Note 3 — PART I. JAPAN AND THE PACIFIC.

“In the year 1855 or 1856 his father’s influence succeeded in procuring him a position in the suite of General Muravieff, who as Governor-general of Eastern Siberia, had undertaken a more accurate investigation of the Amoor territory, and was preparing for its colonization. During this work, the French and English war with China broke out; the allies occupied Pekin, and seemed to threaten the existence of the Celestial Empire. This moment was taken advantage of by Russia, who had already been negotiating for some time with China, respecting the cession of a large territory south of the Amoor. Ignatieff was sent to China as ambassador extraordinary” (F. E. Bunnett’s “Russian Society,” p. 170).