3-077-967 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late Marquis Tseng, formerly Chinese Ambassador in London, 1890. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. G. R. Lavis. 'Tseng Chitse...was born in 1848...After entering the official service, he accompanied his father, as private secretary, in the campaigns and administrative journeys that ensued on the Tai-ping rebellion, but it was not until 1877 that he obtained the rank of Tang Kwan, or expectant Secretary of State. In 1878 he received his first high office - that of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Courts of England and France. He was acting in that capacity when Chung How was sent to St. Petersburg to settle the Kuldja difficulty by negotiation. The Chinese repudiated the Treaty of Livadia, and the Marquis Tseng was instructed to proceed to St. Petersburg as special Ambassador to obtain a more honourable and suitable settlement of the difficulty. His diplomacy was crowned with success, for the Treaty of St. Petersburg in 1881 restored Kuldja to China, and harmony to her relations with the neighbouring Empire of Russia. He showed equal ability in the long dispute with the French Government upon the Tonquin question...he was made a Grand Secretary and President of the new Board of Admiralty'. From "Illustrated London News", 1890.