Page 446 - Merchants and Mandarins China Trade Era

432.

told him that he, a Minister Plenipotentiary, would not nego­

tiate with a minor official like the governor. Cushing wrote

that he could not, "consistently with the views and instructions

of his Government, discuss either questions with any person, how­

ever eminent in character and station, except that person be an

Imperial Corrunissioner." But Cushing did imply that he might con­

sider the treaty his more important task. He admitted to Ch'eng

that he would settle corrunercial matters at Macao, if an Imperial
69
Corrunissioner would come there.

But, sensing that only a threat such as his proposed trip

would force Ch'eng to act quickly, Cushing reiterated his plan

to leave Macao as soon as his squadron was ready. Correspon­

dence between Cushing and Ch'eng continued throughout the next

few weeks with each man repeating the same arguments. The gover­

nor, awaiting a response from the Imperial Court to his memorial,

sought to placate Cushing to keep him at Macao. He conjoled
the American envoy to wait for "the Imperial will pointing out

70
the proper course of procedure." Cushing himself became

increasingly impatient. The notes from Ch'eng contained no

indication of action by the Imperial government. Cushing ex­

pressed his dissatisfaction to his chief translator Peter Parker,

who resided at Canton. Parker, stressing the friendliness that

had characterized relations between Americans and Chinese in

69
a e
t
,
,
,
Cus h' ing s et er to C h' eng, d t d Mar. 23 , is in Dip-
1
I
lomatic Despatches: China, C. Cushing, Mar. 26, 1844.
70
Ch'eng's letter of Apr. 1 is in Diplomatic Despatches:
China, C. Cushing, Apr. 10, 1844. See also despatch of Apr. 16,
1844 with enclosures.