Part 11

Canton, October 10, 1859. —... Your account of poor Fan is more cheering, and altogether your letter was more satisfactory than the two or three preceding ones.... We have just heard that the 67th has left Calcutta for Canton, — out of the frying-pan into the fire, — and we expect them here in a week or ten days. They will shortly be followed by the 3rd Buffs, and if the Government at home takes up the Emperor of China's gauntlet, which of course they must, these will be followed later by further reinforcements.... I hope your Cumquots have by this time reached you.... The tea you ask for you get, I assure you, much better in England than I can get it here; it really is not worth while sending you any. I have never yet tasted any out here so good as I can get any day I like in England. It would be worse than sending coals to Newcastle. I am afraid that you are not sufficiently alive to the fact that the best of everything under the sun is to be got in that horrid old country England. Time continues to drag its slow length along out here. The Cantonese continue very quiet and orderly, and any little projects they may have in view for our amusement this winter will now be effectually smothered by the arrival of two additional regiments in our garrison. Next Friday we have another performance in our theatre. You would be amused to see the boxes full of officers each using a fan, — at church the same thing, — all the people in China use them, down to the lowest of the low. Scavengers carrying their loads of perfume out of the city, and halting to rest, will sit down and take out their fans, so you must not think us effeminate — not, however, that I ever use such a thing. And now God bless you, my dear mother, and keep you in health and spirits.