Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to forward to you by the last mail a copy of a translation yb Dr. Martin of Wheaton’s International Laws. I did not in my despatch (105) give any history of its publication. I now do so in a few words. In the month of September last I was informed by a, note from the officials in the foreign office that Dr. Martin, aided by Chinese scholars designated by Prince Kung, had completed the translation and that the money had been appropriated for its publication. I was informed also that they would, when the work should be printed, again address me. I responded, thanking them for what they had done, commending the book as the repository of the rules which govern nations [Page 439] in their intercourse with each other, and stated that although its prescripts had not the force of statute law, or the obligation of treaties, still a thorough examination of the book could not fail to be of vital importance to them. The work was printed according to promise, and published by being sent in large numbers to their officials on the coast and in the interior of the empire.
The Chinese did not address me in writing, but called in person to mark their sense of the importance of the completion of the work, and when the Prince and suite kindly sat for their photographs, Tung Sun, who had superintended the translation, desired to be taken with a copy of Wheaton in bis hand.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State,