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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh, by Augustus F. Lindley
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license
+
+
+Title: Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh
+       The History of the Ti-Ping Revolution (Volume I)
+
+Author: Augustus F. Lindley
+
+Release Date: March 17, 2012 [EBook #39180]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TI-PING TIEN-KWOH ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Chinese writing]
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: COMMISSION Received By The Author From HIS HIGHNESS,
+LE, CHUNG-WANG (Faithful Prince) COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE
+TI-PING FORCES. &c
+A Translation [of the Chinese writing on this page] will be found
+immediately after the Title page]
+
+
+
+
+    [Illustration: Chinese text of the title]
+
+    TI-PING TIEN-KWOH;
+    THE HISTORY OF
+    THE TI-PING REVOLUTION,
+
+    INCLUDING
+
+    A Narrative of the Author's Personal Adventures.
+
+    BY
+
+    [Illustration: Chinese text of the author's name]
+
+    LIN-LE.
+    FORMERLY HONORARY OFFICER, CHUNG-WANG'S GUARDS; SPECIAL AGENT
+    OF THE TI-PING GENERAL-IN-CHIEF; AND LATE COMMANDER OF THE "LOYAL
+    AND FAITHFUL AUXILIARY LEGION."
+
+    LONDON:
+    DAY & SON (LIMITED), LITHOGRAPHERS & PUBLISHERS,
+    GATE STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS.
+    1866.
+
+
+
+
+    COX AND WYMAN,
+    ORIENTAL, CLASSICAL, AND GENERAL PRINTERS,
+    GREAT QUEEN STREET, LONDON, W.C.
+
+
+
+
+    THE GENERAL OF THE CHIN-CHUNG (truly faithful) ARMY,
+    CHUNG-WANG LE (The "Faithful Prince" LE),
+
+
+Hereby certifies that the undermentioned Foreign Brother, LIN-LE,
+aforetime traversed the country between Shanghai, Ningpo, &c.,
+conducting and managing military affairs (or ships of war).
+
+He has traversed the whole country, and from time to time has been
+actively engaged, and has collected commissariat (or military) stores,
+neither sparing pains nor valuing difficulties, but directly managing
+the affairs.
+
+After this he proceeds to Kia-hing (or Cha-shing) prefecture to conduct
+operations (with regard to organizing an auxiliary force, &c.), and to
+receive and use, from Ting-wang, certain moneys for affairs in which he
+succeeded (or may succeed).
+
+We therefore hereby command those in charge of the military posts on the
+frontier to examine this closely, and to allow him to pass to and fro
+without let or hindrance.
+
+This is an Express Commission!
+
+    Dated: The Celestial Kingdom of Ti-ping
+    13th year, 10th month, 26th day.
+
+
+
+
+"TI-PING _is pronounced_ Tye, _or_ T'hi-Ping; _the first word_, Ti,
+_going into the broad English sound like the noun eye_, _or as_ ti _in_
+ti-tle. _The pure Chinese tone rather resembles_ T'hi _than_ Tye."
+
+
+
+
+    TO
+    Le-Siu-Cheng, the Chung-Wang,
+    "Faithful Prince,"
+    COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE TI-PING FORCES,
+    This Work is Dedicated,
+    IF HE BE LIVING;
+    AND IF NOT, TO HIS MEMORY.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+This work has been written in accordance with instructions received from
+the leaders of the great Ti-ping Revolution in China.
+
+Besides an account of my own personal adventures and practical
+experience during four years' military service and social intercourse
+with the Ti-pings, the following pages contain:--
+
+A complete history of the Revolution: its Christian, political,
+military, and social organization; an accurate description of its
+extraordinary leader, Hung-sui-tshuen, and his principal chiefs; the
+rise, progress, and present circumstances of the movement, together with
+its bearing and influence as well upon the welfare of the 360 million
+inhabitants of China, as on the general interests of Great Britain; with
+a thorough review of the policy of the British Government towards China;
+including the intervention with and hostilities against the Ti-ping
+patriots, who, by accepting Christianity and abandoning idolatry,
+revolted against the Manchoo-Tartar Government.
+
+In writing this work I have been prompted by feelings of sympathy for a
+worthy, oppressed, and cruelly-wronged people; as well as by a desire
+to protest against the evil foreign policy which England, during the
+last few years, has pursued towards _weak_ Powers, especially in Asia.
+
+As a talented writer has just proved,[1] "It is not once, nor yet twice,
+that the policy of the British Government has been ruinous to the best
+interests of the world. It is not once, nor yet twice, that British
+deeds have aroused the indignation and horror of 'highly civilized and
+half-civilized races.' Disregard of international law and of treaty law
+in Europe--deeds of piracy and spoliation in Asia--one vast system of
+wrong and violence have everywhere for years marked the dealings of the
+British Government with the weaker nations of the globe."
+
+Entertaining similar opinions to these, I have endeavoured to produce a
+complete history of the wonderful revolution in China, and an accurate
+narrative of the forcible intervention of the British Government against
+it. As this subject has never been properly placed before the people of
+England; as it forms one of the last acts of interference with the
+internal affairs of another State which was undertaken by Lord
+Palmerston's Administration; and as I have had peculiar opportunities of
+becoming acquainted as well with the Ti-pings as with the terrible
+effects of British intervention in this instance,--I feel it my duty to
+afford the fullest information to my countrymen, so as to assist them in
+forming a correct opinion on a question of such vast magnitude.
+
+Deploring, as I do, the apathy with which the great majority of
+Englishmen regard the foreign policy of their rulers, and lull
+themselves into a self-satisfied and indolent state of mind, because of
+the _present_ internal prosperity of their country, it is with hope of
+some good result that I offer my testimony against an hitherto
+uncondemned national crime; and, by illustrating the iniquity of our
+last hostilities in China, join the small array of those who strive to
+arouse their countrymen from what may prove a fatal lethargy.
+
+During the last thirty years, all the great nations of Europe have acted
+in a way more or less antagonistic to the only principle which insures
+the peace of the world, viz., that "No State has a right _forcibly_ to
+interfere in the internal concerns of another State, unless there exists
+a _casus belli_ against it." Consequently it is apparent that the
+existence of international and treaty law must be in a very precarious
+position.
+
+When we consider British armed intervention in the internal affairs of
+the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Afghanistan, &c.; the three
+wars with China; the wars with Burmah, Persia, and Japan; together with
+the forcible demonstrations against Ashantee, Greece, Siam, and Brazil;
+it cannot fail to be seen that England has not been the most backward in
+violating the above true principle of international law, nor the least
+guilty in following up unjustifiable impositions upon unoffending
+belligerents by actual _force_.
+
+It is not, however, with the cases here mentioned, but with the late
+unproclaimed war against the Ti-pings, and with the general effect of
+the policy in question, that this work is concerned.
+
+With regard to the first subject, it is shown that British interference
+has caused a tremendous destruction of human life; that it has been
+carried on with fire and sword against the first Christian movement in
+modern Asia; that it has been directed against a mighty national
+religio-political revolution which in no way concerned England; and that
+every incident of this forceable intervention, from beginning to end,
+was totally unjustifiable and iniquitous.
+
+With regard to the second subject, if the explanation of the first be
+considered together with the general effect upon the world which has
+been produced by England's policy towards some of the States mentioned
+as those with whom she has interfered during the last thirty years, it
+is probable that further light may be thrown upon "two remarkable
+phenomena which now puzzle this nation," described at p. 270, part iv.,
+of the admirable work entitled "Intervention and Non-intervention," as
+follows:--
+
+    "(1) That the reign of force, without any real moral antagonism,
+    is now established throughout all the four quarters of the
+    globe.
+
+    "(2) That Great Britain is no longer honoured and trusted as she
+    was, her statesmen having lost that moral influence which, quite
+    as much as physical fear, serves to restrain unscrupulous
+    governments in a career of wrong-doing."
+
+He will indeed be a bold casuist who can dispute the truth of the above
+propositions, or the fact that they are the natural consequence of such
+acts as the intervention against the Ti-pings, &c., which have been
+perpetrated for the sole object of forwarding our _own_ interests and
+"commercial transactions," without the slightest regard for the
+principles of right, justice, and international law.
+
+The history of the world proves that every great nation which has been
+founded by aggression and the sword has ultimately fallen,
+notwithstanding its power and grandeur, through the exercise of the same
+illegal violence against itself. Now those who utterly condemn any
+political action having for its basis expediency, temporary interest,
+commercial extension, place-holding, or any other mercenary or selfish
+motives, at the sacrifice of rigid equity and honour, believe that under
+Providence England will never fall from her exalted position while
+adhering unchangeably to the eternal principles of right and justice. If
+the future and the ultimate fate of a nation be not preordained, but are
+really dependent upon itself, let us believe that its destiny will be
+determined by an immutable law which only rewards or punishes according
+to deserts. Then will all who love their country be jealous of its
+honour, whilst those who are rather intent upon immediate and personal
+aggrandizement will imitate the acts of the robber, who cares not for
+the crime so long as he can enrich himself.
+
+Mingled with the more serious parts of this work, the reader will find
+much information regarding the vast Chinese empire; the character,
+customs, and position of its interesting people, especially so far as
+the Ti-pings are concerned. As these are subjects which have come
+largely under my personal observation, I have connected them with my own
+travels and adventures in the form of a narrative, so that each
+alternate chapter should treat exclusively of the history of the
+Ti-ping Revolution until both could be combined together.
+
+At present civil war is raging in every part of China, and if the
+natives--as represented by the Ti-ping, Nien-fie, or other
+insurrectionists--should succeed in overthrowing their Manchoo
+oppressors, a vast field will be thrown open to European enterprise, and
+the opportunity that will exist for civilizing and Christianizing the
+largest country in the world cannot be exaggerated.
+
+    A. F. L.
+    _London, 3rd February, 1866._
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+ERRATA.
+
+    P. 546, _For_ the word "whom" _read_ "with."
+
+    P. 689, _read_ last paragraph, commencing at the twenty-seventh
+    line, as follows:--"Yet, on the other hand, there are people who
+    have the obstinacy to review this and similar affairs, and
+    observe that in other parts of the world a very different policy
+    has been enacted, where it could be done with impunity, which
+    affords sufficient evidence that the pretended adoption of a
+    non-interfering policy is neither more nor less than an
+    unprincipled truckling to strong powers, and an aggressive
+    bullying of the weak."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] "Intervention and Non-intervention," by A. G. Stapleton.
+
+
+
+
+    CONTENTS OF VOL. I.
+
+    CHAPTER I.                                                    PAGE
+
+    Arrival in Victoria.--The Happy Valley.--Hong-Kong.--Tanka Boat
+    Girls.--Chinese Boatmen: their Evil Propensities.--Captain
+    Mellen's Adventure.--Canton Girls.--Amusements in China.--Cafes
+    Chantants.--The Exhibition.--Temple of Lanterns.--Chinese
+    Character.--Piracy in China.--The "North Star."--Fate of the
+    Crew.--Tartar Cruelty.--Adventure with
+    Pirates.--Sporting.--Duck-shooting.--Chinese
+    Hospitality.--Mandarin Barbarity.--Whampoa.--Marie the
+    Portuguese.--Marie's History: her Escape.--Description of Marie:
+    her Excitability: her Jealousy                                   1
+
+    CHAPTER II.
+
+    Hung-sui-tshuen.--Clanship in China.--Hung-sui-tshuen's
+    Genealogy: his Education.--Extraordinary Visions: Description of
+    them.--Description of Hung-sui-tshuen: his Early Days: his
+    Visions Explained: his Conversion: how
+    effected.--Hung-sui-tshuen's Preaching: his Religious
+    Essays.--The God-worshippers.--Destruction of Idols.--Progress
+    of God-worshippers.--Numbers increase.--Hostilities
+    commence.--God-worshippers Victorious.--"Imperialist"
+    Cruelty.--Bishop of Victoria.--Chinese Dynasty proclaimed       31
+
+    CHAPTER III.
+
+    The Manchoo Party.--The Ti-ping Party.--The Ti-ping
+    Character.--Conflict with Manchoos.--Chinese Gunboats.--First
+    Ti-ping Position.--Its Appearance.--Ti-ping
+    Hospitality.--Ti-ping Country described.--Effects of
+    Intervention.--San-le-jow.--Ti-pings Superior to
+    Imperialists.--Ti-pings and Chinamen.--Ti-ping Costume.--The
+    Honan Ti-pings.--The "Chinese Paris."--Interview with
+    Chung-wang: his Appearance: his Religious Feelings: his
+    Penetration: his Policy.--Commission from
+    Chung-wang.--San-li-jow.--A Ti-ping Army.--Its Friendly
+    Bearing.--Arrival at Shanghae                                   55
+
+    CHAPTER IV.
+
+    Organization of the Ti-pings.--Hung-sui-tshuen's
+    Manifesto.--Hung-sui-tshuen Emperor.--Proclamation of
+    Rank.--Ti-ping Titles.--Siege of Yung-gnan.--Ti-ping
+    Successes.--Their Moderation in Victory.--King Yang's
+    Proclamation.--Tien-Wang's Proclamation.--Cruelty of
+    Imperialists.--Cause of the Revolution.--Chinese History
+    Reviewed.--Corrupt Government.--Tartar Rule.--Manchoo Barbarity 81
+
+    CHAPTER V.
+
+    Shanghae to Han-kow.--River Scenery.--Silver Island.--The Salt
+    Trade.--Nin-gan-shan.--Tu-ngliu.--Its Auriferous
+    Soil.--Kew-kiang.--River Scenery.--The Yang-tze River.--The
+    Braves of Han-kow.--Chinese Politeness.--Manchoo Policy.--Fire
+    and Plunder.--A Chinese Rudder.--Scenery around
+    Ta-tung.--Appearance of the Country.--Chinese Chess.--Perilous
+    Adventure.--Crew of Mutineers.--Critical Position.--Gallant
+    Rescue.--Explanation.--Alarm of Pirates.--Plan of
+    Operations.--Its Advantages.--The Result.--Another
+    Alarm.--"Imperialist" Pirates                                  106
+
+    CHAPTER VI.
+
+    Fall of Nankin.--Manchoo Cowardice.--Immense Booty.--Sir George
+    Bonham's Arrival at Nankin.--"The Northern Prince."--The Ti-pings
+    fraternize.--Sir George Bonham's Dispatch.--The Ti-ping
+    Reply.--Further Communication.--Its Friendly Nature.--Ti-ping
+    Literature.--Its Religious Character.--Bishop of Victoria and
+    Dr. Medhurst's Opinions.--Ti-ping Publications.--The New
+    Testament.--Monarchy Established.--Occupation of Nankin.--A
+    Fatal Mistake.--Imperialist Advantages.--Advance of the
+    Ti-pings.--Manchoo Operations.--The Tsing-hae Army.--The
+    Retreat.--Tien-wang's Mistake--His Opportunity Lost.--Manchoo
+    Tactics.--Imperialist Outrages.--Ti-ping Moderation.--The Triad
+    Rebels.--They evacuate Amoy.--Captain Fishbourne's
+    Description.--Triads capture Shanghae.--Imperialist
+    Aggressions.--Jesuits' Interference.--The French attack the
+    Triads.--Shanghae Evacuated.--British Interference.--Its
+    Consequences                                                   136
+
+    CHAPTER VII.
+
+    Home.--Its Desolation.--Intelligence of Marie.--Consequent
+    Proceedings.--Preparations for Pursuit.--River Tracking.--In
+    Pursuit.--The Lorcha Sighted.--Stratagems.--Alongside the
+    Lorcha.--On Board the Lorcha.--Critical Position.--A Friend in
+    Need.--Failure.--Lorcha again Reconnoitred.--Increased
+    Difficulties.--Another Attempt.--Alongside the Lorcha
+    again.--Marie discovered.--Marie rescued.--Safe on
+    Board.--Marie's Explanation.--The Lorcha in Pursuit.--She gains
+    on us.--The Lorcha opens Fire.--Safe among the Ti-pings        177
+
+    CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    Ti-ping Operations.--Chinese Apathy.--The Ti-ping
+    Difficulty.--Popular Feeling.--Opposed to the
+    Ti-pings.--England's Policy.--Her Motives.--Dr. Bridgman
+    describes Ti-pingdom.--His Description of the Ti-pings.--X. Y.
+    Z.--Ti-pingdom in 1857.--Its Internal Economy.--Lord Elgin at
+    Nankin.--Gallant Exploit.--Its Interpretation.--Hung-jin arrives
+    at Nankin.--Hung-jin's Adventures.--Mr. Hamberg's
+    Narrative.--Hung-jin's Pamphlet.--Hung-jin Prime
+    Minister.--Nankin Invested.--Resumption of
+    Hostilities.--"Indemnity" demanded.--Conditions of Peace.--Cause
+    of Wars with China.--England's Foreign Policy.--The Opium Wars 204
+
+    CHAPTER IX.
+
+    The Sz-wang's Domestic Life.--Approach to Nankin.--Interior of
+    Nankin.--A Ti-ping Banquet.--Maou-lin, the Chung-wang's
+    Son.--The Chung-wang's Palace.--The Chung-wang's Levee.--Ti-ping
+    Chiefs.--Chung-wang's Appearance.--Council of War.--The
+    Review.--Cum-ho.--The March.--The Ti-ping Army.--Its
+    Organization.--Selection of Officers.--Equipment of the
+    Army.--Its Formation.--The Enemy in View.--Their
+    Retreat.--Preparations for Attack.--A Night Attack.--A Stockade
+    carried.--Charge of Manchoo Cavalry.--The Repulse.--The Enemy
+    retreat.--The Pursuit.--Complete Rout of the
+    Manchoos.--Maou-lin's Bravery.--Return to Nankin               234
+
+    CHAPTER X.
+
+    Prospects of the Ti-pings in 1860.--Their Operations.--Relief of
+    Nankin.--Rout of the Imperialists.--Ti-ping Successes.--British
+    Interference.--Ti-pings advance on Shanghae.--The Chung-wang's
+    Address.--Mr. Bruce's Notification.--Mr. Bruce's Despatch.--The
+    Future of China.--The Chung-wang's Despatch.--Mr. Bruce's
+    Inconsistency.--Missionary "Holmes."--His Statement.--His
+    Uncourteous Behaviour.--His Inconsistencies.--Suppressed
+    Missionary Reports.--Rev. Griffith Johns' Report.--Newspaper
+    Extracts.--The Shanghae Massacre of Ti-pings.--Newspaper
+    Extracts.--The Author's Reflections thereon                    266
+
+    CHAPTER XI.
+
+    Ti-ping Polygamy.--Ti-ping Women.--Their Improved
+    Position.--Abolition of Slavery by the Ti-pings.--Its Prevalence
+    in China.--Moral Revolution effected by Ti-pings.--Their
+    Religious Works.--Their Conduct Justified.--Jesuit
+    Missionaries.--Consul Harvey's Despatch.--Apathy of
+    Missionaries.--Its Consequences.--Chinese Antipathy to
+    Christianity.--Christianity of the Ti-pings.--Their Forms of
+    Worship.--Ti-ping Marriages.--Religious Observances.--The
+    Ti-ping Sabbath.--Its Observance.--Their Ecclesiastical
+    System.--Forms of Worship.--The Mo-wang.--Ti-ping Churches     300
+
+    CHAPTER XII.
+
+    Ti-pingdom in 1861.--Its Armies.--The Foreign Policy of
+    England.--Its Consequences.--Admiral Hope's
+    Expedition.--Comments thereon.--Its Results.--Lord Elgin's Three
+    Points.--Official Communications.--Secret Orders.--Evidence of
+    such.--Their Object.--Official Communications.--Mr. Parkes'
+    Despatch analyzed.--Newspaper Extracts.--Official Papers.--Mr.
+    Parkes' Measures.--His Arrogant Behaviour.--Result of the
+    Yang-tze Expedition.--Ngan-king Invested.--Modus Operandi.--The
+    Ying-wang's Plans.--His Interview with Mr. Parkes.--Sacrifices
+    his Interests.--Sketch of the Ying-wang.--Hung-jin's
+    Adventures.--The Chung-wang's Operations.--The Results.--Siege
+    of Hang-chow.--Its Capture.--Manchoo Cruelties.--Position of the
+    Ti-pings in 1861                                               325
+
+    CHAPTER XIII.
+
+    Life in Nankin.--Ti-ping Character.--Its Friendly
+    Nature.--Religious Observances.--Cum-ho.--Curious Adventure.--A
+    Catastrophe.--Love-making.--Difficulties.--Trip to
+    Shanghae.--Reflections.--On the Yang-tze River.--Life on the
+    River.--An Adventure.--The Deserted Lorcha.--The Murdered
+    Crew.--"Mellen's" Fate.--Arrival at Shanghae.--Return
+    Voyage.--Sin-ya-meu.--A "Squeeze Station."--The
+    "Love-chase."--Fraternizing.--Wife-purchasing.--The Grand
+    Canal.--China under Manchoo Rule.--Its Population.--The Manchoo
+    Government                                                     360
+
+    CHAPTER XIV.
+
+    Ti-ping Revolution in 1861.--Official Correspondence.--Its
+    Review.--Professions of Neutrality.--How carried out.--Captain
+    Dew's Interpretation.--Ti-ping Remonstrance.--Cause of British
+    Hostility.--Mr. Bruce's Assertions.--Mr. Bruce's Second
+    Despatch.--Mr. Bruce's Difficulty.--His Inconsistency.--Despatch
+    No. 3.--Inconsistent Statements.--Ti-pings approach
+    Ningpo.--Interview with Ti-ping Chiefs.--Mr. Hewlett's Interview
+    with "Fang."--General Hwang's Despatch.--General "Fang's"
+    Despatch.--Capture of Ningpo.--British Intervention.--Ti-ping
+    Moderation.--Open Hostilities commenced.--Commander Bingham's
+    Despatch.--Ti-ping Reply.--Commander Bingham's Rejoinder       392
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
+
+
+  CHROMOLITHOGRAPHS.
+
+  Chinese Commission                                     _Frontispiece_.
+  Hong-kong Boat Girls                             _to face page_      6
+  Marie (_portrait_)                                     "            28
+  Ti-ping Army going into Action                         "            68
+  Silver Island                                          "           108
+  Ke-tow                                                 "           114
+  Escape from the Lorcha                                 "           203
+  The Chung-wang's Council of War                        "           243
+  Defeat of the Tartar Cavalry at the Battle of Hu-kau   "           261
+  Sale of a Chinese Girl, as witnessed by the Author, at
+    Etching, on the river Yang-tse-kiang                 "           304
+  Teaching the Lord's Prayer in a middle-class Ti-ping
+    household                                            "           318
+  Map, showing the position of the Ti-pings at the close
+    of the year 1861                                     "           359
+  A Ti-ping Church                                       "           360
+  A Mast-head view of Nankin from the river, as it
+    appeared on the morning of departure                 "           372
+
+
+  WOOD ENGRAVINGS.
+
+  Sing-song Girl                                         _page_       30
+  Chung-wang's Head-dress                                   "         73
+  Ti-ping _versus_ Imperialist                              "         80
+  Chess Board                                               "        123
+  Chung-wang's Crown                                        "        244
+  Ti-ping Ladies of rank                                    "        324
+  A Manchoo Squeeze Station                                 "        384
+
+
+
+
+THE TI-PING REVOLUTION.
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+    Arrival in Victoria.--The Happy Valley.--Hong-Kong.--Tanka Boat
+    Girls.--Chinese Boatmen: their evil propensities.--Captain
+    Mellen's Adventure.--Canton Girls.--Amusements in China.--Cafes
+    Chantant.--The Exhibition.--Temple of Lanterns.--Chinese
+    Character.--Piracy in China.--The "North Star."--Fate of the
+    Crew.--Tartar Cruelty.--Adventure with
+    Pirates.--Sporting.--Duck-shooting.--Chinese
+    Hospitality.--Mandarin Barbarity.--Whampoa.--Marie the
+    Portuguese.--Marie's History: her Escape.--Description of Marie:
+    her Excitability: her Jealousy.
+
+
+In the summer of 1859, I arrived before the town of Victoria, on board
+the good ship _Emeu_, and cast anchor in the blue waters of its shaded
+harbour. Victoria is the only town in the island of Hong-Kong, and,
+viewed from the bay, presents a very imposing appearance, in many
+respects resembling Gibraltar.
+
+Like the city of the "Sentinel of the Straits," it is built from the
+very edge of the sea to some considerable distance up the mountains
+which constitute the principal portion of the island, and is almost
+entirely hemmed in by towering masses of time-worn granite, that
+constitute a grand and effective background to its princely buildings.
+Many of these noble edifices--the dwellings of European merchants and
+officials, and the British Government works--in the higher parts of the
+town are well ornamented by gardens; which, with several verdant little
+valleys in the hollows of the mountains, some low hills covered with a
+feathery semi-tropical foliage--Green Island, with its dense bushes on
+one hand, and Jardine's, crowned with a noble mansion of that firm, on
+the other--together with the multitude of junks and European shipping at
+anchor, and those under weigh crossing and enlivening the scene, afford
+a charming and picturesque tone to what would otherwise be the
+unrelieved massiveness and sterility of the place.
+
+There is one particularly beautiful spot in the "Island of Sweet
+Waters," as it is poetically termed by the Chinese, that well repays the
+trouble of a visit. It is situated some five or six miles from the town,
+and is named Happy Valley. It is surrounded with luxuriant Asiatic
+foliage, from the midst of which occasional farm-houses peep out. A fine
+grassy level forms the centre of the valley, around which is constructed
+the Hong-Kong racecourse, and this is bounded by a broad carriage-road
+completely encircling the whole plain; while on the edges of the distant
+rising ground the burial-place of those Europeans who never return to
+their home rears above the surrounding evergreens its monumental
+sculpture.
+
+Happy Valley is surrounded by mountains whose sloping sides are thickly
+clothed with vegetation; the trees, although of a stunted species, are
+thickly interlaced with undergrowth and an innumerable variety of
+evergreen bushes, through which murmur many mountain springs, that
+become in the rainy months swollen into torrents. Although a favourite
+resort of European residents, I hardly consider Happy Valley a good
+sanatorium; for, when visiting it at early sunrise, I invariably found
+thick, damp vapours shrouding it, slow to be dispelled by the morning
+sun, and strongly significant of fever, and "Hong-Kong fever" in
+particular.
+
+The colony of Hong-Kong represents most perfectly the success of British
+enterprise in commercial matters; and, what is far more important,
+points to the true mode by which Christian and civilized nations may
+communicate with the Pagan and semi-civilized ones of Asia.
+
+The less said about the cession of the island to England the better;
+for, although in the year 1841 the Imperial Commissioner, Keshen,
+coerced by the presence of British troops, agreed to cede it, his
+Government repudiated this unauthorized agreement, and yet the British
+made that a _casus belli_, and afterwards compelled them to sanction and
+endorse the concession. Many people will, doubtless, say that England
+was compelled to make war upon the Chinese at that time, in order to
+defend her subjects and protect their trade and property; but it does
+not appear that either trade or property had ever been threatened,
+except through the nefarious opium traffic. The Chinese Government took
+the best measures to prevent the introduction of this injurious drug
+into their empire, but the British Government laid themselves open to
+the charge of wishing to protect the smugglers and forward the lawless
+trade.
+
+The colony of Hong-Kong is in many respects to be admired, and it is to
+be regretted that the ministers of the present day do not appreciate its
+many advantages. In former days England possessed more statesmen and
+fewer politicians than now. Of all the blunders which have recently
+marked her foreign policy, the late intervention in China is the worst;
+there we find neither the courage nor intellect which, in former ages,
+by talent, energy, and success redeemed even acts of aggression; neither
+do we perceive any desire to forego that system of unjustifiable
+interference which is so much calculated to render this great nation
+contemptible.
+
+Hong-Kong is a free port, and in that lies the secret of how to
+establish relations with the Chinese, Japanese, or any other exclusive
+Asiatic people. As the late Mr. Cobden very correctly stated, during the
+debate upon China in the House of Commons (May 30, 1864), "We have only
+to establish free ports on the coast of China, withdraw ourselves
+altogether from political contact with the people, and we shall have a
+trade with them quite as much, if not more, than if we penetrate into
+the country and assist in destroying their civilization in a vain
+attempt to plant our own, for which they are not yet fitted." There is
+no necessity whatever to _force_ trade, and when such policy is
+persisted in, the results are always calamitous. To apply the idea
+personally: How would any of us like a stranger (foreign to us in every
+respect) to come and thrust himself into our house, determined to
+_compel_ us to trade with him, openly professing his intentions to alter
+our religion, ancient institutions, &c., with his goods in one hand
+(principally a poisonous drug) and a sword in the other? But let the
+stranger establish himself close to our house, without aggression or
+loud-mouthed professions of interference with our domestic and public
+policy, and then, whenever we become aware of the benefit to be derived
+from him, is it not certain that we should flock to him willingly, and
+take him amongst us as a friend?
+
+I caught the first glimpse of real Chinese life directly the anchor fell
+from the _Emeu's_ starboard cathead; for although at Singapore and
+Penang there are many "Celestials," yet their peculiar manners and
+customs do not forcibly obtrude themselves upon the notice of a "bird of
+passage." They seem, at both places, to be leading a subdued, unnatural,
+very un-Celestial sort of existence; and, besides, very few Celestial
+ladies are to be seen about. The _Emeu_ was scarcely moored when I was
+startled by the appearance of those amphibious creatures, the Chinese
+boat and laundry women. The Tanka (boat) girls lead an almost entirely
+aquatic life, and are actually born, live, and die, on board their
+floating homes. Their time seems fully occupied in rowing, or sculling
+with a large oar over the stern of the boat; and this incessant labour
+makes them strong and well-figured. Until married, it cannot be said
+they are either paragons of virtue or modesty; but when married, or
+betrothed--that is to say, bought by a long-tailed Benedict--they, at
+all events, seem far less amiable towards the exiled "Fan-Kwei" (foreign
+devil), as, in common with most Chinese, they politely designate all
+foreigners.
+
+The personal charms of these first seen of the Chinese fair sex are by
+no means so contemptible as Europeans generally imagine. Their long and
+intensely black hair, brilliant and merry though oblique black eyes,
+light-yellowish brown and often beautifully clear complexion, and lithe
+robust figures, constitute a charming and singular variety of feminine
+attraction. They are a gay thoughtless set these boat-girls;
+unfortunately, to mar what would otherwise often be a very handsome
+face, many of them have the flattish nose typical of South China, though
+the high and more European formed one is by no means uncommon. Through
+constant exposure to the sun, they are mostly tanned to a regular
+olivaster gipsy hue, and wicked little gipsies they often are,
+especially when making a young greenhorn, fresh from his mamma in
+England, pay six times the proper fare.
+
+The Tanka girls are free in all things unconnected with their work; but,
+as many are purchased by aged individuals, owners of boats, they are
+slaves in so far as their occupation is concerned. Very different is it
+with their unfortunate sisters, the slaves of the washerwomen, who are
+bought when quite young, and trained to an evil life.
+
+It is a usual thing to see, the moment a ship has anchored, several old
+laundry hags, each with an attendant retinue of fascinating nymphs,
+"taking charge" and establishing themselves in possession of all
+quarters of the vessel, from the skipper's cabin to the black cook's
+galley. Of course, these little witches make sad havoc of the sailors'
+hearts, and generally of their clothes.
+
+It is a singular fact, but no less singular than true, that invariably
+upon pay-day the number and affection of these pretty damsels seem to
+increase and multiply in a surprising manner; and by the very
+perceptible metallic chinking when they take their departure by the
+gangway, it would appear that their sweetness of disposition had not
+been exerted unsuccessfully.
+
+The boat and laundry women are peculiar to the South of China, being
+only met with at Macao, Canton, Whampoa, and Hong-Kong. They seem to
+have become a distinct part of the population of China since the arrival
+of Europeans to its shores, as employment by the latter affords their
+principal means of livelihood. Throughout the year they constantly amuse
+themselves in the water, swimming and disporting themselves about the
+above-mentioned harbours, like so many young porpoises in a gale of
+wind.
+
+Besides the Tanka boats, there are others at Hong-Kong manned by
+Chinamen; but until quite lately, and until the establishment of a
+water-police, they formed a very dangerous mode of travelling at night,
+the crews having frequently robbed and murdered their passengers.
+
+A friend of mine was once very nearly killed by a boat's crew when being
+taken to his vessel by them; and although, as it will appear, upon that
+occasion he managed to escape, he was afterwards brutally murdered by
+the Chinese. But that terrible affair I will relate at its proper place;
+for I found his mangled corpse, together with those of his wife and
+child, some years afterwards, in another part of China.
+
+My friend Mellen was captain of a vessel belonging to himself, and, just
+after the last Canton war, was at anchor in Hong-Kong harbour. Returning
+on board late one night, the boatmen--seven in number, six pulling and
+one in the stern-sheets steering--soon after leaving the shore, instead
+of steering directly towards his ship, seemed to be keeping away from
+her. He, of course, endeavoured to make them steer in the right
+direction; but with that half-complying, half-defying shuffling of your
+true Chinaman, they managed to persist on the wrong course until
+reaching some little distance outside all the shipping. At this moment,
+and while still a considerable way from his own vessel, which happened
+to be lying outside all the others in port, he was suddenly struck with
+some heavy weapon by the man behind him, who was steering. Through a
+forward movement which he made, the blow luckily missed his head and
+struck him on the shoulder. Mellen very fortunately had a small revolver
+with him, and at the moment when the rest of the boatmen started from
+their seats and rushed to attack him, he turned and shot his first
+assailant, had just time to face them, firing again and wounding the
+foremost, when they were upon him, armed with formidable knives and the
+heavy thole pins used to fasten the oars. In an instant he received
+several wounds, though providentially his assailants were too much in
+each other's way to use their murderous weapons effectively; but his
+revolver being self-acting, without a pause, he was enabled to shoot
+dead another, and severely wound a fourth. At this, seeing four of their
+number _hors de combat_ almost within five seconds, two of the remaining
+robbers lost heart, and jumped overboard to swim for it; the last, a
+large powerful fellow, closed with Mellen in a fierce and deadly
+struggle. My friend's revolver was empty; so, abandoning the weapon that
+had already rendered such good service, he grappled with his adversary,
+endeavouring to wrest away the knife with which he was armed.
+
+[Illustration: HONG-KONG BOAT GIRLS.
+London, Published March 15^{th} 1866 by Day & Son, Limited Lithog^{rs}
+Gate Str, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
+Day & Son, Limited, Lith.]
+
+In the meanwhile, the reports of the pistol and the noise of the
+struggle had reached the wakeful ears of my friend's wife, who was by
+good chance on deck, waiting and watching for her husband's return.
+Piercing the darkness of the night with eager eyes, she faintly
+discerned a boat in the distance, outside all the other ships, and
+naturally concluded it must be bound for their vessel. In agony for her
+husband's safety, she aroused the crew, seized a pistol from the cabin,
+and set off in the gig to overhaul the boat which had attracted her
+attention. The gig's crew pulling fast, arrived at the scene of conflict
+not an instant too soon; for Mellen being in weak health, was succumbing
+to the superior strength of his antagonist, who, with one hand grasping
+him by the throat, was making fierce efforts to release the other, and
+plunge the dagger it held into my friend's breast.
+
+Just at this critical moment, Mrs. Mellen and her boat's crew arrived
+alongside, and, seeing all the danger, she presented the pistol at the
+Chinaman and fired; the ball passed directly through his head and laid
+him lifeless at her husband's feet. This gallant act was but one of many
+instances in which that courageous woman had saved her husband's life,
+and in defending which she eventually lost her own--a fruitless though
+noble sacrifice.
+
+After landing and reporting myself at head-quarters, I finished my first
+day in China by seeing as much of Celestial life as my uninitiated state
+permitted. A sedan chair, the usual and aristocratic style of travelling
+in China, was hired, which for upwards of three hours transported me all
+over the town. The Chinese--their country--in fact, all about them--will
+afford an observant stranger an inexhaustible fund of study and
+amusement; yet, as a rule, Europeans are singularly neglectful of the
+country and most interesting traits of the peculiar people they sojourn
+amongst. They go to China with the sole idea of making a fortune, and
+too often in its blind pursuit all other principle is sacrificed. Their
+whole existence seems a feverish dream to obtain dollars enough to
+return home wealthy; and very seldom, if ever, are any found
+sufficiently disinterested or philanthropic to study the welfare and
+future of the immense Chinese empire.
+
+At first, as foreigners generally are, I was considerably disgusted by
+the unnatural appearance of the men my lot was cast with, consequent
+upon the shaved head and monkey appendage. This frightful custom in no
+slight degree adds to the naturally cruel expression of their oblique
+eyes and altogether peculiar features; in fact, hair is absolutely
+required to tone down the harsh and irregular contour of their faces.
+
+While wandering through the town, I was much struck by the appearance of
+many Chinese girls wearing European shoes on naturally formed feet, and
+head-dresses of brilliant Manchester pattern, in the form of
+handkerchiefs, folded diagonally and once knotted under the chin, the
+ends projecting on either side by a particular and almost mathematical
+adjustment. I soon became convinced that the European proclivities of
+the Canton girls went much further than this. These young ladies, before
+marriage or obtaining a "massa," wear their front hair cut short and
+hanging over the forehead, which gives them an expression between that
+of a London street-preacher and a person just dragged through a
+haystack; their back hair is gathered together and plaited into a long
+tail, which, when loose, strangely resembles the tail of a black
+Shetland pony. To the best of my knowledge, the Chinese women never cut
+their hair, and their system might be beneficially imitated by
+foreigners, for their tresses are certainly much longer and more
+luxuriant than those of the women of Europe.
+
+I arrived during the Chinese New Year holidays, which, throughout China,
+are celebrated with extensive merry-making. At Hong-Kong the new year is
+welcomed with much festivity, and during many days the cracking of
+fire-crackers, the roar of petards, and the clanging of gongs is
+incessant; which, being continued all night, renders sleep difficult.
+
+I visited numberless sing-songs, or theatres, in all of which I found
+the most persevering of instrumental and vocal performers. Some
+exclusively confined themselves to musical (Chinese) entertainment,
+while others were devotees of the Chinese Thespis, and, of the two, I
+think the latter preferable; for, although their principal hits consist
+of a tremendous crash of gongs, drums, horns, &c. (which invariably
+places the audience in ecstasies of delight), there is not so much of
+the shrieking falsetto of the singers, or the scraping of that
+excruciating tympanum-piercing instrument of torture--the Chinese
+fiddle. The nation has certainly obtained its knowledge of musical
+concord from the vicinity of Pandemonium, its idea of discord must come
+from somewhere considerably beyond that place.
+
+Some of the sing-songs combined creature comforts with those more
+intellectual; but these were permanent institutions, and not simply for
+the occasion. These establishments are open free of charge, but care is
+taken to have a select audience. The female performers considerably
+outnumber the male, and have the cramped small feet. After shrieking
+themselves hoarse, in a higher pitch of voice than I ever heard before,
+they approach the visitors to receive largess. Now, their manner of
+doing this I denounce as the most revolting specimen of self-distortion
+and pedestrianism imaginable. I can think of no juster simile than a
+frog trying to walk upright with half its hind legs amputated and stilts
+fastened to the stumps. Why the deformed feet should ever have been
+termed "small" I am at a loss to imagine, all that I have seen being
+quite the reverse. The bottom of the foot, it is true, is bandaged, and
+compressed into a hoof-like smallness, with the toes all forced into the
+sole, and on this the shoe is fitted; but look at the ankle, instep, and
+heel, and you will see nothing but an immense shapeless mass, closely
+resembling the foot of an elephant.
+
+Whenever the Celestial vocalists have hobbled up to you and taken a
+seat,--perhaps on your knees if they should happen to take a fancy to
+you,--the polite thing is to order supper for the company _ad libitum_,
+and by this means the proprietors and musical talent of the
+establishment recompense themselves; for although there is no
+entrance-charge, by George! they _do_ make you pay for supper.
+
+It is a pity some of the members of teetotalism do not undertake a
+proselytizing expedition to China, for in these intellectual
+entertainments of the people they would find a fair field for their
+labour. The etiquette of the sing-song is that a man must never refuse
+the wine-cup from the hand of one of the attendant sirens, and I am
+quite sure the sirens use the strongest persuasion and their most
+fascinating arts to ply it. It sometimes unfortunately happens that a
+victimized Chinaman becomes unduly elated, and attempts to steal a kiss;
+and when this happens, as the ladies are thickly befloured and daubed
+with paint, the poor fellow quickly assumes a floury appearance, while
+the lady's countenance becomes variegated with irregular lines of
+commingled colour.
+
+The Chinese have another polite mode of making beasts of themselves,
+consisting of a sort of forfeit game, in which one holds up his fingers
+and the other, before seeing them, quickly guesses the number held up,
+the loser's penalty being to swallow a cupful of wine or _samshoo_, and
+then, to show his superior breeding and capacity, to hold it aloft,
+bottom up, after each draught.
+
+The professional ladies are always open to an engagement, and are
+usually invited to attend evening parties, to enliven the guests by
+their melody and flirtation. Upon these occasions each siren carries a
+fan, upon which is inscribed her list of songs, and this is handed round
+the company to select from. The wives and daughters of the host are
+never present at these _soirees musicales_, for they, poor creatures,
+being only upon a par with the goods and chattels, are considered
+unworthy to mix with their lords in public. In all affairs but the most
+private domestic ones they are entirely ignored, and it would be the
+greatest breach of good manners for one Chinaman to ask another after
+his wife's health, and would be vulgar to talk of female relatives at
+all. Of course, where woman occupies such an inferior position, her
+rights are frequently usurped; and it is no uncommon thing for one of
+the singing ladies to monopolize a man with several wives.
+
+While at Hong-Kong I had the satisfaction of visiting a grand New Year
+exhibition that only takes place once every ten years. It consisted of
+an immense building of bamboo and matting, after the general style of
+Chinese theatres. The people excel in this style of building, and will
+finish one of these temporary structures in a few days, and without
+using a single nail in the work. The walls and roof are simply bamboo,
+lashed together with rope, then thatched with rushes, and covered with
+matting; the whole completely watertight, and strong enough to resist
+the wind and weather. That which I visited was designated the Temple of
+some long-named Chinese divinity, and was of vast extent, covering
+several acres of land. The interior contained a little of every
+production of China, a fair sprinkling of European articles, and an
+endless variety of shows and amusements. Some parts were devoted to
+stalls of raw produce, while others contained every kind of manufactured
+article. One of the most attractive scenes for the Chinamen was a show
+of models of a great variety of wild animals, comprising almost
+everything, from a mouse to a camelopard. Although this dummy menagerie
+gave the greatest satisfaction and elicited numberless "Hi-ya's!" from
+the astonished Celestials, I am pretty certain that many of the supposed
+representations could never have found an original, and I am quite sure
+that had a tiger seen the tremendous monster intended for himself, it
+would have certainly frightened him. Theatres, sing-songs, lecturers,
+quack-doctors, mountebanks, tumblers, jugglers, fortune-tellers, all
+were to be enjoyed for the sum of two dollars paid at the door.
+
+The Temple was said to contain 1,000,000 lanterns, and was altogether
+remarkably well got up. I met the Chinese jugglers for the first time at
+this place, and I must say they are remarkably dexterous. One of the
+best tricks I saw them execute is this--the performer, after showing the
+audience that he has nothing concealed about him and going through a
+series of gymnastics to convince them, will suddenly stop, stoop down,
+and from under his ordinary Chinese robe produce an immense bowl filled
+to the brim with water; so full, indeed, that the slightest movement
+would spill some, yet the trick is executed without a drop falling to
+the ground.
+
+While lounging through the "palace of 1,000,000 lanterns," I found the
+first opportunity to study that absurd jargon, "pidgeon English." I was
+watching one of the most expert jugglers, when a fine, portly, evidently
+well-to-do Chinaman came up, and addressed me with--
+
+"Hi-ya! this piecee man belong numbah one. Can do so fashon? ga la!"
+
+More by good luck than comprehension, I happened to hit upon his meaning
+that the man was very clever, and his inquiry as to whether I approved
+of the trick. After a few more general and equally ambiguous remarks, in
+which some of my interlocutor's friends joined and made a worse
+confusion, he thought we had had enough of the wizard, and invited me to
+partake of some Chinese good cheer in these words:--
+
+"S'pose you no wantche look see, mi wantche you come along mi catchee
+samshoo."
+
+Having nothing better to do, and thinking it a good opportunity to
+ascertain a little of Chinese character, I accepted his proposal, and we
+adjourned to a restaurant department close by, where I spent a short
+time very pleasantly--telling the Chinamen about railways, balloons,
+submarine telegraph, &c., and receiving in return copious information
+upon _pidgeon_ (business) and the Chinese politics of Hong-Kong. My
+friends were loud and unanimous in praise of the colony, and declared
+it, and all pertaining to it, "numbah one;" while they quite as heartily
+expressed their dissatisfaction with the state of their country and its
+Manchoo Government. At last, I was obliged to leave them in a hurry,
+having a confounded middle watch to keep, and we parted with mutual
+protestations of good will, amidst which might have been prominently
+distinguished, "Engleman numbah one," "Chinaman numbah one," "Chin-chin,
+ga la!" &c.
+
+Hong-Kong is highly appreciated by the Chinese, who, to escape from the
+tyranny and rapacity of their Manchoo rulers, stifle their national
+pride, and flock to it in great numbers. Those who have preferred
+British jurisdiction to the unendurable state of their own country are
+mostly respectable men; but, of course, there is another and a
+disreputable party. Hong-Kong, besides affording shelter and advantages
+to the honest and worthy, has been quite as useful to bad characters and
+criminals from the mainland; and as these latter have not been slow to
+avail themselves of its protection, the result is that gangs of robbers
+and pirates have become located amongst the large native population.
+Until quite lately, a walk at evening, outside the precincts of the
+town, was likely to terminate unpleasantly, as these fly-by-night
+gentlemen were often hanging about with an eye to business. Many
+Europeans have returned from a late walk considerably edified upon this
+point; some have never returned, for the Chinese marauders are
+particularly unscrupulous. A couple of philanthropists one night thought
+to relieve me of the burden of my purse while I was taking a moonlight
+stroll barely beyond the houses of Victoria; but the arguments of a
+Penang lawyer proved so effectual--thanks to Sergeant-Major Winterbottom
+and its own toughness--that they were glad to forego their unwelcome
+attentions and decamp, leaving a memento of the meeting in the shape of
+an ugly-looking rusty knife.
+
+This sort of thing, however, is becoming less frequent, in consequence
+of the increased police force; but there is another and a much greater
+evil, almost as bad as ever--that is, piracy. The whole coast, for
+several hundred miles north and south, is infested with pirates, and the
+peculiar formation of the land about Hong-Kong, (with its many bays,
+creeks, inlets, and rivers of every description,) affords them a
+rendezvous with the most perfect means of concealment. Many piratical
+craft carry on their depredations quite within sight of the colony; some
+vessels have even been plundered, and their crews massacred, upon its
+waters, with a large fleet of British gunboats lying uselessly almost
+within gunshot-range. Some of the wealthiest Chinese in Hong-Kong have
+been discovered to be in connection with the pirates, and even Europeans
+have been implicated.
+
+About five years ago a large English brig was captured, and many of her
+crew murdered, in full sight of the signal-station at Victoria Peak.
+This case happened to come under my own observation.
+
+The _North Star_ sailed from Hong-Kong early one morning, bound for
+Japan, in ballast, but carrying some 12,000 dollars in specie. Her crew
+consisted of seventeen persons all told, including two passengers, to
+whom the treasure belonged. The wind being very light, the vessel made
+but little progress, and towards evening became nearly becalmed about
+seven miles from the anchorage. About this time the Chinese pilot left,
+and was observed to communicate with a native junk which had followed in
+the wake of the brig all day, unfortunately without exciting the
+apprehension of those on board.
+
+Soon after the pilot's departure, the Chinese steward brought the
+captain his revolver, and asked him if he wished it to be cleaned;
+unsuspectingly he discharged all the barrels and returned it to the
+steward. At this moment the junk--which had gradually been edging down,
+the light airs sensibly affecting her broad lateen sails, though the
+brig was almost stationary--having approached within fifty yards,
+suddenly became alive with men, although only two or three had
+previously been visible. Putting out large sweeps they commenced pulling
+rapidly towards the brig.
+
+The captain of the _North Star_ perceived the danger too late, and
+rushed to the cabin for a musket (four of which comprised the whole
+armament), calling upon the crew to arm themselves as best they could,
+and get the watch below on deck. The pirates crashed alongside, and
+instantly cast a shower of stink-pots on the deck of their prey, killing
+the man at the wheel, and severely burning two others of the crew. Fore
+and aft the pirates boarded in overwhelming numbers. The captain ran on
+deck with a musket, and with him, similarly armed, the two passengers
+and the second mate. At the same time the mate, in the fore part of the
+vessel, had snatched up a deck handspike, the carpenter an axe, and the
+rest of the crew whatever they could lay their hands on. The captain and
+his supporters levelled their pieces, and with care and coolness pulled
+the trigger, the caps snapped--but that was all. The steward, after so
+cunningly inducing the captain to empty his revolver, had filled the
+nipples of each musket; he was, of course, the accomplice of the
+pirates, and jumped on board their junk directly she touched the sides
+of the vessel he had betrayed.
+
+In a moment the captain, second mate, and one of the passengers were cut
+down, shockingly wounded by the swords and spears with which the pirates
+were armed, while the remaining passenger jumped overboard. Meanwhile,
+overpowered by numbers, and without arms to defend themselves, the
+remainder of the crew, with the exception of two or three who escaped,
+had been massacred. The mate, after desperately defending himself with
+his heavy handspike, and breaking the skulls of several assailants,
+received a fearful gash across the face, destroying both eyes. The
+carpenter buried his axe in the brain of one pirate, but, before he
+could recover himself, was cut down by another. In a similar way all
+the crew, except two men and a boy, were stretched dead or dying on the
+deck. The three who escaped and afterwards gave evidence, saved
+themselves by climbing up the forestay and hiding in the top. They were
+part of the watch below, and directly they emerged from the hatchway saw
+one of their shipmates lying half under the fore trysail (the halyards
+of which had been let go by the pirates while seeking ropes to make
+their junk fast alongside) weltering in his blood; this, and the horrid
+noise of the slaughter taking place abaft, warned them to seek safety
+aloft, while the trysail screened them from observation.
+
+After getting the treasure on deck, and placing it on board their junk,
+the pirates plundered the _North Star_ of everything of value, and then
+left her, sweeping themselves rapidly to seaward. When the junk was a
+long way off, the three survivors descended from their place of
+concealment, did all they could to alleviate the sufferings of the few
+yet alive on deck, and steered in for the harbour with a light breeze
+that had sprung up. After midnight the wind fell again; and, lowering a
+small boat, two of the three got into her, and pulled for the shipping.
+They reached my ship first; and, sending them on to the next vessel
+(H.M.S. _Imperieuse_) for a surgeon, we manned a cutter, and set off for
+the _North Star_. We soon reached the unfortunate bark, and then gazed
+upon a fearful scene of butchery. The mate and three of the crew were
+still living, but appeared too horribly mangled for any chance of
+recovery; the rest were all dead, some being literally hacked to pieces.
+The boats from the _Imperieuse_ soon arrived, and we took the brig in
+tow. The surgeon pronounced every case but one hopeless. Out of the
+sixteen Europeans on board at starting, only five escaped; the four
+sailors, and the passenger who jumped overboard. The escape of the
+latter was something marvellous; while in the water, the pirates threw
+three bamboo spears at him, which did not strike him, but even
+furnished a means of support. They then paid no further attention to
+him; so, swimming close under the stern of the brig, he remained there
+perfectly hidden for some time. Being a capital swimmer, he at length
+determined to push off and attempt to reach the shore, although fully
+seven or eight miles distant. He did so; and, after being in the water
+for nine hours, reached land, and was carried to Hong-Kong by fishermen.
+
+During some months I made voyages on the north-east coast of China, from
+Hong-Kong to Swatow, Amoy, Foo-chow, and Shanghae. I mixed as much as
+possible with the natives at each place, and found all alike heartily
+disgusted with their present rulers. Much of the cruelty and duplicity
+generally attributed to the natural character of the Chinese is the
+consequence of the evil government of the Manchoo dynasty.
+
+From infancy the people have become habituated to scenes of blood and
+torture, similar to those inflicted upon their ancestors during the last
+two centuries by the Tartar conquerors. Made callous and degraded by the
+ceaseless persecution of their authorities; unnaturally branded with the
+shaven-headed badge of slavery; their spirit broken and debased by a
+system of grinding tyranny; their lives and property at the mercy of the
+most merciless officials in existence, and of judges solely influenced
+by bribery; "cut into a thousand pieces," according to law, or otherwise
+cruelly tortured to death for any rebellion against their foreign
+Emperor's unrighteous sway; frequently decapitated upon bare suspicion,
+but always if related to a rebel--how can it be a matter of surprise if
+the Chinese seem imbued with cunning and deceit, the usual resource of
+the weak and sorely oppressed?
+
+Since the colony of Hong-Kong was founded, the natives, through
+intercourse with foreigners, have become acquainted with the superior
+laws, governments, &c., of those they have been taught to consider
+"outer barbarians." This has tended to make them more dissatisfied with
+their own national constitution; can we, then, feel astonished at the
+exclusive policy of the Manchoo government? Why, seclusion is their
+salvation; too surely they know that their power consists in the
+weakness, ignorance, superstition, and degradation of their Chinese
+slaves. The great Ti-ping revolution proves their fears are well
+founded, from the fact of its originating entirely from the contact of
+Christian civilization with China.
+
+As for fishermen, pirates, and wreckers, the whole coast of China is as
+thick with them as the fabulous Straits of Baffleman is with
+monkeys--where they say a ship's yards cannot be squared on account of
+them. Upon one occasion, while anchored in foggy weather off the island
+of Namoa, close to Swatow, I had a capital opportunity of noticing the
+remarkable keenness with which those light-fingered gentry are ever on
+the alert for plunder. Early in the morning, before daylight, while in
+charge of the deck, I suddenly heard a distant and wide-spread splashing
+of the water. At first I naturally supposed it to be a shoal of
+porpoises; but as the noise became more distinct, I fancied I could
+distinguish the regular sound of oars. Directly I became convinced of
+this, I made the gunner load a couple of guns, and turned all hands out.
+In a few minutes the fog cleared a little with the dawn of day, and I
+was able to discern an innumerable fleet of boats pulling and sailing
+rapidly towards the ship. I had scarcely discovered them when they
+suddenly ceased rowing, and rested on their oars, having, I fancy,
+perceived the smoke issuing from our funnel. Seeing their hesitation, we
+gave them a blank cartridge, and this, with the noise of our men at the
+capstan weighing anchor, frightened them off; for they immediately
+"topped their booms," and soon disappeared in the surrounding mist.
+
+In the neighbourhood of Swatow the people are much excited against their
+government, and at one place--within twenty miles of that city--they
+have been in open rebellion for many years. The Viceroy of the province
+having several times had his troops defeated by them, found it much
+easier to make an arrangement by which they were to govern themselves,
+while nominally under the Manchoo _regime_; therefore, at the present
+day, the Goo-swah men, who inhabit a mountainous part of the sea-coast,
+live, to a certain extent, independent of the Manchoo rule.
+
+While thinking of the north-east coast, I must not forget the capital
+shooting I have had at Foo-chow. Wild water-fowl are found at this port
+in vast quantity, in fact, in numbers such as I have never seen equalled
+in any part of Europe, Asia, Africa, or America, that I have visited.
+The whole river and surrounding country literally swarm with an infinite
+variety of wild swan, geese, duck, curlew, and water-fowl of every
+description. During six months of the year, sometimes more, this game is
+found in plenty, generally appearing about the commencement of October,
+and departing by the end of March. The best shooting-ground about
+Foo-chow was the false mouth of the river and the adjacent country. This
+became my favourite haunt, and comprised a broad sheet of shallow water
+full of mud and sand-banks; low land on each side, marshy and
+intersected by creeks and canals, with many bamboo or reed swamps, and
+here and there a few hills. I generally started from the ship, at the
+anchorage, about midnight, in a covered native boat, with two or three
+Chinamen to work her, my Chinese boy, and a Malay, as body-guard and
+general assistant in the work of slaughter upon the feathery tribe.
+Reaching my destination generally before daylight, I had ample time to
+make all preparations, amidst the quacking of ducks and the constant
+rushing sound of innumerable wings. At the earliest peep of dawn, or a
+little before, I got ashore upon the sand-bank to which the boat might
+be fastened, and almost always found myself within shot of immense
+flocks of wild fowl.
+
+Sometimes I had the misfortune to land upon a bank of treacherous
+consistency, and upon such occasions became stuck fast in the mud; and
+Chinese mud is of a wonderful stickiness and tenacity, as those who have
+had experience of it can well testify. There is often considerable
+danger in such a fix, for every effort to extricate oneself simply tends
+to make a deeper immersion. The only sure plan is to use a plank on the
+surface of the mud; so that I always carried several with me for
+emergencies of such a muddy nature. For the first shot I usually had a
+long musket, loaded with grape cartridge, and a wire one; the effect of
+this amongst a closely packed flock, often within sixty yards, may be
+easily imagined. I frequently bagged five or six brace of duck, or
+several geese, as a commencement. The swans and geese were generally
+off, after the first alarm; but I often had several shots, with the
+double-barrel which my Malay carried after me, amongst the ducks or
+teal. As for snipe and curlew, I have many a time seated myself in the
+centre of a sand-bank, and, with the Malay loading my guns as fast as he
+could, kept up an incessant fire upon them in flocks eddying round and
+round the shoal, but unwilling to leave it, until the rising tide
+compelled their flight, or my guns exterminated them. After this
+I would return to the boat for "Chow-chow," and when it was despatched,
+cross over to the mainland, probably getting a few brace of widgeon
+on the way. Early morning, or about twilight, I always found the best
+time for sport; during the day the birds are very wild. I have tried
+all sorts of dodges to get close. I have dressed as a Chinese
+field-labourer--umbrella hat, rush waterproof, and everything; but
+although such a Chinaman can be seen working within thirty yards of the
+birds, I could never get so close by a long way. The abundance of game
+about Foo-Chow is almost incredible. I have sometimes shot curlew in
+the dark, guided by the noise they made, and finding them by the cries
+of a wounded bird. I have shot wild swans so large, that when a Chinaman
+carried one with the head over his shoulder, its feet draggled on the
+ground; and very seldom returned to my ship without a boat literally
+loaded with spoil.
+
+During shooting excursions and my frequent intercourse with the Chinese
+country people, I have nearly always found them exhibiting traits of
+character we give them little credit for; but only when they are
+completely by themselves, and none of the Manchoo troops, officials, or
+_employes_ of any description are in the vicinity, have I found them
+particularly friendly to foreigners--very inquisitive, although not so
+outwardly, by reason of their great politeness and calm behaviour;
+hospitable and obliging. To qualify this, yet to render still more
+interesting the _natural_ disposition of the people, it is easily
+perceived they have a sort of undefined dread of, and dislike to us,
+caused by the lying teaching and bitterly hostile reports circulated by
+the entire body of Manchoo officials concerning the "foreign devils,"
+which, for my part, I have always done my best to expose wherever I have
+wandered amongst the deeply interesting natives. But few Europeans are
+aware of the entire misrepresentations the Manchoo Government circulate
+about foreigners, much less of the monstrous atrocities attributed to
+them; and I dare say, if propriety allowed me to mention some I have
+been told by the Chinese, most people would disbelieve them, especially
+since the British Government has entered into _alliance_ with the
+Manchoos.
+
+I was eye-witness to a fearful specimen of the so-called "paternal"
+Government's displeasure at Foo-chow some years since. It appears the
+Viceroy of Fu-keen issued an edict to prevent the Cantonese ascending
+the river to trade, for some fault they had committed. Before, however,
+this edict could have become generally known, three Canton lorchas
+sailed up the river laden with merchandise. They were fired upon by the
+batteries about the mouth of the river, yet, regardless of this (for the
+Cantonese are a brave, obstinate race), they passed up and arrived
+within a short distance of the European shipping. At this point, about
+sixty of the Mandarin gunboats (row-galleys), without any warning or
+communication whatever, opened fire upon and pulled for the lorchas.
+Apparently, the first two allowed them to board unresistingly; and this
+no sooner took place than a savage slaughter of their helpless crews
+commenced. Some were cut down and brutally mutilated upon the decks,
+their heads being chopped off and their bodies thrown overboard; others
+jumped into the river, only to be there killed by the soldiers in the
+gunboats, who followed them wherever they swam, spearing them, and
+thrusting them under water. The crew of the third lorcha, seeing the
+terrible fate of their comrades, endeavoured to prevent the government
+troops from boarding, and made a gallant resistance. Their defence,
+however, though desperate, was unavailing. The gunboats surrounded them,
+and poured in showers of grape and canister; the lorcha had but three
+guns of small calibre to reply with, and soon lost so many men that
+those remaining could no longer beat the enemy off. At last, being
+boarded, some of her defenders jumped overboard, and the rest, fighting
+and disputing inch by inch, were quickly dispatched. Some of the
+European shipping sent boats to try and rescue the poor wretches from
+the water, and, fortunately, managed to save a few. Thus, for breaking a
+proclamation of which, very probably, they were ignorant, these
+unfortunate men were all massacred, and the ships, with their cargo,
+confiscated to the Mandarins.
+
+After some voyages upon the coast, my vessel was ordered to Whampoa, to
+be dry-docked and her bottom overhauled. Before entering the dock, and
+while lying at anchor on the river, I was one evening surprised to see
+a san-pan (literally three planks, _i.e._ a little boat) containing two
+Chinese girls, and a third, neither Chinese nor European, hanging about
+the ship; its occupants evidently desirous to communicate something, yet
+half fearful to venture. The lady of the unknown nationality seemed
+endeavouring to attract my attention. I was alone on the quarter-deck,
+with the exception of an old weather-beaten quartermaster. I beckoned
+her to come alongside, and descended the gangway ladder. As I was going
+over the side, the old quartermaster came up to me and exclaimed--
+
+"Keep your weather eye lifting, sir; she's a pi-ar Portuguee."
+
+"Well," I replied; "what if she is?"
+
+"Well, d'ye see, sir, them Portugees is awful wild craft. I've got a
+remembrancer here," touching his ribs; "one of 'em gave me in Rio, just
+because she thought I was backing and filling with a chum of hers."
+
+"If a Rio girl fell in love with you, and you made her jealous, you old
+sinner, what has that to do with a Whampoa girl? Besides, we shall have
+no time for falling in love here."
+
+"Ay! ay! you don't know 'em, sir; the breed's the same all over; and, as
+for time, why, they'll be in love with you afore you can say 'vast
+heaving there."
+
+"You're out of your reckoning for once, quartermaster; call Mr. ----, if
+I am not on board by eight bells;" and with this I disappeared over the
+side.
+
+Directly I jumped into the boat, it was shoved off, and dropped astern
+with the tide.
+
+My attention was, of course, directed to the lady designated a "pi-ar
+Portuguee" by the quartermaster; I at once discovered that she was a
+Macao Portuguese, very handsome; and, to all appearance, in great
+affliction. For some time she made no reply to my inquiries as to what
+was the matter, but commenced sobbing, and crying as if her heart would
+break. At last she ceased, and related the cause of her trouble to the
+following effect:--She was the daughter of a rich Macanese, who was
+principal owner of one of the Whampoa docks, and was also Portuguese
+consul at that port. Her mother was dead, and her father had determined
+to compel her to marry a wealthy Chilianian half-caste; in fact,
+everything was arranged for the marriage to take place in ten days'
+time. She hated the fellow, in spite of his dollars, which, it appeared,
+was her father's idol, and was resolved to suffer anything rather than
+submit. She came off to my ship to try and obtain a passage down to
+Hong-Kong, where she had friends who would take care of her. Here was
+the deuce to pay, and no pitch hot, as the sailors say. In a moment,
+almost, I was to become the champion and protector of this forlorn
+damsel. However selfishly I tried to reflect, I could not help being
+sensibly impressed with her extreme beauty and utter wretchedness. The
+_piquante_ style of her pretty broken English, as she implored me to
+give her a passage to Hong-Kong and save her; the knowledge of the cruel
+fate which awaited her--the entire confidence which she was only too
+willing to repose in me--her unprotected position and passionate,
+ingenuous, ebullition of feeling--all conspired to interest me deeply in
+her favour.
+
+The longer I listened the more interested and determined to help her I
+became. She was very young, and it seemed irresistible to sympathize
+with and pity her. At last, in the midst of a protestation of assistance
+on my part, and of fervent thanks on hers, we were interrupted by one of
+the China girls thrusting her head under the mat cover of the boat, and
+exclaiming--
+
+"Hi ya! missee! more bettah go shore,--belong shih tim cheong" (ten
+o'clock).
+
+The poor girl seemed quite alarmed to find it so late, and told the
+boatwomen to pull ashore as fast as possible.
+
+We soon reached the bank, but my interesting friend would not allow me
+to land with her, stating she lived close by; however, she promised to
+meet me at the spot we then occupied, the next evening. The China girls
+quickly pulled me off to my ship, and then I was alone to think over the
+singularity and probable issue of the adventure.
+
+Poor Marie! would that I had never met her--that she had accepted the
+Chilianian, or some prophetic spirit had whispered a warning in time to
+save her from her sad fate. However, it was ordained otherwise, and all
+that is left me is her memory. True to her promise, she saw me the
+following evening; then the next; and so for several consecutive days.
+It happened that, fortunately for the fulfilment of our appointments,
+Marie's father never returned from the docks, at the opposite side of
+the river, till late in the evening. We were thus constantly thrown
+together, and who can wonder that we insensibly allowed ourselves to
+become deeply attached?
+
+Upon the ninth day after our first meeting, my ship was undocked, and
+prepared to sail for Hong-Kong in the morning; the morning, too, that,
+as Marie told me with tears in her eyes, would usher in her bridal day.
+Although Marie and I had never till then spoken of love, we both knew
+that it was mutual, and at this moment of peril and uncertainty we threw
+off all disguise and expressed our true feelings for each other. She
+felt no regret at sacrificing all other ties for my sake--I was but too
+anxious to risk anything to save her. On the evening of this, the last
+day that was to separate us, Marie entered her cruel father's dwelling
+for the last time; and, having quickly made some slight preparations,
+rejoined me in the boat with which I awaited her.
+
+This boat was the same in which I had first seen her, and the poor girls
+who worked it being slaves of one of the old Whampoa laundresses, I
+determined to rescue them from their doubtful future, and prevent them
+making any disclosure as to Marie's escape, by carrying them down to
+Hong-Kong with her, and there giving them liberty.
+
+I had already made every preparation on board, and had taken the gunner
+and carpenter into my confidence, as I had decided to stow them away in
+the sail-room; and to do this rendered it necessary for them to pass the
+berths of those officers. About midnight, sending the quartermaster of
+the watch off the deck upon an errand to get him out of the way, I
+smuggled the girls aboard and secreted them at the back of the sail-room
+well hidden by spare topsails, &c., piled up before them.
+
+Early in the morning we lighted fires, and soon after daybreak, with
+steam up, commenced to get under weigh. Just then, as I fully expected,
+off came Marie's father and the old laundress--the one to look for a
+daughter who vanished on her bridal morn, the other for her poor slave
+girls--with warrants from the British consul for the delivery of the
+three girls if found on board. I was in charge of the deck, and took
+care to receive the bereaved parties at the gangway. After hearing their
+complaints, I reported the case to the captain, and received his orders
+to have the ship searched. This duty I took upon myself, rousing all
+hands out, and searching every part of the ship except the sail-room,
+which I took care to allow no one to approach. By the time the
+unsuccessful search was concluded, the anchor had been weighed, and we
+immediately commenced to drop down the river.
