The use of the square and compasses as symbols of moral rectitude, which forms such a striking feature of European masonry, finds no place in the ceremonial of the Triad Society, although recognized as such in Chinese literature from the days of Confucius, and still so employed in the every-day colloquial of China.
In 1816 Lord Amherst's embassy reached Peking.

Its object was to secure some sort of arrangement under which British merchants might carry on trade after a more satisfactory manner than had been the case hitherto.
The old Co-hong, a system first established in 1720, under which certain Chinese merchants at Canton became responsible to the local authorities for the behaviour of the English merchants, and to the latter for all debts due to them, had been so complicated by various oppressive laws, that at one time the East India Company had threatened to stop all business.

Lord Amherst, however, accomplished nothing in the direction of reform.

From the date of his landing at Tientsin, he was persistently told that unless he agreed to perform the _kotow_, he could not possibly be permitted to an audience.

It was probably his equally persistent refusal to do so--a ceremonial which had been excused by Ch`ien Lung in the case of Lord Macartney--that caused the Ministers to change their tactics, and to declare, on Lord Amherst's arrival at the Summer Palace, tired and wayworn, that the Emperor wished to see him immediately.