the Jesuits think that they can curry favour with the Chinese by making him condescend.  They are quite wrong, as I am sure the result will prove.  The Prince came to see me to-day before returning Gros’ visit, which goes for something in this land of ceremony.  I received the Prince with all honour, and had a good deal of talk with him through the interpreters, in a style which reminded me of the dialogue at the commencement of ‘Eothen.’  I have, I believe, secured the edict for which we have been waiting; so I have done everything except see the Emperor, which I am not likely to do, as he is at Jehol.  We ended by photographing the Prince, a proceeding which I do not think he much liked.

[Sidenote:  Return visit.]

November 7th.—­There has not been much to report since the 2nd.  I returned Kung’s visit the next day, and we had a more coulant conversation than I have before had with any Chinese authority.  It is something to get at men who are so high placed that they are not afraid—­or at any rate are less afraid—­of being denounced if they listen to foreigners.  I dined the night before with the Russian Minister, who was very hospitable.  On Sunday I went to see two temples in the Chinese city, the one being that to which the Emperor goes four times a year to offer sacrifices to Heaven, the other the Temple of Agriculture.

[Sidenote:  Arrival of Mr. Bruce.] [Sidenote:  Interview with Prince Kung.]

November 10th.—­I had got so far when a note from Frederick reached me, saying that he had started at 1 A.M. on the 6th from Tientsin to ride to Pekin, and had been obliged, by fatigue, to rest at Ho-see- woo.  We were to have left Pekin on the 8th, so I was obliged to send to beg one day’s respite from the General.  It was impossible to make Frederick start back to Tientsin on the very day following his arrival.  At about noon he reached Pekin.  It was a great relief to me, because I had been choosing a house for him, and there were other matters concerning which it was most important that he should be consulted.  I found him very well disposed to stay on at Pekin, but on finding that both Gros and Ignatieff were opposed to leaving their legations there for the moment, we both agreed that it would be better to act as they had resolved to do.  I therefore wrote to Prince Kung acknowledging the good faith which he had shown about the Emperor’s edict and the publication of the treaty (both of which things have been done in the most complete manner), and adding that the English army would, in accordance with the terms of the convention, retire at once from Pekin.  I went on to inform him that I proposed to call on him to take leave, and at the same time to introduce to him Mr. Bruce, who had just arrived at Pekin.  We proceeded, accordingly, to his palace, at 4 P.M. on the 8th, with an imposing military escort.  After we had conversed some time together, I told Parkes to explain to the Prince