+
+When we reached Hong-Kong, Marie landed and went to reside with her
+friends. She had become my betrothed, and seemed truly happy in the
+thought that nothing now could cause our separation. Little either of us
+thought at that happy time how ruthlessly all these bright prospects
+would be altered, and what sadness was yet in store for us. Alas! how
+little at that happy time either thought how soon the ruthless destroyer
+would annihilate a bond we had sworn should last for ever.
+
+Marie was very lovely. Rather darker than the generality of Macao
+women; her complexion was a beautifully clear deep olive; the skin
+delicately soft, with the rich blood mantling through upon the slightest
+emotion; her eyes large, jet-black, lustrous, and almond-shaped, as
+those of the Spanish creoles of South America--eyes which can form a
+language of their own, so deeply expressive, so ever changeful, and
+heart-speaking--were exquisitely fringed with long silken lashes and
+arching brows; her hair, dark as the raven's wing, waved in rich
+profusion round her finely tapered shoulders; the Grecian nose and
+delicately formed nostrils spoke of her high caste; while a short full
+upper lip, so richly coloured, adorned a mouth small but singularly
+expressive, and studded with teeth of pearly whiteness. This young
+creature, nurtured in a southern clime, could scarcely number sixteen
+summers, and yet her _petite_ figure, lithe and graceful as it was, had
+attained its full development. She was, in truth, an unsophisticated
+child of nature--ardent, passionate--the very creature of impulse.
+
+In a small secluded dwelling, shaded by evergreen foliage, in one of the
+prettiest parts of Hong-Kong, every moment I could spare from my ship
+was devoted to Marie. We were supremely happy. We had no thought or care
+for the morrow, we were too fully absorbed in the present. The old
+quartermaster's warning proved his experience, although, with one
+exception, it was unnecessary in my case, yet the exception was
+sufficient.
+
+To many of those warm impassioned temperaments of the East love becomes
+as necessary as life itself. Marie was one of these. Natures like hers
+could be moulded by love to any form. The house of Marie's relatives was
+one of two built together; but for this it would have been in total
+seclusion, the bend of the hills it rested on hiding all other buildings
+in the distance, and entirely screening it from observation. The next
+door and only neighbours consisted of two Portuguese sisters and an
+Englishman, the husband of the eldest.
+
+[Illustration: MARIE.
+London, Published March 15^{th} 1866 by Day & Son, Limited Lithog^{rs}
+Gate Str, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
+Day & Son, Limited, Lith.]
+
+The Portuguese being natives of Macao, were slightly acquainted with
+Marie, and we gradually became intimate with them. The youngest of the
+sisters was very good-looking, and being of a very merry disposition, we
+often had great fun. Now, it so happened that Marie's love was so
+intense, so selfish, and so exacting, she could not bear me to pay the
+slightest attention to another. So at last, to realize the old adage,
+that "true love never did run smooth," she took it into her passionate
+little head to become jealous. This jealousy may be a very mild affair
+amongst our colder Northern women, but with a fiery little piece of
+impetuosity like Marie it was more serious. With such temperaments,
+jealousy instantly generates an all-consuming passion for revenge.
+
+For a little while I had noticed Marie's more than usual excitability,
+accompanied by occasional bursts of grief, without any apparent cause;
+but, knowing her extreme sensitiveness, I thought but little of it. At
+last the cause was revealed, and this history nearly terminated in its
+revelation.
+
+The house had a verandah in front, connecting it with that adjoining,
+from which it was simply divided by a wooden partition. One evening I
+and Theresa, the unmarried Portuguese, were conversing from the
+respective balconies. I fancied Marie had received me rather crossly
+that day, and to vex her thought I would have a little fun with her
+pretty neighbour. This thoughtlessness very nearly resulted in a
+tragical termination. After laughing and chatting with Theresa for some
+time, I went close up to the partition between the verandahs; and,
+leaning round it, pretended to kiss her. Instantly I heard Marie, with
+an exclamation, rush towards me. As I withdrew, I fortunately caught the
+shadow of an uplifted hand on my own side of the partition; and, while
+turning, I rapidly threw up my arm, just in time to arrest the
+descending blow, aimed by Marie with a stiletto. I received but a
+slight scratch, and soon took the weapon from my fierce little love, who
+instantly, with characteristic revulsion of feeling, threw herself into
+my arms in a passionate burst of grief. We were soon reconciled; this
+was Marie's first and last jealousy.
+
+[Illustration: SING-SONG GIRL--_page_ 10.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+    Hung-sui-tshuen.--Clanship in China.--Hung-sui-tshuen's
+    Genealogy: his Education.--Extraordinary Visions: Description of
+    them.--Description of Hung-sui-tshuen: his Early Days: his
+    Visions Explained: his Conversion: how
+    Effected.--Hung-sui-tshuen's Preaching: his Religious
+    Essays.--The God-worshippers.--Destruction of Idols.--Progress
+    of God-worshippers.--Numbers increase.--Hostilities
+    commence.--God-worshippers Victorious.--"Imperialist"
+    Cruelty.--Bishop of Victoria.--Chinese Dynasty proclaimed.
+
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen is a name now familiar in most parts of Europe as that
+of the chief--or King, as his followers term him--of the great Ti-ping
+revolution in China. Unfortunately much misapprehension exists as to him
+and his cause. Such information as I may give my readers, that has not
+come under my personal observation, has been derived from the actors
+themselves, especially all relating to the origin of the Ti-pings, their
+progress until I met them, and the description of their great leader--in
+fact, my knowledge of Hung-sui-tshuen has been obtained principally from
+his Prime Minister and cousin (Hung-jin), his chamberlain, and many of
+his chiefs and own clan. Since my return to England, I have had the
+pleasure to peruse, for the first time, the admirable little work of the
+late Rev. Theodore Hamberg, missionary of the Basle Evangelical Society
+to China--"The Visions of Hung-sui-tshuen, and Origin of the Kwang-si
+Insurrection." This, and the pamphlet entitled "Recent Events in China,"
+by the Bishop of Victoria (published some nine or ten years ago),
+coincide in most particulars with the information I have gathered from
+direct sources; and, as all my journals, notes, and memoranda fell into
+the hands of the Imperialists during my service with the Ti-pings, I
+have found them very useful in recalling facts I might otherwise have
+forgotten.
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen was born in the year 1813, at a small village in the Hwa
+district,[2] some little distance from the city of Canton. His
+ancestors, originally from the north-east boundary of the Kwang-tung
+province, soon after the complete subjugation of the Chinese by the
+Manchoo Tartars, A.D. 1685, with many other families loyal to the Ming,
+through the persecution and exactions of the invader, abandoned their
+homes and sought refuge in the southern parts of Kwang-tung and
+Kwang-se, the two most southerly provinces of China. Here, to the
+present day, their descendants are known by the name of Hakkas
+(settlers) by the Punti people (natives of the soil).
+
+The genealogy of Hung-sui-tshuen's family is one of the most ancient in
+China. During ten centuries, until the era of the present dynasty, they
+trace members of their house occupying the most exalted stations in the
+empire. So far back as the Sung dynasty, A.D. 1000, many of the Hungs
+were prominent literati; from that time till the Manchoo invasion,
+numbers of them have been members of the Han-lin College--the highest
+literary rank in China. For many generations the dignity of Minister of
+State was attained, and this was particularly the case throughout the
+sovereignty of Sung. During the Ming dynasty (the last Chinese one)
+likewise, the Hungs invariably numbered men of renown and literary
+attainments among them. They became allied to the Imperial family by
+marriage; and it was one of the Hungs who, as generalissimo of the
+Chinese forces, fought the last battle in defence of Nankin and the Ming
+prince. The prince was treacherously killed by some of his own
+followers, while the general perished with the greater number of his
+troops, being totally defeated by the Tartars, who thus destroyed the
+last attempt to keep them north of the river Yang-tze-kiang.
+
+Like most countries, China has had her feudal period, the earliest and
+last authentic records of which refer to the ninth and tenth centuries.
+In this, as in many important events, the Chinese have been before
+western nations, their feudal system having terminated anterior to the
+meridian of that of Europe. A system of clanship, however, prevails in
+many parts of China; all persons of the same surname, though frequently
+numbering tens of thousands, being considered near kindred; and,
+singularly enough, not being allowed to marry amongst themselves. I am
+inclined to believe this is much lessened at the present day, for I have
+generally found that members of a clan or kindred do not reverence any
+one head of the entire name, but one much more nearly related to
+themselves, and who is seldom elder, or chief, of more than some
+hundreds. Previous to the incursion of the Manchoos, Hung-sui-tshuen's
+kindred formed a vast and powerful body; their stanch support of the
+last struggles for the Ming dynasty, and the sanguinary persecutions
+they, in common with other obnoxious families, suffered from the
+invader, greatly reduced their number. Upon the outbreak of the Ti-ping
+revolution, the Hung clan was supposed to number upwards of 20,000
+persons; subsequent to that event the greater part were massacred by the
+Imperialists, simply because they were the connections of a rebel! Of
+Hung's immediate relatives, who, to the number of five or six hundred,
+peopled his native village under the authority of his father, not one
+remains; men, women, and children, all who were unable to join him, were
+mercilessly slaughtered by the ruthless Manchoo, and their very
+dwellings swept from the face of the earth.
+
+Now, although the honourable and ancient lineage of Hung-sui-tshuen has
+never been disputed, some persons, with a mendacity truly astonishing,
+have amused themselves by designating him the "Coolie King." Not only
+was Hung of good family--a secondary consideration in China, where
+personal rank is everything[3]--but his own position, as a member of the
+literati, was one of the most honourable. These are qualifications, it
+is probable, the persons who styled him "Coolie King" do not possess.
+
+For many generations Hung's progenitors had been the chiefs or elders of
+their clan. His father fulfilled this capacity, and governed the affairs
+of his own and many surrounding villages. In spite of Hung's line of
+ancestry and his father's eldership, they were far from being well
+supplied with the good things of this life; in fact, their freehold was
+barely sufficient to support them. The family mansion was by no means
+suitable to the former dignity of the name. An ordinary Chinese farmer's
+cottage, containing nothing but the simplest articles of use, was the
+birthplace of one of the greatest men the empire has ever produced. At
+the earliest age, Hung exhibited a remarkable aptitude for study, became
+an inmate of the village school at seven years of age, and in less than
+twice that time had become proficient in the usual course of Chinese
+education; besides which, he studied by himself the history of China,
+and the higher branches of Chinese literature. Even at this early
+period, he was universally distinguished for his extraordinary talents,
+which were so highly appreciated by his teachers and relatives, that
+they united in defraying the expense of his further education. At
+sixteen years of age the want of means put an end to his studies; within
+a year, however, a young fellow-student took him as a companion. After
+this, when eighteen years of age, he was appointed schoolmaster of his
+native village, by the unanimous wish of the people.
+
+About this time Hung commenced to attend the public examinations at
+Canton. These examinations confer upon successful candidates one of four
+literary degrees, commencing with a district examination, leading to a
+departmental one, to a provincial one, and finally to a Pekin
+examination, from which members of the Han-lin college are selected.
+
+Although Hung-sui-tshuen was always one of the most distinguished at the
+district examinations, through the corruption of the Manchoo officials,
+to whom bribery alone is a passport, he was unable to obtain his degree.
+At last, upon another visit to the public examinations, about the year
+1836, an event took place that ultimately, in no slight manner, affected
+his future career. This I cannot do better than give in the words of the
+Rev. T. Hamberg:--
+
+    "In the streets he found a man dressed according to the custom
+    of the Ming dynasty, in a coat with wide sleeves, and his hair
+    tied in a knot upon his head. The man was unacquainted with the
+    Chinese vernacular tongue, and employed a native as interpreter.
+    A number of people kept gathering round the stranger, who used
+    to tell them the fulfilment of their wishes, even without
+    waiting for a question from their side. Sui-tshuen approached
+    the man, intending to ask if he should attain a literary degree,
+    but the man prevented him by saying, 'You will attain the
+    highest rank, but do not be grieved, for grief will make you
+    sick. I congratulate your virtuous father.' On the following day
+    he again met with two men in the Siung-tsang street. One of
+    these men had in his possession a parcel of books consisting of
+    nine small volumes, being a complete set of a work, entitled,
+    'Keuen-shi-leang-yen,' or 'Good Words for Exhorting the Age,'
+    the whole of which he gave Hung-sui-tshuen, who, on his return
+    from the examination, brought them home, and after a superficial
+    glance at their contents, placed them in his bookcase, _without
+    at the time considering them to be of any particular
+    importance_."
+
+Once more, in the year 1837, Hung-sui-tshuen attended the examinations.
+Upon this occasion, after being placed high on the list, his rank was
+afterwards lowered. This, with the gross injustice and partiality of
+the examiners, so affected him, that he returned home very ill. His
+illness lasted for a considerable time, during which he underwent a
+marvellous series of visions or dreams.
+
+In the account of Hung's visions and earlier life, it will be necessary
+to quote frequently from Mr. Hamberg's little work, he having received
+in detail many important facts I only had in substance from Hung-jin. I
+feel the more confident of the indulgence of my readers from the fact of
+the interesting nature of all I shall quote, and, moreover, the absolute
+necessity of doing so in order to enable them to form a correct judgment
+of the noble character and almost superhuman career of the Tiping-wang.
+
+It must be remembered that in a country like China, where literary
+distinction, until Manchoo corruption altered it, was the recognized
+path to honour and fame, everything tended to excite the hopes and
+ambition of Hung-sui-tshuen, who was more than usually intellectual, and
+whose failure to attain eminence, through the degenerated policy of the
+Manchoo dynasty, who no longer observe the rights of the literati in
+their selection of public officers, must have been accompanied with a
+degree of mortification and bitterness never experienced by Europeans,
+who have a variety of paths to distinction.
+
+The visions of Hung-sui-tshuen, as related by Hung-jin, are thus
+published in Mr. Hamberg's account:--
+
+    "He first saw a great number of people, bidding him welcome to
+    their number, and thought this dream was to signify that he
+    should soon die, and go into the presence of Yen lo-wang, the
+    Chinese king of Hades. He therefore called his parents and other
+    relatives to assemble at his bedside, and addressed them in the
+    following terms:--'My days are counted, and my life will soon be
+    closed. O my parents! how badly have I returned the favour of
+    your love to me! I shall never attain a name that may reflect
+    its lustre upon you.' After this he lost all strength and
+    command over his body, and all present thought him about to
+    die--his outward senses were inactive, and his body appeared as
+    dead, lying upon the bed; but his soul was acted upon by a
+    peculiar energy, so that he not only experienced things of a
+    very extraordinary nature, but afterwards also retained in
+    memory what had occurred to him. At first, when his eyes were
+    closed, he saw a dragon, a tiger, and a cock entering his room,
+    and soon after, he observed a great number of men, playing upon
+    musical instruments, approaching with a beautiful sedan-chair,
+    in which they invited him to be seated, and then carried him
+    away. Sui-tshuen felt greatly astonished at the honour and
+    distinction bestowed upon him, and knew not what to think
+    thereof. They soon arrived at a beautiful and luminous place,
+    where on both sides were assembled a multitude of fine men and
+    women, who saluted him with expressions of joy. As he left the
+    sedan, an old woman took him down to a river, and said, 'Thou
+    dirty man, why hast thou kept company with yonder people and
+    defiled thyself? I must now wash thee clean.' After the washing
+    was performed, Sui-tshuen, in company with a great number of
+    virtuous and venerable old men, among whom he remarked many of
+    the ancient sages, entered a large building, where they opened
+    his body with a knife, took out his heart and other parts, and
+    put in their place others, new and of a red colour. Instantly
+    when this was done, the wound closed, and he could see no trace
+    of the incision which had been made.
+
+    "Upon the walls surrounding this place, Sui-tshuen remarked a
+    number of tablets with inscriptions exhorting to virtue, which
+    he one by one examined. Afterwards, they entered another large
+    hall, the beauty and splendour of which was beyond description.
+    A man, venerable in years, with golden beard, and dressed in a
+    black robe, was sitting in an imposing attitude upon the highest
+    place. As soon as he observed Sui-tshuen, he began to shed
+    tears, and said, 'All human beings in the whole world are
+    produced and sustained by me; they eat my food and wear my
+    clothing, but not a single one among them has a heart to
+    remember and venerate me; what is, however, still worse than
+    that, they take of my gifts and therewith worship demons; they
+    purposely rebel against me, and arouse my anger. Do thou not
+    imitate them.' Thereupon he gave Sui-tshuen a sword, commanding
+    him to exterminate the demons, but to spare his brothers and
+    sisters; a seal, by which he would overcome the evil spirits;
+    and also a yellow fruit, to eat which Sui-tshuen found sweet to
+    the taste. When he had received the ensigns of royalty from the
+    hand of the old man, he instantly commenced to exhort those
+    collected in the hall to return to their duties to the venerable
+    old man upon the high seat. Some replied to him, saying, 'We
+    have indeed forgotten our duties towards the venerable.' Others
+    said, 'Why should we venerate him? let us only be merry, and
+    drink together with our friends.' Sui-tshuen then, because of
+    the hardness of their hearts, continued his admonitions with
+    tears. The old man said to him, 'Take courage, and do the work;
+    I will assist thee in every difficulty.' Shortly after this, he
+    turned to the assemblage of the old and virtuous, saying,
+    'Sui-tshuen is competent to this charge.' And thereupon he led
+    Sui-tshuen out, told him to look down from above, and said,
+    'Behold the people upon this earth! hundredfold is the
+    perverseness of their hearts.' Sui-tshuen looked, and saw such a
+    degree of depravity and vice, that his eyes could not endure the
+    sight, nor his mouth express their deeds. He then awoke from his
+    trance, but still being under its influence, he felt the very
+    hairs of his head raise themselves, and suddenly seized by a
+    violent anger, forgetting his feebleness, put on his clothes,
+    left his bedroom, went into the presence of his father, and
+    making a low bow, said, 'The venerable old man above has
+    commanded that all men shall turn to me, and all treasures shall
+    flow to me.' The sickness of Sui-tshuen continued about forty
+    days, and in vision he often met with a man of middle age, whom
+    he called his elder brother, who instructed him how to act,
+    accompanied him upon his wanderings to the uttermost regions in
+    search of evil spirits, and assisted him in slaying and
+    exterminating them. Sui-tshuen also heard the venerable old man
+    with the black robe reprove Confucius for having omitted in his
+    books clearly to expound the true doctrine. Confucius seemed
+    much ashamed, and confessed his guilt.
+
+    "Sui-tshuen, while sick, as his mind was wandering, often used
+    to run about his room, leaping and fighting like a soldier
+    engaged in battle. His constant cry was, 'Tsan-jau, tsan-jau,
+    tsan-ah, tsan-ah! Slay the demons, slay the demons!--slay, slay;
+    there is one, and there is another. Many, many cannot withstand
+    one single blow of my sword.'
+
+    "His father invited magicians, by their spells, to drive away
+    the evil spirits he thought possessed his son; but Sui-tshuen
+    said, 'How could these imps dare to oppose me? I must slay them,
+    I must slay them! Many, many cannot resist me!' As in his
+    imagination he pursued the demons, they seemed to undergo
+    various changes and transformations, at one time flying as
+    birds, at another time appearing as lions. Lest he should be
+    unable to overcome them he held out his seal against them, at
+    the sight of which they immediately fled away.
+
+    "During his exhortations he often burst into tears, saying, 'You
+    have no hearts to venerate the old father, but you are on good
+    terms with the impish fiends; indeed, indeed, you have no
+    hearts--no conscience more.' He often said that he was duly
+    appointed Emperor of China, and was highly gratified when any
+    one called him by that name; but if any one called him mad, he
+    used to laugh at him, and to reply, 'You are, indeed, mad
+    yourself; and do you call me mad?' When men of bad character
+    came to see him, he often rebuked them and called them demons.
+    All the day long he used to sing, weep, exhort, reprove by
+    turns, and in full earnest."
+
+The following is the description of Hung-sui-tshuen, given by his cousin
+Hung-jin, upon his return to health:--
+
+    "Sui-tshuen's whole person became gradually changed, both in
+    character and appearance. He was careful in his conduct,
+    friendly and open in his demeanour; his body increased in height
+    and size; his pace became firm and imposing, his views enlarged
+    and liberal. His friend describes him as being, at a later
+    period, a rather tall man, with oval face and fair complexion,
+    high nose, small round ears, his voice clear and sonorous. When
+    he laughed, the whole house resounded; his hair was black, his
+    beard long and sandy, his strength of body extraordinary, his
+    power of understanding rare. Persons of vicious habits fled from
+    his presence, but the honest sought his company.
+
+    "From his youth, Hung-sui-tshuen was generally liked by all,
+    because of his open and straightforward character. He was gay
+    and friendly, but not dissolute. Being superior in talent to
+    most of his fellow-students, he often used to make sport of
+    them, and cause them to feel his sharp wit; but still, his
+    friends were fond of listening to his remarks, as they generally
+    contained true and noble ideas, and acknowledged his superior
+    intellect. After his sickness, his whole person became changed,
+    his manners noble and dignified. He sat erect upon the chair,
+    his hands placed upon his knees, and both his feet resting a
+    little apart, but never crossed upon the ground, without leaning
+    backwards or to either side; and, though sitting for hours, he
+    never appeared fatigued. He did not look aslant or backwards;
+    his pace in walking was dignified, neither quick nor slow; he
+    now spoke less and laughed seldom. After he had begun to
+    worship, he was very strict in regard to his own conduct. In his
+    words he was often severe, and easily offended others. He liked
+    to sit down and talk with honest and sincere men, though they
+    were ever so poor and of low estate; but he could not bear with
+    the profligate, even if they were ever so rich and high in
+    station."
+
+The visions of Hung-sui-tshuen, marvellous as they were, and deeply
+significant upon many important points, could never have led to any
+earthly result but through the medium of some earthly key. This came at
+last, and the whole train of circumstances admit of no other
+interpretation than the will of a divine, inscrutable Providence. It is
+doubtful whether any one impressed with a sense of the awfully
+mysterious power of an Almighty Creator can dispute the cause of
+Hung-sui-tshuen's visions, conversion, and ultimate career; or that they
+rival many of the miracles of old which have been handed down to us,
+dimmed by the obscurity of time, and rendered difficult of
+comprehension by the subtleties of language as well as by the figurative
+style of the ancients.
+
+For several years Hung-sui-tshuen continued his studies and acted as
+village schoolmaster. On one occasion, while engaged as teacher at a
+village some ten miles distant from his native place, a cousin, Le,
+while searching his bookcase, chanced to come across the small volumes,
+"Good Words for Exhorting the Age." Le inquired the nature of the works,
+but Sui-tshuen was unacquainted with the contents and lent them to him
+to read. It is stated by the Rev. T. Hamberg:--"These books contain a
+good number of whole chapters of the Bible according to the translation
+of Dr. Morison, many essays upon important subjects from single texts,
+and sundry miscellaneous statements founded on Scripture."
+
+Le read the books and returned them, stating their contents were very
+extraordinary, and differed entirely from Chinese books. Sui-tshuen then
+took the books and commenced reading them closely and carefully. He was
+greatly astonished to find in these books what he considered an
+explanation of his own visions of six years before, and that their
+contents corresponded in a singular manner with all he had experienced
+at that time. He now understood the venerable old one who sat upon the
+highest place, and whom all men ought to worship, to be God the Heavenly
+Father; and the man of middle age, who had instructed him and assisted
+him in exterminating the demons, to be Jesus the Saviour of the world.
+The demons were the idols, his brothers and sisters were the men in the
+world. Sui-tshuen felt as if awaking from a long dream. He rejoiced in
+reality to have found a way to heaven, and a sure hope of everlasting
+life and happiness. Learning from the books the necessity of being
+baptized, Sui-tshuen and Le now, according to the manner described in
+the books, and as far as they understood the rite, administered baptism
+to each other. They prayed to God, and promised not to worship evil
+spirits, not to practise evil things, but to keep the heavenly
+commands; then they poured water upon their heads, saying, "Purification
+from all former sins, putting off the old, and regeneration." When this
+was done they felt their hearts overflowing with joy, and Sui-tshuen
+composed the following ode upon repentance:--
+
+    "When our transgressions high as heaven rise,
+    How well to trust in Jesus' full atonement;
+    We follow not the demons, we obey
+    The holy precepts, worshipping alone
+    One God, and thus we cultivate our hearts.
+    The heavenly glories open to our view,
+    And every being ought to seek thereafter.
+    I much deplore the miseries of hell.
+    O turn ye to the fruits of true repentance!
+    Let not your hearts be led by worldly customs."
+
+They thereupon cast away their idols and removed the tablet of
+Confucius, which is generally found in the schools, and worshipped by
+the teacher as well as the pupils.
+
+In a little while Hung-sui-tshuen returned to his native village. He
+soon converted to the religion his cousin Hung-jin, and an intimate
+friend, Fung-yun-san, also a teacher.
+
+While at home, Sui-tshuen and his friends attentively studied the books,
+which Sui-tshuen found to correspond in a striking manner with his
+former visions--a remarkable coincidence, which convinced him fully as
+to their truth, and that he was appointed by Divine authority to restore
+the world--that is, China--to the worship of the true God.
+
+I must particularly recommend to the notice of my readers the sound
+reasoning and wisdom of Hung-sui-tshuen's own explanation, and the high
+and exalted determination his subsequent acts have so nobly fulfilled.
+
+"These books," said he, "are certainly sent purposely by Heaven to me,
+to confirm the truth of my former experiences. If I had received the
+books without having gone through the sickness, I should not have dared
+to believe in them, or have ventured, on my own account, to oppose the
+customs of the whole world; if I had merely been sick, but had not also
+received the books, I should have had no further evidence as to the
+truth of my visions, which might also have been considered as merely
+productions of a diseased imagination."
+
+Then he raised his voice and spoke in a bold manner:--
+
+"I have received the immediate command from God in His presence: the
+will of Heaven rests with me. Although thereby I should meet with
+calamity, difficulties, and suffering, yet I am resolved to act. By
+disobeying the heavenly command, I would only rouse the anger of God;
+and are not these books the foundation of all true doctrines contained
+in other books?"
+
+Under this conviction, Sui-tshuen, when preaching the new doctrine to
+others, made use of his own visions and the books, as reciprocally
+evidencing the truth of each other. He revered the books highly, and if
+any one wished to read them, he urgently told them not to alter or mark
+them in any manner, because, said he, it is written therein, "Jehovah's
+word is correct" (Ps. xxxiii. 4).
+
+The small volumes, "Good Words for Exhorting the Age," that have
+exercised such a wonderful effect upon a great proportion of the
+Chinese, through the individual acts of Hung-sui-tshuen, were the
+production of Liang Afah, one of Dr. Milne's Chinese converts.
+Consequently it may be argued that contact with Europeans has been
+instrumental in producing the great Ti-ping revolution, and that to Dr.
+Milne and his convert, Liang Afah, may be attributed the honour of being
+agents in converting Hung-sui-tshuen and in originating the first
+Christian movement in modern Asia.
+
+Although, through the foreign idiom, want of commentaries, and use of
+pronouns (unintelligible through the absence of the relative),
+Hung-sui-tshuen, as well as his earlier converts, misunderstood some
+parts of Liang Afah's volumes, still it is indisputable that the grand
+truths of Christianity were fully and completely appreciated by them. As
+the Bishop of Victoria has written:--"Stung with a sense of injustice,
+and feeling the full weight of disappointment, he found his knowledge of
+Confucian lore no longer the road to office and distinction. It was at
+such a critical season of the future _hero's_ career that the truths of
+the Holy Scriptures were presented to his notice, and the pure doctrines
+of Christianity arrested his mind."
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen, after some time, again returned to his teachership in
+the other village, leaving Hung-jin to expound and study the new
+doctrine. Sui-tshuen's own relatives were soon converted from idolatry
+and received baptism.
+
+With his few followers he now experienced the usual worldly effects of
+devout opposition to the sinful and idolatrous practices of neighbours.
+Hung and his friends lost their scholastic employment and became very
+poor. Unable longer to maintain themselves at home, they determined to
+visit other districts and preach the true doctrine, hoping to support
+themselves by the sale of a few articles they carried with them for the
+purpose.
+
+Hung, Fung-yun-san, and two other friends left their native villages and
+started upon a proselytizing mission to the independent tribes of
+Miau-tze. Passing through the village of Hung's relatives, the Le
+family, they converted and baptized several of them. Afterwards Hung-jin
+was engaged as teacher at this place (Clear-far), and in course of time
+baptized upwards of fifty persons.
+
+Sui-tshuen and his friends continued their journey, everywhere preaching
+the new doctrine, teaching men to worship the one God, Jehovah, who sent
+his Son to atone for the sins of the world; and in every place they
+found some willing to accept their words. Into the wild and mountainous
+regions of the Miau-tze, Hung and Fung-yun-san journeyed alone, their
+friends having left them. They were fortunate enough to meet with a
+teacher who kept a school for Chinese instruction to the aborigines.
+Being ignorant of the Miau-tze dialect, after converting the
+schoolmaster and leaving a few tracts with him, they continued their
+journey to a part of Kwang-si where Hung had relatives.
+
+Hung at last reached the village of his cousin Wang, and at this place
+preached with such devout eloquence as not only to convert hundreds to
+Christianity, but to cause many to believe that he and Yun-san were
+descended from heaven to preach the true doctrine.
+
+To relieve his cousin from the support of so many guests, two converts
+of the Hung family having likewise arrived, he ordered Yun-san and the
+others to return to Kwang-tung. Fung-yun-san, however, was moved to
+continue teaching the Gospel; therefore, although the two returned, he
+remained preaching by the roadside. Meeting with some workmen he knew,
+he journeyed with them to a place named Thistle Mount, where, assisting
+them in their work, he at the same time taught them the way to immortal
+life.
+
+Some of the workmen, convinced by Yun-san's preaching, went to their
+employer and informed him. The master engaged Yun-san as teacher of his
+school, and was himself soon baptized. Yun-san remained in the
+neighbourhood of Thistle Mount several years, and preached with great
+zeal and success; so that a large number of persons, whole families of
+various surnames and clans, were baptized. They formed congregations
+among themselves, gathering together for religious worship, and became
+soon extensively known under the name of "the congregation of the
+worshippers of God." In the meanwhile Hung-sui-tshuen returned home, and
+greatly displeased Fung-yun-san's relations by having returned without
+him. During 1845-46 Hung remained at home, employed as village teacher.
+He wrote many essays, discourses, and odes upon religious subjects, all
+of which were afterwards improved and printed in the "Imperial
+Declaration of Ti-ping," at Nankin.
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen unceasingly continued his preaching of Christianity,
+baptizing many people who had learned to believe in God and our Saviour.
+He often met Hung-jin, still a teacher at the village Clear-far, once
+expressing his hatred of the tyrant Manchoo thus:--
+
+"God has divided the kingdoms of the world, and made the ocean to be a
+boundary for them, just as a father divides his states among his sons;
+every one of whom ought to reverence the will of his father, and quietly
+manage his own property. Why should now these Manchoos forcibly enter
+China, and rob their brothers of their estate?"
+
+Again, at a later period he said:--
+
+"If God will help me to recover our estate, I ought to teach all nations
+to hold every one its own possessions, without injuring or robbing one
+another; we will have intercourse in communicating true principles and
+wisdom to each other, and receive each other with propriety and
+politeness; we will serve together one common heavenly Father, and
+honour together the doctrines of one common heavenly Brother, the
+Saviour of the world; this has been the wish of my heart since the time
+when my soul was taken up to heaven."
+
+It is a pity the monarchs of Europe and their statesmen possess not the
+sentiments of the "Coolie King."
+
+In the latter part of the year 1846, a Chinaman named Moo arrived at
+Hung's village from Canton. He informed him missionaries were preaching
+the true doctrine in that city. Sui-tshuen and his cousin Hung-jin were
+unable to visit the city, being engaged by their schools. Moo, upon his
+return to Canton, mentioned to a Chinese assistant of Mr. Roberts
+(missionary) the existence of the God-worshippers. This assistant having
+written and invited Hung and his cousin to Canton, in 1847 they visited
+that city, and studied Christianity under Mr. Roberts and other
+missionaries. Upon the expiration of one month they returned to their
+village with two converts; they all preached here a short time, and then
+went back to Canton, Hung-jin remaining at home. For some time
+Hung-sui-tshuen continued his studies in Canton; but at last, through
+the intrigues of some of Mr. Roberts' assistants, who became jealous of
+his superior talent, he left that city, and started upon a tour to
+Kwang-si, in search of his friend Fung-yun-san.
+
+After a journey of much suffering, by reason of his poverty, Sui-tshuen
+at last reached the abode of his cousin Wang. He soon heard of Yun-san's
+earnest and successful career at "Thistle Mount;" and, rejoicing, joined
+him, preaching the Gospel and teaching everywhere.
+
+These primitive Christians soon numbered two thousand, and were
+increasing day by day. Rapidly the surrounding country came under the
+influence of the new doctrine. "Men of great influence, and graduates of
+the first and second degrees, with great numbers of their clans, joined
+the congregation."
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen, upon his arrival, immediately replaced their former
+books with copies of the Bible he had brought from Canton; reserving
+only such parts as were of the New Testament.
+
+Ere long commenced the iconoclastic impulse that has since proved one of
+the greatest characteristics of the Ti-ping revolution. In the
+department of Siang, Kwang-se, an idol named "Kan-wang-ye" had long been
+celebrated, the natives far and near believing in its power.
+Hung-sui-tshuen becoming acquainted with their grossly superstitious and
+ignorant veneration for this idol, was greatly enraged, and with three
+friends, including Fung-yun-san, started for the temple. Reaching the
+place, they found the idol of a dreadful and imposing aspect; nothing
+daunted, Sui-tshuen with a stick dashed the idol to pieces, destroying
+its fine raiment and the vessels of spices and incense.
+
+When the people became aware of this desecration of their idol, they set
+about apprehending the perpetrators. A young boy becoming, as they
+thought, possessed by the demon, told them not to molest the destroyers.
+The people therefore desisted, and this event greatly advanced the
+reputation of Hung-sui-tshuen, soon leading to an important addition to
+his followers.
+
+The iconoclastic zeal thus introduced was quickly followed up by the
+destruction of many images. Upon this the officials, for the first time,
+came into contact with them, and Fung-yun-san and another were
+imprisoned, mainly through the malignancy of a rich graduate named Wang,
+who bribed the magistrate for that purpose. Eventually, the
+God-worshippers induced the same official to release their friends, but
+only Fung-yun-san was restored to them; the other had expired in prison,
+through the brutal treatment of his Manchoo jailers.
+
+About this time--the latter part of 1848--Hung-sui-tshuen's father died,
+at the age of seventy-three. He had long given over the errors of
+idolatry, and had received Christian baptism. Upon his death-bed he
+admonished his children, saying:--"I am now ascending to heaven: after
+my decease, you must not call any Buddhist priests, or perform any
+heathen ceremonies, but merely worship God, and pray to him."
+
+At the end of 1848, Hung-sui-tshuen and his friend Fung-yun-san left the
+congregation of God-worshippers at Thistle Mount, and returned to their
+homes.
+
+About the middle of 1849 they again set out for their friends in
+Kwang-si. At the end of this year, during his absence, the first son of
+Hung-sui-tshuen was born; at the instant of his birth the following
+singular circumstance took place:--"Thousands of birds, as large as
+ravens and as small as magpies, made their appearance. They continued
+long hovering about in the air, and finally settled in the trees behind
+the dwelling of Sui-tshuen. These birds remained in the neighbourhood of
+the village about one month, to the astonishment of the people, who said
+that the crowd of birds came to do homage to the new-born king."
+
+Upon their arrival, Hung-sui-tshuen and Yun-san were joyfully received
+by the God-worshippers. They now heard of singular occurrences having
+taken place among the brethren during their absence. It appeared that,
+often while engaged in prayer, one or other of them was seized by a sort
+of fit, and falling to the ground in a state of ecstasy, was moved by
+the spirit, and uttered extraordinary words of exhortation, reproof, or
+prophecy. The more remarkable of these rhapsodies were noted down, and
+reserved for the inspection of Hung-sui-tshuen. Those he principally
+pronounced as true were uttered by one Yang-sui-tshin, who afterwards
+became one of the principal Ti-ping chiefs. This same Yang was said to
+possess the power of healing sickness by intercession for the afflicted,
+many having been cured in a wonderful manner, after prayer to God.
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen compelled his followers to observe strict order, and
+although Fung-yun-san was the original chief and founder of the
+congregation, they all, with one accord, acknowledged the superiority of
+the former; electing him as their leader, as well for his personal merit
+as his extraordinary ability to command and organize a strict discipline
+among so heterogeneous a multitude as themselves.
+
+At this time, Hung prohibited the use of opium, and even tobacco, and
+all intoxicating drinks, and the Sabbath was religiously observed. About
+the same period he sent to Kwang-tung for his whole family, giving as
+his reason, that a pestilence would shortly visit the earth, and carry
+off the unbelievers. Singularly enough, some parts of Kwang-si were
+visited by a malignant distemper, whereby the number of his adherents
+was greatly increased, many believing they escaped disease merely by
+joining the God-worshippers.
+
+About the end of the year 1850, a civil war broke out between the Punti
+men and the Hakkas. Although at first the Hakkas were victorious, being
+a more hardy and adventurous people than the Puntis, the superior
+numbers of the latter soon prevailed, who, not contented with defeating
+the enemy, followed up the victory by even destroying their habitations.
+In dire distress, the Hakkas sought a refuge among the God-worshippers,
+willingly adopting their religion.
+
+So great a celebrity had the God-worshippers attained in Kwang-si, that
+not only the Hakkas came to them, but many outlaws, who refused
+allegiance to the Manchoo; and all persons in distress, or in any way
+afflicted, together with their families.
+
+With a far-seeing discernment, Hung-sui-tshuen had long expected the
+course of events that at last resulted from the presence of so many
+various elements, for the most part obnoxious to the Government. His
+plans were arranged, his resolution fixed, and he only awaited a
+favourable opportunity to act. The following ode, which he composed
+about this time, affords an index of his intentions:--
+
+    "When in the present time disturbances abound,
+    And bands of robbers are like gathering vapours found,
+    We know that heaven means to raise a valiant band
+    To rescue the oppressed and save our native land.
+    China was once subdued, but it shall no more fall.
+    God ought to be adored, and ultimately shall.
+    The founder of the Ming in song disclosed his mind,
+    The Emperor of the Han drank to the furious wind.
+    From olden times all deeds by energy were done,
+    Dark vapours disappear on rising of the sun."
+
+This ode is highly significant to the Chinese. Hung alludes to the many
+bands of robbers rising like the vapours on the mountain tops; he
+expresses his intention to allow them to fight and fatigue each other,
+when he would easily become their master,--such being the plan expressed
+by the founder of the Ming dynasty in his song--comparing himself to the
+aster, a flower that only begins to blossom when others have passed
+away; and, after they have ceased to contend, remains undisputed master
+of the field.
+
+The defeat of the Hakkas ere long realized Sui-tshuen's predictions. The
+God-worshippers gradually became involved in the quarrels of their new
+allies, and at last were not only accused of annoying the worship of
+others, and destroying their idols, but also of helping the outlaws and
+fostering rebellious intentions against the usurping dynasty. Sui-tshuen
+and Yun-san at this period left "Thistle Mount," and retired to the
+privacy of a friend's house situated in a mountainous recess. The
+Manchoo soldiers were sent against them here; but, afraid to enter the
+glen, contented themselves with blockading the pass, sure of the
+ultimate capture of the inmates. "At this critical moment it is reported
+that Yang-sui-tshin, in a state of ecstasy, revealed to the brethren of
+Thistle Mount the impending danger of their beloved chiefs, and exhorted
+them to hasten to their rescue." A considerable body marched against the
+soldiers who watched the pass, routed them with ease, and Sui-tshuen and
+Yun-san were carried off in triumph.
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen now concentrated all his followers, who had already
+converted their goods into money, and formed a common treasury. They
+were thus prepared, if necessary, for the emergency of flight. Fear for
+the safety of themselves and families quickly brought the entire
+congregation of the God-worshippers together. "Old and young, rich and
+poor, men of influence and education, graduates of the first and second
+degrees, with their families and adherents, all gathered round the
+chiefs. Wei-ching alone brought with him about one thousand individuals
+of his clan."
+
+Previously to this, the God-worshippers had suffered much persecution
+from the local authorities, many being imprisoned and killed by want and
+ill-treatment. Soon the jealous fears of the Manchoo officials led them
+to send troops against a native movement which they knew full well they
+had good cause to dread by reason of their own tyrannical rule.
+
+Hostilities having once commenced, a bold and energetic course became
+imperative. A strong body of soldiers being on the march for their
+present position, Hung-sui-tshuen prepared to receive them. Abandoning
+Thistle Mount, he took possession of the market-town Lieu-chu, close at
+hand. This small city was surrounded by a broad river, protecting it
+from sudden attack, which Sui-tshuen soon fortified so strongly that,
+when the soldiers arrived, it was impregnable. From this place
+Sui-tshuen sent messengers into Kwang-tung, calling upon the remaining
+relatives of the two clans, Hung and Fung, to join him in Kwang-si.
+Before they could do this, Sui-tshuen, from want of provisions, was
+compelled to move his camp. This he effected in a fine strategic manner.
+To deceive the Imperialists as to his real intentions, he placed a
+number of women and boys belonging to the town in a house close to the
+river, and in the direction of the besiegers' camp, ordering them to
+beat the drums throughout the following day; while he, with his entire
+force, evacuated the place at night without giving the foe the slightest
+suspicion of his movement.
+
+The Imperialists, as soon as they discovered the trick that had been
+played upon them, detached light troops in pursuit; but these, venturing
+too closely upon the rear of the retreating forces, were repulsed with
+severe loss. The Imperialists now, according to their usual habits,
+commenced to vent their cowardly rage upon the unoffending inhabitants
+by burning several thousand houses, and plundering indiscriminately.
+
+They slaughtered numbers of the townspeople upon the slightest
+suspicion that they were God-worshippers, or even friendly disposed
+towards them.
+
+"Many of these unhappy victims evinced great self-possession, and
+resignation to their fate. One named Tsen said to the soldiers, 'Why do
+you delay? If you are to kill me, then do so,--I fear not to die.' He,
+with many others, refused to kneel down, and received the death-blow in
+an upright posture. These cruelties greatly incensed the populace; and
+many, who otherwise would have remained quietly at home, desirous to
+worship God without taking part in the insurrection, were thus forced to
+leave their abodes and join the army of Hung-sui-tshuen."
+
+After evacuating the town of Lieu-chu, Hung took up his new position at
+a large village, Thai-tsun, and at this place received very considerable
+additions to his force. Two _female_ rebel chiefs of great valour, named
+respectively Kew-urh and Szu-san, each bringing about two thousand
+followers, here joined him, submitting to his authority and adopting the
+religions opinions of his people. About this time eight chiefs of the
+San-hoh-hwui, or Triad Society--a confederation of many years' standing,
+sworn to expel the Manchoos and free China of their hateful
+presence--entered into negotiations with Hung-sui-tshuen to join his
+army, which he agreed to upon condition that they would conform to the
+worship of the true God. He sent teachers to them, and when they were
+sufficiently instructed, permitted them to join him.
+
+Unfortunately, it now happened that out of sixteen teachers, one of the
+number was found guilty of peculation, by having withheld from the
+public treasury his share of the presents they had received from the
+Triad chiefs for their instruction. Having often before been convicted
+of violating their regulations, this last offence was no sooner proved
+against him than Sui-tshuen and his own relatives condemned and punished
+him, according to the full rigour of their law, by decapitation. When
+the chiefs of the Triads found that one who had just been their teacher
+was capitally punished for so slight a transgression, they became
+uncomfortable, and said:--"Your laws seem to be rather too strict; we
+shall, perhaps, find it difficult to keep them; and upon any small
+transgression you would, perhaps, kill us also."
+
+Upon which, seven of them departed with their men, and afterwards
+surrendering to the Imperialists, turned their arms against the
+God-worshippers. One chief--Lo-thai-kang--preferred remaining with the
+latter.
+
+The varied elements of his followers--the simple God-worshipper, the
+discontented Hakka, with Triads, outlaws, and other known opponents to
+the Manchoo rule--were all destined, by Hung-sui-tshuen's comprehensive
+mind, soon to establish for themselves an important political existence.
+The Bishop of Victoria wrote:--
+
+    "The literary talent, the moral greatness, the administrative
+    ability, the mental energy, the commanding superiority of the
+    latter soon won for him the post of leader and director of the
+    movement; and Hung-sui-tshuen became, by universal consent and
+    the harmonious deference of Teen-tih (Fung-yun-san) himself, the
+    chief of the insurgent body. He found in the tumultuous bands,
+    who, inflamed by civil discontent, had been engaged in
+    hostilities with the provincial rulers, the nucleus and the body
+    around which the persecuted _Christians_ gathered as a place of
+    refuge and safety. He transformed a rebellion of civil
+    malcontents into a great rendezvous and rallying-point for his
+    oppressed co-religionists. He rendered the insurrection a great
+    religious movement--_he did not transmute a Christian fraternity
+    into a political rebellion. The course of events, and the
+    momentous interests of life and death--the dread realities of
+    the rack and torture, imprisonment, and death--drove him to use
+    in self-defence all the available means within reach, and to
+    employ the resources of self-preservation_. He joined the rebel
+    camp, preached the Gospel among them, won them over to his
+    views, placed himself at their head, and made political power
+    the means of religious propagandism.
+
+    "The adoption of the Imperial style, at so early a period as
+    1850, shows the grand projects and the vast designs which
+    speedily unfolded themselves to the view of the new leader.
+    Nothing but an expulsion of the hated Man-chow tyrants, the
+    subversion of the idolatrous system, and the incorporation of
+    the whole nation into one empire of 'universal peace,' as the
+    servants of the one true God, and the believers in the one true
+    Saviour Jesus Christ, with Taeping-wang himself, the political
+    head and religious chief of the whole--could henceforth satisfy
+    minds inflamed by enthusiasm and animated by past success."
+
+Before the close of the year 1851 the standard of a national revolt was
+raised, and a Chinese dynasty proclaimed. Hung-sui-tshuen again moved
+his camp, marching upon and capturing the city of Yung-ngan. He was here
+elected Emperor by the enthusiastic acclamation of his followers. It is
+said Sui-tshuen offered the supreme dignity to each of the four chiefs,
+Fung-yun-san, Yang-sui-tshin, Siau-chau-kwui, and Wai-ching (the last, a
+powerful leader of some thousands of his own clan); and that, only after
+their refusal and unanimous election of himself, he accepted power,
+appointing them princes of the four quarters; the position in which they
+afterwards became known to Europeans. From this period the style
+God-worshippers became relinquished in favour of the title of the new
+dynasty, Ti-ping-tien-kwoh.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[2] _See_ Map of China.
+
+[3] The Chinese place little value upon hereditary rank; but, in lieu
+thereof, have the extraordinary custom of ennobling a meritorious or
+successful person's ancestry, though the honours are not inherited by
+his descendants.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+    The Manchoo Party.--The Ti-ping Party.--The Ti-ping
+    Character.--Conflict with Manchoos.--Chinese Gunboats.--First
+    Ti-ping Position.--Its Appearance.--Ti-ping
+    Hospitality.--Ti-ping Country described.--Effects of
+    Intervention.--San-le-jow.--Ti-pings Superior to
+    Imperialists.--Ti-pings and Chinamen.--Ti-ping Costume.--The
+    Honan Ti-pings.--The "Chinese Paris."--Interview with
+    Chung-wang: his Appearance: his Religious Feelings: his
+    Penetration: his Policy.--Commission from
+    Chung-wang.--San-li-jow.--A Ti-ping Army.--Its Friendly
+    Bearing.--Arrival at Shanghae.
+
+
+About the beginning of the year 1860 the rapid success of the Ti-ping
+revolution excited considerable attention. From the unfavourable
+impressions I entertained with regard to the Manchoo Imperialists, I
+felt very desirous to become acquainted with their adversaries, whose
+professed intention was not only to subvert the tyrannical foreign
+dynasty, but to overthrow national idolatry and establish Christianity
+throughout China. I therefore determined to relinquish my profession for
+a more unfettered life on shore, which would afford me an opportunity of
+seeing something of the Ti-pings--a resolution which gathered strength
+from the fact that Marie and her relatives were about to leave Hong-Kong
+and take up their abode at Shanghae.
+
+I had long observed that although the majority of people condemned the
+revolution, they were infinitely less worthy of credence than those who
+supported it.
+
+The anti-Ti-ping and pro-Manchoo party comprised:--All persons who were
+in any way connected with the iniquitous opium traffic; all British
+placemen and officials who represented Lord Elgin's politics or Chinese
+treaties; all foreign mercenaries, whether interested in the Chinese
+customs or army; all Roman Catholics, but especially Jesuits and French;
+all missionaries who felt jealous of the Ti-ping Christianity, because
+they could not arrogate to themselves a _direct_ credit for its
+propagation; and, lastly, all merchants and traders, who, trusting to
+make a fortune in a few years, and, being philosophers of the "After me
+the Deluge" school, cared not at all for the future of China, or the
+vast question of its regeneration and Christianity, because the
+execution of those glorious reforms might interfere with their traffic.
+
+The friends of the Ti-pings comprised:--Many humble, devout
+missionaries, who rejoiced at the result of their _indirect_ contact
+with the Chinese; many large-minded, large-hearted men, who admired the
+cause of a people and the welfare of an oppressed nation more than the
+favourable articles of the Elgin treaty; all persons who deprecated
+Europeans becoming the hired mercenaries of the most corrupt Asiatic
+despotism in existence; and all merchants not addicted to
+opium-smuggling, but satisfied with more honourable and righteous
+branches of commerce.
+
+I thus found that interested persons were adverse to the revolution,
+while those who were favourable to it were disinterested. This is no
+psychological phenomenon. The explanation is very easy. It was simply a
+question of selfishness and dollars _versus_ philanthropy and
+liberality. I must confess that, until I became personally acquainted
+with the Ti-pings, the reports of their maligners (preposterous and
+exaggerated as they were) made me very suspicious of the people they
+abused, although I had already begun to sympathize with them.
+
+Before resigning my appointment, I obtained a berth as chief mate in a
+small steamer which was under the command of an old brother officer of
+mine, who had lately quitted the same service. I consequently embarked
+and proceeded with Marie and her friends to Shanghae. The little
+steamer I joined was employed upon the inland waters of the Shanghae
+district, trading to the Ti-ping territory for silk, so that my wishes
+for a meeting were soon to be gratified. The owners of the steamer were
+Chinese, though nominally British, in order to obtain a register, and so
+we had things very much our own way on board.
+
+The evening before we were to start for the interior, a boat-load of
+cargo came alongside--at least, what I imagined to be such. To my utter
+amazement, when I mentioned its arrival to the skipper, I found out that
+the cargo was no other than boxes of specie.
+
+"What!" I exclaimed, "carry treasure amongst the rebels?"
+
+"Why, of course we do; what in the world should prevent us?" said the
+skipper.
+
+"Well," I replied, "it _is_ singular for any one to send boxes of
+dollars right into the hands of people they term 'hordes of banditti,'
+'bloodthirsty marauders,' 'desolators,' &c."
+
+"My dear fellow, that's all bosh: don't you see if outsiders are made to
+believe the Ti-pings to be so bad, they will not trust themselves, or
+their money, amongst them; so those who know better are able to
+monopolize the silk trade."
+
+"What! are all those reports about the Ti-pings false, then?" I asked.
+
+"To be sure they are, or how do you suppose any silk could be obtained?"
+
+This reply satisfied me completely. If the Ti-pings were "desolators,"
+it was certain no silk could be left, or produced, while, if they were
+"marauders" and "brigands," it was equally certain no one dare carry
+large sums of money into their territory to trade. I was not a little
+pleased with this conclusion; before long I had ample proof of the total
+injustice and gross falsehood of nearly every charge brought against
+the revolutionists.
+
+I received on board about 40,000 taels (over L13,000 sterling) during
+the evening, with a Chinaman to negotiate for the purchase of the silk
+when we should arrive in the silk country.
+
+Early in the morning we got under weigh, and proceeded on our voyage,
+past Shanghae and up the Wong-poo river. We no sooner got clear of the
+shipping and crowd of junks anchored above the city, than I received
+orders to have all our armament put in order and ready for immediate
+use. For so small a vessel she was very well armed with a 9 lb. pivot
+gun on each broadside, a swivel 4 lb. in the bow, and another right aft.
+Our crew consisted of eight European seamen, myself, captain, second
+mate, and engineer; besides four Chinese firemen, a Chinese engineer, a
+cook, and our European steward; we also carried a member of our European
+firm as supercargo.
+
+The Wong-poo river for some fifty miles preserves an average breadth of
+about 250 yards, after which it rapidly decreases, and loses itself in a
+series of interminable lagoons. The whole country in this direction (due
+S.W. of Shanghae) is flat and alluvial, everywhere intersected by creeks
+and canals, and mostly in a high state of cultivation.
+
+The tide being strong against us, we did not reach the last imperialist
+city, Soong-Kong, about twenty miles from Shanghae in a direct line,
+till mid-day. Soon after leaving port, the Manchoo troops commenced
+their annoyance. Every station we passed the gunboats would come off and
+attempt to stop us, their crews shouting and yelling like fiends,
+sometimes even firing blank cartridge to arrest our passage. One
+squadron, bolder than the rest, after we had passed Soong-Kong and were
+approaching the limits of Imperialism, thought fit to send us a dose of
+iron, and although we took the previous saluting very quietly, this was
+rather too striking an example of their favour to pass without return.
+I therefore brought one of our 9-pounders to bear, and gave them its
+warning message just over their heads, not wishing to hurt them unless
+compelled, especially as all their shot passed wide of us, excepting one
+that cut a funnel stay. Not satisfied with this, the whole
+squadron--some seven or eight--put off from the bank and pulled after
+us, each opening fire with its bow gun. Our captain called all hands to
+their stations, those not employed at the guns being armed with Sharp's
+rifles; and, suddenly changing our course, we put right about, gave a
+cheer, and steamed at the Mandarin boats full speed. Directly this was
+done, and the Imperialists saw so many Europeans, and heard our terrific
+yell, they thought no more of "loot," or seizing us; but round they
+went, turned tail, and pulled off as desperately as they could, while
+those astern dashed to the bank and tumbled ashore one over the other in
+dire confusion and alarm, leaving their boats to take care of themselves
+or become the prize of the "foreign devils."
+
+To give them a lesson, we contented ourselves by taking all their flags;
+and, setting the boats adrift on the stream, proceeded on our course.
+
+These Chinese gunboats, when well manned, form very effective mosquito
+flotillas. They are about fifty feet long and seven broad, are manned by
+about twenty-five men, and pull from ten to twenty oars a-side. They are
+usually armed with a gun (from 4 to 24-pounder) mounted upon a platform
+in the bow, and another in the stern. They are very shallow, sit light
+upon the water, and pull very fast; they are also furnished with the
+usual bamboo sails, but only go well before the wind. These war-boats
+are almost innumerable, being found in large numbers all through the
+rivers and inland waters of China; and since the British arsenals have
+been thrown open to the Manchoo government, they have become formidable
+from the guns they have been supplied with, and the instruction their
+crews have received from English artillerists in using them.
+
+When we came to the narrow part of the river, we were exposed to
+continual insult and annoyance from the Chinese on the banks, who, not
+content with assailing us with every opprobrious epithet in their
+vocabulary--the least being "Yang quitzo" (foreign devils), frequently
+pelted us with mud and stones. Soldiers, gun-boat _braves_, and
+villagers seemed striving to emulate each other in illustrating their
+hatred of the foreigners who, having allied themselves to the Manchoo
+government, had only just succeeded in driving the Ti-pings away and
+re-establishing the rule of the Tartars; placing our miserable
+assailants in possession of territory they could never have reconquered
+themselves--and this is how they displayed their _gratitude_!
+
+The British and French had but lately made war upon the Ti-pings, having
+driven them from Shanghae and its neighbourhood, therefore the least we
+might have expected was common civility from our allies; they, however,
+seemed to think otherwise, by treating us as enemies.
+
+Towards dusk we approached the last Imperialist station, between which
+and the first Ti-ping outpost stretched a neutral ground of a few miles.
+As we could not reach the Ti-ping territory before dark, it was
+necessary to anchor for the night; but this we dare not attempt while in
+the Imperialist jurisdiction. Since the reinstatement of the
+Imperialists, piracy had become incessant, so much so, that a silk boat
+could scarcely ever make a trip without being attacked, many having been
+plundered and the Europeans in charge murdered. The whole country
+swarmed with robbers, and the river with pirates; the first being the
+Imperialist soldiery, and the latter mostly Imperialist gunboats. In
+consequence of this, we determined to reach the neutral ground, the
+commencement of which was a small and shallow lake, where we could lay
+comparatively safe from enemies, whereas, if we remained on the river,
+we should be at the mercy of any who might attack us from its banks,
+here scarcely sixty yards apart.
+
+Amidst the curses and yells of the last outlying picket of Imperialists
+we shot into the lake, and anchored in its centre to wait for daylight.
+The night passed over without any particular excitement, though the
+watch on deck had frequently to warn off with a shot or two some boats
+hovering about. Getting under weigh in the morning, we soon came to the
+first Ti-ping position--a few houses with a palisade round them, and a
+gingall battery held by a small detachment of troops. I was much struck
+by the pleasant style in which they communicated with us. In place of
+making an offensive demonstration of force, and conducting their
+inquiries with the gross and insulting arrogance of the Imperialists,
+they simply put off a small boat, from which one officer boarded us, who
+behaved in a strikingly friendly and courteous manner while pursuing his
+investigations. When satisfied as to our intentions, he gave us a pass
+to proceed, and took his departure, leaving me with a very favourable
+impression of my first interview with a real, live Ti-ping.
+
+After passing several small villages, in all of which the inhabitants
+were busily at work gathering in their crops, and apparently much better
+off than the Imperialist peasantry on the other side of the lake, we
+came to the extensive village of Loo-chee, some sixty miles from
+Shanghae by the river. At this place there seemed a large and varied
+trade. Silk boats, country boats, and Shanghae boats, were moored off
+the village in great numbers, all filled with merchandise, for which
+there seemed a good and ready market. The crowds of people about were
+all well dressed, the shops were fully stocked, and in every way the
+village seemed in a most flourishing condition. One singular
+circumstance which I noticed was the total absence of mendicants; though
+an ordinary Chinese market village of the same extent and prosperity
+would have swarmed with them, here not one was to be seen. Outside the
+village, the fields were alive with labourers gathering in the rich and
+heavy crops, it being harvest time; while far as the eye could reach
+stretched plains covered with the ripe grain, glistening and golden in
+the morning sun. In vain I gazed around for some trace of the
+"desolaters." If I looked to the village, I saw nothing but crowds of
+well-to-do, busy, complacent-looking Chinamen, and great piles of
+merchandise just landed from the boats; if I looked to the country, I
+perceived nothing but the richness and beauty of nature; yet this was a
+part of Ti-pingdom, and all the people I saw were Ti-pings or subject to
+them. At last, a little outside the village, I noticed a heap of bricks,
+such as the Chinese build their houses with; going up to it, I found the
+track of the "desolaters" after all; for this proved to be the remains
+of an immense joss-house they had destroyed--not a stone was left
+standing upon another; in their iconoclastic zeal they had literally
+crushed the Buddhist temple into the dust, for I could not find one
+whole brick amongst the _debris_, although it covered more than an acre
+of ground. Here and there, amongst the tall, rank grass, peeped out the
+mutilated remnants of the former divinities of the temple. I began to
+think this "desolating" and "murdering" _a la_ Ti-ping not quite so bad
+as some parties had represented.
+
+We remained at Loo-chee a few hours, while our supercargo and
+interpreter made inquiries about the silk. I observed but few Ti-ping
+soldiers in the village; the six or seven who rowed an officer off to us
+constituted quite half the garrison. They were all attached to the
+Loo-chee custom-house, and the officer who boarded us was _le chef de la
+douane_. While strolling through the village I was astonished by the
+very friendly and unrestrained manners of the people; I was seized upon
+and carried into many houses to partake of tea and Chinese wine, the
+Ti-pings actually struggling with each other to get me into their
+respective dwellings. The kindly behaviour of the soldiers was the more
+remarkable from the totally opposite conduct of the Imperialist
+_braves_, whose feeling towards us we had so lately experienced. Yet the
+Imperialists were our allies, and we were assisting them against the
+Ti-pings. It was even possible that friends or relatives of these
+Ti-ping soldiers had been killed by the British and French before
+Shanghae; still, anomalous and incredible as it must seem, our friends,
+the Imperialists, treated us as though we were enemies, and our enemies,
+the Ti-pings, treated us as friends.
+
+At last, amid the hearty _adieux_ of the natives, we steamed away from
+Loo-chee for another village, some twelve miles farther inland, where we
+expected to find silk.
+
+Some three years later I visited Loo-chee again. A letter which I wrote
+upon the occasion appeared in the _Friend of China_, a Shanghae
+newspaper, and in the month of October, 1863, was reproduced,
+accompanied by the following observations:--
+
+"At this juncture, when Gordon declares the Taepings to be incapable of
+government (he never had an opportunity of judging, or knowing anything
+about them, except how they could fight), it is not out of place to
+reproduce the writing of the only respectable foreigner we know in the
+Taeping fighting service--a service of which, in so far as intercourse
+with the Taeping goes, he has had several years' experience."
+
+The letter referred to was as follows:--
+
+"The general appearance of the country lately wrested from the Ti-pings
+by the British, and again given up to Imperial rule, cannot be passed
+without a feeling of pity for its sad alteration. Throughout the whole
+extent of this country, Europeans are now exposed to insult, the natives
+being as constrained and repulsive as is usual in Mandarin localities.
+Indeed, they are a vagabond and scanty lot, many large villages now
+exhibiting hardly one person to each house. The crops alone are in a
+flourishing condition--reared by Ti-pings for the Imperial
+commissariat--a rich harvest indeed.
+
+"Custom-houses, or rather squeeze-houses, are springing up in every
+direction, and the poor Chinese trader is in a perfect whirlwind of
+mystification as to whom he ought to pay and whom not. The baneful
+effect of all this is very visible. There is an indescribable gloom and
+stagnation over the land, and everything on it. Even the birds appear
+less happy, for they do not chirp as of old. Of trade--there is none.
+The extensive village of Loo-chee, about sixty miles from Shanghae by
+water, is the last Imperialist station in this direction. When I was
+last here, some two and a half years ago, all was joyous as a marriage
+feast. It was a place of much trade and importance; now the only things
+to be remarked are a few piratical war-boats, with their usual
+villanous-looking crews, under the Imperial flag. Where formerly
+exuberant life and happiness were found, all now is wretchedness.
+Between Loo-chee and the nearest Ti-ping station comes a neutral ground
+of some ten miles in extent. This is almost a desert, and well it may
+be, when the Imperialists scour over it. At last we reached the first
+Ti-ping outpost. What a contrast! Now, indeed, all is smiling happiness.
+In place of insult we meet kind looks and salutations of welcome. Even
+the children run along the banks with cries of delight. Poor little
+things, they know not but that they may soon be homeless, bereft,
+perhaps, of parents, or even life itself."
+
+When the above letter was written, the Imperialists, with the assistance
+of foreigners, had only lately succeeded in recapturing the village of
+Loo-chee; shortly afterwards I again passed the place, and the only
+change to be observed was a new Buddhist temple in course of erection
+upon the ruins of the old. A striking example of the effect of British
+intervention: the Ti-pings destroy the heathen temples and establish the
+Holy Scriptures on their sites, but the Manchoos build them up again,
+and exterminate the worshippers of the True God.
+
+So great a confidence had my friend, the Captain, in the Ti-pings, that
+directly we came to their territory he told me I might discharge and
+clean all our arms, and put them away until we re-entered the
+Imperialist lines.
+
+Before arriving at our destination, we passed many villages, all
+thriving and apparently doing considerable trade; one especially
+attracted my attention--it was a very large walled village, named
+San-zar, and seemed to be the centre of an immense commerce. This place
+was fortified and well garrisoned. We stopped there and took in a supply
+of provisions, which were very cheap. I particularly remember San-zar,
+because I found in it the best sponge cake I ever tasted in China. The
+village was very extensive, containing upwards of five thousand houses;
+the shops were numerous, and at the time I first visited it every
+article of Chinese consumption was to be found in abundance. I passed
+through it lately--upon my return to England--and found everything sadly
+changed; the Imperialists were close at hand, and the inhabitants had
+fled away; the shops were closed, excepting here and there where some
+trader, more venturesome or avaricious than his fellows, seemed
+determined to drive his business till the last; the streets were silent
+and trafficless; in some parts the depopulation was so complete as to
+strongly remind me of Goldsmith's "Deserted Village."
+
+Shortly after leaving San-zar, we arrived at San-le-jow, the termination
+of our voyage, a fortified position, three Chinese miles (one English)
+from the city of Pim-bong. San-le-jow is situated within the silk
+district, into which we should have proceeded further, but the creek was
+spanned by a bridge too small for our vessel to pass. We were therefore
+compelled to remain at anchor, and send boats in for the silk. All the
+specie was placed in them, comparatively unprotected, only the
+supercargo and two of our crew going in charge of it; and yet it was
+taken into the very heart of Ti-pingdom in perfect safety.
+
+We remained about three weeks at San-le-jow, while our supercargo was
+absent purchasing silk; and during this time I determined to see as much
+of Ti-pingdom and the Ti-pings as possible. I constantly visited the
+neighbouring villages to endeavour to ascertain what feeling the country
+people entertained for the Ti-ping rule. I was pleased to find them in
+every instance completely happy and contented; and was particularly
+struck by the gratified manner in which they would attract my notice to
+their long hair--the emblem of the Ti-ping and freedom, as opposed to
+the Manchoo and the shaven-headed, tail-wearing badge of slavery they
+inflict upon the Chinese. During my rambles I took my servant, A-ling,
+with me, and, as he was a capital interpreter, I was enabled to fully
+investigate all I cared for or found interesting.
+
+As San-le-jow was only about twenty miles distant from the important
+provincial capital, Soo-chow, I engaged a boat, took A-ling with me,
+and, reaching the city, spent seven or eight days there very pleasantly.
+
+I have visited many parts of Asia, but never in my life, not even
+amongst people of my own race, have I met with the kindness,
+hospitality, and earnest friendship I experienced from the Ti-pings. I
+shall never forget the deep impression I received at the moment I first
+met them: it was instantaneous, I required no further knowledge or
+explanation; I felt a mysterious sympathy in their favour, and, from
+that day to this, my frequent intercourse with them has only
+strengthened and cemented my first opinions.
+
+The testimony of persons who have themselves seen the Ti-pings is
+unanimous as to their striking superiority over the Imperialists. Not
+only is their personal appearance infinitely more pleasing, but their
+entire character, physically and morally, exhibits the same wonderful
+superiority.
+
+All Europe has for many years considered the Chinese the most absurd and
+unnatural people in the world; their shaven head, tail, oblique eyes,
+grotesque costume, and the deformed feet of their women, have long
+furnished subjects for the most ludicrous attempts of caricaturists;
+while the atmosphere of seclusion, superstition, and arrogance, with
+which they delight to surround themselves, has always excited the
+ridicule and contempt of Europeans. Now, among the Ti-pings, these
+things, with the exception of the physiognomy, have all disappeared, and
+even their features seem improved--probably through their mental and
+bodily relief from thraldom.
+
+One of the most remarkable contrasts between the Ti-pings and their
+enslaved countrymen, the Imperialists, and the first to attract the
+observation of foreigners, is their complete difference of appearance
+and costume. The Chinese are known as a comparatively stupid-looking,
+badly-dressed race; the disfigurement of the shaved head not a little
+causing this. One presents a type of the whole--a dull, apathetic
+countenance, without expression or intelligence, except what resembles
+the half-cunning, half-fearful manner of slaves; their energies seem
+bound, their hopes and spirits crushed by wrong and oppression. The
+Ti-pings, on the other hand, immediately impress an observer by their
+intelligence, continual inquisitiveness, and thirst for knowledge. It
+is, indeed, utterly impossible, judging from their different
+intellectual capacities, to come to the conclusion that they are both
+natives of the same country--a difference more marked cannot be
+conceived. The Ti-pings are a clever, candid, and martial people,
+rendered peculiarly attractive by the indescribable air of freedom which
+they possess. Where you would see the servile Tartar-subdued Chinamen
+continually cringing, the Ti-pings exhibit, even in the face of death,
+nothing but the erect, stately carriage of free men.
