Chinese letter to king george iii biography

The emperor rejected all the British requests for the reasons he stated in the following letter. You, O King, from afar have yearned after the blessings of our civilization, and in your eagerness to come into touch with our converting influence have sent an Embassy across the sea bearing a memorial [memorandum]. I have already taken note of your respectful spirit of submission, have treated your mission with extreme favor and loaded it with gifts, besides issuing a mandate to you, O King, and honoring you at the bestowal of valuable presents.

Thus has my indulgence been manifested. Yesterday your Ambassador petitioned my Ministers to memorialize me regarding your trade with China, but his proposal is not consistent with our dynastic usage and cannot be entertained. Hitherto, all European nations, including your own country's barbarian merchants, have carried on their trade with our Celestial Empire at Canton.

Such has been the procedure for many years, although our Celestial Empire possesses all things in prolific abundance and lacks no product within its own borders. There was therefore no need to import the manufactures of outside barbarians in exchange for our own produce. But as the tea, silk and porcelain which the Celestial Empire produces, are absolute necessities to European nations and to yourselves, we have permitted, as a signal mark of favor, that foreign hongs [groups of merchants] should be established at Canton, so that your wants might be supplied and your country thus participate in our beneficence.

But your Ambassador has now put forward new requests which completely fail to recognize the Throne's principle to "treat strangers from afar with indulgence," and to exercise a pacifying control over barbarian tribes, the world over. Moreover, our dynasty, swaying the myriad races of the globe, extends the same benevolence towards all.

Your England is not the only nation trading at Canton. If other nations, following your bad example, wrongfully importune my ear with further impossible requests, how will it be possible for me to treat them with easy indulgence? In that event your barbarian merchants will have had a long journey for nothing. Do not say that you were not warned in due time!

Tremblingly obey and show no negligence! A special mandate! Share this: Twitter Facebook Like Loading Related Leave a comment Cancel reply. Skip to content. Here is why history is so compelling, in my view. Personal statements and letters always spice up the learning of historic moments and gives a first hand perspective to what came then.

Precisely, the end of Chinese independence as they knew it. During the eighteenth century, the British, the leading traders with China, became increasingly dissatisfied with the inconveniences and limitations of their trade agreement. After repeated failures, the government sent an official envoy from King George III himself to the imperial court.

The emperor rejected all the British requests for the reasons he stated in the following letter.

Chinese letter to king george iii biography

Share this: Twitter Facebook. Like Loading Leave a comment Cancel reply. Unbeknownst to Macartney, the Chinese version of the letter viewed by Qianlong adopted a much more submissive tone quite different from the English version submitted by Macartney, included next. The natural disposition of a great and benevolent Sovereign, such as is Your Imperial Majesty, whom Providence has seated upon a Throne for the good of Mankind, is, to watch over the peace and security of his dominions, and to take pains for disseminating happiness, virtue and knowledge among his subjects, extending also the same beneficence with all the peaceful arts, as far as he is able, to the whole human race.

Many of Our subjects have also frequented for a long time past a remote part of Your Majesty's dominions for the purpose of Trade. No doubt the interchange of commodities between Nations distantly situated tends to their mutual convenience, industry and wealth, as the blessings which the Great God of Heaven has conferred upon various soils and climates are thus distributed among his Creatures scattered over the surface of the Earth.

But such an intercourse requires to be properly conducted, so as that the newcomers may not infringe the laws and custom's of the Country they visit, and that on the other hand they may be received on terms of hospitality and meet the Justice and protection due to Strangers. We are indeed equally desirous to restrain Our Subjects from doing evil or even of showing ill example in any foreign Country, as We are that [they] should receive no injury in it.