The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-06 00:00:00

SUN, LONDON' THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 6, 1859,

considerably less than that under the command of Sir
Michael Seymour last year.
No person can pretend to speak positively as to the inten-
tions of the Chinese ; but we know they urged the modi-
fication of one clause in the treaty, on the ground that it
was extorted by force, and that there was no opportunity
for discussion afforded at Tien-tsin. The same argument
would held good for the elimination of every other article
which may be disagreeable to them ; and as I see that the
Imperial commissioners, instead of going to Pekin to pre-
pare for the reception of the foreign envoys, have returned
to Shanghae, I do not doubt that they are prepared to pro-
pose further modifications in the treaty, and to raise diffi •
culties as to my proper reception at Pekin, unless they find
us determined and able to carry our point.

No. 5,
LORD J. RU ELL TO MR. BRUCE.
Re.q.93, Office, July 12, 1859.
. .

Sir,—l have to acquaint you that her Majesty's govern-
ment approve the note which you addressed to the Chief
Secretary of State, Kweiliang, of which a copy is enclosed
in your dispatch of the 21st of May, and in which you an-
nounced to him your arrival in China as her Majesty's
envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to tlie
Emperor of China.—l am, &c., (Signed) J. RUSSELL.

No. 6.
MR. BRUCE TO THE EARL OF MALNIESBURY.
(Received July 31.)
Victoria, llong-Kong, May 30, 1859.

My Lord,—l have the honour to enclose a report of a
conversation between the interpreter, Mr. Hart, at Canton,
and a Chinese who has just returned from Pekin, represent-
ing the disposition of the Emperor as most hostile. A
rumour is also current here that the Russiansestablished at
the capital have been massacred.
On the other hand, it appears that a certain Ta-ki, a
Chinese merchant at Shanghae, who deals largely with
foreigners, and who, from his intimacy, wich the intendant
at that place and his connection with the north, is generally
well informed, states that the Chinese Government will not
offer any opposition to our visit to Pekin.
I do not consider that my plans ought to be influenced
in any degree by these reports. If any inference is to be
drawn from them it is this, that there is a strong party op-
posed to the concessions to foreigners, and a party resigned
to them as inevitable ; that the triumph of the one or of the
other is possible, and will depend on the moral effect pro-
duced by the cordial union of foreign powers, and on the
fear of a fresh collision inspired by the demonstration of an
imposing force in support of our demands.—l have, &c.
(Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.

heads of the war party as commissioners, as he would not
undertake the task of bringing matters to a peaceful conclu-
sion on such terms. To this unusual act of independence
the Emperor appended the remark, "his (Ho's) obstinacy
will involve him in calamity." The paper to which I refer
was obtained by Mr. Parkes, and a precis of it forwarded
to the Foreign-office in the month of January.
It is clear, therefore, that a war party exists, and that
the probability of resistance is a contingency not to be lost
sight of; and Admiral Hope, before leaving, addressed a
letter to Sir Charles Van Straubenzee, requesting him to
send up a second battalion of marines to be at hand should
active operations become necessary.
These steps seem to have alarmed the commissioners, for
on the 13th I received the enclosed reply from them,
which, in its explicit and clear style contrasts favourably
with the vague and puerile tone of their former letters.
As this correspondence has been forwarded to Pekin, I hope
that there, as well as here; it will produce a conviction that
we are not to be trifled with,

Your lordship will observe, that though their reply is sa-
tisfactory as to the disposition of the Chinese Government,
and its readiness to exchange ratifications, it makes no
allusion to the interview with the Emperos, and to the pre-
sentation of the letter of credence to him. I gather from
this omiction that the Emperor has not instructed them on
this material point ; and as the question of ceremonial
ought, in my opinion, to be settled before we leave Tien.
tsin for Pekin, it is clear that it could not have been dis-
cussed here, involving as it does the necessity of taking the
pleasure of the Emperor upon It, without the risk of losing
the season altogether for the visit to Pekin.
I must observe, my lord, that in order to effect the
presentation in person of my credentials to the Emperor,
and to deter the Chinese from their hitherto invariable
practice of subjecting foreign envoys to petty slights and
insults, which lower them and tho governments they
represent in the eyes of the people, I must suceeed in in-
spiring the Emperor and his counsellors with a conviction
that what I have once demanded I will exact, and with a
wholesome dread of my readiness and power to resort to
force, if my demands are not complied with. The notes I
have addressed to the commissioners, as well as my general
bearing, are, I feel certain, faithfully reported to the Em-
peror, and with this conviction I have purposely assumed
the attitude and tone best calculated to induce him to sub-
mit quietly to very unpalateable proposals, by impressing
upon him that these concessions are inevitable unless he is
prepared to draw the sword.
The considerable force collected by the admiral will tend
to strengthen this impression, and it is the more necessary
at this timo as the Chinese are aware of the absence of any
French force from China.