+
+It is a singular fact that the handsomest men and women in China are to
+be seen in the Ti-ping array. This may possibly be partly the result of
+their difference of dress and of wearing the hair, but the main cause is
+undoubtedly the ennobling effect of their religion and freedom. The
+dress consists of very broad petticoat trousers, mostly of black silk,
+bound round the waist with a long sash, which also contains their sword
+and pistols; a short jacket, generally red, reaching just to the waist
+and fitting tight to the body, forms their upper garment. But it is the
+style in which they wear their hair that forms their principal ornament:
+they allow it to grow without cutting, it is then plaited into a queue
+at the back of the head, into which is worked a tail of red silk cord,
+and it is always worn wound round the head in the form of a turban, the
+end, a large tassel, hanging down on the left shoulder. Their shoes are
+of varied colour, with flowers and embroidery worked all over them (the
+boots of Imperialists are quite different, being not only slightly of
+another shape, but always plain).
+
+During my subsequent intercourse with the Ti-pings I found the above
+costume the summer one of the soldiers; the body-guards of the different
+chiefs wear their own particular colours, the edges of the jacket being
+always embroidered and braided with a different one, forming a regular
+uniform. In the cold weather they mostly wear fur-jackets, or other warm
+garments. The colours of their clothing vary much, in some cases the
+jacket being black silk and the trousers white, and in others blue,
+black, white, red, or yellow, according to their different corps. Yellow
+is the colour of only the highest chiefs, or of their king. The chiefs
+all wear long outside dresses, reaching to nearly the feet, of either
+blue, red, or yellow silk, according to their rank. On the head they
+wear a silk scarf, or hood, with a jewel fastened to the front as the
+badge of their position. In hot weather one and all wear large straw
+hats very prettily embroidered, the crown quite small, and the brim
+about a foot broad, which gives them a very gay and singular
+appearance.
+
+[Illustration: A TI-PING ARMY GOING INTO ACTION.
+DAY & SON, LIMITED, LITH.]
+
+The great chiefs, who are titled Wang (generalissimos, or governors of
+districts), have a much more costly and elaborate dress. Upon all
+occasions of importance they wear their state robes and coronets, and
+the appearance they present when so arrayed is really magnificent. Being
+almost invariably men of a very energetic and expressive mien, when
+attired in their long robes, covered with ancient Chinese designs,
+fabulous animals, or fancy patterns, all worked in gold, silver, and
+jewels, with their jewelled coronets, and with their gold embroidered
+shoes, it would be utterly impossible to imagine a more splendid or
+effective costume.
+
+Many of the Ti-pings come from the province of Honan, and the Chinese
+say the natives of that part are the handsomest in China. The truth of
+this I fully believe, for having made it a particular point of inquiry
+to ascertain the native place of every Ti-ping I have met of more than
+ordinary appearance, I have invariably found the best-featured were
+either Honan men or came from the hilly parts of the Kiang-si province.
+Honan forms a central portion of China, and has long been remarkable for
+producing some of the best soldiers; but it is especially its _braves_,
+who man great numbers of the Mandarin gunboats which are used all
+through the inland waters, that are celebrated for their courage. The
+Honan people are easily distinguished by the lightness of their
+complexion; the shape of their nose, which is high and well-formed like
+the European; the largeness, and little approximation to the oblique, of
+their eyes; and their superior stature. In a few cases I have met men
+not inferior to any race in the world for beauty, while it would be
+difficult to imagine a more picturesque bearing than they present with
+their dark massive hair wound around their heads by scarlet silken
+fillets, so as to form a shade for their expressive eyes and animated
+countenances. Some of these youthful Honan Ti-pings are as well featured
+and handsome as an Andalusian beauty, their black eyes and long lashes,
+olive complexion, and beardless faces rendering the resemblance more
+striking.
+
+Upon my arrival at Soo-chow I received the kindest reception, and
+obtained an audience of several of the principal chiefs in the city. But
+little trace of the former magnificence of the "Chinese Paris" remained;
+its present possessors had only captured the city a few months, and the
+sad traces of civil war were everywhere around. The Imperialist troops
+had themselves burned and devastated the once rich suburbs, and the
+Ti-pings, in their usual manner upon the capture of a city, had
+destroyed all public and private buildings of the Manchoo construction,
+or any that tended to remind them of the hateful Tartar occupation. New
+suburbs, however, were springing up in every direction, and a
+considerable trade likewise, all commerce being carried on outside the
+walls. Within the city itself, the destruction had been extensive, and
+numberless workmen were employed erecting handsome new dwellings, those
+for the principal chiefs being of the best description. No trade was
+permitted within the walls, a very necessary precaution in China, for
+otherwise the place would be instantly filled by numbers of the enemy
+disguised as traders, &c. In this the Ti-pings have only acted as every
+other dynasty during its commencement, all (the present Manchoo
+included) having pursued the same policy. Many persons ignorant of this,
+after visiting Ti-ping cities, have reported that the inhabitants never
+return to them from fear of the new rulers; but we must remember the
+late war in America and the occupation of Atlanta by the Federal
+troops, who _compelled_ the inhabitants to leave the city; it will then
+be seen that the military occupation of fortified towns by the Ti-pings
+is much about the same as it is with people of our own race. Outside the
+ramparts a crowd of soldiers and labourers were hard at work throwing up
+fortifications, while, inside, others were converting the remaining
+streets into extensive barracks.
+
+I found the chief in command was the Chung-wang, Le, who for the last
+few years had held the supreme position of Commander-in-Chief of all the
+Ti-ping forces. He very kindly granted me an audience, and made me live
+in his palace while I remained at Soo-chow, although he had only lately
+been driven from Shanghae, and hundreds of his men killed (rather say
+murdered, for they were slaughtered without the slightest justification)
+by the British.
+
+I had long felt a desire to behold the celebrated leader of the Ti-ping
+forces, who, until the intervention of England, had been invincible, and
+now my wish was gratified. I no sooner found myself before the
+Chung-wang than I respected him--he appeared so unmistakably a master
+spirit, with the innate nobleness of presence of one born to command and
+govern.
+
+For a chief of so exalted and powerful a position, and who, moreover,
+had received ample provocation to treat Englishmen as his deadliest
+enemies, Chung-wang received me with remarkable condescension and
+kindness. Whereas the meanest official understrapper of the Manchoo
+government would with the most insulting hauteur receive any foreigner
+(unless under coercion, as when the treaties have been arranged), and
+consider himself degraded by any contact, the Chung-wang, generalissimo
+of some four or five hundred thousand men, second personage in the
+Ti-ping government (being only inferior to the Tien-wang, the king), and
+Viceroy of the whole territory (at that period more than twice the size
+of England, and containing more than 70,000,000 inhabitants), advanced
+from his vice-regal chair, and shaking me by the hand in English style,
+made me be seated close to himself. He seemed about thirty-five years of
+age, though the trace of arduous mental and physical exertion gave him a
+rather worn and older appearance. His figure light, active, and wiry,
+was particularly well formed, though scarcely of the Chinese middle
+height; his bearing erect and dignified, his walk rapid but stately.
+His features were very strongly marked, expressive, and good, though not
+handsome according to the Chinese idea, being slightly of a more
+European cast than they admire; the nose straighter than usual among
+Chinese; the mouth small, almost delicate, and with the general shape of
+the jaw and sharply chiselled lips, expressive of great courage and
+determination. His complexion dark; but it was his brow and eyes that at
+once told the observer he beheld a great and remarkable man. It was not
+alone his singularly high and expansive forehead, but the eyebrows and
+eyes, which, instead of being placed obliquely, as is the usual
+characteristic of the Chinese, were quite dissimilar: the eyes were
+nearly straight, the only Chinese part being the shape of the eyelids;
+and the brows, placed high above them, were almost even, the inner, in
+place of the outer, ends being slightly elevated. This peculiarity I
+have never seen so prominent in any other Chinaman; I have seen a few
+natives of Honan approach to it a little, but it gave the Chung-wang an
+un-Chinese look.
+
+His large eyes flashed incessantly, while the lids were always
+twitching. From his very energetic features, and the ceaseless nervous
+movement of his body (some part being continually on the move and
+restless, either the legs crossing or uncrossing, the feet patting the
+ground, or the hands clasping, unclasping, or fidgeting about, and all
+by sudden starts), no one would imagine he could possess such perfect
+coolness in battle; yet I have often since observed him in action, when,
+in spite of his apparent excitability, his self-possession was
+imperturbable, and his voice--always low and soft, with a musical flow
+of language, slightly affected by a wound he received from a piece of a
+British shell before Shanghae, in the month of August, 1860--unchanged,
+save being more rapid and decisive in moments of the greatest danger.
+When I obtained my first interview with the Chung-wang, I found him
+rather plainly dressed. Instead of the long robes and large coronets,
+constituting the state dress of all the superior chiefs, he was simply
+attired in an ordinary scarlet quilted jacket. On his head he wore a
+scarlet hood, of the usual shape, surmounted by a kind of undress
+coronet peculiar to himself, consisting of a large and valuable jewel in
+the front, with eight curious gold medallions, four in a row on each
+side.
+
+[Illustration: CHUNG WANG'S HEAD-DRESS.]
+
+While in Soo-chow I became one of the congregation of Ti-pings during
+their performance of divine service on Sunday. The Sabbath is observed
+not upon the same day as in Europe, theirs being the Saturday of our
+reckoning. My interpreter was with me, and translated every part of
+their service. Their numbers, and apparent devotion, could not have been
+objected to by the most orthodox Christian.
+
+I shall ever remember with feelings of the liveliest pleasure the first
+few days I spent with the Ti-pings at Soo-chow. I could not move through
+its streets without experiencing the excessive friendliness of these
+warm-hearted converts to Christianity and civilization, thousands of
+whom were afterwards destroyed by a nation whose religion and civilized
+institutions they were earnestly striving to imitate.
+
+Nor can I ever forget the eager manner with which, the moment I was
+seated in his house, my entertainer for the time being would give a copy
+of the Bible to my servant--waiting impatiently with the book in his
+hands till the etiquette of presenting me some tea had been
+observed,--asking if it was the same as mine; and his satisfaction,
+when, after hearing parts of it translated, I assured him that it was.
+
+The conversation I had with the Chung-wang naturally touched upon his
+late repulse from Shanghae by the British and French. He seemed to feel
+that event very deeply, and deplore the suicidal policy of those he had
+always striven to make his friends. The points of his communication
+were:--Why had the English and French broken faith with him? the English
+particularly, whose solemn written guarantees of neutrality the Ti-ping
+government held. The Ti-pings and the English worshipped the same God
+and the same Saviour, and were consequently of one religion and
+brotherhood, why, then, did they assist the common enemy, the Manchoo
+imps--the idol-worshippers and enemies of our Heavenly Father and Jesus
+the heavenly elder brother? By what right or law did the English
+soldiers take charge of the native city of Shanghae, preventing him,
+their friend, from capturing it, and defend it for the very Manchoos
+with whom at the time they were themselves at war?
+
+Neither shall I ever forget the noble, enlightened, and patriotic
+designs, which absorbed them:--to propagate the Bible, to destroy idols,
+to expel the Tartars from China, and establish one complete and
+undivided native empire; to become brothers with the Christian nations
+of the West, and introduce European sciences and manufactures--seemed
+always their principal wish and determination.
+
+He continually inquired: "Why are the English inimical to us? Have we
+ever done them the slightest harm? Have we not always acted with good
+faith and friendship?"
+
+"Cannot your foreign nations see," he said, "that the imps of Hien-fung
+(the Manchoo Emperor of China), knowing you are of the same religion and
+family as ourselves, are plotting to establish a connection with you in
+order to produce trouble, misunderstanding, and separation between us?
+To do this they will tell many lies, pretend to be very friendly, and
+for the time let you do much trade to fool you."
+
+This observation of the Chung-wang's is a good proof of his penetration
+and judgment; he only forgot to notice the fact that the Manchoo
+government had been compelled to pretend friendship, to allow increased
+trade, &c., by the British occupation of Pekin, in the first place; he
+was, however, undoubtedly right as to their after intrigue.
+
+Another very important remark the Chung-wang made, was:--"If you take
+Shanghae and a few _le_ round it into your protection, how will you be
+able, in such a limited space, to dispose of your merchandise, or carry
+on any traffic with the interior, if I, in retaliation, choose to
+prevent you?"
+
+When I told him any such policy on his part would probably lead to a war
+with the English, he replied:--
+
+"Never! unless you reckon upon my forbearance; I have all the silk and
+many tea districts in my possession, and I can stop all your trade in a
+moment if I am so inclined. If I beat you, in event of hostilities, I
+shall then make you reasonable and cause you to mind your own affairs
+without interfering in our endeavours to expel the Manchoo; but if, on
+the other hand, you beat me, who can prevent my destroying all the silk
+and tea plantations, and so removing for ever the only thing you come to
+China for, and the only cause you would fight about? My soldiers are
+brave and innumerable, they cover the silk and the tea lands."
+
+These arguments of the Chung-wang were perfectly just and unanswerable.
+What honest-minded man really acquainted with the facts of the case can
+deny it?
+
+With all his shrewdness and foresight, the Chung-wang was himself too
+enlightened and large-hearted to hit upon the true reason for British
+hostility. It did not occur to him that at the close of an expensive war
+which had resulted in the legalization of the opium trade, and had
+otherwise benefitted the English, it would not suit their
+policy--however beneficial it might prove to the Chinese--however
+imperatively it might be demanded by the sacred voice of humanity, to
+interfere with the advantages derivable from the Elgin treaties, the
+indemnity, and the traffic in opium--the use of which is prohibited upon
+pain of death by the Ti-pings.
+
+The kindness I experienced was disinterested, genuine, and without a
+motive. Though some persons have considered their striking friendliness
+to foreigners has been the carrying out of a plan in order to secure the
+non-intervention of the European powers, all I saw of the Ti-pings,
+their earnest religious enthusiasm, patriotism, and generally noble
+sentiments, impressed me seriously. Before leaving Soo-chow I became
+warmly attached to their cause, than which--all my future intercourse
+has convinced me--a more righteous, or holy, never existed upon earth,
+and I therefore determined to aid and advocate it to the utmost of my
+power.
+
+When upon the point of returning to my vessel, I informed the Chung-wang
+of my intention, and volunteered my services, at the same time
+requesting him to furnish me with some document or pass that would
+enable me to return, or travel, to any part of his dominions. The
+Chung-wang, after a short conversation with some of his chiefs, told my
+servant to inform me he would give me an honorary commission upon his
+staff, and then I should be able to act in whichever way I might find
+best, and to traverse every part of Ti-pingdom without let or
+hindrance.
+
+At last my commission was made out, the Chung-wang affixed his seal, and
+amidst the congratulations of the surrounding chiefs I became an
+honorary Ti-ping officer. I afterwards learnt that in consideration of
+my being a foreigner, and the nature of the commission, the usual
+formalities of investiture had been foregone; such as examination upon
+the Bible, swearing allegiance to the Ti-ping wang, and to expel the
+Manchoo.
+
+After taking leave of my new friends and comrades, I discharged the boat
+I had arrived in, taking my departure on board a gun-vessel the
+Chung-wang had kindly placed at my disposal. While on my passage, I
+observed many people apparently returning to their homes in the
+neighbourhood of Soo-chow; I halted at some of the villages on my route,
+and found in all of them huge yellow placards, which my interpreter read
+as Ti-ping imperial proclamations calling upon the people to return to
+their homes without fear, to remain quiet, and lawfully to render a
+certain amount of tribute (a little over a third of the Manchoo
+taxation) to the Ti-ping general treasury. At the gateways of Soo-chow,
+and at several villages I passed, I saw heads hung up with notices
+attached, stating they were those of soldiers decapitated for plundering
+the country people, one for smoking opium, and another for carrying off
+a villager's daughter.
+
+It was a singular fact that about every fourth village had been
+completely burned and destroyed. Sometimes I passed three villages, the
+two outside ones perfect and the central one entirely gutted. Upon
+inquiry, the country people said the Imperialists had been the
+destroyers; others said the inhabitants having run away and gone off
+with the "imps" (Imperialists), they had punished them by burning their
+habitations; while some said the destroyed villages had been fortified
+and defended by the Manchoo troops, and so, when captured by the
+Ti-pings, had been destroyed. This last I had reason to believe the
+correct account, for I noticed in all the ruined villages various
+traces of strife, and some seemed to have been surrounded with a wall or
+stockade and the houses loopholed; while, here and there, half hidden
+among the _debris_ and tall rank weeds, lay some human skeletons.
+
+When I reached the steamer, no silk having arrived, I had time to see
+more of the country. In one direction, some few miles from San-li-jow, I
+found a considerable tract of land perfectly desolated, not a dwelling
+nor habitation of any sort standing, and the fields untended, with the
+rice or paddy growing wild.
+
+It appeared this part had been severely contested by the Ti-ping and
+Imperialist troops, and between them it had become a solitude. I made
+several trips to this locality with my gun, and always returned well
+recompensed with golden plover and pheasants, which I generally flushed
+among the ruins of what had once been houses. The paddy-fields about
+here were impenetrable, being mostly a perfect jungle six or seven feet
+high, and full of ugly-looking green and yellow diamond-speckled snakes.
+
+In the villages around San-li-jow I particularly noticed the exactitude
+with which the Ti-ping soldiers paid the country people for everything
+they required. I was told in one that a soldier dare not so much as take
+an egg without paying for it, and the villagers all stated it was "good
+trade" with the Ti-pings, because they gave a better price than the
+Imperialists.
+
+In a few days after my return from Soo-chow the silk arrived, and while
+we were busily employed taking it on board, a large Ti-ping army came in
+sight. Some were marching along ashore, but by far the greater number
+were being transported by water; for miles, as far as the eye could
+reach, the sinuosities of the creek were covered with the sails of the
+vessels. I counted the number of boats passing within half an hour at
+one hundred, and the numbers in each at a fair average of twenty;
+therefore, the flotilla continuing to pass for seven hours, I estimated
+the approximate strength of the army at 30,000 men, including those
+ashore. Many of the leaders came alongside in their boats, and spent a
+few minutes on board with us; amongst them I found one or two I had met
+at Soo-chow, who informed me they were proceeding to attack the
+important provincial capital, Hang-chow. All who boarded us were very
+eager to purchase firearms, and I was sorry we could not muster half a
+dozen stand for them altogether. Many brought guns on board with the
+locks out of order, and by repairing these our engineers reaped a
+munificent reward. During the whole time the flotilla was passing we
+received many salutations and friendly remarks, and I did not hear a
+single insulting or depreciating expression made use of towards us;
+whereas, amongst Imperialist troops it would be impossible to venture
+without being subjected to the grossest insult and contumely.
+
+It has been the invariable habit to immensely exaggerate the strength of
+the Ti-ping armies, and this force upon the march for Hang-chow was
+supposed by Europeans to number several hundred thousand. It was
+commanded in chief by the Ting-wang, Prince of the Eastern Provinces.
+
+When all our silk had arrived, we gave the chief of San-li-jow a
+farewell dinner on board, he having treated us with much hospitality and
+kindness during our stay; and after an exchange of presents (we gave him
+a few bottles of cherry brandy, some boxes of percussion-caps, a couple
+of muskets, and a few other things; and in return received a present of
+some pigs, fowls, ducks, and pieces of silk, a much more valuable one
+than ours) started for Shanghae.
+
+We returned to the Wong-poo river, and Imperialist territory, by a
+different route to that by which we had left it, and in this direction,
+likewise, found one of the most prominent changes in the country--the
+total destruction of the idols and Buddhist temples. The desolating
+traces of civil war were also more visible.
+
+We anchored for the night preceding our re-entry into the Imperialist
+lines, getting all our arms in readiness. Starting early in the morning,
+we fortunately caught the ebb tide, and so, after running the gauntlet
+past our _allies_, reached Shanghae safely the same afternoon.
+
+Of course, my first moment was devoted to Marie. The relations she was
+living with--the poor relations of the family--acted with great kindness
+towards us; they were completely estranged from Marie's miserly father,
+and looked favourably upon our attachment. Fortunately my occupation was
+very much of a sinecure; so, often during the day I found time to fulfil
+our almost hourly assignations. Each night I returned to my ship with
+Marie's whisper "Till to-morrow" dwelling in my heart.
+
+A short half-month of unmingled happiness soon passed away, and again
+came the hour of separation. We were to part--not with the whispered
+promise upon our lips, not with the anticipated pleasure of the morrow
+in our hearts; but for long weeks, perhaps even months: the very
+uncertainty was painful.
+
+Mournfully sounded the last "adios" from the shore, but more mournfully
+still the echo that followed me over the waters from the little boat
+fast disappearing in the gloom of night, as we steamed out of the
+harbour--"adios!"
+
+[Illustration: TI-PING _versus_ IMPERIALIST.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+    Organization of the Ti-pings.--Hung-sui-tshuen's
+    Manifesto.--Hung-sui-tshuen Emperor.--Proclamation of
+    Rank.--Ti-ping Titles.--Siege of Yung-gnan.--Ti-ping
+    Successes.--Their Moderation in Victory.--King Yang's
+    Proclamation.--Tien-Wang's Proclamation.--Cruelty of
+    Imperialists.--Cause of the Revolution.--Chinese History
+    Reviewed.--Corrupt Government.--Tartar Ride.--Manchoo Barbarity.
+
+
+The Ti-ping Revolution, even during its earlier stages, when emerging
+from the obscurity of mere local insurrection, was conducted in a very
+systematic and organized manner.
+
+Just four months after the first outbreak, and four months previous to
+the capture of Yung-gnan, the Manchoo governor of the province
+(Kwang-si), whose letter is translated and quoted by Consul Meadows,
+wrote as follows:--
+
+    "Both Hung-sui-tshuen and Fung-yun-san are skilled in the use of
+    troops. Hung-sui-tshuen is a man of dangerous character, who
+    practises the ancient military arts. At first he conceals his
+    strength, then he puts it forth a little, then in a greater
+    degree, and lastly comes on in great force. He constantly has
+    two victories for one defeat, for he practises the tactics of
+    Sun-pin (an ancient Chinese warrior and celebrated tactician).
+    The other day I obtained a rebel book, describing the
+    organization of one army. It is the Sze-mar system of the Chow
+    dynasty. A division has its general of division; a regiment has
+    its colonel; an army consists of 13,270 men, being the strength
+    of an ancient army, with the addition of upwards of a hundred
+    men. * * *
+
+    "The rebels increase more and more; our troops--the more they
+    fight the more they fear. The rebels generally are powerful and
+    fierce, _and they cannot by any means be likened to a disorderly
+    crowd, their regulations and laws being rigorous and clear_."
+
+Thus it appears that even before the rebellion attained a political
+status, its organization was perfect, and that, too, within four months
+of its commencement. In spite of the mass of trustworthy evidence on
+this point, and the latterly improved constitution of the Ti-pings, some
+persons have foolishly declared the Ti-pings possess no organization
+whatever. The partisan spirit of such people carries them altogether
+beyond their mark; for any one, _not totally ignorant of Chinese
+character_, is perfectly well aware that for any body of Chinese to
+exist without organization is impossible. We have only to look towards
+Java, Australia, California, India, or wherever a body of Chinese may be
+found separate, to see they are invariably organized. The colonies
+formed in the above countries are all governed by chiefs of their own
+electing. At Batavia and various other parts of Java, Borneo, &c., these
+chiefs and their inferior officials, hold a recognized position in the
+Dutch administration. From their very cradles precepts of order and
+submission are so well engrafted and inculcated, that no nature is so
+amenable to control as a Chinaman's.[4]
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen, previous to the capture of Yung-gnan, issued the
+following reply to the celebrated Commissioner Lin's summons to
+surrender:--
+
+    "The Manchoos who, for two centuries, have been in hereditary
+    possession of the throne of China, are descended from an
+    insignificant nation of foreigners. By means of an army of
+    veteran soldiers well trained to warfare, they seized on our
+    treasures, our lands, and the government of our country, thereby
+    proving that the only thing requisite for usurping empire is the
+    fact of being the strongest. There is, therefore, no difference
+    between ourselves, who lay contributions on the villages we
+    take, and the agents sent from Pekin to collect taxes. Why,
+    then, without any motive, are troops dispatched against us? Such
+    a proceeding strikes us as a very unjust one. What! is it
+    possible that the Manchoos, who are foreigners, have a right to
+    receive the taxes of the captured provinces, and to name
+    officers who oppress the people, while we Chinese are prohibited
+    from taking a trifling amount at the public cost? Universal
+    sovereignty does not belong to any one particular individual, to
+    the exclusion of all the rest. And such a thing has never been
+    known, as one dynasty being able to trace a line of a hundred
+    generations of emperors. The right to govern consists in
+    possession."
+
+In this manifesto the insurgents claim the throne, from the fact that,
+being Chinese, to them by right it belonged.
+
+This document, from which the above is an extract, proved such an
+effective and injurious one to poor Commissioner Lin, that he never
+rallied from the shock. Before dying, he memorialized his Emperor,
+informing him the rebels professed Christianity, and derived their
+origin from the hated "barbarians" (Europeans).
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen effected the capture of the city of Yung-gnan by a very
+extraordinary stratagem:--
+
+    "The insurgents advanced quickly to the walls, which are not
+    very high, and by throwing an immense quantity of lighted
+    fire-crackers into the town, the continued explosion of which
+    brought confusion among the soldiers within, and caused them to
+    retreat, they easily succeeded in scaling the walls and entering
+    the city."
+
+Hung-sui-tshuen was no sooner proclaimed first emperor of the new
+dynasty of Ti-ping (Extreme Peace), with the title of
+Tien-teh-Ti-ping-Wang (Heavenly Virtue Extreme Peace King), than he
+immediately issued his manifestoes in imperial style.
+
+During the first two months, the framing of new regulations, electing of
+officers, and bestowing rewards upon those who had previously
+distinguished themselves, were attended to. Proclamations calling upon
+the soldiers to fight bravely, and promising them reward, were issued,
+in one of which the seventh commandment is rigorously enforced by the
+following passage:--
+
+    "There shall assuredly be no forgiveness, and we expressly
+    enjoin upon the soldiers and officers not to show the least
+    leniency, or screen the offenders, lest we bring down upon
+    ourselves the indignation of the great God our Heavenly Father."
+
+The following is the proclamation bestowing upon the five principal
+leaders their rank and title:--
+
+    "Our Heavenly Father, the great God and supreme Lord, is one
+    true Spirit (God); besides our Heavenly Father, the great God
+    and supreme Lord, there is no Spirit (God). The great God, our
+    Heavenly Father and supreme Lord, is omniscient, omnipotent, and
+    omnipresent--the supreme over all. There is not an individual
+    who is not produced and nourished by him. He is Shang (Supreme).
+    He is the Te (Ruler). Besides the great God, our Heavenly Father
+    and supreme Lord, there is no one who can be called Shang, and
+    no one who can be called Te.
+
+    "Therefore, from henceforth all you soldiers and officers may
+    designate us as your lord, _and that is all_; you must not call
+    me supreme, _lest you should encroach upon the designation of
+    our Heavenly Father_. Our Heavenly Father is our Holy Father,
+    and our Celestial _Elder Brother_ is our Holy Lord, the Saviour
+    of the world. Hence our Heavenly Father and Celestial _Elder
+    Brother alone are holy_; and from henceforth all you soldiers
+    and officers may designate us as your lord, _and that is all;
+    but you must not call me holy, lest you encroach upon the
+    designation of our Heavenly Father and Celestial Elder Brother_.
+    The great God, our Heavenly Father and supreme Lord, is our
+    Spiritual Father, our Ghostly Father. Formerly we had ordered
+    you to designate the first and second ministers of state,
+    together with the generals-in-chief of the van and rear, royal
+    fathers, which was a temporary indulgence in conformity with the
+    corrupt customs of the present world; but, according to the true
+    doctrine, _this was a slight encroachment on the prerogative of
+    our Heavenly Father, for our Heavenly Father is alone entitled
+    to the designation of Father_. We have now appointed the chief
+    minister of state and general-in-chief to be designated the
+    Eastern King, having charge of all the states in the Eastern
+    region. We have also appointed the second minister of state and
+    assistant general-in-chief to be designated the Western King,
+    having charge of all the states in the Western region. We have
+    further appointed the general of the advanced guard to be
+    designated the Southern King, having charge of all the states in
+    the Southern region. And we have likewise appointed the general
+    of the rear guard to be designated the Northern King, having
+    charge of all the states in the Northern region. We have
+    furthermore appointed our brother Shih-tah-kae to be
+    assistant-king, to aid in sustaining our Celestial court. All
+    the kings above referred to are to be under the superintendence
+    of the Eastern king. We have also issued a proclamation
+    designating our Queen as the lady of all ladies (Empress), and
+    our concubines as royal ladies. Respect this!"
+
+The above document was translated by Dr. Medhurst. All words commencing
+with a capital letter are placed in the proclamation certain degrees
+higher than the rest. All words used to denote the Almighty being
+elevated _three_ spaces, those denoting the chiefs _one_ space.
+
+By observing the passages in italics, it cannot fail to be understood
+that the appellation "Elder Brother" has not the blasphemous tendency
+some persons have imagined. Even had it, is that a reason why thousands
+of Christians in error should be slaughtered by a cruel intervention?
+Why, the very idea is monstrous! Yet some have been found who made the
+term "Elder Brother" an excuse for exterminating the Ti-pings, instead
+of doing their duty by teaching them better if necessary. There is
+another and more important reason why, had Hung-sui-tshuen, or rather
+the Tien-wang--as we shall for the future, in conformity with his title
+amongst his followers, term him--literally called himself the brother of
+our Saviour, Englishmen should be the last to throw stones at him; for
+have they not their Unitarians, _who deny his divinity altogether_? Why,
+then, do these war Christians go to China to defend the _name_ of the
+Saviour, when here in England their zeal is more required. If people are
+to be massacred for making a wrong use of the attributes of our Saviour
+(when they do so through ignorance), then the slaughter should commence
+at home, with those who have every opportunity of acquiring a more
+correct knowledge. It would be as reasonable to suppose that
+Hung-sui-tshuen arrogates to himself the attributes of God by his title
+Tien-wang (Heavenly King), as that he considers himself the equal of
+Jesus, and one of the Trinity, by his style of "Younger Brother."
+
+His titles, Tien-wang, Younger Brother, &c., are no more to be literally
+understood than any of the extravagant designations of the Manchoo
+Emperor (Celestial Ruler, Monarch of the Universe, Brother of the Sun,
+&c.), the Llama of Thibet, or any other Asiatic ruler; but is only the
+usual Chinese metaphorical style of naming their princes, and setting
+forth their dignity and high position. The Ti-pings are themselves the
+very last to entertain any other idea; and often when I have questioned
+them, they have ridiculed such an heathenish and absurd belief as that
+their chief was more than mortal. Their replies have always been
+essentially practical; such as--"He is but a man like themselves, though
+a very great one." His prophecies, however, were believed to be
+inspired; his divine commission to earthly sovereignty and propagation
+of the Faith was likewise universally believed, though the blasphemies
+attributed to him, and circulated by interested European maligners, are
+without foundation. "Younger Brother" is the usual and touching Chinese
+figurative style of expressing an affectionate and dependent situation.
+The Tien-wang, when using it, simply expresses that relative position he
+wishes his people to believe he occupies, as our Saviour's faithful
+servant and disciple.
+
+The Ti-pings, as we may now fairly call them, were allowed but short
+respite in the city of Yung-gnan. A large army of Imperialists, under
+the command of a celebrated Tartar general, Woo-lan-tae, invested the
+city upon every side, reducing the besieged to fearful extremities;
+till, at last, death by famine or the sword seemed their only fate.
+During November, 1851, all their outposts had been driven in with great
+loss, their spirits were damped, and the close of their existence seemed
+near at hand.
+
+At length, after enduring incredible sufferings from famine and
+sickness, and a close siege of five months, during the night of the 7th
+of April, 1852, the Ti-pings sallied out from the city in three
+divisions, and after severe fighting, in which their losses were very
+heavy, succeeded in cutting their way through the besiegers and marching
+to the north-east, unfortunately leaving many of the sick and wounded
+prisoners, all of whom were barbarously tortured and put to death.
+Shortly after their escape from Yung-gnan, the Ti-pings laid siege to
+the provincial capital, Kwei-lin, but being unprovided with guns or
+sufficient powder to mine the walls, after a month spent before the
+city, they raised the siege, and marched into the adjoining province of
+Hoo-nan. At this time the total strength of the Ti-pings, men, women,
+and children included, numbered less than ten thousand persons. After
+capturing the city of Taou-chow, in the southern part of Hoo-nan, during
+the next three months they pressed steadily northward, capturing many
+cities on the way, and overthrowing all opposition. Early in September
+they arrived before the capital city of the Hoo-nan province, Chang-sha,
+and intrenching themselves, commenced a regular siege, which lasted more
+than two months. Upon this important place all the Imperialist forces
+were immediately concentrated, and the plains before the city became the
+battle-ground of many severe actions, generally favourable to the
+Ti-pings. During the months of September, October, and November, the
+latter made several attempts to carry the city by assault, but were each
+time severely repulsed by the garrison, who held out with determined
+bravery. Upon the 29th of November, the last assault upon Chang-sha was
+repulsed with heavy loss to the besiegers, and upon the following day
+the siege was abandoned, and they moved off in a north-westerly
+direction.
+
+The next movement of the Ti-pings was attended with better fortune, for,
+reaching the Tung-ting lake, they carried the city of Yoh-chow, which
+was situated at the junction of the lake with the river Yang-tze-kiang,
+by storm. Considerably enriched by the granaries and treasury of that
+city, they changed their line of march and proceeded in a north-easterly
+direction, down the course of the Yang-tze, conveyed by the large fleet
+of junks and war-boats they had captured on the lake. Upon the 23rd of
+December they reached the city of Han-yang, upon the north bank of the
+river. Capturing this place with but slight opposition, they crossed to
+the south side, and invested the vice-regal city Wu-chang-foo. After
+mining the walls and making a practicable breach, upon the 12th of
+January they assaulted and carried the city, the lieutenant-governor of
+Hoo-nan falling in its defence, together with a large number of his
+officers and troops. Collecting immense booty from these two cities and
+the adjoining unwalled emporium, Han-kow, early in February, with a vast
+fleet loaded with men and stores, they proceeded down the river. On the
+18th, the large and important city of Kew-kiang, situated close to the
+junction of the Poyang lake with the river, fell before their arms. The
+city of Ngan-king, capital of the province of Ngan-Hwui, was captured on
+the 25th. On the 4th of March Wu-hoo was taken, and on the 8th the
+Ti-ping forces sat down before the walls of Nan-kin.
+
+These successes of the insurgents were followed by the degradation of
+all Imperialist leaders who should have prevented them. The court of
+Pekin deprived the imperial commissioner Keshen of his rank of
+Lieutenant-General of Tartar bannermen; Sae-shang-ah, the general of the
+Imperialist troops in Hoo-nan, was sentenced to be decapitated; Sin, the
+Viceroy of the two Kwang, was deprived of his vice-royalty and two-eyed
+peacock's tail; while all their property was confiscated to the
+government. Meanwhile the Ti-pings, by their moderation and success, by
+their kindness, and protection of the country people who did not oppose
+them;--by controlling their troops and followers from committing the
+usual excesses and crimes--the scourges of war, even in civilized
+countries; had obtained for themselves the goodwill and confidence of
+the people in a very large degree. Reinforcements poured in from every
+side; all those in local revolt, or in any way aggrieved by their
+tyrannical authorities; all who were in any manner dissatisfied with the
+foreign dynasty, or felt a spark of patriotism, flocked to the
+Tien-wang's standard. And now, as the Bishop of Victoria has said,
+before the ancient capital of the empire, a body of some 100,000 men,
+bound together by one religious hope and by one political aim,--the
+highest and most noble purposes of human ambition--those of civil and
+religious liberty--were congregated; following implicitly the guidance
+of a leader they believed sent by divine authority to expel their
+foreign masters, and overthrow idolatry throughout the length and
+breadth of the land. Marvellous and unparalleled beyond conception was
+this rising-up of the people,--as a psychological phenomenon it stands
+unrivalled in extent and magnitude in modern history. To behold leagued
+together, not only the effeminate Chinese, but even their women,--wives
+and daughters fighting by the side of their husbands and fathers,
+inspired by one common hope and ardour--all animated by a great
+religious and political object, for the attainment of which they had
+suffered and fought many years,--is an event never before realized in
+the history of China.
+
+The Bishop of Victoria thus writes of them:--
+
+    "Throughout their long line of march, for 1,500 miles, over
+    fertile and populous districts, plunders, murder, and rape, the
+    usual attendant curses of Asiatic warfare, were denounced and
+    punished by death. With more than Puritanical strictness, they
+    waged an internecine war with the most dearly cherished sensual
+    habits of their countrymen. The ten moral rules of the Decalogue
+    were enforced, _and a stricter interpretation attached to its
+    terms_. Amorous glances, libidinous songs, and all the common
+    incentives to profligacy, were prohibited and abandoned. The
+    drinking of wine, the smoking of tobacco, gambling, lying,
+    swearing, and, above all, _indulgence in the fumes of opium_,
+    were denounced and abolished with a moral determination which
+    permitted no half measures."
+
+During the triumphant march of the Ti-pings from the city of Yung-gnan,
+many proclamations were issued by the Tien-wang and his chiefs, to
+justify their rebellion and inform the people. The earliest and most
+important was the following, issued by Yang, the Eastern King:--
+
+    "We hereby promulgate our explicit orders in every place, and
+    say, Oh, you multitudes! listen to our words. We conceive that
+    the empire belongs to the Chinese, and not to the Tartars; the
+    food and raiment found therein belong to the Chinese, and not to
+    the Tartars; the men and women inhabiting this region are
+    subjects and children of the Chinese, and not of the Tartars.
+    But, alas! ever since the Ming dynasty lost its influence, the
+    Manchoos availed themselves of the opportunity to throw China
+    into confusion, and deprive the Chinese of their empire; they
+    also robbed them of their food and clothing, as well as
+    oppressed their sons and ravished their daughters; and the
+    Chinese, notwithstanding they possessed such an extensive
+    territory and multitudinous subjects, allowed the Tartars to do
+    as they pleased without making the least objection. Can the
+    Chinese still deem themselves men? Ever since the Manchoos have
+    spread their poisonous influence through China, the flame of
+    oppression has risen up to heaven, and the vapour of corruption
+    has defiled the celestial throne, the offensive odour has spread
+    over the four seas, and the demoniacal influence has distressed
+    surrounding regions; while the Chinese, with bowed heads and
+    dejected spirits, willingly became the servants of others. How
+    strange it is that there are no _men_ in China! China is the
+    head, Tartary is the feet; China is the land of spirits, Tartary
+    the land of demons. Why may China be deemed the land of spirits?
+    Because the true Spirit, the great God, our heavenly Father,
+    made heaven and earth, the land and the sea (and the Chinese
+    honour him); therefore from of old China has been termed the
+    land of spirits. Why are the Tartars to be considered demons?
+    Because the devilish serpent, the king of Hades, is a corrupt
+    demon, and the Tartars have been in the habit of worshipping
+    him; therefore may the Tartars be considered demons. But, alas!
+    the feet have assumed the place of the head, and demons have
+    usurped the land of spirits; while they have constrained our
+    Chinese people to become demons like themselves.[5] If all the
+    bamboos of the southern hills were to be used as pens, they
+    would not be enough to detail the obscenities of these Tartars;
+    and if all the waves of the Eastern sea were to be employed,
+    they would not be sufficient to wash away their sins, which
+    reach to heaven. We will merely enumerate a few general
+    circumstances that are known to all men. The Chinese have a form
+    peculiarly their own; but these Manchoos have commanded them to
+    shave the hair round their heads,[6] and wear a long tail
+    behind, thus causing the Chinese to assume the appearance of
+    brute animals. The Chinese have a dress peculiar to themselves,
+    but these Manchoos have caused them to wear knobs on their caps,
+    with Tartar clothes and monkey caps,[7] while they discard the
+    robes and head-dress of former dynasties, thus causing the
+    Chinese to forget their origin. The Chinese have their own laws
+    and regulations; but the Manchoos have manufactured devilish
+    enactments, so that our Chinese people cannot escape the meshes
+    of their net,[8] nor can they tell how to dispose of their hands
+    and feet, by which means our young men are brought entirely
+    under their control. The Chinese have their own language; but
+    the Manchoos have introduced the slang of the capital, and
+    interfered with Chinese expressions, designing thus to seduce
+    the Chinese by their Tartar brogue. Whenever drought and
+    inundations occur, the government manifests no compassion; but
+    quietly sees our people scattered abroad or dying of hunger,
+    until the bleached bones are as thick as jungle, by which the
+    country is depopulated. The Manchoos also have allowed corrupt
+    magistrates and covetous officers to spread themselves over
+    China, flaying the skin and devouring the fat of our people,
+    until both men and women meet and lament by the roadside to see
+    our fellow subjects reduced to want and poverty. Offices are to
+    be obtained by bribes, crimes are to be bought off with money,
+    rich fellows engross all authority, while heroes are filled with
+    despair, by which means all the noble spirits in the empire are
+    overwhelmed with despair, and die. Should any, animated with a
+    patriotic feeling, seek to revive China from its ruins, they are
+    accused of fostering rebellion, and their whole race
+    exterminated, by which means all heroic ardour is repressed in
+    China. But the ways in which the Manchoos have deluded China,
+    and abused it, are too numerous to detail, for they are cunning
+    and artful in the extreme.... These Tartars, forgetting the
+    meanness and obscurity of their origin, and taking advantage of
+    Woo-san-kwei's introduction, have usurped dominion in China,
+    where they have carried their villanies to the utmost. Let us
+    for a moment look into the origin of these Manchoo Tartars.
+    Their first ancestor was a cross-breed between a white fox and a
+    red dog, from whom sprang this race of imps that have since
+    increased abundantly. They contract marriages without ceremony,
+    and pay no regard to the relations of life or the rules of
+    civilized society. At a time when China was destitute of heroes,
+    they seized upon the government of the country; the wild fox
+    thus ascended the imperial throne, and these unwashed monkeys,
+    having put off their caps, rushed into the royal court, while
+    our Chinese people, instead of ploughing up their holes and
+    digging down their dens, have allowed themselves to be taken in
+    their devices, to be insulted over by them, and to obey their
+    command; and what is worse, our civil and military officers,
+    coveting the gains of office, have bowed down in the midst of
+    these herds of dogs and foxes. A child three feet high is
+    generally esteemed very ignorant; but if you were to tell him to
+    make obeisance to a parcel of dogs and swine, he would redden
+    with indignation. And what are these Tartars but dogs and swine?
+    Some of you have read books and are acquainted with history: and
+    do you not feel in the slightest degree ashamed? Formerly
+    Wan-theen-seang[9] and Sea-fang-teh[10] swore that they would
+    rather die than serve the Mongols. Sze-ko-fah[11] and
+    Ken-shih-see[12] swore that they would rather die than serve the
+    Manchoos. These facts must be familiar to you all. According to
+    our calculations, the Manchoos cannot be above a hundred
+    thousand, and we Chinese amount to more than fifty millions; but
+    for fifty millions to be ruled over by a hundred thousand is
+    disgraceful. Now, happily, a retributive Providence being about
+    to restore the country to its rightful owners, and China having
+    some prospect of a revival, men's minds being bent on good
+    government, it is evident that the Tartars have not long to
+    rule. Their three times seven, or 210 years' lease, is about to
+    expire, and the extraordinary personage of the five times nine
+    has already appeared.[13] The iniquities of the Tartars are
+    full; high heaven has manifested its indignation, and commanded
+    our celestial king sternly to display his heavenly majesty and
+    erect the standard of righteousness, sweeping away the
+    demoniacal brood, and perfectly cleansing our flowery land."
+
+After exhorting the Chinese to join the rebel forces, the proclamation
+concludes thus:--
+
+    "You, our countrymen, have been aggrieved by the oppressions of
+    the Manchoos long enough: if you do not change your politics,
+    and with united strength and courage sweep away every remnant of
+    these Tartars, how can you answer it to God in the highest
+    heavens? We have now set in motion our righteous army, above to
+    revenge the insult offered to God in deceiving Heaven, and below
+    to deliver China from its inverted position, thus sternly
+    sweeping away every vestige of Tartar influence and unitedly
+    enjoying the happiness of the Ti-ping dynasty."
+
+In contemplation of making an immediate attack upon Nankin, during the
+march towards that city the following proclamation was issued by the
+Tien-wang:--
+
+    "Hung, Captain-General of the army, having entire
+    superintendence of military affairs, and aiding in the
+    advancement of the Ti-ping, or Great Pacificating Dynasty, in
+    obedience to the will of Heaven, issues this important and
+    triumphant proclamation, to announce that he has punished the
+    oppressors and saved the people.
+
+    "It appears that, throughout the empire, rapacious officers are
+    worse than violent robbers, and the corrupt mandarins of the
+    public offices are no better than wolves and tigers, all
+    originating in the vicious and sottish monarch at the head of
+    affairs, who drives honest people to a distance, and admits to
+    his presence the most worthless of mankind, selling offices, and
+    disposing of preferments, while he represses men of virtuous
+    talent, so that the spirit of avarice is daily inflamed, and
+    high and low are contending together for gain; the rich and the
+    great are abandoned to vice without control, whilst the poor and
+    miserable have none to redress their wrongs, the very recital of
+    which exasperates one's feelings, and makes one's hair to stand
+    on end. To refer to the case of the land revenue in particular,
+    it appears that of late the exactions have been increased
+    manyfold, while the taxes due up to the thirtieth year of the
+    last king's reign were at one time said to be remitted, and then
+    again exacted, until the resources of the people are exhausted,
+    and their miseries grown to excess. When our benevolent men and
+    virtuous scholars contemplate these things, their minds are
+    deeply wounded, and they cannot restrain themselves from rooting
+    out these plundering officers and wolfish mandarins of each
+    prefecture and district, in order to save the people from the
+    flames and floods in which they are now involved. At the present
+    moment our grand army is assembled like clouds; the province of
+    Kouang-se has been settled, and Chang-sha (the capital of
+    Hoonan) tranquillized; and being now about to proceed towards
+    the region of Keang-see (Keang-nan? that is, the province of
+    which Nankin is capital), we deem it necessary to announce to
+    the people that they need not be alarmed; while agriculturists,
+    mechanics, merchants, and traders, may each peacefully pursue
+    their occupations. It is necessary, however, that the rich
+    should have in readiness stores of provisions to aid in the
+    sustenance of our troops; let each clearly report the amount of
+    his contributions to this object, and we will furnish him with
+    receipts, as security that hereafter the money shall be all
+    repaid. Should there be any bold and strong men, or wise
+    councillors among you, let them with one heart and effort aid us
+    in our great design, and, when tranquillity is restored, we will
+    have them promoted and rewarded according to their merit. All
+    the officers of prefectures and districts who resist us shall be
+    beheaded; but those who are ready to comply with our
+    requisitions must forthwith send unto us their seals of office,
+    and then they may retire to their native villages. With regard
+    to the rabble of wolfish policemen, we shall, as soon as we
+    succeed, hang up their heads as a warning to all. Being now
+    apprehensive lest local _banditti_ should take occasion from our
+    movements to breed disturbances, we wish you people clearly to
+    report the same, and we will immediately exterminate them. If
+    any of the villagers or citizens dare to assist the marauding
+    mandarins in their tyranny, and resist our troops and adherents,
+    no matter whether they reside in great or small places, we will
+    sweep them from the face of the earth. Be careful. Do not
+    oppose.
+
+    "A special proclamation."
+
+Another proclamation was issued on the march by the Eastern Prince:--
+
+    "Yang-sui-tsing, especially appointed General of the Grand Army
+    engaged in sweeping away the Tartars and establishing the new
+    dynasty, issues this second proclamation:--
+
+    "I, the General, in obedience to the royal commands, have put in
+    motion the troops for the punishment of the oppressor, and in
+    every place to which I have come, the enemy at the first report
+    have dispersed like scattered rubbish. As soon as a city has
+    been captured, I have put to death the rapacious mandarins and
+    corrupt magistrates therein, _but have not injured a single
+    individual of the people_, so that all of you may take care of
+    your families and attend to your business without alarm and
+    trepidation. I have already issued proclamations to this effect,
+    with which I presume you are acquainted. I have heard, however,
+    that throughout the villages there are numbers of lawless
+    vagabonds, who, previous to the arrival of our troops, take
+    advantage of the disturbed state of the country to defile men's
+    wives and daughters, and burn or plunder the property of honest
+    people. I, the General, have already apprehended some of these,
+    and decapitated about a score of them; now, because their
+    localities are somewhat removed from the provincial capital
+    (Ngan-king), these persons flatter themselves that I, the
+    General, am not aware of their proceedings, _which are very much
+    to be detested_. I have, therefore, sent a great officer, named
+    Yuen, as a special messenger, with some hundreds of soldiers, to
+    go through the villages, and, as soon as he finds these
+    vagabonds, he is commissioned forthwith to decapitate them,
+    while the honest inhabitants have nothing more to do than to
+    stick up the word 'Shun' (obedient) over their doors, and then
+    they have nothing to fear.
+
+    "A special proclamation."
+
+While the number and moral power of the Ti-pings increased together,
+those of the Imperialists as rapidly declined; their extortion and
+cruelty driving numbers of the people to the ranks of the insurgents.
+Captain Fishbourne, (Impressions of China, p. 83,) has observed:--
+
+    "We know that the authorities at Canton were taking heads off by
+    forties and sixties a day, and the Viceroy admitted that he had
+    taken off three hundred in one day. I visited the
+    execution-ground, and saw pools of blood from recent executions,
+    and the heads were piled up in old bottle-racks. If these were
+    the numbers for two or three provinces, what must those have
+    been for the other provinces in addition? And yet, as the march
+    of the insurgents was so triumphant, _these all could not
+    possibly be the heads of insurgents, or even people remotely
+    connected with the movement_. It is much more probable that they
+    were the heads of _helpless and unoffending people_, that were
+    taken off to satisfy the Emperor that Lin, the Viceroy, was
+    making some progress against the insurgents."
+
+These horrible atrocities of the Manchoo rulers were continued for
+years, and every province the Ti-pings had visited became drenched with
+the blood of innocent victims. Not only were the entire relatives of any
+man who had joined the rebellion slaughtered, but many thousands even
+upon mere suspicion. Do we not remember the brutal Commissioner Yeh's
+boast, that he had decapitated upwards of 70,000 rebels in one month, in
+the province of Kwang-tung alone? And these were peaceful villagers
+dragged from their homes without any crime on their part (for at that
+time the Ti-pings were far away), and without even knowing what had
+become of the relative for whose fault they suffered. This being only
+the slaughter effected by one mandarin, what must have been the enormous
+number massacred in cold blood by the numerous button, feather, and
+tail-dignified Manchoo butchers, sent to perpetrate their horrid revenge
+upon the helpless women and relatives of the men they have never been
+able to withstand in fair fight, and would never have been able to
+resist, even in their walled cities, but for the foreign assistance they
+received.
+
+Almost the first point to be considered with regard to the Ti-ping
+revolution is its cause, and whether the cause justified rebellion. But
+few persons have ever denied the existence of ample grounds for the
+Chinese to rebel against the Manchoo dynasty; their bloodthirsty,
+murderous rule, their gross tyranny and corruption, their unrighteous
+usurpation and possession of the Chinese throne, being pretty generally
+acknowledged. I am no advocate of revolutionary principles or outbreaks
+against constituted authority, but we must always distinguish between
+the laws of a country and the unrighteous decrees of a tyrant usurper.
+Moreover, the progress of liberty and right has always been maintained
+through collisions with oppressive ruling powers; and the great leaders
+of the people may be the rebels of to-day, and yet should the morrow
+crown them with success, they may become the heroes and patriots of the
+age.
+
+The state of China previous to the Ti-ping rebellion was deplorable in
+the extreme: the grinding oppression of nearly two centuries had
+apparently obliterated all that was good and noble in the land, and the
+debasing influence of the Manchoo invaders seemed likely to consummate
+the entire destruction of the moral, social, and political condition of
+the Chinese. To form a proper judgment upon the state of affairs, it is
+necessary to review Chinese history from the period of the Manchoo
+invasion.
+
+The last Emperor of the last Chinese dynasty--the Ming--was driven to
+commit suicide through the success of an insurrection of the people,
+caused by his misrule, A.D. 1643. Upon the death of the Emperor, the
+insurgent chief met with universal submission, both at Pekin and in the
+provinces, and proclaimed himself Emperor. Woo-san-kwei, however, the
+general of an army employed in resisting an attack of the Manchoos,
+refused to acknowledge him. The newly made Emperor immediately set out
+for the city held by Woo, carrying with him from Pekin the latter's
+father in chains. The usurper having put him to death, to revenge that
+of his father, as well as that of the late Emperor, Woo-san-kwei made
+peace with the Manchoos and, calling them in to his assistance, soon
+defeated the would-be Emperor. When, however, the Tartar king found
+himself in Pekin, he instantly seized upon the sovereignty, and no
+effort of the Chinese was able to drive him from the throne, or defeat
+his hardy and veteran troops. Dying almost immediately after this
+acquisition, he appointed his son Shun-chy as his successor, A.D. 1644;
+and so commenced the Manchoo Tartar dynasty, the seventh emperor of
+which is now reigning. A great portion of the South held out against the
+foreign government for many years, especially the maritime province of
+Fo-keen. In Kwang-tung and Kwang-si provinces, the Manchoos were often
+severely defeated by the natives, who, to the present day, hate them
+with intensity, and it was not till A.D. 1654 that these provinces were
+subdued. In many other parts the Chinese still struggled gallantly
+against the invader; but dissensions amongst themselves, and a general
+want of combination, proved fatal to their cause. But for this singular
+want of accord it is probable the Manchoos would soon have been driven
+back to their native wilds.
+
+A.D. 1669, with the exception of Fo-keen province, the islands of the
+coast, and mere local opposition, the whole empire was subjugated by the
+Manchoos. To maintain their power, all the principal cities were
+garrisoned by Tartar troops of the Eight Banners (a regulation still
+observed), and these being constantly drilled and kept in a good state
+of efficiency, together with the main body stationed at Pekin, have
+succeeded in suppressing the patriotic efforts of the Chinese. At last,
+in 1674, Wu-san-kwei attempted to remedy his error of calling in the
+Manchoos, by raising the National standard and declaring against them.
+The southern provinces, and especially Kwang-tung and Kwang-si,
+constituted the area of the struggle. Wu-san-kwei dying soon after the
+outbreak, the national party were unable to find a single person
+competent to replace him, and although for nine years they successfully
+resisted the power of the Manchoos, after a long struggle without any
+combined action, they were compelled to submit. During the general
+dispersion of the patriots, the last of the Ming princes fled to the
+kingdom of Pegu for safety, but being delivered up to the Manchoos, was
+by them put to death; he was the last of his race, for man, woman, and
+child, every scion of the Ming, had been ruthlessly slaughtered. This
+was the last national effort of sufficient strength to endanger the
+power of the foreign dynasty, although to the present day many thousands
+of Chinese exist among the fastnesses of the mountainous regions of
+Kwang-si, Kwei-chow, Yun-nan, and Sze-chuan, who have never been
+subdued, or submitted to the badge of slavery--the tonsure--imposed upon
+their countrymen by the Tartars. Many of these having fled to the
+aboriginal independent tribes, have been included in the general term
+Miau-tze, and in Kwang-si alone they number upwards of 400,000 persons.
+Besides these, secret societies were formed, whose members were sworn to
+attempt the subversion of the Manchoo dynasty; but none have been able,
+hitherto, to carry out their designs; not even the celebrated "Triad
+Society," at present existing, or the equally extensive one, "The
+Association of Heaven and Earth."
+
+Upon the defeat of Wu-san-kwei's movement, the slaughter of the Chinese
+was immense, the province of Kwang-tung was nearly depopulated, upwards
+of 700,000 of its inhabitants having been executed within a month. This
+is vengefully remembered by the Cantonese even yet. Many thousands of
+Chinese families left their country in the course of the struggle, and
+not less than 100,000 are stated to have emigrated to Formosa, where
+they resisted the Manchoos till the year 1683.
+
+To completely destroy the patriotic element, the Manchoos compelled the
+conquered Chinese to shave the thick tresses they had been accustomed to
+wear as a cherished ornament from the most ancient times, and to wear a
+tail, and in other respects to adopt the Tartar style of dress upon pain
+of decapitation. Many thousands are stated to have preferred death to
+this national degradation: an alteration of national costume is of all
+others the most open and crushing work of conquest; and in China it
+undoubtedly had the effect of breaking the spirit of the people--all who
+would not suffer thus, losing their heads. The ancient Chinese costume
+is now resumed by the Ti-pings, but previous to their outbreak was
+confined to the Miau-tze and refugees, and to a very exact
+representation upon the stage of the Chinese theatre.
+
+So prompt and merciless have been the punishments inflicted by the
+Manchoo government, upon the slightest suspicion of rebellion, that,
+until the Ti-ping insurrection, they have successfully extinguished
+every outburst of national hatred. In 1756, during the reign of
+Kien-loong, fourth emperor of the Manchoo dynasty, a great rising
+amongst the Miau-tze, and descendants of the refugees, occurred; but,
+after several years' war with no material advantage upon either side,
+they relinquished their aggressive movement and contented themselves
+with their independent position. In 1806, a great combination amongst
+the hardy inhabitants of the southern sea-board--the provinces of
+Fo-keen and Kwang-tung--took place; a large fleet of more than 600
+Ti-mungs (sea-going war junks, generally carrying about twelve guns) was
+organized, and for some years waged a successful war against the
+Manchoos, at one time seriously threatening the dominion of the latter.
+At last the usual cause of failure to all former and future national
+efforts--internal dissension--proved fatal to their cause. The two
+principal commanders having disagreed, led their respective divisions to
+a bloody combat. The Manchoo government now, with their usual policy of
+treacherous conciliation where they cannot conquer, commenced intriguing
+with the weaker of the two divisions, and eventually induced it to
+accept a general amnesty to such as would submit and return to their
+allegiance, at the same time rewarding the leaders with bribes of rank
+and riches. The insurgents who had submitted were then allied to the
+Tartar forces, and employed by the crafty government against their
+former comrades, who in a short time were compelled to surrender and
+accept the proffered amnesty. And now, throughout the land, the
+treacherous ferocity of the Manchoos ran riot. Hundreds of the deceived
+patriots were distributed over the numerous execution grounds, and, fed
+by the perfidious diplomacy of the government, the sword of the
+executioner terminated an association that at one time promised the
+liberation of the country.
+
+This great naval rebellion was not the only endeavour made by the
+Chinese to break the foreign yoke. During the reign of Kea-king, the
+fifth Manchoo emperor, many formidable revolts had taken place, but
+again the want of unity proved fatal to their success. In 1813, the
+dissatisfied Chinese endeavoured to finish the Manchoo dynasty by
+assassination, many members of the insurrection having sacrificed
+themselves in the attempt. At the termination of Kea-king's reign, in
+the year 1820, all extensive rebellion had been suppressed. The reign of
+his successor, Taou-kuang, was, however, marked by more revolt and
+insurrection than had been known since the time of the first Manchoo
+usurper. In 1832, a great rising took place among the Miau-tze, whose
+leader accepted the designation of "Golden Dragon," assumed the yellow
+(Imperial) dress, and announced his intention to overthrow the foreign
+dynasty and establish a native one. This rebellion had a wide-spread,
+though secret organization, but the outbreak not being simultaneous, the
+partisans in distant provinces were all cut off in detail; while the
+rising in Formosa failed owing to the dissension of its leaders. After
+successfully resisting the Manchoo troops, and several times defeating
+them with immense slaughter, the want of unanimity and simultaneous
+rising upon the part of the confederates induced the main body of
+insurgents to make favourable terms with the government, and retire
+unimpeded to their independent regions.
+
+Slowly, but surely of late, the Chinese nation has been recovering from
+the crushed and subdued condition to which the sanguinary invasion and
+iron despotism of the Manchoos had reduced it. Gradually, as returning
+vitality and patriotism increased, opposition to the oppressor
+multiplied and became more formidable and portentous. As the Chinese
+have gained strength, so their masters have lost it; the power and
+resources of the latter have long become overgrown and exhausted, and
+nothing but the broken-spirited and abject state of slavery they had
+reduced the nation to could have prevented their expulsion long since.
+At length, during the reign of the last emperor, the national feeling
+could no longer be controlled, and in the year 1850 the great Ti-ping
+rebellion burst forth--so marvellous in every phase of its commencement,
+organization, and progress, that ere now, but for the unjustifiable
+meddling of England, it would have resulted, not only in the subversion
+of the Manchoo dynasty, but, in all human probability, the establishment
+of Christianity throughout the limits of the immense Chinese empire. Sir
+John F. Davis has observed:--"Distinctions sufficiently broad are still
+maintained to prevent the amalgamation of the original people with their
+masters;" these, combined with the intense hatred caused by the horrible
+cruelties inflicted upon the people during the troublous times of famine
+and disturbance preceding the Ti-ping rebellion, undoubtedly tended to
+promote the success of the latter, and alienate the best disposed from
+the Manchoos. During the years 1838-41, many parts of the empire became
+plunged in misery and want;--so severe was the famine, that many
+thousands perished, while multitudes were driven to insurrection. The
+government, in order to quell the natural results of the distress,
+resorted to the most barbarous measures; it has even been stated by the
+Roman Catholic missionaries who were on the spot,--"that after suffering
+severe torture, many of the people were burnt alive!" The war with Great
+Britain, in 1841, added to the miseries of the Chinese, for the Manchoo
+government, the weaker they became, were the more savage and ruthless in
+suppressing every indication of disaffection.
+
+Mr. Tarrantt, editor of the _Friend of China_, and a resident in China
+for a quarter of a century, in 1861 wrote thus:--
+
+    "THE WICKED AND CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OF CHINA.
+
+    "So little is known of the machinery of Chinese government that
+    ignorance of it is the best, if not the only excuse for the
+    countenance given by Western nations to the Manchoo dynasty.
+    Conservative as we are in political principle, largely imbued
+    with a feeling of veneration for what is ancient, if at the same
+    time honour deserving, and desiring above all things peace on
+    earth and goodwill amongst mankind, the repugnance which we
+    entertain towards the Pekin government, and sympathy with those
+    in arms against it,[14] has been solely produced by long
+    observation of the thorough worthlessness of the rulers, and the
+    impossibility for them to become better. We old-fashioned
+    moralists of the West, in our ideas of the uses of a government,
+    give some consideration to the feelings of the mass; and no
+    officer may fatten himself with impunity on the public purse,
+    unless he give some show of service for the public weal. Here in
+    China, on the contrary, extortion by officials is an
+    institution; it is the condition on which they take office; and
+    it is only when the bleeder is a bungler that the government,
+    aroused by the victims' cries and riotings, step in to check the
+    depletion. Are our readers aware of the smallness of the
+    established salaries of provincial officers--of the two Kwang,
+    to wit? Can they believe that the Viceroy, ruling over a country
+    twice the size of England, is allowed as his _legal_ salary the
+    paltry sum of L60--say $25 a month--not even the pay of four of
+    his chair-bearers and an ostler? How does he live, then? will be
+    the question. The answer is, by extortion, by selling justice.
+    Fees of office would be the most polite term, perhaps, to apply
+    to the thing, the average sum total of these per annum being
+    L8,333.
+
+    "The system adopted throughout the empire is this:--You, the son
+    of Dick, Tom, or Harry, get your qualification as a scholar,
+    bring it to me at Pekin, fee the chancellerie, and then you
+    shall have a post. Directly you have that, squeeze away right
+    and left, and when you have enough to buy a higher post, you
+    know where to come for it. As we said some years ago, when
+    writing on the subject, 'it flourishes on its own rottenness,'
+    the chances which high and low alike possess of fattening on the
+    public vitals being the greatest support the Manchoo dynasty
+    possess. Next to the Viceroy, or governor-general, is the
+    governor, whose salary is L50, increased with _fees_ averaging
+    L4,333 a year. Each of these officials possess power of life and
+    death without reference to the government.... The creature
+    who--mayhap before he got into office, neglected by all his
+    relations--luxuriated on a miserable dole of rice and greens,
+    and would no more think of paying a couple of mace[15] to
+    chair-coolies to carry him, than he would think of flying, from
+    the day he receives his diploma cannot walk a hundred paces on
+    common earth if he were paid to do it. He rises with the sun
+    from the couch of his speedily increased harem, either to
+    receive the morning call of some other 'useless,' or to be borne
+    in his chair, followed by pipe-bearer and card-deliverer, to
+    make a round of calls on brother officials of similar
+    uselessness. How is the work of the Mandarinate performed? we
+    hear some say. Performed? By underlings who hold the entree by
+    the back stairs, and _sell_ justice or service to each suitor
+    according as he can pay for it.... And these are the _things_
+    who govern the empire."
+
+During the month of July, 1863, issues of the same newspaper--then
+established at Shanghae--contained the following statements; and
+statements that no person with the slightest knowledge of the position
+and history of China can deny:--
+
+    "Our local readers must be as able as ourselves to form an
+    opinion on passing events; and hardly one of us, we think, but
+    must be satisfied that we are on the eve of a crisis in the
+    affairs of the great nation on whose borders we dwell. Let us
+    take a hasty glance at the position. A little over two hundred
+    years ago, the Manchoos, under an ancestor of the present
+    incumbent of the throne, overran the country. The cruelties
+    which these savages perpetrated were of the most horrid
+    description--in Kwang-tung alone over seven hundred thousand
+    people--man, woman, and child--being massacred within a month.
+
+    "The Chinese, prior to this inroad, were a rich people, the
+    houses of the better classes being buildings of convenient
+    formation and durability. There is not much apparent wealth
+    among the Chinese now, any sign of it being a temptation to
+    government officers to extort from the holders. From the day
+    these Tartars came into the country, China has been steadily
+    deteriorating, and now the people may best be likened to herds
+    of grovelling swine, living merely for the day, stultified in
+    intellect by the most degrading superstition. Under the
+    Manchoos, in fact, China exhibits to the world the saddest of
+    all spectacles--the spectacle of a people unable to raise
+    themselves in the social scale, to attain the full stature of
+    man. To keep themselves on the throne, the Manchoos determined
+    on three courses:--
+
+    "_First._ To make every Chinese shave the front of his head, and
+    wear a tail. Those who would not do this were deemed rebels, and
+    decapitated.
+
+    "_Second._ They declared it treason in all those who met
+    secretly.
+
+    "_Third._ They vested all elevation to civil office in the
+    sovereign himself, at Pekin, making the language of the court
+    the official medium, and guarding against local faction by
+    permitting no one to hold office in the district in which he was
+    born. Every civil officer of the Manchoo government, in short,
+    is a stranger to the people he rules over; he knows none of the
+    ties of friendship for his flock. And, further to widen the
+    breach between ruler and ruled, the sovereign allows his
+    officers little or no salary; but, in its place and stead,
+    sanctions--directs--as full a bleeding of the people's purses as
+    said people can bear without open revolt.
+
+    "And these three courses have been as effectual as could be
+    possibly anticipated.
+
+    "It was a long while before the Manchoos succeeded in the
+    head-shaving and tail arrangements, especially about Shou-shing,
+    in Che-kiang, and down south, in Kwang-se, where there are
+    people (Miau-tze) who have never submitted to the badge.
