h a good heart (i.e. without
hostile intentions); that nevertheless we had been scandalously fired
at, &c. &c. They at once, in the manner of Chinamen, confessed their
error, and said that the firing had been a mistake; that it was the
act of some of the local men, who did not know the ships of 'your
great nation:' that it should not happen again, &c. Wade told them
that the same thing had occurred at Nankin, and that we had destroyed
the peccant forts. They answered that they were aware of what had then
happened. He added, that we did not wish to interfere in their
internal disputes, but that they must know, if we were driven to it,
we should find it an easy matter to sweep them out of the city. They
admitted the truth of all he said, offered presents, begged him to go
into the city and see their chief (both which proposals he declined);
in short, they were contrite and humble. On his return to the 'Lee,'
she and her consort lifted their anchors, and we steamed quietly past
the city, under the very walls, and within easy gingall shot, for so
we were compelled to do by the narrowness of the channel.

[Sidenote: Nankin.]

_December 29th.--11 A.M._--We are now approaching Nankin. I have sent
Oliphant, Wade, Lay, and a Mr. W. (a missionary) ahead in the 'Dove,'
to land, if possible, at the first fort, with the view of going into
the town and calling on the authorities. The 'Dove' will then proceed
past the other forts to an anchorage on the farther side of the city,
to which point the 'Lee' and 'Retribution' will follow her. My
emissaries will inform the Nankin authorities that I am pleased that
they should have apologised for their scandalous conduct towards us on
our way up; that we have no intention of meddling with them if they
leave us alone; but that we intend to move ships up and down the
river, and that they must not be molested. They have sent me a letter
written on a roll of yellow silk, about three fathoms long. It seems
to be a sort of rhapsody, in verse, with a vast infusion of their
extraordinary theology. It is now snowing heavily, so we cannot see
far ahead. It would, I think, be awkward for me to have any
intercourse with the Rebel chiefs, so I do not, as at present advised,
intend to land.

[Sidenote: Wildfowl.]

_December 30th._--About 7 P.M., the 'Dove' rejoined us w