總理各國事務衙門
The Chinese Emperor, exiled to Jehol, agreed to a proposal presented by British ambassador Sir Frederic Bruce in July 1861 to purchase British gunboats. Robert Hart, interpreter of the Imperial Maritime Customs Service is given credit for creating the proposal. Prince Gong, the head of the "Zongli Yamen", appointed Lay as Inspector General of the new flotilla. Lay left China for England on 14March 1862 with written instructions from Prince Gong.