Christian nations claim for their subjects or citizens, who sojourn in the East under heathen Governments, privileges of exterritoriality.  They are bound, therefore, when they seek to extend their rights of residence and occupation, to take care that those exceptional privileges be not abused, to the prejudice of the countries conceding them.

I cannot say that I think that the Christian nations who have established a footing in China, under the sanction of treaty stipulations obtained by others, or in virtue of agreements made directly by the Chinese Governments with themselves, have in all cases duly recognised this obligation.

Unless I am greatly misinformed, many vile and reckless men, protected by the privileges to which I have referred, and still more by the terror which British prowess has inspired, are now infesting the coasts of China.  It may be that for the moment they are able, in too many cases, to perpetrate the worst crimes with impunity; but they bring discredit on the Christian name; inspire hatred of the foreigner where no such hatred exists; and, as some recent instances prove, teach occasionally to the natives a lesson of vengeance, which, when once learnt, may not always be applied with discrimination.

But if the extension of the privileges of foreigners in China involves considerations of nicety, still more delicate are the questions which arise when it is proposed to confer by treaty on foreign Powers the right to interfere on behalf of natives who embrace their religion.  It is most right and fitting that Chinamen espousing Christianity should not be persecuted.  It is most wrong and most prejudicial to the real interests of the Faith that they should be tempted to put on a hypocritical profession in order to secure thereby the advantages of abnormal protection.

[1] Mr. Oliphant’s ‘Narrative’ contains an interesting account of
    the places which he visited in the execution of this mission.

[2] Bruce, Robert, and Frederick, his three sons.

[3] See his ‘Narrative,’ vol. i. c. xi.

[4] A sacred island, in the ‘sea of water-lilies.’

CHAPTER IX.

FIRST MISSION TO CHINA.  TIENTSIN.

ADVANCE TO THE PEIHO—­TAKING OF THE FORTS—­THE PEIHO RIVER—­
TIENTSIN—­NEGOTIATIONS—­THE TREATY—­THE RIGHT OF SENDING A MINISTER TO
PEKIN—­RETURN SOUTHWARD—­SAILS FOR JAPAN.

The establishment of the principle of direct communication with the Imperial Government at the capital had always been regarded as one of the most important objects of Lord Elgin’s mission.  When, therefore, in reply to his letter addressed to the Prime Minister, there came an answer from a provincial officer, he returned it at once, and wrote again to the Prime Minister, pointing out that, by refusing to correspond with him directly, the Minister had broken the existing