Letter from the Prince Regent to the Emperor of China

George Prince Regent in the name and in behalf of His Majesty George the Third by the Grace of God King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Christian Faith, King of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick and Lunenburgh, etc. to the most high mighty and glorious Prince the Emperor of China our Brother and cousin health and true happiness.

Most HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE.

The lamented and continued illness of my Royal and venerable Father having called me to the exercise of the functions of sovereignty I have felt anxious to communicate the important occurrence to Your Imperial and Royal Majesty, and to cultivate and improve by every means in my power the friendship, that so happily subsisted between our Royal Fathers and their respective Empires. The present time when under the favour of the Almighty the Blessings of Peace have been diffused over the Dominions of my Royal Father and the several states of Europe has appeared to me the most auspicious Season for addressig myself to your Imperial Majesty, and I have accordingly dispatched to your presence our Right Trusty and well beloved councillor William Pitt Lord Amherst, Peer of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and one of the Lords of His Majesty's Bedchamber, who has been employed in diverse important Missions, and in whom we repose entire confidence with the Rank of His Majesty's Embassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary who with every asurance of my profound regard and attachment will deliver this Letter to Your Imperial Majesty. His Majesty's Embassador will also present certain articles the produce and manufacture of the Territories of my Royal Father, which will I trust as tokens of my veneration and esteem prove acceptable to your Imperial Majesty. Conceiving, that in the spirit of that wise and benevolent Policy, which has distinguished your Imperial Majesty's reign you may possibly direct the confidential Ministers of your Illustrious Government to communicate with His Majesty's Embassador upon matters relating to the mutual interests and prosperity of both Empires, I have instructed and empowered the Embassador to receive the same and on his part to make certain representations, which have appeared to me connected with these important subjects, and so we wish Your Imperial Majesty Health Peace and true Felicity.

Given at our Court at Carlton House the 19th Day of January 1816 in the 56th year of His Majesty's Reign-1816.1.19

Your Imperial Majesty's Most affectionate Brother and cousin

signed/GEORGE P.R.