and Putiatine copies of all my
diplomatic correspondence with Yeh, &c., and an invitation to each
that he will join us in an attempt to settle matters by negotiation at
Shanghae. It is the commencement of the third act in this Chinese
affair.

_February 6th._--I have a letter from Mr. Reed, saying that he is
going to the North this day, so that perhaps Frederick will not find
him. This would be a great disappointment.

_Sunday, February 7th._--A month without news is very long to wait.
Perhaps time passes a little more quickly than when one was dawdling
and doing nothing at Hong-Kong; but still this life is tiresome
enough. I do not suppose that there ever was a town of the same
extent, or a population of the same number, more utterly uninteresting
than the town and population of Canton--low houses, narrow streets,
temples containing some hideous idols, which are not apparently in the
least venerated by their own worshippers. The only other resource is
the curiosity shops, and, as you know, I have not the genius for
making collections.

_February 9th._--Things have taken a better turn. F. by steaming at
night from Macao to Hong-Kong caught Reed about an hour before that
fixed for his departure for the North. He was delighted with my
communication, and has written undertaking to co-operate cordially
with us. This is, I think, a very great diplomatic triumph, because it
not only smooths the way for future proceedings, but it greatly
relieves our anxiety about Canton, as the Americans are the only
people who would be likely to give us trouble during the military
occupation.

_February 10th._--We have got Putiatine's letter for Pekin. It is very
good; perhaps better than any of the lot.... However, the _entente_ is
now established. My mind, too, is a good deal relieved to-day by
seeing the wretched junks, which have been shut up so long by the
blockade, with their sails set, gliding down the river. I sent Mr.
Wade to visit Yeh yesterday, to see how he took the notion of being
sent out of the country to Calcutta or elsewhere. He adhered to his
policy of indifference, real or affected, I cannot tell which. I
suppose it is a point of pride with him never to complain.

[Sidenote: Adieu to Canton.]

_H.M.S. 'Furious.'--February 20th._--I am now off from Canton, never I
hope to