The Foreign Office having ascertained that Messrs. Dent & Co. had been required to pay up their deficiency of duty, considered that it was needless to do anything more about this particular case. In regard to the question whether it was desirable to reduce the duty on tea-dust, however, it was concluded, first, to send directions to the two superintendents of commerce to consult upon the question and await the result of their inquiries. An answer was received from the northern superintendent of commerce, Tsunghau, last spring, stating as his opinion that one-half the present duty levied on tea was sufficient for tea-dust; but as he had not yet received a reply from his colleague, it was necessary still to delay the decision. At last, on the 27th ultimo, the dispatch of the southern superintendent of commerce was received from Shanghai, inclosing the following report from the intendant of circuit Hankow: "The article of tea-dust comes almost entirely from the great mart of Siangtan, in the province of Honan, and consists of the refuse leaves of black tea left after sifting and sorting; there are coarse and hard sticks in it, [meaning the stems of the leaves,] but the most of it is an ashy-like dust, differing altogether from good leaf-tea, and much inferior." Whether, therefore, this article should pay one half the duty levied on good tea, viz, one tael two mace and five candareens [i. e., $1 74] for every pecul, [of 1334 pounds avoirdupois,] or continue to be charged the old rate of two taels five mace, [i. e., $3 48,] is a point that can be decided after a full examination of the facts now produced. From what this office can learn on the matter, it appears that this article of teadust is a product of Siangtan in Honan; both the superintendents of commerce clearly represent it to be much inferior in size of leaf to good tea, and assume that it is not altogether equitable to demand the full duty of two taels five mace per pecul, as it interferes with the interests of the merchants. In order therefore to accord with the request now made, it has been decided to equalize the duty on this article. Hereafter the tariff on the article of tea-dust will be: one tael two mace five candareens [1t. 2m. 5c., or $1 74] for every hundred catties, [or 1333 pounds avoirdupois,] when the price does not exceed 15 taels per pecul; for every pecul that costs above 15 taels, the old duty of two taels five mace [2 t. 5 m., or $3 48] per pecul will be levied. In this way a distinct line can be drawn between them, and the same will be entered in the tariff for constant observance in future. At the same time that this modification of the duty on tea is made known to your excellency, I have also notified the northern and southern superintendents of commerce to inform all the collectors of customs at the several ports, and directed the inspectorgeneral of customs too, to observe the same in collecting the duty on this commodity. It is necessary, however, to guard against all attempts to simulate the two kinds of tea included in this arrangement; and as article X of the commercial regulations permits the Chinese government to adopt what means appear to it best suited to protect its revenue from suffering loss, orders have also been transmitted to the collectors and foreign commissioners at the various ports to co-operate in the strict enforcement of the rules respecting this article of trade. Every merchant having tea-dust to export must bring it to the government jetty for examination, and when the duty on it is paid he can place on board ship. When it is imported, he must in like manner, before landing it, bring it to the government jetty to be examined, and pay the duty. If a foreign merchant falsely reports a lot of real tea under the designation of tea-dust-whether it be for export or import, no matter where it is actually lying-as soon as it is detected the whole quantity shall be confiscated by the customs to the Chinese government. By this rule no one can fairly complain of any injustice, and it will moreover put a stop to all deception and evasion of the law. I have in the present communication thus informed your excellency of the reasons for reducing the duty on tea-dust, and the regulation adopted for strictly carrying out its observance, and have now to request that you will make the same known to the merchants of the United States at the several ports. His Excellency S. WELLS WILLIAMS, United States Charge d'Affaires ad interim. RHODES HOUSE B. Mr. Williams to Prince Kung. *CXFORD, LIBRARY LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Imperial Highness's dispatch of the 29th ultimo, in which you inform me respecting a modification which has been made in the article of tea, whereby the tea-dust is separated from the other, and is hence forth to pay a duty of one tael two mace five candareens per pecul [i. e., $1 74 per 1334 pounds avordupois] on all such as does not exceed 15 taels per pecul in value; but to pay the same duty as tea whenever its value exceeds 15 taels per pecul; and that if a foreign merchant falsely reports tea under the designation of tea-dust, he renders the whole quantity liable to confiscation. I have carefully read your Highness's observations on the principles which led you to modify the duty by discriminating