Early Relations between the United States and China. 137 



memorialized, and since even a merchant ship had never been 

 there. Then, too, said the viceroy, there would be no interpreter 

 at -the capital, and no commissioner with power to make a treaty. 

 The English had not carried on their negotiations at Peking, an 

 imperial edict had already been issued (after Forbes warning) 

 ordering Gushing to be stopped, and after all, a treaty was not 

 at all necessary. 138 This began a correspondence between the 

 two in which the American hastened the appointment of a com 

 missioner by threatening to go to Peking.! March 23d, Gushing 

 replied to Ching s first letter, refusing to discuss the matter of a 

 treaty with any but an imperial commissioner, and still insisting 

 on going north, although expressing his willingness to go by 

 land. 139 Ching replied that the latter was impossible, 140 and that 

 a reply from Peking might be expected in about three months. 141 

 Some four days later Gushing again expressed his intention of 

 going north, saying that if the court had wanted him to stay 

 at Canton it would have forwarded the viceroy instructions for 

 his reception, and reminding him that a refusal to receive 

 embassies of friendly states was considered among western 

 nations a just cause for war, 142 This, and the proposal that the 

 &quot;Brandywine&quot; comeTup the river to Whampoa and fire a salute, 

 brought a reply from Ching after the short interval of three 

 days, still protesting that a treaty was unnecessary, since trade 

 had been carried on so long and so successfully without one, 

 and informing Gushing that the law of the land did not permit 

 ships of war in the river, nor to fire salutes, &quot;although it is all 

 very peaceful and done with the best intentions.&quot; 143 Ching com 

 plained, too, that Forbes had opened a letter sent by the former 

 through him to Gushing. Two days later he sent another letter, 

 explaining the non-appointment of an Imperial commissioner, by 

 the ignorance of the government as to when Gushing would 

 arrive. 144 Gushing in a reply explained that Forbes had opened 



138 Sen. Doc. 67, 28 Cong., 2 Sess, p. 2. 



139 Sen. Doc. 87, 28 Cong., 2 Sess., p. 5. 



140 Ibid., p. 7, April ist. 



141 Ibid., p. 10, April 4th. 



142 Ibid, p. 12. 



143 Sen. Doc. 67, 28 Cong, 2 Sess, pp. 13, 16. 



144 Ibid, p. 20. 



