Prussia submitted to the arrangement ungraciously, and did
much in sustaining a selfish policy, which was calculated to create a
European war. At Paris, June 16,1857, a treaty was signed, which settled
these turbulent affairs. The parties to the treaty were Great Britain,
France, Prussia, the Swiss Confederation, Austria, and Russia.

DIFFERENCE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

The "Clayton-Bulwer treaty" of 1850 was still the fruitful source of
contention. It was hoped that the "Dallas Clarendon treaty" of 1856
would settle all disputes, but this hope was unsustained by events.
The President of the United States recommended the abrogation of these
treaties altogether, and the commencement _de novo_ by the diplomatists
of the two nations of negotiations for a new settlement. The gist of
the dispute lay within a small compass. Both governments had agreed to
acquire no territory in Central America. England affirmed that such
a stipulation fairly assumed that she was to retain possession of the
territory and protectorate she already held and exercised. America
denied the correctness of this interpretation; alleging that the idea
entertained by the statesmen of the republic was, that neither power
should hold any territory in Central America. The Americans declared
that if England acquired or retained territory in Central America they
also would acquire territory there, and the result must be a struggle
between the two nations for dominion in Central America. Whereas if
England renounced all territorial possession, the United States would
concur in a mutual arrangement for the neutrality of the great transit
way across the American continent between the Atlantic and Pacific. The
proposal of the United States appeared to be the only practicable one to
secure peace. The discussion, however, was maintained with much courtesy
and resolution on both sides, and the dispute remained open.

CHINA--PROSECUTION OF THE WAR.

In the last chapter the British admiral was left awaiting reinforcements
at the close of the year 1856.

On the 12th of January the British fired the western suburbs of Canton,
which continued to burn for two days. So weak was the British force
that it was obliged to drop down the river, and the squadron took up a
position near Macao.

During the month of May, the English having been somewhat reinforced,
Commodore Elliott conducted operations against Chinese war-junks up
certain creeks of the Canton riv