+
+    "The secret meeting interdict, again, has met but small favour,
+    and it was only last week that the Chinese newspaper, published
+    at the N. C. Herald Office here, had a notice in it of the
+    apprehension, by the Manchoos, of Messrs. Quan, Wan, and others,
+    _within the British concession_, ostensibly because they were in
+    league with the Soo-chow rebels, but really because they are
+    leading men of the San-hoh-hwae (Triad Society, sworn to put
+    down the Manchoos).
+
+    "The office-granting scheme has met the greatest success. The
+    ambition of every petty farmer in the country is to train a son
+    who is clever at his books, and, aided by his richer clansmen
+    with the means to travel to the capital, has a chance of
+    becoming one of the country's grandees; and, by a far-seeing
+    device, the emperor grants antecedent honours; so that if a son
+    is honoured, the father is honoured--that is to say, if a
+    Chinese, by merit and skill, succeeds in raising himself to a
+    mandarinate of the highest class, becomes, to speak
+    equivalently, an earl or a duke, the father of that fortunate
+    grandee, although performing on the homestead the functions of a
+    cow-herd, becomes ennobled also; the honours, in short, are
+    retrospective from the son to the father, not forward,
+    hereditarily, from the father to the son.
+
+    "And it has been by these means that the system of Tartar rule
+    has become to be liked by the people. They overlook the
+    villanous extortions which the sons have to practise on the
+    people to elevate themselves. They are blind to all, and simply
+    determine that the end justifies the means. There is a general
+    fling around of stolen sugar-plums, he being happiest who, in
+    the scramble, gets the largest handful."
+
+The enormous multitude of victims slaughtered during the progress and
+maintenance of the Manchoo dynasty will never be known by Europeans;
+though--judging by all authentic records of their invasion of China, its
+constant rebellions against their authority, and the murderous rule they
+have exercised--the destruction of life considerably outnumbered the
+hosts sacrificed in the track of the greatest destroyers of the human
+species upon record, from Alexander the Great to Genghis-Khan. The
+barbarity of the Manchoo rule is unparalleled in ancient or modern
+history; while the fiendish nature of their punishments by
+torture--especially those for treason--and the records of the "board of
+punishments," instituted by them, constitute the blackest spot in the
+annals of mankind.
+
+Upon the character of the last great rising of the Chinese against their
+oppressors, the Ti-ping rebellion, the Bishop of Victoria, in 1854,
+wrote:--
+
+    "The finger of Divine Providence appears to us signally
+    conspicuous in this revolution. The moral, social, and political
+    condition of China was almost hopelessly wretched and debased.
+    Its whole system of government, of society, and religion, was to
+    be broken up, remodelled, reconstructed, and renewed. In looking
+    about for an agency available for such an end, the mind was
+    depressed and perplexed. The government was corrupt, the
+    scholars were feeble and inert, the gentry were servile and
+    timid, the lower classes were engrossed in the struggle for
+    subsistence, the whole nation seemed bound hand and foot, with
+    their moral energies paralyzed, their intellectual faculties
+    stunted, and their civil liberties crushed beneath the iron
+    gripe of power and the debasing influence of sensuality.
+    Political subjection to an effete despotism, and addiction to
+    opium, had enervated the national mind, and rendered the Chinese
+    helpless as a race.
+
+    "From themselves no reformer seemed likely to arise. Their
+    canonized virtue of filial piety was perverted and abused as the
+    grand support of despotism. But it is in this state of
+    perplexity and despondency that we turn to survey the present
+    movement, its chief actors, and its accomplished results; and
+    beholding we admire, and admiring we thank God for what our eyes
+    are privileged to see."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[4] This strong tendency of the Chinese to combine and organize is well
+noticed in "Impressions of China," by Captain Fishbourne, at pages 415
+to 418.
+
+[5] Alluding to the establishment of the Tartar Budhism.
+
+[6] The badge of slavery imposed by the Manchoo Tartars upon their
+conquest of China.
+
+[7] The form of head-dress and insignia of nobility introduced by the
+Manchoos.
+
+[8] Referring to the elaborate and merciless laws of treason and
+disaffection established by the Manchoos.
+
+[9] Wan-theen-seang would not submit to the Mongols, and was slain by
+Kubla Khan.
+
+[10] One of the adherents of the Sung dynasty, who, on being seized by
+the Mongols, refused to eat, and so died.
+
+[11] Killed himself when the Ming dynasty was irretrievably lost.
+
+[12] Lost his life in fighting for the Ming cause (1644).
+
+[13] "Allusion to an expression in the Book of Diagrams, under the Keen
+diagram, or five and nine, where it is said that 'the dragon flies up to
+heaven,' which means that a new monarch is about to ascend the throne of
+China.--_Translator._"
+
+[14] The Ti-pings.
+
+[15] A mace is worth about 5_d._
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+    Shanghae to Han-kow.--River Scenery.--Silver Island.--The Salt
+    Trade.--Nin-gan-shan.--Tu-ngliu.--Its Auriferous
+    Soil.--Kew-kiang.--River Scenery.--The Yang-tze River.--The
+    Braves of Hankow.--Chinese Politeness.--Manchoo Policy.--Fire
+    and Plunder.--A Chinese Rudder.--Scenery around
+    Ta-tung.--Appearance of the Country.--Chinese Chess.--Perilous
+    Adventure.--Crew of Mutineers.--Critical Position.--Gallant
+    Rescue.--Explanation.--Alarm of Pirates.--Plan of
+    Operations.--Its Advantages.--The Result.--Another
+    Alarm.--"Imperialist" Pirates.
+
+
+After remaining two idle weeks at Shanghae, our vessel was ordered to
+Han-kow. This coincided exactly with my wishes, for, as we should pass
+Nankin, and possibly communicate with its garrison, it would be a good
+and early opportunity for me to become acquainted with the position of
+affairs, and the best and easiest method of fulfilling the object of my
+commission from the Chung-wang. Accordingly, with a limited cargo, and a
+good supply of coals, we weighed anchor again, and started upon our
+voyage up the great river, "the Son of the Sea."
+
+We had but a rough time of it at first, for after leaving the mouth of
+the river--so wide that, but for the large island of Tsung-Ming in the
+centre, land is not visible from either side--we only reached the
+Lang-shan crossing, the most difficult navigation of the river, at
+night. It therefore became necessary to anchor, and a gale coming on
+from seaward, what with its fury, and the strength of a four-knot flood
+tide, we passed a remarkably unpleasant night; and, after continual
+apprehension of parting our cables and drifting ashore, found in the
+morning that we had dragged our anchors nearly a mile.
+
+The banks of the river about its embouchure are bordered by
+highly-cultivated fields, in some parts covered with low wooded land.
+The banks are increased and elevated under a regular system, the
+peculiar formation of the overhanging trees giving a pleasing and
+verdant aspect to the country. The numerous sand-banks about the
+Lang-shan hills on the north bank, and the town and hills of Fu-shan on
+the south, render that part of the navigation of the river (known as the
+Lang-shan Crossing, the channel taking a sharp turn towards the
+Lang-shan hills) particularly dangerous. Several fine vessels have been
+lost, and one, the _Kate_, a new steam-ship, became a total wreck there
+while engaged upon her first voyage. She ran ashore, and in a moment the
+immense strength of the tide capsized her, when, sliding off the
+sand-bank, she sank in deep water, many of the crew and passengers
+losing their lives, while the whole valuable cargo, including a large
+amount of specie, went to the bottom.
+
+The dangers of the deep, or rather the shallow, are not the only perils
+of this part, for it is infested with pirates and robbers of every
+description. Sometimes they are rebels, sometimes fishermen, and
+sometimes large piratical vessels from the coast; but more frequently
+still they are Imperialist war-junks, whose crews, though consisting of
+government troops and sailors, are pillagers of the most ruthless
+description. At the time I made my first voyage up the Yang-tze-kiang,
+piracy, and murder of the crews, of the smaller European vessels engaged
+in the river trade, were of frequent occurrence. In fact, a ship
+scarcely ever made a voyage without being attacked.
+
+The river scenery from Lang-shan to the city of Chin-kiang (115 miles),
+the first of the river treaty ports, for the greater part is flat, the
+surrounding country being of a low alluvial soil. It is, however, of a
+much more attractive description than might be supposed. The cultivated
+parts are embedded amongst luxuriant foliage, and the infinite variety
+of the smaller species of tree gives a variegated and shadowy appearance
+to the scene.
+
+I have found some parts of really exquisite beauty. A thick border of
+trees, bushes, and bamboo seems to form a complete barrier to approach
+from the river, but at last a small creek appears running directly
+through this wall of vegetation: for some little distance this is
+completely shrouded and arched in by the luxuriant growth of osier and
+small weeping-willows; but then a break in the vista discovers, through
+a network of foliage, a small lake of pure limpid water, whose sides are
+bounded by fruit-trees and highly cultivated gardens; while a snug
+little homestead, enveloped in flowering creepers, and half-buried by
+shrubs of Asiatic beauty, peeps out from amidst the surrounding mass of
+forest. I have come unexpectedly upon many little nests like this; the
+very suddenness with which they burst upon one being of itself charming.
+
+At Chin-kiang the current is of great velocity; and, while attempting to
+steam round the south end of "Silver Island," we were literally
+overpowered by its strength, and swept down the river; but, trying the
+north end, we found a little more protection, from the formation of the
+river bank, and managed to pass the critical point.
+
+Silver Island is a most picturesque and exquisite spot. It rises
+directly from the centre of the river to a height of some 400 feet. It
+is completely covered, from the river's brink to its very summit, with a
+rich display of every variety of Chinese vegetation. One of the most
+important Joss-houses (Budhist temples) in the empire is situated at the
+foot of this island, the interior filled with images of every devil and
+divinity the Chinese religious calendar contains; and besides all these
+monstrous representations, a modelled menagerie of every kind of wild
+animal known to the Chinese zoographer. A goodly number of Budhist
+priests are attached to this place, whose time is principally devoted
+to the cultivation of the island (the whole of the trees, plantations,
+and flowers having been raised by them), and to keeping up a ceaseless
+beating upon several drums to soothe the great fish they believe carries
+the world on its back, and so prevent it wriggling and producing
+earthquakes; which are caused, they say, whenever the drums throughout
+the world are silent, and the "Joss" fish cannot hear the beat of one.
+
+[Illustration: SILVER ISLAND.
+London, Published March 15^{th} 1866 by Day & Son, Limited Lithog^{rs}
+Gate Str, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
+Day & Son, Limited, Lith.]
+
+At Chin-kiang is established a corps of the foreign mercenaries of the
+Imperialist maritime customs, an organization patronized by the British
+government as a means of securing the indemnity money guaranteed in
+payment of the British expenses for a war undertaken to avenge the
+capture of the opium-smuggler _Arrow_, and apparently to facilitate the
+opium trade in general.
+
+Upon an island a few miles above Chin-kiang I found some capital
+deer-shooting. I brought down several, and found them of the hog-deer
+species, with large tusks. Great flocks of wild duck and teal were
+plentiful all over the river, and our guns kept the table well supplied.
+
+Some eighteen miles above Chin-kiang we came to a great salt mart, a
+large village on the north bank, named E-ching. On the opposite side of
+the river we observed a considerable body of Ti-pings marching in the
+direction of Chin-kiang, which city was already invested. Although many
+hills in the neighbourhood of Chin-kiang were occupied by the Ti-pings,
+I was unable to communicate with them, our stay at that place being so
+short. E-ching is the emporium for the salt trade with the interior.
+Here the large junks from the coast discharge their cargoes, which are
+then stored ashore, and when disposed of to merchants from the distant
+provinces, re-shipped in river junks, and carried up the Yang-tze.
+
+The salt trade is a government monopoly, from which they reap enormous
+profits; and if the British government had made war upon China for the
+purpose of establishing a trade in that article, and not in opium, they
+would, instead of destroying and demoralizing them, have conferred a
+vast benefit upon the Chinese, and benefited themselves.
+
+Salt at E-ching, upon an average, is of the same price as the common
+rice (the staple article of food in China), seldom selling for less than
+three taels (one pound sterling) per picul (130 pounds weight). A few
+hundred miles farther up the river, though of the commonest and dirtiest
+sea description, it is frequently sold at more than double that price.
+Of course, where an article of such immense and important consumption is
+declared contraband, and monopolized by the government, a large amount
+of smuggling exists. Until the Yang-tze-kiang was opened to foreign
+trade, little, if any, smuggling was effected upon its waters; but upon
+the advent of Europeans, many of them made large profits by secretly
+conveying salt, even sometimes in their steam-ships, while numberless
+sailing craft--usually the semi-European, semi-Chinese lorchas--were
+solely occupied in this illegal traffic.
+
+Soon after passing E-ching we came upon the Ti-pings at a place in the
+vicinity of Nin-gan-shan, a village some short distance inland, formed
+by a sharp bend of the river to the northwards. This elbow they had just
+fortified with a rather heavy, formidable-looking battery. The guns,
+however, were very inferior, being of the usual clumsy Chinese make and
+fitting. The river at this point was considerably reduced in width,
+being little more than half a mile across, and the south bank being
+formed of cliffs, some two hundred feet high, and being also in the
+hands of the Ti-pings, rendered the position highly favourable. From
+this point both sides of the river were in Ti-ping possession;
+therefore, whenever we required to stop we could do so, and land with
+perfect safety and immunity from insult.
+
+Above Chin-kiang the country gradually assumes a more massive and
+imposing formation. High ranges of mountains are visible inland, and in
+some places descend even to the river's edge; while generally the
+country becomes of a more undulating, diversified appearance. In the
+neighbourhood of Nin-gan-shan the hilly part of the soil presents strong
+indication of auriferous qualities. I afterwards went over the spot with
+an old Californian miner, who declared the place was full of gold; but,
+unfortunately, we had no time to try it.
+
+At Nankin I remained but a short time, barely sufficient to obtain the
+necessary permit from H.M.S. _Centaur_, stationed there to represent the
+British interests at the Ti-ping capital. The _Centaurs_ seemed on good
+terms with the Ti-pings, for their ship was crowded with them. Several
+boats put off from the shore with provisions for sale, and one official
+came on board with a request for us to remain and trade. This was
+impossible, for though we much wished it, and though the foreign
+merchants were entirely dependent upon the Ti-pings for silk, and a
+great proportion of tea, yet the British government in its Elgin treaty
+(June 1858, by articles IX. and X.), had completely placed a veto upon
+trade with them; though afterwards they asserted that the Ti-pings would
+not trade. Of course, had we attempted to trade as the Ti-pings desired,
+we should have been seized and prevented by H.M.'s representative on
+board the _Centaur_, for breaking the treaty with the Manchoo emperor of
+China.
+
+After purchasing a few fowls and some eggs, we proceeded on our voyage
+to Han-kow.
+
+Some forty miles above Nankin we passed between the East and West
+Pillars, two immense masses of rock nearly a thousand feet high, and
+projecting, with a sheer descent, some little distance into the river.
+Both were in the possession of the Ti-pings. The summits were fortified,
+and at the foot of each strong batteries were erected. These two giant
+sentinels are termed by the Chinese the gates of the upper river;
+beyond them the flood tide ceases to be perceptible.
+
+When off the city of Tu-ngliu some 380 miles from the mouth of the
+river, we were compelled to seek a sheltered anchorage, and to remain
+there several days through stress of weather. Even at such a
+considerable distance inland, the storms are sometimes so violent, and
+the waves of the river so disturbed, that smaller vessels are unable to
+brave their fury; the swiftness of the current adding considerably to
+the danger.
+
+The sheltered nook we sought already contained a weather-bound vessel.
+Our fellow-captive proved to be an English schooner upon a trading
+cruise about the river. She was manned by Chinese sailors, but the
+owners and another European were in charge. The three days we remained
+at anchor passed pleasantly enough, our position being perfectly
+sheltered, and the boisterous state of the river affecting us but
+little; while each day we visited the schooner's people, or they came to
+us.
+
+I made several shooting trips ashore with our companions, and we always
+returned well rewarded for our trouble, the place literally swarming
+with pheasants. The country was mostly of a low hilly formation, and
+being uncultivated, the hills, full of low shrubs and gorse, made a
+capital cover. We shot pheasants even in the farm-yards of the few
+houses about, and the inhabitants told us we might catch them at night
+roosting all round their dwellings. My companions from the schooner, who
+had been in California and Australia, declared the hills about Tu-ngliu
+contained gold; they also stated the whole river was full of it, and
+showed me some large specimens they had washed at a place named Hen
+Point, some twenty miles below the city of Ngan-king.
+
+We fully intended to test the Tu-ngliu soil, but the weather clearing
+rendered necessary our immediate departure.
+
+Some miles before reaching the treaty port of Kew-kiang, we passed a
+remarkable rock termed the Little Orphan. Several hundred yards in
+circumference at the base, at the distance of thirty fathoms from the
+north bank of the river it rises perpendicularly about four or five
+hundred feet. The summit is crowned by Budhist temples and idols, the
+only communication being by means of a stair cut in the sides of the
+rock by the priests. When passing this singular place once afterwards,
+my Chinese crew informed me no European could ascend the rock and live,
+it being protected by some Chinese demon, or genii, peculiarly averse to
+"foreign devils."
+
+A few hours before arriving at Kew-kiang we passed the entrance to the
+Poyang Lake, a channel considerably broader than the river itself. The
+clear transparent waters of the lake afforded a pleasing contrast to the
+thick and muddy current of the river, and we steamed about a mile into
+it, for the purpose of obtaining a good supply and filling all our
+available casks. The appearance of this lake is magnificent in the
+extreme. Lost in the far distance, its limpid surface is surrounded by
+tall impending cliffs, in some places terminating abruptly at the margin
+of the water, while in others the intervening space is filled up with a
+most luxuriant growth of under-wood, overshadowed by the bending
+branches of gnarled and giant trees. The numerous valleys formed by the
+hills contain the summer resting-places of many of the Chinese nobility,
+whose handsome palaces fill every appropriate situation. The
+cloud-enveloped summits of one high range of mountains on the western
+shore, are crowned with eternal snow, presenting a most fantastic
+appearance, and affording many a wild and weird theme to Chinese
+romancers.
+
+Kew-kiang we found in the direst state of confusion. The Imperialist
+troops had declared their determination to massacre the hated
+"Yang-quitzo," or drive him off their soil; and all the European
+residents were blockaded in their quarter. An English gunboat, and one
+of the large merchant steamers, were lying off the concession, prepared
+to render their assistance and protection, and when we arrived, at the
+request of the consul--who expected his consulate would be attacked
+again that night,--we moored in a position where our guns would prove
+effective in case of danger. The night, however, passed off pretty
+quietly, and the braves only made a further demonstration by smashing
+the few remaining panes of glass they had left whole upon a former
+assault. A day or two previously they had made a grand attack upon the
+settlement, destroyed several new buildings of the merchants, and very
+nearly demolished the British Consulate; but when the residents, in
+self-defence, were compelled to shoot a few of them, they retreated for
+the time. The mandarins, as at all the river ports, pretended they could
+not control their soldiers; whereas, they deliberately set them on, to
+try and prevent the settling of the Europeans, and the fulfilment of the
+treaty.
+
+Some of the river scenery between Kew-kiang and Han-kow is wild, and
+really sublime in its grandeur. In many places huge masses of mountain
+rise steeply out of the channel to more than a thousand feet. At one
+part an immense cliff, named Ke-tow (Cock's Head), overhangs the stream,
+its base washed by the waves; while, moving under its shadow,
+innumerable flocks of shag, startled by the passing vessel, rose from
+their nests in the time-worn crevices, and eddying round and round
+overhead, produced a loud rushing noise from their myriads of wings,
+while the shrill discordant cries they uttered, increased by the
+singular note of the great "Bramley kites," reverberated with a thousand
+echoes from the perforated and honeycombed face of perpendicular rock.
+If a musket be fired near Ke-tow, the very air becomes blackened by an
+immense multitude of birds issuing from the cliff, while the noise of
+their cries is perfectly deafening. Their number is so prodigious that
+one might fairly suppose all the birds in China were congregated
+together at this place.
+
+[Illustration: KE-TOW.
+London, Published March 15^{th} 1866 by Day & Son, Limited Lithog^{rs}
+Gate Str, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
+Day & Son, Limited, Lith.]
+
+A little further on, another magnificent view of the river is found,
+where, between high impending mountains, at Pwan-pien-shan (the Split
+Hill) it is darkly imprisoned. The hills in this neighbourhood are
+covered with wild tea, and numerous limestone quarries are burrowed
+along their sides. Wherever the mountains retreat from the river the
+intervening country is profusely cultivated, and the sloping sides of
+the hills, covered with a rich and varied semi-tropical foliage, sweep
+down to the low land. The distant pagodas, marking with their carved and
+many-storied, time-worn, monumental sculpture, the site of some town or
+anciently celebrated locality--the occasional village, partly hidden in
+some half-sequestered spot--the curious but ingenious apparatus of the
+fisherman on the river's brink, with his reed hut here and there peeping
+through the rushes of the bank--the peasants toiling and irrigating the
+paddy-fields--the bright Eastern sun, and clear sapphire sky, above the
+changeful bosom of the "Son of the Sea," now rushing between massive
+rocky walls, then bursting into lake-like fulness, studded at intervals
+with a low and feathery reed-topped or cultivated rice-waving
+island--and the waters, tipped with the snowy wings of the passing
+vessels--all these are objects which produce a landscape surpassingly
+beautiful. China has been termed "a vast and fertile plain;" but, I
+believe, a trip up the Yang-tze will show as diversified and grand a
+scenery as almost any part of the world.
+
+But then comes a dark side of nature, for this is truly a land where
+"all save the spirit of man is divine." Throughout all these beauties of
+country one must tread with care, for it is a land of enemies; all
+through the Yang-tze's course we experienced nothing but aggravating
+annoyance and insult from the Imperialists; wherever they were, landing
+became not only disagreeable, but dangerous. This was a drawback of
+serious importance, but one which would have ceased to exist were it not
+for the policy of the British government, which, by preventing the
+success of the friendly Ti-pings, and strengthening the Imperialists,
+has perpetuated the evil.
+
+In order to avoid the strength of the tide, we were obliged to keep
+close in to the bank, while at the same time we kept a stand of muskets
+and fowling-pieces well loaded to check our dastardly aggressors.
+
+Although Kew-kiang was bad enough, at Han-kow we found confusion worse
+confounded. It was simply impossible to pass through the streets except
+in parties of four or five, well armed. The British consul, Mr. Gingall,
+had gone out with some of the petty local authorities to mark a ground
+for the consulate and British concession, but with his marine guard
+received such a heavy stoning from the _braves_ and populace, that they
+were compelled to beat a speedy retreat. A placard had been posted by
+the _braves_, threatening to massacre all the European residents upon a
+certain date; this was succeeded by an official proclamation from the
+Chinese governor, calling upon the soldiers to remain quiet, because the
+"foreign devils" were to be "hired and used" to fight the Ti-ping
+rebels, after which his excellency would employ his _braves_ to drive
+those "barbarians" out of China. At the time, I paid but little
+attention to this, looking upon it as a piece of the usual Chinese
+bravado; recent events, however, have led me to think otherwise. One
+part of the proclamation has been fulfilled, it remains to be seen
+whether the other will succeed.
+
+While passing through a public street one evening, a _brave_ made a
+spring at me from a narrow side alley; fortunately, I carried a coat on
+my arm, and throwing this up, received the blow of his short sword
+without injury. I was of course armed, and before my assailant could
+repeat the blow, his arm was arrested by a Colt's revolver ball. Several
+_braves_ were collecting, but when they saw the fate of their leader,
+and found me armed, they "skedaddled" pretty sharply.
+
+Some Europeans did not escape so easily, but were brutally murdered.
+Nearly a year later affairs were but little improved, for a Mr. Little,
+of Dent & Co.'s, was severely maltreated without having given the
+slightest provocation; and several of the firm's junks were seized and
+carried off by the _braves_. This was avenged by H.M. gunboat _Havoc_
+seizing and burning the gunboat whose crew had beaten Mr. Little. The
+Chinese officials, with their usual policy of exciting the people
+against Europeans, posted proclamations, and gave out as a fact, that
+the English had fastened all the _braves_ they caught to the gunboat,
+and burnt them alive. I explored the country in every direction, within
+a radius of twenty-five miles around Han-kow, upon shooting excursions,
+and I invariably found, that wherever the natives were distant from
+Imperial troops, or officials, they were kind and courteous to
+Europeans. I entered numerous villages to rest and obtain refreshment,
+and at many received polite and dignified invitations from some of the
+people to enter their dwellings. I must say, the Chinese are one of the
+most polite and well-behaved people I have ever met. Although bursting
+with curiosity to ascertain my country and business, I never found them
+guilty of the slightest rudeness, or annoying inquisitiveness; upon the
+contrary, they would wait until their etiquette of presenting tea, etc.,
+had been observed, and then, pretending to be unconcerned, commence
+their inquiries indirectly. With all this, I could not fail to notice
+the half-dubious, half-disliking style of their manner;--the universal
+result of their government's misrepresentation, and the stringent orders
+which they received to treat Europeans as barbarians unworthy of
+civilized (Chinese) treatment or consideration. Can we not remember the
+sort of treatment foreigners received till lately in China, upon the
+following Manchoo maxim of intercourse with Europeans?
+
+    "The barbarians are like beasts, and not to be ruled on the same
+    principles as citizens. Were any one to attempt controlling them
+    by the great maxims of reason, it would tend to nothing but
+    confusion. The ancient kings well understood this, and
+    accordingly ruled barbarians by misrule. Therefore to rule
+    barbarians by misrule is the true and the best way of ruling
+    them."
+
+It was on this principle that all the benefits of Chinese law were
+denied Europeans; so that, even in cases of _accidental_ homicide, they
+were required to be delivered up, not for trial, but execution.
+
+Sir John Davis, formerly governor of Hong-Kong, wrote:--
+
+    "The rulers of China consider foreigners fair game; they have no
+    sympathy with them, and, what is more, they diligently and
+    systematically labour to destroy all sympathy on the part of
+    their subjects, by representing the strangers to them in every
+    light that is the most contemptible and odious. There is an
+    annual edict or proclamation displayed at Canton at the
+    commencement of the commercial season, accusing the foreigners
+    of the most horrible practices, and desiring the people to have
+    as little to say to them as possible."
+
+Although at the present time British subjects are not delivered up to be
+executed by Manchoos, and although Europeans are not defamed and
+attacked so openly as was the case previous to the late wars, the
+government is every bit as industriously maligning them to its subjects,
+and striving _all in its power_ to prevent free trade or intercourse.
+Why are the Manchoos so inveterately embittered against foreigners? is
+the natural question. Certainly not because they are unable to
+appreciate the benefit of trade; they love their own interests too well
+to be averse to the only remaining prop to their rule--trade with
+foreigners, and consequent help to crush the rebellion. But the truth
+is, with unmistakeable foresight they see that the free contact of their
+Chinese subjects with European nations will eventually ruin _them_; they
+know their rule is hated and unrighteous, and they know that wherever
+the people become enlightened and improved, _their_ murderous gripe will
+be torn from the throat of the nation. While liking our trade, they
+hate our communion! The latter they have reason to dread, though not if
+they can always succeed in obtaining our military aid against the
+effects of our intercourse, as they have done in the case of the Ti-ping
+rebellion.
+
+At Han-kow I left the steamer, to take command of a new schooner
+belonging (nominally) to the same owners. As her interior accommodations
+were not quite finished, I took a small house until such time as she
+should be completed. While residing ashore, I suffered from an attack of
+fever--a complaint very prevalent amongst Europeans in China--that at
+one time seemed almost certain to destroy my life.
+
+One night when convalescent, but still very weak, I was aroused by a
+strong smell of fire; in a moment almost, thick volumes of smoke rushed
+into the room, and I heard the loud crackling of burning wood close at
+hand. Getting from my bed, and hurrying some clothing on as quickly as
+possible, I got to the door of my house, and found the next one in a
+complete blaze, and my own just igniting. My servants no sooner opened
+the back door and attempted to save my property, than a crowd of
+_braves_ rushed in and commenced to plunder all they could lay hands on.
+I was too weak to do much, but, taking a sword, endeavoured to drive
+them off; I followed one a few paces from the door, and thrust at his
+body, but was too weak to hurt him much, and the point of my weapon
+glanced on his ribs; the fellow did not even drop his booty, but
+successfully made off with all the bedding. Fortunately at this juncture
+assistance from some neighbouring European residents arrived, or I
+should have lost everything. With their help and that of the coolies,
+the greater part of my things were saved, but much had been carried off
+by the "Imps." The origin of the fire was attributable to the incendiary
+acts of the Imperialist soldiers, who had set fire to the adjoining
+house, as also to an European dwelling, out of malice, and hatred of the
+"foreign devils."
+
+For the few days before taking up my quarters on board the schooner, a
+friend kindly accommodated me. I then engaged a Greek seaman as mate,
+shipped a Chinese crew, a Malay boatswain, and prepared to leave. Our
+voyage progressed very favourably until we reached a place a little
+below the treaty port Kew-kiang, where, although hitherto dropping down
+with the tide at the rate of three or four miles an hour, my course was
+abruptly arrested for several days. Between Kew-kiang and the mouth of
+the Poyang Lake is situated a large island, and instead of taking the
+usual channel, my stupid Chinese pilot preferred the other side of the
+island. In consequence of this, when about half-way past, stem on we
+went, and stuck hard and fast aground. After a tiresome day's work we
+managed to get afloat again in about six inches more water than the
+schooner was drawing, and then made fast for the night. In the morning,
+after sounding in every direction, and finding the only channel very
+shallow, and as intricate as the maze at Rosherville Gardens, I obtained
+a fisherman from the shore, who, for the consideration of a few strings
+of cash, piloted us out; our own pilot being perfectly ignorant of his
+duties. I have since found it a common thing for Chinamen who have spent
+all their lives sailing about the Yang-tze river, to be utterly
+unacquainted with its pilotage.
+
+Through this affair, the vessel's rudder became injured, and we had
+barely cleared the island, making sail to a fresh breeze, when away it
+went.
+
+It now became necessary to bring up for repairs: so picking out a creek
+with a village named Chang-kea-kau at its entrance, I ran the schooner
+into it, anchored, and sent ashore for carpenters to make a new rudder.
+In about a week's time, the village blacksmiths and carpenters managed
+to turn out a contrivance they termed a rudder; but of all the rudders I
+ever saw it beat them hollow. They could neither make round bolts, nor
+long bolts: so instead of bolting the rudder together, they fastened
+the first part to the rudder-post with huge square nails (they could
+only cut square holes in timber, having no tool to bore large round
+ones), and the second part to the first, and the outside piece to the
+second, with huge iron clamps driven on at the sides: the whole concern
+stuck and plastered together with lumps of iron bands and braces in
+every direction, in a way that none but a Chinaman could contrive.
+
+With immense exertion of mechanics, I managed to get this monster
+shipped in its place, after which I was enabled to make sail and
+proceed.
+
+At the city of Ta-tung, about 150 miles above Nankin, and fifty below
+Ngan-king, the capital of Ngan-whui province, I anchored for three days.
+This city is the chief salt mart up river, all the salt from E-ching
+coming there, previously to being distributed over the country. The
+scenery about Ta-tung is very fine--lightly wooded hills gradually
+rising, range after range, far into the interior. I took a ramble ashore
+with Philip, my mate, to hunt up some game; our way lay over ridges of
+low hills covered with a forest of dwarf firs, none over six feet high,
+mingled with specimens of the smallest of all small trees, the dwarf
+oak. This Lilliputian forest was succeeded by a tangled undergrowth, and
+fine plantation, which compelled us to pursue the narrow tracks leading
+through it. During our progress we were often startled with the loud
+whirr of the pheasant springing from almost under our feet, and although
+the high cover made it difficult to get a shot, we obtained several
+brace. At last we came to a more open part of the hills, where the
+forest was succeeded by wild flowers and shrubs, while small lakes were
+frequent in the valleys below us. The hills became higher and more
+rocky, the few trees about them being of large size,--in fact, the
+tallest I have seen in China. From the rocky nature of the country, and
+the running appearance of the chain of lakes, I fancied a large spring
+was somewhere in the neighbourhood, and I was right; for, after
+following a beautiful and gradually ascending valley some distance, we
+came to a cold mountain spring of the purest water I ever tasted in
+China. We threw ourselves upon the grass and drank the pure mountain
+draught to our heart's content, and, while resting ourselves, inhaled
+the powerful aromatic odour of the wild magnolia growing in profusion
+around. The magnolia is the only flower I have found in China possessing
+fragrance, all others, however beautiful, being without perfume. Whilst
+rolling on the turf we had observed some birds, apparently of the duck
+species, fly overhead in the direction of some tall trees through a
+gorge on the hills; it being the middle of summer, these birds excited
+our curiosity, and we determined to follow them and if possible get a
+shot. When we arrived at the foot of the trees, to our surprise we saw
+many of these duck-like birds flying in and out of nests among the
+branches; we shot three brace and a half, and found them to be the
+beautiful and delicious little wood or summer duck. When I returned on
+board, I instantly sent some of my crew ashore with a small cask to fill
+at the spring, and ever afterwards I remembered that cool water and its
+romantic valley.
+
+The few villages about seemed very poor; they had continually been
+visited by Ti-ping or Imperialist soldiers, and this, of course, had
+proved disastrous to the inhabitants, for we all know what hungry
+_disciplined_ troops are in an enemy's country, but few of us realize
+the effect of _undisciplined_ Chinese. The houses, however, had not been
+destroyed, and the only mark of the Ti-pings was the remains of a large
+Budhist temple, each separate brick, as usual, being broken to pieces,
+so that nothing but heaps of rubbish remained. The people spoke very
+vengefully about the visits of the Imperialist troops, who, they said,
+had used their women shamefully, and killed several of the husbands and
+fathers who had attempted to defend them. The Ti-pings, they informed
+me, had treated them well, and had only made them contribute provisions
+for the army; one soldier having used violence to a girl, had been
+decapitated, and they showed me the place where his head had been
+exposed. They also spoke very kindly of one leader of the Ti-pings, the
+Ying-wang, who had allowed nothing to be taken from them without payment
+for it.
+
+During my voyage in the schooner, I became acquainted with the Chinese
+game of chess, which, although resembling that of Europe in a few
+pieces, and the object of the game, is in every other particular totally
+different. I had several Chinese on board, passengers to Shanghae, and
+they taught me how to play.
+
+The board, instead of being divided into black and white squares, as
+with us, is of one colour--generally black--and divided by lines on
+which the pieces stand, and move as shown in the following rules and
+annexed diagram:--
+
+[Illustration]
+
+    KING--Can only move one square at a time, and only straight or
+    sideways as a castle, neither can he move outside his nine
+    points, nor into a square exposed to the adverse king from the
+    opposite side of the board, without any intervening piece.
+
+    MANDARINS, or SHIELDS--Can only move within the nine points, one
+    at a time, diagonally, as a bishop; they take the same way.
+
+    BISHOPS--Can only move upon their own side of the ditch, always
+    move two points at a time, and take the same way. Their move is
+    diagonal.
+
+    KNIGHTS--Move and take the same as with us, go all over the
+    board, but cannot move when the angle at the first point of the
+    move is occupied by another piece. They cannot jump over a piece
+    as with us, but must have the road clear.
+
+    CASTLES--Move and take, and have entirely the same value as with
+    us.
+
+    GUNS--They move only as a castle, but can only take by jumping
+    over an intervening piece.
+
+    PAWNS--Move one point at a time, straight forward, take the same
+    way, and when they cross the ditch, can take and advance,
+    forwards or sideways, like a castle; but still only one point at
+    a time. They cannot, however, move backwards. It requires a move
+    of the pawn, and half a move of the knight, to cross the ditch.
+    Castles and guns can go as far beyond as willing in one move.
+
+I passed close to the Nankin fortifications, but did not anchor, as I
+saw quite sufficient to guide me in joining the Chung-wang there without
+stopping; the place being evidently open and easy of access.
+
+At Chin-kiang I heard terrible rumours of pirates, about the Lang-shan
+crossing and entrance of the river; and the more the deeds of the
+pirates were talked about, the greater embellishment they received from
+the imagination of the narrator, so that, at last, bad as they certainly
+were, the deeds attributed to them would never have been recognized by
+the perpetrators themselves.
+
+With all the exaggeration, the danger was really too great to be
+despised, and I made arrangements to sail down to Shanghae in company
+with two European vessels also bound there, one a fore and-aft-French
+schooner, the other an American lorcha.
+
+The first night after leaving Chin-kiang, being in advance of my
+consorts, I observed an English schooner right ahead, with her ensign
+flying union down. At the time I made her out she was scarcely half a
+mile distant, and the moon shining brightly upon her, with my glasses I
+easily distinguished her signal of distress. As we approached each other
+from opposite directions, in a few minutes we had closed to within
+speaking distance; so, rounding to, I hailed to know what was the
+matter. I could only faintly distinguish, in reply, "Come on board; I
+will anchor."
+
+After passing me by a few hundred yards the strange vessel brought up,
+and lowering a boat, I proceeded to board her, leaving my Greek mate to
+bring the schooner a little closer, and then anchor. Before getting
+alongside I noticed two Europeans on the quarter deck of the schooner,
+waiting to receive me, and to my surprise saw they were both armed. As
+this looked suspicious, when under the shadow of the vessel's side I
+loosened my revolver in its sheath. When I reached the gangway, I
+observed many of the Chinese crew watching my approach, and all,
+apparently, in a state of excitement. This put me upon my guard still
+more, for it was evident something was wrong; and, coupling the
+appearance of things with the signal of distress, that something was
+most likely dangerous. I ascended the gangway ladder with caution, and
+well I did so, for my head had scarcely appeared above the rail when a
+Chinaman made a rush at me with both hands stretched out, evidently
+intending to push me overboard. Thanks to my watchfulness and sailor
+training, I was able to meet this attack successfully, in spite of my
+awkward situation. Clinging to the side ladder with my knees, I quick as
+thought ducked my head and shoulders inboard, seized my assailant round
+the waist before he could take hold of me, and, aided by his own
+impetus, threw him clean over my head into the river. He uttered one cry
+as, plunging into the fierce and turbid tide of the Yang-tze, he
+disappeared for ever. This passed within two seconds, and, drawing my
+revolver, I sprang on board before several other Chinese rushing to the
+gangway could reach me. The sudden display of the hollow barrel within
+a couple of feet, and pointing straight at the head of the foremost,
+checked them, and at that moment the whizzing of a bullet amongst them,
+accompanied by the sharp crack of a rifled pistol, and followed by the
+appearance of the two Europeans at my side, drove them back.
+
+The whole crew, however, seemed springing from every direction, some
+from the hatchways, some from forward, and some from aft; and with the
+usual gesticulation of Chinese about to fight, commenced stripping
+themselves of their outer clothing, and uttering fierce crys and yells
+to encourage each other.
+
+I had barely a moment to receive the explanation of the schooner's
+captain, who thrust a spare cutlass into my hand--that a mutiny had
+taken place, and having secured the ringleader he wished me to carry him
+down to Shanghae in irons--when the crew were upon us. Jumping and
+yelling like a legion of fiends let loose, they hurried towards us,
+brandishing the bamboo spears and the knives they had armed themselves
+with. For a moment we hesitated to fire upon them, but that moment's
+delay very nearly cost us our lives. Thinking they possessed no
+firearms, we believed we could awe them into submission with our
+revolvers. Suddenly one of them jumped forward and discharged two heavy
+horse pistols point blank at me and the captain of the schooner. The din
+of the report, the smoke, and our surprise, combined with an indefinite
+sort of feeling (upon my part at least) that we were half blown to
+pieces, caused a moment's inaction almost fatal to us. The whole of the
+crew, some eighteen or twenty, rushed forward. Fortunately the captain
+(who I imagined was the mate) of the vessel, being farthest away from
+the discharge of the pistols, was not in the least startled, but firing
+at the man who held them, brought him to the deck, and then discharging
+several shots amongst the crowd, gave me time to recover myself.
+
+I did not feel wounded. My next perception was, that I was engaged with
+half a dozen men pushing fiercely at me with their spears. For some
+seconds I defended myself desperately with the cutlass, successfully
+warding all their thrusts, actually forgetful of the revolver I held in
+my left hand. I was soon reminded of its use by another man coming
+towards me, pointing a huge pistol like the first two that had so nearly
+finished me. This entirely recalled my presence of mind, and bringing my
+revolver into play, I had the satisfaction of seeing him fall in the
+smoke. At the same instant, however, the slight distraction had nearly
+proved successful to my spear assailants; one transfixed me, as I
+thought, though afterwards it appeared I was barely scratched, and the
+transfixing sensation was caused by the spear tightly pinning my
+clothes, while before I could parry it, another made a thrust full at my
+breast. With no time to sweep my cutlass round, I dropped it, and seized
+the spear-haft within an inch of my body, at the same time using my
+revolver and shooting the man. Before I could level at another enemy,
+the man whose spear was fast in my clothes abandoned it and closed with
+me. Over and over we rolled on the deck. I was unable to use my pistol,
+and he to use his knife. My left wrist was firmly grasped by his right
+hand, while my right hand was fully engaged restraining his left, armed
+with a large dagger.
+
+While struggling on the deck I saw several Chinamen approaching with
+uplifted spear, to slaughter me in my helpless condition, but each time
+I had seen the schooner's mate jump over me, exclaiming, as he thrust
+with his sword, "L[=a], l[=a]," and each time I had seen an enemy fall.
+At last I received a severe blow on the head, and, half-stunned, felt my
+antagonist releasing his left hand. Just at this moment I was sensible
+of some one dragging himself along the deck close to me, and ere I could
+distinguish who or what it was, my revolver was taken from my hand, the
+Chinaman who had hitherto been holding it abandoned his grip, and
+knocked my right hand from his left. Instead of feeling his knife
+pierce me, a pistol was discharged, so close that the flash singed my
+hair, and the Chinaman fell motionless across me.
+
+From the effect of the blow I had received, and the shock of the near
+report, I lay for a moment unable to move. I was then aroused by the
+mate of the schooner dragging the Chinaman off me and assisting me to
+rise, exclaiming, "Eh, monsieur capitaine, hope I, be gar! vous have no
+die--Zese sacre--all dead, all run down le fond de calle--de hole, be
+gar!"
+
+When I recovered my feet, I saw the deck was deserted, except by
+ourselves and seven or eight Chinamen lying dead or wounded, and the
+captain of the schooner, who was sitting on the deck with my revolver in
+his hand--for he it was who had so opportunely rescued me from my
+antagonist.
+
+Upon examining the captain, we found he had received a severe-looking
+wound from the first discharge, a ball from one of the horse pistols
+having struck his breast, and then, glancing, passed through the fleshy
+part of his left arm.
+
+Of the prostrate Chinese four were dead and four severely wounded. All
+this happened in far less time than it takes to read it, and just as it
+was all over my two consorts arrived, and the vessels being anchored
+close alongside, their owners came on board to ascertain the cause of
+all the noise and firing.
+
+The Frenchman whom I had taken for the mate of the schooner, proved to
+be part owner of her. She was from Shanghae, and bound to Chin-kiang
+with a cargo of sundries and opium. When close to the Lang-shan crossing
+the crew were observed to be acting very suspiciously, and the _lowder_
+(Chinese captain) having altered the course of the vessel, to steer her
+away to the northern entrance of the river, a favourite haunt of
+pirates, the captain and owner at once determined to seize and make him
+a prisoner, rightly suspecting that they had shipped a crew in league
+with the pirates.
+
+Arming themselves, they went on deck and immediately seized the _lowder_
+at the helm, one making him fast while the other threatened him with
+instant death in case of resistance. Directly the crew saw this they
+seized up boarding-pikes, hand-spikes, &c., and commenced rushing aft to
+attack them; but while the captain kept them off with a levelled rifle,
+the owner, putting his revolver to the _lowder's_ head, swore to blow
+his brains out if the crew advanced another step.
+
+This had the desired effect, for the _lowder_ quickly called to his
+colleagues to desist, who at once retired to the fore part of the
+vessel, leaving their leader in the hands of the Europeans.
+
+After they had been sailing for several hours up the river in this
+position, they met me; and during their occupation, when I was boarding
+them, the crew had managed to release the _lowder_, and made the attack
+upon us to try and capture the vessel, well knowing the fate which
+awaited them at Shanghae as pirates.
+
+Had it not been for the prowess and dexterous swordsmanship of the
+owner, the Chinamen, although with great loss, would undoubtedly have
+overpowered us. The Frenchman had been maitre d'armes in a French
+regiment, and more than nine killed and wounded were due to his sword,
+for, besides those left on deck, five or six who had fled below were
+wounded. Poor fellow! some little time afterwards he was killed by
+pirates, almost upon the scene of our encounter, when, after bravely
+defending himself alone on the deck of his vessel against a host of
+assailants, and killing sixteen with his own hand, the pirates, unable
+to overcome his splendid swordsmanship, retired to their own vessel and
+killed him by throwing stink-pots[16] upon him.
+
+We dressed the captain's wounds as well as we were able, and after
+throwing the dead overboard, and permitting the Chinese to dress their
+own wounds, we made them all fast; and, remaining by the schooner all
+night, we had the satisfaction of seeing her taken in tow for
+Chin-kiang, by a passing river steamer, in the morning.
+
+After this, in company with my consorts, I weighed anchor and proceeded
+on my voyage to Shanghae. Towards dusk we came within sight of the
+Lang-shan hills, and as it would have been dangerous to attempt the
+crossing at night, especially in the vicinity of pirates, we determined
+to anchor until daylight.
+
+About midnight, I and the mate were alarmed by the look-out man, who
+rushed into our cabin, singing out--"Jen-dow-li! Jen-dow-li!" (Pirates
+coming! Pirates coming!)
+
+Jumping out of our berths we hurried on deck, turning all the crew out
+to get the schooner under weigh.
+
+Rather more than a quarter of a mile up river we observed two heavy
+junks, and as we were lying to the ebb tide, they were right straight
+ahead. As they were so distant, and apparently peaceful, people not so
+experienced as ourselves would never have taken the slightest alarm, and
+consequently would have become an easy prey.
+
+I perceived at a glance the _modus operandi_ of the junks ahead--they
+had anchored exactly abreast of each other, but some distance apart;
+they had then run out a stout rope from the bow of one to the other, and
+having waited for a dark and favourable opportunity, had weighed their
+anchors and were now dropping down upon us with the tide, rapidly and
+noiselessly, hauling in the rope on board either vessel as might be
+necessary, intending to let it catch across our bows or cable, and thus
+be swept alongside instantaneously by the strong tide, when their crowds
+of men could board and make short work of us. Many a vessel unsuspicious
+of this cunning device has been easily captured, when otherwise she
+might have beaten off the pirates, or escaped through superior sailing.
+
+Getting under weigh, I determined to drop down with the tide according
+to the plan of the pirates, as it was likely by that means my movement
+would for some little time remain undiscovered and give me an
+opportunity to close with my consorts, anchored more than a mile below.
+
+The moon having just gone down, and the night become quite dark, my
+design succeeded admirably, and I lessened the distance between myself
+and allies by at least three quarters of a mile before the pirates gave
+any sign that they had discovered they were not closing with me. At
+last, however, we could dimly discern their spreading foresails through
+the darkness, as they made sail in chase; I was not slow to follow their
+example, and Philip and myself having armed, prepared to go on board our
+consorts, they carrying guns, while our vessel mounted none. The only
+danger was, that our friends might not be keeping a look-out, and that
+we should have no time to prepare them for defence, or get the guns
+ready.
+
+We were soon relieved on this point, for our pursuers had the kindness
+to open fire upon us, and so effectually arouse the crews of the other
+vessels.
+
+From the loudness and rapidity of the reports, I knew our antagonists
+were of the formidable west coast class (Ti-mungs), mounting ten or a
+dozen 12 to 32-pounders. I had but little fear of the result, however,
+if once on board our friends' vessels, for I knew they each carried two
+long nines, which well worked--and two of us were good gunners--would
+soon put the pirates to flight.
+
+The cannonade had only lasted a few minutes, when I perceived the sails
+of my two consorts close by. I instantly put the _lowder_ in charge of
+my vessel, and directing him to steer directly after us, took six of my
+best men in the boat, and pulling to our allies, left my mate and three
+of the crew on board one of them, and took the other three on board the
+second with myself.
+
+According to pre-arrangement, I took charge of the operations. The plan
+I determined upon was to concentrate our fire upon one of the attacking
+vessels, and to manoeuvre so as to bring her into the centre of a
+circle, the radius of which would be described by our two vessels and
+the other pirate ship. If this could be carried out, we would be in a
+position to keep one of the enemy's vessels in the way of the other,--or
+that one which might be in the centre of the circle, between the fire of
+its consort and our vessels. Hailing my schooner, I ordered her to keep
+away in the opposite course until I should open fire, and then to sail
+back and follow in my wake. This ruse had the desired effect, for while
+one Ti-mung bore away to engage the schooner, the other seemed inclined
+to follow our two fighting ships, and act as a cover to her consort's
+attack.
+
+In a short time we had the satisfaction to bring the two Ti-mungs nearly
+in a line; and to prevent my own vessel getting too far away and thus
+running the risk of being carried by the board before we could come to
+her assistance, we opened fire immediately. The advantageous position we
+had obtained soon became evident; our opponent mounting about ten
+broadside guns could of course only fire five at a time, and as both the
+vessels under my charge carried swivel guns, we could reply with four;
+the only chance the pirates possessed to overmatch us, was by engaging
+each of our armed vessels, when the odds would have been more than
+double in their favour. This, however, they neglected to do, and while
+one was chasing my schooner,--that now having tacked was following us
+round in a circle,--and unable to bring a gun to bear on her, having
+nothing but broadside guns mounted, we were particularly engaged with
+our more immediate adversary, and completely sailing round her. The
+pirates' firing was bad and ineffective, not one shot in twenty striking
+us. I knew that, generally, vessels of the Chinese could only fire their
+guns with any aim when directly abeam; therefore the continual change
+of position I compelled her to observe, sadly interfered with their
+shooting.
+
+In a short time the accuracy of our firing commenced to tell, and our
+antagonist hauled off to join his consort, making signals to her at the
+same time. The latter at once abandoned the chase of my schooner, and
+bore down to assist her companion. I now saw a good opportunity to
+finish the combat; both vessels were approaching us, and we were
+steering straight to meet them; I therefore loaded with a double charge
+of grape and canister, and running down upon them, when within fifty
+yards, luffed right across their bows, and with our heavily charged guns
+raked them fore and aft.
+
+It was too dark to see the result of that discharge, but we heard quite
+enough yelling to convince us it had proved sufficiently destructive to
+both vessels. The pirates, after a confusion in which it would have been
+easy to carry them had we had any men to board with, hauled off, and
+crowded on all sail to escape. This they might not have been permitted
+to do so easily; but while following them to bestow a few parting shots,
+the vessel I was on board ran bang ashore. This at once put an end to
+further pursuit; besides, the Ti-mungs could float in less than half the
+water we could, by reason of their flat and shallow build. I warned off
+our other two vessels, and both instantly lowered their sails and
+anchored while they could. Running a line out to one of them, we soon
+hove off the bank; as we were getting amongst the Lang-shan shoals, the
+only thing to be done was to remain at anchor quietly till daylight. We
+came out of the action with a loss of only one man killed,--his head had
+been smashed with a round shot,--one wounded by a splinter, one with a
+grape-shot lodged in his seat of honour, and a pet monkey, belonging to
+the captain of the vessel I was on board, missing. The loss of the
+pirates must have been heavy, especially from the salvo of grape and
+canister at close quarters.
+
+The engagement had barely lasted half an hour, and upon its favourable
+termination we spent the remainder of the night, or rather morning, in
+glorification, winding up with a well-spread morning supper. We might
+fairly have expected we had had enough of pirates for one voyage, yet it
+was not so, and we were to see more of them before reaching Shanghae.
+
+The morning broke dim and foggy, so thick, in fact, that we were unable
+to weigh anchor and proceed till late in the day. In consequence of the
+thick weather, we chose the north channel to pass the Lang-shan
+crossing, as there we could find good soundings to steer by. We had been
+following this for some time, and the day had become one of that
+unsettled changeable kind, leaving us at one moment in the centre of a
+dense fog, and anon in the midst of a perfectly clear spot surrounded by
+thick banks, when, during a momentary glimpse of clear weather, a large
+fleet of Chinese trading junks passed us on their way up the river from
+Shanghae.
+
+These junks reported that they had been attacked by pirates only a mile
+or so below, and that two of their number had been captured; the
+pirates, they said, were in long low boats, imperceptible in the fog
+until right alongside. This put us upon the _qui vive_; Philip and
+myself still remained on board the armed vessels, and sending my
+schooner on ahead, we followed her, one on each quarter. The fog again
+closed in upon us, and we had progressed but a very short distance when
+we heard a tremendous outcry from on board the schooner just ahead: it
+was so thick, that we were unable to discern anything, but we could
+plainly hear the Chinamen yelling out that they were attacked by
+"Jen-dow."
+
+I was just about ordering a gun to be fired to frighten the pirates off,
+when, before I could give the order, we heard a splashing of oars, and
+the next minute bang went a gun within half a dozen yards, and a charge
+of grape or canister hissed and hurtled about our ears. I had barely
+time to jump off the gun I was sitting upon, depress it to the lowest
+limit, and fire it off with the cigar in my hand, when the long
+narrow boat I had laid the gun for--just issuing from the dense
+fog into the space of a few feet, within which anything could be
+distinguished--crashed alongside, full of the dead and dying. Every man
+in that boat seemed stricken, but we had no time for observation, for
+the instant she touched our side--probably torn to pieces by the grape
+and langridge--she turned over and sank. From the noise of oars all
+round us, it appeared as though many boats were rapidly pulling away;
+only one more came in sight, just sufficiently to receive a dose from
+the foremost pivot gun, after which she disappeared in the mist. In a
+few minutes the fog considerably lifted, and there in the distance we
+saw a squadron of the Imperialist gunboats--of the smallest
+size--pulling inshore as fast as they could. If instead of employing
+British gunboats against the Ti-pings, the British authorities had sent
+them against these, they might have rendered a real service, for many a
+poor fellow has lost the number of his mess, slaughtered by these
+murderous wretches, who subsequently became the comrades of British
+officers and sailors in the waters of both Ningpo and Shanghae. The fog
+clearing, without further adventure or mishap, we safely reached our
+destination.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[16] An earthenware jar filled with a suffocating combustible, forming a
+very formidable weapon. It is thrown as a hand grenade.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+    Fall of Nankin.--Manchoo Cowardice.--Immense Booty.--Sir George
+    Bonham's Arrival at Nankin.--"The Northern Prince."--The
+    Ti-pings fraternize.--Sir George Bonham's Dispatch.--The Ti-ping
+    Reply.--Further Communication.--Its Friendly Nature.--Ti-ping
+    Literature.--Its Religious Character.--Bishop of Victoria and
+    Dr. Medhurst's Opinions.--Ti-ping Publications.--The New
+    Testament.--Monarchy Established.--Occupation of Nankin.--A
+    Fatal Mistake.--Imperialist Advantages.--Advance of the
+    Ti-pings.--Manchoo Operations.--The Tsing-hae Army.--The
+    Retreat.--Tien-wang's Mistake.--His Opportunity Lost.--Manchoo
+    Tactics.--Imperialist Outrages.--Ti-ping Moderation.--The Triad
+    Rebels.--They Evacuate Amoy.--Captain Fishbourne's
+    Description.--Triads Capture Shanghae.--Imperialist
+    Aggressions.--Jesuits' Interference.--The French attack the
+    Triads.--Shanghae Evacuated.--British Interference.--Its
+    Consequences.
+
+
+Upon the 19th of March, 1853, after a short siege of only eleven days,
+Nankin, the ancient capital of China, fell into the hands of the
+Ti-pings. Considering the importance of the city, and the strong
+garrison it contained, its capture was effected very easily. It was
+attacked from the river, upon the northern side, and while one division
+sprang a mine under the north-east angle of the wall, another blew down
+the I-Fung gate, both storming together and carrying the city with but
+little resistance. The Chinese troops in garrison are stated to have
+numbered about 15,000, though, considering the unusually large
+proportion of Tartar troops, it is probable their strength must have
+been greater. They made scarcely a show of opposition to the stormers,
+many taking to flight and escaping through the south and west gates, or
+surrendering and joining the Ti-pings. The Manchoo troops of the Eight
+Banners are estimated to have mustered at least 8,000, and including
+their families, not less than 20,000. Yet these men, who had already, in
+the wars with Great Britain, shown they could fight well and bravely,
+and who were now in a position to offer a stubborn defence, were killed
+with hardly an effort to defend themselves. It might naturally have been
+expected that, for the honour of their nation, for their emperor, for
+their wives' and their children's, and their own lives, in fact, for
+everything dear to them, they would at least have made a determined
+resistance. They well knew from the insurgents' proclamations, and their
+previous acts, that they would meet with little mercy, but seemed to
+have been completely paralyzed, and neither able to fight nor flee,
+throwing themselves on the ground before the victorious Ti-pings and
+crying "Oh Prince, Prince, spare us! spare us!"
+
+Two days after the capture of Nankin, the Tien-wang announced by
+proclamation that he had established his court and seat of government
+there.
+
+It is believed the Ti-pings were materially assisted in the capture of
+the city by confederates within the walls, who lighted signal fires and
+created confusion; while the fact of their finding confederates
+everywhere, even in the Imperialist camps, to post their proclamations
+with impunity, proves the wide-spread popularity of the movement at that
+time. With remarkable celerity, within twelve days after the capture of
+Nankin, the principal adjoining cities were taken and garrisoned.
+Chin-kiang, Yang-chow, and Kwa-chow fell into the hands of the Ti-pings
+without opposition, the garrisons having fled with precipitation on
+their approach.
+
+The capture of these important cities was even of more moment than that
+of Nankin; for Chin-kiang being situated at the southern entrance of the
+Grand Canal into the Yang-tze, and Kwa-chow at the northern, gave them
+entire command of the canal itself, the great medium of communication
+between the southern provinces and the capital, and the route by which
+all the grain supplies were conveyed to the north. Immense booty was
+captured at these places, and conveyed to Nankin. At the latter city the
+military chest that fell into their hands alone contained about L120,000
+sterling; while the stores of rice and provisions were enormous. At
+Kwa-chow they captured more than a thousand junks laden with tribute
+grain on its way to Pekin by the Grand Canal.
+
+The singular panic of the Manchoos was probably caused by their fear of
+a retributive Providence having overtaken them for the indiscriminate
+slaughter of the Chinese by their ancestors; for in no other way is it
+easy to account for the helplessness with which they resigned themselves
+to their fate at Nankin.
+
+The Chinese people at this time seemed to look upon the success of the
+rebellion as certain. Distant cities commenced to send tribute to the
+Tien-wang, and a deputation from Hang-chow was directed by the Ti-ping
+authorities to return, as they were not in want of money, and did not
+wish the people of Hang-chow to become compromised; thus displaying a
+praiseworthy consideration for their countrymen, whose fate they well
+knew would be sealed if they fell into the power of the Manchoos after
+offering allegiance to themselves.
+
+Exaggerated reports of the Ti-ping successes had reached Shanghae, and
+it was rumoured they were on the point of attacking that city. In
+consequence of this, and to undeceive the Ti-pings with regard to the
+Manchoo proclamations which were diligently circulated, stating the
+foreign "barbarians" were about to send their war ships against the
+insurgents at Nankin, Sir George Bonham, H.M.'s plenipotentiary in
+China, decided to pay a visit to Nankin, partly to explain the British
+intention of _perfect neutrality_, and partly to ascertain the extent,
+creed, and objects of the revolutionists.
+
+Before leaving Shanghae a meeting was held at the British Consulate, to
+consider the course of policy to be adopted in the event of an attack
+by the insurgents. Captain Fishbourne, R.N., senior naval officer upon
+the station, reports:--
+
+    "The question was raised as to whether we should undertake the
+    defence of the city. Sir George Bonham, however, decided that it
+    was incompatible with the line of policy he had determined on."
+
+It is only a pity that later British representatives have not been
+influenced by a similar sense of justice.
+
+With these views Sir George Bonham embarked on board H.M.S. _Hermes_,
+and started for Nankin on the 22nd of April, 1853. The first appearance
+of the Ti-pings is thus described by the commander of the ship:--
+
+    "The sight which met our eyes on our fairly opening
+    Chin-kiang-foo to view was a very striking one. Their scouts had
+    evidently sent forward the news of the approach of an enemy,
+    which had flown like lightning almost, and had called up armed
+    warriors in all directions to resist attack. The river-side for
+    a full mile was lined by batteries and stockades, which were all
+    occupied by men in red head-dresses--some with red belts, and
+    dresses made parti-coloured by a large patch on each man's
+    breast and back, with the badge of the Taeping-wang's army.
+    Thousands, again, were occupying the heights, waving hundreds of
+    banners in defiance. Many others were crowding down towards the
+    river-side as if to be the first in the fight, should we attempt
+    to land, or to support those in the forefront. Here and there
+    were to be seen men in red or yellow hoods, and capes of the
+    same colour, on horseback, galloping along the lines, their
+    standard-bearers and guards hurrying after them as best they
+    could, all evincing an enthusiasm and a unity of purpose that
+    proved them something more than mere hirelings."
+
+Upon the arrival of the _Hermes_ at Nankin, she anchored outside
+gun-shot from the batteries, in order to avoid misunderstandings, she
+having been fired upon at Chin-kiang by the Ti-ping forts, when she was
+followed closely by an Imperialist flotilla, which took advantage of her
+proximity to lead the Ti-pings to believe that she was one of the
+foreign vessels of war they had stated in many proclamations were
+engaged to assist them. Mr. Meadows, of the consular service,
+accompanied by Lieutenant Spratt, proceeded on shore for the purpose of
+negotiating a meeting between Sir George Bonham and the chief
+authorities at Nankin.
+
+Mr. Meadows was received in the northern suburb of Nankin by the
+Northern Prince, and the Tien-wang's brother, the Assistant Prince. In
+his report of the communication with these two chiefs, he says:--
+
+    "But I also explained, as authorized, the simple object of his
+    (Sir George Bonham's) visit; viz., to notify the desire of the
+    British government to remain _perfectly neutral_ in the struggle
+    between them and the Manchoos, and to learn their feeling
+    towards us, and their intention, in the event of their forces
+    advancing towards Shanghae.
+
+    "To all this the Northern Prince listened, but made little or no
+    rejoinder; the conversation, in so far as directed by him,
+    consisting mainly of inquiries as to our religious belief, and
+    expositions of their own. He stated that, as children and
+    worshippers of one God, we were all brethren; and after
+    receiving my assurance that such had long been our view also,
+    inquired if I knew the heavenly rules (Tien-teaou). I replied
+    that I was most likely acquainted with them, though unable to
+    recognize them under that name; and, after a moment's thought,
+    asked if they were ten in number. He answered eagerly in the
+    affirmative. I then began repeating the substance of the first
+    of the Ten Commandments, but had not proceeded far before he
+    laid his hand on my shoulder in a friendly way, and exclaimed,
+    'The same as ourselves! the same as ourselves!' while the simply
+    observant expression on the face of his companion disappeared
+    before one of satisfaction, as the two exchanged glances.
+
+    "He then stated, with reference to my previous inquiry as to
+    their feelings and intentions towards the British, that not
+    merely might peace exist between us, _but that we might be
+    intimate friends_. He added, we might now, at Nankin, land and
+    walk about where we pleased. He reverted again and again, with
+    an appearance of much gratitude, to the circumstance that he and
+    his companions in arms had enjoyed the special protection and
+    aid of God, without which they would never have been able to do
+    what they had done against superior numbers and resources; and
+    alluding to our _declarations of neutrality and non-assistance
+    to the Manchoos_, said, with a quiet air of thorough conviction,
+    'It would be wrong for you to help them, and, what is more, it
+    would be of no use. Our Heavenly Father helps us, and no one can
+    fight with Him.'"
+
+Captain Fishbourne, of the _Hermes_, says:--
+
+    "Meanwhile the news soon spread amongst the insurgents that we
+    were brethren, and numbers came immediately to fraternize. They
+    appeared much pleased at our wearing our hair long in front like
+    themselves, and without tails.... Numbers continued to flock on
+    board, and as the question of friendliness was settled, we
+    weighed, to move closer to the city walls, whilst many of the
+    insurgents fell into the capstan to assist, and seemed to enjoy
+    it all as great fun. In a manner _quite unlike any Chinese we
+    had ever met_, they at once met us on the most friendly terms,
+    and remained so the five days we were there. * * *
+
+    "29th (April). Again the decks were crowded with visitors; some,
+    on going down amongst the men, observed some josses (idols) that
+    they had picked up as curiosities, some of them from Rangoon,
+    and intimated by gestures that these were very bad and useless.
+    They conducted themselves in a frank and friendly way towards
+    all; their bearing was quite different to that of any Chinese
+    that we had ever met; so much so, that our men remarked it; and
+    had any one asserted ten days previously that so many hundred
+    Chinese would have been on board, and yet nothing have been
+    stolen, not one in the ship but would have said, 'It is
+    impossible.'"
+
+A slight misunderstanding having occurred with regard to the
+unceremonious style in which the Ti-ping chiefs replied to the first
+letter sent to them immediately upon the arrival of the _Hermes_, Lae, a
+secretary of state, proceeded on board to arrange matters for Sir George
+Bonham's reception. This was settled to take place the next day; but he,
+apprehending difficulties in the way of ceremonial might perhaps
+interfere with the good feeling then existing, sent an excuse,
+accompanied by the following dispatch, which was delivered by Captain
+Fishbourne and Mr. Meadows:--
+
+    "_Hermes_, off Nankin, April 30, 1853.
+
+    "I received yesterday your message conveyed through the
+    ministers sent on board for that purpose, to the effect that you
+    were willing to receive me in the city, in the event of my being
+    desirous of paying you a visit. It was at first my intention to
+    see you on shore, but the weather and other circumstances
+    prevent my doing so, and therefore I have to convey to you in
+    writing the sentiments I should have communicated to you
+    verbally, had I visited you. These sentiments are to the
+    following effect."
+
+After stating the position of the British nation with regard to the
+Manchoo government, the existence of the treaty and trading regulations,
+&c., the dispatch goes on to say:--
+
+    "Recently, however, it came to my ears that a contest was going
+    on between the native Chinese and the Manchoos, and that you,
+    the Eastern Prince, had taken Nankin. A variety of reports
+    connected with the subject were in circulation, and certain of
+    the Manchoo authorities had issued a proclamation to the effect
+    that they had borrowed the services of ten or more steamers of
+    Western nations, which would proceed up the Yang-tze to attack
+    your forces. This is altogether false. It is the established
+    custom of our nation _in nowise to interfere with any contests
+    that may take place in the countries frequented by our subjects
+    for commercial purposes_. It is therefore _totally out of the
+    question_ that we should now in China lend the services of our
+    steamers to give assistance in the struggle. Of the lorchas
+    hired by the Manchoo authorities, and the square-rigged vessels
+    purchased by them, I know nothing. British merchant vessels are
+    not allowed to hire out their services for such contest; but I
+    cannot prevent the sale of vessels, the private property of
+    British subjects, any more than I can prevent the sale of cotton
+    manufactures or other merchandise."
+
+Again the dispatch states:--
+
+    "In short, it is our desire to remain _perfectly neutral_ in the
+    conflict between you and the Manchoos."
+
+This guarantee of neutrality would have effected much good, and avoided
+much evil, had it been acted up to; but unfortunately such was not the
+case--it did not suit the policy of England to act on that occasion in
+the same manner as when the Confederate steam rams were seized in the
+Mersey.
+
+Sir George Bonham's dispatch was carried ashore by Captain Fishbourne,
+who was received by several chiefs, whom he thus describes:[17]--
+
+    "The appearance and bearing of all those men gave me the idea
+    that they were clever, decided, and determined; and from the
+    constant solemn appeal to heaven to witness their assertion, or
+    in reference to their belief, they showed themselves to be under
+    a settled conviction that their mission was from thence."
