92 
TUNG-CHOW. 
CHAPTER IV. 
The quarters prepared for the British Embassy at Tung-Chow were 
scarcely capacious enough for the accommodation of its principal 
members, consisting chiefly of a small suite of apartments, composing 
a long building of one story, having a colonnade before it, and situated 
at one end of an enclosed yard, which was entered by a gate at its 
other extremity. These were occupied by the Ambassador and one 
or two of the principal members of the Mission : the others pre- 
ferred sleeping in their boats, but assembled at meals in the Ambas- 
sador’s house. 
Report having informed the unofficial part of the Mission, that at 
Tung-Chow the question respecting prostration was to be finally 
determined, they looked anxiously for events which should speedily 
decide their fate. On the afternoon of the 21st, the arrival of Impe- 
rial Commissioners of very high rank was announced by some Man- 
darins who waited on His Excellency. We were at dinner when 
the coming of these persons was made known, but the Ambassador 
immediately prepared to receive them. The guard was turned out, 
and the band ordered to play on their entrance. Sir George Staun- 
ton, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Hayne, waited for them at the gate of the 
court-yard, while His Excellency remained a few steps in advance 
of the door of his apartment. They did not keep us long in expect- 
ation. Six Mandarins, all of whom wore either the clear or opaque 
blue button, and three of them peacocks’ feathers, soon entered, with 
an air of haughtiness that it is impossible to describe. They pushed 
rudely past the gentlemen at the gate, without returning their salu- 
tation ; scarcely noticed His Lordship, and hastening into his apart- 
ment, took the seats of honour before he entered. Such a prelude 
to a conference predicted the shortness of its continuance. It did 
