ween China and the United States, in the
conduct of which a favorable disposition towards Americans was shown.
The eventual result was the breaking down of the barriers of intolerance
which had been so long maintained, that ancient and self-satisfied
government being at last forced to throw open its gates for the entrance
of the new ideas of international amity and freedom of commerce.

But much had still to be done before these desirable results could be
fully achieved. Hostile relations were not yet at an end, annoying
restrictions being placed on the promised intercourse. In 1856 a native
vessel flying the British flag was seized by the Chinese, who refused to
apologize to the British for the act. As a result, the city of Canton
was bombarded and the forts were destroyed. A warlike demonstration was
decided upon by Great Britain and France, the first result being the
total destruction of the Chinese fleet and the capture of Canton. A
revision of the former treaty and the concession of greater privileges
were demanded, which China, warned by the lesson of the opium war, found
itself obliged to grant.

The English and French, however, refused to treat at Canton, as the
Chinese desired, but sailed to the mouth of the Pei-ho, the port of
Peking, up which stream their fleets proceeded to the city of Tien-tsin.
Here arrangements for a new treaty of commerce and the opening of new
ports were made, Russia and the United States taking part in the
negotiations. But on proceeding to the mouth of the Pei-ho in 1859 to
ratify the treaty, the river was found to be obstructed and the forts
strongly armed. The American and Russian envoys were willing to go to
Peking overland, in accordance with the Chinese request, but the British
and French determined to force their way up the stream and to take as
many soldiers with them as they pleased. They attacked the forts,
therefore, but, to their disgust, found themselves defeated and forced
to withdraw.

This repulse could have but one result. It gave the Chinese for the
first time confidence in their ability to meet the foreigner in war. It
humiliated and exasperated the English and French. They determined now
to carry the war to the gates of Peking and force the Chinese to
acknowledge the supremacy of the nations of the West.

The events of this war we can give only in outline. In the summer of
1860 a new attack was made on the Taku forts, troops being landed to
assail them in the re