ey died in the
greatest torture. Up to the time that elapsed before they arrived
at the Summer Palace they were well treated, but then the
ill-treatment began. The Emperor is supposed to have been there
at the time.

"To go back to the work--the Chinese were given until twelve on
the 13th to give up the gate. We made a lot of batteries, and
everything was ready for the assault of the wall, which is
battlemented and 40 feet high, but of inferior masonry. At 11.30
P.M. the gate was opened, and we took possession; so our work
was of no avail. The Chinese had then until the 23rd to think
over our terms of peace, and to pay up L10,000 for each
Englishman and L500 for each native soldier who died during their
captivity. This they did, and the money was paid, and the Treaty
signed yesterday. I could not witness it, as all officers
commanding companies were obliged to remain in camp.

"Owing to the ill-treatment the prisoners experienced at the
Summer Palace, the General ordered it to be destroyed, and stuck
up proclamations to say why it was so ordered. We accordingly
went out, and, after pillaging it, burned the whole place,
destroying in a Vandal-like manner most valuable property which
would not be replaced for four millions. We got upwards of L48
a-piece prize money before we went out here; and although I have
not as much as many, I have done well. Imagine D---- giving
sixteen shillings for a string of pearls, which he sold the next
day for L500!

"The people are civil, but I think the grandees hate us, as they
must after what we did to the Palace. You can scarcely imagine
the beauty and magnificence of the places we burnt. It made one's
heart sore to burn them; in fact, these palaces were so large,
and we were so pressed for time, that we could not plunder them
carefully. Quantities of gold ornaments were burnt, considered as
brass. It was wretchedly demoralising work for an army. Everybody
was wild for plunder.

"You would scarcely conceive the magnificence of this residence,
or the tremendous devastation the French have committed. The
throne-room was lined with ebony, carved in a marvellous way.
There were huge mirrors of all shapes and kinds, clocks, watches,
musical boxes with puppets on them, magnificent china of every