the English ministry on his elevation to the Inner Council. The unfortunate messenger was banished to ĺlí soon after his return to Canton, on the charge of having had traitorous dealings with foreigners, the statesman was disgraced, and the present sent back; thus showing, in the strongest manner, the feelings of the imperial government. The governor, however, unhesitatingly told the Committee that the linguist had been punished for entirely another reason. At this time he conceded three important points, viz. the right of corresponding with the government under seal in the Chinese language, the un

LORD AMHERST'S AMBASSY TO PEKING.

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molested employment of native servants, and the assurance that the houses of foreigners should not be entered without permission; nor were these stipulations ever retracted or violated. Trade was resumed soon after. The proceedings in this affair, were conducted with no little apprehension on both sides, for the value of the traffic was of such importance that neither party could really think of stopping it. Besides the revenue accruing to government from duties and presents, the preparation and shipment of the articles in demand for foreign countries give employment to millions of natives in different parts of the empire, and had caused Canton to become one of the greatest marts in the world. The governor and his colleagues were responsible for the revenue and peaceful continuance of the trade; but through their ignorance of the true principles of a prosperous commerce, and fear of the consequences resulting from any innovation or change, or the least extension of privileges to the few half-imprisoned foreigners, they thought their security lay rather in restriction than in freedom, in a haughty bearing to intimidate, and not in conciliation to please, their customers. On the other hand, the existence of the East India Company's charter depended in a good degree upon furnishing a regular supply of tea to the people of England, and therefore the success of the Committee's bold measure of stopping the trade depended not a little upon the ignorance of the Chinese of the great power a passive course of action would give them.

The government at home, on learning these proceedings, resolved to dispatch another ambassy to Peking in order to state the facts of the case at court, and if possible agree upon some understood mode of conducting trade and communicating with the heads of government. Lord Amherst, who like Lord Macartney, had been governor-general of India, was appointed ambassador to Peking, and Henry Ellis and Sir George T. Staunton associated with him as second and third commissioners. A large suite of able men, with Dr. Morrison as principal interpreter, accompanied the ambassy, and the usual quantity and variety of presents. The mission reached the capital August 28th, 1816, but was summarily dismissed without an audience, because the ambassador would not perform the kotau, or appear before his majesty as soon as he arrived; the intrigues of the authorities at Canton with the high officers about the emperor to defeat the am

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