The Press.
London, England, 1858-02-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS, FEBRUARY 27, 1858.

The longest chase must have an end. At last the guides
called a halt at the door of a third-rate yamun, which
appeared closed and deserted. The doors were forced
open, and the bluejackets were all over the place in a
moment. It was evident that they were now on the
right scent. The place was full of hastily-packed hag.
gage. Mandanns were running about—yes, running
about—and at last one came forward and delivered him-
self up as Yeh. But he was not fat enough. Parkes
pushed him aside, and, hurrying on, they at last spied
a very fat man contemplating the achievement of getting
over the wall at the extreme rear of the yamun. Cap-
tain Key and Commodore Elliot's coxswain rushed for-
ward. Key took the fat gentleman round the waist, and
the coxswain twisted the august tail of the Imperial Com-
missioner round his fiat. There was no mistake now—
this was the veritable Yeh. Instinctively the blue-
jackets felt it must be Yeh, and they tossed up their hats
and gave three rattling cheers.
Yeh is by no means the hero people thought him. He
trembled violently when he was taken; he strenuously
denied his identity; and it was not till Mr. Parkes had
several times had the satisfaction and triumph of assuring
his old enemy of his personal safety that he grew com-
posed. As soon, however, as he felt himself safe all his
arrogance returned. He posed himself magnificently in
his chair. He laughed at the idea of giving up his seals,
and also at the idea of his being led away. He would
wait there to receive the men Elgin and Gros. They
searched all his packages for papers, and found among
other things the original ratifications of the treaties with
England, France, and America; they were, as he inti-
mated, too unimportant as documents to be sent to Pekin
This search lasted three hours. The news of the capture'
had been sent to head quarters; Colonel Hooker was
despatched with a strong body of Marines, and Yell
again trembled as he entered his chair a captive.

The following personal description of Yeh is given
by the Timis correspondent :
It is a huge, sensual, fiat face. The profile is nearly
straight from the eyebrow to the chin. He wears his Man•
darin cap, his red button, and his peacock's tail, but in
other respects has the ordinary quilted blue tunic and loose
breeches, the universal winter wear of this part of China.
He seats himself in an armchair, and some inferior Man-
darins who have pressed in after him stand round and
make him a little court. The officers who fill the room
are passing to and fro upon their own duties, and of course
refrain from staring at him. Yet no one can look upon
that face without feeling that he is in the presence of an
extraordinary man. There is a ferocity about that restless,
roving eye which almost makes you shrink from it. It is
the expression of a fierce and angry, but not courageous
animal. While the long nails of his dirty fingers are
trembling against the table, and his eyes are ranging into
every part of the room in search of every face, his pose of
dignity is too palpably simulated to inspire respect, even if
you could forget his deeds. But no oue can look upon
him with contempt.

Yeh and the other prisoners were kept in close cus-
tody that night. The next day they were visited by
the admirals and two generals :
The two admirals and the general now arrive, and,
after some salutations, which were naturally more em-
barrassing to the captors than the captive, the English
admiral inquired whether Mr. Cooper, sen., was still
living. You will recollect the circumstances under which
this gentleman was kidnapped. Yeh burst forth into a
loud laugh, which sounded to every one present as though
he were recollecting and enjoying the recollection of this
poor man's sufferings. When he had finished his cachin•
nations he replied, " I can't recollect about this man, but
I will make inquiries to-morrow, and if he can be found
you shall have him."
The disgust was at that moment so great, for many in
the room had known and esteemed poor Cooper, that if
the audience could have decided the matter, Yeh would
have been 'aken out and hanged.
He was told that his answer was not courteous, and he
replied that it was, at any rate, the only answer he should
give.
The admiral now asked whether he had any other
prisoners alive in his custody. He appeared to have
misunderstood the question, for he replied " Those
eighteen men were my prisoners of war. I took a great
deal of trouble about those persons to have them pro-
perly buried. I can show you their graves at this day."
" What eighteen men were they r asked the admiral,
" and when were they taken ?"
" How can I tell you who they were, and how can
remember when they were taken? You were fighting
from October till January, when you were beaten off and
eapelle 1, and your ships ran away. It was during this
time."
It was evidently not consistent with the dignity of
the admirals and general to prolong this conversation.
After a moment's consultation they directed Mr. Parkes to
assure " his Excellency " that every care would be taken
for his persona safety and convenience, but that ho would
be removed for the present on board ship.

" I don't see any necessity for going on board ship," re-
plied his Excellency, " I can do everything that requires
to be ddne just as well here." But when Yeh observed
that the admirals were grave and impassible, and that they
were about to retire, his eyes roved round thel room again
in terror, and he added, " Well, I will accept your invita-
tion. la fact, I shall be very glad to have au opportunity
of seeing one of your ships."
It was more than an hour, however, and after delays so
frivolous that I cannot describe them, that he was at last
fairly seated in his chair. As he progressed, with his
escort of Marines, along the walls to the landing-place,
he met a gang of our Commissariat coolies. I am told
that these fellows put down their loads and saluted him
with a roar of laughter. This was too inueh. He gnashed
his teeth with rage and Made a threatening gesture.