Scope and Contents Copies of two despatches from the Naval and Military Commanders-in-Chief of the Allied Forces to the High authorities at Canton regarding their plan to attack the city:(1) The final diplomatic despatch from the Allied Commanders to the High Authorities of Kwangtung, dated the 7th year, 11th month, 9th day of Xianfeng's reign (24 December 1857). The note is undersigned by Li (Rigault de Genouilly), the French Commodore; Hsi (Rear-Admiral Michael Seymour), the English Commodore; and...

Scope and Contents A copy of despatch from Lord Elgin, Hong Kong, to Governor-General Yeh of Liang-Kwangs, 12 December 1857, in Chinese, with a short descriptive note in English. Elgin reports that since the opening of five ports for trade, Kwangtung has been the worst one, and foreigners are often bullied there. The agreements made in the treaty of Nanking have not been fulfilled, and there has been a refusal to provide compensation for the losses occasioned by the event of the insulting of the British flag...

Scope and Contents

A copy of despatch from Po-kuei to Parkes, 3 March 1858, notifying him of the dismissal of Yeh Ming-ch'en and his replacement by Huang Tsung-han (Huang Zonghan) as Governor-General of Liang-Kwangs. The document includes an English note reading 'Sent by Pihkwei to Mr. Parkes appt 3 March.'

Scope and Contents Two despatches from Lord Elgin to Po-kuei, dated 7th year, 12th month, 17th day of Xianfeng's reign (31 January 1858), including an English note reading 'Lord Elgin to Pihkwei Prisons. Jan 1858.'(1) Elgin records that the reason for the visit to the prisons by the Officials of the Bureau of Occupation is to check whether there are any foreign prisoners. He states that Yeh Ming-ch'en would be sent far away under escort and receive proper treatment, and urges Po-kuei to publicised...

Scope and Contents

Copies of Chinese eulogies by L[ ] Ch'un-yang in praise of Yeh Ming-ch'en (1855?). The document is labelled in Parkes' hand 'Scrolls from Yeh's Yamun'.

Scope and Contents

A draft English translation of an 'Extract from Memorial to the Throne by Fuhtai Li [Li Hung-chang] with reference to the fall of Changchow', undated [1864], with a printed copy of a letter from Sir John Bowring to His Excellency Yeh, Canton, 18 November 1856, on the reverse of one of the sheets.

Scope and Contents Undated extracts in Parkes' hand from documents concerning relations between China and the United States of America, referring in particular to William Reed, 7 folios and 1 bifolio. The documents include: 'Lord Palmerston on Greytown affair. 19 June 1857. Quoted by Mr Reed'; 'From a Note by Dr [Samuel Wells] Williams on the Russian Treaty with Japan of 12th Oct. 1857'; 'On a decree sent him from Canton. A decree found among the Viceroy's (Yeh's) archives. To Mr. Cass. Feb. 4. 1858';...

Scope and Contents A draft of a Chinese memorial from members of the Canton gentry denouncing the conduct of Yeh Ming-ch'en at the fall of Canton to British and French forces, 3 sheets, dated the 3rd moon of the 8th year of Hsien-Feng (1858), and labelled in Parkes' hand 'Memorial of Kwangtung Gentry on capture of Canton'. There is also a fair copy of the memorial, 3 sheets (glued together); another fair copy, 8 sheets (tied together), labelled in Parkes' hand 'Memorial of Kwangtung Gentry on capture of...

Scope and Contents 'Translation of a Cantonese "Squib" upbraiding one of the officials for his covetousness': an English translation by Robert Hart of a lampoon in prose and verse against Lew Tae-yang (senior assistant of the Pwan-yu magistrate in Canton), 15 October 1858, 1 bifolio, including a drawing of a coffin and an explanatory note by Hart. There is also 'Translation of a Chinese Ballad found in the Western Suburbs': an English translation by Hart of a poem beginning 'Yeh and his deeds I sing, who all...