latter entertained by the former. But happily the rough places in their intercourse were smoothed over, and at the end of the negotiations a friendly and somewhat cordial relation was resumed. Dr. Williams, the American secretary, in his private diary, refers to the disposition of Baron Gros to be less exacting than Lord Elgin, and to the Russian constantly watching the allies, greatly to the annoyance of the British earl, and he sums up the situation as follows: "The position of the four ministers here is, indeed, something like that of four whist players, each of whom makes an inference as to the other's remaining suits and honors from the cards they throw down. Now, of course the Russian and American are partners, but if the Englishman were more bon homme and open he might readily have the Yankee to his aid against the others if there was any need of that kind."
First in order of signature was the Russian treaty and the American was signed a few days afterwards, but the British negotiations dragged and the French envoy, out of deference to his ally, deferred the signing of his convention. The British were pushing demands not insisted upon by the other powers, and they could only be obtained by coercive measures. The reports in the Blue Books and the London newspapers show that Mr. Lay, who personally conducted the negotiations for Lord Elgin, when he found the Chinese commissioners obdurate, was accustomed "to raise his voice," charge them with having "violated their pledged word," and threaten them with Lord Elgin's displeasure and the march of the British troops to Peking. And