+
+The following dispatch is the reply of the Ti-ping chiefs to Sir George
+Bonham's:--
+
+    "We, Prince of the East, Yang, the Honae teacher, and the master
+    who rescues from calamity (an ecclesiastical title), Principal
+    Minister of State, and Generalissimo; and
+
+    "Prince of the West, Seaou, Assistant Minister of State, and
+    also Generalissimo, both subjects of the Celestial dynasty, now
+    under the sway of T'ai-ping, truly commissioned by Heaven to
+    rule; hereby issue a decree to the distant English, who have
+    long recognized the duty of worshipping Heaven (God), and who
+    have recently come into the views of our royal master,
+    especially enjoining upon them to set their minds at rest and
+    harbour no unworthy suspicions.
+
+    "The Heavenly Father, the Supreme Lord, the Great God, in the
+    beginning created heaven and earth, land and sea, men and
+    things, in six days; from that time to this the whole world has
+    been one family, and all within the four seas brethren; how can
+    there exist, then, any difference between man and man? or how
+    any distinction between principal and secondary birth? But from
+    the time that the human race has been influenced by the
+    demoniacal agency which has entered into the heart of man, they
+    have ceased to acknowledge the great benevolence of God the
+    Heavenly Father in giving and sustaining life, and ceased to
+    appreciate the infinite merit of the expiatory sacrifice made by
+    Jesus, our Celestial Elder Brother, and have, with lumps of
+    clay, wood, and stone, practised perversity in the world. Hence
+    it is that the Tartar hordes and Elfin Huns so fraudulently
+    robbed us of our celestial territory (China). But, happily, our
+    Heavenly Father and Celestial Elder Brother have from an early
+    period displayed their miraculous power amongst you English, and
+    you have long acknowledged the duty of worshipping God the
+    Heavenly Father and Jesus our Celestial Brother, so that the
+    truth has been preserved entire, and the Gospel maintained.
+    Happily, too, the Celestial Father, the Supreme Lord and Great
+    God, has now of His infinite mercy sent a heavenly messenger to
+    convey our royal master the Heavenly King up into heaven, and
+    has personally endowed him with power to sweep away from the
+    thirty-three heavens demoniacal influences of every kind, and
+    expel them thence into this lower world. And, beyond all, happy
+    is it that the Great God and Heavenly Father displayed His
+    infinite mercy and compassion in coming down into this our world
+    in the third month of the year Mowshin (1848),[18] and that
+    Jesus our Celestial Elder Brother, the Saviour of the world,
+    likewise manifested equal favour and grace in descending to
+    earth during the ninth month of the same year, where, for these
+    six years past, they have marvellously guided the affairs of
+    men, mightily exhibited their wondrous power, and put forth
+    innumerable miraculous proofs, exterminating a vast number of
+    imps and demons, and aiding our Celestial Sovereign in assuming
+    the control of the whole empire.
+
+    "But now that you distant English have not deemed myriads of
+    miles too far to come and acknowledge our sovereignty, not only
+    are the soldiers and officers of our celestial dynasty delighted
+    and gratified thereby, but even in high heaven itself our
+    Celestial Father and Elder Brother will also admire this
+    manifestation of your fidelity and truth. We therefore issue
+    this special decree, permitting you, the English chief, to lead
+    your brethren _out or in, backwards or forwards, in full
+    accordance with your own will or wish_, whether to aid us in
+    exterminating our impish foes, or to carry on your commercial
+    operations as usual; and it is our earnest hope that you will,
+    with us, earn the merit of diligently serving our Royal Master,
+    and, with us, recompense the goodness of the Father of Spirits.
+
+    "Wherefore we promulgate this new decree of (our sovereign)
+    T'ai-ping for the information of you English, so that all the
+    human race may learn to worship our Heavenly Father and
+    Celestial Elder Brother, and that all may know that, wherever
+    our Royal Master is, there men unite in congratulating him on
+    having obtained the decree to rule.
+
+    "A special decree, for the information of all men, given (under
+    our seals) this 26th day of the 3rd month of the year Kweihaou
+    (1st May, 1853), under the reign of the Celestial dynasty of
+    T'ai-ping."
+
+With a faithfulness above all praise, the Ti-pings have never broken
+their promises, and although the British government have thought fit to
+repudiate theirs, still, with an integrity really wonderful, the
+Ti-pings, although they might fairly have done so, have never
+retaliated. Had ministers of enlightened mind, or even ministers of
+honour, taken advantage of that clause of the Ti-pings' line of
+conduct--and which in spite of the British hostilities has remained
+unaltered--to go "out or in, backwards or forwards," how great a result
+would have been attained for themselves, and how glorious a future of
+freedom and Christianity for the Chinese!
+
+Sir George Bonham, it appears, took umbrage at some imaginative want of
+respect in the dispatch of the Ti-ping chiefs; still, the following
+extracts from a communication received from Lo-thai-kang, commander of
+Ti-ping forces at Chin-kiang, the Triad chief who joined the society of
+"God-worshippers" in Kwang-si, should have appeased his indignation:--
+
+    "We humbly conceive that when the will of Heaven is fixed, man
+    cannot oppose; and when views and feelings are correct, corrupt
+    imaginations cannot interfere therewith; hence it is that honest
+    birds select the tree on which they roost, and that virtuous
+    ministers choose the sovereign whom they intend to serve. But,
+    alas! these false Tartars have displayed their unruly
+    dispositions, in fraudulently depriving us of our lawful
+    patrimony; at home they have injured the subjects of our state,
+    and abroad they have warred against foreign states. On a former
+    occasion your _honourable_ nation, with upright views, marched
+    into our territory, for which you had doubtless good and
+    sufficient reason; but the impish Tartars opposed your entrance,
+    _which the inhabitants of China viewed with displeasure_; but
+    now our royal master has received the command of Heaven to
+    punish offenders, _to show kindness to foreigners_, and
+    _harmonize_ them with the Chinese, _not restricting commercial
+    intercourse_, nor levying transit duties on merchandise, while
+    he leads forward his martial bands, to the number of hundreds of
+    myriads, overcoming every opposition; from which it is clear
+    that the period has arrived when both Heaven and man unite in
+    favouring his design, and faithful and brave warriors exert
+    themselves on his behalf. But these fiendish Tartars, finding
+    their strength gone, and their resources exhausted, have
+    attempted to drive on your _honourable_ nation to exert
+    yourselves in their behalf, unabashed by the recollection that,
+    _on a former occasion, when matters went easily with them, they
+    made it their business to oppose you; and now, when they are in
+    extremities, they apply to you for succour, wishing to set our
+    two nations at variance, in order to avail themselves of any
+    advantage arising therefrom_. This, we presume, is already seen
+    through by you.
+
+    "We remember, moreover, how on a former occasion we, in
+    conjunction with Bremer, Elliot, and Wanking (?), in the
+    province of Canton erected a church, and together worshipped
+    Jesus, our Celestial Elder Brother. All these circumstances are
+    as fresh in our recollection as if they had happened but
+    yesterday."
+
+It is utterly impossible that anything could have been more satisfactory
+than this first communication with the Ti-pings. Not only were all their
+documents couched in the most friendly manner, affording a striking and
+total contrast to those of the Manchoo; but in practice as well as
+theory their conduct was excellent. They substituted for the old and
+insulting epithets, "barbarian" and "foreign devil," hitherto applied to
+all Europeans, the kindlier appellation of "foreign brethren;" while
+instead of assuming the repellant and exclusive manner of the
+Imperialists, they evinced the warmest friendliness and most candid
+demeanour. So pleasing was their conduct generally, that all persons
+having communication with them were unanimous in expressing their
+favourable impressions. Captain Fishbourne, describing his visit in the
+_Hermes_, says:--
+
+    "It was obvious to the commonest observer that they were
+    practically _a different race_. They had Gutzlaff's edition of
+    the Scriptures--at least they told us so; we know they had
+    twenty-eight chapters of Genesis, for they had reprinted thus
+    much, and gave us several copies; and some of them were
+    practical Christians, and nearly all seemed to be under the
+    influence of religious impressions, though limited in their
+    amount. They believed in a special Providence, and believed that
+    this truth had had a practical demonstration in their own case.
+    That though they had had trials and incurred dangers, these were
+    to punish and to purify. They had also successes, such as they
+    could have had only by God's special interference. They
+    referred, with deep and heartfelt gratitude, to the difficulties
+    they had encountered, and the deliverances which had been
+    effected for them, when they were but a few, and attributed all
+    their success to God.
+
+    "'They,' said one, speaking of the Imperialists, 'spread all
+    kinds of lies about us; they say we employ magical arts. The
+    only kind of magic we have used is prayer to God. In Kwang-se,
+    when we occupied Yung-ngan, we were sorely pressed; there were
+    then only some two or three thousand of us; we were beset on all
+    sides by much greater number; we had no powder left, and our
+    provisions were all gone; but our Heavenly Father came down and
+    showed us the way to break out. So we put our wives and children
+    in the middle, and not only forced a passage, but completely
+    beat our enemies.'
+
+    "After a short pause he added, 'If it be the will of God that
+    our Prince of Peace shall be sovereign of China, he will be the
+    sovereign of China; if not, then we will die here.'
+
+    "The man who, in every extreme, spoke these words of courageous
+    fidelity to the cause, and of confidence in God, was a
+    shrivelled-up, elderly little person, who made an odd figure in
+    his yellow and red hood; but he could think the thoughts and
+    speak the speech of a hero. He, and others like him, have
+    succeeded in impressing with their own sentiments of courage and
+    morality the minds of their adherents."
+
+The _Hermes_ brought away from Nankin the following books, which were
+published and circulated amongst the Ti-pings, viz.:--
+
+    1. The Book of Religious Precepts of the Ti-ping Dynasty.
+    2. The Trimetrical Classic.
+    3. An Ode for Youth.
+    4. The Book of Celestial Decrees.
+    5. The Book of Declaration of the Divine Will, made during the
+        Heavenly Father's Descent (in the Spirit) upon Earth.
+    6. The Imperial Declaration of Ti-ping.
+    7. Proclamations from Eastern and Western Kings.
+    8. Arrangement of the Army.
+    9. Regulations of the Army.
+    10. A New Calendar.
+    11. Ceremonial Regulations.
+    12. Book of Genesis, Chap. I.--XXVIII.
+
+These furnished abundant proofs of the Christianity of the whole
+movement. Errors, and some very grave, undoubtedly existed; but although
+these have been sometimes animadverted upon in unmeasured terms, the
+grand truth that the Ti-pings admitted and recognized the principal
+points of the Christian faith, remained. Yet some persons seemed to
+imagine the insurrection totally unworthy of Christian sympathy and
+consideration, because their tenets of belief were not perfect;
+forgetting that everything must have a commencement, and forgetting the
+universally imperfect commencement of Christianity, even from the time
+of the Apostles. Those who have made the religious error of the Ti-pings
+an argument against them are not worthy of the smallest attention; for,
+although they have been forward enough to declaim against the struggling
+Christians, they have been altogether backward in the slightest attempt
+to teach them better. Their own Christianity is scarcely so faultless
+that they can afford to consign tens of thousands of professing, though
+ignorant, Christians, to destruction; and were they ever so correct
+themselves, still less should they be guilty of so unchristian an act.
+
+The earnestness with which the Ti-ping government endeavoured to
+promulgate the saving Word of God, is illustrated by the fact, that
+then, and ever since, they circulated the Scriptures and all religious
+publications entirely free of charge, a circumstance unparalleled in the
+history of the world. Captain Fishbourne reports:--
+
+    "Before leaving Nankin they furnished us with many copies of
+    books which they had published, and of which they appear to
+    have had a large store, as they circulated them by every
+    possible means; they were seen by some officers of the _Hermes_
+    in boats that they _had sent off to drift down the river amongst
+    the Imperial flotilla_."
+
+This singular mode of proceeding seems to imply that even at that early
+period they recognized the truth of the Divine promise, "My word shall
+not return unto me void," and with a holy simplicity were acting in full
+confidence as to the results.
+
+The Bishop of Victoria, in his estimate of the books of the Ti-pings,
+has used the following language:--
+
+    "There are important questions which we have to consider
+    respecting the character of the religion of the insurgents;
+    _e.g._: Are its doctrines essentially those of the Christian
+    religion? Do the elements of truth preponderate over those of
+    error? Are the defects, which may be observable among them, such
+    as constitute a reasonable ground for condemning the whole
+    movement as one of unmingled evil, and the work of Satanic
+    power? Or, on the other hand, are they the natural shortcomings
+    of a body of imperfectly enlightened men, placed in a situation
+    of novel difficulty, labouring under almost unexampled
+    disadvantages in their pursuit of truth, without spiritual
+    instructors and guides, with only a few copies of the Holy
+    Scriptures, and those apparently in small, detached, and
+    fragmentary portions, with no forms of prayer or manuals of
+    devotion, having their minds distracted amid the arduous toil of
+    a campaign and the work of religious proselytism, with no
+    definite views or clear knowledge respecting the sacraments, the
+    Christian ministry, or the constitution of a Church--engaged in
+    a struggle for life and death--and yet, amid all these
+    hindrances and drawbacks, evincing a hopeful, praiseworthy, and
+    promising vigour of mind and independence of action, in the
+    great undertaking of a moral revolution of their country?
+
+    "We _do not hesitate to assert_ that ours is the latter and more
+    favourable view."
+
+The following are the Rev. Dr. Medhurst's opinions of the same
+publications. Of one hymn in particular, from "The Book of Religious
+Precepts of the Ti-ping Dynasty," he says:--
+
+    "These lines constitute the redeeming feature of the whole book;
+    they deserve to be written in letters of gold, and we could
+    _desire nothing better_ for the Chinese than that they were
+    engraven on every heart. This one hymn is worth the four books
+    and the five classics of the Chinese all put  together:--
+
+    "'How different are the true doctrines from the doctrines of the world!
+    They save the souls of men, and lead to the enjoyment of endless bliss.
+    The wise receive them with exultation, as the source of their happiness;
+    The foolish, when awakened, understand thereby the way to heaven.
+    Our Heavenly Father, of His great mercy and unbounded goodness,
+    Spared not His first-born son, but sent Him down into the world,
+    To give His life for the redemption of all our transgressions,
+    The knowledge of which, coupled with repentance, saves the souls of men.'"
+
+Of "The Book of Religious Precepts of the Ti-ping Dynasty," he further
+says:--
+
+    "This is decidedly the best production issued by the insurgents.
+    The reasoning is correct, the prayers are good, the ceremonies
+    enjoined (with the exception of the offerings) _are
+    unobjectionable_; the Ten Commandments[19] agree in spirit with
+    those delivered by Moses, and the hymns are passable. The
+    statements of the doctrines of human depravity, redemption by
+    the blood of Jesus, and the renewal of the heart by the
+    influence of the Holy Spirit, _are sufficient_ to direct any
+    honest inquirer in the way to heaven."
+
+    "'The Ode for Youth,'" he says, "gives some admirable lessons
+    regarding the honour due to God, who is the Creator and Father
+    of all. It sets forth in very clear terms the coming of Jesus
+    into the world for the salvation of men by the shedding of His
+    blood on the cross, and then goes on to detail the duties that
+    are required of us as parents and children, brothers and
+    sisters, husbands and wives, relatives and friends; concluding
+    with instructions as to the management of the heart and external
+    senses. Altogether it is an excellent book, _and there is not a
+    word in it which a Christian missionary might not adopt, and
+    circulate as a tract for the benefit of the Chinese_."[19]
+
+    "'The Book of Declaration of the Divine Will, made during the
+    Heavenly Father's Descent upon Earth,' details the examination
+    and detection of a traitor, on whom they were about to confer an
+    appointment, when the Father is said to have come down from
+    heaven in person,[20] on purpose to arraign and cross-question
+    the delinquent; and having brought his reason to light, to have
+    returned to heaven.
+
+    "There is no word of their having seen any form; but the idea of
+    the Father's presence seems to have been impressed upon the
+    minds of the bystanders.
+
+    "'The Book of Celestial Decrees' purports to be a collection of
+    communications from God our Heavenly Father, and Jesus our
+    Celestial Elder Brother. This is little, if anything, superior
+    to the preceding work.
+
+    "Their almanac appears to be in some measure founded upon that
+    originally prepared for the Chinese by the Jesuits, but prepared
+    by those who did not know much upon the subject, and therefore
+    they have adopted 366 days, the almanac copied from having been
+    one for leap-year. They, however, stated in contradistinction to
+    the ordinary Chinese almanac, that there are not any such things
+    as lucky days, 'as whoever shall with a true breast reverence
+    the Heavenly Father, the High Lord God, will be looked upon by
+    Him with complacency, and whatsoever times such please to attend
+    to their business, will be lucky and fortunate to them.'
+
+    "The book entitled 'The Regulations for the Army of the Ti-ping
+    Dynasty' is very remarkable for the _complete organization_
+    which it shows to exist amongst them, and for the _very
+    enlightened regulations_ it establishes for the treatment of the
+    people amongst whom they may be.
+
+    "'The Trimetrical Classic,'[21] so called from each line
+    containing only three words, is a very remarkable document, as
+    evidencing that the writer, if there was but one, possessed
+    great knowledge of both Old and New Testament history, of the
+    plan of salvation, and of practical Christianity. He appears,
+    also, to have much knowledge of Chinese history, and uses it to
+    guard against the hostility likely to rise amongst Chinese
+    against the Western nations, from the idea that they were
+    entirely indebted to them for a knowledge of the true God."
+
+Although the above reports are very favourable as to the Ti-pings'
+religion, still, upon many vital points they were undoubtedly defective;
+but to qualify their shortcomings they subsequently published the Bible
+in its full integrity, Old and New Testaments inclusive, copies of
+which, with the Tien-wang's Imperial seal, are in possession of several
+gentlemen in England.[22] Therefore, to denounce the Ti-ping movement as
+evil and anti-Christian, because there exist _some_ errors of belief, is
+not only most unjustifiable, but even implies that a person using such
+an argument doubts the promised efficacy and result of God's Word.
+
+The information gathered up to this time upon the religion of the
+Ti-pings is particularly interesting and satisfactory; and if all
+Christian men did not feel disposed to help them, they at least ought
+not to have interfered against them; yet such was not the case, for even
+at that early period many misnamed Christians, without in the least
+_personally_ knowing anything of the movement, very loudly decried it.
+Wrongful as this may seem, it only forms a part of the great
+psychological problem--why it is that the minds of men will always, by a
+vast majority, follow wrong instead of right?
+
+The opposition the Ti-ping rebellion has met with from those whose
+profession of Christianity should have made them its friends, can excite
+no wonder; for, throughout the history of the world, has truth, freedom,
+or Christianity, ever become manifest otherwise than through a dismal
+vista of disbelief and bloodshed? It is a sad reflection, and a proof of
+our frail, if not vile, mortality!
+
+Some few months after the visit of the _Hermes_, the French war steamer
+_Cassini_ proceeded to Nankin; she brought to Shanghae a reprint of the
+remainder of Genesis, of Exodus, and a portion of the New Testament,
+consisting of St. Matthew's Gospel, printed from the version of the Rev.
+Dr. Gutzlaff.
+
+This is the first account we have of the New Testament being seen
+amongst the Ti-pings, although in some of their previous proclamations
+it had been referred to: it proves the progress they were making; for
+many of their errors were to be attributed to the fact that their belief
+was grounded almost entirely upon the Old Testament. The Ti-pings have
+been sadly abused for polygamy, &c., although I do not remember that
+such facts have been made a _casus belli_ against the Imperialists; but
+it must be remembered that as their laws were framed and already
+constituted when the New Testament first came into their hands,
+everything required to be altered; therefore people should recall the
+maxim of Bacon, "that nature should be imitated by politicians, in the
+_gradual_ character of her changes," and have the justice to admit, that
+Hung-sui-tshuen, having made his laws as to marriage, &c., could not
+possibly either overturn them at once, or see any reason to do so until
+the truth either _gradually_ dawned upon him, or was inculcated by _some
+of the many missionaries_ who overspread China. It seems very remarkable
+that _none_ of them ever entertained this idea, excepting the American,
+Mr. Roberts, who turned it to no advantage.
+
+In the meanwhile, the possession of Nankin entirely altered the tactics
+of the Tien-wang. Instead of continuing his rapid and triumphant march,
+overcoming the Manchoos almost by the terror caused by the advance of
+his forces, he settled down at what he had decided should become the
+capital of his new empire; gathering together his followers in and about
+Nankin and the neighbouring cities. For a month or two the whole Ti-ping
+forces were busily engaged drilling, and fortifying the cities they
+retained. During the same period, the Tien-wang and his chiefs were
+employed constituting a regular government, with its attendant courts
+and tribunals.
+
+The government instituted was monarchical, Hung-sui-tshuen (the
+Tien-wang) being the monarch; the other chiefs, titled Wang, bearing the
+same relation to him as royal princes, that E-ching-wang, the Prince of
+Kung, and the Soong-wang (one of the late Manchoo emperor's uncles) do
+to the Manchoo dynasty.
+
+The five principal leaders, besides their rank of Prince, constituted
+both the Privy Council and Ministry. Six boards were formed, similar to
+those of Pekin, with an additional one for Foreign Affairs. Yang, the
+Eastern Prince, was appointed Prime Minister; Wei, the Northern Prince,
+President of the Board of War; Fung, the Southern Prince, of the Boards
+of Justice and Finance; Siau, the Western Prince, of the Civil Office
+Board and Ecclesiastic Court; and Shih, the Assistant-Prince, of the
+Board of Public Affairs and the Foreign Office.
+
+The above arrangement was, however, subsequently altered, in consequence
+of the increasing extent of the revolution. The five princes then
+resigned their inferior appointments to others, continuing their duties
+as Privy Council to the Tien-wang, and Supreme Generalissimos of the
+five military divisions, into which their whole rule and territory were
+divided. Other chiefs were elected to the dignity of Wang, with a rank
+secondary to that of the Princes, and the whole formed a sort of
+parliament. All the important affairs of state, such as the military
+expeditions to be undertaken, plans of defence, &c., had first to
+receive the sanction of this parliament, and were then submitted to the
+Tien-wang for his approval. To a certain extent, the Tien-wang was
+despotic in his government, for nothing could be undertaken without his
+special sanction. This rule, although supreme, was still far from
+constituting a despotism; and the ultimate decisions vested in him,
+have, singularly enough, never created dissension in council. This is to
+be accounted for not only by the fact that his subjects regarded him as
+endowed with theocratical attributes, but also to the wisdom of his
+mandates.
+
+As it was impossible, during their belligerent state, to give full
+effect to their Civil Boards or officials, the whole system of
+government resolved itself into a military one, pending such time as
+peace should be obtained, when they would be at leisure to cultivate the
+arts and sciences, and form a legislature upon an entirely civil basis.
+
+The occupation of Nankin has proved fatal to the success of the Ti-pings
+hitherto. Insurrection, of whatever kind, to be successful, must never
+relinquish the aggressive movement; directly it acts upon the defensive,
+unless possessing some wonderful organization, its power is broken. The
+principal element of revolutionary success is rapidity of action, and
+when once this is forsaken, the consolidated strength of an established
+constitution is advantageously brought to bear against rebellion.
+
+The Tien-wang, by settling down at Nankin and commencing to defend his
+position, committed a vital error, and one that lost him the empire. If,
+instead of so doing, and affording his enemies time to rally and recover
+from their wild panic, and concentrate their forces, he had aimed at the
+one terminal point, Pekin, beyond all doubt, the very _eclat_ of his
+victorious march would have carried him with an almost resistless
+triumph into possession of the capital, and the consequent destruction
+of the Manchoo dynasty would have given him the empire. The very fact
+that for years afterwards, in spite of this unfavourable re-action, the
+Ti-pings have been enabled, not only to hold their own against the
+Imperialists, but to have utterly crushed them--had it not been for the
+intervention of England--proves how easily they might have followed up
+their first advantages.
+
+Two courses were open to the Ti-pings, either of which, judging by their
+career, would have led to the extinction of the oppressive Manchoo rule.
+The first was, without a pause, to have continued their march upon
+Pekin, abandoning each city as they seized it, and while enriching
+themselves from the captured stores and treasuries, and strengthening
+their forces by the crowds of discontented wherever they might pass, not
+to have permitted the slightest reduction of their numbers by detaching
+isolated garrisons.
+
+The second would have been to have abandoned Nankin, and concentrated
+all their forces in the southern provinces,--Kwang-tung, Kwang-se,
+Kwei-chow, and Fo-keen,--a part of China, more than any other, bitterly
+opposed to the Manchoos, and more important still, the native provinces
+of the principal Ti-ping leaders. In this case, the whole of the country
+south of the Yang-tze river could in a short time have been completely
+wrested from the Manchoos, and then, if unable to obtain the whole
+empire, they would at least have established a southern kingdom in
+perfect integrity--and how superior this course of action would have
+been to the irregular one they pursued!
+
+It was not only a great mistake, but a great absurdity for the Tien-wang
+to establish a capital, and set up a new dynasty before accomplishing
+either of the foregoing courses.
+
+Although for several years numbers continued flocking to the Tien-wang's
+standard, still, they were not of the best material; the wealthier
+classes, directly they found the revolution paused, paused too, and time
+showed them that the obnoxious element was the Christian religion. So
+long as the movement, in the earlier stages of patriotic excitement, was
+looked upon as a means of overthrowing the foreign dynasty, it was a
+national and a popular one; but as the foreign derived religious
+character transpired, the bigoted and proud Chinese naturally began to
+eye with suspicion a movement so vast, aiming not only at the subversion
+of the reigning dynasty, but of the time-honoured superstitions,
+ceremonies, and faith of the nation. The stationary phase, prejudicial
+to any revolution, was doubly so to the Ti-ping, as it fully displayed
+that the Christian, or foreign innovation, was as much their profession
+as the popular anti-Manchoo feeling; but for this, the whole population
+of China would have risen _en masse_ to throw off the foreign yoke.
+
+Through our Faith the Ti-pings have heroically, and, until the British
+_Government_ added their weight to the adverse scale, successfully
+maintained an unequal struggle for years. Should we not then rather have
+assisted than opposed them? Why should we, who pride ourselves upon our
+superior freedom, oppose the advance of Christianity, and perpetuate a
+most corrupt and barbarous government in Asia--a government more foreign
+to the people whom it crushes than the Russian is to the Poles? Can the
+British nation sympathize with the rebels to one and not with those to
+the other, particularly when the latter are endeavouring to propagate
+the Christian faith? Can the English nation, one of the most Christian
+and enlightened in the world, deny all sympathy to those carrying on the
+greatest patriotic struggle on record, a struggle that _would_, by the
+admission of many high-minded missionaries, have Christianized more than
+one-third of the human race?
+
+The Imperialists gained many advantages through the stationary position
+of the Ti-pings. Whereas, before, they contented themselves with
+following an advancing and triumphant army, and occupying the towns and
+districts as they were evacuated, they were now enabled to recover from
+the demoralizing effects of their numerous defeats, and to concentrate
+their efforts upon one or two points. The prestige of success, a great
+element with Chinese troops, was for a time lost to the revolutionists,
+and the Tartar forces despatched from the north combining with those
+lately following at a respectful distance in the rear of the Ti-pings,
+soon invested Nankin and Chin-kiang with apparently overwhelming
+numbers.
+
+The blockade of Nankin, notwithstanding the strength of the investing
+forces, was neither close nor effectual. Several expeditionary armies
+were formed and despatched by the Tien-wang to raise the country in
+different directions. He seems to have reckoned too much upon the
+patriotic spirit of his countrymen, besides committing the error of
+settling down and attempting to consolidate his own power before
+overthrowing that of the enemy. It is even very probable, if all these
+expeditionary armies had been combined into one and marched upon Pekin,
+that that city would have fallen.
+
+In May, 1853, a small army of about seven thousand men crossed to the
+northern bank of the Yang-tze-kiang, and after defeating a body of
+Tartar troops who disputed their passage, proceeded rapidly in a
+north-west direction, through the provinces of Ngan-whui and Ho-nan.
+Kai-fung, the capital of Ho-nan, the city containing the only tribe of
+Jews found in China, was unsuccessfully attacked.
+
+Passing rapidly on, the Ti-pings effected the passage of the Yellow
+River, and attacked the city of Hwae-king. Here they were likewise
+unsuccessful, and a large army of Imperialists having collected, some
+from the north, some from the neighbouring garrisons, and united with a
+considerable force that had been detached in pursuit from the army of
+observation before Nankin, the siege was raised, and the Ti-ping line of
+march to the northward checked. Diverging to the westward for nearly 200
+miles, they entered the province of Shensi, and on the 4th of September
+captured the city of Yuen-keuh. This was the first city of magnitude
+taken since leaving Nankin, and the treasure and supplies found at this
+place proved very acceptable to the worn and destitute army. They once
+more turned northwards, and marched steadily forward in the direction of
+Pekin, capturing many important cities on the way. Late in the same
+month they entered Chih-le, the most northern province of the empire,
+and that in which Pekin is situated. Advancing with rapidity, and
+capturing city after city, towards the end of October they reached the
+Grand Canal, and proceeding by this, in a few days arrived at and
+captured the town of Tsing-hae, distant some twenty miles from the port
+of Tien-tsin. Tsing-hae now became the head-quarters of the Ti-ping
+army; while the main body occupied the place, a column was detached
+against Tien-tsin, before which city it appeared on the 30th October;
+but being repulsed with considerable loss, the whole army went into
+winter quarters at Tsing-hae.
+
+In the meanwhile, the Manchoo court at Pekin was seriously alarmed at
+the progress the Ti-pings were making, they being now distant but a few
+days' march. Every exertion was made to stop their further progress; not
+only was the Manchoo garrison of Pekin despatched against them, but
+large bodies of Mongols were engaged and sent before Tsing-hae early in
+November; and these forces combining with the Imperialist troops that
+had followed the Ti-pings from the first day they crossed the Yang-tze,
+and continually receiving reinforcements from every garrison town they
+passed, now closely blockaded the Ti-ping position.
+
+Soon after the departure of the first northern army, in May, a large
+force was marched back upon the old route taken by the Ti-pings in their
+advance upon Nankin. Proceeding up the Yang-tze-kiang, Ngan-king, the
+capital of the province of Ngan-whui, was captured and made a base for
+further operations. Many cities were captured, and their stores and
+treasuries convoyed down to Nankin. Two strong columns were now detached
+from Ngan-king, one in a westerly direction, penetrating through the
+provinces of Kiang-si and Hoo-nan, while the other started due north to
+the reinforcement of the army blockaded at Tsing-hae. Early in 1854, the
+western army having passed the Tung-ting lake, retraced a part of their
+old line of march, capturing the numerous cities on the bank of the
+Yang-tze river. About May this army arrived before the three cities of
+Han-kow, Han-yang, and Wu-chang, the capital of Hoo-peh, conveying the
+immense supplies they had already captured; after a short siege, these
+important places fell, thus placing the Ti-pings in possession of all
+the principal cities from thence to Chin-kiang, a distance of more than
+450 miles, and comprising the richest and most fertile portion of the
+Yang-tze provinces.
+
+In the meanwhile the northern column (which left Ngan-king some time in
+November, 1853), making forced marches through Ngan-whui, struck the
+Grand Canal in the province of Kiang-su, and rapidly following its
+course through Shang-tung, city after city falling before its victorious
+march, crossed the Yellow River in March, 1854, and captured by storm,
+on the 12th April, the strongly-fortified city of Lin-tsing, on the
+border of the northern province, Chih-le.
+
+During this time the army at Tsing-hae remained closely blockaded.
+While, entirely cut off from all supplies or reinforcements, it became
+fast reduced by sickness, famine, and the sword; the enemy, upon the
+contrary (but a few days' march from Tien-tsin, the great northern
+commercial city and grain depot; in the immediate vicinity of Tartary,
+and, moreover, hardy and inured to the keen wintry storms, so trying to
+the lightly-clad southerners, comprising the Ti-ping forces) had
+everything in their favour. Large bodies of Mongolian troops were hired
+and despatched by the Manchoo government against the blockaded
+rebels--the Manchoo reserves, and even a large contingent of volunteer
+Chinese, were sent to swell the imperialist ranks; and while time fast
+reduced the number and efficiency of the Ti-pings, their foe day by day
+became more numerous and formidable. The small Ti-ping army at the first
+scarcely mustered seven thousand strong. Owing to the rapidity of their
+march, the numbers who joined them by the way were inconsiderable,
+compared with the resources of the enemy; the only addition they
+received of any importance was in the province of Ho-nan, where a
+detachment of local insurrectionists, nearly five thousand strong,
+joined them; but this reinforcement was more than cancelled by their
+losses in battle and from disease. The courage and discipline of this
+small army must have been something wonderful. The steadfast
+perseverance of their onward march, in the face of seemingly
+insurmountable difficulties; their steady resistance to the
+overwhelming numbers of the fur-clad hardy Tartar cavalry--an arm in
+which they were totally deficient, and could not effectually oppose;
+their firm endurance of the rigours of the northern winter, close to the
+icy steppes of Tartary, to which they were unaccustomed, and for which
+they were unprepared; their isolated march of more than fourteen hundred
+miles; the heroism with which they supported attack, and finally their
+successful escape,--all constitute one of the most remarkable campaigns
+of modern times.
+
+During the months of November and December the besieged made several
+desperate but unavailing sorties, the enemy in each case repulsing them
+with heavy loss. At last, early in February, 1854, after an occupation
+of more than three months, hopeless of success, with famine in their
+camp, and no prospect of succour from their friends, the whole garrison
+sallied out and succeeded in cutting their way through the besiegers.
+With gallantry hitherto unknown to the Chinese, this small but heroic
+band commenced the most arduous operation of any army,--a retreat in the
+presence of a vastly superior enemy. Inch by inch they retired,
+continually facing about to repel the pursuing host. Masses of Tartar
+cavalry whirled around them, now charging impetuously on front, rear,
+and flanks, now hurrying in advance to dispute some difficult passage;
+heavy columns of infantry, surrounding them on every side, rushed
+incessantly to the attack, confident in their overwhelming numbers, and
+encouraged by the hope of reward; yet never for a moment did they
+succeed in breaking the unfaltering and orderly retreat of the Ti-ping
+army, which slowly retired with its face to the foe, until, after three
+months' endurance, a junction was effected with the forces which
+garrisoned the city of Lin-tsing.
+
+It is a singular fact that the Manchoo government dreaded the approach
+of the small Ti-ping army more than the advance of the allied English
+and French upon Pekin in 1860. An extract from a memorial of the Board
+of Censors to the Emperor, found in the Summer Palace, runs thus:--
+
+    "In 1853, when the Cantonese rebels overran the country,
+    advancing impetuously towards the north, the alarm excited in
+    the capital was many times more serious than that now
+    manifested."
+
+The fate of the Manchoo rule hung trembling in the balance, and the
+consciousness of well-merited destruction struck terror to the hearts of
+the corrupt and sanguinary government. A little more energy and
+determination at this period would have won the empire; had the first
+northern army been able to maintain itself at Tsing-hae until the
+arrival of the second, the dynasty of Ta-tsing would have terminated.
+The combined forces could assuredly have captured and held Tien-tsin
+until the arrival of further reinforcements from Nankin, even if the
+possession of that city, the grand supply depot of Pekin, had not caused
+the fall of the capital. The extraordinary northern march, and the
+length of time that little army was able to retain its menacing
+position, afford ample evidence that greater strength would have ensured
+its success. Through neglecting that favourable and momentous
+opportunity, the Tien-wang forfeited the grand object of his efforts
+when open to his grasp. That his powerful mind was unequal to the
+occasion is far less probable than that his expectations of his
+countrymen were not realized. It is impossible that he could be ignorant
+of the advantages of combination, and it appears certain that he
+reckoned upon the general rising of the Chinese, as well as on the
+omnipotent assistance of God. This is, in fact, manifestly plain from
+his proclamations, and affords the only reasonable explanation of his
+sending several small armies unsupported in totally divergent courses,
+rather than concentrating all his available forces, and aiming directly
+at the head-quarters of the Manchoo dynasty.
+
+Although several smaller detachments joined the Ti-ping army at
+Lin-tsing, it was unable to advance upon Pekin again; the favourable
+moment having once passed, did not return. Several severe actions were
+contested with no material advantage upon either side, and the
+semi-steel-clad warriors of inner Mongolia were well matched by the
+undefended revolutionists. Greatly harassed by the numerous cavalry of
+the enemy, in May, 1854, the Ti-ping army slowly turned towards the
+south, continually engaging the Imperialist forces and capturing many
+important cities to the north of the Yang-tze river.
+
+It is not generally known that Le-hsiu-ch'-eng, subsequently famous as
+the Chung-wang, was the leader of the first northern expedition; but,
+during my acquaintance with him, he has frequently reverted to it. From
+his statements I inferred that he received no particular order to march
+on Pekin, but simply a general one to conquer the country, and deliver
+the people from the Manchoo rule. The direct march upon the capital was
+his own determination, and the reinforcement eventually despatched to
+his assistance was not at first intended, but was sent to him in
+consequence of the request for more troops which he forwarded to Nankin
+by disguised messengers after his passage of the Yellow River. He
+declared that his troops had been within sight of the walls of Pekin,
+and that he could easily have captured the city if the reinforcement had
+joined him earlier; also that his retirement from Tsing-hae was caused
+entirely by the volunteer troops of the Pekin district, the Mongols and
+Manchoos being unable to stand against the attack of his men. If this be
+true, it seems a singular fact that the Tartar dynasty should owe its
+safety to the Chinese, although in the Pekin district it may fairly be
+assumed that they have long become entirely Tartarized.
+
+Meanwhile the Manchoos resorted to the most corrupt practices of a most
+corrupt government, in order to obtain the necessary supplies to make
+their defence. The sale of titles, offices, and degrees was carried to
+an enormous extent. Twenty-three notifications were published in the
+_Pekin Gazette_, putting up for sale every rank, honour, or emolument in
+the kingdom. Prisoners were allowed to purchase their freedom, exiles
+their return; functionaries were allowed to buy titles for their
+maternal relatives, and any one and every one was allowed to purchase
+for his father a rank superior to his own; in short, a system of entire
+bribery and corruption was established.
+
+Posthumous honours were also accorded to those who had been killed in
+battle, extending to the fourth, fifth, or entire generation of their
+ancestors; while those who ran away to fight another day received every
+kind of degradation; all the complicated details of cunning deception
+and bombastic warfare were resorted to by the Manchoo government in its
+extremity.
+
+The following document discloses facts connected with the troops of the
+"paternal" government which might well have aroused the people to join
+the Ti-ping standard of freedom.
+
+Translated by Rev. Dr. W. H. Medhurst, Shanghae, Nov. 1, 1853:[23]--
+
+    "The petition of Luh-yu-ch'hang, Yuon-kwei-leang, Yeh-fung-chun,
+    Chin-sze-hang, Kin-ping-chin, and Wang-keing-chau, with many
+    others who reside in the various tythings of the 27th hundred,
+    and have to complain of robbery, rape, murder, and arson,
+    imploring that steps may be taken to repress further outrage,
+    and save the lives of the people.
+
+    "We, the above-named people, living in the quiet villages of the
+    various tythings of the 27th, and the 4th tything of the 25th
+    hundred, two or three miles distant from the city of Shanghae,
+    depend upon husbandry and weaving for our support, without
+    mixing in any outside disturbances. But recently, on the 30th of
+    October last, in the afternoon, the volunteer soldiers belonging
+    to the contingent from Hoo-kwang, came suddenly in a body, armed
+    with weapons, and rushed upon our villages, entering into our
+    several houses, to plunder our property; and when we reasoned
+    the matter with them they answered with scorn, and proceeded to
+    ravish our females; when we further pointed out the evil of
+    these proceedings, they immediately beheaded Wang-chang-kin and
+    Wang-keau-ke, while they stabbed to death Tsien-king-pang,
+    Chang-ko-kwang, and How-seih-ch'hang, besides wounding nine
+    others, both male and female. They then burnt down our houses,
+    amounting to seventy-seven apartments, a list of which is
+    appended to this petition.
+
+    "Our lives are now in the greatest danger, and the cry of
+    complaint is heard throughout the whole country on this account.
+    We have dared to prefix our names to the present petition, and
+    pray in a body the great officers to compassionate the poor
+    people, _who are after all the foundation of the country_. We
+    implore your gracious attention to this request, and pray you to
+    repress these volunteer soldiers, commanding them to obey the
+    laws and protect the people. A most fervent petition. Hien-fung,
+    3rd year, 10th month, 1st day. November 1st, 1853."
+
+The following was the only notice taken of the above petition by Lew,
+the Imperial commissioner:--
+
+    "Such things are doubtless very wrong, but they are the work of
+    idlers and vagrants, who personate my soldiers. I will issue
+    strict orders to my troops. Now go and be satisfied. _I hope a
+    worse thing will not befall you._"
+
+While this was the common behaviour of the Imperialist troops in every
+direction, the Ti-pings were acting as real deliverers to the people;
+whatever excesses the besottedness of their spiritless countrymen may at
+a later period have driven their new levies to commit. I cannot do
+better than offer the contrast presented by the conduct of the Ti-ping
+soldiery, in an account the Rev. Dr. Medhurst gives, in a letter quoted
+in "Impressions of China," by Captain Fishbourne:--
+
+    "Having obtained admission into the city of Shanghae this
+    afternoon, I proceeded to one of the chapels belonging to the
+    London Missionary Society, where I commenced preaching to a
+    large congregation, which had almost immediately gathered within
+    the walls. I was descanting on the folly of idolatry, and urging
+    the necessity of worshipping the one true God, on the ground
+    that he alone could protect his servants, while idols were
+    things of naught, destined soon to perish out of the land; when,
+    suddenly a man stood up in the midst of the congregation, and
+    exclaimed:--'That is true, that is true! the idols must perish,
+    and shall perish. I am a Kwang-se-man, a follower of
+    Thai-ping-wang; we all of us worship one God (Shang-te), and
+    believe in Jesus, while we do our utmost to put down idolatry;
+    everywhere demolishing the temples and destroying the idols, and
+    exhorting the people to forsake their superstitions. When we
+    commenced two years ago, we were only 3,000 in number, and we
+    have marched from one end of the empire to another, putting to
+    flight whole armies of the Mandarins' troops that were sent
+    against us. If it had not been that God was on our side, we
+    could not have thus prevailed against such overwhelming numbers;
+    but now our troops have arrived at Tien-tsin, and we expect soon
+    to be victorious over the whole empire.' He then proceeded to
+    exhort the people in a most lively and earnest strain to abandon
+    idolatry, which was only the worship of devils, and the
+    perseverance in which would involve them in the miseries of
+    hell; while by giving it up, and believing in Jesus, they would
+    obtain the salvation of their souls. 'As for us,' he said, '_we
+    feel quite happy in the possession of our religion, and look on
+    the day of our death as the happiest period of our existence;
+    when any of our number die, we never weep, but congratulate each
+    other on the joyful occasion, because a brother is gone to
+    glory, to enjoy all the magnificence and splendour of the
+    heavenly world_. While continuing here, we make it our business
+    to keep the commandments, to worship God, and to exhort each
+    other to do good, for which end we have frequent meetings for
+    preaching and prayer. What is the use, then,' he asked, 'of you
+    Chinese going on to burn incense, and candles, and gilt paper;
+    which, if your idols really required it, would only show their
+    covetous dispositions, just like the Mandarins, who seize men by
+    the throat, and if they will not give money, squeeze them
+    severely; but if they will, only squeeze them gently.' He went
+    on to inveigh against the prevailing vices of his countrymen,
+    particularly opium-smoking. 'That filthy drug,' he exclaimed,
+    'which only defiles those who use it, making their houses stink,
+    and their clothes stink, and their bodies stink, and their souls
+    stink, and will make them stink for ever in hell, unless they
+    abandon it.'
+
+    "'But you must be quick,' he adds; 'for Thai-ping-wang is
+    coming, and he will not allow the least infringement of his
+    rules,--no opium, no tobacco, no snuff, no wine, no vicious
+    indulgences of any kind; all offences against the commandments
+    of God are punished by him with the severest rigour, while the
+    incorrigible are beheaded--therefore repent in time.'
+
+    "I could perceive, from the style of his expressions and from
+    his frequently quoting the books of the Thai-ping dynasty, that
+    he was familiar with those records, and had been thoroughly
+    trained in that school. No Chinaman who had not been following
+    the camp of the insurgents for a considerable time could have
+    spoken as he did.
+
+    "He touched also on the expense of opium-smoking, 'which drained
+    their pockets, and kept them poor in the midst of wealth, whilst
+    we who never touch the drug, are not put to such expense. Our
+    master provides us with food and clothing, which is all we
+    want, so that we are rich without money.'
+
+    "I could not help being struck also, with the appearance of the
+    man, as he went on in his earnest strain. Bold and fearless as
+    he stood, openly denouncing the vices of the people, his
+    countenance beaming with intelligence, his upright and manly
+    form the very picture of health, while his voice thrilled
+    through the crowd, they seemed petrified with amazement: their
+    natural conscience assured them that his testimony was true;
+    while the conviction seemed to be strong amongst them, that the
+    two great objects of his denunciation--opium and idolatry--were
+    both bad things, and must be given up.
+
+    "He spoke an intelligible Mandarin, with an occasional touch of
+    the Canton or Kwang-si brogue. His modes of illustration were
+    peculiar, and some of the things which he advanced were not such
+    as Christian missionaries were accustomed to bring forward. The
+    impression left on my mind, however, was that a considerable
+    amount of useful instruction was delivered, _and such as would
+    serve to promote the objects we had in view, in putting down
+    idolatry, and furthering the worship of the true God_."
+
+At this time the city of Shanghae was in possession of the Triad rebels
+(the society sworn to expel the Manchoos), who have not unfrequently
+been confounded with the Ti-pings, to the prejudice of the latter.
+
+Late in the summer of 1853, some few months after the capture of Nankin
+by the Ti-pings, the Triad society, alive to the advantages of the
+movement, rose up against the obnoxious Manchoos in many parts of the
+country.
+
+About the end of July, a body of the Triads succeeded in gaining
+possession of the city of Amoy, one of the treaty ports, meeting with
+but slight resistance, the inhabitants being glad to receive them. By
+their singularly moderate conduct, the movement became very popular; in
+fact, all their supplies were brought in by the country people, and
+their principal strength was composed of these villagers, who remained
+and fought against the Imperialist troops as long as the insurrection
+lasted. Several cities in the neighbourhood were captured, and the
+wealthy classes remained aloof from both contending parties; their
+disposition towards the government was far too adverse for them to
+assist it; but they contented themselves with simply withdrawing their
+support, well knowing the savage revenge the "paternal" rulers would
+wreak upon them and their helpless families, if they were to join the
+rebellion, and it should afterwards fail. The country people throughout
+the district remained hostile to the Imperialists until their recapture
+of Amoy, when, to save their own and relatives' lives, they were
+compelled to return to the Manchoo slavery, those being lucky who
+escaped the indiscriminate vengeance of the government.
+
+Captain Fishbourne, senior naval officer on the station, was present at
+Amoy when it was captured by the Triads. He reports:--
+
+    "The insurgents having placed guards over the European Hongs,
+    _there was nothing to apprehend_, so we proceeded to Hong-kong,
+    when, after landing Sir George Bonham, we returned in the
+    _Hermes_ to Shanghae."
+
+Upon the 11th of November the city of Amoy, which had been for some time
+besieged by a vastly superior force of Imperialists, was evacuated by
+the Triads, who, being short of supplies, marched out of the city in
+broad daylight unmolested by the cowardly besiegers, who then marched in
+to perpetrate the most revolting barbarities, in their ordinary manner,
+upon the defenceless inhabitants. A large squadron of pirates composed
+the naval force employed by the Imperialists in their siege of the city,
+in the same manner as in their attack upon Ningpo when held by the
+Ti-pings, on the 10th May, 1862, although upon this latter occasion the
+Imperialist pirates were successful, an alliance having been entered
+into between them and the British squadron commanded by Captain Roderick
+Dew, R.N.
+
+Captain Fishbourne, who was an eye-witness of the return of Amoy to
+Manchoo rule, thus describes it:--
+
+    "Having engaged pirates, the authority was committed to them, to
+    sanction the atrocities that these would certainly commit; and,
+    as if that were not sufficient, they encouraged them to more
+    than they might otherwise be inclined to, for they promised
+    them six dollars for each head they would bring in.
+
+    "On the entry of these savages, the first thing they did was to
+    disperse in every direction in search of heads; regardless of
+    anything save that the people who possessed them should be
+    helpless; it mattered not to them that they were equally infirm
+    and unoffending: they had heads--these they wanted.
+
+    "All found were brought to the Chinese admiral" (it is said, the
+    same pirate chief who afterwards became Captain R. Dew's ally),
+    "whose vessel was close to us, so we saw all that was passing.
+    He then issued a mandate for their destruction. At first they
+    began by taking their heads off at the adjoining pier; this soon
+    was fully occupied, and the executioners becoming fatigued, the
+    work proceeded slowly, therefore an additional set commenced
+    taking their heads off on the sides of the boats. This also
+    proved too slow for them, and they commenced to throw them
+    overboard, tied hand and foot. But this was too much for
+    Europeans; so missionaries, merchants, sailors, marines, and
+    officers, all rushed in, and stopped further proceedings. The
+    mandarins, executioners, staff and all, took themselves off very
+    quickly, for fear of consequences they could not calculate upon,
+    but which they felt they had richly deserved: 400 poor creatures
+    were saved from destruction; 250 of these were wounded--some
+    with twenty, others less, but more dangerous wounds. Some had
+    their heads nearly severed; about thirty died. The Mandarins
+    then removed their scene of butchery a mile outside the town;
+    and during the next two days, after having obtained possession,
+    they must have taken off upwards of two thousand heads, or
+    otherwise destroyed that number of people. For days bodies were
+    floating about the harbour, carried out by one tide and brought
+    back by another, each time not quite so far, so that finally
+    they were only disposed of by being taken to sea.
+
+    "The only feeling the brutal pirates evinced, was that of
+    disappointment at being deprived (as they said) by us of three
+    thousand dollars.[24]
+
+    "Often during the operations, the poor people complained of the
+    treatment of the Imperialists; and it was certainly pitiable to
+    behold the needless destruction of property--needless if the
+    Imperialists had been soldiers or men--such never won or kept an
+    empire; _yet none of the Imperial forces are better_.
+
+    "Nor can it be said that these were the acts of subordinates,
+    for which the government was only remotely responsible, for they
+    were specially dictated by the Viceroy of the province, who was
+    a Tartar, and an uncle of the Tartar emperor. He even enjoined
+    the violation of solemn compacts entered into between the
+    Mandarins and heads of villages, before they would give up the
+    leaders in the revolt. The Mandarins avowed, that after the
+    government of Amoy was established, they meant to carry fire and
+    sword through the surrounding districts, as the people were all
+    tainted with revolutionary principles."
+
+Well may it be asked--Were the people of England aware of these
+enormities when they cherished and sustained the Manchoo? It cannot be
+credited; and, therefore, it is well to point out what kind of
+government they supported, what description of men they made war upon,
+and what were the results of their interference.
+
+On the 7th of September, Shanghae, another of the treaty ports, was
+captured, and several other places in the neighbourhood were attacked by
+different bodies of Triads. At this city also they seem to have behaved
+with remarkable moderation, and are said to have found about L70,000 in
+the treasury.
+
+Although totally unconnected with the great Ti-ping revolution, they
+still looked hopefully towards it, and, after some little hesitation,
+sent a deputation, as likewise from Amoy, tendering their allegiance to
+the Tien-wang. He, however, refused to accept them, despite the enormous
+advantages he would have derived from the possession of the treaty
+ports, until such time as they should understand and profess
+Christianity; and it was probably one of the teachers he sent to them,
+whose speech was reported by Mr. Medhurst in the letter quoted from a
+few pages preceding.
+
+Captain Fishbourne reports of them:--
+
+    "They know nothing of Christianity, but are very tolerant, and
+    allowed the missionaries a latitude in teaching, never before
+    enjoyed. They have lost all faith in idolatry, and no longer
+    cared to preserve appearances, by continuing idolatrous worship,
+    though some of them still use superstitions and idolatries. They
+    have behaved with much moderation, _and the facilities for trade
+    have been even greater than under the Tartar Imperial rule_. Of
+    course the import trade has been limited, because of the
+    disturbed state of the country; the export trade, on the other
+    hand, had been unusually great, not from any protection or
+    facilities afforded by the Imperial authorities, but a desire on
+    the part of holders of goods to realize."
+
+While the Triad insurgents continued to manifest the most friendly
+feeling towards the European residents at Shanghae, the Imperialist
+troops collecting to the siege of the Chinese city, in their usual
+style, became very dangerous and hostile. It was reported by Captain
+Fishbourne:--
+
+    "Thus the Imperial troops made it a habit to place their targets
+    for ball practice, so that the riding-course and principal place
+    of resort for all foreigners, should be rendered dangerous, or
+    impassable."
+
+Several times the European settlement was attacked by them, and was once
+attempted to be fired; and, at last, so outrageous had they become, that
+the British and French forces--in all less than three hundred men--were
+compelled to attack their camp, and drive them further away from the
+settlement, inflicting a loss, it is said, of three hundred killed;
+losing themselves only two killed and fifteen wounded.
+
+As it is universally known these Triad rebels were in every way
+_inferior_ to the Ti-pings, and as they were allowed to capture the
+treaty ports, and their conduct was always so friendly to Europeans, and
+so far superior to that of the Imperialists, it _does_ seem a little
+extraordinary that the British public have not penetrated the falsity of
+the statement subsequently urged against the Ti-pings, in order to
+attempt the palliation of the infamous policy of driving them from
+Shanghae and Ningpo,--that the treaty ports must be held against the
+Ti-pings, because, if the latter were to capture them, an immense amount
+of British property and British lives _would_ be destroyed, &c.
+
+During the Triads' occupation of Shanghae, a formidable, though at first
+secret, opposition was insidiously at work against them among the
+European community--the hostile intrigues of the Jesuits. These
+priests, with a constancy and perseverance worthy a better cause, are
+found plotting and making converts to a pseudo sort of Christianity all
+over the country. It so happens, that to propitiate the Chinese, or not
+to shock them by too great a departure from "old custom," they are
+allowed to retain most of their idolatrous forms of worship, to which
+are added the usual figures of the manifold saints, &c., of the Romish
+church. Now the Ti-pings, who are strict iconoclasts, having several
+times fallen foul of Roman Catholic establishments in the interior, and
+in each case mistaken the figure of the Virgin Mary with a male child in
+her arms for the very similar idol of Budha, have naturally confounded
+Jesuitism with the Budhism it resembles. Consequently, the
+Tartar-worshipping Jesuits are the most bitter enemies the Ti-pings have
+ever had, knowing, as they do, that the success of the latter would
+entirely destroy their work, and drive them from the many positions they
+hold throughout China. Therefore, when the Jesuits ascertained the
+Triads not only announced themselves as being about to join the
+Tien-wang, but had actually sent deputations to, and received
+instructors from him, they at once commenced intriguing for their
+overthrow. The French consul and the French senior officer on the
+station were both priest-ridden and bigoted men, and eventually, for
+certain valuable considerations, assistance was afforded to the
+Imperialists, and the Triads were driven out of a Chinese city without
+the slightest shadow of justice or reason.
+
+Both the English and French authorities deprived the Triads of the
+duties they were justly entitled to levy on all export or import trade.
+At last the French admiral, appropriately named La Guerre, determined
+that the time had arrived to fulfil his own and his Jesuitical
+colleagues' peculiarly unrighteous intentions. The Triads were suddenly
+attacked (December, 1854) without having given the slightest
+provocation, and several of their men, who were engaged constructing a
+battery outside one of the city gates, murdered by the French sailors. A
+few days later they surprised fifteen poor rebels asleep in the same
+battery, and these were also butchered. Two days previous to this,
+Admiral La Guerre savagely bombarded the city, although it contained
+upwards of 20,000 innocent inhabitants, among whom the shot and shell
+committed much slaughter. Allied to the ferocious Manchoo, the French
+closely blockaded the city, and cut off all communication.
+
+Some people delight in terming the Ti-pings bloodthirsty monsters, &c.;
+but the following extract proves that the French not only excelled the
+rebels, but even surpassed the Imperialists in wanton cruelty. In
+"Twelve Years in China,"[25] by John Scarth, Esq., we find the following
+episode of the blockade by the civilized and most Christian allies of
+the Manchoo:--
+
+    "The French proclaimed a strict blockade, and shot down all that
+    attempted to hold communication with the rebels. We _saw_ one
+    evening a poor old woman that had been attempting to take a
+    basket of food for some poor person in the city, struck by a
+    ball from the French lines; her thigh was broken, and she lay
+    helpless on the ground. How horrible did war appear, when the
+    sentry levelled his rifle again, and fired at the poor old
+    creature, driving up a shower of earth close to her side.
+    Another shot, and another, were fired; at last she was hit again
+    in the back! she cried to us for help, but we could render no
+    assistance, except by sending to report the circumstance at
+    head-quarters. Shot after shot was fired. There were some rebels
+    watching the butchery from the walls; they could see us
+    distinctly. We were within rifle distance; and feeling that if I
+    were in their position, I would shoot at every foreigner I saw,
+    while foreigners were committing such acts, I went away really
+    for safety's sake, sick at heart to see such monstrous cruelty.
+    The woman, it was afterwards reported, lay on the spot moaning
+    till nearly midnight, when her cries ceased, and it was supposed
+    _some of the rebels_ had got her into the city out of the way of
+    further immediate harm."
+
+The French eventually breached the walls, and with their creditable
+allies assaulted the city, only, however, to be beaten back with a loss
+of one-fifth their number. The Triads were at last starved out, and upon
+the Chinese New Year's night (17th February, 1855) evacuated Shanghae,
+and cut their way through the Imperialist lines. Three hundred, who had
+surrendered themselves to Admiral La Guerre, were by that officer given
+up to the Mandarins, and tortured to death. During three days every
+atrocity was perpetrated by the Imperialists upon the unfortunate
+inhabitants caught within the city, or the rebels who were hunted down
+in the country. Upwards of 2,000 were barbarously put to death within
+three days. As Messrs. J. Scarth, Sillar, and others have written,--"The
+Imperialist soldiers even burst open the coffins in the burial-grounds,
+and dragged out the rebel corpses and beheaded them." Women were
+horribly mutilated and put to death; rebels were crucified and tortured
+with red-hot irons; some were starved to death in the streets of the
+city; others were disembowelled, and very many slowly cut to pieces.
+When the Triads captured the city, they killed only _two_ men, tortured
+none, and respected private property. The papers at Shanghae
+stated,--"When the French and Imperialists got possession of the city,
+however, there was something like slaughter. Heads were hung round the
+city walls in bunches; the Pagoda Bridge had nineteen on it, and in some
+places they were piled up in heaps!"
+
+The conduct of those British officials who seemed anxious to carry out
+the Manchoo-assisting policy of Sir John Bowring, Admiral Stirling, and
+others, is thus severely reflected on by Mr. Scarth, who was present:--
+
+    "The very inconsiderate zeal which characterized the conduct of
+    Mr. Lay, the then acting Vice-Consul, and Mr. Wade, at that time
+    one of the officials in the Chinese Custom-house service, and
+    the open manner in which these gentlemen lent their aid to the
+    Mandarins, was strongly commented on by nearly all the foreign
+    community."
+
+At page 217 of his interesting work he says:--
+
+    "A schooner going from Woo-sung to Hung-kong was suspected of
+    being about to take Chin-ah-Lin[26] and several other of the
+    city people; a force consisting of Chinese troops _and some
+    English marines, accompanied by the acting Vice-Consul_ (_who
+    seemed to be imbued with some extraordinary motives_), went down
+    to search the vessel. This was discovered; but those desirous of
+    preventing further bloodshed quietly continued, notwithstanding,
+    in the work they were determined upon, getting the unfortunate
+    men away from danger."
+
+Some who are acquainted with such matters may understand this
+"extraordinary" exploit, while those who know little of Chinese affairs
+may naturally wonder whether the "15,000 dollars" offered for
+Chin-ah-Lin's head by the Vice-Consul's Mandarin friends had anything to
+do with it.
+
+Not only at the Shanghae massacre in 1855 did British officials display
+their taste for the Manchoo alliance. During 1854-5-6 Englishmen
+continually interfered against the rising of the oppressed Chinese. In
+1854 Sir J. Bowring allied the British fleet with the forces of that
+notorious monster Yeh, and thus contributed to the extermination which
+desolated the province of Kwang-tung. The city of Canton was almost the
+only place in the province still held by the Mandarins. It was secured
+to them by British means, and its security doomed to death more than one
+million innocent people.
+
+While Yeh busied himself with exterminating man, woman, and child, and
+razing to the ground nearly every village _through which the rebels had
+passed_, H. B. M.'s ships of war chased the rebel squadrons along the
+China coast, dealing with them as pirates, because, forsooth, they were
+armed, and because they had captured Chinese vessels when endeavouring
+to force the blockade of Canton; H.M.'s ship _Bittern_ and the steamer
+_Paou-shun_ hemmed in one division of the rebel fleet in the Gulf of
+Pe-chi-le, sinking nearly every vessel, and giving up the crew of the
+only one captured to the Manchoo executioners. Two junks escaped and
+joined another squadron at Chusan. Yet these vessels shortly afterwards
+allowed two missionaries to pass their blockade, because, as the chiefs
+said, "they were good men, and preached the faith of Yesu!" In the
+harbour of Shih-poo the destruction of another fleet is described in
+"Twelve Years in China":--
+
+    "The junks were destroyed, and their crews shot, drowned, or
+    hunted down, until at last the whole number, about 1,000 souls,
+    were sent to their last account,--the _Bittern's_ men aiding the
+    Chinese soldiers on shore to complete the wholesale massacre!
+    the _whole_ were not killed; _one_ man was remanded and kept
+    over for examination! The evidence against the fleet as pirates,
+    was to be collected _after_ the execution of the victims!"[27]
+
+British policy towards China has, during the last decade, been
+influenced by men led by a small party of Chinese custom-house
+mercenaries, who, while hired by the Manchoos, were permitted to bias,
+not only Sir John Bowring, but even Lord Elgin. The independent and
+honourable policy of Sir George Bonham and his colleagues gave place to
+an "interested Mandarin-worshipping" diplomacy that has made England the
+ally and saviour of the most sanguinary, corrupt, and worn-out despotism
+in the world. Messrs. Wade and Lay, sometime Lord Elgin's interpreters,
+and sometime the custom employes of the Manchoo, _may_ have thought the
+views they imparted to the former were correct; but at all events they
+were too much personally interested in the welfare of their Mandarin
+friends to be impartial. The principal effect of this has been that the
+Manchoo-influenced officials have united the representatives of England
+with the Jesuit-influenced representatives of France in perpetuating the
+Tartar cruelties, and in destroying the Ti-ping attempt to liberate
+China and establish Protestant Christianity throughout the empire.
+
+At Canton, Shanghae, and elsewhere, in 1854, the Chinese would have
+succeeded in their righteous endeavours to throw off the Manchoo yoke;
+at Shanghae, in 1860, at Ningpo and Shanghae in 1862, and upon other
+occasions, the Ti-ping revolution would have succeeded but for British
+intervention.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[17] See "Impressions of China."
+
+[18] Alluding to Hung-sui-tshuen's visions.
+
+[19] See Appendix A.
+
+[20] Dr. Medhurst here makes a misapprehension. The Ti-pings believe the
+Holy Spirit descended into their midst and possessed Yang-sui-tshuen,
+the Eastern Prince, who became its mouthpiece and medium. This closely
+resembles revivalist meetings in Ireland, &c.; but the religious
+metaphorical language of the original Chinese, with its fine subtilty,
+makes any literal translation impossible; therefore the most limited
+signification should be placed upon any English version of this, the
+_bonne bouche_ of the anti-Ti-pings.
+
+[21] See Appendix A.
+
+[22] Copies of the first five books of the Old, and the whole of the New
+Testament, printed by the Ti-pings at Nankin, are now to be seen in the
+Indian Court of the Crystal Palace (Sydenham), where they are exhibited
+by Mr. J. C. Sillar.
+
+[23] Shanghae was at this time in possession of the Triad rebels.
+
+[24] They received ample satisfaction afterwards at Ningpo, when, allied
+with the British, they obtained 3,000 dollars' worth of heads, with full
+interest.
+
+[25] Page 207.
+
+[26] The Triad leader.
+
+[27] _Hong-kong Gazette_, 12th October, 1855.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+    Home.--Its Desolation.--Intelligence of Marie.--Consequent
+    Proceedings.--Preparations for Pursuit.--River Tracking.--In
+    Pursuit.--The Lorcha Sighted.--Stratagems.--Alongside the
+    Lorcha.--On Board the Lorcha.--Critical Position.--A Friend in
+    Need.--Failure.--Lorcha again Reconnoitred.--Increased
+    Difficulties.--Another Attempt.--Alongside the Lorcha again.
+    Marie Discovered.--Marie Rescued.--Safe on Board.--Marie's
+    Explanation. The Lorcha in Pursuit.--She gains on us.--The
+    Lorcha opens fire.--Safe among the Ti-pings.
+
+
+Eager to meet my betrothed, I had no sooner moored my vessel in the
+Shanghae anchorage, and reported at the Consulate, than I sought her at
+her aunt's dwelling, which was situated at the back of the American
+settlement, at a considerable distance from any other European
+habitation.
+
+When I drew near the house, an indescribable presentiment of evil seemed
+to possess me,--one of those prophetic warnings, so common, but yet such
+a psychological mystery.
+
+I walked rapidly along, until the turning of some rising ground, a
+little distance in front, brought me within sight of the house. When I
+reached the ridge that had concealed it from view, I paused a moment,
+almost expecting to find that the building had vanished.
+
+There, however, stood the house, safe enough to all appearance; so,
+feeling reassured, I walked on. As I drew close, almost expecting Marie
+would run forth to welcome me, I failed to discern any smoke issuing
+from the chimneys, or any sign of life about the dwelling. My former
+fear now returned in full force; I was within a few paces of the house,
+and it appeared to be uninhabited.
+
+I hurried forward to the door; it was unfastened; the lock was wrenched
+off, and had evidently been broken open. I passed within, and loudly
+called upon the former tenants by name; but echo alone replied. Passing
+from room to room, I saw furniture scattered about in every direction,
+broken and thrown down. The house presented a picture of utter ruin.
+
+I ran through the rooms, still vociferating, and still mocked by the
+echo of my own voice. They were silent and deserted. I was evidently the
+only living thing within the walls. At last, hoarse with shouting, I
+stood in silent despair, gazing on the destruction around. Marie and her
+relatives had disappeared, and the scene of ruin told a tale of
+violence.
+
+For some moments all was still and quiet. At length, aroused by the
+sound of footsteps in the lower rooms, a sudden hope cheered me, and I
+hurried to meet them. A glance showed me I had deceived myself; a couple
+of Chinamen, with eyes and mouth wide open, gaping at the broken
+furniture, stood before me. I questioned them anxiously, trusting to
+gain some intelligence, but all to no purpose. To my inquiries they
+replied by stating that, having heard my hallooing, they had come to see
+what was the matter. Further questioning simply elicited, "Gno
+puh-shettah, gno puh-shettah" (I don't know, I don't know). Turning them
+out, I searched every nook and corner, but without avail. All my efforts
+were fruitless, no trace of anything that could enlighten me was
+apparent--not a vestige, not a clue, rewarded my long and anxious
+search.
+
+All clothing and personal effects had been removed, and many light
+articles of furniture; the heavier ones were broken and overturned. It
+was impossible to tell what might have been destroyed or carried off by
+thieves after the house had been deserted.
+
+At last I was compelled to confess to myself that further search was
+hopeless; I had searched diligently, and could discover nothing.
+Sorrowfully I turned away from the house, and proceeded to several
+Chinese dwellings in the neighbourhood; but at each received the
+unsatisfactory answer, "Puh-shettah, puh-shettah."
