大之至者谓之元-闲话元朝往事-第43章
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ich is highly praiseworthy。 In consideration of the fact that your Ambassador and his deputy have e a long way with your memorial and tribute； I have shown them high favour and have allowed them to be introduced into my presence。 To manifest my indulgence； I have entertained them at a banquet and made them numerous gifts。 I have also caused presents to be forwarded to the Naval mander and six hundred of his officers and men； although they did not e to Peking； so that they too may share in my all embracing kindness。
至尔国王表内恳请派一尔国之人住居天朝，照管尔国买卖一节，此则与天朝体制不合，断不可行。向来西洋各国有愿来天朝当差之人，原准其来京，但既来之后，即遵用天朝服色，安置堂内，永远不准复回本国，此系天朝定制，想尔国王亦所知悉。今尔国王欲求派一尔国之人居住京城，既不能若来京当差之西洋人，在京居住不归本国，又不可听其往来，常通信息，实为无益之事。
As to your entreaty to send one of your nationals to be accredited to my Celestial Court and to be in control of your country's trade with China； this request is contrary to all usage of my dynasty and cannot possibly be entertained。 It is true that Europeans； in the service of the dynasty； have been permitted to live at Peking； but they are pelled to adopt Chinese dress； they are strictly confined to their own precincts and are never permitted to return home。 You are presumably familiar with our dynastic regulations。 Your proposed Envoy to my Court could not be placed in a position similar to that of European officials in Peking who are forbidden to leave China； nor could he； on the other hand； be allowed liberty of movement and the privilege of corresponding with his own country； so that you would gain nothing by his residence in our midst。
且天朝所管地方至为广远，凡外藩使臣到京，驿馆供给，行止出入，俱有一定体制，从无听其自便之例。今尔国若留人在京，言语不通，服饰殊制，无地可以安置。若必似来京当差之西洋人，令其一律改易服饰，天朝亦不肯强人以所难。设天朝欲差人常驻尔国，亦岂尔国所能遵行？况西洋诸国甚多，非止尔一国。若俱似尔国王恳请派人留京，岂能一一听许？是此事断断难行。岂能因尔国王一人之请，以至更张天朝百余年法度。若云尔国王为照料买卖起见，则尔国人在澳门贸易非止一日，原无不加以恩视。即如从前博尔都噶尔亚（葡萄牙），意达哩亚等国屡次遣使来朝，亦曾以照料贸易为请。天朝鉴其悃忱，优加体恤。凡遇该国等贸易之事，无不照料周备。前次广东商人吴昭平有拖欠洋船价值银两者，俱饬令该管总督由官库内先行动支帑项代为清还，并将拖欠商人重治其罪。想此事尔国亦闻知矣。外国又何必派人留京，为此越例断不可行之请，况留人在京，距澳门贸易处所几及万里，伊亦何能照料耶？
Moreover； our Celestial dynasty possesses vast territories； and tribute missions from the dependencies are provided for by the Department for Tributary States； which ministers to their wants and exercises strict control over their movements。 It would be quite impossible to leave them to their own devices。 Supposing that your Envoy should e to our Court； his language and national dress differ from that of our people； and there would be no place in which to bestow him。 It may be suggested that he might imitate the Europeans permanently resident in Peking and adopt the dress and customs of China； but； it has never been our dynasty's wish to force people to do things unseemly and inconvenient。 Besides； supposing I sent an Ambassador to reside in your country； how could you possibly make for him the requisite arrangements？ Europe consists of many other nations besides your own： if each and all demanded to be represented at our Court； how could we possibly consent？ The thing is utterly impracticable。 How can our dynasty alter its whole procedure and system of etiquette； established for more than a century； in order to meet your individual views？ If it be said that your object is to exercise control over your country's trade； your nationals have had full liberty to trade at Canton for many a year； and have received the greatest consideration at our hands。 