From China's Past: EMPEROR QIANLONG’S RESPONSE TO THE KING OF ENGLAND

In 1793, the King of England sent a mission under Lord Macartney to China to open regular diplomatic and commercial relations with China. The King instructed Macartney to deliver a letter to the Emperor requesting, among other things, that the English be allowed to have an ambassador (also referred to as an “envoy”) who would live in the Chinese capital and who would help represent and protect the interests of British merchants doing business in China and thus facilitate trade between the two countries. The following response from the Emperor Qianlong (r. 1736-1795) illustrates the Chinese attitude toward international relations and foreigners.

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