As it has not yet come, and I have heard nothing from Shanghai of its
arrival there, I have thought it advisable to inform you, and no longer
delay to send you the translation of the notice (in duplicate) given by
Sen in his geography of the life and character of Washington. It is very
brief, and, as you will perceive, has many errors; but it is noteworthy
as being the first attempt by a native scholar and high official to give
his countrymen an account of foreign countries and their great men. He
cannot read a word of any other language than his own, and collected the
details in his geography by personal inquiries among the few foreigners
whom he met at Amoy and Fuh-Chow in 1844-49, who could talk Chinese.
Naturally enough, the mistakes throughout the work are numerous; but his
desire to show the educated men of China that the people of other lands,
who had recently compelled the Emperor’s envoy to sign the treaty of
Nanking, were not the barbarians they were thought to be, is apparent
throughout. For his favorable notices of them, he was dismissed from his
high post of governor of Fuhkien when the Emperor Hienfung acceded to
the throne in 1850, and remained in private life till he was called last
year to fill a vacancy in the foreign office, an appointment given him
on account of having published this same work.
Extract from the Geography of Sen Ki-yu, giving an account of the
establishment of America by Washington.
[Translation.]
United States of America.*
America is a vast country. Owing to its merchants’ ships carrying a
variegated flag, it is usually known at Canton as the Hwa-ki Kwoh,
or flowery flag nation.† It is bounded north
[Page 454]
by English territory, and
south by Mexico and Texas; its eastern border lies along the great
western ocean, while its western is on the vast ocean, a distance of
about 10,000 li*lying between them. From north to south the
distance is between 5,000 and 6,000 li in the
widest parts; and from 3,000 to 4,000 li in
the narrowest. The Appalachian range winds along its eastern coasts,
and the great Rocky mountains enclose its western borders, between
which lies a vast level region many thousands of miles in
extent.
The Mississippi is the chief of the rivers; it sources are very
remote, and after running more than a myriad li, in a serpentine course, it joins the Missouri river,
and the great united river flows on south to the sea. The other
celebrated rivers are the Columbia, Mobile, Appa lachicola, and
Delaware. Great lakes lie on the northern border. Towards the west
they are divided from each other by four streams, and are called
Iroquois or St. Clair, Huron, Superior, and Michigan. To the east
lie two others, Erie and Ontario, which are joined to each other.
These lakes together form the boundary between the United States and
the British possessions.
It was the English people who first discovered and took North America
and drove out the aborigines. The fertile and eligible lands were
settled by emigrants moved over there from the three [British]
islands, who thus occupied them. These emigrants hastened over with
a force like that of the torrent rushing down the gully. Poor people
from France, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden, also sailed over to join
them; and as they all daily opened up new clearings, the country
continually grew rich in its cultivated lands. High English officers
held it for their sovereign, and as cities and towns sprung up all
along the coasts, their revenues were collected for his benefit.
Commerce constantly increased in extent and amount, so that thus the
inhabitants rapidly became rich and powerful.
During the reign of Kienlung (A. D. 1730—1796) the English and French
were at war for several years, during which the former exacted the
duties throughout all their possessions, increasing the taxes more
than previously. By the old tariff, for instance, the duty on tea
was levied when it was sold, but the English now required that
another tax should be paid by the buyer. The people of America would
not stand this, and in the year 1776 their gentry and leading men
assembled together in order to consult with the [English] governor
how to arrange this matter, but he drove them from his presence,
dispersed their assembly, and demanded that the tax be collected all
thè more strictly. The people thereupon rose in their wrath, threw
all the tea in the ships into the sea, and then consulted together
how they could raise troops to expel the British.
There was at this time a man named Washington, a native of another
colony, born in 1732, who had lost his father at the age of 10, but
had been admirably trained by his mother. While a boy he showed a
great spirit, and his aptitude for literary and martial pursuits,
and love for brave and adventurous deeds, exceeded those of ordinary
men. He had held a military commission under the English, and during
the war with France when the French leagued with the Indians and
made an irruption into the southern provinces, he led on a body of
troops and drove them back, but the English general would not report
this expeditious operation, so that his worthy deeds were not
recorded, [for his promotion.]
The people of the land now wished to have him to be their leader, but
he went home on plea of sickness and shut himself up. When they had
actually raised the standard of rebellion, however, they compelled
him to become their general.
