UNITED STATES. 



811 



The new treaty was received in the United 

 States with general satisfaction, and Mr. Bur- 

 lingame and his embassy were the recipients 

 of great ovations. The English press, on the 

 other hand, expressed the greatest dissatisfac- 

 tion with the new treaty, which was repre- 

 sented as a victory of American over English 

 diplomacy, and as altogether made in the in- 

 terest of Americans. 



On September 28th the new embassy made 

 their first official visit to President Hayes, and 

 presented their credentials. The ministerial 

 party comprised Chen Lan Pin, Envoy Extra- 

 ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary; Yung 

 Wing, Assistant En voy Extraordinary and Min- 

 ister Plenipotentiary; Yung Tsang Siang, Chi- 

 nese Secretary of Legation ; D. W. Bartlett, 

 American Secretary of Legation; two inter- 

 preters, Hwang Tah Kuen and Tsai Sih Yung ; 

 and Kai Yung, attache". The ceremonies were 

 very interesting, being attended on the part of 

 the Chinese Ambassadors by all the splendors 

 of an Oriental court. Chen Lan Pin wore the 

 typical bowl- shaped hat, with the scarlet but- 

 ton of the second order in the center of the 

 top, from which, secured by jeweled fastenings, 

 depended the peacock plume. His flowing gar- 

 ments were of the richest silk. A blouse of 

 lavender came a little below the waist. This 

 was decorated with a collar of blue satin, the 

 insignia of the official dignity of the Minister. 

 The skirt was of a heavier and darker material, 

 and nearly hid the trousers, which were also 

 richly embroidered. His shoes were sandal- 

 shaped, but covered with the finest kid, and 

 his leggings were of the same material. A 

 handsomely embroidered case of silk inclosing 

 a fan completed the dress of the Ambassador, 

 who presented a superb appearance, as he 

 alighted from his carriage and crossed the ves- 

 tibule of the Executive Mansion, accompanied 

 by Secretary Evarts. The two civilizations 

 were plainly contrasted in the dress of these 

 two dignitaries. The Secretary of State was 

 attired in the customary dress suit of black, 

 while the Chinese Minister was grandly cos- 

 tumed in the diplomatic dress of his country. 

 The Assistant Minister, Yung Wing, who is 

 thoroughly Americanized in ideas and habits, 

 usually wears citizen's dress ; but on this occa- 

 sion he was arrayed in the full official costume 

 of his Chinese rank, the bowl-shaped hat with 

 the button, and other decorations similar to 

 those of Chen Lan Pin. Yung Wing is an 

 alumnus of Yale College, having been a mem- 

 ber of the class of 1854. 



The party was conducted to the celebrated 

 Blue Room, where official receptions of foreign 

 ministers are always held. In a few moments 

 the President entered, followed by his Cabinet. 

 The Chinese had ranged themselves in the or- 

 der of their respective ranks on the west side 

 of the room. The President and his Cabinet 

 took positions on the east side. After a brief 

 introduction of Ambassador Chen to the Pres- 

 ident by Secretary Evarts, on an intimation 



from Mr. Yung Wing, Yung Tsang Siang hand- 

 ed Chen Lan Pin a long and beautiful bamboo 

 roll, all embossed with gold and covered with 

 gold-leaf designs of Chinese figures. From 

 this sheath, with a stopper of like exquisite 

 workmanship, the Minister drew forth his let- 

 ter of credence, written with China ink on 

 the thin yellow paper customarily used by the 

 Chinese. Chen Lan Pin, who does not speak 

 English, then unrolled and read the letter from 

 the Chinese text. When he finished, Assistant 

 Minister Yung Wing stepped to his side and 

 proceeded to read in distinct English the trans- 

 lation of the speech as follows : 



MB. PRESIDENT: His Mjvje&ty the Emperor of 

 China, in appointing us to reside at Washington as 

 ministers, instructed us to present your Excellency 

 his salutations, and to express his assurances of 

 friendship for you and the people of the United 

 States. His Majesty hopes that your Administration 

 may be one of signal success, and that it may bring 

 lasting peace and prosperity to the whole country. 

 On a former occasion the Chinese Government had the 

 honor to send an embassy to Washington on a spe- 

 cial mission, and the results were most beneficent. 

 His Majesty cherishes the hope that this embassy 

 will not only be the means of establishing on a firm 

 "basis the amicable relations of the two countries, but 

 may also be the starting-point of a new diplomatic 

 era, which will eventually unite the East and the 

 West under an enlightened and progressive civili- 

 zation. We have now the honor to deliver to your 

 Excellency the letter which accredits us as Envoys 

 Extraordinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary at 

 Washington. 



The President replied as follows : 



MB. MINISTER AND MR. ASSISTANT MINISTER : Ten 

 years ago one of my predecessors in office received 

 here the three envoys who constituted the first 

 diplomatic mission by the Emperor of China to the 

 United States of America. Their coming was wel- 

 comed as auspicious not only of a better under- 

 standing between the two Governments, but as in- 

 dicating a probable increase of commercial rela- 

 tions between their people. These anticipations 

 proved to be well founded. It gives me pleasure, 

 therefore, to again welcome envoys from China, es- 

 pecially as you inform me that they come with the 

 intention and desire to establish a permanent lega- 

 tion at this capital, upon a footing with those of 

 other nations. I can not doubt that the presence of 

 such a legation will tend to increase and cement the 

 friendly International relations now existing, and 

 will be the means of removing whatever difficulties 

 and of solving whatever questions may arise between 

 the two nations. 



It is an additional gratification to find that for the 

 discharge of those delicate and responsible duties 

 the selection of the Emperor has fallen upon envoys 

 who are so well and favorably known here through 

 their previous intercourse with our countrymen. 



Cordially reciprocating the friendly sentiments 

 and good wishes you have expressed on the part of 

 the Emperor of China, permit me to assure you of 

 my good wishes for his Majesty's health and happi- 

 ness, and for the continued well-being and prosper- 

 ity of the empire over which he presides. 



So far, only the President and Chen Lan Pin 

 had been introduced. The latter was now pre- 

 sented to the Cabinet officers. Assistant Min- 

 ister Yung Wing was next introduced to the 

 President, by the Secretary of State, and As- 

 sistant Secretary Seward, escorting the Sec- 

 retaries of Legation, introduced them. Yung 



