CHINESE  HISTORY  :  THIRD  PERIOD  35
the  first  Imperial  Audience  for  foreign  ambassadors  was  held
on  June  29,  1873.  This  appeared  to  be  a  step  in  advance
on  the  part  of  China,  but  the  fact  that  the  audience  took
place  in  the  “  Pavilion  of  Purple  Light,  a  hall  used  for
receiving  tributary  nations,  showed  that  the  pride  of  China
was  as  strong  as  ever.
Succession  of  Kwanghsü  (1875)
In  1875,  Kwanghsü,  the  present  Emperor,  was  placed
upon  the  throne.  He  is  the  son  of  Prince  Chun,  the  youngest
brother  of  Hienfeng.  His  elevation  to  the  Imperial  dignity
was  brought  about  by  a  coup  d'état  on  the  part  of  his  aunt,
the  mother  of  the  Emperor  Tungchih,  the  present  Empress
Dowager.  As  he  was  a  mere  child  at  the  time  of  his  accession, ­
  the  power  once  more  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Empress
Dowager,  and  she  became  the  virtual  ruler  of  the  Empire,
a  position  which  she  has  held,  with  short  intervals  of  retirement, ­
  up  to  the  present  time.
The  Chefoo  Convention  (1876)
After  the  British  Government  had  annexed  Burma,  an
attempt  was  made  to  open  up  a  trade  route  through  Yunnan.
Mr.  A.  R.  Margary,  of  H.B.M.’s  Consular  service,  was  commissioned ­
  to  travel  overland  through  China  to  meet  at
Bhamo  an  expedition  sent  out  by  the  Indian  Government,
and  to  act  as  interpreter  and  guide  through  Yunnan  and
Central  China  to  Hankow.  After  meeting  the  expedition,
Margary  started  on  ahead  to  Manwyne,  the  first  city  within
Chinese  territory,  to  prepare  the  way  for  those  who  were  to
follow.  Upon  arriving  there  he  was  made  away  with,  and
then  the  expedition  was  attacked,  and  driven  back  by  bands
of  armed  natives.
Sir  Thomas  Wade  was  at  that  time  British  Minister  at
Peking.  After  prolonged  negotiations  between  him  and  the
Chinese  Government,  the  Chefoo  Convention  was  finally
agreed  to,  the  principal  articles  of  which  are  as  follows  :
(1)  A  compensation  of  200,000  taels  was  to  be  paid  ,  (2)  An