Wlroughout many generations of our intercourse with
China we postponed considerations of national dignity to
our commercial interests, and the statement "that the bar-
barians care for nothing but trade," appears again and again
in their official papers, as the key to our character, and the
principle by acting on which we are " soothed and con-
trolled." It is essential in dealing on this occasion with
those questions of force and ceremony so important to the
Chinese mind, that we should disabuse them of this notion,
and I believe that tenacity and firmness on these points
will, by elevating our national character in the estimation
of the people and of the go'-ernment, and by gaining their
respect, if not their goodwill, facilitate greatly hereafter
our relations with China.

For this reason, when the commissioners the other day
conveyed directly to me that they were ready to arrange to
my satisfaction the question of the Canton indemnity, I
took no notice of the overture.

ought to add that Mr. Ward, the Minister of the
United States, has insisted on exchanging the ratifications
of his treaty at Pekin, and that ho is prepared to accom-
pany us to the north ; he has, moreover, advanced the
same ciaim to an interview with the Emperor. Of the in-
tentions of the Russian envoy I have learned nothing as 3 et.
It only remains for me to add that I purpose leaving this
to-morrow morning for the Peiho, my French and Ameri-
can colleagues following the next day.—l have, &c.
(Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BDUCR.

* This is a free translation of the Chinese, representing
the English of Lord Elgin's dispatch, of which there is not
a copy at hand.
1- And consequently here.
t This is, I think, a feeler regarding the extent to which
our former relations are modified. The Chir.ese would pre-
fer continually to regard them as merely commercial; the
Chinese Superintendent of Trade as Foreign Minister.—
T.W.

Enclosure 3 in No. 8.
COMNIISSIONERS KWEILLIANG, IiWASIINA7 TO MR.

. ,
BRUCE.
(Translation.)
Kwei, &c., Hwa, &c., Hoo 817 e., Twau, &c., Imperial
commissioners, make a conunTanication in reply.
On the 25th instant, 27th May) the commissioners re-
ceived Mr. Bruce's despatch of the 14th instant (16th May),
apprising them that her Britannic Majesty had done him
the honour to appoint him her envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary to the Court of Pekin.
The commissioners were greatly gratified at this intelli-
gence. They are of opinion, however, that an affair of so
grave importance to both nations as an exchange of treaties
cannot with propriety be hurried over. The commissioners,
having the fullest confidence in his predecessor, Lord Elgin,
when he engaged them to remain at Shanghae to consider
all matters not disposed of, were unable to return to Pekin,
and if Mr. Bruce now proceeds direct to Tien-tsin, the corn -
missioners, having to travel by land, cannot reckon upon
arriving there so soon, Indeed, taking into consideration
the hindrance to be expected from the weather on their land
journey, this will certainly occupy two months and more,
as Mr. Bruce, they imaginr, must be well aware.

As to thepreparation of vessels, vehicles, &c., atTien-tsin*,
to which the letter under acknowledgment refers, and the
selection of a building in proper order (for Mr. Bruce) to
reside in with the good understanding now subsisting be-
tween the two nations, the arrangements will be, of course,
as libaral as it is suggested they should be.t But the com-
missioners cannot arrive in so short a time, nor can any of
these things be done at a moment's notice.

There is another consideration : not only will there be no
one to receive Mr. Bruce at Tien-tsin, as it is impossible
for the commissioners to be there against his arrival, but
(there will be no one either to exchange the ratifications) :
the exchange of the treaties must be effected by the hand of
the commissioners, and by their hand alone—no one can
act as their substitutes ; and believing, consequently, that
it would be better for Mr. Bruce to defer his departure from
Shanghae for a while, than to be kept waiting at the other
place, where, after midsummer, the heat is excessive, they
feel bound to request him, in the first place, on his arrival
at Shanghae, to name a day for their interview with them,
and, in the second, to appoint some other time for proceed-
ing. This, it seems to them, would be a more satisfactory
arrangement. The commissioners are induced to put for-
ward this proposition by the importance they attach to the
question before them, and (their desire for) the establishment
of friendly relations to endure for evermore. Mr. Bruce's
thorough acquaintance with the ways of the world (or the
motives of men) is such that they feel sure he w;11 appre-
ciate their feelings, and they hope that he will at once reply
to them.

