Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward
No. 33.]
Peking,
January 29, 1863.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on the
first day of the Chinese new year, Prince Kung and suite made a formal
call upon me for the purpose of tendering their good wishes. At the same
time the Prince brought in a box the highly illuminated letter to the
President, which I send you through the house of Russell & Co. The
letter is in Chinese and Manchow. There is an assumption in the words
“to soothe and bridle the world” which will cause you to smile. My first
thought was to object to the language; but when I learned that it was
formal, and was, substantially, what had been used before, and that the
government really intended to be unusually kind, I thought it
[Page 923]
would be impolitic and
ungracious to criticise the form in which that kindness was sought to be
expressed.
I send you two translations of the letter, one marked A, by Mr.
Schewescwesky, who interprets in the absence of Dr. Williams; the other
with note marked B, by Mr. Wade, of the British legation. From these you
will learn its true meaning.
The fullest equality is conceded to the President and the United States,
by the position in which they are placed in the Chinese text, as well as
by the language used in the beginning and at the end of the letter.
I feel that I am here to secure essentials, and not to raise questions
about unimportant matters.
I do not suppose the President will be troubled to learn that the Emperor
of China thinks he has received a commission “to soothe and bridle the
world,” but I imagine that he will be pleased to learn that I have
established the most friendly relations with the Chinese government.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., &c.,
&c.
A.
The Emperor of the Tateing dynasty salutes the President of the
United States of America.
On the 25th day of the 7th moon of the present year, (August 19,
1862,) the President’s envoy, Anson Burlingame, presented a letter
from the President. On perusing it, we found it to be entirely
expressive of sincerity and truth, and a desire for relations of
long-continued friendship and peace, at which we were indeed greatly
rejoiced; and we have instructed the office managing foreign affairs
to show all proper attention to the envoy, Anson Burlingame.
Having, with reverence, received the commission from Heaven to rule
the universe, we regard both the middle empire and the outside
countries as constituting one family, without any distinction.
And acting sincerely in our mutual intercourse, we must endeavor to
extend forbearance to each other. And we wish that our friendly
relations with the President may henceforth increase in strength,
and may we both enjoy the blessings of peace, the attainments of
which undoubtedly will be most gratifying.
The 7th day of the 12th moon in the first
year of the reign of Jungchi, (January 22,
1863.)
B.
His Majesty the Emperor of Ta-Tsing dynasty salutes his Majesty, the
President of the United States of America.
Upon the 25th day of the 7th moon, [the President’s] envoy, Anson
Burlingame, having arrived in Peking, presented (or brought up) a
letter from (the President,) which, when (we) had read it, (we)
found to be written in a spirit of cordial friendliness, (breathing)
nothing but a desire for relations of amity that should ever
increase in strength. Our heart was much rejoiced, indeed, (by the
perusal of this letter,) and we have instructed the office for the
superintendence of foreign affairs to show all suitable attention to
(or to receive satisfactorily) the envoy, Anson Burlingame.
In virtue of the commission we have with awe received from Heaven,
(God,) to rule (to soothe and bridle) all the world, native and
foreigner must be
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to us as
one family, without distinction, and in our relations with man we
must be thoroughly sincere in all things.
May our friendly relations with his Majesty the President henceforth
increase in strength, and may both of us alike enjoy the blessings
of peace. The attainment of such objects, we cannot doubt, would be
most gratifying.
[Translator’s note.]
The words signifying “to soothe and bridle the world,” no doubt,
imply that the Emperor, as Tien-Tzie, son of Heaven, is to the
sovereigns of the earth a superior much of the sort that the Pope,
at various periods, from the days of Hildebrand down, claimed to be.
But beyond a remark to the Prince that we foreign nations do not
admit that we can be “fu yu,” “soothed and bridled,”
by any but our own governors.
I should not, were I responsible for an opinion, recommend that
further notice should be taken of the, at first sight per se, objectionable expressions. For the
position of the terms United States and President admits the fullest
equality between the nation and its ruler and the Chinese empire and
its sovereign; and the salutation with which the letter commences is
as significant of the equality of the President with the Emperor as
words can be; while the close of the letter is scarcely less so,
“that we may tung hsung together, or alike enjoy peace increasing,”
would certainly not have been written thus had the writer intended
to hint that the person addressed was less than his equal.
