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some of its heaviest burdens, announcing the fact in an edict which, being sent to Canton for promulgation, gave rise to an incident vividly illustrating the relations between the Chinese and the foreign merchants. It had long been the uniform policy of the Chinese to insist that in his dealings with the local officials the foreigner must not be granted any exemption from observing the forms and ceremonies followed by a Chinese subject under similar circumstances. The foreigner, on the contrary, or at all events the Englishman, clung tenaciously to the principle that whatever would be humiliating or undignified in his own country must be eschewed in China, though no such sense attached to it there. No one can have much difficulty in appreciating the feelings that animated the parties to such a controversy. Each credited the other with precisely the sentiment which both found offensive. Thus when Chienlung's edict arrived, the Chinese seemed to see an unique opportunity. A decree freeing exports from a duty of ten per cent, and abolishing a payment of several hundreds of pounds hitherto exacted on the arrival of each ship, must possess so much importance, not merely on account of the actual relief it afforded, but also for the sake of the brighter era it appeared to herald, that the foreign merchants might be expected to forget their dignity in their gratitude. They were invited to the Governor's yamên in the city to hear the edict read, and they