China and the English, Or, the Character and Manners of the Chinese As Illustrated in the History of Their Intercourse With Foreigners

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1835 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. THE ENGLISH EMBASSY--CONTINUED. The reader will probably, by this time, begin to look for some indications, in respect to the probable success of this enterprise; for it is plain that we are now drawing towards the time when some such indications must appear. In fact, they did appear before this time. Evidences that the whole embassy was looked upon with some jealousy, by the Chinese authorities, had been observed pretty early, and were rather increasing. These officers could not believe that the real object of this expensive visit was the pretended one, viz. simply to do honor to the emperor on his birth-day. They could not suppose that any mere mercantile objects were in contemplation; for the embassy, in the first place, had studiously endeavored to keep all mercantile interests entirely out of view, as we have already seen; and, besides, in the opinion of the Chinese, any advantages of trade were not of sufficient value or importance to afford an inducement for undertaking so grand an enterprise. They were afraid of something, they knew not exactly what--Tjome political interference with the country, perhaps, or even military conquest. Their fears were increased--unfortunately for the embassy--by the tidings which reached them, about this time, of the principles and effects of the French revolution, than which nothing could be more abhorrent to the ideas of such a government as that of China. Some vague reports, too, of the operations of the English armies in India, especially upon the eastern frontier, where the dominions of the English and the Chinese monarchs approached very near to one another, excited still more the alarms and jealousies of the mandarins; and thus, while the ambassador and his suite were fondly hoping, upon their approac...