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Rh 6, 1859), as H.M. Minister in China, was waiting for instructions, after the defeat of the British fleet at the Peiho (June 25, 1859). British and French relations with China were at a standstill. The U.S. Minister Ward had attempted (June 27, 1859) to get the start of the Allies and to be the first to obtain an audience of the Emperor, but found himself treated in the precise form of a barbarian tribute bearer and retired discomfited. After much delay, a plan of action was agreed upon between England and France, and by order of Lord John Russell (November 10, 1859) a mild form of an ultimatum was presented to the Chinese Authorities (December, 1859). Whilst this ultimatum was under the consideration of the Chinese Ministers, the Viceroy of the two Kiang Provinces in Central China (Ho Kwei-sin), pressed by the Taiping rebellion, urged his Government to make peace with England and France and actually asked the Allies (March, 1860) for military assistance against the Taipings. But the moment this became known in Peking, an order went forth for his arrest and he was punished as a traitor. A defiant reply to the ultimatum of the Allies was now issued (April 8, 1860), such as left no room for further negotiations. The Chinese Government bluntly declared that they had never intended to carry out the provisions of the Tientsin Treaty. The Allies were not prepared for an immediate resumption of the war, but the Island of Chusan was meanwhile (April 21, 1860) occupied by the British fleet. Happily, in spite of renewed protests against the war policy initiated by Lord Palmerston and regardless of the fresh denunciations of Sir J. Bowring's action, hurled against him by Mr. Bright and Mr. Sidney Herbert (March 16, 1860). Parliament decreed that the honour of Great Britain was at stake. Lord Elgin had to return to China with a new army to do over again the work he had botched by his misplaced meekness. As soon as the re-inforcements arrived in China, the Taku forts were carried by assault and Tientsin occupied (August 26, 1860). Finally, after a shocking demonstration of Chinese official treachery and barbarity, Peking was taken (October 13, 1860), the Imperial summer palace burnt by way