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More than a year later, on 25 July 1860, French and British forces combined prior to proceeding to Peking to enforce the treaty of Tientsin. On 18 September, a small group of diplomats, civilians and soldiers, led by Mr (later Sir) Harry Parkes, of the British Consular Service in China, left the main body of troops to make certain arrangements with the Chinese Commissioners. They were taken captive on their way back to rejoin the troops. Given the nature of their mission at the time of their capture, great indignation was felt.
Mr Harry Parkes was held for ransom. Other prisoners were treated with great cruelty. This again caused great indignation.
By way of reprisal and on Lord Elgin's deliberated orders, the Imperial summer palace at Peking was razed to the ground. On 24 October 1860, the Treaty of Tientsin was finally ratified and the Convention of Peking was annexed to it as a make-weight.
6
The arrival of full news on these and related events gave rise in Britain to several months of heavy press coverage on China and the Chinese in early 1861. The London Illustrated News, with its combination of illustrations and narrative, is a useful case study to illustrate both the extent and the variety of this coverage.
The Illustrated London News
8
On 5 January 1861, The Illustrated London News was full of news from China. It carried three illustrations "by our special artist": two double-spread half-page illustrations of "Street Scene in Pekin: A Crowd of Celestials Contemplating the Barbarians" and "An-tin Mun, the Gate of Pekin in Our Possession"; and one full-page double-spread illustration, showing "The Earl of Elgin's Entrance into Pekin on the 24th of October Last to sign the Treaty of Peace Between Great Britain and China". The Illustrated London News also gave the text of the Convention and a description of the ceremony of the signing of the Convention.
11
The same issue also contained part of Mr Harry Parkes's detailed and circumstantial narrative of his own imprisonment, and an account by the Daily News correspondent of the fate of the whole number...