Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Imperial Rescript (8/10/1842)

Imperial Response to Memorials Submitted by Keying and Others.

Dated [to be verified] August 10, 1842 (the fifth day of the seventh month in the twenty second year of the reign of Tao-kuang), the Emperor authorized Keying to accept Pottinger's terms.

壬申。欽差大臣廣州將軍耆英等奏、夷酋朴鼎喳、先有請臣等出城面訂之約。亦知事屬冒險。惟該夷惟悍多疑。拒絕不往。易啟猜疑。當訂於十五日直至其三桅兵船。該夷酋貌甚恭謹。旋於十九日在城外靜海寺行答拜禮。復因請入城面訂和約。詞甚諄切。不得不俯順其請。定於二十一日。選擇公所委員妥為照料。俟入城定議。再行錄呈。此次酌辦夷務。勢出萬難。策居最下。但計事之利害。不顧理之是非。福州貿易一節。前與會議時。曾以既有廈門。無庸兼及福州。向其爭辯。玆復委道員鹿澤長再向熟商。該夷堅執不從。儻不允其所請。勢必復來攻奪。殘敝之余。防守尤屬不易。定海之既得旋失。是其前車。勢不能遏其所請。諭軍機大臣等、耆英等奏、詳陳夷務情形。親往夷船妥為招撫一摺。覽奏忿懣之至。朕惟自恨自愧。何致事機一至於此。於萬無可奈之中。不能不勉允所請者。誠以數百萬民命所關。其利害且不止江浙等省。故強為遏抑。照議辦理。惟該夷所請。均已允准。即當迅速定議。全數退出大江。不得任其耽延。驚擾行旅。至此外一切緊要事件。必應籌及者。均著責成該大臣等一一分晰妥議。不厭反覆詳明。務須永絕后患。該大臣既知善后之難於措手。他國之不免生心。即應思前顧后。豫為籌畫。於逸從下策之中。力求弭患未然之計。儻稍留罅隙。日后有所藉口。以致別生枝節。辦理掣肘。是耆英、伊里布、自詒伊戚。不惟無以對朕。更何顏以對天下。再咈啷哂亞國夷目則濟勒到后情形若何。甚為謹念。著一并奏慰。將此由六百里加緊諭令知之。

Source: 清實錄道光朝實錄 (Qing Shilu, Daoguangchao Shilu) [The Truthful Record of Qing Dynasty, The Truthful Record of the Reign of Daoguang]


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