the article of tea-dust at a lower rate than tea, in order to benefit the foreign merchant; and that, to restrain the misuse of the reduction, all tea which is palmed off by him as tea-dust is thereby rendered liable to confiscation. This arrangement appears to be equitable, and indicates a desire to deal with this commodity so as to remove all obstacles to its greatest use. I have accordingly notified the various consuls of the United States at the ports of this modification, for the information of the American merchants. I have the honor to be, sir, your Imperial Highness's obedient servant, His Imperial Highness PRINCE KUNG, &c., fc., &c. No. 5.] Mr. Williams to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR Referring to my despatch No. 2, of the 23d ultimo, relating to the diplomatic mission sent by the Emperor of China to the treaty powers, I have now the honor to inform you that the two co-ordinate Chinese imperial envoys and their suite left Peking on the 4th instant, on their way to Shanghai, where they propose to join Mr. Burlingame in time to leave for California on the 15th proximo. Mr. Brown, first secretary of legation, left a few days after them, taking with him the letters of credence addressed by his Imperial Majesty to all the treaty powers, 11 in number. These documents are written in the Chinese and Mauchu languages, on yellow paper, and, as I saw, are quite similar in form and size to the two replies from the Emperor to Presidents Buchanan and Lincoln. The preparation and dispatch of these letters of credence marks an advance on the part of this government almost as great as that of sending the mission itself, although apparently a mere consequence of that act. In order to explain this, it is needful to observe that the Board of Foreign Office, notwithstanding its great influence and the high rank of its members, has hitherto no legal existence of itself, but at present consists of the presidents of four of the six boards, viz, civil office, revenue, punishments, and works, and two other high officers, who have been detailed to join in its deliberations under the chairmanship of Prince Kung. The members act in it conjointly under the style of the Tsungli koh kwoh s z, or general managing office of foreign countries; but individually they are responsible also for the conduct of their own departments to the general council of the government. When the desirableness of appointing Mr. Burlingame and his associates as envoys to foreign countries was proposed, the matter was agreed to by the Empress Regents, and others, as a proposal of the foreign office chiefly, for the success and results of which it was responsible; but when the question of granting them a letter written directly from the Emperor to other crowned heads, indorsing the mission and requesting them to accept it, the whole traditionary policy of the empire was interfered with; the supremacy of the Emperor as the son of Heaven, appointed from on high to rule over mankind, was proposed to be practically ignored by his own officers. The propriety of granting the letter was stoutly opposed by many of the members of government, and I am inclined to think that the mission would have left the shores of China without it if it had not been for the precedent set by the Chinese government itself, and drawn out of it by the American ministers. In explanation of this remark it may be stated that it has been the usage among most of the foreign ministers accredited to this government not to deliver their letters of credence to the Emperor, because they were not permitted to do so in person; but the American ministers have chosen to hand them to the highest official they could meet, accompanied by an open translation. Replies to two of these letters having been issued. It was argued by Mr. Brown and Mr. Hart, (who, being officials themselves, in the employ of government, were entitled to a hearing,) that if his Majesty could personally reply to a letter from the President of the United States without derogating from his authority or dignity, he certainly could write a letter to him with equal propriety. The question had been often discussed whether it was suitable in every respect for the American minister to transmit his letter of credence to the Emperor instead of delivering it in person, but the result has answered a purpose that one cannot object to, and has probably incidentally furnished a strong argument for those officers who, in a few years, must go further, and claim for him an audience at court. I have read the translation of the letter addressed to the President, and I am confident that you will not find anything in it savoring of the extraordinary assumption on the part of the Emperor which runs through the two replies quoted in the other dispatch. It completes the full authority and authenticalness of this new mission to the western world on the part of this ancient empire, the first, I believe, which it ever sent from its shores to other lands on a footing even approaching to equality. Previous embassies have been sent in a patronizing, authoritative style, requiring the rulers of other countries to humbly accept the envoys and behests of his Majesty; this goes to confirm and develop an intercourse mutually beneficial to all. Since its formation public opinion has been much divided as to its propriety, and some objectors have openly expressed their opinion that the whole affair has been got up by a few foreigners in Peking for their own advantage, and added their hopes that the western powers will reject it as a hybrid mission whose existence is an anomaly and its objects impertinent. Happily their number is few, and their clamor will, I think, meet with little attention. