the evening before, had
ordered to make a gallant defence. But the entrance gave way before the
impetuous assault of the French, a few of the defenders fell dead or
wounded, and the remainder beat a hasty retreat, leaving the grand
entrance to the Yuen-ming-yuen, the famous imperial residence, in the
hands of the daring and disrespectful "barbarians."

Into the grand reception-hall, which none had heretofore entered except
in trembling awe, the irreverent foreigners boldly made their way, their
spurred heels ringing on the broad marble floor before the emperor's
sacred throne, their loud voices resounding through that spacious hall
where silence and ceremony so long had reigned supreme, as the awed
courtiers approached with silent tread and voiceless respect the throne
of the dreaded Brother of the Sun and Moon.

"Imagine such a scene," says Swinhoe. "The emperor is seated on his
ebony throne, attired in a yellow robe wrought over with dragons in gold
thread, his head surmounted with a spherical crown of gold and precious
stones, with pearl drops suspended round on light gold chains. His
eunuchs and ministers, in court costume, are ranged on either side on
their knees, and his guard of honor and musicians drawn up in two lines
in the court-yard without. The name of the distinguished person to be
introduced is called out, and as he approaches the band strikes up. He
draws near the awful throne, and, looking meekly on the ground, drops on
his knees before the central steps. He removes his hat from his head,
and places it on the throne floor with its peacock feather towards the
imperial donor. The emperor moves his hand, and down goes the humble
head, and the forehead strikes on the step three times three. The head
is then raised, but the eyes are still meekly lowered, as the imperial
voice in thrilling accents pronounces the behest of the great master.
The voice hushed, down goes the head again and acknowledges the
sovereign right, and the privileged individual is allowed to withdraw.
The scene described is not imaginary, but warranted by the accounts of
natives.

"How different the scene now! The hall filled with crowds of a foreign
soldiery, and the throne floor covered with the Celestial emperor's
choicest curios, but destined as gifts for two far more worthy monarchs.
'See here,' said General Montauban, pointing to them. 'I have had a few
of the most brilliant things selected to be divided between the Queen
of Grea