directly was the arrival in the harbour (September 21, 1855) of the German brig Greta in charge of a prize crew of H.M.S. Barracouta with 270 Russian prisoners of war and among them Prince Michaeloff. These were the officers and men of the Russian frigate Diana which had been wrecked at Japan. The Greta, having been chartered to convey the Russians from Simoda to Ayen was captured by Admiral Stirling. In November (1855), the Vice-Admiralty Court of Hongkong condemned the vessel as a lawful prize to H.M.S. Barracouta. Great was the rejoicing when the news of the restoration of peace with Russia was received (June 26, 1856). All the ships in harbour were dressed in their gayest, salutes were fired, and thanksgiving services were held in Union Church (July 2, 1856) and on the following Sunday in the Cathedral.
Siam next claimed the attention of Sir J. Bowring. The British Government had long been anxious, in the interests of commerce, to conclude a treaty with Siam, but repeated attempts made in this direction by the Governor-General of India and subsequently (1850) by Sir James Brooke of Sarawak had failed. The United States of America also had been foiled in their endeavour to open up Siam to foreign trade. Sir J. Bowring now tried his hand and succeeded where greater men had signally failed. He began by opening up a private literary correspondence with the young King who had received a European education and, being a kindred spirit likewise endowed with belletristic aspirations, was fascinated by the learned doctor's fame as a literary genius. Consequently, in reply to Sir John's overtures of literary brotherhood, there arrived in Hongkong (August 12, 1854) two envoys from Siam, bearers of a royal dispatch. Sir John adroitly arranged through these envoys an official visit as a proper compliment in return for the favour of a royal missive. Fortunate as he had been so far, he was even more favoured by fortune in securing for this delicate mission, the utter failure of which was confidently predicted on all sides, the services of that astute young diplomatist, Mr. (subsequently Sir) Harry Parkes of the Canton Consulate. Great was the
