d to foreign trade.

Art. 12. British subjects may purchase and hold landed property in
China.

Art. 13. British subjects may employ Chinese subjects.

Art. 14. British subjects free to hire boats; the Chinese authorities
free to punish smugglers.

Art. 15. British, authorities to decide upon all questions of rights and
property between British subjects.

Art. 16. British offenders to be punished according to the laws of
England; Chinese subjects to be punished according to the laws of China.

Art. 17. Settles the modes of procedure in case of offences.

Art. 18. Protection of the persons and goods of British subjects.

Thus apparently ended the war of 1856-7-8. Nothing remained but the
ratification of the treaty, and the fulfilment of its stipulations,
which the Chinese court never intended to perform.

JAPAN.

Lord Elgin resolved to proceed to Japan, and endeavour to open that
jealously guarded country to foreign intercourse. He made for his excuse
to enter the Japanese waters, that his queen authorized him to bear from
her a present of a beautiful steam-yacht to the Emperor of Japan. It was
on the 3rd of August, 1858, that Lord Elgin reached the capital of the
Japanese empire; but the circumstance is related in this chapter to
preserve a continuous account of his excellency's important mission
to the Eastern Seas. Lord Elgin's mission was successful. A treaty
substantially the same as that with China was formed, and the trade of
that country opened to Europe. As in China, so in Japan, American and
Russian jealousy played an unworthy and not altogether ineffectual part.

COLONIAL.

The general colonial interests of the United Kingdom were flourishing.
Extensive reports were published this year by government, which showed
that nearly all the colonies were making great and rapid strides on the
road of material progress and prosperity.

SARAWAK.

The independent British settlement of Sarawak, in the island of Borneo,
was exposed to imminent peril of utter destruction. Sir James Brooke,
anxious to restore British influence in the Eastern Archipelago, which
the policy of former governments of Great Britain had ignorantly and
recklessly sacrificed to the Dutch, established at Sarawak an English
settlement, upon which chivalrous attempt he expended a large private
fortune, risked life in almost every form, and by undaunted courage,
perseverance, energy, and talent, succeeded in his undertak