Chap. XXI. ENGLISH LEGATION. 351 
visible, and shortly afterwards my cart rattled 
through the gate of the Chinese city, and I found 
myself for the first time in the capital of China. 
As I approached the gate one of the guard rushed 
out to inquire who I was and whence I came. 
When my servant informed him that I was an 
Englishman, and that I was on my way to Her 
Majesty’s Legation, he appeared perfectly satisfied, 
and did not even ask me for my passport. 
The paved streets through which we now passed 
were in a most dilapidated condition, and the 
jolting of my cart was so great that I was glad to 
get out and walk. After we had gone about a 
mile in a northerly direction we came to the wall 
which divides the Chinese city from the Tartar 
one, and entered the latter through a huge and 
massive gateway, crowned with a guard-house 
loopholed for guns, many of which are said 
to be wooden ones and only for show! On 
my arrival at the residence of the English Ambas- 
sador, I was kindly received by His Excellency 
Mr. Bruce. 
The British, French, and Russian Legations are 
located in the Tartar city, near the south wall, 
and close to the palace of the Emperor. The 
residence of the English Minister is a most 
gorgeous place. It belongs or belonged at one 
time to a Duke Leang, and is called Leang-kung- 
foo, or the Palace of Leang. It covers many 
acres of land, and consists of a series of large and 
lofty halls, four or five in number, rising one behind 
