The Cornhill Magazine, Vol. I, January 1860Various
General
The Cornhill Magazine, Vol. I, January 1860
Various
England -- Periodicals; English literature -- Periodicals; Short stories, English -- Periodicals
After stating that the English “barbarians” had been “pacified” in
1842, and the American and French “barbarians” in 1844, Keying goes on
to report that it had been necessary to “shift ground,” and change the
measures by which they were to be “tethered.” “Of course,” he says,
they must be dealt with “justly,” and their “feelings consulted;” but
they cannot be restrained without “stratagems”--and thus he explains
his “stratagems.” Sometimes they must be “ordered” (to obey), and “no
reason given;” sometimes there must be “demonstrations” to disarm
their “restlessness” and “suspicions;” sometimes they must be placed
on a footing of “equality,” to make them “pleased” and “grateful;”
their “falsehoods must be blinked,” and their “facts” not too closely
examined. Being “born beyond” (heaven’s canopy), the barbarians “cannot
perfectly understand the administration of the Celestial dynasty,”
nor the promulgation of the “silken sounds” (imperial decrees) by
the “Great Council.” Keying excuses himself for having, in order “to
gain their good-will,” eaten and drunk with “the barbarians in their
residences and ships;” but he was most embarrassed by the consideration
shown by the barbarians towards “their women,”[4] whom they constantly
introduced; but he did not deem it becoming “to break out in rebuke,”
which would “not clear their barbarian dulness.” He urges, however, the
increasing necessity of “keeping them off, and shutting them out.” He
takes great credit for refusing the “barbarians’ gifts,” the receipt of
which might, he says, have exposed him to the penalties of the law. He
did accept some trifles; but, giving effect to the Confucian maxim of
“receiving little and returning much,” he gave the barbarians in return
“snuff-bottles, purses,” and a “copy of his insignificant portrait.”
He says the “barbarians” have “filched Chinese titles for their
rulers:” thus “assuming the airs of great authority,” which he
acknowledges to be “no concern of ours;” but they will not accept any
designation denoting dependency, nor adopt the lunar calendar, nor
acknowledge patents of royalty from the “son of heaven.” They are so
“uncivilized,” so “blindly ignorant” of propriety, that to require them
to recognize becoming “inferiority” and “superiority,” would “lead to
fierce altercation;” and after all, he recommends disregarding these
“minor details,” in order to carry out “an important policy.” He
presents to the “sacred intelligence” this hasty outline of the “rough
settlement of the barbarian business.”[5] On the general character of
the official papers seized in Yeh’s yamun, Mr. Wade reports:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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