idea did not occur to the generally quick perceptions of our Gallic allies before they had shorn the place of all its beauty and ornament, by the removal or reckless destruction of everything that was valuable within its precincts, leaving us, indeed, little more than the bare shell of the buildings on which to wreak our vengeance for the cruelties practised therein upon our ill-fated countrymen."

It is scarcely too much to say that the China War of 1860 may be considered the most successful and the best carried out of England's "little wars," if, indeed, the latter term be not a misnomer. No mistake occurred to mar the outline of the whole, and in the short space of three months the Chinese received three defeats in the open-their strong forts of Taku, on which they based their powers of resistance, were captured -and their capital itself was forced to succumb under the guns of the invaders. The expense involved was great; but, unlike the majority of wars, the consequent return was adequate. We obtained freedom of action for our merchants throughout the whole of the empire; we procured for the civilised world protection from the oppression and barbarous outrages which the

nation had been previously wont to inflict upon strangers; we struck a salutary blow at the pride of China, which, as experience shows, has been successful in convincing her that she is no match for the peoples of Europe; and, above all, we exacted from them the Treaty of Pekin,' which has proved far more lasting than any former engagements with that nation.

Had we, on the other hand, refrained from war, we could not have maintained our position at the several ports where we traded; neither property nor life would have been worth a moment's purchase; the laws of nations would have been habitually set at defiance; and the time would have arrived when we should have been compelled to quit the country altogether-conciliatory measures and efforts to obtain our just demands by negotiation having been interpreted by the Chinese as signs of weakness. When at last, in alliance with the French, we had recourse to arms, the advantages obtained for the civilised world were scarcely less important than those insured for our own individual interests.H. KNOLLYS.

1 See Appendix V., P. 260.

Р

Despatch explaining the immediate sale of English treasure captured in the Summer Palace.

"HEADQUARTERS, PEKIN,

October 21, 1860.

SIR,-This palace1 was full of valuable works of art, chiefly of Chinese manufacture; and although an attempt was made to effect a division of the property between the two nations, yet it became virtually a state of indiscriminate plunder. Being unwilling to expose the English army to the demoralising influence of such a state of affairs, I kept them confined to their bivouac in front of Pekin, and appointed officers to collect as far as possible what belonged to the English. The whole of the property thus collected by officers was sold at public auction by my orders, realising about £8000. In addition to this, specie to the amount of about £18,000 was discovered in the palace, and the whole amount being comparatively small, I considered it would only be a just and proper thing to divide this money on the spot amongst the army. My principal reason for this was because our men saw all the French soldiers laden with dollars.

1 The Summer Palace.

and sycee silver, and knowing that the palace had been given up to plunder, might naturally feel dissatisfied at not being allowed to participate; whereas, if they saw everything fairly divided, they would have no reason to complain. Moreover, without the prospect of such a division, it would have been difficult to have prevented any but the best men from going to the palace without leave, to plunder for themselves. I have therefore caused the money to be divided in the following manner-viz., one-third between the officers, and two-thirds between the non-commissioned officers and men; the major-generals and myself resigning all claims to share in the prize. The distribution has been restricted to those actually present with the force before Pekin. -I have the honour, &c.

"J. HOPE GRANT, Lt.-Gen., Commander of the Forces.

"The Right Hon. the SECRETARY of STATE for WAR.”

228

CHAPTER VIII.

JOURNAL OF A VISIT TO JAPAN.

SIR HOPE GRANT SAILS FOR JAPAN—ARRIVES AT YOKOHAMA -PROCEEDS TO YEDO—ARREST OF THE JEW-DESCRIPTION OF MR ALCOCK'S RESIDENCE-THE FEUDAL POWER -THE DAIMIOS AND THE GOVERNMENT-MURDER OF THE TYCOON-THE ROYAL CONJUROR-PROSPERITY OF JAPAN-VISIT TO THE JAPANESE MINISTERS-DWELLINGS OF THE DAIMIOS-SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL ESPIONAGEJAPANESE Defences-THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF WARRETURN VOYAGE TO HONG-KONG-THE GRANADA NEARLY FOUNDERS-SHIPWRECKED MALAYS-LEAVE TO RETURN TO ENGLAND-INTERVIEW WITH NAPOLEON-FUNERAL OF THE EMPEROR.

ON the 29th November I started for Shanghai, where I arrived on the 4th December, and where I and my staff were most hospitably received by Mr Webb, of Dent's House. I then sailed on a pleasure trip to Japan, where, owing to Mr Webb's kind arrangements, I spent three weeks very pleasantly, pending the arrival of orders from England relative to my own destination.