Parkes than that they pursued and recommended in 1856-7. The action of Sir John Davis ten years before, when his measures were much more summary and decisive, was far more open to adverse criticism, and was attended in the first place by a greater loss of human life. But the chief reason of all for insisting on the injustice of the sweeping and violent denunciations bestowed on the "Arrow" case is that the Chinese Viceroy had the command of peace and war in his own hands. At the time, and at any point during the following three months, he had only to say the word to ensure peace and the cessation of hostilities. That he did not say it must be attributed to his own blind obstinacy, while the presence of such a man in authority at Canton at so critical a moment must be reckoned among the many misfortunes which China has from time to time suffered since her foreign relations first became a matter of prime importance. this grave matter, the American Government is sensible that the English are in the right, and does choose to co-operate with them." CHAPTER XII. THE SECOND ENGLISH WAR. The English Ambassador.-Lord Clarendon's Instructions.— A Resident Minister at Pekin.-Armed Expedition.-General Ashburnham.-Unfortunate Shifting of Interest.—The Indian Mutiny. Lord Canning's Letter.-Diversion of the China Force.-Lord Elgin proceeds to Hongkong.-Events before his arrival.-Actions on the Canton River.-Destruction of Junks. Vigour of Sir Michael Seymour. - The Affair of Escape Creek.-Mr. Wingrove Cook.-The first Special Correspondent in China.- Fighting in the Creeks.-The Fatshan Channel.-Chinese War Preparations.-Macao Fort. -Hyacinth Island.-Strong Chinese Position.-Sir Michael Seymour resolves to attack it.-Fierce Encounter.-Stubborn Resistance.-Capture of Hill Fort.-Breaking the Line.Destruction of Junks. Commodore Keppel. His active pursuit.-Resolve to seize Fatshan.-Second Chinese Line.Stronger than the first.-English Repulse.-Serious Loss.Sinking of Boats.-Sudden Retreat of Chinese.-Renewal of the Battle.-Capture of the Junks.-Arrival at Fatshan.Defeat of the Townsmen.-Prize Junks.-Heavy Loss.-The Position of Affairs.-Danger of Inaction.-Take Canton or go to the North.-Forces available at Canton.-Their Weakness. -Ill-health of Troops. Chinese Opinion. confidence. Increased by English Inaction. goes to Calcutta.-Further move of Troops to India. The Naval Brigade.-Count Poutiatine.-The Coolie Corps.-The French Ambassador.-Baron Gros.-"The absurd pretensions of China to superiority."- Alteration in Command.-The English Terms.-Entry into Canton.-An Indemnity.-Yeh's Reply. What he proposed.-Advance on Canton. The Ultimatum. Admiral Seymour's Plans. The Attacking Their Self- - Force. Mr. Parkes's Enterprise.-An Adventure. The Attack on Canton.- Its easy Capture.-Magazine Hill.Gough Fort.-A Last Charge.-The brave Coolies.-Destruction of Forts.-Half the town in hands of Chinese.Yeh at large-March into the City.-The Manchu Quarter.The Tartar General.-The Governor Pihkwei.-The Manchu Garrison. An effete Class.-Mr. Parkes gets a Clue.-Pursuit of Yeh.-His Capture.-European Prisoners.-Their Fate.— Yeh's Cruelty.-A Crowning Indignity.-The new Governor of Canton.-Yeh removed on board ship.-Sent to Calcutta.― Canton Prisons.-Appalling Scenes.-Lord Elgin's Letter to Pekin. His Departure for Shanghai.-The Moving of the Fleet.-Civility of Officials at Shanghai.-Yuching's Letter.— Refuses to reply to Elgin direct.-The Infraction of the Treaty of Nankin.-Chinese Opinion on that Subject.-Foreign Plenipotentiaries at Mouth of the Peiho.-Further Correspondence. -Non-arrival of the Fleet.-Imperial Commissioners.-Refusal of Admission to Pekin.-Sir Michael Seymour and Lord Elgin.-Point of the Controversy.-The Delay.-How it could have been avoided.-Vindication of the Admiral complete.— His Despatch.-A Policy of Hopes.-Attack on the Peiho Forts. Their Capture.-Collapse of Chinese Defence.-Danger to Pekin.-Chinese realise Situation.-Appointment of Plenipotentiaries. Kweiliang and Hwashana. - The Imperial Decree. Occupation of Tientsin.-Reappearance of Keying. -His Objects.-His Misfortunes and Fate.-The Discussion of Terms.-A Minister at Pekin.-The Treaty of Tientsin. -Treaty with Japan.-The Adjustment of the Tariff.Arrangement of Shanghai.-The Opium Trade legalised.-Necessity of this Step.-Question of Residence at Pekin again raised. Its Settlement.