Two years—­from 1859 to 1861—­Robert Hart spent in Canton setting affairs in order and working very hard in a hot, damp climate.  Curiously enough he was never ill, though many men of far greater physical strength, of far tougher build, wilted in that steaming atmosphere; he himself was always too busy, I think, for symptoms and sickness.

During those years he had an unexpected meeting with an old friend.  Word having been brought to him that a ship from Macao was expected to load teas at Komchuk—­a place inland not open to trade—­he started off with a posse of tidewaiters on the revenue cruiser Cumfa, to seize her.  She was a shabby little vessel; her paint was scratched, her name almost obliterated.  Almost, but not quite; he was able to make out the word Shamrock at her bow, and on careful inquiry identified her as the very vessel on which he had travelled to England as a boy; but alas! a Shamrock fallen on evil days, dilapidated by doubtful adventures in distant seas, and debased to the low company of smugglers.

In 1861 chance, luck, or Providence—­call it what you will—­once again interfered in the humdrum routine of events to give Hart the opportunity he had come half-way across the world to meet.  A riot broke out at Shanghai, and Mr. Lay, as he was walking down the main street, was attacked by a man with a long knife and so severely wounded that he was obliged to go to England on two years’ leave in order to recover his health.

Two of his subordinates were made Officiating Inspector-Generals in his place:  Fitzroy, formerly private secretary to Lord Elgin, at that time Shanghai Commissioner, and Robert Hart.  Both men had excellent qualities; but while Fitzroy, who knew no Chinese, was content to remain at Shanghai, his more active and energetic colleague travelled to and fro establishing new offices.

The Tientsin Treaties having recently opened more ports to trade, and the Chinese Government having repeatedly approved of the golden stream of revenue pouring into their Treasury, Customs administration was extended up and down the coasts as fast as the ports could be declared “open”—­to Ningpo, Foochow, Amoy, Swatow, Chinkiang, even so far north as Tientsin, and British, French or German Commissioners put in charge of each, in order that the original international character of the service might be preserved.

Most of these ports welcomed the new order of things; but at one, notably Hankow, difficulties arose, and Hart promptly started to clear them up.  At the time of his going both Wuhu and Nanking, two cities on the Yangtsze, were still in the hands of the rebels, and the river-steamer captain warned his passengers that the ship would stop at Wuhu to get her papers from them.  “Take my advice,” said he, “and remain quietly in your cabin from the time we stop until we leave, for the rebels have the habit of coming on board, and were they to find a man like yourself, a Government agent on Government business, they would certainly take you ashore.  They usually only look about the saloon, however, and do not examine the cabins, so you will be safe enough if you stay in yours.”