34 THE SIXTEENTH WAR : THE THIRD CHINA WAR. 



similar duty, declined to land at Dover and come to London by rail, 

 but insisted upon being conveyed up the Thames by a Squadron of 

 French ironclads and gunboats, and anchoring them at the Port of 

 London ? 



That does not signify. 



The Chinese must be chastised, the prestige of the British Arms 

 restored at any cost ; the Nations of the East must be taught the 

 absolute invincibility of England. 



Accordingly, diplomacy once more is drowned in the boom of the 

 Cannon. 



Rear Admiral Hope is ordered up the Peiho to force his way by 

 violence to Pekin ; but the attempt failed, several of the gunboats 

 were disabled or sunk, 434 officers and men killed or wounded, and 

 the Squadron was obliged to return to Shanghai, and await orders and 

 reinforcements. 



France and England lost no time in avenging the insult offered, 

 and the defeat sustained by the Allied forces; and Lord Elgin being 

 appointed British Plenipotentiary in China, a powerful Expedition 

 was fitted out under the Chief Command of Sir Hope Grant. 



Tangchow was attacked and captured, and the whole of the Taku 

 forts were bombarded and occupied. 



The Chinese Government then proposed to negotiate for Peace, 

 and Admiral Hope proceeded to Tien-sin and occupied it, and 

 Messrs. Parkes and Wade proceeded with the draft of the Convention, 

 but, owing to treachery the negotiations were suspended, and the 

 army advanced to the assault of Pekin and captured it and the 

 Summer Palace of the Emperor, where they obtained an abundant 

 harvest of spoil; and the terms of Peace were accepted and signed at 

 Pekin on the 24th October, i860. 



Amongst its chief Provisions the Emperor of China made an 

 abject apology ; the British Ambassador was authorised to reside 

 permanently at Pekin ; an indemnity of;^2,7So,ooo was agreed to be 

 paid; the port of Tien-sin opened to trade; and the province of Kwang- 

 tang (Canton) was ceded to England as a dependency of the British 

 Colony of Hong-Kong. 



