Page 438 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

424.

tions from Secretary of State Webster in May. The Secretary wrote

that the primary object of his mission to China was "to secure the

entry of American ships and cargoes into these L;ei} ports on terms

as favorable as those which are enjoyed by English merchants."

Future American trade in China depended on access to the coastal

ports, about which Webster commented: "These ports belong to

some of the richest, most productive, and most populous pro­

vinces of the empire, and are likely to become very important

marts of commerce." Aside from obtaining the stated commercial

objectives, Cushing received an admonition to impress upon the

Chinese the friendly attitude of the United States toward the

Chinese Empire. Webster emphasized that the only interest the

American government had in China was trade. Cushing was not "to

enter into controversies which may exist between China and any

European State, 1 1 although he did have permission to stress Amer­

ican independence from England. A letter of authorization for
56
t.
.
expenses accompanie h • I f 1 • instruc ions.
. d Cus ing s orma
As soon as he received his commission Cushing, who "dis-
played an amazing capacity for sustained labor, together with a

faculty for intense concentration on the subject immediately at

hand, immersed himself in collecting all the information on
1 1
China he could find. He read newspaper articles, books and pam­

phlets as well as advices with which American merchants in the

56
U.S., Department of State, Diplomatic Instructions:
China, May 3,and May 8, 1843. Further instructions reached Cush­
ing before he left the United States. These included an order to
inquire into American involvement in the opium trade, especially
that of Consul P.S. Forbes, and two letters signed by President
Tyler and addressed to the Emperor of China. These instructions
were dated Jun. 13 and Jul. 12, 1843.