马相伯与1887年华美银行事件

Ma Xiangbo and the Event of Chinese-American Bank in 1887

1887年李鸿章曾试图与美国费城辛迪加合办华美银行,这是近代中国政府第一次尝试与外商合办银行。马相伯作为李鸿章的特使,亲赴美国订立合办银行合同。该事件也是马相伯由仕而隐,转而投身教育事业的转折点。既有研究对马相伯此段经历的论述皆极为简略。马相伯晚年回忆由于相隔久远,不仅时间有误,而且事实多有矛盾之处。19世纪英美报纸对该事件多有报道,不仅保留了大量宝贵的书信史料,而且清晰记录了马相伯在美经历,对于订正马相伯年谱和华美银行事件经过有重要意义。

In 1887,Li Hongzhang tried to co-sponsor the Chinese-American Bank with Philadelphia Syndicate, which was the first attempt by the Chinese government in modern times to establish a joint bank with foreign investors.Ma Xiangbo,as Li Hongzhang's special envoy,went to the United States to conclude a joint banking contract.The event also marked a turning point for Ma to leave politics and turn to education.The memory of Ma Xiangbo in his late years contained many errors and contradictions.However,the 19th-century American and British newspapers reported this event in detail,not only preserving a lot of valuable letters,but also clearly documenting Ma Xiangbo's activities in the United States.These reports significantly revised Ma's chronicle.