very hostile to foreigners, and that the chastisement
they had received was quite necessary. I really believe that what Dr.
B. said is pretty nearly the truth of the case, and it is satisfactory
to me that the fact that I laboured to spare the people should be
known, known not only by those who approve, but by those who abhor
clemency.

From the foregoing and similar extracts, it will be seen how much interest
he took in the labours of the missionaries, and at the same time with what
breadth and calmness of view he handled a subject peculiarly liable to
exaggeration on one side or the other. During his stay at Shanghae, it was
brought before him officially in the shape of an address from the
Protestant missionaries of the port, praying him, in the first place, to
obtain a separate decree of toleration in favour of Protestantism, distinct
from that which the French had already obtained for the 'Religion of the
Lord of Heaven;' and, in the second place, to procure for them greater
liberty of travelling and preaching in all parts of China. His reply
contained words of grave warning, which have a special interest when read
by the light of recent events. After saying that 'it certainly appeared to
him to be reasonable and proper that the professors of different Christian
denominations should be placed in China on a footing of equality,' he
proceeded as follows:--

[Sidenote: Reply to address of Protestant missionaries.]

I should be wanting in candour, however, if I were not to state that,
in my opinion, the demands which you prefer involve, in some of their
details and consequences, questions of considerable nicety.

Christian nations claim for their subjects or citizens, who sojourn in
the East under heathen Governments, privileges of exterritoriality.
They are bound, therefore, when they seek to extend their rights of
residence and occupation, to take care that those exceptional
privileges be not abused, to the prejudice of the countries conceding
them.

I cannot say that I think that the Christian nations who have
established a footing in China, under the sanction of treaty
stipulations obtained by others, or in virtue of agreements made
directly by the Chinese Governments with themselves, have in all cases
duly recognised this obligation.

Unless I am greatly misinformed, many vile and reckless men, protected
by the privileges to w