汉英对照：林则徐致英国维多利亚女王信_英国历史中英文对照
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林则徐 致英国维多利亚女王信
Commiioner Lin: Letter to Queen Victoria, 1839
【Lin, high imperial commiioner, a president of the Board of War, viceroy of the two Keäng provinces, &c., Tang, a president of the Board of War, viceroy of the two Kwang provinces, &c., and E., a vice-president of the Board of War, lieut.-governor of Kwangtung, &c., hereby conjointly addre this public dispatch to the queen of England for the purpose of giving her clear and distinct information(on the state of affairs)&c.From Ssuyu Teng and John Fairbank, China's Response to the West,(Cambridge MA: Harvard University Pre, 1954), repr.in Mark A.Kishlansky, ed., Sources of World History, Volume II,(New York: HarperCollins CollegePublishers, 1995), pp.266-69
Lin Tse-Hsu(1785-1850)was the Chinese Commiioner in Canton whose actions precipitated the Opium Wars(1839-1842).Although opium was used in China for centuries, it was not until the opening of the tea trade to Dutch and British merchants that China was able to import large quantities of the drug.By the early nineteenth century opium was the principal product that the English East India Company traded in China and opium addiction was becoming a widespread social problem.When the emperor's own son died of an overdose, he decided to put an end to the trade.Lin Tse-Hs? was sent.to Canton, the chief trading port of the East India Company, with instructions to negoiate an end to the importation of opium into China.The English merchants were uncooperative, so he seized their stores of opium.This led to immediate military action.The Chinese were decisively defeated and had to cede to a humiliating treaty that legalized the opium trade.As a result commiioner Lin was dismied from office and sent into exile.】
1洪惟我大皇帝抚绥中外，一视同仁，利则与天下公之，害则为天下去之。盖以天地之心为心也。贵国王累世相传，皆称恭顺。
It is only our high and mighty emperor, who alike supports and cherishes those of the Inner Land, and those from beyond the seas-who looks upon all mankind with equal benevolence---who, if a source of profit exists anywhere, diffuses it over the whole world---who, if the tree of evil takes root anywhere, plucks it up for the benefit of all nations;---who, in a word, hath implanted in his breast that heart(by which beneficent nature herself)
governs the heavens and the earth!You, the queen of your honorable nation, sit upon a throne occupied through succeive generations by predeceors, all of whom have been styled respectful and obedient.观历次进贡表文云：凡本国人到中国贸易，均蒙大皇帝一体公平恩待等语。窃喜贵国王深明大义，感激天恩，是以天朝柔远绥怀，倍加优礼。贸易之利，垂二百年。该国所由以富庶称者，赖有此也。
Looking over the public documents accompanying the tribute sent(by your predeceors)on various occasions, we find the following: “All the people of my country, arriving at the Central Land for purposes of trade, have to feel grateful to the great emperor for the most perfect justice, for the kindest treatment,” and other words to that effect.Delighted did we feel that the kings of your honorable nation so clearly understood the great principles of propriety, and were so deeply grateful for the heavenly goodne(of our emperor):---therefore, it was that we of the heavenly dynasty nourished and cherished your people from afar, and bestowed upon them redoubled proofs of our urbanity and kindne.It is merely from these circumstances, that your country---deriving immense advantage from its commercial intercourse with us, which has endured now two hundred years---has become the rich and flourishing kingdom that it is said to be!
2唯是通商已久，众夷良莠不齐，遂有夹带，诱惑华民，以致毒流各省者。似此但知利己，不顾害人，乃天理所不容，人情所共愤。大皇帝闻而震怒。特遣本大臣来至广东，与本总督部堂巡抚部院，会同查办。
But, during the commercial intercourse which has existed so long, among the numerous foreign merchants resorting hither, are wheat and tares, good and bad;and of these latter are some, who, by means of introducing opium by stealth, have seduced our Chinese people, and caused every province of the land to overflow with that poison.These then know merely to advantage themselves, they care not about injuring others!This is a principle which heaven's Providence repaginates;and which mankind conjointly look upon with abhorrence!Moreover, the great emperor hearing of it, actually quivered with indignation, and especially dispatched me, the commiioner, to Canton, that in conjunction with the viceroy and lieut.-governor of the province, means might be taken for its suppreion!
