the court at Peking was totally ignorant of the strength and progress of the outside world. Intrenched in the conviction of their intellectual and material superiority, the Chinese were still resolved to hold as little intercourse as possible with the treaty powers, and to interpret strictly in their favor the conventions which had been forced upon them.
Mr. Davis, who was the United States representative from 1848 to 1850, was mainly occupied with installing the consular officers at the treaty ports with the judicial functions with which they were clothed by the treaty of 1844, growing out of their exterritorial jurisdiction. His reports upon the subject to the Department of State were made the basis of the peculiar legislation of Congress respecting the judicial powers of consuls, which with subsequent amendments has continued to the present time.
The most noted event of his mission was an interview held with the imperial commissioner, which was the only one since the treaty of 1844, and it proved to be the last had by an American representative with the resident Canton high commissioner. In place of being held at the yamen or official residence of the commissioner in Canton or on board a man-of-war of the United States, as official etiquette required, it took place at a commercial warehouse in the suburbs of Canton. There was present at that interview as a subordinate official the afterwards celebrated Yeh, who bore such a conspicuous part in the troubles which led to the second British war.
Mr. Davis had been selected for the post because of
