Speaking afterwards of this scene, Lord Elgin himself said, ’I shall never forget to my dying day—­for the hour was a dark one, and there was hardly a countenance in Calcutta, save that of the Governor-General, Lord Canning, which was not blanched with fear—­I shall never forget the cheers with which the “Shannon” was received as she sailed up the river, pouring forth her salute from those 68-pounders which the gallant and lamented Sir William Peel sent up to Allahabad, and from those 24-pounders which, according to Lord Clyde, made way across the country in a manner never before witnessed.’

[Sidenote:  Peel’s naval brigade.] [Sidenote:  Lord Canning.]

Calcutta.—­August 11th.—­Here I am, writing to you from the Governor-General’s palace at Calcutta!  Altogether it is one of the strangest of the peripeties of my life....  I think my visit has entirely answered as regards the interests of India.  I have every reason to believe that it has had an excellent effect here.  I have agreed to give up the ‘Shannon,’ in order that Peel and his men may be formed into a naval brigade, and march with some of their great guns on Delhi.  Peel, for this work, is, I believe, the right man in the right place, and I expect great things from him.  He is delighted, and Canning and Sir P. Grant have signified in strong terms their appreciation of the sacrifice I am making, and the service I am rendering.  They are in great want of artillery, and no such guns as those of the ‘Shannon’ are in their possession.  The vessel itself, with a small crew, will remain in the river opposite Calcutta, able, if need were, to knock all the city to bits.  I shall get a steamer for myself, probably one of the Peninsular and Oriental Company’s, to convey me to Hong-kong, and to remain with me till I am better suited.  Canning is very amiable, but I do not see much of him.  He is at work from five or six in the morning till dinner-time.  No human being can, in a climate like this, and in a situation which has so few delassements as that of Governor-General, work so constantly without impairing the energy both of mind and body, after a time....  Neither he nor Lady C. are so much oppressed by the difficulties in which they find themselves as might have been expected.

[Sidenote:  Treatment of inferior races.]

August 21st.—­It is a terrible business, however, this living among inferior races.  I have seldom from man or woman since I came to the East heard a sentence which was reconcilable with the hypothesis that Christianity had ever come into the world.  Detestation, contempt, ferocity, vengeance, whether Chinamen or Indians be the object.  There are some three or four hundred servants in this house.  When one first passes by their salaaming one feels a little awkward.  But the feeling soon wears off, and one moves among them with perfect indifference, treating them, not as dogs, because in that case one would whistle