凡内地民人贩食者，皆应处死。若追究夷人历年贩卖之罪，则其贻害深而攫利重，本为法所当诛。惟念众夷尚知悔罪乞诚，将趸船二万二百八十三
箱，由领事官义律，禀请缴收，全行毁化。叠经本大臣等据实具奏。幸蒙大皇帝格外施恩，以自首者，情尚可原，姑宽免罪。
Every native of the Inner Land who sells opium, as also all who smoke it, are alike adjudged to death.Were we then to go back and take up the crimes of the foreigners, who, by selling it for many years have induced dreadful calamity and robbed us of enormous wealth, and punish them with equal severity, our laws could not but award to them absolute annihilation!But, considering that these said foreigners did yet repent of their crime, and with a sincere heart beg for mercy;that they took 20,283 chests of opium piled up in their store-ships, and through Elliot, the superintendent of the trade of your said country, petitioned that they might be delivered up to us, when the same were all utterly destroyed, of which we, the imperial commiioner and colleagues, made a duly prepared memorial to his majesty;---considering these circumstances, we have happily received a fresh proof of the extraordinary goodne of the great emperor, inasmuch as he who voluntarily comes forward, may yet be deemed a fit subject for mercy, and his crimes be graciously remitted him.再犯者法难屡贷，立定新章。谅贵国王向化倾心，定能谕令众夷，兢兢奉法。但必晓以利害，乃知天朝法度，断不可以不懔遵也。
But as for him who again knowingly violates the laws, difficult indeed will it be thus to go on repeatedly pardoning!He or they shall alike be doomed to the penalties of the new statute.We presume that you, the sovereign of your honorable nation, on pouring out your heart before the altar of eternal justice, cannot but command all foreigners with the deepest respect to reverence our laws!If we only lay clearly before your eyes, what is profitable and what is destructive, you will then know that the statutes of the heavenly dynasty cannot but be obeyed with fear and trembling!
3查该国距内地六七万里，而夷船争来贸易者，为获利之厚故耳。以中国之利利外夷，是夷人所获之厚利，皆从华民分去。岂有反以毒物害华民之理。即夷人未必有心为害，而贪利之极，不顾害人，试问天良安在？
We find that your country is distant from us about sixty or seventy thousand miles, that your foreign ships come hither striving the one with the other for our trade, and for the simple reason of their strong desire to reap a profit.Now, out of the wealth of our Inner Land, if we take a part to bestow upon foreigners from afar, it follows, that the immense wealth which the said foreigners ama, ought properly speaking to be portion of our own native Chinese people.By what principle of reason then, should these foreigners send in return a poisonous drug, which involves in
destruction those very natives of China? Without meaning to say that the foreigners harbor such destructive intentions in their hearts, we yet positively aert that from their inordinate thirst after gain, they are perfectly carele about the injuries they inflict upon us!And such being the case, we should like to ask what has become of that conscience which heaven has implanted in the breasts of all men? 闻该国禁食甚严，是固明知之为害也。既不使为害于该国，则他国尚不可移害，况中国乎？
We have heard that in your own country opium is prohibited with the utmost strictne and severity:---this is a strong proof that you know full well how hurtful it is to mankind.Since then you do not permit it to injure your own country, you ought not to have the injurious drug transferred to another country, and above all others, how much le to the Inner Land!4中国所行于外国者，无一非利人之物。利于食，利于用，并利于转卖，皆利也。中国曾有一物为害外国否？况如茶叶大黄，外国所不可一日无也。中国若靳其利而不恤其害，则夷人何以为生？又外国之呢羽哔叽，非得中国丝斤不能成织。若中国亦靳其利，夷人何利可图？其余食物，自糖料姜桂而外，用物自绸缎磁器而外，外国所必需者，曷可胜数。而外来之物，皆不过以供玩好，可有可无。既非中国要需，何难闭关绝市。乃天朝于茶丝诸货，悉任其贩运流通，绝不靳惜。无他，利与天下公之也。
Of the products which China exports to your foreign countries, there is not one which is not beneficial to mankind in some shape or other.There are those which serve for food, those which are useful, and those which are calculated for re-sale;but all are beneficial.Has China(we should like to ask)ever yet sent forth a noxious article from its soil? Not to speak of our tea and rhubarb, things which your foreign countries could not exist a single day without, if we of the Central Land were to grudge you what is beneficial, and not to compaionate your wants, then wherewithal could you foreigners manage to exist? And further, as regards your woolens, camlets, and longells, were it not that you get supplied with our native raw silk, you could not get these manufactured!If China were to grudge you those things which yield a profit, how could you foreigners scheme after any profit at all? Our other articles of food, such as sugar, ginger, cinnamon, &c., and our other articles for use, such as silk piece-goods, chinaware, &c., are all so many necearies of life to you;how can we reckon up their number!On the other hand, the things that come from your foreign countries are only calculated to make presents of, or serve for mere amusement.It is quite the same to us if we have them, or if we have them
not.If then these are of no material consequence to us of the Inner Land, what difficulty would there be in prohibiting and shutting our market against them? It is only that our heavenly dynasty most freely permits you to take off her tea, silk, and other commodities, and convey them for consumption everywhere, without the slightest stint or grudge, for no other reason, but that where a profit exists, we wish that it be diffused abroad for the benefit of all the earth!该国带去内地货物，不特自资食用，且得以分售各国，获利三倍。即不卖，而其三倍之利自在。何忍更以害人之物，恣无厌之求乎？设使别国有人贩至英国，诱人买食；当亦贵国王所深恶而痛绝之也。
Your honorable nation takes away the products of our central land, and not only do you thereby obtain food and support for yourselves, but moreover, by re-selling these products to other countries you reap a threefold profit.Now if you would only not sell opium, this threefold profit would be secured to you: how can you poibly consent to forgo it for a drug that is hurtful to men, and an unbridled craving after gain that seems to know no bounds!Let us suppose that foreigners came from another country, and brought opium into England, and seduced the people of your country to smoke it, would not you, the sovereign of the said country, look upon such a procedure with anger, and in your just indignation endeavor to get rid of it?
