second Sardanapalus he mocked at his enemies, and continued to revel in his palace, but not like that ancient monarch to fight to the death in the defence of his crown. He was more effeminate and cowardly, so he fled into the fastnesses of his native mountains. It is impossible to describe the riches with which the various palaces and subsidiary buildings of Yuen-ming-yuen were stored-not only with Chinese articles of value, but European articles of vertu, jewellery, and furniture, which the ambassadors of Great Britain and France had brought with them as presents as far back as the past century. These, it may be easily conceived, excited the cupidity of a victorious army, especially the French troops, who were first on the ground and in possession of the principal palace. At first it was understood that the spoil should be fairly divided between the Allies, but the French managed to secure by far the greater share, as they were the first to get in. At last every one who could get permission to leave the camp repaired to Yuen-ming-yuen, as the generals had made no objection to plundering the palaces. What a terrible scene of destruction then presented itself! Officers and men, English and French, were rushing about in a most unbecoming manner, eager for the acquisition of valuables. Most of the Frenchmen were armed with large clubs, and what they could not carry away they smashed to atoms. The love of gain is most contagious. No one just then cared for gazing tranquilly at the works of art; each one was bent on acquiring what was most valuable. At the close of the day's sacking it was found, as was to be expected, that much dissatisfaction had arisen among the different CAPTURE OF PEKING. 67 members of the army. Numbers of the officers, and nearly the whole of the men, had by their duties been deprived of participation in the spoil. Accordingly Sir Hope Grant issued orders that the British share of the plunder must be handed over to a commission of prize agents, to be sold by auction, and the proceeds divided pro rata among the officers and men. Sir Hope Grant very generously made his share over to the men, and as a token of respect the officers presented him with a gold claret jug richly chased, one of the handsomest pieces of the booty. The French general returned home laden with diamonds and pearls. These matters being so far satisfactorily arranged, the allies concentrated their forces before the An-ting Gate, an imposing structure on the walls of Peking, which are forty feet in height. It was intended to bombard this gate and effect an entrance if the Chinese authorities did not surrender it within twenty-four hours. Every preparation had been made for the assault, when at the last moment the gate was surrendered, and the British troops had the honour of planting their colours first upon the summit. Meanwhile, great anxiety was felt as to the fate of the captives so treacherously seized. Prayers were offered up by the chaplain at all the services on their behalf, and the congregations most heartily joined in their petitions. Soon after the arrival of the troops at Peking, the fears regarding Mr. Parkes, the chief interpreter, and Mr. Loch, private secretary to Lord Elgin, were put an end to by their arrival at head quarters. But they could give no account of what had become of their companions in distress, as they had been separated from the time of their seizure. Though these gentlemen suffered much privation during their detention, yet they received no bodily harm. Very different was the treatment of the other victims in the hands of their cruel captors. After the surrender of the gate, eight Indian soldiers and some Frenchmen were restored, fearfully emaciated, with their arms and wrists much lacerated by the tight cords that had bound them. On the following day two more Sikhs were brought back, and these the Chinese declared were the last of the survivors. The poor creatures were in a fearful state of anguish, and one of them died shortly afterwards. Then came several carts, with twelve coffins containing the mangled and decomposed remains of twelve more of the captured, while two missing were supposed to have been decapitated and their bodies thrown into a canal. Among these victims was Mr. Bowlby, the "Times" correspondent. When the Allies learned the sad fate of their countrymen, the indignation in the camp reached a terrible pitch, and fortunate it was for the Chinese that no more encounters occurred, as they would thenceforth have received no quarter on the battle-field. Lord Elgin was so impressed with the necessity of enforcing a severe act of retribution on the Emperor, that he resolved on committing the palaces of Yuen-ming-yuen to the flames. His reasons for doing so were that it was the Emperor's favourite residence, and its destruction could not fail to be a blow to his pride as well as to his feelings. He also found that it was to this place the prisoners were taken, that they might undergo the severest tortures within its precincts. The first division were detailed for this work of destruction. Ere long a dense column of smoke rising to the sky indicated that the work had commenced. As the day waned the column increased in magnitude and grew denser |