- Suspicious Circumstances.-Elements of Doubt.-Affairs at Canton.-The Commission.Hostile Classes.-Reinforcement of Garrison.-Bengal Troops. -Regrettable Incident.-Attacks on detached Parties.-The Fayuen Committee.-Gradual Improvement round Canton.Hienfung's Policy.-The Visit to Pekin. If there had ever been doubt in London as to the importance of the Chinese difficulty it was dispelled when in 1856 Sir Michael Seymour sent home a request for 5,000 troops. When it became known that he had called in all the reinforcements he could gather from the Straits Settlements, it was admitted that he must have felt the urgent necessity of neglecting no precaution to render his own position secure. The Chinese question then emerged from its position of comparative unimportance into one of almost national magnitude; and it was thought desirable to send an accredited ambassador of high rank to China, who was fully acquainted with the views of the Home Government, in order to convince the Pekin authorities that, while such acts as those of Yeh at Canton would not be tolerated, there was no desire to press with undue harshness on a country traditionally opposed to external intercourse. The choice fell upon the Earl of Elgin, a nobleman who added to broad statesmanlike views amiable qualities which generally served to smooth over the difficulties he encountered. Lord Elgin received his instructions* from Lord Those instructions were conveyed in two despatches of the same date, 20th April 1857. (See Blue Book on Lord Elgin's Mission 1857-9.) We quote the following as the more important passages: "The demands which you are instructed to make will be (1), for reparations of injuries to British subjects, and, if the French officers should co-operate with you, for those to French subjects also; (2) for the complete execution at Canton, as well as at the other ports, of the stipulations of the several Treaties; (3) compensation to British subjects, and persons entitled to British protection, for losses incurred in consequence of the late disturbances; (4) the assent of the Chinese Government to the residence at Pekin, or to the occasional visit to that capital, at the option of the British Government, of a Minister duly accredited by the Queen to the Emperor of China, and the recognition of the right of the British Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of Trade to communicate directly in writing with the high officers at the Chinese capital, and to send his communications by messen gers Clarendon on the 20th of April 1857, and within less than a week from that date he had set out for his destination. At the same time that a high ambassador was sent to place matters on a satisfactory basis, preparations were made to meet Sir Michael Seymour's wish and to despatch an armed force to Hongkong. Fifteen hundred men were sent to Singapore from England, one regiment was ordered from the Mauritius, a considerable detachment of native troops were to be moved from Madras; and such force as could be spared from Singapore had already been hurriedly despatched to Hongkong. General Ashburnham was appointed to the military command of the China Expedition, which was expected to rendezvous at Singapore in the latter portion of the summer. These vigorous measures could not have failed to effect a prompt settlement of the complication with China had they been carried out to their natural and expected conclusion. But at the very moment when there seemed every reason to hope that the of his own selection, such arrangements affording the best means of ensuring the due execution of the existing Treaties, and of preventing future misunderstandings; (5) a revision of the Treaties with China with a view to obtaining increased facilities for commerce, such as access to cities on the great rivers as well as to Chapoo and to other ports on the coast, and also permission for Chinese vessels to resort to Hongkong for purposes of trade from all ports of the Chinese Empire without distinction." These were the demands formulated by the English Government for the consent of China, and seven proposals were made as to how they were to be obtained should coercion become necessary. It was also stated that "it is not the intention of Her Majesty's Government to undertake any land operations in the interior of the country." * Lieut. General the Hon. T. Ashburnham, C.B. |