. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 . gentleman to the Commission abovenominated. As, however, it is most important that,in a matter involving such grave interests on both. sides, neither party should be deprived of the expe-rience and information which Mr Lay can bring tobear upon the subject, it is his wish that that gentle-man should be present at the meetings of the Com-mission.^ These meetings took place at a building called theYe-shi Yuen, situated at the further extremity of thecity, nearly four miles distant from the consulate : the
. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 . gentleman to the Commission abovenominated. As, however, it is most important that,in a matter involving such grave interests on both. sides, neither party should be deprived of the expe-rience and information which Mr Lay can bring tobear upon the subject, it is his wish that that gentle-man should be present at the meetings of the Com-mission.^ These meetings took place at a building called theYe-shi Yuen, situated at the further extremity of thecity, nearly four miles distant from the consulate : the OUR CHINESE COLLEAGUES. 273 daily journey tliitber in chairs, through the narrowreeking streets of Shanghai, was certainly, if not themost arduous, the least pleasant part of our Chinese colleaones were both ao;reeable intelli-gent men. The Treasurer, Wang, though superior inrank to the Judge, took little part in the experience of barbarians had been limited, andhis principal recommendation lay in his gentle con-ciliatory manner, and the absence of any marked. Sieb, labe Taoutai of Shaughai. antipathy towards foreigners. It was in Sieh thatthe Imperial Commissioners reposed all their con- 274^ DAILY CONFERENCES. fidence. For many years Taoutai or Intendant atShanghai, there is certainly no Chinese mandarin inthe Empire whose intercourse with foreigners hasbeen so extensive, or whose views upon foreign policyare so enlig-htened. There can be little doubt that,had the advice of Sieh been attended to, the ChineseGovernment would not recently have committed anact which now calls for a heavy retribution. At that time his opinion carried great weight inthe councils of the Imperial Commissioners, while hewas to a large extent influenced by his colleague inthe service of the Chinese Government, Mr Lay. Asour approach was always signified by a runner inadvance, we invariably found these high functionariesstanding at the door, waiting to receive us with aprofu
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