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THE  CHINESE  EMPIRE

In  1763  occurred  the  return  to  the  Chinese  Empire  of  a
Tartar  tribe  called  the  Turgut,  an  event  graphically  described ­
  by  the  English  writer  De  Quincy.  During  the  outbreak ­
  in  Mongolia  this  tribe  had  migrated  from  their  original
home  and  settled  in  Russian  territory  near  the  Volga  River.
Owing  to  the  harsh  treatment  to  which  they  were  subjected
by  the  Russians  they  determined  to  make  their  escape.
On  their  flight  back  they  experienced  untold  hardships,
being  pursued  by  the  Cossacks  and  attacked  by  the  wild
tribes  through  whose  territory  they  had  to  pass.  Out  of
160,000  who  started  on  the  expedition  only  a  very  small
remnant  finally  reached  their  destination.
Beginnings  of  Commercial  Relations  between
England  and  China
As  early  as  1635,  during  the  reign  of  Charles  I.,  a  charter
had  been  granted  to  some  English  merchants  to  form  a
company  to  promote  commerce  with  China,  and  as  the  result
of  the  royal  grant  Captain  Weddell  sailed  for  the  East  with
a  small  fleet  of  vessels.  The  Portuguese,  who  had  made  a
settlement  at  Macao,  and  who  were  anxious  to  keep  the
trade  with  China  for  themselves,  did  all  they  could  to  place
obstacles  in  the  way  of  this  expedition.  They  so  misrepresented ­
  matters  to  the  Chinese  authorities  that,  when
the  English  fleet  was  passing  the  Bogue  Forts,  on  the  way  up
the  Canton  River,  a  Chinese  battery  suddenly  opened  fire
upon  it.  The  British  ships  retaliated,  and  after  silencing
the  guns  of  the  battery,  landed  a  party  of  sailors,  took
possession  of  the  forts,  and  hoisted  their  flag.  This  display
of  force  induced  the  Chinese  to  grant  the  right  to  trade,  and
a  cargo  was  obtained  by  the  English  ships.  After  this,  trade
was  gradually  developed  between  China  and  England,  but
it  was  hampered  by  many  restrictions,  very  heavy  import
and  export  duties  being  charged.  r
During  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Kienlung,  in  1793,  while
George  III.  was  King  of  England,  Lord  Macartney  was  sent
to  visit  the  Emperor  in  Peking.  He  was  received  with