Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward
Sir: In my despatch No. 16 I indicated the purposes to which I thought the surplus fund in China should be applied. In your reply, No. 15, you stated that my views would be transmitted to Congress.
I now beg leave to submit a few remarks of a practical nature in aid of the suggestions then made; and if the money is expended in the direction which I have recommended, it will result in an institution of learning for the benefit of the United States and China. This institution I would name the American College, or Ta-Mei Kwoh Hioh-kung. It should be placed at Peking, partly for sanitary reasons, but chiefly because this city is the political and literary centre of the empire, and where the court dialect is easily acquired. Thousands of students visit it every year to compete for the prizes of the empire, and anything so unique as an American college, with the happy circumstances under which this would be founded, could not fail to attract general attention.
Its objects should be two-fold: 1st, to teach Americans the language and literature of China, so as to fit them to be interpreters and consuls; and 2d, to educate clever Chinese in English studies and in their own literature, with a view to their employment by either their own rulers or by the United States. In respect to the education of interpreters, it seems hardly worth while to dwell at any length in this despatch, so frequently have our needs in this respect been set forth. Suffice it to say, that there are now fourteen ports open to trade by treaty, at eight of which we have consuls, and interpreters at three. The English, whose trade alone exceeds ours, have consuls and interpreters at all of them, and at the larger ports have an interpreter and two assistants; and, moreover, nearly every English consul speaks this language, having been promoted from the staff of interpreters. The Foreign Office in London now sends the young men intended for interpreters to Peking, to be educated under the direction of a gentleman selected for that purpose. They are primarily selected from the graduates of home colleges, after a severe competitive examination, and remain in the service of government during good behavior at an annual stipend of $1,000, to be increased as they are advanced to higher grades and to consulships. Ten of these students came to China when I did, two years ago, and [Page 347] under these advantages have made remarkable progress, one or two of them taking high rank as scholars in Chinese. As they become fitted for service, they are distributed among the consulates, where from their character and acquirements, they at once have great and deserved influence. I cannot too warmly commend the competitive system recently adopted in England. It is republican, and is filling the British civil service throughout the east with persons of the rarest ability and most elevated character. If we would conserve our interests and illustrate our institutions in these regions, surely we must rouse ourselves from the lethargy of the slavery regime, and offer to our youth an opportunity to win those prizes in the world which belong to the good and intelligent. To this end I would establish, at the very centre of this ancient civilization, the institution I now propose; and that it may at once become useful, I would respectfully recommend that the President be authorized to appoint, after a severe competitive examination, ten young men above the age of 18 years, who are to be sent to the American college at Peking as student interpreters, at a rate of pay not exceeding $1,000 per annum. This salary can be increased as they are advanced to be interpreters and consuls. They should be entitled to remain during good behavior, and the government at Washington should have the first claim to their services, though liberty might be granted them to accept other service when expedient.
The act of Congress approved August 18, 1856, section seven, was intended to provide for a class of consular pupils, as above recommended, but for some reason it was subsequently repealed, and I earnestly recommend its re-enactment, with such modifications as may be thought wise. Those students who are appointed by the government with salaries should, of course, bear their own expenses, and be no further charge to the college than for rooms and tuition. As there are so many fields open in China to those who can speak its language, it might be well not to limit the access to this institution to those Americans who are to be permanently employed by the government, for it appears to me that other young men, knowing that rooms and tuition were free, would like to avail themselves of its advantages. Mercantile firms and missionary societies might also desire to place students at it for limited periods, for in one year, I am almost sure, a young man of studious habits might here fit himself for a useful or lucrative employment in China, and in two years become equal to any requirements that might be reasonably demanded of him.
To render the institution still more useful, I recommend that a limited number of natives be received as students, who shall be taught and boarded out of its funds, none for a longer term than six years. I think there will be no difficulty in selecting promising young men who have already made progress in their own language, as many as may be desired. I hope, from my present relations with the Chinese officials, to be encouraged by them as they learn our design; even now they permit missionaries to instruct youths in their employ, and are likely to regard a well-endowed institution with favor. Nor will they be altogether indifferent to the spirit of equity which gives this direction to a sum of money that originally came from them.
For the organization of the college, I respectfully suggest that $200,000 be set apart as the permanent fund, and this amount sever to be encroached upon, but the whole placed at the highest rate of interest compatible with its safety, the interest alone to be used for the preliminary and current expenses, such as purchase and repair of buildings, salaries, tuition, &c. The college to be under the direction of a board of ten trustees, all resident in China, to consist of the United States minister and secretary of legation, the United States consul at Shanghai and at Tientsin, ex officio, three leading merchants and three missionaries; the merchants to have the chief management of the funds. To aid you in the immediate selection of the latter, I would suggest that the merchants be [Page 348] the heads of the houses of Russell & Co., A. Heard & Co., and Olyphant & Co., and the missionaries be the Et. Rev. W. J. Boone, D. D., of Shanghai, Rev. Henry Blodget, of Tientsin, and W. A. P. Martin, D. D., of Peking. The faculty may consist of the principal and his assistants, the former chosen by the trustees, with power to select his assistants, subject to their approval.
The college is to have no sectarian character, but religious services should be required, such as the reading of the Sacred Scriptures daily, the observance of the Sabbath, &c. The trustees residing at Peking should act as a board of visitors. An annual report of the progress and condition of the college should be made to the government through the Secretary of State.
I have now suggested the name and place for this institution, stated its objects, and sketched a brief plan for its organization. Permit me, lastly, as warmly as I may, to urge speedy action upon it. The plan is not extravagant; indeed, it may seem too narrow for so large a fund; but I wish to secure the safety of the money and propose moderate results at first. You know what noble endowments have been wasted in extravagant buildings and large salaries, and these ought to be avoided in China. I invoke your personal interest in this subject; it will be a congenial one, worthy of you, and if our hopes shall be realized, and an American college established at Peking, it will reflect lasting honor upon our beloved country.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.