th the churches and convents, and air of quiet _vetuste_,
remind one of a town on the continent of Europe.

[Sidenote: St. John.]

_February 20th.--Sunday._--We have just anchored in a quiet harbour,
on the island of St. John, or Sancian, as Huc calls it; the first
place in China where the Portuguese settled. Here, too, St. Francis
Xavier died. I should land and look at his tomb if I thought it was in
this part of the island, but it is late (5 P.M.), and a long way to
pull.

On returning to Hong-Kong he found that his letter to the Chinese
Government had had the effect which he desired and anticipated.

[Sidenote: Mission completed.]

_Hong-Kong.--February 23rd._--I have good news from the North. As I
was walking on the deck this morning at 8 A.M., Mr. Lay suddenly made
his appearance. He had come by the mail-packet from Shanghae, with a
letter from the Imperial Commissioners, announcing that the seal of
Imperial Commission had been taken from Hwang, the Governor-General of
this province, and given to Ho, the Governor-General of the provinces
in which Shanghae is situated. Lay further states that his friend the
Tautai informed him that they are prepared to receive the new
Ambassador peacefully at Pekin, when he goes to exchange
ratifications. If so, I think that I shall be able to return with the
conviction that the objects of my mission have been accomplished.

The details of his Treaty having been now definitively arranged, Canton
pacified, and its neighbourhood overawed by the peaceful progress through
it of a military expedition, there remained nothing to detain him in the
East.[6]

[Sidenote: Homeward bound.]
[Sidenote: Hong-Kong factory.]

_Canton River.--March 3rd._--I am really and truly off on my way to
England, though I can hardly believe that it is so. The last mail
brought me not a word either from Frederick or about his plans; only,
what was very satisfactory, the approval of the Government of my
arrangement respecting the residence of the British Minister in China.
I have, however, determined to start, and to take my chance of meeting
him somewhere _en route_. Unless I were to go back to Shanghae, I
could not do much more here now; and if I put off, I shall have the
monsoon against me, and great heat in the Red Sea. Having resolved on
this course, I invited the Hong-Kong merchants to com