This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF SIR J. BOWRING.
317

well as the Civil Governor (Pih Kwei) fell into the hands of British marines, while the French captured the Tartar General. The question now arose what to do with Canton city and its captured officials. Lord Elgin reluctantly admitted that a successful organisation of the government of Canton city was impossible so long as Yeh was on the scene. So he sent him to Hongkong en route for Calcutta where he died two years later. Whilst Yeh was in Hongkong, Sir J. Bowring had at last (February 15, 1858) the long desired pleasure of an interview with Yeh on board H.M.S. Inflexible. but Yeh would not enter into any conversation and referred him to his interpreter (Ch. Alabaster). Meanwhile the government of Canton city had been settled by the appointment (January 10, 1857) of a Mixed Commission consisting of Consul Parkes, Colonel Holloway of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Captain Martineau des Chenez of the French Navy and Governor Pih Kwei. This Commission, thanks to Sir H. Parkes' organizing genius, succeeded, with the aid of a small force of Anglo-French police and by means of re-instating all the executive and administrative officers under Pih Kwei, in restoring forthwith public confidence and in maintaining perfect order. These arrangements were made by Lord Elgin, at the suggestion of Consul Parkes who was the head and soul of the Commission, contrary to the advice of Sir J. Bowring. The latter opposed such a mixed form of government on the ground that a dual administration of this sort, containing so many elements of discord, would fail to inspire public confidence, produce mutual distrust and clashing of authority, and give the Chinese in other provinces the idea that the barbarians did not really conquer and govern Canton city. Events disproved these vaticinations. For several years, the most turbulent city of the Empire was successfully and peacefully governed by the Allied Commissioners. Trade was immediately resumed and the industries of Canton carried on as usual. The village volunteers in the adjoining districts, with whom Pih Kwei was secretly in league, were kept in check by occasional military expeditions, organized at the suggestion of Consul Parkes