Page:To the Court of the Emperor of China - vol I.djvu/17

xviii be noted down in it at the very moment of its occurrence. Even night was not a reason for my dispensing with this rule. I thought it far better to lose a few hours rest, than to let a single remarkable Object escape me.

When our road was over-land, it was my invariable practice, let the time of night be what it might, to commit to my Journal, which I then carried in my palanquin, what-ever had appeared interesting to me during the day.

In returning from the Imperial Court to the hotel occupied by the Ambassador, at Pe-king, I never felt any care more urgent than that of noting down every thing I had seen.

By these means I suffered nothing to escape me, and an excellent memory constantly helped me to re-trace the most minute particulars, and to recollect even the most trifling step I had taken.