eem to agree remarkably. He is wide awake to the Jesuit
intrigues here. By the way, I should mention that the French had a
wonderful funeral on Sunday, in honour of the murdered captives. I
could not attend, being in bed at the time. Several speeches in bad
taste were delivered, and a remarkable series of performances took
place. Among other things, each soldier (this is, I believe, the
French practice on such occasions) fired his musket _into_ the grave,
so that the coffins were covered with cartridges. The Chinese say that
it was because they were not sure whether the occupants were really
dead. On the day following, they inaugurated the old Jesuit cathedral,
which they have recovered from the Chinese Government; and the bishop
who preached, in order to make amends for the omission of all
reference to us at the ceremony of the funeral, complimented Queen
Victoria and her _digne representant_ for having come to China to set
up the Roman Catholic cathedral in Pekin. This reflection will comfort
----[11] when he comes to vote next year the balance of the
L10,000,000 spent. I have no news of Frederick yet; so I am no further
advanced with my own plans than I was when Loch left me.

[Sidenote: Imperial Palace.]
[Sidenote: Visit from Kung.]

_Pekin.--November 2nd._--Yesterday, after the mail had left, I mounted
on horseback, and with an escort, and Parkes and Crealock, proceeded
to the Imperial City, within which is the Imperial Palace. We obtained
access to two enclosures, forming part of the Imperial Palace
appendages: both elevated places, the one ascended by a pathway in
regular Chinese rockwork on a large scale, and really striking in its
way; and the other being a well-wooded park-like eminence, crowned by
temples with images of Buddha. The view from both was magnificent.
Pekin is so full of trees, and the houses are so low, that it hardly
had the effect of looking down on a great city. Here and there temples
or high gateways rose above the trees, but the general impression was
rather that of a rich plain densely peopled. In the distance the view
was bounded by a lofty chain of mountains, snow-capped. From the
park-like eminence we looked down upon the Imperial Palace--a large
enclosure crowded with yellow-roofed buildings, generally low, and a
few trees dotted among them. It is difficult