A necessary communication addressed to the Hon. F.
Bruce, &c.

Wien-fang, 9th year, 4th moon, 26th day (May 28, 1859)
(Received June 6, 1859.)

(Enclosure 4 in No. 8.)
MR. BRUCE TO COMMISSIONER KIVEILIANG.

The undersigned, &c., begs to acknowledge the receipt
of the letter addressed to him by their Excellencies the Im-
perial Commissioners Kweiliang, Hwashana, Ho Kwei-
tsing, and Twau Ching-shih, in reply to that sent by him
to his Excellency Kweiliang, Chief Secretary of State.
The undersigned must remind his Excellency Kweiliang
that the treaty of Tien-tsin, signed on the 26th of June last,
provides that the ratifications shall be exchanged at the
capital within a year of that date ; and the Imperial
commissioners themselves admit that on the 30th of
March last they were apprised by the Earl of Elgin that
the undersigned was on his. way to China for the pur-
pose of fulfilling his engagement. The commissioners
were, at the same time, made aware that the Earl of
Elgi a was returning home, consequently that he would not
revisit Shanghae. Notwithstanding this intelligence, they
have thought proper to remain at Shanghae till within a
month of the time appointel for the exchange of ratifica-
tions, alleging, as a reason for so doing, that various details
connected with the execution of the treaty had been only
in part discussed by the Earl of Elgin, while they de-
clare that they are the only authorities by whom the ex-
change of the ratified treaties at Pekin could be effected.
They now write to inform the undersigned that their jour-
ney to Pekin will occupy above two months—that is to say,
that they cannot reach the capital for upwards of a month
after the day by treaty appointed, that there will be no ono
to receive the undersigned at Tien -tsin, and no one to ex-
change the ratifications at Pekin. They accordingly re-
quest the undersigned to delay his departure from Shanghae.
The undersigned is determined, that, so far as it rests
with him, no stipulation of the treaty shall be violated.
The exchange of the ratifications is a ceremony which re-
cords in the most solemn form that the new treaty is the
rule henceforth to be observed in conducting the intercourse
of the two nations. And as the treaty admits of no altera-
tion or modification, the undersigned cannot allow that the
period fixed for the exchange be made at all dependent on
arrangements necessary to carry certain of its details into
execution.

It is with regret that the undersigned finds at the very
outset of a mission sent by her Britannic Majesty as evi-
dence of her desire for peaceful relations, that he is met, not
as he had a right to expect—with a cordial and frank invi-
tation to the capital—but with delays and hesitations, ill-
calculated to cement a good understanding. The under-
signed will not, however, swerve in the least from the course
he has laid down in his letter of the 13th ult. He is re-
solved to proceed forthwith to Pekin, there to exchange the
ratifications of the treaty, and to deliver in person the letter
entrusted to his charge by his gracious Sovereign to his Im-
perial Majesty, to whom it is addressed, nor will he quit
the capital until satisfied that effect will be given, without
reserve, to every provision of the treaty of Tien-tsin.

The undersigned intends no discourtesy to the Imperial
commissioners, but he must, under these circumstances,
positively decline any interview with them at this place.
His resolution to proceed to Pekin without delay is in-
flexible.

It is at the same time his duty to warn his excellency
K weiliang that he is prepared to insist on a reception befitting
the dignity of the nation he represents, and that any failure
in this respect will be attended with the most serious conse-
quences to the Imperial governmeat.—The undersigned, &c.
(Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.
Shanghae, June 8, 1859.

