皇帝忍不住抬头看了一眼纪晓岚，没错这也的确是他担心的问题，英国人来了按照自己的脾气势必会带来工业革命，只是所谓的革命到底会革了什么呢？是千百年来中国的那些残留的腐朽还是自己的这张王位呢？
他永远记得在自己上高中时，老师要求画出来的那段关于工业革命的句子：资产阶级革命废除了封建制度，消除了不利于资本主义发展的种种束缚，为工业革命创造了重要的政治前提。提前用一种和平的方式引入英国人对清朝到底是好还是坏？皇帝犹豫了。
在欧洲各国轰轰烈烈工业革命的时候，大清若是不进步，那么等待着大清的就是鸦片战争，但若是进步了，等待着大清的很有可能就是内战，“英国人就如同一把剑，左右都是刀刃，纪晓岚，朕也不知道让他们进来到底是好还是坏。”至少……没有经过时间的考验，没有后人道功过，他也没有十足的把握，只是皇帝觉得清朝这艘大船在自己的掌握下已经逐渐偏离了未来属于它的航道。
作者有话要说：国书原文与清宫译文，整理发表如下：
Letter from King George III to the Emperor of China
译出英吉利国表文
His Most Sacred Majesty George the Third； by the Grace of God King of Great Britain； France and Ireland； Sovereign of the Seas； Defender of the Faith and so forth； To the Supreme Emperor of China Kien…long worthy to live tens of thousands and tens of thousands thousand years； sendeth Greeting。
英吉利国王热沃尔日敬奏中国大皇帝万万岁：热沃尔日第三世，蒙天主恩英吉利国大红毛及佛朗西依拜尔呢雅国王、海主，恭惟大皇帝万万岁，应该坐殿万万年。
The natural disposition of a great and benevolent Sovereign； such as is Your Imperial Majesty； whom Providence has seated upon a Throne for the good of Mankind； is； to watch over the peace and security of his domini翠¤； and to take pains for disseminating happiness； virtue and knowledge among his subjects； extending also the same beneficence with all the peaceful arts； as far as he is able； to the whole human race。
本国知道中国地方甚大，管的百姓甚多，大皇帝的心里长把天下的事情、各处的人民时时照管，不但中国地方，连外国的地方都要保护他。他们又都心里悦服，内外安宁。各国所有各样学问、各样技艺，大皇帝恩典都照管他们，叫他们尽心出力，又能长进生发、变通精妙。
Impressed with such sentiments from the beginning of Our Reign when We found Our People engaged in War We granted to Our enemies； after obtaining Victories over them in the four quarters of the World the blessings of Peace upon the most equitable conditi翠¤。 Since that period not satisfied with promoting the prosperity of Our own subjects in every respect； and beyond the example of any former times We have taken various opportunities of fitting out Ships and sending in them some of the most wise and learned of Our Own People； for the discovery of distant and unkown regi翠¤； not for the purpose of conquest； or of enlarging Our domini翠¤ which are already sufficiently extensive for all Our wishes； not for the purpose of acquiring wealth； or even of favoring the merce of Our Subjects； but for the sake of increasing Our knowledge of the habitable Globe； of finding out the various producti翠¤ of the Earth； and for municating the arts and forts of life to those parts where they were hitherto little known； and We have since sent vessels with the animals and vegetables most useful to Man； to Islands and places where it appeared they had been wanting。
本国早有心要差人来，皆因本境四周地方俱不平安，耽搁多时。如今把四面的仇敌都平服了，本境平安，造了许多大船，差了许多明白的人，漂洋到各处。并不是想要添自己的国土，自己的国土也够了，也不是为贪图买卖便宜，但为着要见识普天下各地方有多少处，各处事情物件可以彼此通融，别国的好处我们能得着，我们的好处别国也能得着。恐各处地方，我们有知道不全的，也有全不知道的。从前的想头要知道，如今蒙天主的恩可办成了，要把各处的禽兽、草木、土物各件都要知道，要把四方十界的物件，各国相互交易，大家都得便宜。是以长想着要将各国的风俗礼法明白了。
We have been still more anxious to enquire into the arts and manners of Countries where civilizati翠¤ has been perfected by the wise ordinances and virtuous examples of their Sovereigns thro a long series of ages； and above all； Our ardent wish had been to bee acquainted with those celebrated instituti翠¤ of Your Majesty’s populous and extensive Empire which have carried its prosperity to such a height as to be the admiration of all surrounding Nati翠¤ –
如今闻得各处惟有中国大皇帝管的地方，一切风俗礼法比别处更高，至精至妙，实在是头一处，各处也都赞美心服的。故此越发想念着来向化输诚。
And now that We have by prudence and Justice avoided the calamities of War into which discord and ambition have plunged most of the other Kingdoms of Europe； and that by engaging Our Allies in Hindostan to put an end to hostilities occasioned by the attack of an ambious Neighbour； even when it was in Our power to destroy him； We have the happiness of being at peace with all the World； no time can be so propitious for extending the bounds of friendship and benebolence； and for proposing to municate and receive those benefits which must result from an unreserved and amicable intercourse； between such great and civilzed Nati翠¤ as China and Great Britain。
此时不单大西洋都平安，就是小西洋红毛邻国的人，他没有理，同本国打仗，也都平复了。如今本国与各处全平安了，所以趁此时候，得与中国大皇帝进献表贡，盼望得些好处。
Many of Our subjects have also frequented for a long time past a remote part of Your Majesty’s domini翠¤ for the purpose of Trade。 No doubt； the interchange of modities between Nati翠¤ distantly situated tends to their mutual convenience； industry and wealth； as the blessings which the Great God of Heaven has conferred upon various soils and climates are thus distributed among his Creatures scattered over the surface of the Earth。
从前本国的许多人到中国海口来做买卖，两下的人都能得好处。
But such an intercourse requires to be properly conducted； so as that the new ers may not infringe the laws and Customs of the Country they visit； and that on the other hand they may be received on terms of hospitality and meet the Justice and protection due to Strangers。 We are indeed equally desirous to restrain Our Subjects from doing evil or even of shewing ill example in any foreign Country； as We are that ＇they＇ should receive no injury in it。
