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conducting him over the last eighty miles of his journey,—from Tientsin to Peking,—and on arrival the officials would have led him at once to the imperial presence, without giving him time to don his uniform or marshal his presents. Inferring an intentional insult, he refused to go before the Throne until more leisurely methods were adopted, and the Emperor inferring an intentional insult from his refusal, ordered that he should be sent back to Canton at once. Not unnaturally this result evoked severe criticism in England, and strong animadversion from historians. One eminent authority ascribed it to the "ignorance, pride, isolation, and mendacity" of the Chinese. But the true explanation of the whole affair may be embodied in one word, "mismanagement." The mission had actually reached Peking before the Emperor was informed of its intended visit and, when informed, he seems to have assumed that due preparations had already been made. Therefore he found it inexplicable that Lord Amherst should refuse an immediate audience, especially as the question of obeisance had been settled in accord with the envoy's wishes. There must always be an element of conjecture in interpreting the incidents of Europe's early relations with China. Very possibly the Chinese officials who stood between the Throne and the British ambassador on this occasion, did not at first wish that an audience should be granted, their prejudices having been justly