Pekin, well disposed towards the Embassy, was very willing to
‘ supply the translator that was wanted ; and accordingly,
lie presented a Chinese Christian, usually employed by
him, and perfectly qualified for this Office; but such
was the habitual fear impressed on the natives of China
of affording the smallest ground of offence to persons in
authority, or of being found meddling in any. supposed
matter of state, and such this man’s particular dreadkof
incurring the displeasure of the Legate,;ifohis -handwriting
should be discovered, that he could not be|te®*-
suaded to let it go abroad. It was also-a fitet well known,
that a native of Canton had been formerly put to death
for writing, there,-a petition in Chinese Joi* the
lish. The difficulty was-however overcome.by means
of the youth formerly mentioned as page io-.thefEm-
bassador, and who had acquired an omeommon rfeoility
in copying the Chinese character, beside having-made
progress enough in the language to serve sometimes as
interpreter; and it was necessary to have recourse to
him, for copying out every subsequent paper that there
was occasion to present in the Chinese language. The
process for this purpose was somewhat tedious. The
English paper was first translated into Latin by Mr.
Hiitner, for the use of the Embassador’s Chinese interpreter,
who did not understand the original. The interpreter
explained, verbally, the meaning of the Latin
into the familiar language of Chinese conversation, which
the new translator transferred into the proper style
of officiaf^pa-pefs. The page immediately copied this
trahsiation, fair; when the original rough draught was,
fcr the isatisfaction of th e : translator, destroyed in his-
* iHisExeellency’s memorial was addressed teHo-ehoongw
taUng Cbbro', cfirst minister of sthe empirtysandkrepresent^
ed that• “ has Majesty the :l&inig of Creat Britain in send--
“ ing-;an- E mbassy he* his Majesty th eEm p f^ ^ o f China,
^ifially intended to give the strongest testimony of »par*-*
“ ticular esteem and veneration-for his Imperial Majesty;1
“ that the .Embassador entrusted «to convey such, sefLti-
“ mentewas earnestly idesirous of fulfilling that object
“ ofhitfimission with zeal and effect jVth&tiJa^w^ ready
“ likdwiseito conform to every Cxteirorfceremony ,prac-
“ fisedfby his Infjferial Maj esty^Subj^ifS^iand the tri-
“ bmtary princes atteadingathis court ,n@t enfyA^Y'oid
“ tber confusion of novelty^ifeut ite^deF. to-sheWr'E.y his
“ example on behalf of one of .tbe greatestjas’Wiell'as mQSt
distant nations on the globe, the high a»d just sense-
“■ universally eriterteiBedfof ’ his Imperial Majesty’sdigb
M nity and transcendent virtues; that the Embassadors
“ had determined to<a«t in that manner -wjtbout hes-ita-
‘ ‘ tion or I difficulty, on i this condition only, of which
“ he flattered himself his Imperial -MhjMtyvsvetild im-
“ Mediatelyipesodfve the inecessity ; and have, thu,g.ood-
mess; to* accede to it, by^gmmg suck direction's asishould
5ekia; |