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462 CHINA considered the response unsatisfactory, and de- termined to proceed toward Peking without delay. The advance of the combined fleet of the allies and of the Russians and Americans arrived off the Pei-ho about the middle of April, 1858, and soon afterward the envoys again despatched letters to the government re- questing the appointment of a plenipotentiary. An answer was received to these notes indica- ting that certain officers had been named by the government ; but as it did not appear that they possessed full powers, the envoys declined to communicate with them, and declared their intention to proceed toward the capital. After a delay of several weeks, the allies bombarded the forts at the mouth of the Pei-ho, and stormed them. The Chinese made no ade- quate resistance, and these strongholds were occupied with but few casualties. No time was lost in reaching Tientsin, 50 m. above the mouth of the river. Here the envoys were met in June by Kwei-liang and Hwa-shana, plenipotentiaries of the Chinese government. On the 14th the Russian treaty was signed, and on the 18th the American. The British treaty, much fuller in its scope, was signed on June 26, 16 years after the treaty of Nan- king, and the French the next day. These latter treaties stipulated for the residence of ministers at Peking, for the opening of addi- tional ports, for travel and trade under restric- tions in the whole empire, for the navigation of the Yangtse river, and for the settlement of the transit-dues question. Four millions of taels (about $5,500,000) indemnity was pro- vided for in the British treaty, and a smaller sum in the French. The British envoy, taught by experience to anticipate evasions by the Chinese government, insisted upon the ratifi- cation of his treaty before leaving Tientsin, and received within a few days the imperial decree. It contained also the ratification of the other treaties. Treaties of amity and of commerce were thus concluded, but the very moment when elsewhere difficulties would have been at an end, was signalized by hostile conduct on the part of the native troops at Canton. So serious were these, and so pecu- liar were the relations of foreign states with China, that Lord Elgin did not hesitate to ad- vise the British commander-in-chief to under- take at that point vigorous action, "showing our power to control and punish the braves." Mr. Bruce, afterward Sir Frederick Bruce, was appointed by the British government min- ister to China, and in the early part of the year 1859 proceeded on his mission. At Hong Kong he was met by a report that the impe- rial government was hostile to the treaty con- cluded by Lord Elgin, and was making war- like preparations at the mouth of the Pei-ho. At Shanghai he received letters from the im- perial commissioner Kwei-liang and his as- sociates urging him to remain in that city for the discussion of measures which they said had been left undetermined by Lord Elgin. Mr. Bruce believed these representations were in- tended only to procure delays, and determined to proceed north in order to exchange the ratifications of the treaty. The French and American ministers were met by similar repre- sentations, and regarded them in the same way. On arriving off the mouth of the Pei-ho the river was found to be well fortified, and every incident corroborated the information received at Hong Kong that the emperor would not ac- cede to the expectations of the envoys without pressure. On June 25 Mr. Bruce received a letter saying that the imperial commissioners had been recalled from Shanghai, and would be directed to accompany him to Peking. As some time would elapse before their arrival, he was requested to wait at the anchorage, and informed that the governor general would at the right moment go to his vessel and con- duct him to the mouth of the Pehtang river, a small stream 10 m. N. of the Pei-ho, from whence he could proceed to Peking by land. The letter was considered unsatisfactory, as indicating an unusual and disagreeable route to the capital, and because the name of her majesty was not put on a level with that of the emperor. Thereupon Admiral Hope, in command of the British forces, attempted to force the passage of the Pei-ho, but was defeat- ed with a considerable loss. The British and French ministers retired to Shanghai to await instructions. The American minister, Mr. Ward, whose treaty contained no essential clauses not embraced in Mr. Cushmg's treaty of 1844, concluded to proceed by the route in- dicated by the Chinese. He disembarked with his suite at Pehtang on July 20, and was con- ducted in the rude carts of the country to the Pei-ho above Tientsin, thence in boats to Tungchow, 12 m. below Peking, and from that point to the capital in carts. He was here treated with a show of consideration, but was denied an interview with the emperor unless he should perform the kotow, and finally was obliged to exchange the ratifications at Peh- tang. Mr. Ward on his return to Shanghai informed Mr. Bruce that he was " more con- vinced than ever of the soundness of his (Mr. Bruce's) determination to proceed to Tien- tsin under his own flag, and of the accuracy of the information as to the unreasonableness of the court and the influence gained by the anti- foreign party in the emperor's counsels." The British government received the information of the occurrences at the mouth of the Pei- ho in a spirit which must commend itself to every student of history, and to every one who has at heart the dignity and honor of the West in its relations with eastern exclusive- ness and arrogance. Their minister was di- rected to demand a formal apology for the act of the Chinese troops at the mouth of the Pei-ho, to receive any friendly overtures there- after in a conciliatory spirit, but to decline any ceremonial unless it should recognize the equality of his government ; and he was at