. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 . Suddenly the shipswere dressed, and a suppressed Ay, yah! of astonish-ment was uttered by the crowd. Meantime mandarinsof all ranks were arriving, and pouring in upon ourdeck ; and the ship was surrounded by boats full ofsoldiers in red jackets, with spears, bows, matchlocks,and tridents, with other quaint and fantastic weapons. Among these the executioners were the mostconspicuous, with their conical bloodstained hats,truculent countenances, and plaited thongs for casti- THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND SUITE.
. Narrative of the Earl of Elgin's mission to China and Japan in the years 1857, '58, '59 . Suddenly the shipswere dressed, and a suppressed Ay, yah! of astonish-ment was uttered by the crowd. Meantime mandarinsof all ranks were arriving, and pouring in upon ourdeck ; and the ship was surrounded by boats full ofsoldiers in red jackets, with spears, bows, matchlocks,and tridents, with other quaint and fantastic weapons. Among these the executioners were the mostconspicuous, with their conical bloodstained hats,truculent countenances, and plaited thongs for casti- THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL AND SUITE. 427 gation—the badges of their office. Then the greatjunk was made fast alongside, and all the shipsmanned yards, and belched out a noisy welcome tothe exalted visitor as he stepped on board; and theiiags waved, and the gongs beat, and the crowdmurmured their satisfaction, while the bright sunshone gloriously upon a scene as exciting and novelas it was ever my good fortune to witness. The Governor-General and suite were now takenover the ship, and looked for the first time upon the. The Govei-nor-General of Hoo-l:wang, with his Suite. wonderful mechanism of a 400-horse-power steam-engine, without betraying any astonishment. When, 428 INSPECTION OF MIDSHIPMEN. however, the 95-hundredweight pivot gun was work-ed for their edification, a gleam of dignified surprisemight be detected by an acute observer lighting alltheir countenances. After a luncheon, which couldscarcely equal in its proportions that of the Gover-nor-General, but to which he did full justice, he was posed for his photograph upon the deck. Theresult, which may be seen in the annexed woodcut,charmed his Excellency, and he extorted the mostsolemn promises from Mr Jocelyn that he should befurnished with a supply of prints to be sent to himfrom Shanghai. Our distinguished guest was particularly struckwith the youthful warriors by whom he found him-self surrounded. Midshipmen are always a sourceof astonishment to Chi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookpublisheredinburghwblackwood, bookyear1859
