ous to
know the condition of the siege.
"On the sixth day it was reported that the English had promised
that the seven nations would inflict no trouble on China. Germany was very
angry for the death of her Ambassador; Russia was eager for getting land
from China; France allied with Russia; Japan was watching for Russia.
"On the tenth day it was reported that a few thousand soldiers
were defeated by the Tartar General Shou-Shan, but that the Russians occupied
most of the Manchurian territories.
"In the midnight of the eleventh the Tsung-Li-Yamen wanted me
to go to Prince Chuang's house, so I put on my official coats; I doubted
very much, because I feared that he would kill me; I could but go.
"On the twelfth day when I arrived there I found that several
of my friends had already been there, and I knew that several letters were
presented to Prince Chuang by a Chinese who was trusted by foreigners to
deliver them in Tientsin.
"Prince Chuang and Duke Lan treated us in a friendly way, for
now they understood that people who knew foreign languages were also useful
"They asked us to translate these letters, which they would submit
to the Empress-Dowager for her perusal. As these letters came from the
legations, I think it is not necessary for me to repeat them.
"A man told me that Li-Peng-Leng commanded one hundred thousand
soldiers, who dispersed before they met foreign troops; he felt extremely
shameful and committed suicide. Some people who escaped from Tung-Chow
said that foreign soldiers were not many, but the Chinese did not fight
"On the twentieth day, hearing the sound of firing cannons and
guns, which continued around the city, people knew that foreign troops
had arrived, so they were in a state of great excitement. Now they hid
themselves so as to avoid the flying bullets.
"The Empress-Dowager escaped, and Prince Ching knew the city could
not be defended, and distributed flags of truce to the soldiers, and ordered
them to put them on the city wall.
"This is all the news I heard during the siege. I think that all
known to foreigners is unnecessary for me to write in details."