Mr. Williams to Mr. Seward
No. 43.]
Legation of the United States,
Peking,
October 1, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to forward to you a short
correspondence (marked A, B, and C,) relating to the erection of
light-houses along the coast of China, which I commend to your notice.
The subject has been often brought before this govenment since the
treaties were signed, but hitherto without any noticeable
[Page 559]
results, owing partly to the
demand for every resource to put down the rebellion, and partly to the
drafts on the revenue to pay the indemnities to the allied powers. The
present movement is due a good deal to the continued representations of
Mr. Hart, the inspector general of customs; and now that it is begun
there is reason to hope that it will be followed up with vigor. The sum
of 36,000 taels (about $51,000) has been set aside at Shanghai for the
purchase of the iron light-house during the present year, and it will,
perhaps, be in operation before the end of the next year.
From the custom-house reports for the years 1864 and 1865, it appears
that the income from tonnage dues at thirteen ports, during those years,
was 301,152 taels, and 284,353 taels, respectively; but owing to the
feature of Chinese polity which requires that the resources of each
province be appropriated to the expenses of that province, not even the
whole of this small sum will be available for beacons at those points
where they are most needed. A portion of it is already used in
maintaining a few light-ships and beacons; but the proposition has
already been made to the government to apply the revenue from the
tonnage dues wherever most needed for lights, under the direction of the
inspector general, and will, I think, be adopted.
The inertness of this government to originate or accept any improvements
seems to be giving way before the advancing pressure of western ideas,
and the officials see that they must do something to meet them. A
movement of the present sort is, therefore, indicative of more than it
exhibits on the surface, and before the people can derive much benefit
from many material improvements which occidentals can offer them, their
government must make a beginning, that the subjects may see how to use
them. The erection of light-houses, &c., being provided for in the
treaties, can be urged upon them with great force as soon bringing their
own advantages, and when the beneficial results are seen, it will serve
as a fulcrum for urging other things. It is on these grounds that I
regard this step as highly encouraging, and have therefore briefly shown
its bearings.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
S. WELLS WILLIAMS, Chargé d’
Affaires.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
A.
[Translation.]
Prince Kung to Mr. Williams
October 5, 1866,
(Tungchi 5th
year, 8th moon, 27th day.)
Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for
foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication:
On the 25th ultimo I received the following report from Mr. Fitzroy,
acting inspector general of customs:
“During the month of May last, an American man-of-war was at
Niuchwang, and Mr. Macpherson, the commissioner of customs, knowing
that there were many very dangerous sandbanks off the mouth of the
river Liau, consulted with her commander [how to indicate them.] Two
good and eligible positions were selected, on which two buoys were
securely moored. The captain also made a careful survey of the
entrance of the river, and drew a chart showing how a vessel must
lay her course from the outer buoy to the inner when entering the
river, and wrote out directions respecting the marks to be followed
when passing up or down. After they were all drawn and finished, the
commissioner of customs sent me a copy. It will prove to be a great
and lasting benefit to ail vessels trading to that port; and I have
had several copies of the chart and sailing directions printed,
which I now transmit to the foreign office, with the request that
they may be distributed.”
It appears from the above that the entrance to the river Liau had not
been previously surveyed, and many vessels trading to Niuchwang had
suffered damage in consequence. The buoys now moored there will,
therefore, prove of great advantage to the shipping. A copy of the
chart and sailing directions are herewith enclosed for your
examination and use.
Hon. Envoy S. Wells Williams, United States Chargé d’Affaires.
[Page 560]
B.
[Translation.]
Prince Kung to Mr. Williams
September 11,
1866, (Tungchi 5th year, 8th moon, 3d day.)
Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for
foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication:
According to the tenth article of the supplementary treaty, it is
provided “that the high officer appointed to superintend foreign
trade shall establish and distribute lights, buoys, beacons, and the
like, the maintenance of which shall be provided for out of the
tonnage dues.” This stipulation was for the purpose of pointing out
the channel to the merchantmen as they went in and out of the ports,
so that they might not run on the sandbanks or get into other
dangers. In furtherance of this excellent object, I early sent
orders to both of the superintendents of commerce for the northern
and southern ports, to instruct the commissioners at each port to
ascertain the capabilities and requirements of their harbors in view
of a speedy erection of the structures.
Reports have been received from Hankau and Kiukiang, Ningpo, Chifu,
and Niuchwang, together with Langshan Crossing and Wuhu, on the
Yangtze river, for which places estimates and plans for their
successive erection have been submitted and agreed to, so that it is
thought there will be no serious obstacle in their speedy
completion.
Instructions have also been sent to Mr. Fitzroy, the acting inspector
general, to take measures first to protect the most dangerous places
at the mouth of the Yangtze river, by erecting an iron light-house,
which is to be purchased abroad. It is confidently expected, when it
is up and in operation, that vessels will not so often run on the
sands in that embouchure.
To those other ports not yet provided with these things, orders have
been again sent to the same superintendents of commerce to urge upon
their subordinates at them to immediately make the necessary
estimates for erecting what may be requisite for the convenience of
the shipping, so that every port may be similarly provided with
whatever shall promote the safety of vessels going in and out.
It only remains, therefore, when issuing these orders, to apprise
your excellency of what is proposed, which is the special object of
this communication.
Hon. Envoy S. Wells Williams, United States Chargé d’Affaires.
C.
Mr. Williams to Prince Kung
Legation of the United
States, Peking,
October 10, 1866.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your highness’s despatch of the 11th ultimo, in which you
state that measures have been taken to place buoys, erect
light-houses and station light-ships at the several open ports, in
order to lessen the danger to vessels frequenting them of running on
shore, and to permanently benefit the commerce of the ports; and
likewise of your excellency’s despatch of the 5th instant,
respecting the buoys which had been placed on the banks at the mouth
of the river Liau, which, not having been hitherto surveyed, had
often proved very dangerous to vessels; and that a chart had been
drawn and printed, with directions to show the marks a ship should
follow in her course, all of which would be of great advantage to
the shipping resorting to Niuchwang.
It affords me great pleasure to see that the purport of both these
communications is quite in accordance with stipulations in all the
treaties, and especially with the design of article X of the
supplementary treaty, relating to the improvement of harbors; and it
will be a high gratification to make known these plans to my
government, by whom they will be regarded with the greatest
satisfaction.
I may here refer to the mention made in your highness’s despatch of
the American man of war which was at Niuchwang. It was the United
States steamer Wachusett, then in charge of Commander Townsend, who
himself took in hand the survey of the channel leading into the
river, drew the chart, and prepared the sailing directions. In
concert with the commissioner of customs and the United States
consul, he superintended the selection of the best spots on the sand
banks for the buoys, and during several days spared no pains to lay
them down and complete the survey; his only desire in doing it all
being to promote the public good. To the great regret of all his
countrymen, Commander Townsend was suddenly carried off by a stroke
of heat apoplexy, in the month of August.
I have the honor to be, sir, your highness’s obedient servant,
His Imperial Highness, Prince Kung, &c., &c., &c.
