ly enjoyed the renewal of
their earlier friendship in Washington, and the last visit he made in
Madrid was when he bade her a final farewell. In 1843, and prior to his
mission to Spain, Mr. Cushing was appointed by President Tyler Minister
to China, where his able diplomacy has been the subject of recognition
and admiration to this day. He carried with him the following
remarkable letter which he was charged by the President to deliver in
person to the Emperor. It may have been--who knows?--the first lesson in
occidental geography submitted to the "Brother of the Sun and the Sister
of the Moon and Stars." Had the President of the United States been
called upon to address a country Sunday School, he could hardly have
exhibited a more conscious effort to adapt himself to the level of his
hearers. This is the letter:--

I, John Tyler, President of the United States of
America--which states are Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New York,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois,
Alabama, Missouri, Arkansas and Michigan--send this letter
of peace and friendship, signed by my own hand.

I hope your health is good. China is a great empire,
extending over a great part of the world. The Chinese are
numerous. You have millions and millions of subjects. The
twenty-six United States are as large as China, though our
people are not so numerous. The rising sun looks upon the
great mountains and great rivers of China. When he sets he
looks upon mountains and rivers equally large in the United
States. Our territories extend from one great ocean to the
other; and on the west we are divided only from your domain
by the sea. Leaving the mouth of one of our great rivers and
going constantly towards the setting sun we sail to Japan
and the Yellow Sea.

Now, my words are that the governments of two such great
countries should be at peace. It is proper and according to
the will of heaven that they should respect each other and
act wisely. I therefore send to your Court Caleb Cushing one
of the wise and learned men of this country. On his first
arrival in China he will inquire for your health. He has
strict orders to go to your great city of Pek