instant, and a copy of my reply thereto. A similar announcement has been made to each of the other legations. It is not unlikely that what was said at the interview a few days since, when the ministers called to give verbal notice of the same fact, induced the prince to send a more formal notification. I also beg to send herewith translations of two important edicts, from which it will be seen that the regency will be set aside and the Emperor assume the duties of actual sovereign in the first month of the Chinese new year,* on a day to be hereafter fixed. The day before these edicts appeared the Official Gazette contained one laudatory of Prince Kung and conferring upon him and his family additional titles and honors. This, in addition to many other acts recently, points with reasonable certainty to the fact that the prince and his party will continue to be the ruling power in the government when the Emperor assumes the functions of sovereign de facto, nor is it likely that there will be any material change in the personnel of the foreign office. If this should prove true, the concessions which most, if not all, foreign governments will demand are not likely to be resisted strenuously. Chief among the questions that will require to be definitely settled is that of granting by the Emperor personal audience to the representatives of foreign governments in a suitable manner. This all European governments will undoubtedly insist on, as soon as the imperial majority is declared. In the absence of instructions to the contrary, it is, perhaps, not unreasonable to suppose that the United States will unite in this demand. It seems to be foreshadowed in the note from the Secretary of State to the Chinese Embassy, under date of June 3, 1868. (See Diplomatic Correspondence, 1868, part 1, p. 603.) I would, however, prefer to have definite instructions on the subject for my guidance. To that end I am sending by this mail to the collector of the port of San Francisco the draft of a telegram to be sent by him to the Department. A copy of my note to the collector is herewith inclosed. That an improvement in the status of the foreign ministers vis-à-vis this Government is specially to be desired will not be questioned. If evidence of this fact were needed, the action of the government in connection with the recent marriage ceremonial furnishes it. The representatives of the western powers were treated in a manner which, to say the least, was discourteous, while those from the tributary states were invited, and took part in the ceremony. All foreigners were rigorously excluded from the streets and places through which the procession passed, while natives of all grades above the lowest official rank were freely admitted to the imperial grounds to view the pageant, notwithstanding I was informed in the most positive and solemn manner, by the ministers who came to see me upon this subject, that natives of all grades and ranks would be excluded the same as foreigners. Were it not for the fact that all this has a mischievous influence upon the mass of the people, these incidents would not be worth noticing, much less reporting to you. In the Chinese view the marriage of the Emperor is one of the most august ceremonials that can possibly occur, in which high officials. should participate, and to which all the common people should render homage. On the present occasion officials and people gathered here from all parts of the country, and what they saw and heard will be re *The Chinese first month of the new year commences January 29, and ends Feburary 26, 1873, according to our calendar. peated in every place of importance in the empire; and it is not unlikely that their impressions gathered while in Peking as to the position which the foreign ministers occupy will be much less favorable than is actually the case. It is in this view, chiefly, that I deem a change in our status important. It is hardly necessary for me to say that personal feelings or considerations do not enter into the question. It may not be amiss for me to here repeat what I have heretofore written to the Department: that in my opinion, if after the Emperor becomes of age a courteous but firm demand for audience be made by all the treaty powers represented here, it will not be refused. In view of the foregoing considerations, and taking into consideration the near approach of the Emperor's majority, it seemed to me entirely proper and appropriate, when returning a reply to the prince's dispatch, to convey an intimation that the Government of the United States might choose a more appropriate and dignified mode of presenting its felicitations upon so important an event as the marriage of a sovereign of a friendly power than sending a note of congratulation through the ordinary channels of diplomatic correspondence. Trusting that my views concerning these questions may prove to be in accord with those entertained by the Department, and that what has been done will be approved, I have, &c., FREDERICK F. LOW. [Inclosure .1] Prince King to Mr. Low. PEKING, October 19, 1872. Prince KUNG, &c., &c.: Informs your