that in England the individual who represents the sovereign, whatever his personal rank, always takes precedence of all others; that, as my task in China was completed, Mr. Bruce would henceforward occupy that position, and that, therefore, with the Prince’s permission, I would give up to him the seat of honour on which I was placed and take his seat instead.  I then rose and changed seats with Frederick.  This little bit of acting answered very well.  It put Frederick into direct relations with the Prince, and did away with the impression (if it existed) of my having superior rank to him.  The Prince was civil, and said, rather neatly, that he hoped they would conduct business satisfactorily, not only because he was British Minister, but brother to Lord Elgin, with whom he had had such pleasant relations.  On the following day (the 9th), before we started, he came to our abode to return our visit.  I made Frederick receive him, telling the interpreters to say that I had no business to speak of, but that I should come into the room before he left the house to take leave of him.  The consequence was that Frederick had a long and, to all appearance, satisfactory conversation with him.

[Sidenote:  Leaves Pekin.]

After this we set out for Tung-chow.  We had to wait there all night, as our boats were not ready, and we are now (10th November, noon) gliding down the river, each in a chop boat (a little boat with a very convenient cabin, in which one can sleep, read, write, &c.), on a lovely autumn day, low temperature, and bright sunshine.  I think that this wind-up at Pekin was very promising.  It is probable that there may be some reaction when the Emperor and the bad advisers whom he has about him return, and even Ignatieff did not choose to remain at Pekin during that moment of reaction.  At the same time, it is evident that Kung, who is his brother, has committed himself to the peace policy, and that his intercourse with us has been much more satisfactory to him than he at one time expected.  It is probable that the Emperor will for once hear something of the truth.  Kung will claim credit for having induced us to remove from Pekin to Tientsin, while the fact that we are still as near as Tientsin will be an in terrorem argument in support of his policy of conciliation.  If Kung weathers the difficult moment which he will have to traverse when the Emperor returns, I have hopes that all the benefit which I have expected to derive from our minister’s residence at Pekin will be achieved.  Our Sinologues are fine fellows.  It is refreshing to see their spirit and pluck.  Wade, Parkes, and Morrison, all put their services at our disposal, and offered to remain alone at Pekin.  My choice, however, fell on a younger man, of whom I have a very good opinion, and who has been with me as assistant-interpreter.[12] I thought it better, for many reasons, to leave a person who had smaller pretensions than any of