Mr. Williams to Mr. Seward
No. 1.]
Legation of the United States,
Peking,
May 25, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have
this day received a notice from Mr. Burlingame, dated May 6, stating
that he placed me “in charge of the legation of the United States in
China, and authorized you [me] to conduct the same during my [his]
absence, or until the wishes of the government may be further
known.”
I have accordingly notified the Chinese authorities that I have taken
charge of the legation. It is the fourth time I have held the position
since my appointment in 1855.
The only topic of interest since Mr. Burlingame’s despatches Nos. 107 and
109, to which I beg to refer in this connexion, is the restoration of
Prince Kung to a seat in the general council, (enclosure A,) by an
imperial edict, which, like the previous ones, is illustrative of
Chinese character and politics, and will, no doubt, interest you.
Previous to it, three papers connected with the affair appeared in the
Gazette, consisting of the reports of high officers designated to
examine those who were implicated by the original accusation. All were
exonerated from blame for lack of proof, especially Sieh Hwan and Lin
Yung, who retain their posts, while the original memorialist, Tsai
Shaw-ki, has suffered degradation and obloquy.
It may be well to explain that the general council, to which Prince Kung
has been restored, is the chief executive body in the empire, and
consists of such officers only as are designated by his Majesty from
various departments to attend to it, who, ex
officio, are entitled to see him. The number of members is
irregular, seldom exceeding eight, and of course during the present
minority its chairman, as Prince Kung might have been called, becomes
the leading man in the country.
One of the Chinese generals, Sankolin-sin, who was in command at Taku in
May, 1859, and also opposed the march of the allies to Peking in 1860,
was killed by the insurgents in the south of this province a week ago.
He was a Mongolian prince of distinction, and one of the best soldiers
the Chinese had. Although Nanking has been recaptured, the insurrection
has not been yet suppressed; large bodies of insurgents still defy the
government.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State.
A.
[Translation.]
An imperial edict, published May 9,
1865.
We have been honored by the maternal and gracions commands of their
Majesties the Empress Regents Ngan and Hi, as follows:
“At the audience held this day Prince Kung, having been allowed to
appear to return thanks for favors granted him prostrated himself to
the ground, weeping bitterly, as if he had no way to conceal his
mortification. We then personally admonished and warned him, and the
prince expressed himself to be deeply sensible of the grievous
faults into which he had been led, and sincerely repentant and
ashamed of his past conduct. It excited the utmost commiseration in
our hearts.
“We recalled to mind that since we had assumed direction of the
government, Prince Kung had been specially selected as the chief
adviser of the throne in the general council of state; he has been
for many years the recipient of unnumbered favors, and to him alone
was confided a trust that, as it were, identified him in our weal
and woe in all that pertained to [Page 451] state affairs, giving him a status which no
other officer in the realm could approach. It was owing to this high
position that he became the object of misrepresentation, and
consequently he himself occasionally failed in restraining himself,
but walked in the paths of error and wrong-doing.
“Since, therefore, our hopes of the prince were of the very highest
degree, we could do no otherwise when he acted wrong than reprimand
and punish him severely. He has now himself come to a sense of this
conduct towards him, and has resolved to amend his errors and
reform. Seeing, therefore, that in the appointment and dismissal of
officers, their promotion and degradation, at court and in the
provinces, everything is done openly and fairly without favoritism
or dislike, can it be supposed that one who has been so near to us
and so trusted as Prince Kung, who has held such weighty
responsibilities, and whose talents are so well fitted for assisting
in the administration, should be treated in any other than according
to these unwavering principles, and be compelled to pass his days in
ignoble retirement and sloth?
“Let Prince Kung, therefore, again take his place in the general
council to assist in its proceedings, though, in some measure to
mark our sense of his demerit, it is inexpedient to give him the
title of I ching, (adviser of the government.) Oh, prince! forget
not the sorrow and mortification which you have this day suffered.
Let your entire efforts be exerted still more than ever to manifest
your devotion to the public welfare, that thereby you may requite
the confidence now reposed in you, as has been your wont. Do not
hesitate to speak openly and fearlessly, but be specially careful
not to evade the duties belonging to you nor collude with others. In
this way alone can you fully satisfy our high expectations.”
This from the Emperor.