+
+Taking my interpreter with me, I called at many houses, but without
+success; not the slightest information could I gather; the whole affair
+remained a profound and impenetrable mystery. Everything led me to
+believe some violent act had been perpetrated; besides, I was quite
+certain that Marie would never have gone away willingly without first
+communicating with me.
+
+One evening when in my cabin, tired out with the day's useless
+searching, and absorbed with bitter reflections, an old friend of mine,
+Captain L., erstwhile of the Turkish Contingent, came on board to see
+me, having just arrived from Hankow. After I had related the mysterious
+disappearance of Marie, L. suddenly jumped from his seat with a loud
+exclamation, and, questioning me a little further, declared he had
+obtained a clue as to her destination.
+
+It appeared that, while on his passage from Chin-kiang, the steamer had
+passed close to a large Portuguese lorcha, and he had just caught a
+glimpse of a girl on deck, of whom he then took no further notice, but
+who he now felt sure was Marie.
+
+I felt overjoyed at the discovery. L., my friend, had called with me at
+Marie's relatives' several times, so I had every confidence that his
+opinion was correct, and I determined to follow the trail so singularly
+found. He declared he would accompany me, and kindly professed his
+readiness to start at once.
+
+Early in the morning I went ashore to the owners of the schooner, and
+gave up the command to a friend. Philip, the mate, preferred joining
+me; he had served in the Greek insurrection against the Turks, and was a
+fine brave fellow.
+
+Fortunately one of the river steamers--at that time few and far
+between--was to leave Shanghae in the afternoon, so it was just possible
+I might reach Chin-kiang before the lorcha's arrival, though that would
+depend entirely upon the winds she had experienced. Accordingly, a few
+minutes before the bell rang, the whistle blew, and the skipper gave the
+hoarse command to "cast off." L., Philip, and myself, made our way on
+board the _Yang-tze_ (named after the river) with our baggage. We each
+took an ample supply of everything, as it would be necessary, in case
+the lorcha should have left Chin-kiang previous to our arrival, either
+to purchase or hire a vessel of some description to follow her. During
+the passage to Chin-kiang, we kept a regular watch the whole time, one
+or the other of us never leaving the deck, but, telescope in hand,
+keeping a sharp look-out. Heavily hung the time, until we made Silver
+Island ahead. I had put every possible interpretation upon Marie's
+presence--if, indeed, it were she--on board the lorcha. I had adopted
+every imaginable theory, but all to no purpose; the same idea would not
+remain five minutes, and I was forced to give up the mystery as
+unfathomable. Silver Island now hove in sight, and with my friends I
+waited impatiently on deck, and scanned the vessels in port, until,
+steaming slowly through the scanty shipping, we came to an anchor; but,
+although several lorchas were there, my friend did not recognize the one
+we sought for.
+
+As the steamer remained but a short time at Chin-kiang, and it became
+necessary to leave her as soon as possible, I sent my interpreter (whom
+I had taken, together with my cook, and a female attendant for Marie in
+case I should find her), amongst the numerous junks, to hire one for us
+to live in for a few days, as there was no accommodation on shore. In a
+little while he returned successful, and leaving the steamer, we all
+took up our new quarters in a large Hankow junk, certainly not the most
+comfortable in the world, but still very well under the circumstances.
+The worst of it was, my sleeping berth that night happened to be in the
+joss-house, a little den surrounded by a broad shelf filled with the
+most horrible-looking small devils, of all colours and monstrosity,
+starting forth from red-painted and tinsel-gilded little temples; and
+although the crew seemed perfectly oblivious of the fact, by permitting
+the gods' or imps' desecration by the presence of the "foreign devil," a
+confounded old she-Chinese disturbed me at frequent periods throughout
+the night, by crawling into my place through a little hole at the back,
+to replenish the joss-sticks and incense, and to chin-chin Joss. The
+witches of Macbeth were nothing to that old hag, as she stuck herself at
+my feet, faintly seen by the dim light of a distant pot of oil burning
+from the end of a small piece of pith, and slowly rocked herself about,
+muttering some unintelligible jargon, out of which I could only
+distinguish, "tomety feh, tomety feh, tomety feh!"
+
+From the excited state of my mind; the irruptions of that aged
+party--probably the great-grandmother of half the crew; the surrounding
+phalanx of little devils, occasionally lighted up by a red and sudden
+glow of the burning joss-sticks; the distant noise of the gambling crew,
+in the fore part of the junk (Chinese sailors are inveterate gamblers,
+generally spending the whole night at it when practicable), and the
+irritable, restless thoughts all this induced, it may easily be imagined
+how very delightful my numerous dreams were that night. It seems a
+singular fact that nearly all the Chinese idols are of the most terrible
+and demoniacal aspect; it is, however, easily to be accounted for, as
+the Chinamen say the beneficent gods, being good, cannot do them any
+harm; but the devils and evil gods being bad, they think it necessary to
+propitiate them.
+
+Directly we arrived at Chin-kiang, I proceeded to the Custom-house, and
+ascertained that a lorcha had passed up the river only the preceding
+day. I therefore at once sent my interpreter to look out for a
+convenient and fast-sailing junk, either for sale or hire. The next day
+he fortunately succeeded in finding one, a cut-down up-river junk, of a
+particularly fast and shallow description; she had been altered into a
+semi-European style, and furnished with a keel, and comfortable cabins
+inside, was about 60 tons burthen, and altogether just the sort of craft
+I wanted. On the river she would certainly be faster under sail than the
+lorcha, and without wind she could either be tracked along the bank or
+impelled by the large sweeps (_yulos_) she carried.
+
+As, in the event of rescuing Marie, I determined to proceed with the
+vessel to Nankin, the Chinese owner, who was also skipper, would only
+come to terms upon my paying down half the value of his craft,
+guaranteeing the remainder in case of loss, and hiring her at a monthly
+rate. To this I instantly agreed, and hurrying all the preparations
+forward, late on the same evening was enabled to start in chase of the
+lorcha.
+
+A stern chase is proverbially a long one; but in this case I had means
+of progressing that the chase had not. The wind was too light for
+sailing against the strong current, therefore I knew the lorcha must
+either lay at anchor waiting for a breeze, or, if small and drawing but
+little water, progress slowly by tracking along the bank; while, upon
+the other hand, with my lighter vessel I should be able to keep close in
+to the shore, and track along at the rate of two or three miles an hour.
+
+Tracking is a very common operation in China, resembling our canal
+tracking, only instead of horses the crew of the vessel pull her along,
+a rope being taken ashore from the mast-head, to which the men yoke
+themselves with a bridle having a wooden bar to rest upon the chest;
+then away they start, singing in chorus some melancholy falsetto
+monostich, or improvising as they go. At many parts there are regular
+trackers, who make it their business. It is a hard and unprofitable
+life, and these poor people, among others, are frequently seized by
+officials, and compelled to track government vessels for many hundred
+miles without reward, and then left to find their way home the best way
+they can, if they do not starve in the meanwhile.
+
+The night was fortunately a bright moonlight one, and I was enabled to
+make considerable progress. Before daylight, however, the moon vanished
+behind the distant hills, and, with her disappearance, we were compelled
+to anchor till morning. At break of day I was up, eagerly scanning the
+distant bosom of the river for the bark I was following. Nothing but the
+sails of a few Chinese junks rewarded my long and anxious gaze. Yet it
+was possible the lorcha might be hid from view by the first bend of the
+river, where, scarcely three miles off, its waters disappeared behind
+the land.
+
+Rousing up my friends, and leaving them to follow me by tracking slowly
+along, I dressed myself in Chinese clothes, put on a broad Chinese hat,
+took my rifle and a good glass, and landing with my interpreter, started
+off on the scout, making for an eminence some two or three miles
+distant, close to the channel of the river. When arrived at its summit,
+I found it commanded a capital view of the water for many miles; a
+glance told me the lorcha was nowhere near, neither could I distinguish
+her in the distance. Suddenly, my interpreter declared he could see her.
+Knowing what powerful vision the Chinese frequently have, I instantly
+brought the spot he pointed out--some eight or nine miles away--again
+into the range of my glass. I saw several junks' masts, and after a long
+and careful scrutiny, made out a couple much larger than the rest, which
+might possibly be those of the lorcha; but at that distance, with
+nothing but the bare masts, amongst others showing over some low land, I
+could not be certain. The Chinaman still persisted that he was right;
+and, trusting he might prove so, I returned on board.
+
+During all that day we tracked steadily forward, and towards evening I
+had the satisfaction of plainly observing the lorcha in the distance.
+She was also being tracked, but was too heavy to move fast, so that we
+were rapidly gaining on her, and in four or five hours ought to be
+alongside. The difficulty would be to ascertain whether Marie was on
+board, and if so, how situated. When I reflected that my friend had
+observed her from the steamer as he passed, it did not seem improbable
+that I might see her also; but her apparent freedom sadly interfered
+with the idea that she had been carried off by force and was detained
+against her will. Had it been so, she might have made signs of distress,
+or called for help, when the steamer passed so close.
+
+It was impossible to form any plan, or arrive at any fixed conclusion.
+Circumstances alone could guide us. We had now entered the Ti-ping
+territory, so I felt quite confident of safety on shore, whatever might
+betide; besides, my commission from the Chung-wang would doubtless
+obtain me assistance if I required it.
+
+It would be quite easy for us to pass right alongside the lorcha without
+exciting the slightest suspicion. In the first place, her people could
+have not the least idea of our pursuit; and, in the second, we had but
+to hoist a Chinese flag, and if they should happen to take any notice of
+our vessel, they would simply think her a Chinese one, while we could
+closely observe them from our small cabin windows.
+
+It was just about dusk when the lorcha ceased tracking, and came to an
+anchor under some steep hills. We were not more than half a mile astern,
+so, concealing ourselves, but making the Chinamen lounge about the
+decks, and stick up an old flag full of Chinese characters, without the
+slightest hesitation we held on our course. The lorcha had anchored
+within thirty yards of the bank, so, giving our vessel rather a broad
+sheer into the stream, we passed close to her, in fact, almost grazing
+her side. From our hiding-places we could see that her crew were mostly
+Portuguese, and that she was armed heavily enough to sink our
+lightly-built vessel in an instant; but Marie was not visible, neither
+could we distinguish any trace of her.
+
+As my friend was positive it was the same craft he had previously seen,
+it was quite certain that some woman must be on board; therefore I
+determined to ascertain who she was. Continuing on past the lorcha for
+nearly a mile, until the turning of the river hid her behind the hills
+she was anchored abreast of, we hauled close in to the bank and made
+fast there.
+
+Besides a larger boat, we carried one of the small canoes used at some
+parts of the Yang-tze. In this I decided to drop down the river whenever
+the moon should set, and endeavour to discover whether Marie was on
+board the strange vessel.
+
+To favour my design, towards midnight the weather became heavy, and the
+moon soon after sank behind a thick bank of clouds; not a star could be
+seen, and the night was perfectly dark. I now dressed myself with loose
+black silk trousers, such as were used by the Ti-pings, tucking the ends
+into a pair of soft-soled Chinese boots, a tight black silk jacket, and
+a thick black felt Canton cap. I carried a pair of revolvers carefully
+loaded in my belt, placed a coil of rope in the boat, and also a common
+Chinese sleeping quilt. My friends desired to come with me; but I
+decided otherwise, for it would be desirable to use stratagem rather
+than force, and three of us, besides the man to manage the boat, would
+overcrowd her. Neither would I allow them to cast off the vessel and
+drop after me; for if I should find Marie and rescue her, it would be
+necessary to keep out of the range of the lorcha's guns. I therefore
+pressed the hands of my comrades, took my interpreter, a Canton man,
+whom I knew I could depend upon, and, with one of the best men of my
+crew to manage the boat, pushed off and commenced dropping down with the
+tide. I had scarcely left my vessel when a sudden thought struck me, so,
+turning back, I requested my friends to walk down the bank, take a
+couple of the crew with them, all well armed, and station themselves on
+the shore directly opposite the lorcha.
+
+The strength of the tide swept the frail boat rapidly along, and soon I
+found myself abreast of the hills close to the termination of which I
+knew the lorcha lay at anchor. It was so very dark under the shadow of
+the high land, that when we discerned the vessel we were within a few
+hundred feet of her, and drifting down right upon her bows. We instantly
+slipped overboard the small grapnel made fast to the end of the line I
+had placed in the boat, and when it reached the bottom, held on to it,
+and waited to make our last preparations for boarding. I found we were
+still undiscovered; indeed, it would have been impossible to distinguish
+our little canoe in the surrounding darkness even at that short
+distance. After waiting a few moments, I whispered Aling (my
+interpreter) to slack away the line, while the man in the stern steered
+us as required with his paddle. Crouching low down in the boat, we
+slowly glided under the bows of the lorcha, till we drifted right upon
+her cable, grappling which I prepared to mount to the deck. Aling was to
+follow me so far, and then remain stationary; he would thus be able to
+assist me in case I should retreat to the bows with Marie, and, besides,
+would bring up the other end of the line, after reeving it through a
+ringbolt in the stern of the boat, both to secure a good means of
+descent and to prevent the boatman, who we knew had no knife, from
+shoving off in ease of alarm.
+
+Slowly and noiselessly I clambered up the cable, and raising my head
+above the lorcha's bulwarks peered cautiously around. At last I was able
+to distinguish the forms of many of the crew lying about the deck
+covered up in their quilts. This was as I expected it would be, and,
+moreover, I trusted they were the Chinese part of the crew, for it was
+winter, and I calculated the Portuguese would prefer sleeping below.
+
+I proceeded very deliberately with my investigations, knowing that I had
+plenty of time before daylight, and had no occasion to risk a discovery
+by being too precipitate. Aling soon joined me, and I was just
+whispering some instructions into his ear, when, with an exclamation, up
+started a man within arm's length, until then concealed by the foresail,
+upon the opposite side of which he must have been reclining. For a
+moment I feared we were discovered, and sending Aling down into the
+boat, drew a revolver, while I prepared to follow him. Instead of
+approaching me, the man walked aft. I then knew he must be the look-out,
+who, having slept on his watch, had probably gone aft to ascertain the
+time. Not a moment was to be lost if I intended to take advantage of his
+absence; softly calling upon Aling to return, I waited until he had
+reached me, and then, slipping over the rail, wrapped my quilt about me
+and walked aft.
+
+Carefully stepping over the recumbent sleepers, I had just reached the
+main-mast when I saw the drowsy watchman returning. I instantly threw
+myself down on the deck, and, drawing the quilt over me, pretended to be
+seeking sleep. The device succeeded famously, for, whether the man had
+seen me or not, he evidently considered me to be one of the crew.
+Drawing the corner of the rug from over my eyes, I saw him disappear
+down the fore-scuttle. Most likely his watch had expired, and he went to
+rouse his relief. Directly his head was below the combings of the hatch,
+I started to my feet and continued getting aft. When I reached the cabin
+skylight I spread myself out by the side of it and gazed below. A bright
+lamp was burning, and everything inside was plainly visible. I could see
+a full musket-rack, table, books, telltale compass, an open chart, a
+revolver-case, and all the paraphernalia of a nautical drawing-room;
+but what riveted my eyes more than all were the sleeping-berths--one on
+each side--with their curtains drawn. It was useless gazing through the
+skylight; the only plan to see the occupants of these berths would be to
+open the curtains and look in. Another instant and perhaps the fresh
+look-out man would be on deck. I had no time to spare. If the venture
+was ever to be made, now was the moment to put it into execution. I
+hesitated no longer, but, rising up, stole to the companion and
+cautiously crept down the stairs, lifting foot after foot with a
+noiseless cat-like movement. When I reached the bottom, I found myself
+fronting another berth; but the loud snoring I could hear satisfied me
+that she whom I wanted was not there. I passed on to the cabin door.
+After listening a few minutes, I became satisfied the inmates, whoever
+they might be, were fast asleep. Little did those wrapped in the sleep
+of security dream that one who might prove their deadliest enemy was in
+their midst! I must have strangely resembled the midnight murderer, as
+with stealthy step I glided across the cabin, and, reaching the lamp,
+turned it low and dim. One of the sleepers moved uneasily. I shrunk down
+into the darkest spot under the table. Again all was quiet. I crawled up
+to the nearest berth, moved the curtain half an inch, and peeped in; the
+back of a man was visible. Slowly I crossed over to the opposite side,
+and, performing the same operation at the foot of the berth, saw a
+bearded face on the pillow. Marie was not in that cabin.
+
+A small passage led from the after-part of the saloon, apparently
+dividing two after-cabins from each other. I quickly passed into it, and
+paused at a door upon my left. I listened for a little while to the
+profound, oppressive silence, in which I could plainly distinguish the
+palpitation of my own heart; at last I fancied I heard a female voice
+within. I was just pressing my ear to the panelling when a coarse
+ejaculation in a man's voice proceeding from the opposite cabin made me
+start back; the handle was grasped; I had just time to crouch down at
+the farthest end of the passage, when the door was rudely thrust open. A
+man came forth, evidently in a state of intoxication, and, fortunately
+turning away from my direction, shook his fist at the door I had just
+left; then muttering a curse, blundered into the outer cabin. I could
+hear him unfasten a locker, take something forth, and then followed a
+gurgling, clucking sound; the bottle was dashed down upon the table with
+a clash, and then the drunkard staggered up the companion-way on deck.
+Surely I heard a woman's voice again! I dared not remain to satisfy
+myself. I had not a second to lose; if the man should return before I
+could escape from the cabin, he would certainly discover me, and then
+all hope of rescuing Marie would be at an end. I hurried through the
+cabin and up the companion undiscovered, although an exclamation from
+one of the berths made me fear it was otherwise.
+
+Upon reaching the deck, I found I was safe from any discovery upon the
+part of my intoxicated friend, for he was stretched at full length upon
+the deck, and already in the lethargic sleep of drunkenness. I stooped
+over him to scan his features, and while doing so plainly heard voices
+in the cabin. Undoubtedly I had been noticed passing through it. As I
+turned towards the forepart of the vessel, I saw the watchman coming
+straight towards me. He had most likely observed my movements, and was
+coming aft to ascertain what I was about, mistaking me for one of the
+crew. I snatched up my quilt from where I had left it, placed it over my
+head and shoulders, and pulling my trousers out of my boots, assumed the
+Chinaman as much as possible, and walked to meet him. Fortunately it was
+the darkest hour of the night--that immediately before the grey of
+morning,--and the thick clouds made it still more sombre. Until close up
+to me I did not perceive he was followed by a Chinaman; the man himself
+was a Portuguese. I loosened one of my revolvers, and taking it by the
+barrel under my quilt, prepared to fell him. These Macao Portuguese
+nearly all speak the Canton dialect, with which I was unacquainted; and
+as the Chinese portion of the lorcha's crew would certainly be
+Cantonese, I expected he would address me in their language, and
+discover me at once. To my surprise he spoke in the _Pidgin_ English by
+saying:--
+
+"What thing wantchee aft side, Jack?" To which I replied, with indignant
+emphasis,--
+
+"_Hi-ya!_ what ting? wantchee look see what-tim, ga-la!"
+
+The Portuguese, seemingly dissatisfied, seized hold of my rug. Just then
+the Chinaman who had followed him interfered, and, pulling me away,
+exclaimed to him,--
+
+"What for foolo pidgin? No wantchee play ga-la!"
+
+The Portuguese still seemed suspicious; but, giving me a pull,
+Aling--for it was he--laid himself down as if to repose, and I quickly
+imitated him. Although this vigilant look-out now left us, for more than
+an hour he continued pacing the deck close by; daylight was fast
+approaching, and we were tied to the spot. Aling told me that when he
+saw the look-out come aft he suspected it was to overhaul me, and,
+thinking the man would speak to me in Cantonese, he followed him to
+assist me. It was principally for emergencies of this sort I had brought
+Aling with me.
+
+At last the watchful mariner moved aft to see what time it was, I
+imagine; so, taking the opportunity, we both got forward, and, casting
+off the line, descended into the boat. It was impossible to attempt any
+further discovery that night, for although I had not been followed by
+the inmates of the outer cabin, it was evident they had heard me pass,
+or something had disturbed and made them wakeful; besides, it was too
+late now, for daylight was already breaking. Bitterly disappointed, I
+was compelled to order my companions to pull the boat away from under
+the lorcha's bows by hauling in the line, to weigh the grapnel, and to
+paddle inshore. Directly we reached the bank, I was met by my friends,
+who rushed forward to inquire what success I had met with; in a few
+words I told them all. At first they declared they would return with me
+to the lorcha, jump on board, force the cabin I had heard the female
+voice proceed from, and if Marie was there endeavour to carry her off;
+soon, however, they decided upon a more reasonable course. Our boat was
+too small to carry all; the sharp look-out would most likely discover
+us; there certainly would not be time to paddle the boat, heavily laden,
+up stream, and adopt my last manoeuvre; and we were quite unequal to
+cope with the four or five Europeans and some ten or twelve Macao
+Portuguese, besides Canton men, on board. The thing was plainly
+impracticable; our only course was to wait until the next night, and
+then try the same plan over again. I had made several important
+discoveries. If Marie was on board, I knew where to find her. I had
+acquainted myself with the interior arrangements of the lorcha, and I
+was enabled to form a pretty accurate estimate of her crew; so that I
+had obtained some valuable facts to guide me upon a second attempt.
+
+I returned to my vessel much disturbed in mind; the menacing gesture of
+the drunken brute I had seen in the passage, the voice proceeding from
+the cabin he appeared to threaten, the possibility that Marie was the
+inmate who had evidently excited and angered him, were painful
+reflections.
+
+Soon after my return on board the day broke, and my companions retired
+to obtain the rest they had been without all night. For my part sleep
+was out of the question; I was in a complete fever, and unable to do or
+think of anything else than the probable result of my next attempt to
+discover Marie. The day was perfectly calm; undisturbed by a ripple, the
+broad expanse of the mighty Yang-tze glided swiftly past, glistening in
+the lurid sun like a sheet of liquid gold. Unable to proceed, through
+want of wind and the strength of the current, the lorcha remained at
+anchor; while many times during the weary day I landed, and, concealed
+amidst the bushes, watched her through my telescope. I was unable to
+discover anything. The day was very cold, and but few of the crew were
+about the decks. At last, towards evening, I made my last reconnoitre,
+accompanied by my friend and one of our crew,--the latter for the
+purpose of acting as a scout upon the movements of the lorcha; for, a
+light breeze having sprung up, it was just possible she might attempt to
+get under weigh.
+
+It was upon this occasion I made a discovery that led to important
+results. My attention was attracted to her stern windows. It was a
+fortunate circumstance that we had gone rather below the vessel, as
+otherwise we could not have noticed them. After closely watching these
+ports until quite dark, and observing nothing of the interior of the
+after-cabin or its inmates, we returned to our vessel with sanguine
+hopes for the issue of the night's adventure.
+
+My impatience became gratefully relieved in one way by the early setting
+of the moon, but, upon the other hand, the night continued bright and
+starlight,--in fact, so bright that it was evidently impossible to
+repeat my _modus operandi_ of the previous night. Here was an apparently
+insurmountable difficulty, for I should never be able to approach the
+lorcha undiscovered! For several hours I remained in deep consultation
+with my friends; but after discussing every plan we could imagine, the
+fact remained patent, that none could be effected without attracting
+observation; unless, indeed, I could hit upon the exact moment for
+relieving the look-out man at some period between midnight and the dawn,
+and when the rest of the crew would almost certainly be fast asleep. I
+had almost decided to adopt this course, when my friend and Philip
+proposed another. Their idea was, to get our vessel under weigh in the
+middle of the night, tack down the river, and then get athwart hawse of
+the lorcha, as if by accident; drop an anchor foul of the lorcha's, and
+while all hands would be forward working to get the vessel clear, find
+an opportunity to prosecute my search. This certainly appeared feasible,
+and almost superior to the other plan; but, fortunately, while
+considering which to adopt, I hit upon something better than either. I
+suddenly remembered the ruse the Chinese pirates had attempted with me;
+prompted by this, I conceived a plan that in all respects promised to
+take me silently and undiscovered to the position I desired--under the
+stern of the lorcha. Directly I unfolded the project to my companions,
+they agreed with me that it was impossible to conceive a better.
+
+It was already nearly midnight; we therefore commenced our preparations
+without delay. Upon this occasion, I decided to take my friend as a
+companion; we each dressed in black clothes, and besides taking our
+revolvers, placed a couple of rifles in the boat. In the meanwhile,
+according to my instructions, Philip had made the crew prepare a large
+drag, in the form of a cross, made with two short and broad spars,
+lashed together at their centres. When this was ready, the end of a long
+coir rope was made fast to the middle, the other end being fastened to
+our canoe, with a few fathoms to spare, which were passed ashore. The
+drag was now placed in our large boat, and being pulled far out on the
+river, was tossed overboard; this was signalled by showing a lamp.
+Directly I saw the light, I gave the word to start away: Philip and
+three of the crew, well armed, taking the end of the rope, walked down
+the bank, keeping our canoe close under its shadow, and progressing as
+fast as the drag at the other end of the rope was drifting with the
+current. After proceeding in this order for twenty minutes, during which
+we had slowly been hauling in the line till we had coiled nearly half of
+it in the canoe, we arrived fairly abeam of the lorcha, and, almost
+immediately afterwards, felt the jerk of the rope as it caught across
+her cable. Gradually easing it out, our companions dragged us carefully
+past the vessel--scarcely a hundred feet distant. At length the rope was
+all payed out to the bare end, and taking a small line, one end of which
+was retained by our companions ashore, we let go from the bank, and the
+current quickly swept us into the stream until we were checked by it in
+a direct line astern of the lorcha, now dimly visible in the distance.
+We had one Chinaman in the boat to steer and paddle as necessary, and
+slowly and cautiously we began hauling in the rope. We had not proceeded
+far, when we came up to the drag towing some 70 or 80 yards astern of
+the lorcha. To the upper arm of this we made fast a lantern with a
+candle and matches in it all ready to light in a moment, and then
+continued hauling upon the rope, which, as we took it inboard, was
+passed over the stern by the Chinaman, and pulled ashore to Philip and
+his men, by means of the small line.
+
+When within fifty feet of the lorcha, we paused awhile, and watched
+closely to ascertain whether any of her crew were visible; we were soon
+satisfied that our approach could be conducted with perfect impunity,
+for her stern was high, and not only protected us from the observation
+of the look-out in the fore part of the vessel, but would hide us from
+the view of any one except a person coming to look directly over the
+taffrail. We could distinguish by the light from within, only
+half-subdued by thin drapery, four stern ports, two on each side; but to
+see who, or what, was in the cabins, it would be necessary to remove the
+curtains. Stealthily and silently we now urged ourselves forward,
+passing the rope along, hand over hand, till at last there we lay right
+under the lorcha's counter--like a pilot-fish under the lee of a huge
+shark. Erecting myself in the boat, I found that my shoulders reaching
+just to the sill of the ports, I could easily raise myself up; but, to
+my chagrin, found they were too small for me to pass through. It was
+evident that originally only two ports had existed, but they were now
+divided into four, by a slight stanchion, or framework, passing down the
+centre of each. The curtains of the starboard side were closely drawn,
+the glass part of a sliding sash closed, and it was impossible to see
+within. Slacking away the rope a little, I grasped the other part of it,
+and changed our position to the port counter.
+
+The curtains were not so carefully closed at this side, and looking
+through the open space I was able to view the whole interior of the
+cabin. My first glance was attracted by the same man I had seen issue
+from it on the previous night; he was seated at a table, and I saw
+directly by his flushed face that he had been drinking again very
+freely. The light from a large lamp was brilliant, and I could observe
+his every expression with ease,--he was evidently labouring under strong
+excitement, and in a few moments I saw him pour out a stiff
+"second-mate's nip" of neat brandy, and gulp it down. His appearance
+became, if possible, still more inflamed, and several times he started
+up and went towards the cabin door, snatching up a key from the table.
+Upon each occasion, after hesitating and listening at the open door,
+with a fresh effort, and a drop of brandy to obtain resolution, he
+resumed his seat, gritting his teeth and clenching his hands savagely.
+His manner plainly told of some evil intention, and that he was
+endeavouring to raise his determination to put it into execution. The
+glass sash was not quite closed, and as he retired from the door for the
+last time I heard a bitter "carajo!" hiss through his teeth with fierce
+aspiration; followed by a few words uttered with energy in some Spanish
+patois, from which I could gather: "carajo! my proud beauty--you scorn
+my love, do you? Wait a little! wait a little, my lady; we shall change
+places soon."
+
+The man's appearance was so unmistakably South American that I felt no
+surprise at his language. I had no doubt that his speech referred to the
+inmate of the opposite cabin, so I instantly returned under its windows
+to try and make some opening to see who she was. L., my friend, handed
+me a large bowie-knife he had fortunately brought with him; I managed to
+pick the window open with this, and moving the curtain with my fingers,
+I peered cautiously through. I had no occasion to search further--Marie
+was before me. Yes, there lay my betrothed; within a few feet, almost
+within reach of my hands; yet I could neither touch, or embrace her--she
+was in the power of the ruffian I had just seen. My fingers trembled
+nervously with the curtain and sides of the port, while my heart heaved
+with sudden and powerful excitement. For some moments I remained thus,
+riveted and powerless. At the first glance I saw nothing but Marie; but
+when the sudden shock had passed, a single moment explained the
+situation. She was sleeping upon a sofa couch, and the table, chairs,
+and every moveable article of furniture in the cabin, were piled against
+the door. Her face was turned away from me, but I needed not to look
+upon that to recognize her; the graceful form, perfectly outlined
+against the white drapery of the couch, told that it was Marie.
+
+When my thoughts returned, I became convinced I could not be better
+placed for rescuing her. She was alone, within my reach, and I was at
+the most concealed spot about the lorcha to take advantage of the
+opportunity. A dark shadow surrounded the vessel, and, besides this, our
+little boat was drawn close up under her stern. Nothing seemed likely to
+interfere with my scheme to effect her escape except one thing, and that
+was, the ports were too small for egress by them! My friend took my
+place in the bow of our boat to survey the situation; the instant he
+placed his hand upon the port, he drew his knife and commenced hacking
+away at the stanchion: if this could be removed, there would be room to
+pass through the two ports thus let into one. Desperately my friend
+slashed away at the woodwork; his knife was sharp, and he made rapid
+progress. Marie still slept on, and I would not awaken her for fear any
+sudden exclamation might startle him in the opposite cabin.
+
+The observations and action thus described occupied but a short time.
+Thoughts are quick, but at such a crisis they speed like lightning. Our
+work, too, was rapid, and soon would be accomplished; and it would only
+remain to bring Marie from the cabin to the boat, through the stern
+ports of the lorcha.
+
+The stanchion was about four inches thick, and my friend had cut it more
+than half through, when, suddenly he sank down in the boat, exclaiming,
+"hish." Reaching to me, he whispered that some one was unlocking the
+cabin door from the outside. I instantly changed places with him, and,
+raising myself cautiously to a level with the port, peeped through. I
+saw the door slowly opening, while a hand passed through was holding the
+furniture that had been piled up, and keeping it from falling as the
+door was gradually pressed inwards. Marie had evidently fallen into a
+deep sleep through excessive fatigue, for even this noise did not wake
+her.
+
+Not a moment was to be lost. I turned to my friend, and whispered him to
+hand me one of the rifles from the stern of the boat. Upon receiving the
+weapon, I placed its muzzle close to the cut on the stanchion and fired.
+Before the smoke cleared away I grasped the sill of the port, the
+shattered woodwork gave way, and I raised myself into the cabin.
+Directly I was able to discern anything, I saw that Marie had started
+from her couch, and was gazing in a terrified manner in the direction of
+the report; but, calling upon her by name as I advanced nearer, she
+recognized me and rushed into my arms.
+
+As I hurried her towards the stern ports, the door was pushed further
+open. For a second I paused, and fired my revolver at the man I had
+previously seen in the opposite cabin, just as he appeared in the
+doorway with a pistol in each hand. My shot took effect, for he fell
+prostrate across the threshold. Immediately afterwards I heard the loud
+shouting of the alarmed crew, and the noise of hurrying footsteps
+approaching the cabin.
+
+Upon reaching the port, I found L. all ready to receive me, and hastily
+passed Marie into the boat. Just as we shoved off, the door was burst
+wide open, and in rushed a crowd of men, some holding lights, and all
+armed. We hauled in upon the part of the rope fast to the drag, and,
+reaching it, set light to the lantern on its upper arm. Directly this
+was done we cut each part of the rope, letting go one end, and thus
+sending the drag floating down the river, while the other end was made
+fast to the bow of our boat. The lantern was not only intended to throw
+the people of the lorcha off our track, but it was to be a signal to our
+friends on shore to haul away upon the rope and pull us to the bank. It
+had just tautened, and pulled us out of a line with the drag, when crash
+went a volley of musketry from the lorcha, and we heard the bullets go
+singing past in the direction of the floating light.
+
+Within three minutes after cutting the rope we reached the bank, and
+were tracked up stream by Philip and his men. Before getting abeam of
+the lorcha we had the satisfaction to hear a boat pull away from her in
+pursuit of the now distant lantern.
+
+Upon reaching my vessel I took Marie to the best cabin, and left her
+with the _ayah_ I had brought to wait upon and attend to her. For some
+time I was left to my own reflections, my friends being engaged getting
+the vessel under weigh, and making the crew track her along the bank.
+
+At last Marie was ready to receive me, and on my joining her she gave me
+an account of all that had happened since our last parting. It appeared
+that everything had gone on quietly and happily until a few evenings
+previous to my arrival at Shanghae, when one night Marie and her
+relatives were startled by a loud knocking at the door. This was no
+sooner opened than in rushed ten or a dozen men, led by the one I had
+shot, who was no other than Manoel Ramon, the Chillinian I had rescued
+her from in the first place at Whampoa. He declared he intended taking
+them all to Hong-kong, where he stated Marie's father was waiting to
+receive her. He allowed them to take their clothes and a few light
+articles; they were then taken to a lonely part of the river, and
+carried on board the lorcha, which directly afterwards weighed anchor
+and commenced dropping down the river. Upon getting well clear of
+Woo-sung, at the entrance of the Shanghae river, the lorcha was stopped
+alongside a junk, and Marie's two relatives--her aunt and uncle--were
+put on board, and the vessels instantly separated. Ramon then informed
+her that her father was dead, that he had been made his heir, and that a
+settlement had been left her upon condition that she should marry him.
+For the first few days he had renewed his old protestations of
+affection, and treated her respectfully; but latterly, finding her
+aversion immovable, his bearing had entirely altered.
+
+Rapidly flew the time, as, absorbed in our happiness, we remained
+unconscious of its flight; at last I was startled by the increased
+motion of the vessel, and knew that a fresh breeze had sprung up. This
+change had not lasted long, when my friend L. came to the cabin-door and
+beckoned me to go out to him. Wishing Marie good-night, and leaving her
+to obtain the repose she needed, I followed him into the outer cabin,
+and eagerly inquired what had occurred.
+
+"Why, that confounded lorcha's in full chase, and will certainly
+overhaul us within three hours," said my friend.
+
+I hurried on deck with him, and found it was just daylight, and although
+we had undoubtedly made considerable progress before the lorcha had
+started in pursuit, yet there she was, some five or six miles astern,
+and crowding all sail in chase.
+
+After thinking it over a little while, we decided that sending the light
+adrift upon the river had brought about the pursuit. When the men sent
+in chase had come up to it, they doubtless saw at once that it had been
+sent to drift down the river, and as it was certain it could not have
+been started above the people they were in pursuit of, it was equally
+sure that we must be above it. We had not thought of this at the time;
+we only valued it as a ruse to throw off the close pursuit we expected,
+and so give us time to return to our vessel undiscovered. So far we were
+successful, but the whole style of the drag proved to the lorcha's
+people that we must be above them, and _up_ the river, which caused her
+to give chase so soon.
+
+We were at this time some twelve or fourteen miles below Nankin, and I
+at once determined to make for that place with all speed. The sails were
+wetted down fore and aft, and everything done to make them draw as well
+as possible. The breeze was moderately strong, but freshening, and the
+stronger it came the quicker would the lorcha overhaul us, for being of
+an European and heavier build, and spreading loftier and lighter canvas
+than we did, it would tell considerably in her favour. Fortunately the
+wind was dead aft, so our flat and shallow bottom was in this case an
+advantage, whereas, a beam or leading wind would have made it quite the
+reverse. The wind increased so quickly that in less than two hours the
+lorcha had rapidly gained upon us, and was coming up hand over hand in a
+cloud of canvas. She was yet more than two miles astern, but I was still
+some six miles below Nankin, and although the breeze was now very
+strong, I could not, with an adverse tide, hope to reach that city
+before we were within the range of her pivot gun.
+
+We tried every plan to increase our speed; an old awning was rigged out
+as a stun'-sail upon one side, and a spare tarpaulin on the other,
+besides which, several large flags were fastened together, bent to a
+large bamboo, and hoisted above the mainsail to serve as a
+gaff-topsail. It was now blowing half a gale of wind, and over a three
+or four knot tide, the old vessel was staggering along under a press of
+sail she had never felt before. Following directly in our wake, like a
+sleuth-hound on the trail, the lorcha presented at this time a striking,
+though to us unpleasant, picture. Rolling heavily from side to side, her
+snow-white sails pyramid-like in form, and reaching from the deck to the
+very summit of her long and taper spars, now bending like willows to the
+blast; a long furrow of foam following in her wake, and two lines of
+water leaping from each bow, and tossing high into the air a silver
+spray, through which the morning sun formed myriads of tiny rainbows;
+the stoop of the vessel, as with a movement like the bending of a
+buffalo to the charge, she plunged forward burying her bows deep into
+the rushing surge, and anon raising them high above as though to shake
+the dripping element from her head--all these phases in the appearance
+of our pursuer made her look a thing of life and beauty. While gazing
+and thinking thus, I was abruptly recalled from the romantic to the
+stern reality of the scene. The lorcha suddenly luffed up, puff went a
+column of smoke from her lee bow, and while it was eddying amidst her
+cordage the splash of a shot a few fathoms from our stern, accompanied
+by the booming of a cannon, told me the danger had now commenced in
+earnest, and that our pursuer was aware of our connection with the
+affair of the previous night.
+
+The shot had fallen so close under our stern that it was certain the
+next five minutes would find us within range and entirely commanded by
+the lorcha's guns. Upon the other hand, another half-hour might see us
+safe under the walls of Nankin, unless some of our spars should be
+crippled, or a shot strike us below the water-line. If either of these
+misfortunes should occur, before we could make repairs aloft the lorcha
+would be alongside; if hulled, before reaching the Nankin batteries we
+should sink. I therefore made every preparation to run into the bank
+and get ashore, in the event of such an emergency.
+
+I placed Marie in the hold, right upon the bottom of the vessel, where
+she would be below the water-line far enough to be safe from the
+lorcha's fire. My friends and self got our rifles and a few things ready
+in case we should have to take to the shore. We had the sails
+continually wetted, and made the crew run fore and aft the decks to help
+the vessel's way. In a few moments the lorcha luffed up again, bang went
+her "long Tom," and the shot came whistling over our heads, passing some
+yards clear of our rigging. We were now fairly within range, and our
+pursuer fired at us as quickly as the pivot-gun could be loaded and
+brought to bear. This kind of work went on for some time, till at last
+the outworks of Nankin showed up only a mile or so ahead. The lorcha had
+hitherto fired exclusively at our spars, but directly these forts opened
+to view, she began aiming at our hull. Several large rents were torn
+through our sails, though fortunately none of our spars had been struck;
+but the gunnery practice of our enemy now became close and dangerous.
+Two or three shots hurtled past a few feet over the decks, but then
+crash came one right amidships, tearing in at one side and passing clean
+through the other, as we rounded a sand-bank and became nearly broadside
+on to the lorcha. As we fell into line again another smashed through the
+stern, and, knocking off the helmsman's head, passed over the bows,
+raking us fore and aft, but fortunately killing no one else. The lorcha
+having to round-to each time she fired, in order to get her pivot-gun to
+bear, her way was checked very considerably; and to this may our escape
+be entirely attributed. At the time our helmsman was struck we had
+already reached the first of the Nankin batteries. The people on board
+the lorcha now saw their mistake, and, ceasing firing, kept steadily on
+in chase. They changed their tactics--fortunately for us--too late.
+Hoisting a flag the Ti-pings had given me when I left Soo-chow, I
+steered past the point of the island just below Nankin, and passing the
+batteries--crowded with soldiery gazing upon the chase--ran into the
+creek, leading between some fortifications direct to the walls of the
+city, and there anchored.
+
+[Illustration: ESCAPE FROM THE LORCHA.
+London, Published March 15^{th} 1866 by Day & Son, Limited Lithog^{rs}
+Gate Str, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
+Day & Son, Limited Lith.]
+
+Directly I ran up the Ti-ping flag I was boarded by an officer from the
+principal fort. To him I showed my commission from the Chung-wang, and
+requested protection from the pursuing vessel. He pulled quickly ashore,
+and just as the lorcha was rounding the point of the island and
+preparing to follow me into the creek, I had the satisfaction to see a
+gun fired across her bows, upon which she hauled off and gave up the
+pursuit, her retreat accelerated by another shot from the fort sent
+right into her.
+
+While watching her through my glass, I plainly observed her owner,
+Manoel Ramon, propped up in a chair on the quarter-deck.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+    Ti-ping Operations.--Chinese Apathy.--The Ti-ping
+    Difficulty.--Popular Feeling.--Opposed to the
+    Ti-pings.--England's Policy.--Her Motives.--Dr. Bridgman
+    describes Ti-pingdom.--His Description of the Ti-pings.--X. Y.
+    Z.--Ti-pingdom in 1857.--Its Internal Economy.--Lord Elgin at
+    Nankin.--Gallant Exploit.--Its Interpretation.--Hung-jin arrives
+    at Nankin.--Hung-jin's Adventures.--Mr. Hamberg's
+    Narrative.--Hung-jin's Pamphlet.--Hung-jin Prime
+    Minister.--Nankin Invested.--Resumption of
+    Hostilities.--"Indemnity" demanded.--Conditions of Peace.--Cause
+    of Wars with China.--England's Foreign Policy.--The Opium Wars.
+
+
+Towards the close of 1854, the detached armies of Ti-pings were
+gradually compelled to abandon their isolated positions, and retire
+closer upon their capital. During October, after forwarding all the
+supplies obtainable to the treasury and granaries of Nankin, the Western
+armies evacuated the important cities of Wu-chang, Han-yang, and Hankow,
+and collecting the garrisons of the many others between them and Nankin,
+retired quickly upon the latter, the siege of which the Imperialists
+were beginning to press with a vigour encouraged by the weakness of the
+garrison. This army falling rapidly upon the rear of the enemy's works,
+put them to flight with great slaughter, and completely raised the
+siege. After this, another force was marched to the relief of
+Chin-kiang, which was also invested by a considerable Imperialist army.
+At the close of the year, both Nankin and Chin-kiang were effectually
+relieved, and the besieging armies driven back upon the cities of
+Soo-chow and Shanghae in confusion. With the exception of the Northern
+army, in occupation of the north side of the Yang-tze from Ngan-king to
+Kwei-chow, nearly all the Ti-ping forces were concentrated in and about
+the cities of Nankin and Chin-kiang, when, again committing the error
+former experience should have taught him to avoid, the Tien-wang
+separated his forces, and despatched several armies upon widely
+divergent courses.
+
+The principal operations were conducted towards the south, in the
+provinces of Kiang-su, Ngan-whui, and the borders of Che-kiang and
+Kiang-si, and towards the west, along the old route of the Yang-tze and
+beyond the Tung-ting lake. Early in 1855 the Western division,
+successful in all its operations, reached the city of Hankow, and
+Wu-chang, the provincial capital, was for the third time carried by
+storm, the Manchoo defenders suffering fearful loss. The Ti-pings now
+held the three cities for a longer period than before; but, although
+they obtained numerous recruits, they were unable to occupy the
+adjoining provinces permanently and rescue them from the Manchoo rule.
+The people at large, finding the revolution was to a certain extent
+stationary, naturally waited for some grand and combined movement likely
+to overthrow the Manchoo rule, and, however much they would have
+rejoiced at the change, were careful to avoid implicating themselves
+against the government until the prospect of success became more
+apparent. The fearful experience of former failures warned the nation to
+be cautious--in fact, the cautious alone remained in the land of the
+living, the indiscriminate massacres after the slightest attempt at
+rebellion having exterminated nearly every noble and patriotic spirit in
+China. Besides, many who might otherwise have hazarded the venture held
+back on account of the Ti-ping profession of Christianity (a change of
+the ancient national train of custom and ideas what they not only looked
+upon with suspicion, but with actual abhorrence). The hatred of the
+Manchoo must indeed have been intense--or rather, the hand of God
+powerful--to overcome the old and jealous prejudices of more than 2,000
+years, and give the Tien-wang even any adherents.
+
+The Southern army, breaking into several divisions during 1855, was
+mostly victorious; many cities were captured, and large supplies of
+every necessary and war material taken. Partisans were sent into all the
+southern provinces and many local insurrections stimulated, but all too
+feeble and desultory to be of any real assistance to the cause; though
+the prompt and savage punishments inflicted by the Manchoo authorities
+undoubtedly proved very damaging, the fear they inspired awing the
+people into submission, and terrifying them from rising in rebellion
+again.
+
+For more than a year the Southern and Western armies maintained their
+position; but early in 1856 they were again forced to retire upon
+Nankin, which had become reinvested by the Imperialists. It will thus be
+seen that, while the Ti-pings were detaching small armies just able to
+overcome the local Manchoo authorities, the Imperialists, after
+reinforcing the provincial troops so as to enable them to dispute the
+ground with varying success, invariably concentrated all their reserves
+and spare forces before Nankin. Considering that the Imperialists had
+vastly superior numbers, and, moreover, held the whole of the revenue,
+and completely surrounded the insurgents upon every side, the greatly
+superior organization and courage of the Ti-pings is sufficiently proved
+by the fact that they were able to compete with their more
+advantageously situated enemy so successfully.
+
+In the middle of the year, the Imperialists were attacked by the
+recalled Ti-ping forces, before the city of Chin-kiang, and were
+defeated with heavy loss; about the same time, their lines before Nankin
+were assaulted by another division and completely broken up.
+
+In this year an event took place, the consequences of which have proved
+almost fatal to the Ti-ping revolution. From a period long anterior to
+the commencement of the movement, the position of Europeans in China
+was most unsatisfactory. The growing dread the Manchoos entertained of
+foreign intercourse urged them to the adoption of the most repulsive and
+arrogant behaviour upon all occasions, and it was just at the period
+this was becoming almost unbearable that the Ti-ping insurrection took
+place. It was therefore only natural that Europeans should regard the
+rising power favourably. Directly the organization and professions of
+the Tien-wang became fully known, it was almost the universal practice
+to warmly advocate his cause, and sound thrilling paeans in his praise.
+The clergy and religious world went half mad with joy; the societies for
+providing Bibles for the naked savages who could not read them, almost
+feared their work was coming to an end; and the mercantile part of the
+foreign world entered into the wildest speculations (excepting the opium
+smugglers). Eagerly the clerical expounders of mercy and goodwill wrote
+home glowing accounts of the success of their teaching--blessed by an
+overruling Providence!--eagerly the whole body of merchants, officials,
+adventurers, &c., watched for some favourable prospect of _profit_, or,
+as the thing is speciously termed, of "placing our commercial and
+political relations upon a satisfactory basis"! All these benevolent and
+large-minded Europeans waited a little, and when they found the
+profitable change would probably take a long time to perfect, while in
+the interval their gain _might_ be diminished, it was absolutely
+wonderful how their sympathy--like Bob Acre's courage--oozed out at
+their fingers' ends. Events soon occurred that extinguished the last
+remnant of philanthropy. The missionaries (only a certain portion of
+them, be it remembered) found out they could not take all the credit of
+the rebellion to themselves,--or rather the religious element of it;
+therefore they gradually cooled down, and some of them began to revile
+it, at the same time taking precious good care not to put themselves to
+inconvenience by going to teach the Ti-pings where they were in error.
+The political and commercial body also found they would have to wait for
+their ambitious and profitable projects, which did not suit them at all.
+
+It was at such a crisis, the seizure of the opium-smuggling lorcha
+_Arrow_ afforded a pretext for an appeal to arms; and this furnished all
+those favourable circumstances, hitherto expected from the Ti-ping
+movement, by a shorter and more direct road. It was sufficient for a
+portion of the body mercantile, that they would get their nefarious
+opium traffic legalized, and their general trade increased; it was
+sufficient for the body politic that they would be able to place their
+diplomatic affairs upon a satisfactory standing, and so humble the power
+of the Chinese government as to be able to do with it whatever they
+liked, _compelling_ it to conform to their will in every way--and all
+for nothing, as the Manchoo government would be made pay the expenses
+England would incur by an aggressive war. The Ti-pings were at once
+thrown overboard. It mattered not that their cause was righteous and
+holy; it was no longer _profitable_ to the British _trader_ or his
+_government_, and with the usual error of mean selfishness, they took it
+for granted that the Manchoos would always remain powerless, or else
+forget to retaliate when they became able, for the gross treatment they
+had received; neither could they perceive that although delays might
+interpose before the final success of the Ti-pings, yet that, after a
+short probation, the willing and unrestricted commerce the latter would
+encourage, would be more profitable than the unwilling and forced trade
+the Manchoos were _coerced_ into. Although meanness is generally the
+result of ignorance, it seems almost a fatality that so large a portion
+of Englishmen should have acted so wrongfully, and have been so
+forgetful of their national fair-play. The whole affair speaks too
+plainly of avarice and incompetent statesmanship.
+
+Commander Brine, R.N., in his valuable and fairly-expressed work, "The
+Taeping Rebellion," at pages 271-2, very truthfully observes:--
+
+    "The principal reason for the decline of the popularity of the
+    rebellion amongst Europeans may be found in the great change
+    that has occurred in our political relations with the Manchoo
+    government."
+
+Again, speaking of the treaty settled after the "lorcha _Arrow_ war," he
+says:--
+
+    "Two of its clauses, noted below, not only made the further
+    progress of the Taepings _unprofitable_, but absolutely made
+    their simple existence most objectionable to all Europeans who
+    hoped to open _trade_ with those provinces lying adjacent to the
+    upper waters of the Yang-tze. When Lord Elgin proceeded to
+    Han-kow, _he_ evidently looked upon them as a mere body of
+    rebels, sooner or later to be suppressed by government, and that
+    they in the interval interfered with the due carrying into
+    execution the terms of his treaty. Consequently he was not
+    inclined to show them much favour."
+
+In this perfectly true conclusion is concealed the real motive of the
+conduct the British _Government_ has pursued towards the Ti-pings. Not
+only in China, but over the whole world--from Denmark to America, from
+Abyssinia to Brazil, from New Zealand to Japan,--the policy of England
+has been derogatory to her dignity, and would be calculated to elicit
+merely feelings of contempt were it not so dangerous to her future
+welfare. It seems, however, that the majority of Englishmen are
+satisfied with a course of administration which advocates "peace at any
+price," except when war can be undertaken with impunity, and some
+aggression committed upon a weak neighbour, who is then compelled to pay
+all the expenses. I, for one, protest against such lowering of England's
+dignity and "just influence." I protest against the sacrifice of
+national honour to mercenary interest,--of principle to profit.
+
+Commander Brine's opinion has been amply verified--he wrote it early in
+1862; since which period England, regardless of all pledges of
+neutrality, has deliberately upheld the Manchoo dynasty, and made war
+upon the Ti-pings, not to support any high principle, but prompted by
+regard for the indemnity money to be wrested from the Imperialists,
+influenced by the profits of the opium trade, and anxious to support the
+Elgin treaty, which otherwise would have become inoperative.
+
+It is no less singular than true, that the wars with the Manchoo
+government in reality weakened it but very little:--in the first place,
+the British troops were always met by the local forces, none being
+withdrawn from opposition to the internal danger, which was dreaded much
+more than any arising from the foreign expeditions;--in the second, the
+indemnity money being deducted from the increased duties levied upon the
+foreign trade, instead of impoverishing the Manchoo exchequer, was taken
+directly from the pockets of the foreign merchants; and although the
+exchequer was so much less in hand, it could hardly be looked upon as a
+loss, considering that only one-fifth of the gross customs revenue of
+the ports open to foreign trade was taken, and that the trade has
+enlarged amply enough to make the returns, minus the indemnity, more
+than equal to what they were before the war.
+
+Subsequent to the visit of H.M.S. _Hermes_, and the French steamer
+_Cassini_, the next communication between the Ti-pings and Europeans
+took place a little more than a year later, when the American minister
+visited Nankin in the U.S. frigate _Susquehanna_. The few extracts I
+give from the accounts of the Rev. Dr. Bridgeman, and another writer,
+X.Y.Z., each members of the expedition, coincide exactly with all
+opinions ever given of the Ti-pings by credible people who have held
+personal intercourse with them; and it is a singular, if not a sinister
+circumstance, that these accounts are _all totally different_ from the
+dispatches of Sir F. Bruce (British minister at Pekin), and consuls of
+similar tendencies, who have either never seen the Ti-pings, or at all
+events know nothing of their government, life, and manners.
+
+The following are extracts from the Rev. Dr. Bridgeman:--
+
+    "1. Their government is a theocracy, the development apparently
+    of what is believed by them to be a new dispensation. As in the
+    case of the Israelites under Moses, they regard themselves as
+    directed by one who has been raised up by the Almighty to be the
+    executor of his will on earth.
+
+    "5. Their government is administered with _remarkable energy_.
+
+    "Far in the distance, hovering over the hill-tops--southward
+    from Chin-kiang-foo, the guardian city of the Great Canal, and
+    northward from Nankin, we saw encamped small bands of the
+    Imperialists, while all the armed multitudes in, and immediately
+    around these two cities, wrought up almost to frenzy, seemed
+    eager to rush forth and take vengeance on them as their deadly
+    foes,--'fat victims,' said they, 'fit only for slaughter.' They
+    exulted as they exhibited to us the scars and the wounds they
+    had received in bloody conflicts with the Manchoo troops, always
+    called by them, 'monster imps.'
+
+    "6. Their _order_ and _discipline_ are no less remarkable than
+    their energy. Under this new _regime_, both tobacco and opium
+    are prohibited.
+
+    "Every kind of strong drink, too, would seem to come into the
+    same category, and if any is used, it is only by special
+    permission."
+
+At the city of Wuhu:--
+
+    "The people had returned:--whole families,--men, women, and
+    children,--were seen in their own houses, merchants in their
+    shops, and market people going and coming with provisions; all
+    most submissive to the officers and police, as they passed along
+    the streets.
+
+    "It was at their 'holy city,' however, as they frequently called
+    their new capital, that their _order_ and _discipline_ were
+    observed in the greatest perfection. Parts of the city were
+    appropriated exclusively for the uses of the wives and daughters
+    of those men who were abroad, as their armies, or elsewhere
+    employed in the public service.
+
+    "Everywhere else, as well as in the 'holy city,' extreme
+    watchfulness was observed in the maintenance of order; and all
+    irregularities, and infractions of the laws, were rebuked or
+    punished with a promptitude seldom seen among the Chinese. All
+    persons, without exception, had their appointed places and their
+    appropriate duties assigned, _and all moved like clockwork_."
+
+Their unity of purpose Dr. Bridgeman speaks of as follows:--
+
+    "There is no community separate from their one body politic; at
+    least none appears, and no traces of any could we find."
+
+Of their religion he reported:--
+
+    "Christians they may be in name; and they are, in very deed,
+    iconoclasts of the strictest order. They have in their
+    possession probably the entire Bible, both the Old and New
+    Testaments; and are publishing what is usually known as
+    'Gutzlaff's Version' of the same.
+
+    "Their ideas of the Deity are exceedingly imperfect. Though they
+    declare plainly that there is 'only One True God,' yet the
+    inspiration of the Holy Scriptures,[28] the equality of the Son
+    with the Father,[29] and many other doctrines generally received
+    by Protestant Christians, as being clearly revealed in the
+    Bible, are by them wholly ignored. True, they have formulas in
+    which some of these doctrines are taught; but then they are
+    borrowed formulas, and they have used them without comprehending
+    their true import. So I believe; and I think this is made
+    manifestly plain in the new version of their Doxology, or Hymn
+    of Praise, where Yang-sen-tsing, the Eastern King, is proclaimed
+    the Paraclete--the Holy Spirit."[30]
+
+Dr. Bridgeman continues:--
+
+    "Our Saturday we found observed by them as a Sabbath-day; but
+    they appeared not to have any houses for public worship, nor any
+    Christian teachers, ministers of the Gospel so called. Forms of
+    domestic worship, forms of prayer, of thanksgiving, &c. &c.,
+    they have; and all their people, even such as cannot read, are
+    required to learn and use these. We saw them repeatedly at their
+    devotions; some of them were exceedingly reverent and devout,
+    while others were quite the reverse. Most, who were asked to do
+    it, promptly recited that form of the Decalogue which is given
+    in their tracts.
+
+    "A form of baptism was spoken of by them; but no allusion was
+    made by them to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.
+
+    "We found them, according to their reformed calendar, discarding
+    the old notions of lucky places, times, &c."
+
+Speaking of the public notices seen on the walls, he says:--
+
+    "The distribution of food, of clothes, and of medicines; the
+    payment of taxes, the preservation of property, the observance
+    of etiquette and decorum; and injunctions to repair to certain
+    quarters for vaccination,--these were among the topics discussed
+    in them. One document announced the names of sundry candidates
+    who had been successful in winning honours at a recent literary
+    examination in the Heavenly capital."
+
+Thus, it appears, the "ignorant coolies" were literary coolies. It was
+late in 1854 when Dr. Bridgeman visited Nankin, and thus wrote
+concerning the power and extent of the rebellion:--
+
+    "Their _numerical strength, and the extent of territory under
+    their control_, are by no means inconsiderable. They said they
+    had undisputed control from Chin-kiang-foo, four hundred miles
+    up the Great River; and that besides the large numbers of troops
+    garrisoned and intrenched about Chin-kiang, Kwa-chow, and the
+    'Heavenly capital,' they had _four armies_ in the field,
+    carrying on active aggressive operations; two of these had gone
+    northward, one along the Grand Canal, and one farther westward;
+    they were designed to co-operate, and after storming and
+    destroying Pekin, to turn westward and march through Shansi,
+    Shensi, Kians-oo, into Sze-chuen, where they are expected to
+    meet their other two armies, which from Kiang-si and the Lake
+    provinces, are to move up the Great River, and along through the
+    regions on its southern bank.
+
+    "The _personal appearance_ of their men in arms, and of their
+    women on horseback, was novel. They formed a very heterogeneous
+    mass, having been brought together from several different
+    provinces, principally from Gnang-wui, Keang-si, Hoopeh,
+    Kwang-si, and Kwang-tung. The finest men we saw were from the
+    hills of Kiang-si, and those from Hoonan were the meanest and
+    least warlike. Their arms and accoutrements were quite after the
+    old fashion of the Chinese; but their red and yellow turbans,
+    their _long hair_, and their silk and satin robes, so unlike the
+    ordinary costume of the 'black-haired' troops, made the
+    insurgents appear like a new race of warriors. All the people we
+    saw were very well clad, well fed, and well provided for in
+    every way. They all seemed content, and in high spirits, _as if
+    sure of success_."
+
+It will be seen that Dr. Bridgeman thought--as every one else did until
+the arbitrary interference of the British _Government_--that the
+"progress, and ultimate success," of the Ti-pings was certain, "under
+the inscrutable providence of God."
+
+The following are extracts from the communication written by X.Y.Z., and
+published in the _North China Herald_ at that time.
+
+    "There is no change of policy or of feeling towards foreigners
+    since the visit of the _Hermes_. On the part of the people the
+    same _friendly_ feeling was manifested that was observed a year
+    ago.
+
+    "The visit of the _Susquehanna_ has put us in possession of
+    facts which prove that the insurgents have undisturbed control
+    of a large extent of country, so large as to furnish a guarantee
+    to their ultimate success. There seems to be nothing that can
+    prevent their triumph, but internal dissensions, of which at
+    present no symptoms appear.
+
+    "The city itself (Nankin) is under strict martial law, and
+    indeed is at present a mere military camp. The _most rigid
+    discipline and perfect order are maintained_.
+
+    "In passing through the city, little was seen to distinguish it
+    from other Chinese cities, except that some of the streets are
+    very wide, and appear to be kept in a state of cleanliness not
+    often seen in China.
+
+    "Whatever Hung-sui-tshuen may mean by calling himself the
+    brother of Jesus, it is but justice to say that no evidence was
+    found of its being insisted on as an essential article of faith
+    among the mass of his followers. And several officers who
+    subsequently visited the steamer, when asked what was meant by
+    it, professed themselves unable to give any information upon the
+    subject. They were so _evidently puzzled_, that it was plain
+    their attention had _never been called to the matter before_."
+
+Speaking of the composition of the Ti-pings, X.Y.Z. says:--
+
+    "A few were from Kwang-se. These latter were all young men of
+    unusually fine appearance and more than ordinary intelligence,
+    and they were distinguished by some peculiarities of dress."
+
+Of the civil administration he says:--
+
+    "The expedition reached the city of Wuhu on Thursday morning.
+    Here _the most cordial feeling was manifested_ by the
+    authorities and people. The visit to this place was of great
+    interest, as it afforded an opportunity of learning from
+    personal observation the character of the insurgent rule over
+    the people in districts which are no longer the seat of war. The
+    state of things is entirely different from that at Nankin. _The
+    people are engaged in their ordinary avocations, shops are
+    opened and trade carried on, as under the old regime_, though
+    the former prosperity of the place is by no means restored."
+
+Upon perusing such statements, the British public will doubtless wonder
+at the nature of the reports which emanated from their government, that
+"the Ti-pings destroyed everything and restored nothing,"--were
+"ruthless desolaters," "bloodthirsty marauders," "hordes of banditti,"
+&c. It must, however, be remembered, that the authors of these
+statements knew nothing about the Ti-pings; in some cases had never seen
+one, and in all cases were anxious to meet the views of their official
+superiors by prejudicing the public mind against the Ti-pings, and
+thereby in some degree justifying the unwarrantable line of policy which
+the British Government had decided on.
+
+The year 1857 passed over without any important military movement, and
+the Ti-ping Government was engaged in consolidating its power in the
+districts and cities it held. The extent of territory and amount of
+population entirely under their control was very considerable. They held
+possession of about three-fourths of the large province of Ngan-whui,
+one-third of Kiang-su, one-third of Kiang-si, and parts of Hoonan and
+Hoopeh. In Kwang-si, Kwang-tung, Fo-keen, and Yun-nan, Ti-ping agents
+were actively at work inciting the people to rise.
+
+In the meanwhile, the administration of their territory was being
+perfected;--the title "Wang" was reduced into a sort of feudal rank,
+into which all governors of cities, lieutenant-governors, and governors
+of provinces, and generalissimos, were admitted. The whole of their land
+was divided into departments, or circles, each department into four
+districts, and each district into twenty-five parishes. After the
+governors of departments, or provinces, came the district chiefs, or
+magistrates; then the parish magistrates; and then the five village
+magistrates, or authorities, appointed over each circle of twenty-five
+families. The Ti-ping territory included at this period not less than
+70,000 square miles, with a population of about 25,000,000. At parts
+where the Manchoo troops had been driven out of the country, a regular
+system of monthly taxation was established, considerably more moderate
+than the old. A tariff for the whole empire was published; while
+throughout all their cities, the machinery of a regular government was
+constituted, and the whole conducted with considerable energy and
+success. The "Land Regulations of Political Economy of the Ti-ping
+Dynasty" were put into force, and a large part of China reclaimed to
+native administration. By these regulations, all land was divided into
+nine classifications, and arranged according to produce. Divisions of
+fields were arranged according to the number of persons in a family, and
+the whole property was regulated as the document states, "so that all
+the people in the empire may together enjoy the abundant happiness
+provided by the Great God, our Heavenly Father and Universal Lord."
+Periodical seasons were appointed for the examinations of literary
+candidates, and filling of vacant offices. Harvest regulations and
+community of interest were thus provided for:--
+
+    "As soon as harvest arrives, every vexillary must see to it,
+    that the five-and-twenty parishes under his charge have a
+    sufficient supply of food; and what is over and above of the new
+    grain he must deposit in the public granary. This must be done
+    with respect to wheat, pulse, flax, hemp, silk cloth, fowls, and
+    money; for the whole empire is the universal property of our
+    Heavenly Father, and when all the people of the empire avoid
+    selfishness, and consecrate everything to the Supreme Lord, then
+    the sovereign will have sufficient to use, and all the families
+    in the empire, in every place, will be equally provided for,
+    while every individual will be well fed and clothed."
+
+From this system, and the vice-royalty of the governors, or wangs, the
+Ti-ping government assumed a patriarchal feudal constitution. The
+following regular conscription was levied:--
+
+    "If any man throughout the empire has a family, including wife
+    and children, amounting to three, four, five, six, seven, eight,
+    or nine individuals, he must give up one to be a soldier. With
+    regard to the rest, the widowers, widows, orphans, and
+    childless, together with the sick and feeble, shall be excused
+    from service, and shall all be fed from the public granary."
+
+Religious observances were thus enjoined, in a manner which evinces a
+spirit far different from that which the world was led to suppose
+actuated the Ti-pings:--
+
+    "In every circle of five-and-twenty families, the youths must
+    every day go to the church, where the vexillary is to teach them
+    to read the holy books of the Old and New Testaments, as well as
+    the proclamations of the duly-appointed sovereign. Every
+    sabbath the five cinquevirs in the circle must lead the men and
+    women under their charge to the church, where the males and
+    females are to sit in separate rows. On these occasions there
+    will be preaching, thanksgivings, and offerings to our Heavenly
+    Father, the Great God and Supreme Lord. All officers and people,
+    both within and without the court, must every sabbath go to hear
+    the expounding of the Holy Book, reverently present their
+    offerings, and praise our Heavenly Father." "All the officers
+    throughout the empire, every sabbath day, must, according to
+    their rank, reverently and sincerely provide animals, with meat
+    and drink-offerings, for worship, in order to praise our
+    Heavenly Father; they must also explain the Holy Book. Should
+    any fail in this, they shall be degraded to the level of
+    plebeians."
+
+During 1858 the Ti-pings continued their work of organization, and
+undertook no military movement of importance. In consequence of so large
+a concentration of their forces, supplies began to run short, and the
+city of Chin-kiang was promptly abandoned, and a considerable force
+detached into the province of Kiang-si. They still retained possession
+of both banks of the Yang-tze for a distance of about 400 miles, and
+large reinforcements were sent from Nankin to all their possessions upon
+the northern side of that river.
+
+In the meanwhile, Canton had been taken by the English and French
+forces, the Taku forts had been captured on the 20th of May, and on the
+3rd of July the Elgin treaty was concluded; a treaty that in all
+respects proved nearly the death-warrant of the patriots.
+
+On the 8th of November, Lord Elgin started from Shanghae upon the
+expedition up the Yang-tze-kiang as far as Hankow.
