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英國使團提出要求在中國派駐英國使節，遭到拒絕。乾隆命英國使團在回國前縱穿中國，以令夷人瞭解&ldo;天朝盛世&rdo;的&ldo;富強&rdo;。馬戛爾尼回國後，根據他縱穿中國，對社會階層的所見所聞，在提交給政府的報告書中作出了結論：中國科學極度落後，人民普遍貧窮，軍隊不像軍隊，腐敗處處可見。他指出，&ldo;清政府的政策跟自負有關，它很想凌駕各國，但目光極為短淺，只知道防止人民智力進步&rdo;，同時預言&ldo;韃靼王朝將繼續壓制人民，並將發生變亂&rdo;。 乾隆命英使縱穿中國，本是為讓夷人震驚&ldo;天朝上國&rdo;的&ldo;富強&rdo;，但是，認真的英國人馬戛爾尼並沒有被清廷官府豪華的排場所迷惑，對所謂&ldo;乾隆盛世&rdo;得出了否定的結論。他歸國後的報告，使英國開始掂出了清帝國的斤兩。這裡，有興趣的朋友可以詳細看一看乾隆對喬治三世的答覆

乾隆致英王喬治三世書（漢英對照）

奉天承運皇帝敕諭英咭利國王知悉，諮爾國王遠在重洋，傾心向化，特遣使恭齎表章，航海來廷，叩祝萬壽，並備進方物，用將忱悃。

you, o kg, live beyond the nfes of any seas, nevertheless, ipelled by your huble desire to partake of the benefits of our civilization, you have dispatched a ission respectfully bearg your orial your envoy has crossed the seas and paid his respects at y urt on the anniversary of y birthday to show your devotion, you have al sent offergs of your untrys produce

朕披閱表文，詞意肫懇，具見爾國王恭順之誠，深為嘉許。所有齎到表貢之正副使臣，念其奉使遠涉，推恩加禮。已令大臣帶領瞻覲，賜予筵宴，疊加賞賚，用示懷柔。其已回珠山之管船官役人等六百餘名，雖未來京，朕亦優加賞賜，俾得普霑恩惠，一視同仁。

i have pered your orial: the earnest ters which it is uched reveal a respectful huility on your part, which is highly praiseworthy nsideration of the fact that your abassador and his deputy have e a long way with your orial and tribute, i have shown the high favour and have allowed the to be troduced to y presence to anifest y dulnce, i have entertaed the at a ba and ade the nuro gifts i have al caed presents to be forwarded to the naval ander and six hundred of his officers and n, although they did not e to pek