Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 654 pages of information about Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin.

Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 654 pages of information about Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin.
to agree remarkably.  He is wide awake to the Jesuit intrigues here.  By the way, I should mention that the French had a wonderful funeral on Sunday, in honour of the murdered captives.  I could not attend, being in bed at the time.  Several speeches in bad taste were delivered, and a remarkable series of performances took place.  Among other things, each soldier (this is, I believe, the French practice on such occasions) fired his musket into the grave, so that the coffins were covered with cartridges.  The Chinese say that it was because they were not sure whether the occupants were really dead.  On the day following, they inaugurated the old Jesuit cathedral, which they have recovered from the Chinese Government; and the bishop who preached, in order to make amends for the omission of all reference to us at the ceremony of the funeral, complimented Queen Victoria and her digne representant for having come to China to set up the Roman Catholic cathedral in Pekin.  This reflection will comfort ——­[11] when he comes to vote next year the balance of the L10,000,000 spent.  I have no news of Frederick yet; so I am no further advanced with my own plans than I was when Loch left me.

[Sidenote:  Imperial Palace.] [Sidenote:  Visit from Kung.]

Pekin.—­November 2nd.—­Yesterday, after the mail had left, I mounted on horseback, and with an escort, and Parkes and Crealock, proceeded to the Imperial City, within which is the Imperial Palace.  We obtained access to two enclosures, forming part of the Imperial Palace appendages:  both elevated places, the one ascended by a pathway in regular Chinese rockwork on a large scale, and really striking in its way; and the other being a well-wooded park-like eminence, crowned by temples with images of Buddha.  The view from both was magnificent.  Pekin is so full of trees, and the houses are so low, that it hardly had the effect of looking down on a great city.  Here and there temples or high gateways rose above the trees, but the general impression was rather that of a rich plain densely peopled.  In the distance the view was bounded by a lofty chain of mountains, snow-capped.  From the park-like eminence we looked down upon the Imperial Palace—­a large enclosure crowded with yellow-roofed buildings, generally low, and a few trees dotted among them.  It is difficult to imagine how the unfortunates shut up there can ever have any exercise.  I don’t wonder that the Emperor preferred Yuen-ming-yuen.  The yellow roofs, interspersed here and there with very deep blue ones, had, however, a very brilliant effect in the sunshine.  After enjoying these views I went to the Russian Minister’s, and found him installed in a house got up a l’Europeenne, and looking very comfortable, with his national stoves.  He showed me his chapel also.  This morning I got a letter from Gros telling me that, in opposition to my advice, he had been to see Prince Kung.  I told him he ought to let the Prince come to him first; but
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Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.