Enclosure 5 in No. 8.
MR. BRUCE TO COMMISSIONER KWEILIANG.
The undersigned, &c., had the honour to address a letter
to the Chief Secretary of State, Kweiliang, upon the Bth
inst. He has received no reply to this, and he observes
that neither his excellency nor his colleagues the Imperial
commissioners, who have informed him that it is through
their hands alone that the ratifications of the treaty can
-pass, are, to all appearance, making any effort to reach Pekin
by the day on which it is by treaty agreed the ratifications
shall be exchanged. He begs, therefore, to point out to
them that there are lying in this harbour several steamers,
one or two of them flying the Chinese flag, by the employ-
ment of which it is perfectly within their power to accom-
plish their journey within the appointed time.
Admiral Hope, the naval commander in chief, has started
for the mouth of the Peiho with his squadron, charged to
advise the local authorities of the immediate approach of
the undersigned and his colleague, M. de Bourboulon, the
Minister of France.

The undersigned, before leaving Shanghae, begs again
to impress upon his excellency Kweiliang that his proceed-
ing is in strict accordance with the treaty provision, and
he throws upon the Chinese government the entire re-
sponsibility of any consequences that may arise from its
vielation.—The undersigned, &C.
(Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.
Shanghae, June 11, 1859.

Enclosure 6 in No. 8.
MR. MID CE TO REAR-ADMIRAL ROPE.

Shanghae, June 11, 1859.

Sir,—The communications I have received from the Im-
perial commissioners do not, I regret to say, justify me in
assuming that the Chinese Government has resolved to re-
ceive my visit to Pekin in a conciliatory spirit. There is
manifestly a desire to treat this visit, not as the exercise of
Our undoubted privilege under treaty, but as an exceptional
case, the various steps of which are to be minutely arranged
at this place before we are to be permitted to proceed to the
north ; and not satisfied with the interminable discussions
to which such a course would necessarily lead, the commis-
sioners propose further to enter upon the details necessary
for carrying into effect the provisions of the treaty. Their
letters breathe throughout the old spirit of jealousy and
isolation.

It is not consistent with my instructions, nor with . the
express stipulations of the treaty that I should agree to such
proposals, nor do I see how it would be possible, within any
reasonable time, to settle, at this distance from Pekin, ques-
Hong of ceremonial which affect the Emperor personally,
and on which his pleasure will have to be taken.
I am satisfied, on looking over the correspondence, and
particularly by a reference to the Earl of Elgin's last letter
to the commissioners on leaving China, that they cannot
allege, with any show of reason, that they have prolonged
their stay here at his request ; and however much I regret
the difficulties that may arise out of their absence from the
capital at this conjuncture, I do not think that I could de-
part from the programme contained in sny first letter to
them, without involving myself later in more serious com-
plications, and without reviving hopes in the mind of the
Chinese Government that by procrastination and discussions
they may succeed ultimately in giving to this visit to Pekin
a character, in the eyes of the Chinese people, at variance
w th t hose principles of equality and unrestricted intercourse
which it was one of the main objects of the treaty to ensure.
I have therefore informed them that I cannot accede to
their request to remain here, and that I shall take my de-
parture for the north without delay, in order to effect the
exchange of the ratifications and the presentation of my
letter.and credentials to the Emperor.
At the same time I am anxious to give to the Imperial
Government the opportunity, if it be so disposed, of repair-
ing the neglect of the commissioners, and of receiving me
in a friendly manner. You will precede my arrival at the

* The suitable means of transmission spoken of in Mr.
Bruce's letter of the 16th May.
t Lit. It is certainly proper that, according to this, or
after this fashion (China should be) liberal. There is a cer-
tain amount of patronage in the expression,

Peiho, and I beg that you will have the goodness to in-
form the officer in charge of the forts of the approach of the
ministers of England and France on a friendly mission,
and inquire whether orders have been given to facilitate
their progress to Tien- tsin. Should the reply be in the
negative, I would suggest that they should be called upon
to transmit the intelligence to Pekin, warning them at the
same time that if a reply is not received within a certain
fixed period the Imperial Government will be held respon-
sible for the consequences.
By the time your message reaches Pekin the government
will be in possession of the correspondence between his
Excellency Kweiliang and the foreign plenipotentiaries,
and will be informed accurately of the objects and scope of
the visit to the capital. M. de Bourboulon agrees with me
as to the course to be adopted, and I am authorised by him
lo request that you will make the above communication in
his name as well as in mine.

I intend leming Shanghae on or about the 15th of this
month.—l have, &e.,
(Signed)

FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.

Enclosure 7 in No. 8.

COMMISSIONERS KWEILIANG, HWASHNA., &C., TO MR.
BRUCE.
(Translation.)

