ABSTRACT
In receiving Lord Macartney's mission in 1793 in the Imperial Summer Palace in Chengde outside Beijing, the ageing Emperor Qianlong, already in his early eighties, wrote a poem, part of which reads: Formerly Portugal presented tribute; Now England is paying homage. They have out-travelled Shu-hai and Heng-chang; My ancestor's merit and virtue must have reached their distant shores. Though their tribute is commonplace, my heart proves sincerely. Curios and the boasted ingenuity of their device I prize not. Though what they bring is meagre, yet, In my kindness to men from afar I make generous return, Wanting to preserve my good health and power. (Hsu 1990: 159)