Missions have been sent by Portugal and Italy； preferring similar requests。 The Throne appreciated their sincerity and loaded them with favours； besides authorising measures to facilitate their trade with China。 You are no doubt aware that； when my Canton merchant； Wu Chaoping； was in debt to the foreign ships； I made the Viceroy advance the monies due； out of the provincial treasury； and ordered him to punish the culprit severely。 Why then should foreign nations advance this utterly unreasonable request to be represented at my Court？ Peking is nearly two thousand miles from Canton； and at such a distance what possible control could any British representative exercise？
若云仰慕天朝，欲其观习教化，则天朝自有天朝礼法，与尔国各不相同。尔国所留之人即能习学，尔国自有风俗制度，亦断不能效法中国，即学会亦属无用。
If you assert that your reverence for Our Celestial dynasty fills you with a desire to acquire our civilization； our ceremonies and code of laws differ so pletely from your own that； even if your Envoy were able to acquire the rudiments of our civilization； you could not possibly transplant our manners and customs to your alien soil。 Therefore； however adept the Envoy might bee； nothing would be gained thereby。
天朝抚有四海，惟励精图治，办理政务，奇珍异宝，并不贵重。尔国王此次赍进各物，念其诚心远献，特谕该管衙门收纳。其实天朝德威远被，万国来王，种种贵重之物，梯航毕集，无所不有。尔之正使等所亲见。然从不贵奇巧，并无更需尔国制办物件。是尔国王所请派人留京一事，于天朝体制既属不合，而于尔国亦殊觉无益。特此详晰开示，遣令该使等安程回国。尔国王惟当善体朕意，益励款诚。永矢恭顺，以保义尔有邦，共享太平之福。除正副使臣以下各官及通事兵役人等正贯加赏各物件另单赏给外，兹因尔国使臣归国，特颁敕谕，并赐赍尔国王文绮珍物，具如常仪。加赐彩缎罗绮，文玩器具诸珍，另有清单，王其祗受，悉朕眷怀。特此敕谕。”
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。 If I have manded that the tribute offerings sent by you； O King； are to be accepted； this was solely in consideration for the spirit which prompted you to dispatch them from afar。 Our dynasty's majestic virtue has penetrated unto every country under Heaven； and Kings of all nations have offered their costly tribute by land and sea。 As your Ambassador can see for himself； we possess all things。 I set no value on objects strange or ingenious； and have no use for your country's manufactures。 This then is my answer to your request to appoint a representative at my Court； a request contrary to our dynastic usage； which would only result in inconvenience to yourself。 I have expounded my wishes in detail and have manded your tribute Envoys to leave in peace on their homeward journey。 It behoves you； O King； to respect my sentiments and to display even greater devotion and loyalty in future； so that； by perpetual submission to our Throne； you may secure peace and prosperity for your country hereafter。 Besides making gifts （of which I enclose an inventory） to each member of your Mission； I confer upon you； O King； valuable presents in excess of the number usually bestowed on such occasions； including silks and curiosa list of which is likewise enclosed。 Do you reverently receive them and take note of my tender goodwill towards you A special mandate。
马戛尔尼非常失望地离开了中国，他没想到是这样的结果。他的结论是：中华帝国只是一艘破败不堪的旧船，只是幸运地有了几位谨慎的船长才使它在近150年内没有沉没。只需几艘三桅战舰，中国就会分崩离析。一个民族不进则退。
通过两国君主这次短暂的接触，可以看到英王乔治三世和乾隆这两位君主的截然不同。乔治三世也自诩为“奉天承运”“拥有本国已经足以满足一切需要的非常广大领土”的君主，但是，他的志向是“促使全人类同受其惠”；而乾隆则自夸天朝大皇帝，和立宪君主乔治三世，实在是不可同日而语。
乔治三世去世后仅二十年，英国的炮舰打开了封闭落后的清帝国的大门。
乔治三世是一个善良的人，在英国历史上以英明仁慈著称，他生活简朴，但是，汉诺威朝父子斗的传统在他和他的儿子们之间也发生了作用，他管教儿子甚严，而他的长子小乔治偏偏是个生活放荡不羁的人，这父子俩格格不入，儿子对老子有强烈的逆反心理，乔治三世很是看不起他这个儿子，而小乔治也经常和老子争吵。
乔治三世50岁以后，即1788年以后，开始有精神错乱症状发作，曾发作过五次，现在的一些研究人员认为他得的是卟啉症。1810年，乔治三世最心爱的小女儿阿米莉公主去世，1811年，乔治三世旧病复发，18