Kwei, &c., Hwa. &c., Ho, &c., Twau, &c., Imperial
Commissioners, make a communication in reply.

On receipt of Mr. Bruce's letter of the Bth instant,
acquainting the commissioners that his determination to pro-
ceed forthwith to Pekin to exchange the ratifications of the
treaty was unalterable, the commissioners feeling that it
would not be correct that the day appointed for that pur-
pose, which was near at hand, should be passed, after due
deliberation decided that the only course open to them was
to represent the matter fully to his Majesty the Emperor,
and to request him to be pleased specially to select some
high officer who might proceed to Tien. tsin to make ar-
rangements for Mr. Bruce's reception. Their memorial
was sent forward at the rate of 6001 i (200 miles) a day* and
would arrive at the latest in some eight or nine days at
Pekin, so that it might be assumed that when Mr. Bruce
and the ministers of France and America reached Tien-tsin,
the Imperial commissioners could not fail to have arrived
as well, and so the exchange of treaties in Pekin would be
effected by the time fixed for the purpose.
The commissioners were in the act of addressing Mr.
Bruce to the above effect, when they received his second
letter dated the 11th inst., expressing a wish that they
should proceed by steamer. They were not unaware that a
steamer would be a most expeditious (means of conveyance),
but they have not received his Majesty's commands (to
avail themselves of it), and they could on no account pre-
sume so to proceed on their own motion. Were they now
to make the proposition the subject of a memorial (so far
from any advantageous result from such a course), there
would be, on the contrary, time lost in the marching and
countermarching. It behoves them, therefore, in obe-
dience to his Majesty's commands, to return post-haste to
the capital. As they had prayed his Majesty to detach a
high officer to act as agent in the matter, Mr. Bruce will
be certainly enabled to arrive at his destination by the time
appointed. With the peaceful relations now established
between the two nations nothing certainly will be done that
is not in conformity with the provisions of the treaty, and
the commissioners accordingly pray Mr. Bruce at once to
put away all misgiving on the subject. There is no need
for him to feel auy anxiety. They would wish that on
his arrival at the mouth of the Tien-tsin river (the Peiho),
he should anchor his vessels of war outside the bar, and
then, without much baggage and with a moderate retinue,
proceed to the capitol for the exchange of the
treaties. His mission being a pacific one (or, as he comes
speaking peace), his treatment by the Government of
China will not fail to be in every way courteous ; and it is
the sincere wish 'cf the commissioners that relations of
friendship may be from this time forth consolidated, and
that on each side confidence may be felt in the good faith
and justice of the other.

A necessary communication, addressed to the Hon. F.
Bruce, C. 8., &c.

Hien-fung, 9th year, sth moon, 12th day.

(12th of June, 1859.)
(Received June 13, 8 a.m.)

No. 9.
MR. BRUCE TO THE EARL OF MALMESBURY.
(Received Sept. 13.)
Off the Peiho River, July 5, 1859.
My Lord,—l have the honour to state that four days
after the receipt of his excellency Kweiliang's letter, I left
Woosung for the north, taking the :Coromandel in tow, in
order to have an unarmed vessel in which to ascend the
river.

On arriving at the islands of Sha-100-tien, the rendez-
vous agreed on with the admiral, I found the squadron no
longer there, and proceeded to the mouth of the Peiho on
the 20th June, where the ships were assembled, the admiral
having sent the gunboats over the bar, on account of the
heavy sea running outside.
Admiral Hope reached the islands of Sha-100-tien on the
16th, and on the 17th he left the anchorage in the Fury,
attended by two gunboats, to announce the coming of the
ministers of England and France to the authorities at the
mouth of tho river. The Fury and gunboats anchored out-
side the bar, and Commander Commerell, with Mr. Mor-
gan, the interpreter, went over the bar in the Fury's gig, to
deliver the message. They were not allowed to land by
the armed rabble on the bank, and when Captain Corn-
merell asked for an interview with the authorities, they de-
clared that there was no authority, civil or military, on the
spot; that the barriers in the river had been made by the
people at their own expense, not against us but against the
rebels ; and that the garrison consisted of militia only. The
chief spokesman, who called himself an engineer or clerk of
the works, howeuer, offered to take any message to Tien-
tsin and bring back an answer.

