1862年美國駐華使節與清政府互動

資料來源是美國外交檔案（FRUS）裏麵的美國駐外使節與美國國務院的電函來往。這裏摘錄的是1862年8月裏，時任美國駐中國公使（minister）Anson Burlingame，向美國國務卿William Seward匯報工作的電報。Anson Burlingame就是大名鼎鼎的浦安臣，Seward翻譯成蘇華德。這份日期為1862年8月23日的電報發自北京。下麵是複述，不是翻譯。

浦安臣說，8月5日他收到恭親王的信，說他很想見浦安臣，但是之前有病，尚未恢複，無法會麵。然後15日，親王又給浦寫了封信，說雖然仍未完全恢複，但是可以舉行一次友好會見，日期定於星期三，8月20日，下午3點。浦安臣攜另外三名隨行人員到總理衙門（英文是Foreign Office，總理衙門成立於1861年，總管外交事務，所以應該就是），恭親王與他們見麵，會談在友好的氣氛中進行，雙方坦率地交換了意見。浦安臣談到美中兩國的良好曆史，他指出，美國對華采取的是和平政策，隨著貿易的增長，未來關係將更加密切。親王對開通美國至上海的蒸汽船航線的提議表示高興，並表達了對在加利福尼亞州的中國人的善意詢問。雙方討論了中國發生的起義（應該是太平天國），以及如何壓製的方法。雙方談到洋槍隊華爾的成功，談到中國軍隊建設。浦安臣建議中方放棄古老的作戰方式，而應該組織一支人數不多，但是機動性強的軍隊來打擊起義軍（插一句，記得李鴻章訪問德國，與俾斯麥會見，談到大清的軍隊，李征詢俾斯麥的意見，俾給出幾乎與此處一模一樣的意見--兵不在多，而在於機動性，來自紐約時報當時的記載）。最重要的是，中方應該對參加起義的絕大多數群眾（除了少數領導者）采取比較寬鬆的政策。

浦安臣向親王贈送了Bridgeman博士寫的美國曆史的中文版，並通過親王向中國皇帝呈上一本極為精美的聖經（附有Williams博士寫的中文簡介）。中方對此表示非常高興，親王手下Wansiang（應該是文祥）說，這是兩國友誼的象征。會見持續了兩個小時，中方似乎放棄了他們古老的閉關態度。

這是要點，原電附在下麵。

先看看浦安臣提到的恭親王給他的信，看看清朝1860年代的英語水平，當然，不大可能是恭親王寫的，應該是手下代筆或者翻譯的，但是不管如何，代表了那個年代清朝最高英語水平，這是沒問題的吧？查了維基百科，恭親王生於1833年，非常年輕啊，1862年還不到30歲，就當了外交部長。

Prince Kung to Mr. Burlingame
When your excellence arrived in Peking, I was very desirous of seeing you; but, at that time I was ill, and asked for a short respite. My illness is gone, indeed, at this time and, I am at leisure; but I am left in such a weak state of body that a few days will be requisite to recover entirely before it will be agreeable to have an interview, at which we can interchange the sentiments of peace and amity which we entertain. 
I send this note beforehand to inform you, and avail myself of the opportunity to wish you the day’s enjoyment.
Enclosed the card of Prince KUNG.
August 5, 1862

在我看來，地道的英語，看不出外國人的痕跡。

 

Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward.

[ Extracts. ]

No.24] Legation of the United States,

Peking, August 23, 1862

  Sir: I have the honor to inform you that, on the 5th of August, I received from Prince Kung a letter(marked A,) in which he expressed a great desire to see me, but regrets that he is as yet too weak, on account of previous illness, to have an interview. On the 15th of August, I received another letter from him, (marked B,) stating that though not quite well, yet, that he might carry out his desire for a friendly interview, he would fix upon Wednesday, the 20th of August, at 3 o’clock p.m. On that day, accompanied by Dr. S. Wells Williams, B. Wistar Fellowes and J. S. G. Schereschewsky, I proceeded to the Chinese foreign office, where I was received by the Prince and suite in the most friendly manner. The interview lasted for two hours, and was marked by great freedom and cordiality of expression on both sides. I spoke to them of our long continued friendship, and said that our policy was one of peace; that our relations were such that we could never have any motive but for our mutual good; that from our contiguity, numbers, and growing trade, we must be brought in the future into more and more intimate relations, which would require mutual kindness and forbearance. The prince and suite were pleased to learn of the proposed line of steamers to Shanghai; they inquired kindly after their people in Californian. We discoursed of the rebellion in China, and of the means of overcoming it; of the success of General Ward, an American, with his Chinese soldiers, trained after the foreign forms. I recommended that they should abandon the old style of fighting, and that they should organize a smaller, but more efficient, force against the rebellion, and, above all, that they should adopt a more liberal policy towards all but the leaders of it.  

I presented a history of the United States in Chinese, by Dr. Bridgeman, to the Prince. I presented, also, through the Prince to the Emperor, a splendid edition of the bible, at the request of Bishop Borne, and in behalf of the American Bible Society. It was accomanied with a little history of the book in Chinese by Dr. Williams. They were much pleased, and one of them (Wansiang) said that they received the book as a symbol of our friendship. The interview was exceedingly agreeable, and would seem to indicate, on their part, a total abandonment of their ancient policy of exclusiveness. To-day I have been informed by letters and by messengers that a portion of the Prince’s suite would return my call next Tuesday, and that the Prince himself would call on Wednesday. I send a copy of a note, (marked C,) which I received in response to copies of the history of the United States, which was sent.

* * * * *

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

ANSON  BURLINGAME

Hon. William H. Seward, 

Secretary of State.