work
is arriving, though I cannot but feel a little nervous anxiety until I
know what I shall learn at Hong-Kong respecting our prospects with the
Chinese, &c. &c.

Arrived at Hong-Kong on the following day, he found letters from his
brother Frederick--'generous and magnanimous as ever'--giving him some hope
of there being an opening for diplomacy, and a chance of settling matters
speedily. In this hope he pressed on to Shanghae, whither the naval and
military authorities with whom he was to act had preceded him.

_Steamship 'Ferooz.'--At Sea.--June 27th_.--We are rolling a great
deal and very uncomfortably,--a more disagreeable passage than I made
last time in the month of March. So much for all the talk about the
monsoon.... Writing is no easy matter; and I shall probably also have
little time after reaching Shanghae to-morrow, as the mail is likely
to leave on Saturday next, and I may have despatches to send which
will occupy my time.... I cannot go much farther, for already I am
separated from you by nearly one-half of the globe. I sometimes think
of how I am to return for a change,--by the Pacific, by Siberia. It
would be rather a temptation to take this overland route. Thurlow,[4]
it appears, has already written to St. Petersburg to ask leave for
himself and Crealock to return through Russia. Alas! these are castles
in the air, very well to indulge in before we reach Shanghae and the
stern realities of the mission.

[Sidenote: Shanghae.]

At Shanghae he had the happiness of meeting his brother, and the benefit of
hearing from his own lips a full account of the past, and discussing with
him their common plans for the future. The noble qualities of that brother,
shining out the more brightly in adverse circumstances, filled him with
admiration which his affectionate nature delighted to express.

[Sidenote: Mr. Bruce.]

_Shanghae.--June 30th._--Frederick is a noble-hearted man; perhaps the
noblest I have ever met with in my experience of my fellows.... He has
had a most difficult task here to perform, and to the best of my
judgment has performed it with great ability.

_Shanghae, July 1st._--Frederick, partly from generosity of
character, and partly from sympathy with the Admiral and admiration of
his valour, abstained from stating in his own justification all the
circumstances of the unfortunate affair at the P