84
Sketches of China.
FEB.
of the inscription a point of debate. There would have been an appearance of reason in this proposition, for our own flag was as good a mark for the boat as theirs, if not a better. Moreover, if we were not to knock head at last, it seemed more consistent with such a line of conduct, because "tribute- bearers" have hardly any pretensions to such scruple.
"It seemed, however, that the embassador had received it in his instruc- tions from our government, to consider the matter entirely as a question of expediency, with full authority to comply, should compliance be calculated to attain the substantial objects of the mission. I felt persuaded that, instead of gaining any points by such a measure, we should only becoine contempti- ble in the eyes of the Chinese, and in fact do ourselves more harm than good. Witness the Dutch embassy, whose whole amount of profit consisted of a good deal of ridicule, and some half-gnawed bones from the emperor's table. As far as personal feelings were concerned, the embassador could not be otherwise than averse from compliance; but with authority, or at least per- mission, from home to yield the point rather than make it the ground of a rupture, it became necessary to proceed with circumspection. At the same time, it could never have been intended that he should comply unconditional- ly, or without securing some at least of those important points which were reserved as the subjects of negotiation. Were we to have an audience of the emperor, and do homage at once without bringing any of these subjects forward, nothing could be easier for the Peking government than to send us off immediately afterwards, saying that we had now finished all that we came about. Reserved and unfriendly, not to say rude, as the conduct of our conductors had hitherto been, one felt inclined to anticipate the worst; and there seemned so little prospect of succeeding in anything, that it became a question whether the point of ceremony might not be the best to break off upon, since it would involve no article of ulterior negotiation, but be a good mode of asserting our independence, without making other matters worse than they were before.
“It was curious to observe the difference between the instructions received from the government, and the recommendations emanating from the Court of Directors. The former implied that we went simply in search of what- ever we could pick up, and that performance of the ceremony was to be regarded in ro other view than as it affected the question of profit or loss. The Company said, 'Have most regard to the effect that the embassy is to produce at Canton; complain of the conduct of the local authorities to our trade; and make no concessions, in point of ceremony or reception, which appear calculated to diminish the national respectability of the English at that place.' Now as the welfare of the Company's trade was really the chief object of the embassy, it was fair to conclude that the Company was the party most likely to give the best advice, their reasonings being founded on their past knowledge and experience. Distant as Peking was from the seat of our trade, the effect of the mission at Canton was of more con- sequence than its mere nominal reception at court; and less was to be gained by a servile compliance with the demands of the imperial government (which,