5向闻贵国王存心仁厚，自不肯以己所不欲者，施之于人。并闻来粤之船，皆经颁给条约，有不许携带禁物之语。是贵国王之政令本属严明。只因商船众多，前此或未加察。今行文照会，明知天朝禁令之严，定必使之不敢再犯。
Now we have always heard that your highne poees a most kind and benevolent heart, surely then you are incapable of doing or causing to be done unto another, that which you should not wish another to do unto you!We have at the same time heard that your ships which come to Canton do each and every of them carry a document granted by your highne' self, on which are written these words “you shall not be permitted to carry contraband goods;” this shows that the laws of your highne are in their origin both distinct and severe, and we can only suppose that because the ships coming here have been very numerous, due attention has not been given to search and examine;and for this reason it is that we now addre you this public document, that you may clearly know how stern and severe are the laws of the central dynasty, and most certainly you will cause that they be not again rashly violated!
且闻贵国王所邻之兰顿，及嘶噶兰、嗳伦等处，本皆不产。惟所辖印度地方，如孟啊啦、曼哒啦萨、孟买、叭哒拏默拏、嘛尔洼数处，连山栽种，开池制造。累月经年，以厚其毒。臭秽上达，天怒神恫。贵国王诚能于此等处拔尽根株，尽锄其地，改种五谷。有敢再图种造者，重治其罪。此真兴利除害之大仁政，天所佑而神所福，延年寿，长子孙，必在此举矣。Moreover, we have heard that in London the metropolis where you dwell, as also in Scotland, Ireland, and other such places, no opium whatever is produced.It is only in sundry parts of your colonial kingdom of Hindostan, such as Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Patna, Malwa, Benares, Malacca, and other places where the very hills are covered with the opium plant, where tanks are made for the preparing of the drug;month by month, and year by year, the volume of the poison increases, its unclean stench ascends upwards, until heaven itself grows angry, and the very gods thereat get indignant!You, the queen of the said honorable nation, ought immediately to have the plant in those parts plucked up by the very root!Cause the land there to be hoed up afresh, sow in its stead the five grains, and if any man dare again to plant in these grounds a single poppy, visit his crime with the most severe punishment.By a truly benevolent system of government such as this, will you indeed reap advantage, and do away with a source of evil.Heaven must support you, and the gods will crown you with felicity!This will get for yourself the bleing of long life, and from this will proceed the security and stability of your descendants!
