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19.
itself was a mere strip sufficient for a path (in fact I am not sure that there was anything more than a right of way over another person's property) and would give us no chance to place buildings at any sufficient distance from the high wall. 
I was informed that none of the banks or Legations or shops, established in the foreign quarter, would part with a foot of their very valuable land, and that it was already in such demand that the prices offered to tempt them to do so were beyond anything which an institution like ours ought to consider.
These were the reasons which made me turn rather reluctantly to the field outside the actual territory ceded by the Chinese to foreigners. In this matter both Mr. Peck and Mr. Williams held out good hope. They told me that there were many large yamens, or official residences, either untenanted or but half used, which they felt sure might be bought from the government or private owners, and which the Chinese Government would gladly give us the necessary permission to occupy. In the matter of the best one for our purposes they agreed to give me the benefit of their own experience and judgment.
Later in my interviews with President Yuan Shi K'ai and with H. E. the Minister for Foreign Affairs, both those gentlemen volunteered the suggestion that the Chinese Government should present the American School with a suitable building and grounds.
This cannot be taken as an actual promise on their