obliged to send
to beg one day's respite from the General. It was impossible to make
Frederick start back to Tientsin on the very day following his
arrival. At about noon he reached Pekin. It was a great relief to me,
because I had been choosing a house for him, and there were other
matters concerning which it was most important that he should be
consulted. I found him very well disposed to stay on at Pekin, but on
finding that both Gros and Ignatieff were opposed to leaving their
legations there for the moment, we both agreed that it would be better
to act as they had resolved to do. I therefore wrote to Prince Kung
acknowledging the good faith which he had shown about the Emperor's
edict and the publication of the treaty (both of which things have
been done in the most complete manner), and adding that the English
army would, in accordance with the terms of the convention, retire at
once from Pekin. I went on to inform him that I proposed to call on
him to take leave, and at the same time to introduce to him Mr. Bruce,
who had just arrived at Pekin. We proceeded, accordingly, to his
palace, at 4 P.M. on the 8th, with an imposing military escort. After
we had conversed some time together, I told Parkes to explain to the
Prince that in England the individual who represents the sovereign,
whatever his personal rank, always takes precedence of all others;
that, as my task in China was completed, Mr. Bruce would henceforward
occupy that position, and that, therefore, with the Prince's
permission, I would give up to him the seat of honour on which I was
placed and take his seat instead. I then rose and changed seats with
Frederick. This little bit of acting answered very well. It put
Frederick into direct relations with the Prince, and did away with the
impression (if it existed) of my having superior rank to him. The
Prince was civil, and said, rather neatly, that he hoped they would
conduct business satisfactorily, not only because he was British
Minister, but brother to Lord Elgin, with whom he had had such
pleasant relations. On the following day (the 9th), before we started,
he came to our abode to return our visit. I made Frederick receive
him, telling the interpreters to say that I had no business to speak
of, but that I should come into the room before he left the house to
take l