no one could have foreseen at the time, viz. to a change of
policy and of party within the Chinese Government.

[5] 'Personal Narrative of Occurrences during Lord Elgin's Second Embassy
to China,' 1860. By Henry Brougham Loch, Private Secretary to the Earl
of Elgin.

[6] With generous candour, Mr. Loch, in his 'Narrative,' bears testimony
to the correctness of this view.

[7] The British subjects thus restored were Mr. Parkes, Mr. Loch, and a
trooper of Probyn's Horse; the French subjects were M. l'Escayrac de
Lauture, who was at the head of a scientific mission, and four
soldiers.

[8] In a subsequent letter, Lord Elgin paid to Mr. Parkes this well-merited
tribute. 'Mr. Parkes' consistent refusal to purchase his own safety by
making any pledges, or even by addressing to me any representations
which might have embarrassed me in the discharge of my duty, is a rare
example of courage and devotion to the public interest; and the course
which he followed in this respect, by leaving my hands free, enabled
me to work out the policy which was best calculated to secure his own
release, as well as the attainment of the national objects entrusted
to my care.'

[9] The language used by Mr. Bruce, in reporting to the Foreign Office Mr.
De Norman's death, is still more striking; and it has an additional
interest as being eminently characteristic of the writer: 'It has not
been my fortune,' he says, 'to meet with a man whose life was so much
in harmony with the Divine precept, "not slothful in business, serving
the Lord." With a consistency unparalleled in my experience he brought
to bear on the discharge of every duty, and to the investigation of
every subject however minute, the complete and undivided attention of
the sound abilities, the good sense, and the indefatigable industry
with which God had endowed him. A character so morally and
intellectually conscientious, striving to do everything in the most
perfect manner, neglecting no opportunity of acquiring fresh and of
consolidating previous knowledge, promised a career honourable to
himself, and, what he valued far more, advantageous to the public, had
it pleased God to spare him.

'Now there remains to those who knew him intimately only this
consoling conviction, that death, however sudden, could not find him
unprepared.'

[10] The only Eng