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. Williams to Mr. Seward. No. 8.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR Referring to Mr. Burlingame's dispatches Nos. 137 and 142, and their inclosures, I have now the honor to forward to you General Legendre's report of his visit to the southern part of Formosa, and his interview with the chief of the aboriginal tribes in that region, by whom the crew of the Rover was destroyed. The narrative is well worthy a perusal, and the success of this effort to enter into direct communication with them may lead to the repetition of similar negotiations as the most promising means of preventing similar tragedies in future. I am sure that you will appreciate the perseverance and tact exhibited by the consul in carrying out his design, while his final arrangement and compact with the chief was doubtless owing as much or more to the impression made upon the savages by the energetic proceedings of Admiral Bell with his squadron, than to any other one cause. I have no knowledge of the occurrences referred to by the Chief Tooketock, at the interview on the 10th of October last, wherein he excused his cruelty to the Rover's crew by alleging that "a long time ago white people had all but exterminated the Koolut tribe, leaving only three who survived to hand down to their posterity the desire for revenge." No such raid upon this region is recorded as having taken place in modern times; but it may possibly have been some proceedings of the Dutch troops in Tai-wan before the year 1683, (when they were driven from the island,) which have left this heritage of enmity. I have never heard of any expedition of Spanish colonists from the Philippine Islands to the southern end of Formosa; their settlement was at the northern end, at Killon or Ki-lung. Several foreign crews have been cast ashore, not far from where the Rover's crew met their fate, during the last 20 years, from which few persons have survived. I would have forwarded this narrative sooner, but it reached me only last week. The communications between Peking and Shanghai during the winter are slow, and one of the couriers going to Chinkiang with the foreign post-bag last month was killed in Shantung province by the insurgents and the letters lost. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Amoy, November 7, 1867. SIR: Referring to my dispatch No. 17, I have the honor to state that, on the 3d of September last, the steamship Volunteer, in the Viceroy's service, anchored at Amoy, and the next morning the officer commanding the vessel called at the consulate, with an interpreter designated by the Viceroy to accompany me during the expedition. It was to inform me that the steamer was placed at my order. Yet the arrival of the Volunteer having been expected for some days, and her destination being known, some excitement was caused at Amoy, and during the day I noted an unusual agitation at the British consulate, the bearing of which I could not then well apprehend, but which has since appeared to be not entirely foreign to the difficulties I had to encounter. Many of the British, under the most tempting pretexts, offered to accompany me; but I concluded to decline all applications save that of a French traveling gentleman, Mr. Joseph Bernare, who, from his knowledge of Formosa and the Chinese, was qualified to act as my secretary with a devotion I had learned at other times not to doubt of. At 5 p. m., on my way to the vessel, I met the interpreter and the officer in charge of the Volunteer, showing appearance of great haste. They said that a dispatch from the Viceroy at Foochow ordered them to take me simply and directly to Takao; and further, that the Chinese admiral at Amoy wished to accompany me, and therefore the departure of the steamer would be postponed until the next day, at 12 m. This circumstance, which I had not been called to foresee during the official interview of the morning, led me to suspect some hostile design, and I hastened to embark. Arrived on board, I communicated to the mandarin the dispatch of the Viceroy, in which no mention was made of my departing for Formosa being dependent on the pleasure of an admiral or any other official. The steamer was placed at my order, not to Takao, or any other specified port, but to Formosa. Hence I insisted on starting at once for Taiwanfoo, where I had to go first. Yet night had come on, and, yielding to the representations of the mate that there would be some danger in leaving the port of Amoy that same evening, I agreed to leave the next morning at daylight. On the 5th, at 6 a. m., we went to sea, hoisting the United States flag at the masthead. On the morning of the 6th we were in Taiwanfoo. The authorities, notified of my coming, sent at once an officer with the means of transportation to proceed, with the usual