Though neither troops nor depots, neither arms nor ammunition, stores
nor forage, existed at this time, yet Washington so inspirited
everybody by his own patriotism, and urged them on by his energy,
that the proper boards and departments were soon arranged and he was
thereby enabled to [bring up his forces and] invest the capital. The
British general had intrenched some marines outside of the city,
when a storm suddenly dispersed his ships. Washington improved the
conjuncture by vigorously attacking the city, and succeeded in
taking it.
The English then gathered a great army and renewed the engagement; he
lost the battle completely, and his men were so disheartened and
terrified that they began to disperse. But his great heart
maintained its composure, and he so rallied and reassured his army
that they renewed the contest, and victory finally turned in their
favor. Thus the bloody strife went on for eight years—sometimes
victorious and sometimes vanquished. Washington’s determination and
energy never quailed, while the English general began to grow
old.
[The King of] France also sent a general across the sea to strengthen
the tottering state; he joined his forces with those of Washington,
and gave battle to the British army. The rulers of Spain and Holland
likewise hampered their military operations, and advised them to
conclude a peace. The English at last could no longer act freely,
and ended the strife in the year 1783, by making a treaty with
Washington. According to its stipulations, the boundary line was so
drawn that they had the desolate and cold regions on the north,
while the fertile and genial southern portions were confirmed to
him.
Washington having thus established the state, gave up his military
command for the purpose of returning to his farm; but the people
would not permit him thus to retire, and obliged him to become their
ruler. He, however, proposed a plan to them, as follows: “It is very
selfish for him who gets the power in the state to hand it down to
his posterity; in filling the
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post of shepherd of the people, it will be
most suitable to select a virtuous man.” Each of the old colonies
was thereupon formed into a separate State, having its own governor
to direct its affairs, with a lieutenant governor to assist
him,* each of whom held office four years.† At the general meeting of the people
of a State, if they regard him as worthy, he is permitted to hold
his post during another term of four years;‡ but if not, then the lieutenant
governor takes his place. If, however, the latter does not obtain
the approbation of the people, another man is chosen to the dignity,
when his time is expired. When the headmen of the villages and towns
are proposed for office, their names and surnames are written on
tickets, and thrown into a box; when everybody has done so, the box
is opened, and it is then known who is elected by his having the
most votes, and he takes the office. Whether he has been an
official, or is a commoner, no examination is required as to his
qualifications; and when an officer vacates his place, he becomes in
all respects one of the common people again.
From among all the governors of the separate States, one supreme
governor (or President) is chosen, to whom belongs the right to make
treaties and carry on war, and whose orders each State is bound to
obey. The manner of his election is the same as that for a governor
of a State: he holds his office four years; or if re-elected, for
eight. Since the days of Washington (who died in 1799) the country
has existed 60 years; there have been nine Presidents, and the
present incumbent (Tyler) was elected from Virginia.
When Washington made peace with the British, he dismissed all the
troops and directed the attention of the country entirely to
agriculture and commerce. He also issued a mandate saying, “If
hereafter a President should covetously plot how he can seize the
ports or lands of another kingdom, or harass and extort the people’s
wealth, or raise troops to gratify his personal quarrels, let all
the people put him to death.” He accordingly retained only 20
national war vessels, and limited the army to ten thousand men. The
area of the country is very great, and every one exerts himself to
increase its fertility and riches; the several States have all one
object, and act together in entire harmony; the other nations of the
world have therefore maintained amicable relations with the United
States, and have never presumed to despise or encroach on them.
During the 60 years that have elapsed since peace with England,
there has been no internal war; and [their trade has increased so
that] the number of American merchantmen resorting to Canton yearly
is second only to those of Great Britain.
It appears from the above that Washington was a very remarkable man.
In devising plans, he was more daring than Chin Shing or Han Kwang:
in winning a country, he was braver than Tsau Tsau or Liu Pi.
Wielding his four-foot falchion, he enlarged the frontiers myriads
of miles, and yet he refused to usurp regal dignity, or even to
transmit it to posterity; but, on the contrary, first proposed the
plan of electing men to office. Where in the world can be found a
mode more equitable? It is the same idea, in fact, that has been
handed down to us [Chinese] from the three reigns of Yau, Shun, and
Yu. In ruling the state he honored and fostered good usages, and did
not exalt military merit, a principle totally unlike what is found
in other kingdoms. I have seen his portrait. His mien and
countenance are grand and impressive in the highest degree. Ah ! who
is there that does not call him a hero?§
