Page 443 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

429.
66
would come to China. When the anticipated mission did not

arrive in November or December, Ch'i-ying decided he need not

wait any longer at Canton. Subsequently, he relinquished his

appointment as Imperial Commissioner for a new position as

Governor-general of Liang-chiang (Kiangsi and Kiangsu provinces).

Governor Ch'eng learned of Cushing's unexpected arrival

on February 28, a day after the "Brandywine'' anchored, from a
minor Chinese official at Macao. Before Ch'eng could investi­

gate the report, Forbes sent him notification. At first the

governor, who believed Forbes' letter in October had prevented

the mission's departure from the United States, questioned the

reports. His subordinates quickly confirmed Cushing's presence

after an interview with American missionary Peter Parker, whose

word the governor apparently trusted. Parker explained that the

envoy had never received the consul's letter. The governor pro­

ceeded to meet with Forbes and O'Donnell, but he lectured them

on the inconvenience and impossibility of Cushing's going to Pe­

king. He reiterated the statements Ch'i-ying had made to Forbes

in October. After the Americans left, Ch'eng hurriedly despatched

a memorial to Peking. Relating recent events, he commented on

Cushing: "Our officers found his language extremely respectful

and o:Cedient but his purpose very obstinate." The governor stated

he seemed to have detained the American envoy for the present.

But he worried that Cushing might impetuously decide to go anyway,

since "barbarians are by nature impatient.

66
r-wu-shih-mo: Tao-kuang, LXIX, 5-37, and Swisher,
Management of the American Barbarians, pp. 133-34, 136.
67
I-wu-shih-mo: Tao-kua!2SJ, LXXI, 4-12, and Swisher,
Management of the American Barbarians, pp. 139-42.