lished that independence after a seven years' war, and now meet England upon equal terms upon the ocean and upon the land. The remoteness of the United States from China, and still more, the fact that they have no colonial possessions in her neighborhood, will naturally lead to the indulgence of a less suspicious and more friendly feeling than may have been entertained toward England, even before the late war between England and China. It cannot be doubted that the immense power of England in India must be regarded by the Chinese government with dissatisfaction, if not with some degree of alarm. You will take care to show strongly how free the Chinese government may well be from all jealousy arising from such causes toward the United States. Finally, you will signify, in decided terms and a positive manner, that the government of the United States would find it impossible to remain on terms of friendship and regard with the Emperor, if greater privileges or commercial facilities should be allowed to the subjects of any other government than should be granted to citizens of the United States.

It is hoped and trusted that you will succeed in making a treaty such as has been concluded between England and China; and if one containing fuller and more regular stipulations could be entered into, it would be conducting Chinese intercourse one step farther toward the principles which regulate the public relations of the European and American states.

I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
DANIEL WEBSTER.

CALEB CUSHING, ESQ.

Mr. Webster to Mr. Cushing.

Department of State, Washington, May 8, 1843. SIR, The President having appointed you Commissioner to China in the place of Mr. Everett, who has declined to accept that appointment, this department is now to give you the necessary instructions for your mission.

You will receive herewith two commissions: one as Commissioner, under which you will be authorized to treat with the governors of provinces or cities, or other local authorities. of China; and one as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, to be presented at Pekin, if you should reach the Emperor's court.

1. A full power, authorizing you to sign any treaty which may be concluded between you and any person duly authorized for that purpose by the Emperor of China.

2. A letter of credence to the Emperor, with an office copy thereof; the original to be communicated or delivered to the sovereign in such manner as may be most convenient or agreeable to his Majesty to receive it.

3. A special passport for yourself and suite.

4. A letter of credit on Baring, Brothers, & Co., bankers of the United States at London, authorizing them to pay your drafts, from time to time, for an amount not exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars.

5. A printed list of the ministers and other diplomatic and consular agents of the United States abroad.

6. Laws of the United States, 9 vols., and pamphlet copies of the Acts of the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses.

7. Congressional Debates (Gales and Seaton's), 8vo, 31 vols. 8. Gales and Seaton's American State Papers, folio, 21 vols. 9. Waite's State Papers, 12mo, 12 vols.

10. Diplomatic Correspondence (Sparks's), 12mo, 19 vols. 11. Diplomatic Code (Elliott's), 8vo, 2 vols.

12. American Almanac for 1843, 12mo, 1 vol.

13. Blue Book for 1841, 1 vol.

14. Commercial Regulations, 8vo, 3 vols.

15. American Archives (Force's), folio, 3 vols. 16. Secret Journals of Congress, 4 vols.

17. Journal of Federal Convention, 1 vol.

18. Sixth Census of the United States, 4 vols.

19. Congressional Documents of the Second Session of the Twenty-sixth Congress.

20. Congressional Documents of the First Session of the Twenty-seventh Congress.

21. Senate Documents of the Second Session of the Twentyseventh Congress.

22. Printed Documents connected with the "Northeastern Boundary" Negotiation.

All the printed books are for the use of the mission; and, at the termination of your service, are to pass to your succes

sor, or to be left with the archives in the hands of the chargé d'affaires, in case one should be named, or of such other person as may be designated by this department to take charge of them.

The act of Congress places at the disposition of the President the sum of forty thousand dollars, as an appropriation for the special expenses of this mission. But this does not include such payments out of the general fund for the contingent expenses of all the missions abroad as are usually made in the case of other missions. The President directs that you be allowed an outfit of nine thousand dollars, and a salary of nine thousand dollars. In missions to Europe, the government allows for the expenses of the minister's return a sum equal to one quarter's salary. Considering the distance from the United States at which diplomatic services are performed in Asia, it has been thought reasonable to allow in missions in that quarter of the world the minister's expenses in returning at the rate of half a year's salary. This has been done in previous cases. The return allowance is usually made out of the fund for the contingent expenses of the missions abroad; and, in case no sufficient surplus should remain of the fund specially appropriated by Congress after the necessary expenditures in China, you are authorized to draw on this department for your return allowance, as above stated. The secretary of the mission, Mr. Fletcher Webster, already appointed, will be allowed a salary at the rate of four thousand five hundred dollars a year. An advance has been made to him, partly toward his own compensation, and partly to enable him to make some necessary preparations for the objects of the mission, as you will see by his instructions, a copy of which you will herewith receive.

