Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are
able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the
public for several reasons. That's quite a pity while these books contains
useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor
accessible.
P. 107. “From the last Peking Gazettes, we perceive that much interest exists in the imperial cabinet, on the subject of constructing ships of war after foreign models. It appears that Kin-Ying-Lin, one of the ministers, laid drawings of ships of sundry forms before his Majesty, accompanied by strong recommendations for an increased number of efficient fighting-ships. Upon this the emperor sends all the drawings to Yih-Shan, at Canton, ordering him to have vessels constructed, if he considered Kin-Ying's plan the most feasible. Yib-Shan, in a very lengthy memorial, shows that no kinds of vessels are at all proper for fighting, except those constructed after foreign models. He speaks of the wonderful reports of the high officers of the United States' ships Constellation and Boston, during their visit at Whampoa, and proposes that they be the models of all Chinese ships of war hereafter to be built. The emperor therefore, orders ships to be built of the kind recommended, and of the best materials. His Majesty also states that as these ships are now needed, there will not be time to wait for them to be built, but orders Yih-Shan to send the Hong merchants to buy the ships which the barbarians may have for sale, and at the same time to despatch proper officers to purchase the strongest materials possible for shipbuilding. Yih-Shan states in his memorial, that one ship after the foreign model has been built at Canton, and which is able to go out to sea, and that two more are on the stocks. (Canton Press, Dec. 31.)” and “A letter from Hong-kong says “The Chinese government, by orders of the emperor, has bought some foreign vessels, and is going to build some on European models for war purposes. They want much some steamers, and will pay for them long prices. It was intimated to them, that if the treaty was amicably arranged, it was not unlikely the queen would present the Emperor with a fully equipped war-steamer. Were there a dozen steamers here adapted to coast and river navigation, the Chinese would, I have no doubt, take them. I have no doubt when all is arranged that numbers of foreigners, soldiers and sailors, will be taken into Chinese pay, and also engineers and artillerymen.”
Source
Fisher’s Colonial magazine and commercial-maritime journal, May-August 1843, Volume 3, London.
P. 107. “From the last Peking Gazettes, we perceive that much interest exists in the imperial cabinet, on the subject of constructing ships of war after foreign models. It appears that Kin-Ying-Lin, one of the ministers, laid drawings of ships of sundry forms before his Majesty, accompanied by strong recommendations for an increased number of efficient fighting-ships. Upon this the emperor sends all the drawings to Yih-Shan, at Canton, ordering him to have vessels constructed, if he considered Kin-Ying's plan the most feasible. Yib-Shan, in a very lengthy memorial, shows that no kinds of vessels are at all proper for fighting, except those constructed after foreign models. He speaks of the wonderful reports of the high officers of the United States' ships Constellation and Boston, during their visit at Whampoa, and proposes that they be the models of all Chinese ships of war hereafter to be built. The emperor therefore, orders ships to be built of the kind recommended, and of the best materials. His Majesty also states that as these ships are now needed, there will not be time to wait for them to be built, but orders Yih-Shan to send the Hong merchants to buy the ships which the barbarians may have for sale, and at the same time to despatch proper officers to purchase the strongest materials possible for shipbuilding. Yih-Shan states in his memorial, that one ship after the foreign model has been built at Canton, and which is able to go out to sea, and that two more are on the stocks. (Canton Press, Dec. 31.)” and “A letter from Hong-kong says “The Chinese government, by orders of the emperor, has bought some foreign vessels, and is going to build some on European models for war purposes. They want much some steamers, and will pay for them long prices. It was intimated to them, that if the treaty was amicably arranged, it was not unlikely the queen would present the Emperor with a fully equipped war-steamer. Were there a dozen steamers here adapted to coast and river navigation, the Chinese would, I have no doubt, take them. I have no doubt when all is arranged that numbers of foreigners, soldiers and sailors, will be taken into Chinese pay, and also engineers and artillerymen.”
Source
Fisher’s Colonial magazine and commercial-maritime journal, May-August 1843, Volume 3, London.
