574
Journal of Occurrences.
Oct
dants filled up every corner of the little vessel. They were plainly dressed, wearing only their buttons and peacock feathers. Some of their attendants were habited in highly elegant dresses. It is said that imperial commissioners, being sent only on important business, are always expected to proceed in haste and in a plain costume. From the Medusa the party passed to the quarter-deck of the Corn- wallis, where were assembled a great number of military and naval officers, all in full uniforms, forming a striking contrast with the dresses of the Chinese. The high commissioners were received by the plenipotentiary, admiral, and general, and conducted into the after cabin, where tiffin was prepared. This meeting was merely one of ceremony. After tiffin the Chinese were shown round the ship, and then took leave, much pleased with their reception, having been on board about two hours.
This visit was to have been returned in two days, but at day- light on that morning the rain descended in torrents, and not abating as the day advanced, sir Henry determined not to go out. The Chinese officers set off to come to the meeting, but the rain, combined with I ́lipú's ill health, constrained them to return, and the meeting was deferred for two days longer. The next day ap- pointed being fair, the meeting was held at a temple, just outside the walls. Long before the hour of meeting, the Chinese were on the spot. It was past ten, however, when their guests arrived, and, were received with a salute of three guns. They passed through several lines of Chinese troops, sir Henry and the general and admi- ral proceeding first, with escort, music, &c., &c. As they approach- ed the place of meeting, Kiying, ľlípú, and Niú Kien, advanced, and received them with great courtesy. Being seated, tea, sweetmeats, &c., followed, with Chinese music. The visit lasted about an hour, and on parting the national anthem of England was played.
On the 26th of August, three days before the signing of the treaty within the city, at about 10 o'clock, sir Henry and his suite proceeded in boats up the canal, while au escort of horse artillery advanced about four miles close under the walls (along all parts of which sol- diers were posted) to the place where the plenipotentiary was to land. There his excellency was received by a brigadier and two colonels; and both he and his suite being mounted, they all rode together to the gate-where the provincial secretary to government, and the two principal secretaries of Il.pú, received him and thus about twenty- one Englishmen, with a dozen black followers, rcde,-amid some twenty or thirty Chinese (red, blue, white, and gilt buttons) with hosts of followers,-for a mile and a half, into the great city of Nan- king, the ancient, but now sadly rumous, though yet populous, capi- tal. Thousands of people, all perfectly quiet, eagerly gazed at the company as it passed along to a college hall, fitted up for the oc- casion. There the two imperial commissioners, Kiying, and I'lípú, and the governor-general Niú Kien, robed and capped, received sir Henry, and ushered the wholy party into a room, very neatly fur- mshed A semicircle of chairs, covered with embroidered silk-cush-