ly necessary. It said that
_they two_ were well treated, complimented Prince Kung, and asked for
some clothes. We have heard nothing about the others who are missing.

[Sidenote: Advance on Pekin.]

_October 5th._--We left our mosque this morning at about seven. The
whole army was drawn up in contiguous columns of regiments, and had a
good appearance. The cavalry on the right, then the artillery, and
then the infantry. The French were on our left. In this way we
advanced about four miles, when we reached a place from which we saw
one of the gates of Pekin at about a mile and a half distance. We met
with no enemy, but we heard of him about three miles farther on.
However, the French declined to go any farther; so here we remain for
the night, and we have got into a joss-house, which is lucky, for we
have no tents with us--only a very light kit and three days'
provisions for each person. We hear that the Emperor has left for
Tartary, which is very probable. We might have stopped him if we had
marched on immediately after the 21st ultimo; but that was, in the
judgment of the Generals, impossible.

[Sidenote: Suburbs.]

_October 6th.--Five P.M._--We are lodged in a _Lamaserie_ in the
north-west suburb of Pekin. Our move began at seven. We streamed along
narrow roads in a long line. I got a scolding from the General for
outflanking the skirmishers, which I did to get out of the dust. At
about nine we reached a brick-kiln, from whence we had a view of
Pekin, and of a mound, behind which, as we were assured, Sang-ko-lin-
sin and his army were encamped. We halted for some time and then
advanced; we on the right, the French on the left, towards these
supposed camps. The French were to attack in front, we were to take
the enemy in flank. I was with the second division of our force. When
we arrived abreast of the entrenchment we could see nothing of an
enemy. After a while I rode to the top of the mound at the corner of
the entrenchment, and found the French General and Staff. The Tartars
had all decamped the night before. I then rejoined our army and
advanced with it to this point. With the exception of a few shots
exchanged with a picket of the enemy, we know of no fighting which has
taken place to-day; but, strange to say, our cavalry which went off
far to the right in the morning has not be