'Cringer,' from Chusan, was semaphored, then spoke in the river; then a passenger came and told somebody, who told somebody else, who told , who drove straight up to Barrackpore, that the Emperor of China had agreed to everything, and that the admiral had gone to Canton to sign the treaty. It seemed so certain we were all in ecstasies; but when we received his despatches we were all sunk into despondency. In fact, if we had not been so cockahoop at first, we ought to be satisfied, I suppose. The Emperor has heard the proposed treaty, and appointed a high commissioner to meet Admiral Elliot at Canton, and nothing can be more civil than their communications, which is all new with Chinese. They also treat very kindly an artillery officer and a chaplain and some soldiers that they have grabbed one by one when the victims were out sketching, or bathing, or walking, and they are evidently very anxious for peace. China disagrees with our troops, who have been very sickly, though not dangerously so. Lord Jocelyn has been very ill, and was ordered off to Bombay, thence to go home on sick leave. Admiral Elliot speaks very highly of him, and says, if he had
