Letter

Prince Kung to Benj. P. Avery, January 13, 1875

Author

Prince Kung

Recipient

Benj. P. Avery

Date

January 13, 1875

Type

Letter

Language

English

[Inclosure 1 in No. 23.—Translation.]

Prince Kung to Mr. Avery.

Tungchi, 12th year, 12th moon, 6th day. (January 13, 1865.)

Prince Kung, chief secretary of state for foreign affairs, herewith makes a communication.

I have reverently to inform you that yesterday His Majesty took the long journey on the dragon-chariot, to become a guest on high. I and all the imperial kindred are on this account filled with a grief and anguish too great for expression; and, moreover, we are at this moment wholly taken up with the reverent preparation of the rites connected with his obsequies; things of the greatest importance, and very perplexing.

Whatever matters may now be under discussion with your excellency, or may come up in the ordinary course of affairs, unless they are of imperative necessity, must be for a while deferred, until we can resume their discussion and settlement.

I have therefore at this time only to inform your excellency; which, indeed, is the object of this communication.

To His Excellency Benjamin P. Avery, United States Minister to China.

Topics

19th Century Diplomacy Reconstruction

Sources

FRUS u2014 Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the P View original source ↗

U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the P.