by Jawaharlal Nehru 1889-1964

‘Tremblingly Obey!’

Following a historic embassy in 1792-93, Chien Lung, the Emperor of China, despatched a haughty letter rebuffing King George III’s offer of trade.

1792-1793

King George III 1760-1820

Introduction

Glimpses of World History (1934) was written for his daughter by Jawaharlal Nehru while he was in gaol for protesting against a tax on salt. In this passage, the man who later became India’s first Prime Minister reflects on the fading of empires, recalling the groundbreaking Macartney embassy to China in 1792-93 and the haughty response by the Emperor, Chien Lung.

by Jawaharlal Nehru 1889-1964

SO in 1792 the British government sent an embassy, under Lord Macartney, to Peking. George III was then King of England. Chien Lung received them in audience and there was an exchange of presents.* But the Emperor refused to make any change in the old restrictions on foreign trade. The answer which Chien Lung sent to George III is a very interesting document and I shall give you a long extract from it. It runs thus.

“You, O King, live beyond the confines of many seas, nevertheless, impelled by your humble desire to partake of the benefits of our civilization, you have despatched a mission respectfully bearing your memorial. To show your devotion, you have also sent offerings of your country’s produce. I have read your memorial: the earnest terms in which it is cast reveal a respectful humility on your part, which is highly praiseworthy. Swaying the wide world, I have but one aim in view, namely, to maintain a perfect governance and to fulfil the duties of the State; strange and costly objects do not interest me.*

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* The audience took place on September 14th, 1793, at Chengde (known to Lord Macartney as Rehe) northeast of Peking.

* The Emperor made the not uncommon mistake of supposing that international trade was carried on between two governments, and calculated the worth of a trade deal in terms of the benefit to his lifestyle and the maintenance of his power. Had he thought of it as something carried on between two peoples, and considered their quality of life and their independence, his answer would surely have been quite different.

Précis

Writing about the changing world of the eighteenth century, Jawaharlal Nehru drew attention to the Macartney embassy in 1792-93, in which George III tried in vain to build friendly relations with China. Nehru quoted at length from the Emperor’s letter to King George, in which he treated the British king as a suppliant and dismissed his offers of trade.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

George III sent Lord Macartney to China. He wanted China and Britain to trade. Emperor Chien Lung refused.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IDisappoint. IIHope. IIIWho.

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