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