THE MARQUIS TSENG.

Western Star, Issue 861, 19 July 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE MARQUIS TSENG.

The Marquis Tseng, who has for more than five years represented the Chinese Government in London and Paris, is the head of one of the few Chinese families which, according to the ideas

of the West, would be termed aristocratic. Tracing back its descent to Tseng-tzu, one of the favourite disciples and followers of the great philosopher Confucius, and himself the author of one of the four classics named the “Ta-heo,” it has produced several remarkable men in the long interval. The father of the present Marquis was one of the most remarkable men China has seen in the last thirty years. His name was , Tseng Kwofan, and he took the principal command against the Taeping rebels. In 1865 he - recovered Nankin, for which striking service, he was made a Marquis, or ; Hou of .the first grade, ■which signifies that the .ifcitle.descends, in the same degree to his successors. Tseng Kwofan’s brother, Tseng Kwotsiuen, who.is still living, was. created ■an earl on the /Same < occasion. The present Marquis; 'who succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1872, was born on the date corresponding to our 7th,of December, ,1839. At that time the name of the reigning Emperor was Taonkwang. Alt hough born in his native province of Hoonan, Tseng Chitse was removed to Pelßn before he was twelve months old. He resided there for thirteen years, pursuing such studies as are taught in the Kwo-tzuchien, or Imperial College, which is able to confer upon its students* the privilege of a certain official rank without examination. When the. young Tseng was fourteen he had to accompany his father back to Hoonan, in order. to. perform one of those periods of mourning for a near relative which so. frequently interfere with the transaction of public business in. China, He accompanied his lather as a kind of secretary throughout 'the long war with Taeping Wang from 1853 to 1865, and he thus gained an insight into the practical worn of administration, which was not possessed by many of his contemporaries. But although he did excellent work he received not the least reward or recognition because he was serving under his father. , Nor was his introduction to public life after his father’s decease more rapid, for when he had fulfilled ;the stipulated - period of mourning of mouths for his father he had to ■ perform a similar retirement for the loss of his mother. Then he was appointed a Tang Kwan,. or expectant Secretary of State. While waiting for office,he was nominated in 1878 to succeed his relative Kwo Sungtao as representative : of China at the Court of St. James’s. In 1880, on the, failure of.,Chung How’s mission and the, .repudiation of the Treaty of Livadia, the Marquis Tseng was appointed Ambassador and envoy Plenipotentiary to the Court of St. Petersburg, and instructed to proceed without delay to Russia: in order to reopen the negotiations on the subject of the province of Kuldja. He proceeded in the task with' such tact and decision that not only did he succeed in inducing the Russian Foreign Office the question, but eveti to yield what the Chinese warted. The Marquis Tseng’s more recent diplomatic encounters with M. Ohallemel Lacour aud M. Ferry are within the memory of our readers. The Marquis Tseng is a litterateur of no mean order as well as a diplomatist. He has composed poems, and he is one of the greatest living authorities on the Chinese language. He is famous for his caligraphy, and the walls of the Chinese Court at the Fisheries Exhibition were decorated with admirable sample a of his penmanship. —Leisure Lour.