致侄兒
北京,美國公使館 1900年11月16日
現在,沒有中國政府要求中國人或外國人遵紀守法。王位是空著的。(THERE is no Chinese government here to hold the Chinese or the foreigner to law and order. The throne is empty.)
在這裡,所有的國家都以自己的名譽擔保。每個國家都獨立行動,沒有哪個其他國家會說「且慢」「停下」」太過分了」。(Every nation represented here is acting on its honor. Each one is acting for itself, and no other nation can say, "Hold", "Stop","Going too far."
最讓我揪心的一件事就是北京觀象台那些精美的青銅儀器被搬走了。那些古老的,歷史性的財產可遠不僅僅是值錢好看啊(more than valuable and beautiful)。它們在其觀望的崗位上已經站立了四五百年了。它們屬於中國,而在其他任何地方,它們都不可能顯得那麼榮耀,那麼美麗。
我們的政府嚴令禁止擄掠,也不贊成戰爭中任何毀壞行為。(Our government has given strict orders against looting; it recognizes no spoils of war.)
大清的皇族成員仍然沒有回來,他們受到了束縛,所以不可能很快回來。《議和大綱》和詳細的條款必須在確保他們安全返回之前完成。外國公使和他們的政府正努力制定出一份和平的解決方案。(The Chinese Court has not yet returned, and it is in such bondage that it cannot soon return. The Joint Note and the detailed Protocol must be completed before their safe coming can be assured. The foreign ministers and their governments are faithfully working to bring about a peaceful settlement.)
這場圍困以及隨後發生的事情使各國人民之間的了解遠遠超出了書面歷史的記錄。 共同的悲傷與前所未有的共同興趣將他們聯繫在一起,一種寶貴的影響力已經消失。 在那些可怕的日子裡,所有國家和信仰的人都在共同祈禱。 而我們,通過愛,看到了愛的守護關懷。(The siege and what has since followed have given the nations knowledge of one another far beyond what written history can ever record. A common sorrow united them with a common interest unknown before, and an influence has gone out that is golden. The united prayers of all nations and creeds were with us in those awful days; and we, through love,saw love's protecting care. ) 戰爭意味著什麼,我現在理解了,它是自私的,毀滅性的,殘酷的。(What war means I can now comprehend. It is selfish, destructive, cruel.)
昨天,我們收到一隻裝滿信件的郵包。我們盡情滴享受著愛給予我們的盛宴!信!信!信!一隻小小的袋子怎麼裝得下這麼多的珍寶呢?這些信對我們來說真是盛宴,很多人都收到那些素昧平生的人的慰問信。