ges, Secretly and with bowed head, Your Servant ponders how he has held the post with which he has been entrusted {by the Emperor}, without blame. But the times are troublous; internal dissensions have been rife, and external relations have been already marred by grievances. Now we have been graciously favoured with the compassion bestowed upon our little country by the Sacred Court, in that we have received the favour of the Celestial forces in assisting us who are so far away. They have suppressed anarchy and put an end to disorder, removing difficulties and relieving out differences. We are over~ whelmed with gratitude for the grace shown to us by the Coverer—heaven—aud the Supporter—earth—(i.e, the Chinese Government) and are deeply sensible of our own sincerity towards the Emper Your Servant, and the Ministers and people of his country, are unable to express a quately their acknowledgments, and now reverentially present this Letter of Thanks. Tu genuine trembling and genuine fear, I, Hu, bow the head, bow the head Pr trate, I submit that the tributary state AB) has many troubles, We have only recently experienced the terrors of the deep abyss and of thin ico (g.d., imminent and' great peril); bat the Yuperial apicié reaches far and wide, and we have undeserved ly been favoured with the special love of Heaven and Earth. The events which have happened have been extraordinary, but the Emperor's Grace hits been ce-extensive with Creation at Large, Prostrate, I ponder how unworthily I am protecting the Eastern land, and, far off, pay homage to the Northern Star, For along time I have been under Your protection and guidance; T look the increasing glory [of the Court], which shines all' alike, Reverontially I on present the precious stone and silk, in the hope that I may be regarded as a loyal fief. At present, the little state has had sorrows both within and without, but the Imperial forces succoured us by both, Jand and water, pitying owe unpre; poredness for battle, and our yet unplanned affairs, They arrested the wanton acts of the depraved and wicked, granting no pardon to those who had brought them selves under the law, How can we ever repay stich generous consideration as this now prostrate myself beneath the a of my lord the Emperor, basking in tle glory of his precious Throne. 'The Eme raid Chart embracesevery country, monies, music, and the quelling of it surrections ace in the Emperor's own hands, and he disponaos them in accord ance with his intelligence, Rain and dew (metaphorical for favor') hoarfrost and snow (metaphorical for severity) have all their appointed seasons; the [Imperial] precepts assume many forms, and our petty realm is favoured with great kindness. May I not venture to emulate even the raindrops as they fall upon the dust in attempting to do my duty as a submissive tributary? The past will be to mea warning to be more careful fin the future] that I may yet catch the reflected rays of sunlight from the elm-tree, waiting upon the Great Country with true purpose of heart, even as the sunflower turns willingly towards the Sun.
Although for the sake of convenience much of the above letter is rendered in the second person, it must not be understood as addressed to the Emperor direct, This ie a privilege not permitted to the Corean King,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.