a reply granting him
nearly six months' leave, and with that message the question of his
alleged insubordination may be treated as finally settled. There can
be no doubt that among his many remarkable achievements not the least
creditable was this mission to China, when by downright candour, and
unswerving resolution in doing the right thing, he not merely
preserved peace, but baffled the intrigues of unscrupulous
diplomatists and selfish governments.

With that incident closed Gordon's connection with China, the country
associated with his most brilliant feats of arms, but in concluding
this chapter it seems to me that I should do well to record some later
expressions of opinion on that subject. The following interesting
letter, written on the eve of the war between France and China in
1882, was published by the _New York Herald_:--

"The Chinese in their affairs with foreign nations are fully
aware of their peculiar position, and count with reason that a
war with either France or another Power will bring them perforce
allies outside of England. The only Power that could go to war
with them with impunity is Russia, who can attack them by land. I
used the following argument to them when I was there:--The
present dynasty of China is a usurping one--the Mantchou. We may
say that it exists by sufferance at Pekin, and nowhere else in
the Empire. If you look at the map of China Pekin is at the
extremity of the Empire and not a week's marching from the
Russian frontier. A war with Russia would imply the capture of
Pekin and the fall of the Mantchou dynasty, which would never
dare to leave it, for if they did the Chinamen in the south would
smite them. I said, 'If you go to war then move the Queen
Bee--_i.e._ the Emperor--into the centre of China and then fight;
if not, you must make peace.' The two Powers who can coerce China
are Russia and England. Russia could march without much
difficulty on Pekin. This much would not hurt trade, so England
would not interfere. England could march to Taku and Pekin and no
one would object, for she would occupy the Treaty Ports. But if
France tried to do so England would object. Thus it is that China
will only listen to Russia and England, and eventually she must
fear Russia the most of all Powers, for she can never get over
the danger of the land journey, but she might,