INSTRUCTIONS DE M. BRUCE

le service des mains de Sir John Bowring et transférer à Chang-Haï1 la direction générale des affaires, en attendant qu'elle le soit à Pe-Ring d'une façon permanente ; il ne devait rester à Hong-kong que le temps strictement nécessaire avant de se rendre à Chang-Haï, en route pour le Pei-ho. \u sujel de la résidence permanente des agents à Pe- Kingj à la suite des observations de lord Elgin et du baron Gros, le gouvernement anglais consentait, pour le présent du moins, à choisir Chang-Haï pour le séjour de la mission anglaise ; il était néanmoins entendu que l'Angleterre ne renonçait nullement à son droit de résidence dans la capitale et qu'elle exercerait ce droit à la moindre dilliculté ; Bruce devait toutefois insister pour être reçu à Pe-Iving et y échanger les ratifications, quoique toute latitude lui fût laissée au sujet du temps qu'il jugerait utile de rester dans la capitale, etc. Ces instructions assez longues se terminaient par les remarques suivantes, qui n'ont pas été imprimées dans le livre bleu remis au Parlement ~.

It is possible tliat the Chinese Government niav take advantage of your présence at Pékin to endeavour to ascertain whether Her Majesty's Government would be disposed in anv way to assist the Impérial Government in the subjugation of tbe Insurgents now in arms againsl its authority. The question which would be involved in any such overture would be one of momentous importance. On the one hand it would certainly be désirable that peace should be restored to the Interior of tbe Empire, and as a conséquence of it tbe navigation of tbe Yangtzekiang and access to the cities on ils banks opened to foreign intercourse ; but on the other hand, in the présent imperfect state of our information as to tbe nature, extent and prospects of the insurrection il is impossible to judge whether anv attempt to serve the purposes of Ihe Central Government by contributing

i. Le baron Gros (Lettre de Hong-Kong, i \ mars i85q) innsn i t que (lliang-IIaï devait être choisi de préférence à Nan-King, même pacifié; Elgin pensait de même.

n. Corresponden.ee with Mr. Bruce... Presented, iiSliu, in-fol., pp i-3.

18 FIN DE LA mission m BAlVON i.Iiiis ET DÉ i.uKi» ELGÏH

to suppress il, mighl not do more harm llian good. Il' the insurrection were confined to one m- two places on the banks ni' navigable channels, il mighl beassailable by the naval forces of sucli of the Treaty Powers as mighl be willing to lend their aid tothe Impérial Government, and the capture of a few strong positions occupied 1»\ the insurgents mighl reinstate the Impérial Government in the plénitude of its power. But even in this case I nced hardly sa\ thaï lier Majesty's Government would not be disposed to enter upon such a course without previous concert with, and without the assured coopération of its Allies.

As Car however as we arc informed the insurrection is widely spread through the Interior, il numbers a large population as ils adhérents ; and ils strongholds are scattered far and Avide and cannot be approachcd or assailed by any Force tliat the Treaty Powers could bring to bear upon it.

lt is possible that the information which Lord Elgin ma\ collect in the course ofhis voyage up the Yangtzekiang may give reason to suppose that it would be easily within the reach of the Treaty Powers to restore peace to the interior of China, but in the présent state of our knowledge, it would not be proper for you to encourage any expectations of material assistance on our part. Still il the Chinese Government sbould be led to suppose that the résidence of Europeans or of Citizens of the United States for purposes of trade at places which may be successively wrested l'rom the rebels, may contribute to the restoration of the Emperor's power by impressing the rebels with the belief that the Christian Powers will not. allow places in which their subjects or citizens arc seltled to be made a scène of civil war l'are lier Majestv's Governmenl would beprepared tomakc gênerai the stipulations of (lie Treaty ofT'ien-tsin by which al présent only a limited number of places on the Yangtzekiang are to be accessible to Foreigners.

As the question of the permanent résidence at Peking of the British Minislcr is to be lcft for the présent in abeyance, il will not be necessary for you to enter into any delinite arrangement for the occupation of a Mission résidence in that Capital.

The Cbinese Government will probably place at your disposai on your first and subséquent visils a suitable résidence, but if that sbould not be the case, you will ascerlain what arrangements can bcsl be made for securing one. It will be necessary under any circumstances that no doubt should be lcft as to your right to do so, and that an\ delav in that respect is a question of convenienec not of obligation.

INSTRUCTIONS DE M. BKUCE l\Ç)

If circumstances should render it adyisable at any future time to form at Peking an establishment for the éducation of interpreters, such as that long possessed by the Government of Russia, Ihe collège might be established within the precincts of a résidence permancntly secured for the use of the British Mission. But Her Majesty's Government are not at présent prepared lo enter upon such a question inasmuch as the conlrol and discipline of pupils undergoing éducation for the public service would seem lo he betlcr lel't under the direct supervision of the British Minister, who, if living at Shanghai, could very insufficientW exercise it over an estahlishment at Peking.

I bave thus briefly alluded lo the several points to winch on your first arrivai in China your attention must in ail probability be directed.

Our acquaintance vvith thaï Empire is still so limited that it is impossible for me to defirie more accurately the du lies ol lier Majesty's Minister or the Manner in which he should perform tliem, but it is a satisfaction to lier Majesty's Government lo feel that your local knowledge will corne in aid of the prudence and judgment which bave recommended you to lier Majesty, as a suitable Représentative at Uns interesting period of our intercourse with China, and that they may conlïdenlly rely upon your discrétion for the conduct of ail matters with which you may be called upon to deal.

CordieR. — Expôd. de Chine, iSOo.