TO IMPERIAL COMMISSIONERS. 357 
point of view, he had sent him to compliment His Imperial Majesty. The 
ceremony which he proposed to perform was the same as performed by the 
last British Ambassador, Lord Macartney, which was graciously received by 
the late Emperor. 
“ The Duke’s face put on a smile at the first part of this speech, and he took 
a purse from his side, and gave it to Mr. Amherst ; but when he heard the 
close, he replied with warmth, * The affairs of the last embassy were its own 
affairs. Those of the present embassy alone are what we will converse 
about.’ He turned to Chang, who was standing by, and said, ‘ Do you 
lead them out, and explain fully what I have said, and the reasons of it.’ 
The Ambassador being informed of this, saw plainly that nothing was to be 
done with the Duke then, and he would not submit to be referred to a per- 
son of Chang’s rank to discuss the subject. He therefore asked the Duke if 
he might expect to see him again. The Duke supposed that the Ambassador 
considered the meeting as partaking of the nature of a visit, and said, ‘ This is 
not a visit, it is an official meeting on national affairs.’ He was told that the 
Ambassador considered it as such. He then said, ‘ Whether you see me 
again or not, depends on the resolution you choose to come to.’ On hear- 
ing this, the Ambassador took the memorial from his pocket, and presented 
it to the Duke, saying, ‘ I’ll trouble you to transmit that to His Imperial 
Majesty.’ 
“ The Duke, evidently disconcerted at such an unexpected occurrence, took 
it, looked at the address, turned it over, passed it to Muh, and said, ‘ it 
is sealed.’ The Duke was taken down a peg or two by this reference to his 
master, and walked forward a few steps to see the Ambassador out. The 
whole party immediately returned to the Ambassador’s house.” 
Page 112.. — Sceptre sent from the Emperor of China to His Royal Highness 
the Prince Regent. 
This sceptre, cut, as stated in the text, from the stone called Yu by the 
Chinese, was valued at £500. Its name in Chinese is Yoo-ee, signifying, 
“ May it befal you agreeably to your wishes!” 
