Office of the Historian

Mr. Williams to Mr. Seward

No. 1.]
Legation of the United States, Peking, November 28, 1867.

Sir: I have the honor to inform you that by the resignation of the Hon. A. Burlingame on the 21st instant, (inclosure A,) I am again placed in charge of this legation, on which day I took possession of the archives, seals, &c., belonging thereto. Mr. Burlingame announced his resignation to the Chinese government on the same day, and I inclose a translation of Prince Kung’s reply, (inclosure B.)

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

S. WELLS WILLIAMS.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

A.

Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward

Legation of the United States, Peking, November 21, 1867.

Sir: In the interests of my country and civilization, I do hereby resign my commission as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary from the United States to China.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

ANSON BURLINGAME.

William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

B.

Prince Kung to Mr. Williams

[Translation.]
November 28, 1867, (Tungchi, 6th year, 11th moon, 2d day.)

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith sends a reply:

I have had the honor to receive the dispatch of his Excellency Anson Burlingame, in which he states: “I have resigned my office of minister plenipotentiary from the United States to China on this the 21st day of November, 1867, and have transferred the affairs of the legation to S. Wells Williams, who will attend to the management of all things connected therewith.”

In acknowledging this dispatch, I need only say, in reply, that I am well aware that your excellency has resided several years in Peking, and that when you had charge of the legation before, all matters which arose were arranged between us in a friendly and satisfactory manner. Now that you have again taken charge of the legation, it is a matter of great satisfaction to myself and all the members of the foreign office that in discussing and arranging such affairs as may hereafter arise we shall have the advantage of being aided by one so familiar with them as you are.

His Excellency S. Wells Williams, United States Chargé d’affaires ad interim.