First,then,theysuppressedthestatementthattheRussiantreatyhadalreadybeenratified,andthattheEmperorofChinahadgiveninstructionstohismandarinstoreceiveandescorttheAmericanEmbassytothecapitalfortheexchangeoftheratifiedcopiesoftheAmericantreaty.Theseactsweresuppressedwithaviewtostiflethesuspicionthatwouldnaturallyarise,thattheEnglishandFrenchEnvoys,insteadoftheCourtofPeking,areresponsibleformeetingobstaclesinthetransactionoftheirbusinesswhichwerenotencounteredeitherbytheirRussianorAmericancolleagues.Theother,stillmoreimportant,factthatwasatfirstsuppressedbyTheTimes,andtheotherPalmerstonorgans,butisnowavowedontheirpart,isthattheChineseauthoritieshadgivennoticeoftheirwillingnesstoconducttheEnglishandFrenchEnvoystoPeking;thattheywereactuallyinwaitingtoreceivethematoneofthemouthsoftheriver,andofferedthemanescortiftheyonlyconsentedtoleavetheirvesselsandtroops.Now,asthetreatyofTien-tsincontainsnoclausegrantingtotheEnglishandFrenchtherightofsendingasquadronofmen-of-warupthePejho,itbecomesevidentthatthetreatywasviolated,notbytheChinese,butbytheEnglish,andthatonthepartofthelatterthereexistedtheforegoneconclusiontopickaquarreljustbeforetheperiodappointedfortheexchangeoftheratifications.
NobodywillfancythattheHon.Mr.BruceactedonhisownresponsibilityinthusbafflingtheostensibleendaimedatbythelastChinesewar,butthat,onthecontrary,heonlyexecutedsecretinstructionsreceivedfromLondon.Now,itistruethatMr.Brucewasdispatched,notbyPalmerston,butbyDerby;but,thenIhaveonlytoremindyouthatduringthefirstadministrationofSirRobertPeel,whenLordAberdeenkeptthesealsoftheForeignOffice,SirHenryBulwer,theEnglishAmbassadoratMadrid,pickedaquarrelwiththeSpanishCourt,resultinginhisexpulsionfromSpain,andthat,duringthedebatesintheHouseofLordsonthis\"untowardevent,\",itwasprovedthatBulwer,insteadofobeyingtheofficialinstructionsofAberdeen,hadacteduptothesecretinstructionsofPalmerston,whothensatontheOppositionbenches.
AmanoeuvrehasalsobeencarriedoutduringtheselastdaysinthePalmerstonianpress,whichleavesnodoubt,atleasttothoseacquaintedwiththesecrethistoryofEnglishdiplomacyduringthelastthirtyyears,astotherealauthorofthePeihocatastropheandtheimpendingthirdAngloChinesewar.TheTimesintimatesthatthegunsplantedonthefortsofTakuwhichcausedsuchhavocamongtheBritishsquadronwereofRussianorigin,andweredirectedbyRussianofficers.
AnotherPalmerstonianorganisstillmoreplainspoken.Iquote:
\"WenowperceivehowcloselythepolicyofRussiaisinterwovenwiththatofPeking;wedetectgreatmovementsontheAmur;wediscernlargeCossackarmiesmanoeuvringfarbeyondLakeBaikal,inthefrozendreamlandonthetwilightbordersoftheOldWorld;