No. 47.
Mr. Low to Mr. Fish.
Legation of the
United States,
Peking, October 26, 1872.
(Received December 26.)
No. 203.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose translation of a
dispatch from Prince Kung announcing officially that
the Emperor was married on the 16th
[Page 131]
instant, and a copy of my reply thereto. A similar announcement has been
made to each of the other legations.
It is not unlikely that what was said it the interview a few days since, when
the ministers called to give verbal notice of the same fact, induced the
prince to send a more formal notification.
I also beg to send herewith translations of two important edicts, from which
it will be seen that the regency will be set aside and the Emperor assume
the duties of actual sovereign in the first month of the Chinese new
year,* on a day to be hereafter fixed.
The day before these edicts appeared the Official Gazette contained one
laudatory of Prince Kung and conferring upon him and
his family additional titles and honors.
This, in addition to many other acts recently, points with reasonable
certainty to the fact that the prince and his party will continue to be the
ruling power in the government when the Emperor assumes the functions of
sovereign de facto, nor is it likely that there will
be any material change in the personnel of the
foreign office.
If this should prove true, the concessions which most, if not all, foreign
governments will demand are not likely to be resisted strenuously. Chief
among the questions that will require to be definitely settled is that of
granting by the Emperor personal audience to the representatives of foreign
governments in a suitable manner. This all European governments will
undoubtedly insist on, as soon as the imperial majority is declared. In the
absence of instructions to the contrary, it is, perhaps, not unreasonable to
suppose that the United States will unite in this demand. It seems to be
foreshadowed in the note from the Secretary of State to the Chinese Embassy,
under date of June 3, 1868. (See Diplomatic Correspondence, 1868, part 1, p.
603.) I would, however, prefer to have definite instructions on the subject
for my guidance. To that end I am sending by this mail to the collector of
the port of San Francisco the draft of a telegram to be sent by him to the
Department. A copy of my note to the collector is herewith inclosed.
That an improvement in the status of the foreign
ministers vis-à-vis this Government is specially to
be desired will not be questioned. If evidence of this fact were needed, the
action of the government in connection with the recent marriage ceremonial
furnishes it. The representatives of the western powers were treated in a
manner which, to say the least, was discourteous, while those from the
tributary states were invited, and took part in the ceremony. All foreigners
were rigorously excluded from the streets and places through which the
procession passed, while natives of all grades above the lowest official
rank were freely admitted to the imperial grounds to view the pageant,
notwithstanding I was informed in the most positive and solemn manner, by
the ministers who came to see me upon this subject, that natives of all
grades and ranks would be excluded the same as foreigners. Were it not for
the fact that all this has a mischievous influence upon the mass, of the
people, these incidents would not be worth noticing, much less reporting to
you.
In the Chinese view the marriage of the Emperor is one of the most-august
ceremonials that can possibly occur, in which high officials should
participate, and to which all the common people should render homage. On the
present occasion officials and people gathered here from all parts of the
country, and what they saw and heard will be repeated
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in every place of importance in the empire;
and it is not unlikely that their impressions gathered while in Peking as to
the position which the foreign ministers occupy will be much less favorable
than is actually the case. It is in this view, chiefly, that I deem a change
in our status important. It is hardly necessary for
me to say that personal feelings or considerations do not enter into the
question.
It may not be amiss for me to here repeat what I have heretofore written to
the Department: that in my opinion, if after the Emperor becomes of age a
courteous but firm demand for audience be made by all the treaty powers
represented here, it will not be refused.
In view of the foregoing considerations, and taking into consideration the
near approach of the Emperor’s majority, it seemed to me entirely proper and
appropriate, when returning a reply to the prince’s dispatch, to convey an
intimation that the Government of the United States might choose a more
appropriate and dignified mode of presenting its felicitations upon so
important an event as the marriage of a sovereign of a friendly power than
sending a note of congratulation through the ordinary channels of diplomatic
correspondence.
Trusting that my views concerning these questions may prove to be in accord
with those entertained by the Department, and that what has been done will
be approved,
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure .1]
Prince King to Mr.
Low.
Peking, October 19,
1872.
Prince Kung, &c.,
&c.:
Informs your excellency that the board of ceremonies have communicated to
him the following decree reverentially received from His Majesty the
Emperor;
“We having with pious veneration succeeded to the vast dominion founded
by our ancestors, and enjoying in its fullness the glorious lot to which
we have been destined, have chosen one virtuous and modest to be the
mistress of our imperial home.
“Upon the 15th October, 1872, we, by patent, instated Alutê, daughter of
Chung Chi, a shichiang, in the Han Lin College, as Empress.”
This from the Emperor.
