It may still go off, but the villain [illegible] who is almost a savage, has suddenly moved down to within 24 hours’ distance of our territories with a horde of fifty thousand men, plenty of guns, boats, etc., and in short, he looks full of mischief, all the more that he is egged on by the Chinese. He may change his mind and take fright at the last minute, but in the meanwhile he gives just as much trouble as if he had declared war, and George has had a very busy week, ordering off regiments, taking up transports, buying stores, etc., and as usual, if a thing has to be done in a hurry, he has to _see to it_ all himself. He lives in a rage with the slowness of the people whose real work it is, but by dint of _aggravating_ them, he gets them through their work. I see the necessity of sending out a fresh English head of affairs, with the English constitution and habits of business, every five or six years. He keeps all the poor languid Indians moving. George was to have come up here yesterday, but he found the Captain of the man-of-war and the Colonel of the regiment that are to start first were making out that they could not possibly sail on Monday; so he sent for them in the morning and made a row, and then asked them to dinner in the evening to keep up the impression, and got some knowledgeable people to meet them, and I suppose he will get them off in time. The Chinese news is already better since Charles and Sir Gordon came away. Sir H. Pottinger[511] began in the right way. The Chinese Commissioner wanted to see him at Canton; he said it was the Commissioner’s place to come to him at Macao. Now there is an expedition gone to Amoy. The Chinese by their proclamations seem thoroughly frightened. The General and all the Navy people seem to be in ecstasies at having somebody who will not stop all their fighting, and I should not be the least surprised if Sir H. Pottinger finished it all in six months, by merely making war in a common straightforward manner. I suppose Fanny has told you of all Mrs. Elliot’s anger, and her expectations that Charles is to have titles and governments, etc., the instant he lands in England. She is quite right, poor thing! to take his part, though foolish to announce such expectations. But the change of Ministry may be of use to him. Otherwise, there never was a man, meaning well--which I really suppose he did--who has left such a fearful character behind him with everybody but the Chinese, who profess the greatest gratitude to him, as well they may. Your most affectionate E. E. [In March 1842, Lord Auckland and his sisters left India. After their four months’ voyage they settled down in a little whitewashed villa, Eden Lodge, Kensington Gore. Lowther Lodge was built subsequently on this site, now occupied by the Geographical Society.] CHAPTER XIII 1842-1849 _Miss Eden to Lady Theresa Lister._ KNIGHTSBRIDGE, _Tuesday[1845]._