+
+On approaching Nankin, the squadron came into collision with the
+Ti-pings in a similar, though more serious manner, than on the occasion
+of the visit of the _Hermes_. Lord Elgin, with the characteristic
+arrogance of Englishmen in foreign lands, disregarded the frequently
+repeated and urgent request of the Ti-ping authorities; namely, that to
+avoid misunderstandings as to men-of-war approaching their
+fortifications during a time of battle and blockade (especially
+considering the Manchoos had engaged some foreign vessels, and reported
+continually that foreign war-steamers were preparing to attack Nankin,
+&c.), "a small boat should be detached, to communicate with the
+garrison; in which case there would be no chance of collision." By
+referring to the visit of the _Hermes_, and the correspondence that took
+place, it will be seen that she was followed by the Manchoo flotilla,
+which took advantage of her presence to engage the Ti-ping forts, the
+anxiety of the Ti-ping authorities upon which point pervades all their
+communications to Sir George Bonham. Perfectly indifferent, then, to the
+observance of a courtesy which any powerful belligerent in like
+circumstances to those of the Ti-pings would have _compelled_, Lord
+Elgin sent the gunboat _Lee_ ahead of the squadron,--"to communicate if
+possible," as he reported. But instead of attempting the only correct
+mode of communication in the case, by sending a boat in first, the
+_Lee_, by her backing and filling in front of the batteries and
+fortified positions, aided by the presence of a powerful squadron in the
+rear, apparently awaiting the result of her reconnoitre, naturally led
+the Ti-pings to suppose she was on the scout from a hostile fleet. In
+consequence of this, the batteries opened fire on the _Lee_, and the
+rest of the squadron, _prepared_ for the event, steamed up and opened
+upon them with "considerable effect." Not satisfied with this, "they on
+the following morning re-descended the stream to Nankin and bombarded
+the forts, with but little reply for an hour and a half." What a gallant
+exploit for British seamen! To silence forts which were perfectly
+harmless, and slaughter the inmates at their ease.
+
+The _Church Missionary Intelligencer_ of December, 1860, gives the
+following account of the transaction:--
+
+    "In the latter end of 1858, a British squadron, with Lord Elgin,
+    passed up the river as far as Hankow, not without exchanging
+    shots, on more than one occasion, with the Tai-pings, and a
+    consequent loss of life was caused, which, by due precautions,
+    might have been avoided. On approaching Nanking, the capital
+    city of Ngan-hwui, the insurgents and Imperialists were found to
+    be in action. The British vessels were not recognized by the
+    Tai-pings: they were the first bearing the British flag which
+    had ascended the stream so far. Under the misapprehension that
+    they were acting in concert with the Imperialist fleets of junks
+    which commanded the river, the Tai-pings fired a shot at the
+    leading vessel, the _Lee_, and was replied to by the _Furious_,
+    _Cruiser_, _Dove_, and _Lee_, in full chorus. The garrison of
+    the forts was soon in flight, the guns abandoned. A little
+    timely explanation might have prevented this collision. On the
+    return voyage, when these forts were again approached, such an
+    explanation was resorted to. The water had fallen so low that
+    the two large vessels had been left behind, and the two
+    gun-boats were alone on their way to the river's mouth. To
+    engage the forts on going up, when the force was strong, was a
+    pleasant _divertissement_; but to venture on the same experiment
+    with two gun-boats, was, if possible, to be avoided; and that
+    the more so, as the nature of the channel compelled them to
+    steer immediately under the city walls, so that the decks could
+    easily have been swept by gingalls. On this occasion, therefore,
+    that was done which should have been done before--a
+    communication was opened with the insurgents, and the gun-boats
+    passed the forts unmolested."
+
+The first act of the wolf and lamb drama was thus performed, and "those
+outlaws," the Ti-pings, who _might_ possibly "interfere with the
+carrying into due effect the terms of his treaty," were reported to
+head-quarters, as not only having insulted and fired upon the British
+ensign, but having actually violated a flag of truce--but it was _not_
+reported that said flag of truce was unknown to the Ti-pings, and
+therefore could not be recognized.
+
+The affair is thus reported by Secretary Wade:--
+
+    "My orders were to inform the rebels that _we took no part_
+    (_?_) in the civil war, and interfered with no one who did not
+    molest us. (?) That a gun-boat had been detached from the
+    squadron before it passed Nankin, for the express purpose of
+    explaining the object of our expedition _had the rebels desired
+    to ask it_; that they had fired eight shots at the little vessel
+    so detached without a single shot being returned by her; that
+    the forts which had so fired had been made an example of, and
+    that the fact, together with the lesson they had themselves
+    received, might satisfy them of the absurdity of provoking our
+    men-of-war to hostility."
+
+At the time the expedition passed Nankin it was generally supposed the
+four principal chiefs besides Hung-sui-tshuen, the Tien-wang, were dead.
+The Southern and Western Princes had fallen in action, and it was
+rumoured the Eastern and Northern Princes had lost their lives in the
+capital, in consequence of their attempt to rebel against the authority
+of their king. I can only say that the report of the execution of the
+Northern and Eastern Princes, together with large numbers of their
+particular followers, has been very much exaggerated. The princes, and
+some who supported them, seem to have been put to death for treason.
+
+The earlier half of 1859 was unmarked by any important military movement
+upon the part of the Ti-pings. The most interesting event of this period
+was the arrival of the Tien-wang's relative, Hung-jin, at Nankin, after
+many fruitless attempts to reach that place.
+
+It will be remembered that upon the capture of the first city in
+Kwang-si, Hung-sui-tshuen had sent messengers into Kwang-tung calling
+all his and Fung-yun-san's remaining friends and relatives to join his
+standard. Before this could be effected he was compelled to abandon the
+position. Hung-jin, in the meanwhile, had started upon the journey with
+some fifty friends of the two chiefs. Upon approaching the neighbourhood
+of the place appointed to effect a junction, they ascertained that the
+"God Worshippers" had raised their camp and marched away, and that the
+Manchoo authorities were seizing and cruelly murdering every one
+connected with them. Hung-jin now sent back into Kwang-tung all his
+friends, excepting three, who, with him, made their way deeper into the
+country, and endeavoured to join the army of "God-worshippers." The
+Mandarins were, however, so strictly upon the watch for all travellers
+or suspected persons, that he found himself under the necessity of
+abandoning his attempt and returning home. Upon reaching the Hwa-hien
+district, Hung-jin found that from henceforth home to him was but a
+name. The Manchoo butchers were already in his native village, and he
+was compelled to seek a refuge amongst strangers. In a short time he
+again set forth, with several relatives of Fung-yun-san, to join the
+Ti-pings; but finding the vigilance and cruelty of the Mandarins still
+more severe than before, they were obliged to return unsuccessful. After
+another fruitless attempt in the beginning of 1852, the chosen messenger
+of Hung-sui-tshuen and his relatives in Kwang-tung, again arrived with
+letters calling upon all faithful adherents of the two clans, Hung and
+Fung, to join him at the city of Yung-gnan. Upon this, the old
+rendezvous at Paddy-hill was selected as a place for assembling. Before
+the day appointed for a general meeting, and when only some two hundred
+members of the respective clans had arrived, Kiang-lung-chong, the
+messenger, who had grown too bold and reckless after the easy triumphs
+he had been accustomed to with the Ti-pings, acted without precaution in
+the gathering, and involved those already present in destruction. With
+these insufficient numbers he raised the standard of insurrection, which
+being instantly reported to the district Mandarin, a considerable body
+of soldiers were sent against them. The insurgents went bravely to the
+fight, but being few and wholly unaccustomed to warfare, were soon
+thrown into confusion. Kiang-lung-chong and a few others were killed, a
+considerable number made captive by the troops, and the rest dispersed.
+
+Hung-jin with about a dozen friends arrived at Paddy-hill just after the
+defeat, being totally ignorant of the disaster. He and his companions
+were seized by the people of the neighbourhood and imprisoned in a
+house, previously to being delivered up to the Mandarins. As the Rev.
+Mr. Hamberg's narrative states:--
+
+    "Hung-jin, lively and enthusiastic, desirous to lead his friends
+    to honour and to glory, now sat down in the midst of them in
+    deep sorrow and despair, and would gladly have given his own
+    life to save those whom he had brought with him into distress.
+    Feeling the cords wherewith his hands were tied together give
+    way a little, after some effort he got them free, and proceeded
+    to unloose those of his friends who were accessible, and
+    succeeded in liberating six of his companions from their bonds.
+    After it had become dark, they opened the door, and in the rainy
+    night hastened away to the mountains.
+
+    "Hung-jin, whose liveliest hopes had been so suddenly
+    frustrated, who had drawn upon himself the hatred and revenge of
+    so many involved in the present disaster, and who had no place
+    of refuge left to himself, now felt his own guilt and despair
+    too hard to bear. He therefore unloosed his girdle and was going
+    to strangle himself, when one of the fugitives came up to him.
+    Hung said, 'Try to escape and save your life, I will put an end
+    to my existence in this place.' The other then seized his hand
+    and drew him forward, exhorting him to continue his flight in
+    company with him, which he did. The next day, when Hung awoke
+    from a short rest in the bush, he missed his companion. He now
+    prayed to God, the Heavenly Father, to spare his life and
+    protect him amidst so many dangers. During the daytime he lay
+    concealed in the bush, and during the night-time he went on.
+    Once the people in search of fugitives passed very close to him
+    without observing him. Finally, after having passed four days
+    and four nights in the mountains without any food, he arrived at
+    the house of some near relatives in a very exhausted state. Here
+    he was concealed six days in a mountain cavern, and afterwards
+    his relatives gave him some money, with which he went on board a
+    passage-boat to go to another district, and seek refuge with
+    more distant relatives of the Hung clan. But even among these,
+    new trials awaited him; for also from their place a few of the
+    Hung clan had gone to Paddy-hill, whose further fate was
+    unknown. Some of the relatives of those missing were now
+    inclined to revenge the supposed death of their brethren, and
+    deliver Hung-jin to the Mandarins, but an old venerable headman
+    took him under his protection, and gave one of his grandsons to
+    Hung-jin as a guide, and this young man, being a Christian
+    convert, conducted him to Hong-kong in the end of April, 1852,
+    and introduced him to me. I was astonished to hear a person from
+    the interior of China speak with such interest of, and display
+    so much acquaintance with, the Christian religion. I liked to
+    listen to his animated narratives about Hung-sui-tshuen,
+    Fung-yun-san, and their followers, though at the time I could
+    form no clear conception of the whole matter, which then was
+    little known and still less believed. He wrote a few sheets of
+    paper, containing a short account of himself and
+    Hung-sui-tshuen, which I put into my desk, until I should have
+    further evidence as to their contents. I expected that Hung-jin,
+    who wished to study the Christian doctrine and be baptized,
+    would remain for some time at Hong-kong; but upon my return from
+    a tour on the mainland he had departed, as he had no means of
+    support in that place. In November, 1853, Hung-jin, who up to
+    that time had been engaged as schoolmaster at some place in the
+    interior, again visited me. He was still very desirous to be
+    baptized, and seemed to be sincere in his wish to serve God. He
+    declared himself willing to leave all matters in the hands of
+    Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will,
+    and to seek above all the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
+    Hung-jin, with three of his friends from Clear-far, have since
+    been _baptized_, and are still studying the Holy Scriptures,
+    with the hope, in the Providence of God, hereafter to be enabled
+    to instruct their countrymen in the way of salvation."
+
+Early in 1854, with the funds from the sale of his little work, which
+Mr. Hamberg kindly gave him, Hung-jin embarked for Shanghae, _en route_
+for Nankin; he also carried with him a number of religious books. After
+remaining at Shanghae several months, during which he was neither able
+to reach Nankin nor communicate with his friends, he returned to
+Hong-kong. In the mean time Mr. Hamberg had died, and Hung-jin was
+received by members of the London Mission Society, and by them employed
+as a catechist and preacher during the years 1855 to 1858. In the
+_Missionary Magazine_ he was soon after spoken of thus:--
+
+    "He soon established himself in the confidence and esteem of the
+    members of the mission, and the Chinese Christians connected
+    with it. His _literary attainments_ were respectable; his temper
+    amiable and genial; his mind was characterized by a versatility
+    unusual in a Chinese. His knowledge of Christian doctrine was
+    largely increased, and of the sincerity of his attachment to it
+    _there could be no doubt_."
+
+Similar opinions were entertained by many devout and earnest
+missionaries who were intimately acquainted with Hung-jin for a period
+extending over six years; but Mr. Frederick Bruce, the British minister
+at Pekin (who never saw Hung-jin, or, I believe, any other Ti-ping in
+his life), true to the policy of his employers, thus writes from amidst
+his Manchoo friends at Shanghae:--
+
+
+    DISPATCH TO LORD RUSSELL.
+    "Shanghae, September 4th, 1860.
+
+    "Hung-jin has sent to the missionaries in manuscript a pamphlet
+    which has made a considerable impression upon them. I see no
+    guarantee for the soundness of his doctrine or for the purity
+    of his life. I rather look upon his pamphlet as a crafty device
+    to conciliate the support and sympathy of the missionary body at
+    the time when the insurgents meditated the seizure of Shanghae."
+
+It may naturally be asked, What has this to do with England's policy
+towards China, and why should it affect the honourable neutrality she
+was pledged to maintain? The answer simply is--a misrepresentation of
+the acts and intentions of the Ti-pings might afford some colour of
+justification for a line of policy which could not be defended.
+
+The Bruce dispatch further states:--
+
+    "But as the chief (Hung-sui-tshuen) is an _ignorant fanatic, if
+    not an impostor_," &c.
+
+We thus find this representative of the British Government not only
+volunteering his unsupported opinion against a weighty mass of evidence
+as to the religion, education, and acquirements of the chief, but
+actually constituting the same tribunal as the sole judge of a solemn
+question which must rest alone between Hung-sui-tshuen and his Creator.
+
+About the middle of 1858, Hung-jin once more determined to try and join
+his relative, the Tien-wang, and with this intent started in disguise,
+and gradually made his way (by land) into the province of Hoopeh. In
+December of the same year, while Lord Elgin's expedition was at Hankow,
+he was heard from at a small town in the neighbourhood; in fact, he
+managed to put on board one of the vessels a letter for Mr. Chalmers,
+his teacher at Hong-kong. In the spring of 1859, he at last reached
+Nankin, and soon after was appointed to the high rank of Kan-wang
+(_i.e._, Shield Prince), in which position, and his subsequent one of
+Prime Minister, he became familiar to Europeans. A letter which he wrote
+to the Rev. Mr. Edkins, nearly a year later, contained the following
+passage relating to the Tien-wang:--
+
+    "On meeting with his relative, the Celestial king, and having
+    daily conversations with him, he was struck by the wisdom and
+    depth of his teaching, far transcending that of common men."
+
+Hung-jin--or rather the Kan-wang, as we must call him in future--joined
+his friends at a troublous time, more than usually so even to a man who,
+like him, had lived the prime of his life in difficulties and danger.
+Within a few months after his arrival at Nankin, that city was closely
+invested by a large and overpowering Imperialist army. Although since
+1853, Nankin had frequently been in a state of siege, upon no previous
+occasion had it been so hardly pressed. Towards the close of 1859, the
+besieging forces were increased from 50,000 to upwards of 100,000
+fighting men, all supplies were cut off from the city, and the
+Imperialists flattered themselves that a short time would see the
+garrison starved out. Darkly, though, closed that year around the
+Ti-ping capital--surrounded as it was by savage foemen, thirsting for
+the blood of its starving inhabitants--a danger, still more deadly, and
+more bitter, was looming in the distance, although at the time
+impalpable and scarcely conceived. It was a danger menacing the patriots
+from civilized and Christian men, men who, in other lands, have given
+their blood and treasure to causes far less deserving of their sympathy;
+in short, it was the creation of the "China indemnity" extortion. Evil
+as the effect of the Elgin treaty concluded in 1858 must have been to
+the Ti-pings, it is yet possible that the successes they shortly
+attained might have counteracted the prejudices so unjustly excited
+against them; but when to this was added the question of indemnity, the
+Ti-pings were doomed. It is probable that had they remained quiescent
+until such time as the love of gold was satisfied, they might then have
+been uninterfered with; unfortunately it was otherwise, a rapid series
+of victories threatened destruction to the Manchoo dynasty, and with it,
+of course, to the "China indemnity;" consequently, if the expenses of
+this "little war" were to be secured, immediate action became
+necessary, and the ruin of the Ti-pings inevitable.
+
+In June, 1859, the British plenipotentiary, not satisfied with the route
+_via_ Peh-tang, as proposed and decided upon by the Chinese authorities
+for his passage to Pekin, had the coolness to choose his own path, and
+when the mandarins naturally resisted such arrogance, to endeavour to
+force it at the cannon's mouth. What would Englishmen think, and do, if
+a Chinese fleet carrying an ambassador were to arrive in England, and,
+refusing to land their ambassador according to our customs, advance
+their fleet past all our fortifications without paying them the
+slightest respect? This would be a very similar case to the Taku fort
+disaster; and, moreover, it must be borne in mind that the affair took
+place just after peace had been concluded, which must have given it the
+complexion of a resumption of hostilities rather than that of a peaceful
+embassy.
+
+The excuse generally made for this sort of thing is, that it is
+impossible to deal with semi-civilized nations as you would with
+civilized ones, that is to say, the civilized nation is to descend to
+the level of the semi-civilized one. This reasoning, illogical and
+dishonourable at all times, is in this case totally inadmissible, for it
+is at the least doubtful whether any cause for an appeal to arms
+existed. It appears, however, that elasticity of principle and
+inconsistency in action may be regarded as the important elements in the
+policy of England--can it be better illustrated than by her conduct to
+Germany and Denmark, to America and Brazil, to Russia and China?
+
+Admiral Hope, a useful man to such a ministry, to use a nautical simile,
+"went stem on like a Nor'-west buffalo" to the Taku forts, and
+sacrificed a number of brave men needlessly. This led to the resumption
+of hostilities, and we find Lord John Russell writing upon November
+18th, 1859, to Mr. Bruce:--
+
+    "Unless, therefore, the most ample apology should be promptly
+    made and the other demands specified in my previous dispatch
+    complied with, you are instructed to state that _a large
+    pecuniary indemnity_ will be demanded by her Majesty's
+    Government from that of China."
+
+By altering a few words, how like the ultimatum of a highwayman this
+would read. Lord John Russell evidently did all he could to justify the
+anecdote of Alexander the Great and the robber.
+
+The Chinese indemnity plot thickened rapidly. Lord Russell's next
+dispatch to Mr. Bruce, dated January 3rd, 1860, contained the
+following:--
+
+    "We go to seek redress for these wrongs" (the resistance offered
+    by the Manchoo troops to the destruction of their barriers,
+    defences, &c., at the Taku forts, by Admiral Hope), "and to
+    require that the word of the emperor should be observed, and
+    that an _indemnity_ should be paid for the loss of men" (killed
+    trying to kill the Chinese troops who very correctly opposed
+    their unjustifiable attempt to force the fortified entrance of
+    the Pei-ho river), "and the heavy expense of obtaining redress"
+    (for their own fault).
+
+Lord John Russell arrived at the superlative degree of the "China
+indemnity" upon February 8th, 1860, when he penned the following to Mr.
+Bruce:--
+
+    "It has been _decided_ between her Majesty's Government and that
+    of the Emperor of the French that the amount of indemnity-money
+    to be demanded of the Chinese Government shall be in each case a
+    sum of 60,000,000 _francs_," "towards the expense of the joint
+    expedition now on its way to the China seas."
+
+Here was decisive action following promptly upon threats and
+intimidation; who can say but that the finale to the Danish question
+might have been different had the Foreign Secretary possessed equal
+facilities for arranging the indemnity to be paid by Germany?
+
+Upon the part of the British representatives it is denied that the
+Chinese Government proposed Peh-tang as the route our plenipotentiary
+should proceed by to Pekin; it is, however, admitted in the blue book
+upon affairs in China, 1859-60, at page 43, that Mr. Bruce was
+requested not to pass the river barriers:--
+
+    "They" (the Imperial Chinese commissioners) "would wish that on
+    his arrival at the mouth of the river he would anchor his
+    vessels of war _outside the bar_."
+
+As this was disregarded by Mr. Bruce, it may naturally be inferred that
+the request so constantly reiterated throughout the Chinese dispatches,
+"that he (Mr. Bruce) must go by way of Peh-tang," was really made, but
+was treated by the British plenipotentiary with the same contempt and
+want of courtesy.
+
+The instructions given to Lord Elgin upon his second embassy to China
+were issued from the Foreign Office, April 17th, 1860; the conditions of
+peace to be offered to China were:--
+
+    "First. An apology for the attack on the allied forces at the
+    Pei-ho" (_i.e._ the Chinese Government must apologize for
+    defending itself). "Secondly. The ratification and execution of
+    the treaty of Tien-tsin" (a treaty extorted from the Chinese
+    when under compulsion, the terms of which would probably not
+    have been really evaded). "Thirdly. The payment of an indemnity
+    to the allies for the expense of naval and military
+    preparations." (No wonder the Chinese ministers wrote "then the
+    demand for indemnity is yet more against propriety. Were China
+    to demand repayment of England, England would find that her
+    expenses did not amount to one half of those of China.")
+
+Most undoubtedly previous to the _Arrow_ war the position of Europeans
+in China was very unsatisfactory; but it is quite as certain that this
+resulted as much from our aggressive and lawless proceedings, as from
+the natural aversion of the Manchoo government for our intercourse. From
+beginning to end, the whole history of the British connection with China
+is discreditable. However just may have been the cause of complaint, it
+is beyond all doubt that mean and disgraceful subterfuges have been
+adopted as the _casus belli_ for each campaign undertaken against that
+empire. Can an Englishman be found (excepting the opium traders, &c.)
+who does not lament that blackest page of English history--the war that
+was waged upon China in 1840, under the following circumstances:--
+
+    "In agreement with a treaty signed by British merchants, Captain
+    Elliott, her Majesty's superintendent of trade, caused 20,283
+    chests of opium to be delivered to Commissioner Lin. The opium
+    was destroyed by order of the emperor. The conditions for
+    terminating the war were, that China should pay L1,200,000 for
+    the opium; L3,000,000, which amounts to L1,000 per head, for the
+    destruction of 30,000 of her unoffending subjects, and bear the
+    expense of her own defence!"
+
+The last war, which commenced in 1856, and was ultimately concluded by
+the ratification of the treaty of 1858, by Lord Elgin in 1860, was
+equally iniquitous with the first, and in the same manner was originated
+by the detestable opium smuggling, the seizure of the opium smuggler
+_Arrow_ being made the pretext for hostilities. Whatever may hereafter
+be alleged, at the present time but few can be found to deny the fact,
+that the wars with China have always been waged to force the opium
+trade, and that by the last one the legalization of that vile traffic
+was compelled.
+
+Not without reason did the Manchoo great council of state use the
+following passages in their dispatch to Commissioner Ho, who was at
+Shanghae endeavouring to settle pacifically the Taku affair, and the
+ratification of the treaty of Tien-tsin, previous to the resumption of
+hostilities:--
+
+    "To come to the British minister's request to be properly (or
+    courteously) received when he comes north to exchange treaties,
+    if his intention be indeed peace (or friendly), he will (or let
+    him) leave it to the commissioner to think over all details
+    whatsoever of treaty arrangements in which management
+    (adjustment, compromise) may with propriety be effected; and
+    negotiations being set on foot at Shanghae, when both parties
+    are perfectly agreed, let him come north without a fleet, and
+    with a small retinue, and wait at Peh-tang, for the exchange of
+    the treaties; in which case China will certainly not take him to
+    task for what is past."
+
+Referring to his former attempt to force his passage past the Taku
+forts, when Admiral Hope was repulsed,
+
+    "But if he be determined to bring up a number of vessels of war,
+    and if he persist in proceeding by way of Takoo, this will show
+    that his real purpose is not the exchange of treaties, and it
+    must be left to the high officer in charge of the coast (or
+    port) defences to take such steps as shall be essential" (_lit.
+    as shall accord with right_).
+
+This proposition, of course, was not entertained by Mr. Bruce or Lord
+Elgin, who proceeded to act upon Lord Russell's instructions--"for the
+joint occupation of Chusan, or some other portion of the Chinese
+territory, in addition to the city of Canton, by the British and French
+forces till the _indemnity_ is paid." So to obtain "material guarantees"
+for this indemnity, the civilized nations proceeded to batter the
+semi-civilized one into compliance, and the allied forces started upon
+the Pekin campaign.
+
+However wrong the Manchoos may have been, it cannot be denied that the
+British _modus operandi_ in China has been equally bad; and whatever
+right there may be on the civilized side, it would be difficult to read
+the correspondence between the two governments and not admit that the
+semi-civilized one has the best of the argument.
+
+Commerce is a great and important element in the prosperity and
+civilization of every nation, and especially so to England; but there is
+something greater and more noble than commerce--that is, honour. The
+advantages of trade, to be permanent and beneficial, must be conducted
+honourably, and that is exactly what the Government of Great Britain has
+been unable to do. All over the world its foreign policy, and its
+attempts to force trade where it can be done with impunity, have not
+only lowered the "just influence" of England and brought her into
+contempt, but, in many cases, have created a burning resentment in the
+breasts of those who have been wronged, that neither the present nor
+future generation will forget. In every quarter of the globe mischievous
+interference has taken place, often followed by those aggressive wars
+which have been denounced by every great and enlightened statesman from
+the time of Queen Elizabeth.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[28] This statement of Dr. Bridgeman's was incorrect. The opinions of
+nearly all the other missionaries,--including the Rev. Drs. John,
+Medhurst, Muirhead, Edkins, &c.,--acquainted with the Ti-pings and their
+works, agree with the following explanation by the Bishop of Victoria,
+of their acknowledgment of the inspiration of the Bible; besides which,
+the proclamation of the Tien-wang (see page 84) fully states their
+belief in the Divine equality of the Son (Celestial Elder Brother) with
+the Father.
+
+"While the imperial titles are raised by only one space, it is
+interesting to observe that in their list of authorized books (published
+as a preface to each volume), with the _imprimatur_ of Tae-ping-wang,
+the words 'Old' and 'New Testament' each receive _an elevation of three
+spaces_ in the enumeration, whereas Tae-ping-wang's name, even when
+forming a portion of the title of books of their own original
+composition, is only raised by _one_ space. This seems to be a plain
+recognition of the paramount divine authority of the Holy Scriptures as
+_God's Book_, above books of human authorship, and suggests the hope
+that where so vital an element of essential truth _is present_, errors
+will be rectified and defects expurgated, by the general circulation and
+perusal of the Word of God, as the best and surest corrective of
+imperfect views on the more mysterious doctrines of the Gospel. The
+portions of the Holy Scriptures which they have already published,
+exceed in quantity of contents all the other books which are of their
+own composition added together. In the books recently brought from
+Nankin, there is an impression in red ink, from a large moveable die or
+stamp, with the two characters, Che Chun--'the Imperial Will
+permits'--surrounded by the usual imperial symbols. This _imprimatur_ is
+stamped upon the first page of the text in every book. With such a fact
+as this before us, every _unprejudiced_ mind will perceive that there is
+a new era of hope for the Chinese empire."
+
+[29] Another part of the same explanation states the Ti-ping idea of
+Christ's Divinity; while again, the following verse from the "Ode for
+Youth" clearly sets forth his divinity and atonement. Were this not so,
+it would evidently be the height of injustice to blame a people just
+arising from the depths of idolatry and ignorance for a fault common
+amongst ourselves; for have we not Socinians as well as Unitarians?
+
+"It has been customary in native compositions, whenever the Chinese
+names or titles of the Emperor occur, to commence a new column, as a
+mark of honour, and to place the imperial name higher in the page by the
+space of two Chinese words. The name of the Supreme Being is similarly
+honoured, but has the distinction of being raised three spaces in the
+page. An interesting modification of this usage is perceptible in the
+imperial proclamations and manifestoes of Tae-ping-wang. The name of
+Almighty God the Father is elevated three spaces; that of Jesus Christ
+is raised two spaces; and the imperial name and titles of Tae-ping-wang
+himself _are lowered one degree from the customary position_, and
+receive the elevation of only one space. As minds are differently
+biassed, this fact will be differently judged. To us, however, it
+appears an indication that the insurgent leaders, although viewing Jesus
+Christ as inferior to the Father as touching his humanity, recognize his
+superiority to the most exalted of earthly potentates as touching his
+divinity."
+
+The unmistakable interpretation to place upon this, is,--no Chinese mind
+could possibly place the _Son_ upon a _perfect_ equality with the
+Father,--their entire system of thought and education debars this from
+their comprehension; but with a reverence beyond all praise, the
+Tien-wang actually lowered his own position to avoid trespassing upon
+the divine attributes of his Saviour: which he has thus expressed in the
+verse of the "Ode for Youth":--
+
+    "REVERENCE TO JESUS.
+
+    Jesus, His first-born son,
+    Was in former times sent by God;
+    He willingly gave His life to redeem us from sin.
+    Of a truth His merits are pre-eminent.
+    His cross was hard to bear,
+    The sorrowing clouds obscured the sun;
+    The adorable Son, the honoured of Heaven,
+    Died for you, children of men.
+    After His resurrection He ascended to heaven,
+    Resplendent in glory, He wields authority supreme.
+    In Him we know that we may trust,
+    To secure salvation and ascend to heaven."
+
+Such are the sentiments of a man, who, besides his voluminous religious
+compositions, has written the history of China; corrected her classics:
+written innumerable works upon civil administration and foreign arts and
+sciences, and who has nevertheless been designated in England as an
+"_ignorant_ impostor and coolie." The British public must indeed have
+been "green and greasy" (as Sir James Brooke once observed) to take in
+all the secretary and under-secretary's reports, and swallow the
+bullock, horns and all.
+
+[30] In this opinion Dr. Bridgeman is also wrong; even his
+fellow-voyageur X.Y.Z. thought differently, and wrote: "The titles
+applied to these kings are no doubt _mere empty names_, without any
+specific meaning, and are not necessarily to be understood as implying a
+claim to super-earthly dignity."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+    The Sz-wang's Domestic Life.--Approach to Nankin.--Interior of
+    Nankin.--A Ti-ping Banquet.--Maou-lin, the Chung-wang's
+    Son.--The Chung-wang's Palace.--The Chung-Wang's Levee.--Ti-ping
+    Chiefs.--Chung-wang's appearance.--Council of War.--The
+    Review.--Cum-ho.--The March.--The Ti-ping Army.--Its
+    Organization.--Selection of Officers.--Equipment of the
+    Army.--Its Formation.--The Enemy in View.--Their
+    Retreat.--Preparations for Attack.--A Night Attack.--A Stockade
+    carried.--Charge of Manchoo Cavalry.--The Repulse.--The Enemy
+    retreat.--The Pursuit.--Complete Rout of the
+    Manchoos.--Maou-lin's Bravery.--Return to Nankin.
+
+
+When I found the lorcha so effectually driven off, I instantly landed,
+both to thank the chief in charge, and let him know who I was, and what
+I wanted. I went ashore with my friend, and found that the high official
+in charge of all the forts, batteries, and suburbs of Nankin, was the
+Sz-wang. We were received by him in his official dwelling with much
+civility, which changed into the greatest kindness directly he saw my
+commission, and found that we were aiders and abettors of the Ti-ping
+cause.
+
+The Sz-wang was an elderly dignified man, and had formerly been a high
+mandarin at Hankow; but when the Ti-pings first captured that city, he
+had joined them with all his family. He entertained us very comfortably
+to a rather luxurious dinner, consisting of _beche-de-mer_, bird's-nest
+soup, &c.; after which, the ladies and little Sz-wangs were introduced
+with the wine,--just at the time they would have been retiring from the
+table if in Europe. I was quite surprised with their appearance, it was
+in such direct opposition to the strict seclusion in which the women
+are kept amongst the Chinese. I afterwards found that the free
+intercourse and elevated position of their women was one of the
+innumerable innovations which marked the Ti-pings' superiority to the
+Imperialists. A little son of the Sz-wang--the eldest of two--was put
+into my arms, and, to my astonishment, commenced prattling the Lord's
+Prayer in Chinese, although certainly not more than four years old. The
+Sz-wang's wife, his two daughters, and several other ladies of his
+household, all took part in a free and general conversation, quite
+unlike anything ever seen amongst the Chinese elsewhere. About ten in
+the evening, after family prayers, they retired for the night. The
+prayers were commenced by the Sz-wang reading a chapter from the Bible;
+after which a hymn was sung, every one standing; and then he dismissed
+us all with a short extempore prayer. I returned on board highly pleased
+with my first night at Nankin.
+
+The next morning I landed with my friend, and obtaining horses the
+Sz-wang had promised the previous evening to have ready, we started for
+the city, the nearest point of which was about two miles distant. Our
+way ran through a long and populous suburb, in which a very large
+provision trade was being carried on, and great numbers of shaven-headed
+Imperialists were to be seen about, all apparently busily engaged
+disposing of their merchandise. The walls of Nankin cover an immense
+area, being at the least eighteen or nineteen miles in circumference;
+but for many years the greater part of the enclosed space has been
+destitute of houses, and only used for gardens, or to cultivate corn and
+other cereal produce. The Chinese have an old saying "that if two men on
+horseback were to start in the morning and ride in opposite directions,
+round the walls, it would be evening before they met." This is hardly an
+exaggeration, on account of the angles and irregular turning of the
+ramparts.
+
+When we arrived before the N.E. gate, much delay took place previous to
+our being admitted. The escort kindly furnished by the Sz-wang carried
+passes for us, and besides this I showed the gate-keepers my commission.
+None but _bona fide_ Ti-pings were allowed to pass in or out, and then,
+only after a minute search; and I noticed that all who entered or came
+forth carried a little wooden ticket at the waist, which had to be
+exhibited to the guard. The walls, although of immense thickness, and at
+the lowest part upwards of fifty feet high, were very poorly furnished
+with artillery, merely two or three light pieces being mounted upon each
+bastion, generally some 150 yards apart.
+
+At last the warder-in-chief of that particular gate of Tien-kin (the
+Holy City), came to us, and after a severe questioning we received
+permission to enter. Passing through three high gates, under a tunnel at
+least 100 feet long, we stood within the capital of the Ti-ping. A sharp
+ride of more than half an hour brought us to the inhabited part of the
+city, in its southern quarter. Our way passed through fields of grain,
+interspersed with gardens, small villages, and detached houses. We
+passed many soldiers, each of whom halted to salute us as "Wa-choong-te"
+(foreign brethren). The southern part of Nankin was thickly inhabited,
+and seemed altogether of a better and more handsome style than any
+Chinese city I had previously seen. Many large palaces and official
+buildings occupied prominent positions; the streets were very wide and
+particularly clean, a rare thing in China; and the numerous people had
+all a free and happy bearing, totally the reverse of the cringing and
+humbled appearance of the Manchoo-governed Chinese. Upon reaching the
+Chung-wang's palace, I had no occasion to announce myself, for almost
+the first person I saw was my old acquaintance Le-wang, the
+Commander-in-Chief's adjutant-general. I introduced my friend to him,
+who, welcoming us warmly, carried us off, taking each by a hand with his
+usual frank and friendly manner, and so leading us into the palace. The
+Chung-wang, it appeared, was engaged planning important movements with
+several of the generals and chiefs. The southern half of the province of
+Ngan-whui, at this time (early spring of 1861) entirely under the
+control of the Ti-pings, was threatened by a large Imperialist army
+marching upon its western borders; and the Chung-wang was about to take
+the field against them himself.
+
+The Le-wang, having to join the council, left us to the care of the
+Chung-wang's son and attendants, who certainly gave us no cause to
+complain of their want of attention or friendliness, with which they
+almost overpowered us.
+
+Directly we were left to them, they took it into their heads that we
+must be hungry; it was no use protesting they were mistaken, because the
+polite thing in China is, if you want anything very particularly, you
+must persistingly declare that you do not. The cooks were accordingly
+set to work; and in a short time a table was spread; the two or three
+elderly officials seated themselves complacently with us, although I do
+not believe they were a bit more hungry than we were; and the crowd of
+youthful pages, sons of retainers, &c., formed themselves into an
+admiring circle all round. The Chinese have a wonderful idea of the
+eating capacity of foreigners, and the earnest manner in which the
+Chung-wang's pages pressed dish after dish upon us, as though our very
+lives depended upon the quantity of viands we could stuff with at once,
+proved they shared the common opinion of their countrymen.
+
+Throughout the repast a regular flow of Ti-ping young gentlemen passed
+through the hall, each coming up to us and saying in a positively
+affectionate manner, "Tsin-tsin, Yang ta jen?" (How do you do, Foreign
+Excellency?) When the plates and dishes were cleared away, they came up
+and shook hands, and all lingered around us, each evincing the warmest
+and kindest feelings.
+
+The remarkable kindness and respect I have always experienced from the
+Ti-pings, has long since filled my heart with sincere friendship for
+them; but in this I am not singular, for every European who has had
+communication with them has been similarly impressed.
+
+The council of war having risen, I was very kindly received by the
+Chung-wang in the evening, who at once gave orders to prepare quarters
+for me and my friends in his own palace, and also expressed a wish that
+I should accompany him on his expedition. I then informed him about my
+betrothed, and the ladies of the palace, all eager to see her, kindly
+promised to take every care of her and supply every comfort and
+accommodation during my absence. When all the arrangements were settled,
+I returned on board with my friend, accompanied by the Chung-wang's son,
+Maou-lin, who, from our first meeting, had seemed to attach himself to
+me, and who now wished to remain with me on board our vessel till our
+return to the city.
+
+Maou-lin, at that time, although only fifteen years of age, was already
+celebrated for his courage and leadership in battle. He was excessively
+fond of Europeans, always shook hands, and could say "good bye," "how do
+you do," and use a few other English expressions. His appearance was
+beautiful and delicate as that of a young girl, his voice the softest
+and most melodious. How great must have been the enthusiasm that could
+inspire a form fragile as his with a spirit so heroic! From his young
+and feminine appearance it would never be credited that he could possess
+such dauntless bravery in battle, yet have I seen him eclipsing the
+valour of the bravest men; danger and fear were feelings he had never
+known: brought up amidst the struggles of the Ti-pings for their lives,
+he had been a soldier almost from his cradle, and had become inured to
+peril and warfare. Brave boy! as I write of him his sweet voice is
+ringing in my ear, and I almost _feel_ the power of his large earnest
+eyes. During some years I felt the brother he always called me, and
+thoroughly appreciated his beautiful character--brave, generous, deeply
+religious, affectionate and impulsive--I never found, even amongst my
+own race, one so truly admirable. And now where is he? If living, an
+outcast and refugee in his native land, the land he loved so well and
+fought for so nobly. If dead, one of the many thousand victims to a
+cruel and unjustifiable hostility.
+
+In the morning I moved my vessel farther up the creek, and leaving her
+in the charge of the _lowder_, close up to the city gate, landed with
+Marie, my two friends, and Maou-lin, and proceeded to take up our
+quarters in Nankin. The Chung-wang's ladies received Marie very
+affectionately, and, thanks to her knowledge of Chinese, she was soon
+quite at home with them. In a short time the stranger girl was amply
+supplied with rich dresses _a la Chinoise_, a style of costume
+excessively becoming, consisting of loose petticoat trousers, and a
+nicely cut over-garment reaching just below the knees, tight at the
+neck, half tight at the waist, with loose sleeves, and a loose
+embroidered skirt, open at the sides.
+
+The Chung-wang's palace was a very extensive and handsome building, only
+lately erected. Entering through an immense archway, supported by
+beautifully sculptured granite columns, the outer door of a large
+courtyard was reached. Passing through this, the covered way led direct
+to the grand entrance of the palace, with its carved and gilded columns,
+and roof covered with a brilliant representation of Chinese mythology.
+Upon each side of the spacious courtyard, a range of low profusely
+decorated colonnades extended past the front of the palace to the
+grounds in its rear. Over the principal door was placed a board with a
+gilded inscription, which told to what purpose the building was
+dedicated. The door itself was covered with huge painted dragons, and
+opened upon a court fronting the Chung-wang's tribunal. Here, and
+throughout the palace, the cunning of the Chinese artisan was thoroughly
+displayed, the stonework, windows, woodwork, ceiling and walls, forming
+a series of most exquisite and curious specimens of sculpture; while
+every available portion of the building was curiously carved in wood and
+stone; a work far from being completed, and estimated to occupy three
+years more at least. On either side of the grand entrance stood a
+gigantic drum, always sounded when the Chung-wang held a court, or for
+purposes of assembly or alarm. Immediately within the portals a
+magnificent piazza extended a short distance up to the open court
+fronting the tribunal, the roof formed of two immense domes, each one
+mass of gold and silver, twisted into spiral flutings resembling a
+shell-fish, peculiar to Chinese mythology. The domes were supported by a
+number of brilliantly decorated columns, twined by serpents. The Hall of
+Judgment, upon the other side of the stone court, was decorated in
+crimson, except the walls, which were hung with large yellow satin
+tablets, recording the honourable deeds of the Chung-wang, the
+compliments and rewards received from the Ti-ping king, and various
+moral proverbs from the Chinese classics; while, between these, tablets
+of stone were engraved with texts from scripture; the intervening
+portions of the wall containing a tablature of mythology, battles, and
+landscapes, similar to the decorations around the outer colonnades, and
+all illuminated in brilliant colours and with much ingenuity. The sides
+of the Judgment Hall were ornamented in the same style as the other
+parts of the palace, with miniature landscapes, covered with natural
+shrubs and trees,--peach, acacias, magnolias, with their powerful aroma,
+camelias of the most delicate hue, and others peculiar to China, all
+perfectly developed upon the most minute scale. Half shrouded by
+beautiful little weeping willows and the sensitive mimosa, diminutive
+porcelain cities rested on the sides of tiny lakes, sparkling with gold
+and silver fish; while here and there, hills covered with flourishing
+vegetation in one part, and barren and rocky in another, rose from
+amidst the trees, with several porcelain pagodas. The tribunal, the
+table fronting it, and the surrounding chairs, were covered with yellow
+satin, and directly behind and above the former a grand canopy of the
+same material, of yellow and scarlet, was suspended. The ceiling was
+hung with handsome glass lanterns and lustres, prettily ornamented with
+rich silken cords and tassels reaching almost to the cornices, the
+standards and banners of the Chung-wang drooped in heavy silken folds to
+the ground. Passing on from the Judgment Hall, after traversing several
+broad chambers, whose sides were filled with small offices containing
+secretaries, scribes, &c., another open court was reached, with an
+orchestra and musicians at each side; passing which, the Audience
+Chamber was entered; then the apartments of the palace officials, and
+another court, and finally the "Heavenly Hall," or place of worship;
+beyond which were the private rooms of the Chung-wang and his household.
+At the back of the palace a garden of rock-work, full of grottos, ponds
+of water crossed by Chinese bridges, and all manner of grotesque Chinese
+conceits, with a spacious summer dining pavilion in the centre, extended
+to the colonnade. The rooms placed at the disposal of myself and friends
+looked directly upon this, and prettier quarters it would have been
+impossible to find in all Nankin.
+
+The Chung-wang's residence was the grandest and most gorgeous in the
+city, with the exception of the Ti-ping-wang's (Tien-wang), whose palace
+covered an immense area, and was surrounded by a large yellow wall,
+crowned with tall and graceful minarets, and a mass of green, golden,
+and scarlet roofs.
+
+A few days after my arrival at Nankin, the Chung-wang held a grand levee
+to arrange the military operations for the year. Upon this occasion I
+had the pleasure of meeting the enlightened Kan-wang (Hung-jin, the
+Tien-wang's cousin), and the "accomplished prince," the Chang-wang. I
+have already given the opinions of our missionaries with regard to the
+Kan-wang's superior intellect and truly Christian character. In the
+_Overland Register_, published at Hong-kong on the 25th of August, 1860,
+he is spoken of thus:--
+
+    "His intercourse with Chinese Christians was what is termed
+    _edifying_, calculated to promote their _purity_ and stimulate
+    their zeal. With other Chinese he was the proselytizer,
+    fearlessly exposing their errors, and exhorting them to repent
+    and believe the Gospel. Over young men his influence was
+    peculiarly beneficial. In fact, whether the individuals were
+    young or old, the case was, as was once observed by Mr.
+    Chalmers, 'Whenever you see any one having long and frequent
+    intercourse with Hung-jin, you may be sure there is something
+    good going on in him.'"
+
+The Kan-wang was the head of the Ti-ping administration, and was called
+First Minister. During an intimacy of several years I proved him to be
+not only a good Christian, but a man of most honourable principles, of
+enlightened mind, and thoroughly civilized. It is, however, a task of
+much difficulty and delicacy to draw a distinction amongst the Ti-ping
+chiefs, simply because so many of them were equally distinguished. I
+may, however, say that after the Tien-wang, the Chung, Kan, Chang, Ying,
+I (the Tien-wang's eldest brother), and Tsan wangs were the greatest.
+The Chang-wang was a sort of Home Secretary or Minister of the Interior;
+neither this chief nor the Kan-wang held any executive military command,
+although both were frequently in the field in order to introduce civil
+administration into conquered provinces. The Chang-wang was considered
+the most learned and accomplished man in the Ti-ping ranks, and hence
+his title, "Accomplished Prince." His modest and unpretending manner,
+politeness and education, made him one of the most agreeable of
+companions. This chief, the Kan-wang, the Chung-wang's son, Maou-lin,
+and several other men of rank, were studying the English language from
+books supplied them by some missionaries. The Rev. Griffith John,
+describing his visit to Nankin, wrote:--
+
+[Illustration: THE CHUNG-WANG'S COUNCIL OF WAR.
+DAY & SON, LIMITED, LITH.]
+
+    "The Chang-wang at Nankin begged of me to inform the 'Foreign
+    Brethren,' for him, that the following are his views:--'You have
+    had the Gospel for upwards of 1800 years, we only, as it were,
+    eight days. Your knowledge of it ought to be correct and
+    extensive; ours must necessarily be limited and imperfect. _You
+    must therefore bear with us for the present, and we will
+    gradually improve._ As for the Gospel, it is one, and must be
+    propagated throughout the world. Let the 'Foreign Brethren' all
+    know _that we are determined to uproot idolatry, and plant
+    Christianity in its place_.'"
+
+I can answer for it that Chang-wang has done all in his power to carry
+out his determination; his request for foreigners to "bear with" the
+Ti-pings for awhile, and the reason he gives for it, afford a good
+example of his just and liberal opinions. In age he was probably about
+35, of middle height, and with a thoughtful, intelligent, and almost
+pensive style of countenance. The Kan-wang seemed at least ten years
+older, rather stoutish and tall, and with an open, pleasing face,
+expressive of a kind and benevolent character. His little son was being
+taught English, from a number of picture books written in Chinese and
+English, and would always put his little hand in mine and lisp, "Good
+morning, how do you do?" whenever I entered his father's palace.
+
+The Kan and Chang wangs were well acquainted with geography and
+mechanics, and besides, possessed books of reference, with plates, upon
+every imaginable subject of Western civilization and science, which they
+were constantly studying.
+
+The chiefs all attended the Chung-wang's levee in their state robes and
+coronets. The Chung-wang himself appeared with a beautiful crown; he was
+the only chief besides his Majesty, the Tien-wang, who wore one of real
+gold. The metal was beaten out thin, into beautiful filigree-work and
+leaves, and formed into the figure of a tiger, the eyes being of large
+rubies, and the teeth rows of pearls. At each side was an eagle with
+outstretched wings, and on the top a phoenix. The whole crown was
+magnificently decorated with large jewels set into the gold, while
+pearls, sapphires, and other gems hung all around. In his hand the
+Chung-wang carried a jade-stone sceptre or "yu-i," curved at each end,
+and covered with groups of sapphires, pearls, garnets, and amethysts.
+His state robe was a gorgeous affair, reaching almost to the feet, of
+beautifully embroidered yellow satin, stiff with gold bosses and dragons
+worked in gold, silver, and scarlet threads. Yellow embroidered
+trousers, and boots of yellow satin, similarly ornamented, completed a
+costume, than which--set off by his handsome and energetic features--it
+would be impossible to imagine one more magnificent. When the Chung-wang
+entered the Audience Hall and proceeded to his state chair, all the
+assembled chieftains rose to their feet, and passing before him, dropped
+upon one knee and saluted him, and then returned to their seats, after
+which, the deliberations were entered into.
+
+[Illustration: CHUNG-WANG'S CROWN.]
+
+When the result of the council had been submitted to and approved by the
+Tien-wang, orders were given to the generals to march at once upon their
+several destinations. The Ying-wang was despatched with a large force
+along the northern bank of the Yang-tze river, in the direction of
+Han-kow and the province of Hoo-peh. Reinforcements were ordered to the
+Shi-wang in Kiang-si, and the Kan-wang, with a large retinue, was sent
+to the borders of Kwei-chow to accept the allegiance of a strong body of
+insurgents from Kwang-tung, which had lately been tendered to the
+Ti-ping emperor. Each of these chiefs, when prepared to start upon their
+expedition, assembled their troops and harangued them in a most
+energetic manner. Their addresses were received with acclamation, and it
+required but little penetration to prophesy the Manchoo troops would
+have but small chance of successfully opposing these enthusiastic and
+determined men. With all their excitement they seemed possessed with a
+firmness of purpose, and settled conviction to succeed. I conversed with
+many while marching towards the city gates, and found all alike imbued
+with the earnest belief that God, or as they expressed it, "The Heavenly
+Father," was with them. Some were quite boys, of fifteen or sixteen
+years. I asked several if they were not afraid to go to battle and be
+killed, and one daring-looking little fellow, pointing to a great
+cicatrice along the side of his neck, and another on his breast, told me
+he had received the wounds fighting the "Demon-imps" (Manchoos), and
+that he intended soon to have his revenge. Several of the elder soldiers
+told me in a very serious manner that it was a good thing to be killed
+fighting the "demons" (the Manchoos were so called because of their
+idolatry), as they would then certainly go to heaven.
+
+The Chung-wang, previous to commencing his march to Ngan-whui, reviewed
+his body-guard in the large parade ground. This brigade, 5,000 strong,
+marching under the Chang-wang's standard of green, was composed of one
+of the finest bodies of men I have ever seen in my life. Until the
+repulse from Shanghae it was their boast that they had never retreated
+or turned their backs upon a foe. They were all natives of Kwang-si, the
+Chung-wang's province, and came principally from the Maoutze, or
+aboriginal mountaineers, who have never at any period of the Manchoo
+invasion, become subject to, or been subdued by them; and who, at the
+present time, still retain the ancient Chinese customs and their own
+form of government, entirely independent and free of all allegiance to
+the reigning dynasty. These Maoutze are the very bravest soldiers in
+China, and are easily to be recognized by the enormous quantity of their
+hair; for never having succumbed to and adopted the usurper's badge of
+slavery--the shaved head--their hair has grown from infancy, reaching
+almost to their feet when loose, and when dressed forming a tail of
+great thickness, which, when wound round the neck, acts as a protecting
+armour that no sword can penetrate in the day of battle.
+
+Besides his brigade of guards, the Chung-wang reviewed another, composed
+of remarkably fine Honan men, and commanded by Ling-ho, an adopted son.
+This chief, celebrated for his reckless and dashing gallantry, had been
+repeatedly and dangerously wounded. He was particularly attached to
+Europeans, and at the time I met him, had two with him, one a Corsican,
+who held the position of Lieutenant-Colonel in his regiment, and the
+other a Sardinian, who was a Major. They had served with him several
+years, were both married, and perfectly happy and contented, although
+they had passed a considerable time without seeing another European than
+themselves. The men they commanded were greatly attached to them, and
+ready and willing to follow them anywhere. These two brigades, the
+body-guard of the Foo-wang, second in command, and a small body of
+cavalry, were all the troops the Chung-wang took with him from Nankin;
+but these were the very _elite_ of the Ti-ping forces. The strength of
+the whole division was about 7,500, which was to be considerably
+increased by reinforcements in Ngan-whui.
+
+At last, after all the other expeditionary forces had started, the
+Chung-wang himself set forth. Marie I left in tears, but perfect safety
+and comfort. After the last farewell she was led into the inner
+apartments by her particular friend, Cum-ho (the Good Gold), the
+Chung-wang's second daughter, a remarkably pretty girl of about her own
+age. During the few weeks which had elapsed since our arrival at Nankin,
+her Excellency Mademoiselle Cum-ho had been the inseparable companion of
+Marie. My friend was generally with me, and I began to fancy that her
+"Foreign Brother" was latterly assuming a very unbrotherly and more
+affectionate relation. We were the first Europeans the Chung-wang's
+ladies had ever seen, and my friend was a fine handsome specimen of the
+race, therefore, it was not very astonishing that Mademoiselle Cum-ho
+should have looked favourably upon him. Poor fellow! he must have
+experienced considerable difficulty in making love, for at the time he
+scarcely knew five Chinese words.
+
+Field artillery was a thing totally unknown to the Chinese armies when I
+joined the Chung-wang, but previous to leaving Nankin I prevailed upon
+him to give me men to work them and the requisite authority to mount
+three light 6-pound French field-pieces, and carry them with us. My
+friends and self were each capitally mounted with strong and hardy
+Chinese horses, for which the Chung-wang would not hear of payment. With
+our small battery of artillery we were attached to his guards, and
+marched rapidly forward. Besides my interpreter and cook, the Chung-wang
+very kindly supplied us with a couple of pages each. This system of
+pages is a very common one in the Ti-ping armies; every chief or officer
+of rank has a number of them; they accompany him into the thickest of
+the fight, each carrying a gun, which they hand to him and re-load as
+fast as he can discharge them.
+
+At the cities of Wuhu, Taeping-foo, Taeping-hien, and several others we
+halted, and were joined by large reinforcements, so that before we
+approached the neighbourhood of the enemy the strength of our army was
+but little short of 27,000 men, independent of the camp followers, while
+the baggage, coolie, and commissariat departments amounted to upwards
+of 15,000. During the march I had capital opportunities of observing the
+greatly improved state of the country under Ti-ping rule, and also of
+admiring the conduct, character, and efficiency of their armies.
+
+Much has been stated about the desolating and ruthless character of the
+Ti-pings, but I entirely deny the accusation. I have been on many a long
+march with them and have never found them act with the barbarity that
+marked the late American war, or commit the atrocities perpetrated in
+Poland and Circassia, or act as Englishmen have done to the unfortunate
+natives of New Zealand. The Ti-pings never committed wanton devastation,
+never destroyed crops of standing corn, as has been done by civilized
+troops in New Zealand, in Algeria, and in the Shenandoah Valley.
+
+The perfect organization of the Ti-ping armies contrasted favourably
+with that of the Imperialists. The former, unpaid and voluntary,
+observed strict discipline; the latter, receiving hire, constantly
+mutinied; all military crimes, especially those of ill-using the
+villagers and opium-smoking, were promptly and severely punished.
+Outrages, no doubt, were committed by the Ti-ping forces, but, if so, it
+was by those raw recruits who neither understood nor cared for the
+Ti-ping cause. The great body of the army observed a moderation unknown
+to the Imperialists; were it otherwise, instant execution was sure to
+follow. If a village was invested, its inhabitants might command
+security by tendering allegiance and conforming to the customs of the
+conquerors. If a village was merely passed by, a moderate contribution
+was required. There may have been, particularly in latter years,
+exceptions to this course, but it was not the less the fundamental rule
+which guided the operations of the Ti-ping armies. If they occupied a
+district for any length of time, peace and contentment reigned there; it
+was only when they rested but for a short period, and were followed by
+the Imperialists, or, perhaps, by hordes of local banditti and
+straggling bands of camp followers, that the country was desolated. Such
+was my experience. Each Ti-ping Wang or Prince has under his special
+control 100,000 people, including one army. Between the Wangs and
+generals of armies come nine descriptions of officers, ranking as
+ministers, and other great officers in charge of civil and military
+departments of state. The military organization and all the titles, are
+those used previous to the conquest of China by the Manchoo Tartars.
+Each Ti-ping army, or keun, is composed of 13,125 officers and men,
+under the command of a general (keun-shwae), and is divided into five
+divisions (ying), front, rear, right, left, and centre.
+
+A division musters 2,625 strong, commanded by a general of division
+(sze-shwae), and contains five leu, or regiments, the front, rear, left,
+right, and centre.
+
+A regiment is composed of 525 men and officers, commanded by a colonel
+(leu-shwae), and is divided into five tsuh, or companies, the first,
+second, third, fourth, and fifth.
+
+A company is composed of 104 men and officers, commanded by a captain
+(tsuh-chang); then come four lieutenants (leang-sze-ma), distinguished
+as the north, south, east, and west, each in command of four sergeants
+(woo-chang), and twenty privates (woo-tsuh).
+
+The lieutenants, and all above, have each a banner with his designation
+inscribed on it, which increases in size with the rank of the officer.
+
+Each division of an army is divided into three classes, or brigades. The
+first consists of _bona fide_ Ti-pings, that is to say, all who are of
+more than six years' standing; the second brigade, of acknowledged
+brethren, of more than three but less than six years' service; while the
+third, and generally largest brigade, includes all new levies, and less
+than three years' service men. Each brigade is again divided into three
+classes. The best and bravest men are armed as musketeers, or cavalry;
+the next class as heavy gingall and halbert men; and the third as
+spearmen. A great proportion of the three arms are flag-bearers, while
+the standards of the chiefs are borne by officers of stanch Ti-pingism
+and approved courage. The rank of these latter is upon an equal footing
+with that of the commissioned officers, and the position is considered
+the most honourable in the army. The bravest men I have ever seen in my
+life were some of these standard-bearers. It is their duty to lead on
+the whole army by advancing with their colours far in front, and I am
+certain many a brave ensign must have fallen by the fire of his
+comrades, at times wonderfully eccentric. Attached to each division of
+guards (or the first class of the three brigade divisions) is one large
+black flag, and when this is advanced, the division is compelled to
+follow it upon pain of death, the rear rank men carrying drawn swords to
+decapitate any who might attempt to run. This flag possesses not only
+the signification the "black flag" does with Europeans, but must never
+be carried in retreat before an enemy, nothing but death being permitted
+to arrest its progress. This was well known to the Imperialists, and,
+until assisted by British troops, officers, and supplies of shell,
+artillery, &c., they rarely, if ever, awaited this terrible attack, and
+even if courageous enough to do so, their chance of success was but
+small indeed.
+
+The absence of all mercenary attraction to their ranks arose from the
+wish of the Ti-ping Government to have no adherents who could possibly
+join them from other than religious or patriotic motives, these being
+recognized as the element that contributed so largely to success. The
+appearance of the men is quite a sufficient guarantee of the beneficial
+effects of the system, for, instead of being taken from the very lowest
+dregs of the people, as with the Imperialists, it is nearly always the
+case that they are men of respectability, from either the working,
+servant, or trading class; frequently they are of much higher social
+position, and this is generally the case with the Kwang-tung and
+Kwang-si men, whose superiority is such that it is mostly from their
+ranks the officers are selected.
+
+One of the wisest and most advantageous regulations of the Ti-ping army
+is, that officers of every grade can rise by merit alone; a regulation
+highly beneficial, most of their leaders having proved very superior
+men; among others the Chung-wang, who, unaided, rose by his brilliant
+attainments alone to the highest military rank.
+
+The total inability of the Manchoos to alone meet the Ti-pings with any
+chance of success, is easily to be understood when the different
+military constitutions of the two powers are made known; for how is it
+possible that armies entirely composed of the very lowest and most
+degraded of the people, and whose officers obtain their rank by
+corruption and bribery, can be able to compete with the patriotism of
+the Ti-pings, or the superior talent of their chiefs?
+
+The cowardice and cruelty of the Imperialists have long been notorious,
+and, after the experience foreign officers have lately had, the courage
+and humanity of the Ti-pings should have become equally so. I can assure
+my readers that it is no slight devotion to the sacred cause of civil
+and religious liberty, and not a little hatred of the Manchoo oppressor,
+that encourages these people in their gallant struggle for freedom, and
+makes them so cheerfully accept all the rigours, deprivations, and
+incessant dangers of their cause. Any one who had seen them undergo the
+terrible sufferings that I have would never afterwards doubt this. There
+is one case especially, which shall be related in its proper place, the
+horror of which I shall never forget, and that, sad to say, was caused
+entirely through the interference of the British _Government_. It was
+occasioned more particularly by the arrival of the Anglo-Chinese, or
+"Vampire-Fleet," as it was called by the foreign residents of Shanghae,
+under command of Manchoo _Admiral_--but British _Captain_--Sherrard
+Osborne, and the progress of the mercenary contingents commanded by
+Major Gordon, R.E., and others.
+
+The equipment of the Ti-ping armies was much the same as that of the
+Imperialists. What few cavalry they possessed were armed with heavy
+swords of the yataghan shape, generally double-handled, and with a very
+broad and thick blade; their firearms were light matchlocks, and
+European muskets or pistols when they could obtain them. The musketeers
+carried matchlocks, useless in wet weather, and European-made
+double-barrelled guns, muskets, and pistols, generally of very inferior
+quality. The second-class brigades usually carried one large gingall to
+four men, the weapon when in use resting upon a tripod. The spearmen
+simply carried a long bamboo with an iron spike in the end, and the
+usual short, heavy Chinese sword, used by all their infantry. The spears
+were proportioned to the men, and ranged from eight to eighteen feet
+long. The flags were all attached to twelve-feet spears. Besides the
+above-mentioned weapons, many men from the northern provinces were armed
+with the Tartar bow, which was a much more accurate-shooting weapon than
+either matchlock or gingall. Regiments of guards generally mustered
+upwards of 2,000 strong. To each regiment were attached twelve buglers
+in the shape of horn-blowers, the instrument used being a long brass
+tube like a French horn, and sounding like a number of cow-horns
+concentrated. Troops could be manoeuvred by the notes of this instrument
+perfectly well. Besides the buglers, a corps of drummers formed the
+other part of each military band, together with players upon the
+hautboys, Chinese fifes, and serpent horns. Those who have seen a
+Ti-ping army will readily agree with me that it is one of the most
+picturesque and impressive sights in the world. The very becoming style
+of the soldiers' dress, the brilliancy of the colours, the quantity and
+richness of the silken flags, and the peculiar way in which the bearers
+wave them about, or carry them streaming in the wind,--the forest of
+spears presented by the spearmen of the army, the number of mounted
+officers,--all unite in producing a vivid impression.
+
+It was in such style that after a twenty days' march we came upon the
+Imperialist troops in the neighbourhood of the Poyang Lake. Directly the
+Chung-wang became aware of the enemy's vicinity, clouds of skirmishers
+were deployed in front of the leading divisions, and the cavalry divided
+into two bodies, one covering each flank. The advancing army meanwhile
+continued its march in close columns, each column being four deep, and
+at wheeling distance from the parallel columns on either side. This
+formation of the Ti-ping armies much resembles the movement by "fours"
+of the British army; but the files are single--what is usually termed
+the Indian file, and each acts independently of the others. When it is
+required to form line of battle, the columns simply halt and wheel into
+line upon either flank, joining the points of the formations upon each
+side. It will thus be seen that, instead of marching front forward as
+European columns, they advance end on, and the front of each company
+when on the march is at right angles to the head of the column. The line
+of battle is formed four deep in consequence of this, but, if necessary,
+is easily made less by the rear files being right or left faced, and
+marched off parallel to their former position. The leading battalions
+are always formed of the spearmen or poorest troops; the second line of
+battle is composed of the second class men; and the third, or reserve,
+of the best troops and guards.
+
+In this order we advanced upon the Imperialists. I had divided my
+artillery,--my friend with one piece and a company of thirty men joining
+the right wing; Philip with another gun and the same number of men, the
+left; while I remained, with the third gun, in the centre.
+
+Throughout the day no collision with the enemy took place; numberless
+videttes and pickets of Tartar cavalry were driven in, but we nowhere
+came upon them in force. At last, just before dark, we came within full
+view of the Manchoo army, drawn up in battle array in the centre of a
+great plain immediately beyond the hilly ground from which we were about
+to debouch. Our army was immediately halted upon its commanding
+position, and a body of cavalry sent forward to reconnoitre. The
+Chung-wang himself went with this force, and I accompanied him. When we
+had approached to within a mile of the enemy, we halted and surveyed
+them through our glasses. I estimated their strength at somewhere near
+50,000, but what puzzled me most was the fact that about a third of this
+force was well-equipped and hardy Tartar cavalry. The Ti-pings certainly
+could not form square to resist them, and how otherwise they could
+repulse their charges I did not know.
+
+The Manchoos allowed us but small time to make our observations, for
+while we were busied with them a large body of cavalry had been detached
+from the nearest wing, and was galloping at full speed to intercept our
+retreat. As they considerably outnumbered us, we followed the tactics of
+that celebrated general who with twice 10,000 men marched up the hill
+and then marched down again; only he walked, and we galloped away as
+fast as we could. The Tartars could not catch us, and as we neared our
+lines gave up the chase with one of those yells Tartars alone know how
+to make.
+
+The enemy occupied a remarkably unpleasant position for a Chinese army,
+because they had but small room for running away, and this made us
+believe they must either be very superior troops, or else have large
+supports somewhere out of sight in their rear. Their situation answered
+to the rim of a fan, each side being cut off by water,--the Poyang Lake
+on one hand, and the river Yang-tze-kiang on the other. At the very apex
+of this position we knew the Imperialists held the city of Hu-kau, a
+strongly-fortified place; therefore we suspected they either depended
+upon supports from thence, or on finding protection within its walls, in
+event of defeat in the field.
+
+As it was too late to commence any operations, we encamped upon the
+rising ground for the night. Towards midnight, however, our pickets came
+in with the report that the enemy were in full retreat. The Chung-wang
+immediately ordered the army to follow in pursuit. Tents were struck,
+the different corps assembled, and in a few minutes we were advancing at
+a quick step, every man carrying a lantern, according to the practice of
+the Chinese troops at night. After crossing the plain, we met with more
+broken and irregular ground; skirmishing parties were sent out, and we
+had not advanced far when those from the front fell back with
+intelligence that the enemy were strongly posted in a row of stockades
+and intrenchments directly on our line of march.
+
+The Foo-wang was at once ordered to make a reconnaissance in force, and
+feel the enemy's position preparatory to a grand attack at daybreak.
+With my two friends, L. and Philip, I joined this corps and with it
+pushed rapidly forward, the men still carrying their confounded
+lanterns; we had, however, taken with us fifty of our gunners armed with
+old Tower muskets, and, leading them without lanterns, marched a little
+aloof upon the right flank of the column. We soon discovered the enemy,
+whose whole line of intrenchments was illuminated with lanterns, and
+directly our lights were seen a most tremendous roar of gongs, drums,
+and war-horns commenced. Scouts were sent out dressed all in black, and
+without lanterns, to ascertain the nature and strength of the defences.
+With several of my men I went upon the same errand on the extreme left
+of the enemy. Crawling along the ground, and taking advantage of every
+inequality and cover, we got within 100 yards of the last stockade upon
+the left: it was apparently furnished with several pieces of artillery
+upon its front, surrounded with a moat, and altogether a formidable
+field-work. Before retiring, I crawled away to the left of it, and found
+the nature of the ground so unequal, and so many bushes scattered about,
+that I fancied, if no pickets were posted at that part, it would be
+quite practicable to advance a sufficient body of men under cover to
+carry the work by a _coup-de-main_. If this could be done, the position
+would be turned, and in all probability the enemy would be compelled to
+abandon his whole line of defences.
+
+I rejoined the Foo-wang, whom I found manoeuvring to alarm the Manchoos
+and induce them to discover their force. Every man was carrying two
+lanterns, one upon each end of his spear placed horizontally across his
+shoulders, while quite a number of others were made fast to bamboos
+stuck in the ground. After I proposed my plan to him, he decided to
+maintain his advanced position until the Chung-wang's opinion was
+ascertained; for which purpose one of his principal officers returned
+with me to our main body. The Chung-wang approved of my design, and
+placed 500 of his own guards under my command, and an equal number of
+the Foo-wang's; directing the attack to be given just before daylight,
+when the whole army should advance after and follow up my movements,
+while a grand demonstration should be made upon the right of the works
+by the Foo-wang's corps. At the appointed hour my division of stormers
+assembled, all clothed in black silk jacket and trousers, every man well
+armed with a musket, and carrying a bamboo spear to leap the moat with,
+if necessary; meanwhile, the main body of the army was noiselessly
+massed behind us, and the Foo-wang's division made more display of
+lanterns and more feints to attack than ever. Of course my party left
+their lanterns behind, and the main body took the same precaution for a
+wonder. Moving rapidly towards the cover, we reached it just as the
+Foo-wang commenced a false attack. Philip was with me, but I had left my
+friend L. behind with the guns, with orders to follow me into the
+stockade with them, in event of our taking it.
