Peking.--We had not arrived many minutes before Sir Rutherford’s stud-groom, with two mounted orderlies, arrived, bringing letters from His Excellency, stating that horses had been sent on over night. Carts for our luggage would leave Peking early in the morning. “Don Juan,” the same horse I rode during our delightful excursion into Mongolia in 1867, was sent for me. By 9 A.M. we were at the British Legation, received with the same welcome and hospitality I had experienced when last here. Conolly took care of Risk; the rest of us were distributed over the Legation. I was in my old quarters. The baths were luxuries after our journey, for the water of the Peiho is too muddy for bathing. Lady Alcock and her daughter joined us at the 12 o’clock breakfast: the latter a bright, pretty girl, nice to everybody. Those who had not been in Peking before were shown the sights within reach by Conolly. I had much to discuss with Sir Rutherford. We agreed that although our late proceedings had not been approved of by the Foreign Office, what we did was for the best, and so far from drawing the country into war, the steps taken were the only ones that averted such a misfortune. Went to see the Joss that the Sergeant of Minister’s Bodyguard has brought for me. * * * * * I sent a photograph of it to General Knollys. It came home in the _Rodney_ and is now comfortably housed at Sandringham. * * * * * The interpretation of the inscription at the foot of the Joss is as follows:-- Respectfully made on a lucky day of the tenth month of the twenty-eighth year of His Majesty K’-ang-Hsi. In English dates, October or November 1690. The dinner-party this evening included Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hart. He holds a high position in the Imperial Customs, and has control over a larger revenue than was ever held by a foreigner in China, or perhaps any other country. Hart has the appointing of all the heads for collecting the foreign duties, as well as of the Harbour Masters and Commanders of Revenue cruisers. He chooses the positions and raising of lighthouses as well as the placing of lightships. Two years ago he applied to me for opinions respecting the proper positions of these lights, which I directed Commander Brooker to furnish. He took great pains and wrote several folios of information on the subject. I was gratified to learn that Hart had, upon my recommendation, reserved the appointment of Commander of a revenue boat, with £800 a year, for my old friend Claude de Crespigny. Dob Crosbie, who had kindly undertaken the duties of Master of the Horse to the Commander-in-Chief, took an early ride with Conolly to the Horse Bazaar to look for a quiet pony or two. He got hold of a fairish Dun, which is docile enough, I think, to carry Colin at Yokohama. [Sidenote: May 23.] To forenoon church--a modest little building with no appearance of extra ceremonies. [Sidenote: May 24.]