how far his ideal had been realized. The sun was beating down, and the party passed into a large, plainly furnished room, where there was a table laden with Chinese food. The Prince, sitting down at the centre, gave General Grant the seat at his left, the post of honor in China. He then took up the cards one by one, which had been written in Chinese characters on red paper, and asked Mr. Holcombe for the name and station of each member of the General's suite. He spoke to Colonel Grant, and asked him the meaning of the uniform he wore, the rank it showed, and its age. He asked whether the Colonel was married and had children. When told that he had one child, a daughter, the Prince condoled with him, saying, "What a pity!" In China, you must remember that female children do not count in the sum of human happiness; and when the Prince expressed his regret at the existence of the General's granddaughter, he was saying the most polite thing he knew. The Prince was polite to the naval officers, inquiring the special rank of each, and saying that they must be anxious to return home. It was a matter of surprise, of courteous surprise and congratulation on the part of the Prince, that the writer had seen so many countries as the companion of the General, and he said that no doubt I had found things much different elsewhere from what I saw in China. Beyond these phrases, the manner of which was as perfect as if it had been learned in Versailles under Louis XIV., the conversation was wholly with General Grant.

The Prince returned to his perusal of the face of the General as though it were an unlearned lesson. He expected a uniformed person—a man of the dragon or lion species, who could make a great noise. What he saw was a quiet, middle-aged gentleman, in evening dress, who had ridden a long way in the dust and sun, and who was looking in subdued dismay at servants who swarmed around

him with dishes of soups and sweetmeats, dishes of bird'snest soup, sharks' fins, roast ducks, bamboo sprouts, and a teapot, with a hot, insipid tipple made of rice, tasting like a remembrance of sherry, which was poured into small silver cups. We were none of us hungry. We had had luncheon, and we were on the programme for a special banquet in the evening. Here was a profuse and sumptuous entertainment. The dinner differed from those in Tientsin, Canton, and Shanghai, in the fact that it was more quiet; there was no display or parade, no crowd of dusky servants and retainers hanging around and looking on as though at a comedy. I did not think the Prince himself cared much about eating, because he merely dawdled over the bird's-nest soup, and did not touch the sharks' fins; nor in fact did any of the Ministers except one, who, in default of our remembering his Chinese name and rank, one of the party called Ben Butler. The dinner, as far as the General was concerned, soon merged into a cigar; and the Prince toyed with the dishes as they came and went, and smoked his pipe.

We could not remain long enough in the Yamen to finish the dinner, as we had an engagement to visit the college for the teaching of an English education to young Chinese. This institution is under the direction of Dr. Martin, an American, and the buildings adjoin the Yamen. Consequently, on taking leave of the Prince, who said he would call and see the General at the legation, we walked a few steps and were escorted into the class-room of the college. Dr. Martin presented General Grant to the students and professors, and one of the students read an address of welcome.

General Grant replied very briefly, thanking them for their kind words of welcome, and expressing the hope that the future might be ever bright, not only of each individual, but of the institution itself.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

PRINCE KUNG RETURNS GENERAL GRANT'S VISIT-A REMARKABLE CONVERSATION—THE LOOCHOO ISLANDSGENERAL GRANT BECOMES A MESSENGER OF PEACETHE SITUATION-HOW JAPAN HAS TREATED CHINAWAR NOT DESIRED-HOW JAPAN CAPTURED LOOCHOO WHAT CHINA WANTS-THE DISPUTED TERRITORY.

Prince Kung was punctual in his return of the call of General Grant. He came to the legation in his chair, and was received by General Grant in the parlors of the legation. Several officers from the Richmond happened to be in Pekin on a holiday, and the General invited them, as well as the officers of the Ashuelot, who were at the legation, to receive the Prince. As all the officers were in full uniform, the reception of the Prince became almost an imposing affair. The Prince was accompanied by the Grand Secretaries, and as soon as he was presented to the members of the General's party he was led into the diningroom, and we all sat around a table and were given tea and sweetmeats and champagne. During this visit there occurred the following remarkable conversation.

Prince Kung.-There is one question about which I am anxious to confer with you. The Viceroy of Tientsin writes us that he has mentioned it to you. And if we could secure your good offices, or your advice, it would be a great benefit, not only to us, but to all nations, and especially in the East. I refer to the questions now pending between China and Japan.

General Grant.-In reference to the trouble in the Loochoo Islands?

Prince Kung.—Yes; about the sovereignty of Loochoo and the attempt of the Japanese to extinguish a kingdom which has always been friendly, and whose sovereign has always paid us tribute, not only the present sovereign but his ancestors for centuries.

General Grant.-The Viceroy spoke to me on the subject, and has promised to renew the subject on my return to Tientsin. Beyond the casual reference of the Viceroy in the course of conversations on the occasion of interviews that were confined mainly to ceremonies, I am entirely ignorant of the questions.

Prince Kung.—We all feel a great delicacy in referring to this or any other matter of business on the occasion. of your visit to Pekin-a visit that we know to be one of pleasure and that should not be troubled by business. I should not have ventured upon such a liberty, if I had not been informed by the Viceroy of the kind manner in which you received his allusions to the matter and your known devotion to peace and justice. I feel that I should apologize even for the reference I have made, which I would not have ventured upon but for the report of the Viceroy, and our conviction that one who has had so high a place in determining the affairs of the world can have no higher interest than furthering peace and justice.

General Grant.-I told the Viceroy, that anything I could do in the interest of peace was my duty and my pleasure. I can conceive of no higher office for any man. But I am not in office. I am merely a private citizen, journeying about like others, with no share in the Government and no power. The Government has given me a ship of war whenever I can use it without interfering with its duties, but that is all.

Prince Kung.-I quite understand that, and this led to the expression of my regret at entering upon the subject.

But we all know how vast your influence must be, not only upon your people at home, but upon all nations who know what you have done, and who know that whatever question you considered would be considered with patience and wisdom and a desire for justice and peace. You are going to Japan as the guest of the people and the Emperor, and will have opportunities of presenting our views to the Emperor of Japan and of showing him that we have no policy but justice.

General Grant.-Yes, I am going to Japan as the guest of the Emperor and nation.

Prince Kung. That affords us the opportunity that we cannot overlook. The Viceroy writes us that he has prepared a statement of the whole case, drawn from the records of our Empire, and he will put you in possession of all the facts from our point of view.

General Grant.-The King of the Loochoo Islands has, I believe, paid tribute to China as well as Japan.

Prince Kung-For generations. I do not know how long with Japan, but for generations Loochoo has recognized the sovereignty of China. Not alone during the present, but in the time of the Ming Emperors, the dynasty that preceded our own, this recognition was unchallenged, and Loochoo became as well known as an independent Power in the East owing allegiance only to our Emperor as any other part of our dominions.

General Grant.- Has Japan made her claim upon Loochoo a subject of negotiation with China? Has she ever presented your Government with her view of her claim to the Islands?

Prince Kung-Japan has a Minister in Pekin. He came here some time since amid circumstances of ostentation, and great importance was attached to his coming. There was a great deal said about it at the time, and it