1850.
Letter from B. J. Bettelheim.
65
I have been the more particular in giving you the secret springs of this transaction, for I am persuaded that evil-minded persons will avail themselves of the dispatch written by the Lewchewan authorities to our governor, to prove more conclusively that I assumed an official character. At the same time, I confess, I promised myself direct relief from any issue the matter might take; and some hopes indirect- ly, since the government here would now be persuaded I was ready to leave if recalled. What they actually wrote to governor Bonham I know not, but they told me it was in all respects parallel to the follow- ing dispatch, addressed to the captain of the Mariner.
"A prepared petition. Sháng Tingchú, the superintendent of affairs and great minister (now the Regent), and Má Liángtsái, the treasurer (or governor) of the department of Chungshin in the king- dom of Lewchew, hereby beg you to take pity on us, and receive Bettelheim on board and carry him home, in order to do a favor to this little land.
"You plainly see that this kingdom is exceedingly small, its produc- tions scanty, its people destitute, so that we are unable to have relations with other countries in a suitable manner; and therefore when their people or officers come ashore here to live, they do what the laws of the land prohibit. Yet Englishmen and Frenchmen have come here loitering about, and in order to provide them with things necessary during several years, both officers and people have been obliged to come at all hours, in order either to oversee or to work for them ; the one to disburse from the public stores, the other to labor for the daily use of these men—all which has been very distressing, im- poverishing, and irksome. The Frenchmen went away last year about the seventh month in a ship of their own country which came in here; but your countryman Bettelheim has delayed his stay here a long time, whereby poverty has been added to poverty, and the country is not able to stand it. Moreover, our country is out of the way in a corner of the ocean, and there are always mists upon the hills and ex- halations arising, so that we fear the climate will not agree with them, and they will unhappily be liable to sickness. Besides requesting Bet- telheim himself to embark and return home, as is proper, we humbly request and beg your Excellency to glance at the circumstances of the case, and take pity on us; and when your noble ship is about to turn her head homeward to take the said Bettelheim on board. Then not only will we ourselves be much obliged, but officers and people general- Hy will implore blessings upon you. An urgent petition.
An urgent petition. March 9th, 1849."
VOL. XIX. NO. 11,
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