Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin | Page 2

has not diminished with the lapse of years.
It is believed also that there is no time when it will not be good for his
countrymen to have brought before them those statesmanlike gifts
which accomplished the successful accommodation of a more varied
series of novel and entangled situations than has, perhaps, fallen to the
lot of any other public man within our own memory. Especially might
be named that rare quality of a strong overruling sense of the justice
due from man to man, from nation to nation; that 'combination of
speculative and practical ability' (so wrote one who had deep
experience of his mind) 'which peculiarly fitted him to solve the
problem how the subject races of a civilised empire are to be governed;'
that firm, courageous, and far-sighted confidence in the triumph of
those liberal and constitutional principles (in the best sense of the

word), which, having secured the greatness of England, were, in his
judgment, also applicable, under other forms, to the difficult
circumstances of new countries and diverse times.
'It is a singular coincidence,' said Lord Elgin, in a speech at Benares a
few months before his end, 'that three successive Governors-General of
India should have stood towards each other in the relationship of
contemporary friends. Lord Dalhousie, when named to the government
of India, was the youngest man who had ever been appointed to a
situation of such high responsibility and trust. Lord Canning was in the
prime of life; and I, if I am not already on the decline, am nearer to the
verge of it than either of my contemporaries who have preceded me.
When I was leaving England for India, Lord Ellenborough, who is now,
alas! the only surviving ex-Governor-General, said to me, '"You are not
a very old man; but, depend upon it, you will find yourself by far the
oldest man in India."' To that mournful catalogue was added his own
name within the brief space of one year; and now a fourth, not indeed
bound to the others by ties of personal or political friendship, but like in
energetic discharge of his duties and in the prime of usefulness in
which he was cut off, has fallen by a fate yet more untimely.
These tragical incidents invest the high office to which such precious
lives have been sacrificed with a new and solemn interest. There is
something especially pathetic when the gallant vessel, as it were, goes
down within very sight of the harbour, with all its accumulated
treasures. But no losses more appeal at the moment to the heart of the
country, no careers deserve to be more carefully enshrined in its
grateful remembrance.
ARTHUR P. STANLEY.
_Deanery, Westminster: March 4,1872._

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
EARLY YEARS.
Birth and Parentage--School and College--Taste for
Philosophy--Training for Public Life--M.P. for Southampton--Speech

on the Address--Appointed Governor of Jamaica.

CHAPTER II.
JAMAICA.
Shipwreck--Death of Lady Elgin--Position of a Governor in a West
Indian Colony such as Jamaica--State of Public Opinion in the
Island--Questions of Finance, Education, Agriculture, the Labouring
Classes, Religion, the Church--Harmonising Influences of British
Connexion--Resignation --Appointment to Canada.

CHAPTER III.
CANADA.
State of the Colony--First Impressions--Provincial
Politics--'Responsible Government'--Irish Immigrants--Upper
Canada--Change of Ministry--French Habitans--The French
Question--The Irish--The British--Discontents; their Causes and
Remedies--Navigation Laws--Retrospect--Speech on Education.

CHAPTER IV.
CANADA.
Discontent--Rebellion Losses Bill--Opposition to it--Neutrality of the
Governor--Riots at Montreal--Firmness of the Governor--Approval of
Home Government--Fresh Riots--Removal of Seat of Government
from Montreal --Forbearance of Lord Elgin--Retrospect.

CHAPTER V.
CANADA.
Annexation Movement--Remedial Measures--Repeal of the Navigation
Laws --Reciprocity with the United States--History of the Two
Measures--Duty of Supporting Authority--Views on Colonial
Government--Colonial Interests the Sport of Home Parties--No
Separation!--Self-Government not necessarily Republican--Value of
the Monarchical Principle--Defences of the Colony.

CHAPTER VI.
CANADA.
The 'Clergy Reserves'--History of the Question--Mixed Motives of the
Movement--Feeling in the Province--In Upper Canada--In Lower
Canada--Among Roman Catholics--In the
Church--Secularisation--Questions of Emigration, Labour, Land-tenure,
Education, Native Tribes--Relations with the United States--Mutual
Courtesies--Farewell to Canada--At Home.

CHAPTER VII.
FIRST MISSION TO CHINA--PRELIMINARIES.
Origin of the Mission--Appointment of Lord
Elgin--Malta--Egypt--Ceylon --News of the Indian
Mutiny--Penang--Singapore--Diversion of Troops to India--On Board
the 'Shannon'--Hong-Kong--Change of Plans--Calcutta and Lord
Canning--Return to China--Perplexities--Caprices of Climate--Arrival
of Baron Gros--Preparation for Action.

CHAPTER VIII.
FIRST MISSION TO CHINA--CANTON.
Improved Prospects--Advance on Canton--Bombardment and
Capture--Joint Tribunal--Maintenance of Order--Canton Prisons--Move
Northward--Swatow --Mr.
Burns--Foochow--Ningpo--Chusan--Potou--Shanghae--Missionaries.

CHAPTER IX.
FIRST MISSION TO CHINA--TIENTSIN.
Advance to the Peiho--Taking of the Forts--The Peiho River--Tientsin
--Negotiations--The Treaty--The Eight of Sending a Minister to Pekin
--Return southward--Sails for Japan.

CHAPTER X.
FIRST MISSION TO CHINA--JAPAN.
Embark for Japan--Coast Views--Simoda--Off
Yeddo--Yeddo--Conferences--A Country Ride--Peace and
Plenty--Feudal System--A Temple--A Juggler --Signing the Treaty--Its
Terms--Retrospect.

CHAPTER XI.
FIRST MISSION TO CHINA--THE YANGTZE KIANG.
Delays--Subterfuges defeated by Firmness--Revised Tariff--Opium
Trade--Up the Yangtze Kiang--Silver Island--Nankin--Rebel

Warfare--The Hen-Barrier --Unknown Waters--Difficult
Navigation--Hankow--The Governor-General --Return--Taking to the
Gunboats--Nganching--Nankin--Retrospect--More Delays--Troubles at
Canton--Return to