.......
George III, the terrestrial
planetarium,
the clocks, the
and
celestial
globes,
the
barometer, were
quickly
reclassified as tribute. The offers of trade were rejected:
"As your Ambassador has seen for himself, we possess all
things. I set no value on objects strange and ingenious and
have no use for your manufactures."
But the Emperor was disposed to be generous and George
III was given marks for effort:
"Although your country, O King, lies in the far
oceans, yet, inclining your heart towards
civilisation, you have specially sent an envoy
respectfully to present a state message, to
kowtow and to present congratulations for the
imperial birthday, and also to present local
products, thereby showing your sincerity.
"We have perused the text of your state message and
the wording expresses your earnestness. From it
your sincere humility and obedience can be
##
seen.
The Embassy,
with its
extravagant
requests and
pretensions, was quietly forced back within the framework of
Chinese conventions and the Ambassador, or, as the Chinese
preferred to call him, "the tributary envoy", was sent on his
way, empty-handed. China remained a closed world, aloof,
superior, self-sufficient.
It is a famous episode, much described. But it is right
to dwell upon it at the beginning of any account of Sino-
relations, for it vividly illustrates the gulf
between the two sides; and it carries within it the seeds of
British