Hankow, 18th November.
On the 11th ult. I received an intimation through our Consul-General, E. H. Fraser, Esq... that H. E, Chang Chih-tung would be glad to see me before leaving for Nanking I replied that it would give me much pleasure to call on. if he could make. it convenient to grant me an interview on either the 13th or 14th; these being the only days at my command before starting on a missionary journey in the district of Haangpi. Two lays Inter T received a letter from Mr. Fraser. informing me that the Viceroy would like to see me on the 14th at 9.30 a.m.
Ca my arrival the gates of the yamen were thrown wide open. and I was received be Mr. Liang, the Viceroy's interpreter. Having arrived thirty minutes before the time appointed I had a very interesting chat with Mr. Liang about the Viceroy and his movements. Mr. Liang is a Cantonese, and has been with the Viceroy for many years, He is a gord English scholar, v-ry intelligent. and 2 perfect gentleman in his bearing. He evidently has the respect and confidence of the Viceroy, and the Viceroy through him is kept well posted in all mxtters connected with the outer world. Puno tually to the minute the great Viceroy made his appearance, and gave mea very hearty welcome. Though desiring to see E. for some years. I had made up my mind never to sak for an interview. Others had applied for the honour, and had been told that the Viceroy was very busy or somewhat indisposed. Personally T have decided objection to being snubbed, so I thought it best to ran no risk When the Viceroy came forward to greet me, I found it dificult to realis> the fact that I was standing in the presence of China's greatest Viceroy and most famous men. Since the death of Liu K'un-yi Chang Chih-tung has been stending without a rival among the statesmen of China. Which of these two men was them sll"in all? officials I have once and again put this question, and the reply invariably has been in Kenn a great man. and a great statesman but Chang Chih-tung is for in both respects." Last year, at Hengchou. I was invited by the Tantai toa feast, at which the Prefect and other officials were present. The conversation turned on the relative merits of China's great statesmen. I was asked my opinion. and T gave my verdict in favour of Lia K'un-yi and Chang Chibtung. "Yes, you are right," said the coldest and wisest man among the guests. "but you must reverse the order, not Liu K'un-yi and Chang Chih-tung, but Chang Chih-tang and Liu K'un-yi. But for Chang Chih-tung, China. would: here gone. to pon during the Boxer trouble. Liu "an-yi, Tuan Fang, and others did well, but Chang Chih-tung was the ruling spirit. and it was his strong will thet carried everything before it." My friend Ta spoke very decidedly and with some warm! on the point, and we all felt that he was right. The service rendered by Chang Chih-tung to China and to foreign interests in China, in the year 1900, has given him 3 title to the gratitude and admiration not only of China, but of the whole civilised world.
It did not take me two minutes to feel perfectly at ease with Chang Chih-tung. Tu his appearance there is nothing imposing about H. E. He isa short spare man, ery plainly dressed and severely simple in his habits, The one conspicuous thing about him is his fine head. His is a large head on a small body. Idoubt if there is another head in China so full of Chinese lore, or so full of schemes for the benefit of his people. La manner found him very affable, very ready to talk, and equally ready to listen.
Be told me that my name was quite familiar to him, and that he had desired to see me for a long time. He referred to his book "Lenin," and thanked me for the kind words I had written about the book and its author in the introduction. He seemed pleased to hear what I had to say about the world-wide fame of the book, though, of course, he assured me once and again that he dare not ae-opt the honour thus thrast upon him. Though he does not know a word of English, he is, thanks to Mr. Lianz, very well nointed with the contents of the " North-China Daily News" and other papers issued iglish Press.
some interesting conversation on missionary matters. He expressed himself freely on several points of interest, and seemed anxious to have my opinions on the same. The missionary question does not trouble him as much as I thought it did. I endeavoured to place the principles and policy of the Protestant Church in China before him in ax clear a light ax possible, and he expressed himself as perfectly sal He went farther and said that, so far as he knew, we had always acted ea these principles at this centre. There is one thing, however, thit puzzles the Viceroy: he cannot understand why the Protestant Church should be divided up into so many sections. He has been told that they are essentially one, but he cannot understand why, being essentially one, they should have so many names. He particularly wanted to know why one of the sections called itself "Chin-li-hui," the Dipping Sect. When the Baptists' mode of baptising was explained, he smiled, and gave it as his opinion that the mole was not a very convenient one. Whilst the Viceroy seems to have real respect for Protestuntism "8 a church, he is inclined, I think, to regard the sects as superfluous and troublesome excreacences.
peaking about his own movements, he assured me that he had no desire to leave Wachang for Nanking. "I do not want to leave this plice for any other. I have of schemes, and I'am perfected. " Everything depends on the will Of the Emperor; but so far as T am concerned, I can say truly that I have no desive'to Wave, and, that if T do leave hope my absence will be only temporary. If the decision is left with myself, I shall soon be back at my old post." So spoke the Viceroy on this point, and I believe he meant it all.
Before parting he gave me his photoph. "this? he said "is a small one, Baer wilt send you a larger one before I leave if I can." "He left on the 2nd inst., and I received the promised photograph the Ist, the day before he left. It is the finest photograph I have sem of the Viceroy. It isa luge picture und a striking likeness. I value it highly sa direct gift from himself, and as having been taken expressly for me just before leaving for the Liangkiang Viceroyalty. times, but HE. insisted on my staying on, I tg take. my departure several
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.