Excerpt from The Ceremonial Usages of the Chinese, B. C, 1121: Being an Abridgement of the Chow Le Classic

England is distant from our country upwards of li miles), and was not noticed by the ancient Cln'h fang (an officer whose province it was to know the geography of the empire), neither had the Seang or Sea (interpreters for the northern and southern parts of the empire) had it on their list. The celebrity of this country arises from its government, religion, restrictions, and laws; and its less significant matters are comprised in kinds of diet, dwellings, and locality: these all differ widely from those of our country. Their literature, letters, conversation, and language, are still more different; nevertheless, they had commercial intercourse with our nation from the beginning of the Ming dynasty But those who came to the province of Y we (canton) were, for the most part, merchants, and not the superior and talented men of the country. In the Twenty second Year of Taou lewang (1842) it was graciously permitted that a British Consul should be established at the Five Ports and it was moreover announced that all Englishmen might employ teachers and others to instruct them in the literature, writing, conversation, and forms of speech of this country, with the view of manifesting kindly feeling to those coming from afar.

My much respected pupil, Gingell (now in temporary charge of the Con sulate), arrived from India in a troop ship during the Twenty-second year of Taou [among and went to Kin lin (nanking). He then gave his attention to the poetry, writings, and literature generally; at the same time acquiring the correct tones of the conversation and speech of China. This was to him an agreeable occupation: he continued its study, became inter preter, and then for awhile attained the seal of office.

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