In 1860, James Bruce (1811–63), the eighth Earl of Elgin, embarked upon a second embassy to China which aimed to obtain ratification of the Treaty of Tientsin and finally conclude the Second Opium War on terms favourable to the British. Accompanying Elgin as his private secretary was the enterprising army officer Henry Brougham Loch (1827–1900). Originally published in 1869, Loch's first-hand account of the mission reflects sustained concern over Britain's strained trading relationship with China in the nineteenth century. Notwithstanding his views regarding the need for European influence to shape China's future success in government, his clearly written narrative illuminates contemporary diplomacy and the events surrounding the Convention of Peking in October 1860. Prior to this outcome, Loch had been captured, imprisoned and brutally tortured by Chinese officials. His chapters detailing this experience and his eventual release are especially noteworthy.
By:
Henry Brougham Loch Imprint: Cambridge University Press Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 140mm,
Spine: 18mm
Weight: 400g ISBN:9781108061360 ISBN 10: 1108061362 Series:Cambridge Library Collection - East and South-East Asian History Pages: 312 Publication Date:27 June 2013 Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Primary
,
Undergraduate
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
1. Circumstances that led to Lord Elgin's second embassy to China; 2. Lord Elgin's departure for China; 3. Landing at Peh-tang; 4. Steps taken to obtain information of enemy's position; 5. Description of the position of the northern and Taku forts; 6. Capture of Sinho; 7. Correspondence of Lord Elgin and the governor-general of Chih-li; 8. Capture of the north Taku forts; 9. Advance to Tien-tsin; 10. March towards Pekin; 11. My prison life; 12. Our prison life; 13. Proceedings of the allied armies; 14. Surrender of the bodies; 15. Yuen-ming-yuen; 16. Signature of convention.