On receiving the report of what had passed, Admiral
Hope sent Capt. Commerell in again to inform them of the
arrival of the ministers, and to request that a passage should
be opened within three days to allow of their proceeding by
the river to Tien,tsin.

To this they replied that they had despatched a mes-
senger to Tien-tsin to notify our arrival, and that a passage
should be opened within the required time. Admiral Hope
then returned to Sha-100-tien.

Gn the 18th the squadron left for Peiho, and the gun-
boats anchored inside the bar on account of the heavy sea
running outside ; and on the 20th, the day of my arrival,
Admiral Hope proceeded to the forts to see whether steps
had been taken to obtain a passage for us, and to deliver a
letter he had addressed to the intendant of Tien-tsin, stating
that the squadron would remain at the anchorage during
our visit to Pekin, and requesting that a market should be
opened for the sale of fresh provisions, and arrangements
made for landing of officers and men in such numbers as
might not be inconvenient to the inhabitants of Takoo.
The same rabble came down to the bank, and opposing
the landing, one of them threatened Mr. Morgan with a
drawn sword when he jumped on shore. They again denied
the presence of any authority, and asserted that they were
militia, acting on their own responsibility. Instead of re-
moving the obstales :they had further closed the passages,
and when taxed with this breach of their promise denied
that they had ever offered to remove the barriers.
To give more colour to their assertions of the absence of
any authority they hoisted no flags on the forts, and no sol-
dier was visible during the time tho squadron was lying there.
It is not difficult to understand the motives of the Chinese
Government in thus holding aloof, contrary to their usual
custom, from all communication with the squadron and
foreign ministers. We know from the Pekin gazettes that
during the last eight months they have been studiously ad-
ding to their defences along this coast, and that Sunko-lin-
sin, a Mongol Prince, the head of the war-party, and dis-
tinguished by his successful defence of Tien- tsin against the
rebels in 1853, has been appointed commander-in-chief of
this district. It is evident that the Government were pre-
paring for our arrival, and had instructed the garrison to
represent themselvee as a militia post, and to deny the pre-
sence of any constituted authority, by which arrangement
they hoped to ilreserve anattitude whiCh would enable them
to take advantage of his success if he were able to keep us
out of the river, or to- disavow his proceedings if he failed
in his efforts to do so.

After a long and anxious consultation M. de Bourboulon
and I decided that we ought to adhere strictly to the course
laid down in our letters to liweiliang at Shanghae, and that
we should insist, as much for the sake of our future commu-
nications with Pekin as for the successful accomplishment of
the missionnow confided to us, on the right of using the river
as the natural highway to the capital. If, in accordance with
Kweilianes memorial,ahigh officer had been deputed to meet
us at this place, bearing a friendly invitation from the Empe-
ror, and satisfactory assurances as to our personal reception
by him, we were quite prepared to have proceeded as far as
Tein-tsin with only such vessels as were required for the ac-
commodation of ourselves and suite,, for I do not think that
in any case we ought to have allowed our right to choose the
only expeditious and commodious route to the capital to be
questioned. But on considering the late proceedings of the
Chinese Government, the persistency of Kweiliang and his
colleagues in remaining in the south instead of returning to
Pekin, the proposal to effect the ratifications at Shanghae,the
attempts to delay our progress to the north by raising fresh
discussions on the treaty, and finally, the hostile and discour-
teous reception we have met with here, we were forced to con-
clude that the difficult task lay before us of carrying the trea-
ties into full operation, and of ensuring a reception at Pekin
on terms to the last deg,Tee mortifying to Chinese arrogance
while the Eu•peror is in the hands of a party averse to con-
cession and relying on their preparations to resist us.
Every incident corroborated the information we obtained
at Shanghae from a Chinese authority, reported to yourlord-
ship in my despatch of the 11th ult., that the Emperor would
not accede to what we were instructed to demand, except
under the pressure of fear,
-The question then for consideration was, how were we to
work sufficiently on the fears of the Emperor to induce him
to give way ? The experience of last year showed that the
presence of a squadron in the gulf was not enough to effect
that object, while it equally showed that the opening of
Pekin would follow on the accessibility of Tien-tsin to our
ships being established, We could hardly be mistaken in
inferring from the studied manner in which the Chinese
officials held aloof from all communication with us, and
from the repeated assertion of no authority being present

* This is the form of words for the fastest rate of mail-
dispatch but one,