excellency that the board of ceremonies have communicated to him the following decree reverentially received from His Majesty the Emperor: "We having with pious veneration succeeded to the vast dominion founded by our ancestors, and enjoying in its fullness the glorious lot to which we have been destined, have chosen one virtuous and modest to be the mistress of our imperial home. "Upon the 15th October, 1872, we, by patent, instated Alutê, daughter of Chung Chi, a shi-chiang, in the Han Lin College, as Empress." This from the Emperor. In respectful obedience to His Majesty's will, the felicitous act was celebrated on the 16th October, and, as friendly powers ought by right to be apprised of this, the prince, besides addressing the other representatives on the subject, begs to submit the present communication for your excellency's perusal. A necessary communication. His Excellency F. F. Low, Minister, Sc., &c. [Inclosure 2.] Mr. Low to Prince Kung. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have had the honor to receive from Your Imperial Highness a communication in which is embodied an imperial edict, as follows: "We having with pious veneration succeeded to the vast dominion founded by our ancestors and enjoying in its fullness the glorious lot to which we have been destined, have chosen one virtuous and modest to be the mistress of our imperial home. "Upon the 15th October, 1872, we, by patent, instated Alutê, daughter of Chung Chi, a shi-chiang, in the Han Lin College, as Empress. "This from the Emperor." And that, in conformity with the decree quoted above, the marriage ceremony was duly performed on the 16th instant. Your Imperial Highness further observes that it is proper and desirable that the information be communicated to all governments in friendly relations with that of His Imperial Majesty, hence this announcement is made to the minister of the United States. In reply, permit me to express iny thanks for the honor done me in sending this note, and I improve this occasion to tender my cordial congratulations upon the occurrence of this auspicious event, which confers additional honor upon and augments the happiness of their Imperial Majesties. It will also insure permanence to the present dynasty in legitimate succession, secure to the empire peace and tranquillity, and to the Emperor's subjects prosperity. This information will be communicated without loss of time to the Government of the United States, who will undoubtedly receive it with lively satisfaction. Nor will I permit myself to doubt that my Government will improve the earliest convenient opportunity that may be presented to tender to His Imperial Majesty its felicitations in a manner befitting the importance of the event and the dignity of the two governments. With renewed assurances of my high consideration, I have, &c., His Imperial Highness Prince KUNG. FREDERICK F. LOW. [Inclosure 3.] [From the Peking Gazette, October 22, 1872.] EDICT. We have respectfully received the following decree from the empresses: The country being in a very disturbed state when the Emperor at a tender age succeeded to the throne, the princes and other high officers of state were unable to perform their duties in the absence of any authority to direct them, therefore we were reluctantly compelled to accede to their request that, for the time being, we, the empresses, should act as regents. We at the same time announced that so soon as the Emperor should have completed his studies the supreme authority would revert to him. We have now for eleven years anxiously and incessantly striven to perform our duties, without allowing ourselves the slightest intermission. The Emperor has, by assiduous application to his studies, made satisfactory progress, and having now reached the estate of manhood, he should assume supreme control of the government, and, with the assistance of his ministers in the capital and provinces, strive to maintain order and good government, thereby fulfilling with pious veneration the important trust committed to him by his illustrious ancestor, the late Emperor, canonized as the "excellent and virtuous." We therefore command the astronomical board to select an auspicious day in the first month of the coming year (February, 1873) on which the ceremonies of the Emperor's accession to the throne will be celebrated. The members of the grand council and the grand secretaries, together with the presidents of the six boards and the nine courts, will, with due care and respect, make the necessary preparations for the ceremony with a view to the restoration of the ancient form of government. Respect this. [Inclosure 4.] [From the Peking Gazette, October 22, 1872.] EDICT. We have respectfully received the following decree from the empresses: We have, by a decree issued this day, ordered the astronomical board to select an anspicious day in the first month of the coming year on which the ceremonies of the Emperor's accession to the throne are to be celebrated. The great sacrifices performed at the various altars and temples being eminent and glorious, it devolves upon the Emperor to conduct them in person, thereby responding in every respect to the heavenly claims and manifesting his devout and sincere feelings. We therefore direct that, beginning with the great sacrifice to heaven at the winter solstice of this year, the Emperor will thenceforward conduct in person the ceremonies to be performed at the various altars and temples. Let the proper boards make all the arrangements necessary for the occasion. [Inclosure 5.