Page:Chinese account of the Opium war (IA chineseaccountof00parkrich).pdf/44

were at first rather awed at Yang's military reputation, and, not knowing what our dispositions were, sent some white foreigners to Phoenix Hill with peace proposals. Some traitorous Chinese were with them, and they took soundings as they came. Ch‘ang Ch‘un sent the letter on to Canton, and meanwhile allowed the traitors to show the foreigners all over the camp; when, of course, they reported that there were no defences, and advanced, capturing Phoenix Hill and the forts commanding Líptak and Ishámei. Meanwhile K‘ishen was deprived of his titles and honours, and the Emperor was rendered more furious than ever at receiving from Iliang an English "proclamation," posted at Hongkong [1st February 1841], saying:—"As ye are now subjects of Great England, ye ought in right to obey her." K‘ishen's family was subjected to a domiciliary visit, and he himself [12th March] was haled in chains to Peking. The English, perceiving the Emperor's rage, and seeing the pass things had come to, feared that peace was farther off than ever, and were most anxious for trade, in order that they might recoup themselves the great expense of the war: besides, the other countries blamed them for keeping the trade closed for so long. They therefore sent a letter by the American head-man and Howqua, saying:—"If you want peace, and do not press other matters, all we ask is trade as before; and