No. 84.
Mr. Low
to Mr. Fish.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, July 12, 1872.
(Received September 9.)
No. 172.]
Sir: Referring to my No. 130, of 5th February
last, I have now the honor to inform you that thirty Chinese students,
with two guardians and two tutors, propose leaving Shanghai for the
United States, on the steamer of the 26th instant or the 12th proximo. A
list of these students, properly certified by me, has been sent to the
vice-consul-general.
Upon presentation of a list thus certified to the agency in Shanghai, the
generous proposal of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company mentioned in my
previous dispatch upon this subject can be availed of.
The ages of the students are from ten to sixteen years. Yung Wing, one of
the guardians, was educated in the United States, he having graduated at
Yale College several years ago. His knowledge of our language and
acquaintance in the United States will greatly facilitate the making of
the necessary arrangements for the education of his wards. If he should
visit Washington and call upon you, I bespeak for him a kindly
reception, such as you would accord to a gentleman of education and
refinement. This man has for some years been urging upon the native
officials with whom he came in contact the necessity of foreign
education.
The importance of the subject has at last been recognized by the highest
officials in the empire, the first fruits of which is seen in the
sending of these youths abroad to be educated. This is only the first
installment of the number it is proposed to send; and if the initial
experiment should appear to promise success, it is not unlikely the
total number may be increased much beyond the original design.
In connection with this subject, I have the honor to inclose translation
of a note from the viceroy of this province. He, you will observe,
solicits your kind offices in behalf of the students; and I beg to
supplement his with a similar request of my own.
I shall look with interest to the reception which this modest and humble
scheme meets with from our people. If it be generous and cordial, the
result will prove of more practical value to our interests here than an
increase in the number of our vessels of war.
I have, &c.,
[Page 136]
[Inclosure in No. 84.—Translation.]
On the 1st of February, 1872, I received your excellency’s note
concerning the sending of Chinese youth to America to study in your
schools. Your excellency kindly promises to instruct the
consul-general at Shanghai correctly as to the names of those who
are to go, that he may issue for them a suitable certificate, and
that one-half the, steamer fare should be remitted them. You express
a desire to thus arrange this matter in order to afford a proof of
the mutual friendship of the two nations, and you trust I will not
refuse. In this your excellency’s unusual interest and desire to
assist in a good scheme is seen, and it shall always be remembered
with deep gratitude.
Immediately on the receipt of your note I sent a communication to
Tseng Kuo Fan, superintendent of trade for the southern ports, and
we appointed Chên Lau Piu and Rung Hung (Yung Wing) officers to be
in charge of the young persons going abroad, and directed them to
deliberate and settle upon a suitable plan. Thereupon Chen and Yung
Wing asked leave to go to their homes in Kuantung to arrange their
private affairs preliminary to their departure, hence the long delay
in my reply. Rung has already returned to Shanghai, and Chen will be
back at no distant day. Selection of the bright and intelligent lads
who are to go abroad has just been made, and I think that in the
autumn of the present year the first installment will leave. Yung
Wing has already been in American schools and understands their
methods thoroughly.
I have commanded these two officials to plan together at Shanghai
with the American consul-general, and when the time for their
departure shall have come to send the names and number of the
students to the consul-general, by him to be forwarded to your
excellency that you may issue a suitable certificate, which these
two officials may take with them.
On the American steamers there is a fixed rate of passage, and the
Chinese government in sending these persons abroad is particular
about this matter, and of its own thought would be unwilling to pay
less. Only let the officers of the steamers be particular to regard
their wants, and it is unnecessary to direct them to reduce the
fare. But in your letter appears the statement that on a certificate
from your excellency the fare would be reduced one-half. If hitherto
there has been a rule for such a reduction, then certainly the said
officers should accept the favor. If there has been no rule for such
a reduction, it is not fitting that because of our friendship with
your excellency the steamship company should suffer loss. In this
point the deep and sincere friendliness of your excellency is even
more appreciated and trusted in by us.
The fares, tuition, and current expenses of these students will all
be taken charge of by Chen and Yung Wing. I would again request your
excellency to send a note to the American Secretary of State, that
when these officers and students shall have reached your country, he
will, in whatever circumstances they may be, kindly have a care and
protection over them. I trust that thus the students will make
constant progress, and become thoroughly proficient in astronomy,
geography, arithmetic, and mechanics, and that they may not
disappoint the great hopes entertained by the Tsung-li Yamen, Prince
Kung, and myself. In making this reply I take the opportunity to
wish your excellency the compliments of the day.
Card of Li, viceroy of Chihli.