The necessary travelling expenses of yourself and suite from place to place while in China, when you cannot be conveniently conveyed by the squadron, will be allowed. Your salary will commence from the date of your commission, if you proceed on your mission within ninety days from that time. It is difficult to give you any rule respecting contingencies in a service so new, and in a country so remote. It may be necessary, or at least highly useful, that a draughtsman should accompany you, and also some young gentleman in the character of

physician. It is desired that you make such inquiries as may show whether the services of such persons can be obtained at small expense.

A number of young gentlemen have applied to be unpaid attachés to the mission. It will add to its dignity and importance, if your suite could be made respectable in number, by accepting such offers of attendance without expense to the gov

ernment.

Of course, you will need the service of one or more interpretThese you may engage either in Europe or in China, or wherever, in your own judgment, you can find persons most competent. The squadron destined for service in the Asiatic. seas, and which, it is understood, will carry you out to China, will consist of the frigate Brandywine, the sloop of war St. Louis, and the steam-frigate Missouri. These vessels will be ready to proceed immediately from Norfolk, and will have instructions to take up the mission at Bombay.

The Secretary of the Navy will give the proper directions for the accommodation on board the vessels of such gentlemen attached to the mission as may be ready to go with the squadron.

The Navy Department will also cause proper instructions to be given to Commodore Parker, commanding the squadron, for carrying into effect the objects of government in this important mission.

In another paper of this date you will receive further instructions respecting the great political objects of the mission, and the means supposed to be most likely to accomplish them. I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, DANIEL WEbster. CALEB CUSHING, ESQ., appointed Commissioner of the United States to China.

The President's Letter to the Emperor.

I, John Tyler, President of the United States of America, which States are Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas,

and Michigan, send you this letter of peace and friendship, signed by my own hand.

I hope your health is good. China is a great empire, extending over a great part of the world. The Chinese are numerous. You have millions and millions of subjects. The twentysix United States are as large as China, though our people are not so numerous. The rising sun looks upon the great mountains and great rivers of China. When he sets, he looks upon rivers and mountains equally large in the United States. Our territories extend from one great ocean to the other; and on the west we are divided from your dominions only by the sea. Leaving the mouth of one of our great rivers, and going constantly toward the setting sun, we sail to Japan and to the Yellow Sea.

Now my words are, that the governments of two such great countries should be at peace. It is proper, and according to the will of Heaven, that they should respect each other, and act wisely. I therefore send to your court Caleb Cushing, one of the wise and learned men of this country. On his first arrival in China, he will inquire for your health. He has then strict orders to go to your great city of Pekin, and there to deliver this letter. He will have with him secretaries and interpreters.

The Chinese love to trade with our people, and to sell them tea and silk, for which our people pay silver, and sometimes other articles. But if the Chinese and the Americans will trade, there should be rules, so that they shall not break your laws nor our laws. Our minister, Caleb Cushing, is authorized to make a treaty to regulate trade. Let it be just. Let there be no unfair advantage on either side. Let the people trade not only at Canton, but also at Amoy, Ning-po, Shang-hai, Fu-chow, and all such other places as may offer profitable exchanges both to China and the United States, provided they do not break your laws nor our laws. We shall not take the part of evil-doers. We shall not uphold them that break your laws. Therefore, we doubt not that you will be pleased that our messenger of peace, with this letter in his hand, shall come to Pekin, and there deliver it; and that your great officers will, by your order, make a treaty with him to regulate affairs of trade, so that nothing may happen to disturb the peace between China and Amer