Hong Kong, October 29, 1859. — Since last I wrote
there has been no change in our relations with the Celestials, who are, I conclude, entrenching themselves behind their pride and obstinacy, and perhaps strengthening themselves by works more easy to overcome.... I have completely shaken off for the present all symptoms of intermittent fever, and have not had an attack for the last six weeks, so that I hope I am quit of it till the spring at all events, though it will be perhaps too much to expect to get rid of it altogether as long as I remain in China. I am staying down at Hong Kong again for a few days, and dined last night with Admiral Hope, who has apparently quite recovered from his wounds, and is very keen about attacking the Pei-ho forts again.... I have but little to write about, and this note is merely intended to tell you that I am all alive and kicking....
Canton, December 13, 1859. —... The connection between the General and his staff is at length likely to be broken off; he is not to command the force going to the North.... Having been offered the command at Canton while the operations in the North are going on, he has preferred sending in his resignation, which will, I believe, go home by this mail. I cannot tell you what a relief even this prospect is. The realisation of it will be still more agreeable; the awakening from a horrid nightmare or Sindbad at length relieving himself of the incubus of the hideous old man who would sit upon his shoulders for so long, will give you some little idea of the relief we shall all feel before long. It will now soon be over, thank Heavens! and then I shall only hope that my memory may fail to bring back all the annoyances and insults which a sense of duty has compelled me to submit to. I had a charming little trip last Saturday to a town called Fat-shan, about 15 miles off, in the Admiral's tender. Our new arrival. Admiral Jones," was there, whose acquaintance I renewed, having known him when in the Princess Royal, which brought our battalion home from the Crimea. We were about twenty-
1 859] FAT-SHAN 249
five in all, and had a very agreeable day. Fat-shan is a very important town, where a very extensive trade is carried on. When we last visited it, which was in January last, there were very strong barriers across the river, made of double rows of piles, sunk into the bottom chained together, and the intervals filled up with stones. These were all now removed, which we looked upon as a very peaceable sign for the future; as, if they contemplated creating disturbances down here during the operations in the North, they would hardly have removed these important defences from a town which ought to be one of the first objects of our attack. In fact, the whole appearance of affairs in this neighbourhood is so pacific that I do not anticipate any interruption of our present relations with the Cantonese Government. I have not heard anything of my own fate as yet, but if I am not to go to the North... it will not be very long before I am on mj'' way home. I do not intend remaining another summer out here, that is Canton, in fact the doctors have strongly warned me against it, and I do not feel at all disposed for another series of attacks of intermittent fever, which will get worse every year. I was so glad to get a letter from Fan by the last mail; pray give her my best thanks for it, and tell her how glad I was to hear from her own self a more satisfactory account of her health....
December 28, 1859. —... I shall be very glad to get out of this climate, for it is beginning to disagree with me sufficiently to prevent me keeping to my work as uninterruptedly as I like; however, I really hope my staff appointment in China is now drawing to a close. Fancy at my Christmas dinner the other day sitting next to a navy chaplain of the name of Jacob, son of old Jacob the bookseller in the High Street, Winchester! Wasn't it a funny meeting? We had such a long chat together about the old place and all its former inhabitants. Old
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
Uncle George " seems to have been [one of] his most intimate acquaintances. I wonder if you recollect him? Fancy talking about Uncle George, St. Cross, etc., at Canton 1 It seems strange jumbling such opposite ideas together....