ceremonies, to the house prepared for me. I had just entered when the prefect called, wishing to make me the first visit. We agreed to call the next morning upon the intendant. I received from the first civil officers in the place the most flattering welcome. There had gathered the Taotai, or intendant of circuit; the Chintai, or general commanding in chief, and his second in command-all red buttons of the second grade, with the prefect and the sub-prefects. I immediately came to the object of my visit, and it was indeed with admirable unanimity that the Chinese officials made me the most handsome promises in regard to the measures which (in your name) I had required them to take, and which had been ordered in unequivocal terms by his excellency the Viceroy. The first wing (?) of the army had left in advance of me, and prompt and entire satisfaction should be made to my demands. I then answered that, fully satisfied with their readiness to comply with the just demands of your excellency, I had made up my mind to witness in person all the details of an expedition which promised so well, and I begged them that no time might be lost in carrying it out. The effect of my declaration was soon noticeable, first in the faces, and then in the language of the officials. This expedition, which an hour ago they announced as being so prompt to move, of necessity must suffer many delays, from the nature of the movement itself as well as of the localities through which we must pass. Of course, a portion of the army had already left, but the last corps was not ready to follow. The general in command had yet a great deal of business to attend to before he could leave Taiwanfoo; moreover, in a country where the Chinese authority had not been well established, we could not advance but with excessive caution. There would be also danger to the person of the cousul, and they could but decline such a responsibility. I came at once to the conclusion that the officials had at one time hoped they could elude the order of the Viceroy, so onerous to the purse of the intendant, and that the difficulty could be removed by means of a comedy played at a distance, and among themselves, without any troublesome witnesses, in which a few heads of savages sent to Foochow with great display would be an easy and less expensive denouement. I therefore insisted, relieving the generals of any responsibility for my personal safety, and assuring them that I had not come to Taiwanfoo merely to hear what they had to say, but I had come to Formosa to judge for myself, without regard to fatigues, as to the measures taken to execute the orders of the Viceroy. In vain did the former attempt a diversion by inviting me to partake of a collation just made ready. I refused to adjourn the discussion even for an hour, and declared my determination to put back forthwith to Foochow. Hearing this, he tried a few words of explanation, and the general, (the ranking officer on the island,) whose determination, unusual culture, and high mind, had led him to perceive in advance of the rest that they had to decide either in the affirmative or negative, settled the difficulty by taking upon himself to say that we would leave within three days. We all gathered around the tables, and not another word was uttered as to the object which had brought me to Formosa. On my return home I received the visit of the various mandarins, and in the evening the six highest authorities of the island sent me a collective invitation to dinner at the prefect's, where a most brilliant reception was tendered us. As agreed, on the morning of the 10th we left Taiwanfoo, occupying the center of the column. The prefect had most liberally provided transportation for myself, Mr. Bernare, the interpreter, and one or two servants, as well as for our luggage and provisions. Finally, an escort of honor of eight men preceded me, and were to remain with me during my stay in Formosa. Leaving Taiwanfoo, we followed a very narrow road, yet practicable for chairs carried by skilled bearers. In the evening we made our first halt at Athon-Kien, (see map.) The next day, at dusk, we reached Pitou, a large town of 70,000 inhabitants. Here there was a review of the troops by General Lew. But there being no appearance of advance, I called on the general for explanation. His excuse was, that on leaving Taiwanfoo he had been furnished by the intendant with only the insufficient sum of $5,000. But he promised to make up the deficiency himself in case the other delayed much longer. He begged me to believe that he was most anxious to execute the orders of the Viceroy, and said that I should hold the intendant, and not him, responsible for any delay. Thus I had to note once more the wisdom of the Viceroy in intrusting the command of the expedition to a man of such ability, and so ambitions of distinction. I believe that he thoroughly understood that day that the orders of the Viceroy had to be executed under my eyes, and with all possible celerity. He agreed to leave, in any event, on the 14th. On the morning of the 14th the intendant had not been heard from. We left, however, advancing towards Long Kong by a narrow road, crossing in our way four streams, on light bamboo rafts. Long Kong is a small port of difficult access, but secure for |