be nothing but heaps of mud. They had ramparts only on the river side, their rear being quite unprotected, and therefore open to assault from that direction. All the forts were covered with banners, these banners being of a triangular shape with serrated edges, and white spots on a blue or yellow ground. As a result of the reconnoitring, it was found that there were three forts on the south bank and two on the north, connected by a line of mud batteries, and in many instances half buried beneath the flags that waved over the parapets and embrasures. The foreign fleet which lay outside the mouth of the river included thirty vessels as follows:
| English. | Guns | Men | Ves'ls | |
| Calcutta, | 84 | 700 | French, | 11 |
| Pique, | 40 | 270 | Minnesota | |
| Furious, paddle-steamer, | 8 | 20 | American Mississippi | 3 |
| Nimrod, despatch Govt. vessel, | 6 | 120 | Antelope | |
| Cormorant, | 6 | 98 | Russian, | 1 |
| Surprise, | 6 | 160 | ||
| Fury, | 8 | 48 | ||
| Slaney, gunboat, | 5 | 48 | 15 | |
| Leven, 15 | 5 | 48 | English, | 15 |
| Bustard, | 3 | 48 | ||
| Oppossum, | 3 | 48 | ||
| Staunch, | 3 | 48 | ||
| Firm, | 3 | 48 | ||
| Coromandel, | 5 | 45 | ||
| Hesper, storeship, | ||||
| 15 Vessels. | 1909 | Total, | 30 |
The answer to the letter was duly received and was quite in the vein that had been expected. Tan, the High Commissioner, evidently intended to negotiate without full powers to do so. Then the plenipotentiaries sent an ultimatum demanding that a commissioner with full powers should be sent, and positively stating that no others would be received. The limit of time for their reception was fixed for May 19th, and in case the Chinese