但两下往来，各处都有规矩，自然各守法度。惟愿我的人到各处去，安分守规矩，不叫他们生事。但人心不一样，如没有一个人严严管束他们，就恐不能保其不生事。
There is no method of effecting so good a purpose； but by the residence of a proper Person authorized by Us to regulate their conduct and to receive plaints against them whenever they should give occasion for any to be made against them； as well as any they might c翠¤ider as having just cause to make of ill treatment towards them。
By such means every misunderstanding may be prevented； every inconveniences removed； a firm and lasting friendship cemented and a return of mutual good offices secured between our respective Empires。
故此求与中国永远平安和好，必得派一我国的人，带我的权柄，住在中国地方，以便弹压我们来的人。有不是，罚他们，有委曲，亦可护他们。这样办法，可保诸事平安。
All these c翠¤iderati翠¤ have determined Us to depute an Embassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Your Court； and willing to make choice for this purpose of a Person truly worthy of representing Us and of appearing before Your August Presence We have fixed upon Our right trusty and well…beloved Cousin and Counsellor the Right Honorable George Lord Viscount Macartney； Baron of Lissanoure and one of Our most honorable Privy Council of Our Kingdom of Great Britain； Knight of the most honorable order of the Bath and of the most ancient and royal order of the White Eagle； and Fellow of Our Royal Society of London for the promotion of natural knowledge； a Nobleman of high rank and quality； of great virtue； wisdom and ability； who has filled many important offices in the State of trust and honor； has already worthily represented Our Person in an Embassy to the Court of Russia； and has governed with mildness； justice and success； several of Our most c翠¤iderable possessi翠¤ in the Eastern and western Parts of the World； and appointed to the Government General of Bengal； to be Our Embassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Your Imperial Majesty with credentials under Our Great Seal of Our Kingdoms and Our Sign Manual； to whom We entreat Your Majesty to grant a gracious reception； as well as a favorable attention to his Representati翠¤。
我如今为这些缘故，特差一个人到中国来照管这些事情。要得一妥当明白的人，又有才学，又有权柄，又要到得大皇帝跟前对答上来的。故此我所派的热沃尔日吗哩格德呢公哩萨诺吧嚨，是本国王的亲戚，忠信良善，议国事的大臣，身上带的两个恩典的凭据，从许多博学人里挑出来一个大博学的人。他从前办过多少大事，又到俄罗斯国出过差，又管过多少地方办事，又到过小西洋本噶拉等处属国地方料理过事情。这就是此次派的正贡使，到大皇帝驾前办事。因他能办差使，表文上有本国的印信为凭。所以叫他将表文呈进。在大皇帝驾前说话，如自己说话一般。如今求大皇帝见他，即同见我，与他说话，即同与我说话一样，施恩典看待他。
And in order to avoid every possibility of interruption in this amicable munication which we wish to establish and maintain with Your sublime Person and Court； and which might happen after the departure of Our said Embassador Extraordinary whose presence may be necessary to Our Affairs elsewhere or in case of his death or ocassional absence from Your Capital； We have appointed Our trusty and well beloved Sir George Staunton； Bart。； honorary Doctor of Laws of Our University of Oxford； and Fellow of Our Royal Society of London for the promoti翠¤ of natural knowledge； whom We have appointed Our Secretary of Embassy under the direction of Our Embassador as a Gentleman of wisdom and knowledge who hath already served us with fidelity and zeal as a Member of Our honorable Council and Colonel of Militia in some of Our Domini翠¤ in the West Indies； and appointed by Us Our Attorney General in the same； and hath since exercised with ability and success the Office of missioner for treating and making Peace with Tippoo Sultaun； one of the most c翠¤iderable Princes of Hindostan； to be also Minister Plenipotentiary to Your August Person； with Credentials likewise under Our Great Seal； and for whom； in case of the death departure or occasional absence of Our said Embassador Extraordinary； We entreat in like manner Your Majesty’s gracious reception and attention to his Representati翠¤ in Our name。
我又恐正贡使到正贡使那里或有别的缘故，所以又派一副贡使临时替他，也与正贡使一样。热沃尔日寻沃纳多噹东，这也是个体面人，他的博学会办事，与正贡使一样的。故此从前派他在海岛平复过许多的事情，又到小西洋痕都斯坦国与那第博苏渥尔当王讲和过事。因他能办这些事，能出力，故此派他同去，预备着好替正贡使办事。再求大皇帝也与正贡使一样恩待他。
We rely on Your Imperial Majesty’s wisdom and Justice and general benevolence to Mankind so c翠¤picuous in Your long and happy reign that You will please to allow Our Ambassador and Representative at Your Court to have the opportunity of contemplating the example of Your virtues and to obtain such information of Your celebrated instituti翠¤ as will enable him to enlighten Our People on his return； He； on Our part being directed to give； as far as Your Majesty shall please to desire it； a full and free munication of any art； science； or observation； either of use or curiosity； which the industry ingenuity and experience of Europeans may have enabled them to acquire：
如今我国知道大皇帝圣