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, To the Collector of the port of San Francisco: Please send, without delay, by telegraph, to the Secretary of State, the following: "Hon. HAMILTON FISH, 66 Secretary of State, Washington: "PEKING, October 26, 1872. "It is officially announced that the regency will be set aside in February next. My anticipations are likely to be realized. See my dispatches of March twenty-second (22) and June fifth (5.) "If special instructions are deemed advisable, and they have not been sent, the mail leaving San Francisco January first (1) should bring them. "FREDERICK F. LOW, No. 205.] No. 48. Mr. Low to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, November 6, 1872. (Received January 23, 1873.) SIR Referring to my No. 203, of 26th October, I now beg to inclose translation of an edict naming the 23d February, 1873, as the day for the formal transfer of the government of the empire to the young Emperor. So far as I am able to learn, no intimation has yet been given to either of the foreign legations as to the course the Emperor will pursue when he assumes personal authority. I have nothing to add to what has been said in previous dispatches concerning this subject. I have, &c., [Inclosure.] FREDERICK F. LOW. [From Peking Gazette, November 2, 1872.] EDICT. We have received with reverence the following edict from their majesties the empress dowager and the empress mother: The imperial astronomical board having reported that, in obedience to our command, it had selected an auspicious day for the ceremonies of the Emperor's accession to the personal administration of the government, we accordingly decree that the ceremonies in question take place on the 23d day of February, 1873, and command the several boards concerned to diligently make the necessary preparations. Respect this. No. 211.] No. 49. Mr. Low to Mr. Fish. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, November 23, 1872. (Received January 23, 1873.) SIR Referring to my No. 202, of 23d October last, I have now the honor to inform you that the consul at Ningpo reports the release of all the natives that had been arrested at Hangchow for being concerned in the sale of property to missionaries. From the same and other sources I learn that all is now quiet, and that the missionaries anticipate no farther trouble, for the present at least. It appears that most of the men arrested were required, as a condition of their release, to give bonds for their future good behavior, and from some a fine was exacted in addition to the bond. Whether the conditions imposed were real or only nominal, I have no means of knowing certainly. The British consul at Ningpo is of the opinion that certain conditions seemed to the officials necessary to make it appear that the men were arrested on charges other than selling property to foreigners, but that there is no intention of compelling the payment of fines or the making of bonds. Upon this point Mr. Consul Lord expresses no opinion. I have, &c., FREDERICK F. LOW. No. 115.] No. 50. Mr. Fish to Mr. Low. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, December 21, 1872. SIR: The Department has received your telegram of the 26th October last, stating that it was officially announced that the regency would be set aside in February next. The consequent assumption of full authority by the young Emperor will again present the question as to the expediency or necessity for such of the treaty powers as may be represented at Peking by diplomatic agents accredited to him to insist upon that audience with him to which, pursuant to public law, they should everywhere be entitled. You are aware that there is and always has been in this country a general repugnance to dwell upon or even seriously consider questions of ceremony. When, however, such a question, as in this instance, involves that official equality of other nations with China which they have a right to claim, it becomes more or less a question, not of form merely, but of substance, requiring grave consideration. The entire segregation of China from the other nations of the globe until a comparatively recent period, which was the policy pursued by her rulers, was mostly occasioned and justified by the fact that, as that empire extended from north to south and from east to west through many degrees of latitude and longitude, it produced everything desirable yielded by both the temperate and the tropical zones. This, owing to the vast population of the region, led to an immense home trade in exchanging the productions of one quarter for those of another. Nothing from abroad being coveted or supposed to be needed, there was |