6至夷商来至内地，饮食居处，无非天朝之恩膏，积聚丰盈，无非天朝之乐利。其在该国之日犹少，而在粤东之日转多。弼教明刑，古今通义。
In reference to the foreign merchants who come to this our central land, the food that they eat, and the dwellings that they abide in, proceed entirely from the goodne of our heavenly dynasty: the profits which they reap, and the fortunes which they ama, have their origin only in that portion of benefit which our heavenly dynasty kindly allots them: and as these pa but little of their time in your country, and the greater part of their time in ours, it is a generally received maxim of old and of modern times, that we should conjointly admonish, and clearly make known the punishment that awaits them.譬如别国人到英国贸易，尚须遵英国法度，况天朝乎？今定华民之例，卖者死，食者亦死。试思夷人若无带来，则华民何由转卖，何由吸食？是奸夷实陷华民于死，岂能独予以生？彼害人一命者，尚须以命抵之，况之害人，岂止一命已乎？故新例于带来内地之夷人，定以斩绞之罪。所谓为天
下去害者此也。
Suppose the subject of another country were to come to England to trade, he would certainly be required to comply with the laws of England, then how much more does this apply to us of the celestial empire!Now it is a fixed statute of this empire, that any native Chinese who sells opium is punishable with death, and even he who merely smokes it, must not le die.Pause and reflect for a moment: if you foreigners did not bring the opium hither, where should our Chinese people get it to re-sell? It is you foreigners who involve our simple natives in the pit of death, and are they alone to be permitted to escape alive? If so much as one of those deprive one of our people of his life, he must forfeit his life in requital for that which he has taken: how much more does this apply to him who by means of opium destroys his fellow-men? Does the havoc which he commits stop with a single life? Therefore it is that those foreigners who now import opium into the Central Land are condemned to be beheaded and strangled by the new statute, and this explains what we said at the beginning about plucking up the tree of evil, wherever it takes root, for the benefit of all nations.7复查本年二月间，据该国领事义律，以禁令森严，禀求宽限。凡印度港脚属地，请限五月，英国本地，请限十月。然后即以新例遵行等语。今本大臣等奏蒙大皇帝，格外天恩，倍加体恤。
We further find that during the second month of this present year, the superintendent of your honorable country, Elliot, viewing the law in relation to the prohibiting of opium as exceively severe, duly petitioned us, begging for “an extension of the term already limited, say five months for Hindostan and the different parts of India, and ten for England, after which they would obey and act in conformity with the new statute,” and other words to the same effect.Now we, the high commiioner and colleagues, upon making a duly prepared memorial to the great emperor, have to feel grateful for his extraordinary goodne, for his redoubled compaion.凡在一年六个月之内，误带，但能自首全缴者，免其治罪。若过此限期，仍有带来，则是明知故犯，即行正法，断不宽宥。可谓仁之至义之尽矣。Any one who within the next year and a half may by mistake bring opium to this country, if he will but voluntarily come forward, and deliver up the entire quantity, he shall be absolved from all punishment for his crime.If, however, the appointed term shall have expired, and there are still persons who continue to bring it, then such shall be accounted as knowingly violating the laws, and shall most auredly be put to death!On no account 7
shall we show mercy or clemency!This then may be called truly the extreme of benevolence, and the very perfection of justice!我天朝君临万国，尽有不测神威，然不忍不教而诛。故特明宣定例。该国夷商欲图长久贸易，必当懔遵宪典，将永断来源，切勿以身试法。
Our celestial empire rules over ten thousand kingdoms!Most surely do we poe a measure of godlike majesty which ye cannot fathom!Still we cannot bear to slay or exterminate without previous warning, and it is for this reason that we now clearly make known to you the fixed laws of our land.If the foreign merchants of your said honorable nation desire to continue their commercial intercourse, they then must tremblingly obey our recorded statutes, they must cut off for ever the source from which the opium flows, and on no account make an experiment of our laws in their own persons!
王其诘奸除慝，以保乂尔有邦，益昭恭顺之忱，共享太平之福，幸甚，幸甚！
Let then your highne punish those of your subjects who may be criminal, do not endeavor to screen or conceal them, and thus you will secure peace and quietne to your poeions, thus will you more than ever display a proper sense of respect and obedience, and thus may we unitedly enjoy the common bleings of peace and happine.What greater joy!What more complete felicity than this!接到此文之后，即将杜绝缘由，速行移覆，切勿诿延。
Let your highne immediately, upon the receipt of this communication, inform us promptly of the state of matters, and of the measure you are pursuing utterly to put a stop to the opium evil.Please let your reply be speedy.Do not on any account make excuses or procrastinate.A most important communication.P.S.We annex an abstract of the new law, now about to be put in force.“Any foreigner or foreigners bringing opium to the Central Land, with design to sell the same, the principals shall most auredly be decapitated, and the acceories strangled;and all property(found on board the same ship)shall be confiscated.The space of a year and a half is granted, within the which, if any one bringing opium by mistake, shall voluntarily step forward and deliver it up, he shall be absolved from all consequences of his crime.”
This said imperial edict was received on the 9th day of the 6th month of the 19th year of Taoukwang, at which the period of grace begins, and runs on to the 9th day of the 12th month of the 20th year of Taoukwang, when it is completed.Source: From: Chinese Repository, Vol.8(February 1840), pp.497-503;reprinted in William H.McNeil and Mitsuko Iriye, eds., Modern Asia and Africa, Readings in World History Vol.9,(New York: Oxford University Pre, 1971), pp.111-118.Scanned by Jerome S.Arkenberg, Cal.State Fullerton.The text has been modernized by Prof.Arkenberg.