In respectful obedience to His Majesty’s will, the felicitous act was
celebrated on the 16th October, and, as friendly powers ought by right
to be apprised of this, the prince, besides addressing the other
representatives on the subject, begs to submit the present communication
for your excellency’s perusal.
A necessary communication.
His Excellency F. F. Low,
Minister, &c., &c.
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Low to Prince Kung.
Legation of
the United States,
Peking, October 24,
1872.
Sir: I have had the honor to receive from Your
Imperial Highness a communication in which is embodied an imperial
edict, as follows:
“We having with pious veneration succeeded to the vast dominion founded
by our ancestors and enjoying in its fullness the glorious lot to which
we have been destined, have chosen one virtuous and modest to be the
mistress of our imperial home.
“Upon the 15th October, 1872, we, by patent, instated Alutê, daughter of
Chung Chi, a shi-chiang, in the Han Lin College, as Empress.
“This from the Emperor.”
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And that, in conformity with the decree quoted above, the marriage
ceremony was duly performed on the 16th instant.
Your Imperial Highness further observes that it is proper and desirable
that the information be communicated to all governments in friendly
relations with that of His Imperial Majesty, hence this announcement is
made to the minister of the United States.
In reply, permit me to express my thanks for the honor done me in sending
this note, and I improve this occasion to tender my cordial
congratulations upon the occurrence of this auspicious event, which
confers additional honor upon and augments the happiness of their
Imperial Majesties. It will also insure permanence to the present
dynasty in legitimate succession, secure to the empire peace and
tranquillity, and to the Emperor’s subjects prosperity.
This information will be communicated without loss of time to the
Government of the United States, who will undoubtedly receive it with
lively satisfaction.
Nor will I permit myself to doubt that my Government will improve the
earliest convenient opportunity that may be presented to tender to His
Imperial Majesty its felicitations in a manner befitting the importance
of the event and the dignity of the two governments.
With renewed assurances of my high consideration, I have, &c.,
His Imperial Highness Prince Kung.
[Inclosure 3.]
[From the Peking
Gazette, October 22,
1872.]
edict.
We have respectfully received the following decree from the
empresses:
The country being in a very disturbed state when the Emperor at a tender
age succeeded to the throne, the princes and other high officers of
state were unable to perform their duties in the absence of any
authority to direct them, therefore we were reluctantly compelled to
accede to their request that, for the time being, we, the empresses,
should act as regents. We at the same time announced that so soon as the
Emperor should have completed his studies the supreme authority would
revert to him.
We have now for eleven years anxiously and incessantly striven to perform
our duties, without allowing ourselves the slightest intermission.
The Emperor has, by assiduous application to his studies, made
satisfactory progress, and having now reached the estate of manhood, he
should assume supreme control of the government, and, with the
assistance of his ministers in the capital and provinces, strive to
maintain order and good government, thereby fulfilling with pious
veneration the important trust committed to him by his illustrious
ancestor, the late Emperor, canonized as the “excellent and
virtuous.”
We therefore command the astronomical board to select an auspicious day
in the first month of the coming year (February, 1873) on which the
ceremonies of the Emperor’s accession to the throne will be
celebrated.
The members of the grand council and the grand secretaries, together with
the presidents of the six boards and the nine courts, will, with due
care and respect, make the necessary preparations for the ceremony with
a view to the restoration of the ancient form of government.
Respect this.
[Inclosure 4.]
[From the Peking
Gazette, October 22,
1872.]
edict.
We have respectfully received the following decree from the
empresses:
We have, by a decree issued this day, ordered the astronomical board to
select an auspicious day in the first month of the coming year on which
the ceremonies of the Emperor’s accession to the throne are to be
celebrated.
The great sacrifices performed at the various altars and temples being
eminent and glorious, it devolves upon the Emperor to conduct them in
person, thereby responding
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in
every respect to the heavenly claims and manifesting his devout and
sincere feelings.
We therefore direct that, beginning with the great sacrifice to heaven at
the winter solstice of this year, the Emperor will thenceforward conduct
in person the ceremonies to be performed at the various altars and
temples.
Let the proper boards make all the arrangements necessary for the
occasion.
Respect this.
[Inclosure 5.]
Legation of
the United States,
Peking,
China, October 26,
1872.
To the Collector of the port of San Francisco:
Please send, without delay, by telegraph, to the Secretary of State, the
following:
“Peking, October 26, 1872.
“Hon. Hamilton Fish,
“Secretary
of State, Washington:
“It is officially announced that the regency will be set aside in
February next. My anticipations are likely to be realized. See my
dispatches of March twenty-second (22) and June fifth (5.)
“If special instructions are deemed advisable, and they have not been
sent, the mail leaving San Francisco January first (1) should bring
them.
“FREDERICK F.
LOW,
“United States
Minister.”