+
+Slowly my men crept along in the direction of the work; we passed the
+spot I had previously made my observations from, and had actually
+reached within fifty yards of the parapet before we were discovered; the
+whole of the garrison being apparently crowded upon the right side,
+watching the distant firing instead of their own neighbourhood. Directly
+the enemy observed us, rising erect with a tremendous cheer, we rushed
+to storm the place, while the reserve kept up a heavy fire upon the
+defenders to cover our assault. Passing to the rear of the stockade with
+but little loss, for the fire of our supports swept the parapet, we
+charged up to the ditch under a shower of arrow-headed rockets. At this
+point men were dropping all around, for the fire of our comrades no
+longer supported us; fortunately the ditch was dry, and leaping into it,
+my men became well protected, for these Chinese stockades have no
+flanking angles. But now a new weapon was brought into play. Unable to
+show themselves, the garrison commenced throwing "stink-pots," over the
+parapet, amongst us. The burns and suffocating fumes of these singular
+missiles were fearful. Directly my men were all loaded--some placed upon
+the flank of the stockade and the rest in its rear, so as to open a
+cross fire--we clambered up the rampart, and lining the parapet, opened
+fire upon the crowd huddled up in the interior. The advantage of the
+position was entirely ours, for my men on the flank, enfilading the
+parapet, shot down all who attempted to dislodge us, while upon our side
+we rendered them the same service.
+
+In almost perfect safety, for a few moments, we poured a close and
+deadly cross fire into the mass of the enemy; but then, our supports
+storming upon the front of the stockade, the defenders began to rush to
+their only side of escape, and went over the parapet as fast as they
+could. Jumping into the place sword in hand, we soon drove out or cut
+down the few who still resisted, though not without loss, for many of
+the defenders were armed with spears, with which they at first had a
+considerable advantage over my short-sworded comrades, the spears we had
+carried being left outside the ditch. The commander of the work was a
+brave Tartar officer, who fought desperately and killed several of our
+men with arrows. When these were all used, he rushed into the _melee_
+with his heavy Tartar sword. If all the garrison had fought like him, I
+doubt whether our enterprise would have proved so successful, for we
+were considerably outnumbered. Wishing to save the life of this officer,
+I ran up to him with the point of my sword lowered, and called upon him
+to surrender; but, suddenly impelled forward by a rush of men, I came
+within reach of his weapon, which in an instant was descending full upon
+my head. Instinctively I raised my arm to the guard; at the same moment
+a pistol was fired. I felt a pressure on my head, and the Tartar rolled
+over at my feet; I turned to my rescuer, and found Maou-lin; the brave
+boy had just had time to interpose his blade, which was driven down with
+much force upon my head, and then so effectually to use his revolver.
+
+By this time the stockade was ours: its former masters were all driven
+out or killed; but, rapidly as this happened, we had but small time for
+rejoicing, for scarcely had the last fugitive disappeared over the
+parapet, when we heard the noise of a heavy column of the enemy rushing
+to recapture the place. While the attacking troops were approaching the
+right flank of the work, the dull rumbling in the rear told us the whole
+force of the enemy, or at least a strong division, was moving to
+surround us. We had just time to man the parapets when the advancing
+column rushed forward to the assault. Crouched down in a double line, we
+waited until the foremost ranks were within a few paces of the ditch;
+our first line then delivered their fire, and stepped back to reload.
+The advance was checked, and the attacking forces, crowded together by
+the press from their rear, presented a living wall to our second volley,
+delivered within ten feet. Before the killed and wounded had well
+fallen, another volley poured in by our first line completely broke
+them, and, leaving a heap of stricken men all along that side of the
+stockade, they turned and fled.
+
+Daylight had now arrived, and opened upon a crowded field of battle. The
+enemy appeared in great strength massed in rear of the stockades, while
+a movement to their left flank was being executed as fast as possible,
+under cover of their whole cavalry, whose advance had caused the
+rumbling noise in our rear. At a glance, I perceived the enemy's left
+was completely turned, and the whole Ti-ping army was forming upon some
+hilly ground almost at right angles to the line of stockades. Up this
+the Tartar cavalry was charging at full speed in three strong lines,
+each at least 5,000 strong. I naturally expected to see them ride
+straight over the Chung-wang and all his men, for I had not at that time
+seen the Ti-ping method of resisting a cavalry charge. Suddenly, and
+while the cavalry were still at a considerable distance, the whole front
+of our army gave way, and wheeling to the left, ran to the rear at the
+double quick. I fully expected that when the lines reached the parallel
+marching order a general flight would take place; but, to my
+astonishment, the right files of each line stood fast, and the remaining
+files sweeping past the parallel position, doubled back and formed a
+complete circle. The second line advanced, and planted its gingalls in
+the intervening spaces, the halberdiers forming a second line of
+circles; while the third line, advancing from the reserves, doubled up
+to the front, and entering those of the spearmen, composed an inner
+circle of musketeers. Upon the left of the army, and in a line with the
+stockades, the Foo-wang's division was formed _en echelon_, extending
+from the front of the main body to little more than half a mile from the
+stockade I held. This force was slowly moving up so as to close with the
+position and rest its left flank upon it. Our cavalry was formed into
+two bodies, one upon the right of the army and the other in rear of the
+reserves. Such was the order in which the Ti-pings awaited the charge of
+the Tartar cavalry.
+
+The bright rays of the morning sun now flashed across the serried ranks
+of the hostile armies and played fitfully on the glistening arms of the
+long lines of Tartar cavalry as they dashed up the slopes in all the
+pomp and circumstance of war. In far less time than is occupied in
+perusing the account, the foremost Tartars had mounted the crest of the
+rising ground, and charged full upon the front of our army. On they
+went, line after line sweeping up the slight ascent, waving their
+scarlet plumes and many-coloured banners. At last this gallant array was
+burst asunder; a sheet of flame ran along the whole of our line,
+followed by the crash of rolling musketry, mingled with the frequent and
+hoarse reports of the heavy gingalls, before which the first line of
+cavalry fell back broken and disorganized. The second line spread out
+till the first had retreated through the openings, then closing again,
+they dashed forward, only to meet a like repulse; and now the third and
+strongest line advanced, doomed to utter destruction. Upon the extreme
+left of the Foo-wang's line, now within a few hundred yards of the
+stockade, my three pieces of artillery were suddenly unmasked and opened
+upon the charging cavalry. Within pistol-shot distance, grape and
+canister enfilading the dense lines of men and horses, carried
+destruction through their ranks. The fire was steadily maintained by
+alternate guns, and the hissing noise of the _mitraille_, as it rushed
+through the air, followed by the dull sounding thud as man and horse
+went down before it, was plainly heard at my position. Leaping and
+struggling clear of the fallen men and horses, the Tartars actually
+reached and endeavoured to break the formation of spearmen; but with
+knee to the ground and their lances firmly placed, these successfully
+maintained their ranks, while at such close quarters every shot told
+upon the crowd of horsemen with deadly effect, the circle of musketeers
+running round and round and keeping up an incessant fire, loading as
+they passed towards the rear of the circle and firing as they came to
+the front. Some circles were broken, and in a moment overwhelmed and
+trodden under hoof; but in those instances the victors paid a heavy
+penalty for their temporary success; from the circles on each flank and
+those of the second rank and the reserves in line, a withering cross
+fire swept their squadrons from front to rear and flank to flank.
+
+[Illustration: DEFEAT OF THE TARTAR CAVALRY AT THE BATTLE OF HU-KAU.
+DAY & SON, LIMITED, LITH.]
+
+The last and most desperate charge of the enemy's cavalry was repulsed
+with tremendous loss. Their order was no sooner broken than, rushing
+from the right of the army, our cavalry brigade, nearly 2,000 strong,
+came sweeping along the whole front, and, falling upon the flank of the
+retreating and disordered enemy, completed their rout.
+
+All this transpired in a few minutes, and even before the final repulse
+of their cavalry, the Imperialists, unable to change front with
+sufficient celerity or advantage, evacuated their line of intrenchments
+and commenced retreating in good order, waving their numerous flags in a
+figure of eight and sweeping the ground with them, according to that
+method of defying an enemy peculiar to China. The Imperialists had
+evidently received heavy reinforcements during the night, for, without
+reckoning their defeated cavalry, their strength was at least double
+that of our entire army; but at that time this was considered by the
+Ti-pings as no great advantage.
+
+The enemy was so completely outflanked, that, directly the last cavalry
+charge had been repulsed, the Chung-wang hastened to follow up his
+advantage. Line of battle was re-formed and the whole army advanced at a
+run upon the retreating and manoeuvring columns. Abandoning the captured
+stockade, with my detachment I rejoined the army, and, passing through
+the Foo-wang's division, carried off the guns to the extreme right, now
+actively engaged with the retiring left wing of the Manchoos in Chinese
+fashion, that is to say, by waving of flags, distant volleys of
+gingalls, &c., with yells, abuse, and gesticulation. The position was
+still very unfavourable to the enemy; their long front was yet diagonal
+to ours, and although their left wing was falling back as fast as
+possible, so as to form a parallel line of battle, our whole line was
+performing a side march to maintain its flanking attitude, and moreover,
+was already engaging the troops attempting to take up a fresh alignment.
+
+Consequent upon the imperfect system of Chinese drill, the retreating
+troops were unable to effect a regular formation; one company would halt
+too soon, another too late, and some not at all. Neither was our advance
+much better, for the only well-formed position of a Chinese army is when
+it remains stationary. The flag-waving and abusive part of the action
+did not last long, for, seizing the opportunity, the Chung-wang advanced
+the second brigades. Moving my guns well upon the right and out of the
+eccentric line of fire from the heavy gingalls, I took up a position
+enfilading whole divisions of the enemy, and opened upon them with
+considerable effect.
+
+For a little while the Imperialists stood this, and returned a sharp
+fire from their gingalls and long matchlocks, but several lines of our
+third brigade, or musketeers, forming at intervals with the second and
+first, charged them amidst tremendous cheering. They broke, and throwing
+away their arms, fled in confusion upon their centre. A well-timed
+charge of our cavalry changed their flight into a complete rout, and
+rushing frantically upon the stationary divisions of the centre, and
+those occupied in changing ground, they threw the whole into disorder.
+
+Not a moment was lost in following up the blow; our right wing and
+centre, reserves and all, rushed upon the disorganized multitude, while
+the Foo-wang with our left wing and the cavalry moved forward obliquely,
+and attacked the enemy's right and the remnant of cavalry he had
+re-formed in its rear. For some little time this part of the field was
+well disputed, but at length, the left wing and centre, driven back upon
+the right with immense slaughter, involved the whole army in
+inextricable confusion. The reserves, without firing a shot, turned and
+fled from the field, while their comrades, struggling and surging in one
+huge mass, endeavoured to follow their example, while some few struggled
+to arrest the victorious advance. Vainly strove the bravest Tartar
+officers to animate their men; the hardiest veterans, extricating
+themselves from the confusion, uselessly sacrificed their lives
+attempting to re-form and gain time for the broken lines to rally and
+open out in order; equally vain were the fierce efforts of the main
+body, as, rolling and staggering along, they wavered, hesitated, and
+sent forth storms of fire upon friend and foe alike, while the rallied
+horsemen feebly charged the Foo-wang's cavalry, and, driven back,
+hovered in rear and flank of its defeated infantry. The day was
+irretrievably lost for the Manchoos. Nothing could stop our impetuous
+charge, as with deafening shouts the whole army swept on victorious,
+driving them back with fearful carnage. In vain the Imperialists
+endeavoured to deploy; the head of every formation no sooner appeared
+than the volleys of our musketeers swept them away, or the charging
+spearmen and halberdiers annihilated them. Thrown into disorder and
+mingled with the fugitive crowd, the right wing, no longer able to
+oppose the Foo-wang, was burst asunder by our cavalry. The Imperialists
+were totally routed. Halting the reserves and centre, the Chung-wang
+re-formed them and moved in the direction of Hu-kau, while the two wings
+and the cavalry pursued the panic-stricken multitude, eventually either
+driving them into the waters of the Poyang Lake, some three miles from
+the field of battle, or making prisoners of them.
+
+In the mean while the Chung-wang advanced rapidly upon the small city of
+Hu-kau, to where the reserves of the Imperialist army had already
+retreated. A quick march of less than three hours brought us before its
+walls, and, advancing my little battery, I prepared to enfilade the
+parapet and cover the advance of our stormers. This, however, proved
+unnecessary, for the enemy, profiting by their late experience, had
+evacuated the place and embarked in numerous junks and gunboats upon the
+Yang-tze river.
+
+During the late engagement Maou-lin and Ling-ho had particularly
+distinguished themselves. In vain had my two friends and the Corsican
+and Sardinian officers attempted to compete with their valour. Foremost
+in every assault Maou-lin or his adopted brother made themselves
+conspicuous. All had received spear-wounds in the _melee_, but,
+fortunately, none were very severe, and under the soothing influence of
+the herbal decoctions the Chinese surgeons so well understand the use
+of, they soon became healed. Our total loss in killed and wounded was
+less than two thousand, while that of the enemy was immense: the whole
+battle-field and line of retreat was literally covered with their slain,
+while hundreds had perished in the waters of the Poyang Lake.
+
+Hu-kau had been a military depot of the Imperialists, and in it we
+captured considerable stores of grain and war material. After an
+occupation of several weeks, the object of the expedition in the defeat
+of the Imperialist army, having been so successfully accomplished, the
+Chung-wang abandoned that place, and sending back the divisions that had
+joined him in Ngan-whui with large convoys of grain, and the sick and
+wounded of the army, to be carried to Nankin, he advanced with his first
+division through the southern part of Ngan-whui into the province of
+Che-kiang, upon a march of observation, preparatory to the grand
+campaign of the summer, that had been decided upon at Nankin by the
+military council.
+
+I returned with the larger portion of the army to Nankin, and took my
+friends with me, as it was my intention to communicate with agents at
+Shanghae and transact various affairs connected with forwarding the
+Ti-ping cause. The Chung-wang was so pleased with the effectiveness of
+my little field battery that he kept it with him, and before parting
+with him I received his best thanks, whilst each of my friends were
+given a certificate for their gallantry in the action and the capture of
+the stockade.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+    Prospects of the Ti-pings in 1860.--Their Operations.--Relief of
+    Nankin.--Rout of the Imperialists.--Ti-ping Successes.--British
+    Interference.--Ti-pings advance on Shanghae.--The Chung-wang's
+    Address.--Mr. Bruce's Notification.--Mr. Bruce's Dispatch.--The
+    Future of China.--The Chung-wang's Dispatch.--Mr. Bruce's
+    Inconsistency.--Missionary "Holmes."--His Statement.--His
+    Uncourteous Behaviour.--His Inconsistencies.--Suppressed
+    Missionary Reports.--Rev. Griffith Johns' Report.--Newspaper
+    Extracts.--The Shanghae Massacre of Ti-pings.--Newspaper
+    Extracts.--The Author's Reflections thereon.
+
+
+Gloomy, indeed, were the prospects of the Ti-pings at the opening of the
+year 1860. The garrison of Nankin, reduced to less than 20,000 men by
+the continual reinforcements despatched to the armies in Kiang-si,
+Ngan-whui, and the north bank of the Yang-tze--a proceeding rendered
+necessary by the shortness of supplies in the capital--was cut off from
+all communication with its armies in the field by a series of works
+forming a complete line of circumvallation from the Tsin-hwai river,
+which enters the Yang-tze a few miles above Nankin, to Yentzeke, a
+position about five miles below the city, and situated on the Yang-tze
+river. Large fleets of Imperialist war-junks blockaded the river
+communication of the city from below, while, far as the eye could reach,
+over hill and valley, the many-bannered hosts of the besieging army
+occupied the whole surrounding country. It seemed but a question of a
+few weeks more whether the Imperialists would have the courage to storm
+the city, or whether starvation would exterminate the noble and
+patriotic band of the first Christian movement in China. It was then the
+power and organization of the Ti-pings were displayed to their fullest
+extent; at no time, since the erection of their standard of liberty, had
+their cause been threatened by so imminent a danger, and at no time had
+their movements been so skilfully conducted, as during the three months
+preceding the relief of Nankin. The tactics first adopted were those of
+distracting the attention of the besiegers, and obliging them to detach
+portions of their force. In accordance with this project, the army in
+the Eastern province of Ngan-whui, commanded by Le, the Chung-wang
+(formerly general of the first Northern expedition), and the army in
+Kiang-si, commanded by the I-wang (the Tien-wang's brother Shih-ta-kae),
+by forced marches placed themselves upon the rear of the besieging army,
+and seriously threatened its lines of communication.
+
+The Chung-wang, starting from the vicinity of Wuhu and Tai-ping-foo, on
+the south bank of the Yang-tze, by a flank march in a south-easterly
+direction, placed himself immediately in the rear of the grand army of
+Imperialists encamped before Nankin. Detaching a strong column to
+threaten the cities of Soo-chow and Chang-chau, the principal depots of
+the enemy, he hurried his main body by forced marches to the provincial
+capital Hang-chau, and, after heavy fighting, upon the 19th of March
+mined the walls, and obtained possession of the outer city. The Manchoo
+garrison, after holding out in the inner or Tartar city for six days,
+were succoured by a considerable force from Kiang-su, which joining
+them, recovered the city; the Ti-pings retiring, after inflicting severe
+loss amongst their opponents.
+
+In the meanwhile, the I-wang, concentrating his forces upon the Kiang-si
+frontier, also invaded the Che-kiang province, but from a point more to
+the south. After capturing the prefectural cities Ku-chau and Yen-chau,
+and descending the Tsien-tang river to within a short distance of
+Hang-chau, he suddenly turned north, and effected a junction with the
+Chung-wang.
+
+This strategy, however, had not the anticipated effect, and the
+Imperialist army, besieging Nankin, continued to direct their main
+efforts to the recapture of that city. The garrison, in consequence,
+became reduced to the greatest straits, and suffered terrible
+privations. During all their trials, their hope and courage never
+faltered for a moment; in the midst of his perishing people, the
+Tien-wang calmly and sublimely taught them to call upon God as the sure
+means of deliverance from their pressing danger.
+
+Hanging his banner from the walls of his palace, and seated within full
+view and range of the Manchoo commander's camp, upon a hill directly
+opposite, the Tien-wang devoutly composed a special doxology for the use
+of the garrison. From the soldiers on the walls to the little children
+in their mothers' arms, by day and by night, the voice of praise and
+supplication ascended to the heavens. Whatever _we_ may consider the
+faults and errors of these men, most of them are now in the presence of
+their Maker; and if a full and earnest and Christian belief in His Word
+can benefit mankind in a future state, they--and, after a close
+intercourse of several years with the Ti-pings, I say it without a
+shadow of doubt--will be rewarded.
+
+At last, finding it impossible to effect the relief of the capital by
+distant operations, it became imperative to assemble an army of relief
+without delay. Arrangements were accordingly made for a simultaneous
+attack by the armies in the field, and a sortie in force by the
+garrison. The combined forces of the Chung and I-wangs marched directly
+upon the rear of the besieging army, and on the 3rd of May, the garrison
+sallying forth from each gate of the city, according to preconcerted
+signal, the advanced guard of the approaching army burst through the
+Imperialist lines, and effected a junction with them. The day was
+bitterly cold, and, taking advantage of a thick snow-storm, the van of
+the army of relief--which, to the number of nearly 20,000, had, by a
+successful raid for horses, been mounted for the occasion--made their
+charge with complete success.
+
+Directly the combination was effected, the entire force turned upon the
+Imperialist army. The right and left wing of the besiegers, considerably
+distant from the centre through which the Ti-ping cavalry had charged,
+and, moreover, unable to perceive the movements taking place, through
+the snow-storm and grey light of the morning, and being informed only of
+the sortie, moved forward upon the city, confident in their numbers, and
+expecting to easily drive back the weakened garrison, and enter the city
+with them.
+
+Meanwhile, leaving a detachment with the troops from the city to hold
+their ground, the Ti-ping cavalry charged straight back upon the enemy's
+centre, and falling upon them while they were yet re-forming and in
+confusion, drove them off the field with tremendous slaughter. Then,
+forming into two bodies, they attacked each wing of the Imperialist
+army, which, having discovered the arrival of reinforcements to the
+garrison, was now retreating to its lines. It was at this critical
+moment the Ti-ping cavalry, after literally riding over the reserves in
+rear of the lines, came down upon them. Pressed by the attack of the
+garrison in their rear, and unable to cross the creeks and ditches in
+face of the cavalry in any order, the carnage became fearful. All the
+trenches, dug by their own hands, were choked by the bodies of the
+Imperialists--scarcely a man that had crossed those limits escaped. When
+the work of slaughter could be safely entrusted to the garrison alone,
+the cavalry followed in pursuit of the retreating enemy. The whole
+Ti-ping army having now arrived upon the field, the rout of the
+Imperialists became total--arms, flags, ammunition, and provisions,
+everything that made them an army, were abandoned, and in the wildest
+panic its miserable remnants fled for refuge to the district city of
+Tan-Yang.
+
+It is estimated that they lost no less than 60,000 men during the action
+and pursuit. The country for many miles was covered with their bodies,
+which also filled the creeks, and stopped the running waters.
+
+Vigorously following up their successes, town after town, including that
+of Tan-Yang, fell into the hands of the Ti-pings. Several Imperialist
+armies marched from Soo-chow and Chang-chow to oppose them, but in each
+case were totally defeated; the second in command was killed, while
+Ho-chun, the Manchoo Commander-in-Chief, committed suicide. The mass of
+disorganized troops dispersed themselves all over the country for
+plunder, and great numbers flocked to the magnificent city of Soo-chow,
+the gates of which were closed against them; they then gave themselves
+up to all kinds of excesses, and setting fire to the extensive and
+wealthy suburbs, committed every description of pillage and rapine. When
+the Ti-ping army approached, a few days later, the authorities abandoned
+it, and this, the most important city in Central China, fell into their
+hands upon the 24th day of May.
+
+During the next three months the Ti-pings were engaged in taking
+possession of all the cities within a considerable distance, and in
+establishing their rule throughout the adjoining departments, including
+the silk districts of Ly-hong, Wu-seih, Kin-tang, Es-hing, Tay-saam,
+Tsat-lee, Kia-hing, Hu-chau, &c. Supplies were forwarded to Nankin in
+large quantity, the Budhist idols and temples were demolished far and
+wide, and in their stead the Ti-pings introduced the Holy Scriptures to
+every household within their jurisdiction. Their regular and moderate
+system of taxation was enforced, and those country people who at the
+first alarm had fled from their homes were gradually returning. At
+Shanghae, in the meanwhile, the report of the Ti-ping successes, and
+the prospect of their early advance upon that city, was made the
+occasion for the first display of that un-English perfidy that has since
+been carried to such a monstrous extent.
+
+It will be remembered that the British authorities had already
+recognized the Ti-pings as a belligerent power, and were therefore not
+only bound to observe a strict neutrality by every article of
+international law, but had actually sought and communicated with them,
+and in the person of Sir George Bonham solemnly guaranteed in writing
+their observance of neutrality, receiving from the revolutionists a
+similar assurance. Yet, in flagrant violation of the professions of
+non-intervention, Mr. Bruce took upon himself, in his capacity as
+superintendent of British trade, to commit a breach of neutrality by the
+following proclamation and its fulfilment:--
+
+    "The undersigned issues this special proclamation, &c.
+
+    "Shanghae is a port open to foreign trade, and the native
+    dealers residing therein have large transactions with the
+    foreigners who resort to the place to carry on their business.
+    _Were it to become the scene of attack and civil war, commerce
+    would receive a severe blow_, and the interests of those,
+    whether foreign or native, who wish to pursue their peaceful
+    avocations in quiet, would suffer great loss.
+
+    "The undersigned will therefore call upon the commanders of Her
+    Majesty's naval and military authorities to take proper measures
+    to prevent the inhabitants of Shanghae from being exposed to
+    massacre and pillage, and to lend their assistance to put down
+    any insurrectionary movements among the ill-disposed, and to
+    protect the city against _any attack_.
+
+    (Signed) "FREDK. W. A. BRUCE.
+    "_Shanghae, May 26, 1860._"
+
+The solemn pledges made by England were thus deliberately violated, but,
+as will be seen, that injustice was prompted by mercenary
+considerations, masked by philanthropic pretensions. Besides this, we
+find Mr. Bruce audaciously, if not idiotically, declaring his intention
+to violate a British guarantee:--
+
+    "And it appeared to me _that without taking any part_ in this
+    civil contest, or expressing any opinion on the rights of the
+    parties, we might _protect_ Shanghae from attack, and _assist_
+    the authorities in preserving tranquillity."
+
+As Mr. Bruce states defending cities for the Manchoos by shooting down
+the Ti-pings is "without taking any part" in the internecine war, it
+would be amusing to have his ideas as to the meaning of "taking part."
+Not satisfied with injuring the rights of an acknowledged belligerent,
+Mr. Bruce, a few days after, adds insult to injury. The Kan-wang having
+forwarded a dispatch to the consuls of England, France, and the United
+States, Mr. Bruce issued the following instructions to the British
+Consul:--
+
+    "With reference to the letter addressed to you, in common with
+    the consuls of France and the United States, by one of the
+    leaders of the insurgents, I am clearly of opinion that it is
+    both inexpedient and objectionable on principle that her
+    Majesty's consuls should hold any communication with the
+    insurgents at Soo-chow, and I have, therefore, to instruct you
+    _to take no notice of it_."
+
+It would be satisfactory to know upon what "principle" Mr. Bruce excuses
+this act of injustice, and, also, where he obtained his ideas of
+belligerent and neutral "principles." The inconsistency of his conduct
+will be seen a little further on, when, although taking "no notice" of
+the Ti-ping dispatch, he sends them a communication which he expects
+_they_ are to notice.
+
+Throughout the rebellion, the Ti-pings had naturally been anxious to
+obtain possession of some seaport at which they would be enabled to
+trade with foreigners, and obtain supplies of arms and munitions of war,
+as the Imperialists did at the treaty ports. After Soo-chow had been
+occupied about three months, the Ti-pings, relying on the pledges that
+had been given, marched upon Shanghae to take possession of it, the
+Manchoo power being completely crushed.
+
+Previous to this advance, Soo-chow had been visited by a large number of
+missionaries and mercantile gentlemen, who all reported most favourably
+upon the character, aim, and religion, of the insurgents. Of these
+reports, however, those only were made public to the people of England
+which contained false and garbled accounts, intended to justify the
+violation of neutrality and the defence of Shanghae. Before referring to
+the suppressed reports, we will notice the attack upon the city.
+Depending upon the British guarantees and good faith, the
+Chung-wang--leaving the bulk of his forces to garrison different places,
+and march against the remaining Manchoos in the field--advanced upon
+Shanghae himself to treat with the foreign representatives; and
+expecting no opposition, instead of throwing his large and victorious
+army rapidly upon the city, simply brought with him a portion of his own
+body-guard, and some 3,000 irregular troops, more as an escort than for
+any offensive purpose. On approaching the city, the Chung-wang addressed
+and forwarded to the Foreign Ministers the following communication--the
+very same which Mr. Bruce ordered the consul to take "no notice of."
+
+    "Le, the Loyal King of the Heavenly Dynasty, &c., to the
+    Honourable Envoys, &c.
+
+    "Previous to moving my army from Soo-chow I wrote to you,
+    acquainting you that it would soon reach Shanghae, and that if
+    the residences of your honourable nations and the mercantile
+    establishments would hoist yellow flags as distinguishing marks,
+    I would give immediate orders to my officers and soldiers
+    prohibiting them from entering or disturbing them in any way. As
+    you would consequently have received and perused my letter, I
+    supposed you would act according to the tenor of it. I was not
+    aware, however, until yesterday, that the people of your
+    honourable nations had erected churches in other places in the
+    prefecture of Sung-keang in which they taught the Gospels, when
+    my army, being at the town of Sze-king, fell in with a body of
+    imps (Imperialists), who resisted its progress, when my soldiers
+    attacked and destroyed a number of them. Among these imps there
+    were four foreigners, one of whom my soldiers killed, as they
+    did not know to what country he belonged. However, in order to
+    maintain my good faith to treat foreigners well, I caused the
+    soldier who had killed the foreigner to be at once executed,
+    thus keeping my word.
+
+    "Afterwards, seeing that there was a church at Sze-king, I then
+    knew for the first time that the people of your honourable
+    nations came there to teach the Gospel, and that although they
+    had not hoisted a yellow flag, they had not been assisting the
+    imps.
+
+    "But though the past is done with, precautions can be taken for
+    the future. My army is now about to proceed directly to
+    Shanghae, and in the towns or villages through which it will
+    pass, should there be churches, I earnestly hope that you will
+    give orders to the people of them to stand at the doors to give
+    information that they are churches, so that there may be no
+    mistakes in future.
+
+    "My forces have already arrived at Tseih-paen, and they will
+    soon reach Shanghae. I therefore earnestly hope that you the
+    honourable envoys will call the people of your nations before
+    you, direct them to close their doors, remain inside, and hoist
+    yellow flags at their houses, when they need have no fear of my
+    soldiers, as I have already given orders to them that they must
+    not, in that case, molest or injure any one.
+
+    "As soon as I myself arrive, I purpose discussing with you all
+    other business. In the meantime I send this hasty communication,
+    and take the opportunity to inquire after your health.
+
+    "Tai-ping, Tien-kwo, 10th year, 7th moon, 9th day (August 18th,
+    1860)."
+
+When the Chung-wang had arrived within a short distance of Shanghae, Mr.
+Bruce, although taking "no notice" of the Ti-ping communications, was
+sufficiently inconsistent to forward the following despatch:--
+
+    "NOTIFICATION.
+
+    "Reports having reached us of an armed force having been
+    collected in the neighbourhood of Shanghae, we, the commanders
+    of the military and naval forces of her Britannic Majesty at
+    Shanghae, hereby give notice that the _city of Shanghae_ and
+    foreign settlement are militarily occupied by the forces of her
+    Britannic Majesty and her ally the Emperor of the French; and
+    they warn all persons that, if armed bodies of men attack or
+    approach the positions held by them, they will be considered as
+    commencing hostilities against the allied forces, and will be
+    dealt with accordingly.
+
+    "Shanghae, August 16, 1860."
+
+This precious notification was sent on board a gun-boat and taken to a
+place entirely out of the line of march of the advancing forces, and of
+course was not delivered. Unprepared for foreign hostility, the
+Ti-pings, upon the 18th of August, appeared before Shanghae, and driving
+in the Tartar outposts advanced with a run to the walls, perfectly
+unacquainted with the fact that they were manned by English and French
+soldiers. Instead of the friendly reception always given by the Ti-pings
+to foreigners, and which they expected would now be returned, they were
+met with a storm of shot, shell, and musketry. The few following
+extracts are from the official organ, and give an account of the
+unjustifiable slaughter of men whose great hope was to enter into close
+and friendly relations with their "foreign brethren," for whose "strict
+neutrality" the British Government had solemnly pledged itself:--
+
+    "The camp had an earthwork all round, on which several American
+    cannon were mounted. Since the allied occupation of the city all
+    executions have been perpetrated here. Against this place the
+    rebels advanced with unusual boldness. The Chinese soldiers and
+    officers fought for some time with great spirit, but at last ran
+    away as fast as possible, followed by the insurgents, who hoped
+    to rush pell-mell with them to the city, and get through the
+    west gate."
+
+Now commences the "reception" given to the patriots by men whom, from
+first to last, they have considered and treated as brethren.
+
+    "Captain Cavanagh then ordered the bridge to be destroyed, and
+    gave the insurgents a rather _warm reception_ from the city-wall
+    with rifles and canister.
+
+    "In the course of the afternoon two guns of Captain McIntyre's
+    Madras mountain train were seen coming along outside the city
+    wall, with only a small moat between them and the foe"--(Foe!
+    The word is false: the Ti-pings came as friends, not foes)--"who
+    were dodging about behind graves, houses, and trees, towards the
+    south gate; but, _curious to relate, not a shot was fired_."
+
+The "curious" thing to relate is the wonderful forbearance of those men,
+who, although several hundred of their comrades were mowed down by the
+savages on the walls, never retaliated with a single shot, but even
+permitted two guns to be placed in a commanding position from which they
+were subsequently used against them with fatal effect.
+
+    "The nature of the country outside the gates gave ample scope to
+    the enemy to conceal themselves, so it was only when a group
+    could be observed that the howitzers and a Chinese gun--the
+    latter under Gunner Warwick--could be used with effect. The
+    insurgents, however, are certainly no cowards, and constantly
+    showed themselves near the wall from the south and the west
+    gates.
+
+    "The firing of the foreigners, both from the cannon and rifles,
+    was excellent. As soon as canister was useless, the foe were
+    treated to shell, thrown time after time into the very middle of
+    their flags.
+
+    "When driven back from the south gate, the rebels retired past
+    the south-west angle, where Lieutenant O'Grady, who was waiting
+    for them in the piquet-house with some marines and Sikhs, gave
+    them another dressing.
+
+    "Captain Maxwell, at the little south gate, had given his
+    Loodianahs plenty to do, and although they were only armed with
+    Brown Bess, they inflicted no small loss on the enemy.
+
+    "Gunner Deacon, Royal Marine Artillery, had rigged up a gun
+    belonging to the _Taoutae_, and worked it in the coolest manner
+    and with great success.
+
+    "Among others killed on the enemy's side was an European who had
+    made himself very conspicuous. Accompanying him was a
+    half-caste, who _unfortunately_ managed to escape. There were
+    several foreigners to be seen among the insurgents, and another
+    is supposed to have fallen outside Captain Budd's position."
+
+The murderous sentiment expressed in the foregoing passage would be much
+more appropriately applied to the conscience-bound mercenaries who
+defended Shanghae. All the _gallant_ deeds related were, literally, the
+slaughter of some 300 Ti-pings who made _no reply whatever_ to the
+dastardly fire of men, who upon that day inflicted an indelible stain
+upon their nation's scutcheon.
+
+The official report continues:--
+
+    "As soon as it could be done in safety, parties were sent from
+    the various posts to _burn down_ such houses in the suburbs as
+    could afford shelter to the enemy, and the fires raged outside
+    the west and south gates during the whole of Saturday night.
+    Thus ended the first day's work, with _no small loss_ to the
+    enemy, but _without a single casualty_ to report on the foreign
+    side."
+
+The officials not only carefully ignore the burnings and destruction
+committed by British troops, when they write of precisely similar
+doings upon the part of the Ti-pings, but actually report upon the
+"_gallantry_" of certain officers and men concerned in this butchery of
+unresisting victims.
+
+The report proceeds with the next day's exploits:--
+
+    "Sunday morning broke upon a scene of conflagration and
+    destruction. Our _gallant_ allies (the French) set to work, in a
+    manner peculiar to themselves, to drive away the danger, and, to
+    prevent its recurrence, fired the suburb, which is by far the
+    richest and most important collection of native houses. It is
+    here that the Chinese wholesale merchants live. An immense
+    quantity of goods, especially sugar, was stored there, and as
+    the conflagration in its rapid progress licked up a sugar hong,
+    or soy factory, the flames sprang up with fearful grandeur.
+
+    "About two o'clock the _Kestrel_ and _Hong-kong_ came steaming
+    down against a strong tide past the burning suburb. The firing,
+    too, had recommenced at the south gate from double-shotted guns
+    and howitzers. Driven from their cover by these means, and
+    compelled to take up a new position, the enemy laid himself open
+    to some fine rifle practice. McIntyre's guns were too well
+    handled to let them hide in any of the buildings yet standing,
+    and _Lieutenant O'Grady_, with some marines, opened a most
+    destructive fire from the look-out. This _gallant_ officer is
+    really an excellent shot, and we believe it is reckoned in this
+    affair twenty men fell to his rifle, with scarcely one
+    intervening miss."
+
+What can the people of England think of a British officer coolly resting
+his rifle, through sheer _gaite de coeur_, upon the parapet, and
+shooting down twenty of his fellow-creatures while in perfect safety
+himself? not a single shot in reply being directed towards any part
+where Europeans were stationed.
+
+The terrible work was thus continued:--
+
+    "On Monday morning, the 20th August, the enemy had advanced in
+    greater strength than ever. It was really a curious sight to see
+    them moving along every one of the little paths which run
+    parallel to the city walls, each man carrying a flag, and all
+    moving in Indian file, but in excellent order, _and quite calm
+    and steady_. On they came _without hesitation_, perfectly within
+    range, and seemed to direct their attention principally to the
+    west gate. Lieutenant O'Grady had been sent there with some
+    marines to assist Captain Cavanagh; and the Madras artillerymen
+    having rigged up a gun, a heavy fire was kept up, and the
+    insurgents have to thank the nature of the ground that their
+    loss was not very large. _Strange to say, scarcely a shot was
+    returned._"
+
+When interested people state this, one can easily imagine what the truth
+must be.
+
+    "During the night the dispatch boat, _Pioneer_, had proceeded up
+    the river, and began dropping 13-inch shells in among the rebel
+    flags. One of these exploded right in the very centre of about
+    100 red banners, which immediately afterwards disappeared.
+
+    "Some pretty examples might be given of the _splendid_ way the
+    shooting was carried on. A large number of yellow flag rebels
+    were observed to enter a long white house about three-quarters
+    of a mile off. Captain McIntyre" (who would have been killed on
+    the first day outside the walls, if the Ti-pings had only
+    thought fit to answer the murderous fire poured upon them) "put
+    a shell through the roof, and among others is supposed to have
+    wounded the second officer in command of the rebel army."
+
+It was not the second in command, it was the Chung-wang himself who was
+wounded, a piece of shell striking him on the cheek, and causing a
+slight impediment of speech ever afterwards. The last attempt the
+Ti-pings made to enter Shanghae was repulsed on Monday night. Of the
+next day the report states:--
+
+    "On Tuesday but very little work took place, as the rebels had
+    retreated quite out of range. The conflagration raised by the
+    French in the water suburb was still raging, and it was
+    melancholy to see hong after hong, full of valuable goods,
+    falling a prey to the devouring element."
+
+After the advance of the Ti-pings upon the first day, when they were
+unexpectedly driven back with a loss of about 3,000 men, they met Mr.
+Milne, a missionary. These men were Chinese, and must have been maddened
+by the unprovoked slaughter of their relatives and comrades, but instead
+of wreaking vengeance, as naturally to be expected from Asiatics, with a
+forbearance beyond all praise they did not even make him a prisoner,
+but, upon finding he was a missionary, sent him to the city gates with a
+guard to protect him from any straggling and vengeful soldier. Mr. Milne
+reached the gate in safety, but his guard while retreating were each
+shot down by British soldiers upon the walls!
+
+At the time this unparalleled breach of faith took place at Shanghae,
+England was bound by every tie, legally or theoretically binding, to
+maintain a strict neutrality between the two contending powers. Not only
+by Sir George Bonham's, Consul Meadows', Lord Elgin's, and Mr. Bruce's
+guarantees was the nation pledged to a neutral position; there was also
+an Ordinance of Neutrality passed by Sir John Bowring, Governor of
+Hong-kong, in 1855, the principal clause of which is as follows:--
+
+    "That it shall be a misdemeanour punishable by not more than two
+    years' imprisonment, &c., for any British subject within any
+    part of China to assist _either the existing Chinese
+    government_, or any or either of the different factions at
+    present engaged, or who may be hereafter engaged in opposition
+    to the government, by personal enlistment in the service of
+    _either_ of the said several parties, or by procuring other
+    persons to enlist in such service, or by furnishing, selling, or
+    procuring warlike stores of any description, or by fitting out
+    vessels, or by knowingly and purposely doing _any other act to
+    assist either party, by which neutrality may be violated_."
+
+It is therefore highly improbable that Mr. Bruce dared upon his own
+responsibility to violate all these existing bonds and regulations: much
+more does it resemble the policy of secret instructions. A perusal of
+the despatches of the Minister at Pekin must lead to this conclusion,
+more particularly when a comparison is drawn between the following
+extracts from a despatch of Mr. Bruce to Lord Russell, dated Shanghae,
+June 10th, 1860, and his defence of Shanghae only a few weeks later:--
+
+    "Without discussing" (he is discussing with Earl Russell,
+    therefore the plan of intervention was undoubtedly submitted to
+    him) "whether intervention, under the peculiar circumstances of
+    the civil contest in China, _be justifiable or not_, or whether
+    it would be expedient, with a view to opening the Yang-tze river
+    to trade, to recapture towns, such as Nankin and Chin-kiang,
+    which command it, _I am inclined to doubt the policy_ of
+    attempting to restore by force of arms the power of the Imperial
+    government in cities and provinces occupied, or rather overrun,
+    by the insurgents."
+
+Yet scarcely two months elapse when Mr. Bruce acts in direct
+contradiction to this opinion!
+
+The following passage from the same despatch speaks in the _very
+strongest terms against intervention_:--
+
+    "The Chinese officials, pressed for money, and relying on
+    foreign support, would become _more than ever cruel, corrupt,
+    and oppressive_; and the Chinese, deprived of _popular_
+    insurrection, their rude but efficacious remedy against local
+    oppressors, would _with justice throw on the foreigner the odium
+    of excesses which his presence alone would render possible_. The
+    consequence would be, popular hostility, reprisals, and that
+    train of events which would render it necessary to _appropriate
+    permanently_ the province occupied, or to retire from it,
+    _leaving behind a bitter ill-will among the people_. _No course
+    could be so well calculated to lower our national reputation, as
+    to lend our material support to a government the corruption of
+    whose authorities is only checked by its weakness._" (_!!!_)
+
+Such is the opinion of a resident British minister, an opinion
+constantly reiterated. The people of England may then well wonder at
+conduct in such direct opposition to the reports of the Government
+representative in China. The observations of Col. Sykes, M.P., &c., in
+his advocacy of a high principle, are worthy of attention. At page 18 of
+his valuable little work "The Taeping Rebellion in China," he states:--
+
+    "Incredible as it may appear, while we were shooting down those
+    who asked for our friendship, and were defending a city
+    belonging to a government with which we were at war, and
+    collecting custom duties by Mr. Lay and other British subjects,
+    on account of the Emperor of China, that very emperor was
+    sanctioning British and French officers and soldiers being
+    tortured and put to death at Pekin, and the Prince Kung, the
+    brother of the emperor, in whom we are now placing such implicit
+    confidence, was at that time in such a position at Pekin as to
+    have been able to prevent the cruelties perpetrated upon our
+    officers and men."
+
+People generally disregard everything connected with China, considering
+the policy towards that empire, and its affairs, of but small moment to
+themselves or state. Unless engaged in the China trade, in a selfish and
+narrow-minded point of view it may be so; but if we reflect upon the
+immensity of the Chinese empire, its direct population of one-third of
+the human race, and its indirect brotherhood with about one-half
+(including Malays, Tartars, Eluths, Mongolians, Thibetians,
+Cochin-Chinese, Anamese, &c.),--upon the fact that this vast Empire has
+outlived all the mighty ones of Europe,--that her civilization,
+Christianity, and power, _has yet to come_,--if we think why and for
+what purpose the Creator has fashioned one-half his people of the same
+race, or ponder as to the future of a people who constitute a body
+sixteen times more numerous than the population of Great Britain, and
+who may possibly at a future time attain a position in the world
+proportionately equal to the present greatness of England herself--if
+these facts are reflected upon, they will present deep and interesting
+themes to the mind of every man not entirely absorbed with his own
+littleness, and who can rise above the exigencies of the present moment.
+
+Repulsed from the walls of Shanghae by those whom he had always regarded
+as brothers in the same Faith, the Chung-wang sent the following
+proclamation to the European consuls on the 21st August:--
+
+    "Le, the loyal Prince of the Heavenly Dynasty, &c., &c.,
+    addresses this communication to you, the Honourable Consuls of
+    Great Britain, United States of America, Portugal, and other
+    countries.
+
+    "That good faith must be kept is the principle which guides our
+    dynasty in its friendly relations with other peoples; but
+    deceitful forgetfulness of previous arrangements is the real
+    cause of foreign nations having committed a wrong. When my army
+    reached Soo-chow, Frenchmen, accompanied by people of other
+    nations, came there to trade. They personally called upon me,
+    and invited me to come to Shanghae to consult respecting
+    friendly relations between us in future. Knowing that your
+    nations worship, like us, God the Heavenly Father and Jesus the
+    Heavenly Elder Brother, and are therefore of one religion and of
+    one origin with us, I placed entire and undoubting confidence in
+    their words, and consequently came to meet you at Shanghae.
+
+    "It never occurred to my mind that the French, allowing
+    themselves to be deluded by the imps (the Chinese Imperial
+    authorities), would break their word and turn their backs upon
+    the arrangement made. Not only, however, did they not come on my
+    arrival to meet and consult with me, but they entered into an
+    agreement with the imps to protect the city of Shanghae against
+    us, by which they violated their original agreement. Such
+    proceedings are contrary to the principles of justice.
+
+    "Now, supposing that the French take under their protection the
+    city of Shanghae, and a few li (a mile or two) around it, how
+    will they be able, within that small space, to sell their
+    merchandise, and to carry on conveniently their mercantile
+    transactions?
+
+    "I have also learnt that the French have received no small
+    amount of money from the imps of Hien-Fung (the emperor), which
+    they have without doubt shared amongst the other nations. If you
+    other nations have not received the money of the imps, why did
+    several of your people also appear with the French when they
+    came to Soo-chow and invited me to Shanghae to confer together?
+    It is as clear as daylight that your people also appeared at
+    Soo-chow, and urgently requested me to come to Shanghae. Their
+    words still ring in my ears; it is impossible that the affair
+    should be forgotten.
+
+    "My army having reached this place, if the French alone had
+    broken their engagements, coveted the money of the imps, and
+    protected their city, how was it that not one man of your
+    nations came to consult personally with me? You must have also
+    taken money from the imps of Hien-Fung and divided it amongst
+    you. Seeing, again, you committed a wrong, without taking into
+    consideration that you would have to go to other places than
+    Shanghae to carry on commercial business. You do not apparently
+    know that the imps of Hien-Fung, seeing that your nations are of
+    the same religion and family as the Heavenly Dynasty, used money
+    to establish a connection; this is employing others to kill, and
+    using schemes to cause separations.
+
+    "The French have been seduced by the money of the imps, because
+    they only scheme after profits at Shanghae, and have no
+    consideration for the trade at other places. They have not only
+    no plea on which to meet me, but still less have they any ground
+    on which to come before God the Heavenly Father, and Jesus the
+    Heavenly Elder Brother, or even our own armies, and the other
+    nations of the earth.
+
+    "Our Sovereign Lord was appointed by heaven, and has ruled now
+    for ten years. One half the territory he possesses contains the
+    rich lands in the east and south. The national treasury contains
+    sufficient funds to supply all the wants of our armies.
+    Hereafter, when the whole face of the country is united under
+    our sway, every part will be contained within our registers, and
+    our success will not depend on the small district of Shanghae.
+
+    "But with human feelings, and in human affairs, all acts have
+    their consequences. The French have violated their faith, and
+    broken the peace between us. Since they have in advance, acted
+    thus contrary to reason, if they henceforth remain fixed at
+    Shanghae to carry on their mercantile business, they may so
+    manage. But if they again come into our territory to trade, or
+    pass into our boundaries, I, so far as I am concerned, may in a
+    spirit of magnanimity, bear with their presence and refrain from
+    reckoning with them on the past. Our forces and officers,
+    however, who have now been subjected to their deceit, must all
+    be filled with indignation, and desirous of revenge; and it is
+    to be feared that they will not again be permitted, at their
+    convenience, to repair to our territory.
+
+    "On coming to Soo-chow I had the general command of upwards of
+    one thousand officers, and several tens of thousands of
+    soldiers, a brave army which has power to put down all
+    opposition, and whose force is as strong as the hills. If we had
+    the intention of attacking Shanghae, then what city have they
+    not subdued? What place have they not stormed?
+
+    "I have, however, taken into consideration that you and we alike
+    worship Jesus, and that, after all, there exists between us the
+    relationship of a common basis and common doctrines. Moreover, I
+    came to Shanghae to make a treaty in order to see us connected
+    together by trade and commerce; I did not come for the purpose
+    of fighting with you. Had I at once commenced to attack the city
+    and kill the people, that would have been the same as the
+    members of one family fighting among themselves, which would
+    have caused the imps to ridicule us.
+
+    "Further, amongst the people of foreign nations at Shanghae,
+    there must be varieties in capacity and disposition: there must
+    be men of sense, who know the principles of right, and are well
+    aware of what is advantageous and what injurious. They cannot
+    all covet the money of the impish dynasty, and forget the
+    general trading interests in this country.
+
+    "Hence, I shall for the present repress this day's indignation,
+    and charitably open a path by which to alter our present
+    positions towards each other. I am extremely apprehensive that
+    if my soldiers were to take Shanghae, they would not be able to
+    distinguish the good from the bad, in which case I shall be
+    without grounds to come before Jesus, the Heavenly Elder
+    Brother.
+
+    "Out of a feeling of deep anxiety on your behalf, I am
+    constrained to make an earnest statement to you foreign nations,
+    as to what is wisdom and what folly in these affairs, and as to
+    the amount of advantage and injury of the different courses open
+    to you. I beg you, foreign nations, again carefully to consider
+    what course would be gainful, what a losing one.
+
+    "Should any of your honourable nations regret what has occurred,
+    and hold friendly relations with our state to be best, they need
+    have no apprehensions in coming to consult with me. I treat
+    people according to right principles, and will certainly not
+    subject them to any indignities. Should, however, your
+    honourable nations still continue to be deluded by the imps,
+    follow their lead in all things, without reflecting on the
+    difference between you; you must not blame me if hereafter you
+    find it difficult to pass along the channels of commerce, and if
+    there is no outlet for native produce.
+
+    "I have to beg all your honourable nations to again and again
+    weigh in your minds the circumstances; and now write this
+    special communication, and trust you will favour me with a
+    reply.
+
+    "I beg to make inquiries after your health.
+
+    "Taeping, Tien-kwo, 10th year, 7th moon, 12th day."
+
+With strange, but most probably compulsory inconsistency, after the
+defence of Shanghae, Mr. Bruce, although previously opposing any
+intervention or help to the Manchoos in the strong terms already quoted
+in his despatch to Lord Russell concerning that event, abuses the
+Ti-pings almost as strongly, as if to justify the outrage he had been
+guilty of towards them. In one part of the despatch referred to, dated
+Shanghae, September 4th, 1860, Mr. Bruce, speaking of the Ti-ping
+advance upon Shanghae, states:--
+
+    "They were perfectly, however, aware of our intention to defend
+    the town. It was explained to them in the most unequivocal
+    manner by Mr. Edkins during his late visit to Soo-chow, to whom
+    they seem to have attributed an official character. It probably
+    conduced to the ungracious reception he met with."
+
+Now this passage is entirely contrary to fact, which will be perceived
+directly on perusing the account given by Mr. Edkins _himself_. At
+another part of his defence, Mr. Bruce states:--
+
+    "It is certain that even Hung-jin (Kan-wang), from whom, as
+    _educated_ in a missionary school, and therefore _better
+    instructed in religious doctrine_, and of more _liberal_ views
+    than the Ti-pings in general, the Protestant missionaries
+    expected great things, declined to abandon or postpone the
+    attempt on Shanghae."
+
+This hollow accusation against Hung-jin in particular, and the Ti-pings
+in general, is as ridiculous as it is so to call the Ti-pings
+_illiberal_, because they would not desist from capturing an important
+city of the enemy, the possession of which was absolutely necessary for
+their existence.
+
+It is now desirable to notice the following extract from the same
+despatch. The Mr. Holmes referred to in it visited Nankin about the
+same time Shanghae was defended, and wrote an account of what took place
+in such terms as to render it difficult to believe it ever emanated from
+the pen of a minister of the Gospel, particularly when it is remembered
+that the stronger the grounds might have been to condemn the religious
+belief of the Ti-pings, the greater the duty of Mr. Holmes to fulfil his
+mission and teach them better. Mr. Holmes was sent to China as a
+missionary and not as a theological critic; neither was he required to
+teach those who were perfect in the Faith; his services were required by
+(and had he done his duty would have been given to) people struggling
+through the clouds of paganism and ignorance, such as he describes the
+Ti-pings to have been encompassed with. Why, then, did Mr. Holmes make
+no attempt to succour those who acknowledged the same Saviour, whose
+Word he professed to teach, who had accepted the Bible in its full
+integrity, and who, in my presence, have implored missionaries to remain
+among and teach them those mysteries they were not able to interpret?
+Why did Mr. Holmes report in such an uncharitable spirit of men freely
+receiving and professing Christianity, and make not the slightest effort
+to rectify the faults he so condemned? Mr. Holmes has thus laid himself
+open to severe censure; but he is not the only missionary to blame.
+Although vast sums of money are contributed in England, and expensive
+missions sent to people and countries that _will not profess_; how is it
+that _no attempt_ has been made to help the millions at one time
+constituting the Ti-ping revolution, who not only _professed_
+Christianity as their principal object, but who fought, suffered, and
+died for it.
+
+Mr. Bruce goes on to state:--
+
+    "I enclose herewith a very interesting account given by a Mr.
+    Holmes, a Baptist American missionary, of a trip he had made
+    lately to Nankin....
+
+    "I beg _particularly_ to call your Lordship's attention to Mr.
+    Holmes's general reflections at the close of his letter....
+
+    "But as the chief is an _ignorant fanatic, if not an impostor_,
+    and the bulk of his adherents are drawn from the dangerous
+    classes of China, the result is the rule of the sword in its
+    worst form....
+
+    "Their system differs in nothing, as far as I can learn, from
+    the proceedings of a band of _brigands_ organized under one
+    head."
+
+Mr. Bruce, it will be seen, went quite out of his way to enclose this
+"interesting account" from an "_American_ Baptist missionary," but quite
+overlooked the reports of the British missionaries, which were entirely
+suppressed.
+
+As for Mr. Bruce's reflections upon the "ignorance" of the Ti-ping-Wang,
+and the form of "brigandage," those who follow through this history will
+probably feel justified in questioning the accuracy of his conclusions
+and in condemning the spirit which dictated them.
+
+The following are extracts from the "particularly recommended" account,
+and embrace the principal points:--
+
+    "We ran all night, and next morning anchored in the mouth of the
+    creek which leads from the river up to the city of Nankin. On
+    inquiring for some one with whom we could communicate, I was
+    invited to enter the fort, and on doing so was received by a
+    tall Kwang-si officer. He greeted me as his _ocean brother_, and
+    drawing me down to a seat beside him in the _place of honour_,
+    entered at once into conversation."
+
+Upon entering the city, Mr. Holmes states:--
+
+    "We were received by a venerable-looking and very polite old
+    man, whom we learned to call Pung-ta-jen (his Excellency Mr.
+    Pung). He had been requested by the Chang-wang to entertain us
+    with supper.... We found him exceedingly polite and affable, and
+    I thought I could discern some appearance of _real_ religious
+    character, which is more than I can say for any other man I
+    met."
+
+Mr. Holmes was thus received by the Chang-wang:--
+
+    "On being seated, he began the conversation as follows:--
+
+    "'Wha-seen-sung (be assured), foreigners and men of the Heavenly
+    kingdom are all brethren. We all believe in the Heavenly Father
+    and Son, and are, therefore, brethren. Is it not so?'
+
+    "I then mentioned the object for which I had come, speaking of
+    the deep interest which had long been felt in their cause by
+    foreign Christians.
+
+    "After receiving assurances from him of their _gratification_ at
+    my arrival, we retired.
+
+    "The Tien-Wang, we were informed on the evening of our arrival,
+    was _much gratified_ at our coming.
+
+    "After this, the Chang-wang invited me in to see him again.
+    Being quartered in his house, it was quite convenient to go in
+    at any time.... He then proceeded to give an outline of
+    Christianity, which, though very loose and general, _contained
+    little that could be objected to_:--God, the Creator of all
+    things; Jesus, his son, the Saviour of the world; the Holy
+    Spirit--the words correct in the main, though I afterwards
+    became convinced that neither he, nor any of them, had any
+    adequate idea of their true signification. 'Was this what we
+    believed, also?' he asked, when he had finished his
+    recapitulation. I gave him to understand that I had _no
+    objection_ to make to what he had said, but that they appeared
+    to have other doctrines which I did not understand the import
+    of, for example, Mr. Pung had spoken of worshipping the Heavenly
+    Father, the Heavenly Brother, and the Tien-Wang, and of these
+    three being one. To this he simply replied _that Mr. Pung had
+    preached erroneously_."
+
+Now this plain avowal of the _correct_ and _intimate_ knowledge the
+Ti-ping leaders possessed of Christianity might well, one would suppose,
+have satisfied even Mr. Holmes; for what more could be expected from men
+but newly awakened to the truth, and yet struggling towards the
+gradually increasing light?
+
+Another striking example of the enlightened character of the Ti-ping
+chiefs is thus given by Mr. Holmes, and should certainly have impressed
+him favourably:--
+
+    "Another similar chair was placed near him (Chang-wang), on
+    which he invited me to be seated, and at once began to question
+    me about _foreign machinery_, &c. He had been puzzled by a map
+    with parallel lines running each way, said to have been made by
+    foreigners, which he asked me to explain. He then submitted to
+    my inspection a spy-glass and a music-box, asking various
+    questions about each."
+
+The following account may be designated coolly insolent and not
+trustworthy, being founded on fictions:--
+
+    "John i. 1.--Christ is here pronounced to be God; does Tien-Wang
+    claim to be God or man? Matt. xxii. 29, 30.--How is this to be
+    reconciled with the statement that the Western Prince has
+    contracted a marriage in the other world? Matt. xx. 25-26.--How
+    is this to be reconciled with the Tien-Wang's assumption of
+    authority in spiritual matters? John iii. 13, Gal. i. 8, Rev.
+    xxii. 18-19.--How can Tien-Wang have another revelation? This
+    document the Chang-wang was _afraid_ to present to his chief. He
+    returned it to me, and I supposed that I should hardly find a
+    man bold enough to keep it in his possession."
+
+This may be the _American_ Baptist mode of procedure, but we may easily
+believe it is hardly the style in which an English missionary of
+ordinary good manners and education would act. If a Chinaman were to
+arrive in England and draw up a similar list of queries, and send them
+to the Queen, it would afford a precisely parallel case. The Chang-wang,
+after assuring Mr. Holmes his hyperbolical theories were "erroneous,"
+must have felt himself grossly insulted by the latter's uncourteous
+catechising. When about to leave Nankin, Mr. Holmes states:--
+
+    "On Wednesday we had determined to return. On announcing our
+    intention, we were _entreated_ to remain a few days longer. He
+    (Chang-wang) also invited me to _come back again_, and bring
+    with me my family, _offering to give me a place in his own
+    house_. On our departure a sum of money was offered us to 'buy
+    tea,' as it was stated, 'on our way home.' This we declined....
+    He insisted that he would have no face if he sent away a guest
+    without making him some present, and substituted a piece of
+    silk, which, with several little articles received before, are
+    preserved as memorials of the visit. A present of a small globe,
+    with several other foreign articles, were very gladly received
+    on his part."
+
+From the extracts I have given, one might naturally suppose Mr. Holmes
+would have returned from his visit favourably impressed; with what
+astonishment, then, will be perused the following "reflections":--
+
+    "I shall content myself with a few general reflections upon the
+    state and prospects of this movement. I went to Nankin
+    predisposed to receive a favourable impression.... I came away
+    with my views entirely changed. I had hoped that their
+    doctrines, though crude and erroneous, might, notwithstanding,
+    embrace some of the elements of Christianity. I found, to my
+    sorrow, nothing of Christianity but its names, falsely applied,
+    applied to a system of _revolting idolatry_."
+
+How does this agree with the well-known uncompromising iconoclasm of the
+Ti-pings? How can it be reconciled with the statements given by Mr.
+Holmes as to the Christian knowledge of the Chang-wang? which, he says,
+"_contained little that could be objected to_," or the passage, "I gave
+him to understand that I had _no objection_ to make to what he had
+said"? Is it from this Mr. Holmes derived his idea of "revolting
+idolatry"? The narrative continues:--
+
+    "Their idea of God is distorted until it is inferior, if
+    possible, to that entertained by other Chinese idolaters. The
+    idea which they entertain of a Saviour is likewise low and
+    sensual, and his honours are shared by another." (Compare this
+    with the Tien-Wang's proclamation at page 84, giving the titles
+    to the chiefs, and _strictly forbidding_ himself to be addressed
+    by any appellation that may infringe upon the attributes of the
+    "Celestial Elder Brother" (our Saviour), and then judge of its
+    truth.) "The Eastern King is the saviour from disease, as he is
+    the saviour from sin." (The Eastern King had been dead some
+    years.) "Among the features of their theology that _shocked_ me
+    most may be mentioned the following:--They speak of the wife of
+    the Heavenly Father, whom they call Tien-ma (Heavenly Mother),
+    &c., &c."
+
+If Mr. Holmes was so "shocked," it would have been his duty to teach
+instead of to criticise them, especially as they "entreated" him to
+remain, or "come back" to them.
+
+He further states:--
+
+    "I had hoped, too, that though crude and erroneous in their
+    notions, they would yet be ready to stand an appeal to the
+    Bible" (meaning his arrogant list of queries), "and to be
+    instructed by those competent to expound its truths. Here, too,
+    I was disappointed."
+
+This is palpably unjust, when in the same narrative he states they
+"_entreated_" him to stay with them. Such are the opinions of the
+missionary on whose testimony the British Government mainly rely.[31]
+
+It now becomes necessary to notice the _suppressed_ missionary reports,
+furnished by members of the London Mission Society and Propagation of
+the Faith Society.
+
+These reports appeared a few years back in the _Missionary Magazine_,
+but I venture to again make them public, not only to support and prove
+my own view of the Ti-ping revolution, but because I feel certain that
+only a very small proportion of the British people can have seen them,
+as, if it had been otherwise, a far different policy would have been
+employed in the treatment of the Ti-pings.
+
+The following extracts are from the narrative of a journey amongst the
+Ti-pings, by the Revs. Edkins, John, Macgowan, and Hall, bearing date
+"Shanghae, July 16, 1860:"--
+
+    "THE RELIGIOUS VIEWS AND PRACTICES OF THE INSURGENTS.
+
+    "From the information acquired, it is evident that the religious
+    element enters very powerfully into this great revolutionary
+    movement. Nothing can be more erroneous than the supposition
+    that it is a purely political one, and that religion occupies
+    but a subordinate place in it. So far is this from being the
+    case, that, on the contrary, it is the basis upon which the
+    former rests, and is its life-perpetuating source. The downfall
+    of idolatry, _and the establishment of the worship of the true
+    God_, are objects aimed at by them, _with as much sincerity and
+    devotion_ as the expulsion of the Manchus, and the conquest of
+    the empire. In opposition to the pantheistic notions of the
+    philosophers of the Sung dynasty, they hold the doctrine of the
+    personality of the Deity; in opposition to the popular
+    polytheistic notions, _they have the clearest conception of the
+    unity of God_; and in opposition to the fatalism of
+    philosophical Budhism, they believe in and teach the doctrine of
+    an all-superintending Providence. This appears on the very
+    surface, and no one can be among them for any length of time
+    without being impressed with it. They feel that they have a work
+    to accomplish, and the deep conviction that they are guided by
+    an unerring finger, and supported by an omnipotent arm in its
+    execution, is their inspiration. Success they ascribe to the
+    goodness of the Heavenly Father, and defeat to his
+    chastisements. The Deity is with them, not an abstract notion,
+    nor a stern implacable sovereign, _but a loving father_, who
+    watches tenderly over their affairs, and leads them by the hand.
+    The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are their proposed
+    standard of faith now, as they were at the commencement of the
+    movement.
+
+    "THE FEELINGS ENTERTAINED BY THE INSURGENTS TOWARDS
+    FOREIGNERS, AND THEIR PROSPECTS OF FUTURE SUCCESS.
+
+    "The feeling which they entertain towards foreigners is
+    apparently of the most friendly nature; they are always
+    addressed as 'our foreign brethren.' 'We worship the same
+    Heavenly Father, and believe in the same elder Brother, why
+    should we be at variance?' They seem to be _anxious for
+    intercourse with foreigners, and desirous to promote the
+    interests of trade_. _The opening up of the eighteen provinces
+    to trade, they say, would be most pleasing to them._ Some would
+    say that policy would make them talk in this way--suppose it
+    did; how is it that policy, or something akin, does not make the
+    Imperialists speak in the same way? They say that foreigners
+    will be respected whenever they pass through their territory;
+    and the respectful attention they have paid to those who have
+    visited them is a sufficient proof of their sincerity.
+
+    "A great deal has been said about the cruelty of the
+    'long-haired rebels'; but in this there has been _much
+    exaggeration and misrepresentation_. _In no instance have we
+    witnessed any traces of wilful destruction._ It is true they
+    kill, but it is because they must do so or submit to be killed.
+    They burn, but so far as our observation went, it is invariably
+    in _self-defence_. Much of the burning is done by the
+    Imperialists before the arrival of the rebels, and the cases of
+    suicide are far more numerous than those of murder. The fact
+    that all the women have been allowed to leave Sung Kiang, and
+    that they are known, in many cases, _to have made attempts to
+    save_ men and women who had plunged themselves into the canals
+    and rivers, is a _proof that they are not the cruel relentless
+    marauders that they have been represented, to be by many_. They
+    are revolutionists in the strictest sense of the term; both the
+    work of slaughter and of plunder are carried on so far as is
+    necessary to secure the end. These are evils which necessarily
+    accompany such a movement, and are justifiable or otherwise in
+    so far as the movement itself is so."
+
+The following letter was written by the Rev. J. Edkins and the Rev. G.
+John, giving a report to the secretary of their society of a visit to
+the Ti-pings at Soo-chow. It is dated "Shanghae, August 16, 1860," and
+proves the incorrectness of Mr. Bruce's statements, that Mr. Edkins
+informed the Ti-pings, "in the most unequivocal manner," that Shanghae
+would be defended against them, and that Mr. Edkins met with an
+"ungracious reception."
+
+    "REPORT OF REV. GRIFFITHS JOHN TO REV. DR. TIDMAN.
+    "Shanghae, August 16, 1860.
+
+    "By the last mail you were informed that two letters had just
+    been received from Soo-chow; one from Hung-jin, the Kan-wang, to
+    Mr. Edkins, and another from the Chung-wang, to Mr. Edkins and
+    myself, inviting us both to Soo-chow, to meet the former king.
+    We felt that only one course of action was left open to us as
+    Christian missionaries. We were exceedingly anxious to have an
+    interview with this man, for the purpose of ascertaining the
+    truth on various points of interest--of encouraging him in his
+    praiseworthy endeavours to correct the errors connected with the
+    movement--of learning what might be done towards spreading the
+    truth among his people--and of suggesting plans and improvements
+    for his consideration. With this object we left Shanghae on the
+    30th ult., accompanied by three other brother missionaries. At
+    one point we passed a floating bridge, which had been
+    constructed by the Insurgents, and left in charge of some of the
+    country people. A proclamation was put up on shore, exhorting
+    the people to keep quiet, attend to their avocations, and bring
+    in presents as obedient subjects. One of the country people
+    remarked, as we were passing along, that the proclamation was
+    very good, and that if the rebels would but act accordingly,
+    everything would be all right. 'It matters very little to us,'
+    said he, 'who is to be the emperor--whether Hien-fung or the
+    Celestial King--provided we are left in the enjoyment of our
+    usual peace and quiet.' Such, I believe, is the universal
+    sentiment among the common people. A part of the bridge was
+    taken off to allow our boats to pass through, after which it was
+    closed again very carefully. _The country people were, for the
+    most part, at their work in the fields as usual._ The towns and
+    villages presented a very sad spectacle. These once flourishing
+    marts are entirely deserted, and thousands of the houses are
+    burnt down to the ground. Here and there a solitary old man or
+    old woman may be seen moving slowly and tremblingly among the
+    ruins, musing and weeping over the terrible desolation that
+    reigns around. Together with such scenes the number of dead
+    bodies that continually meet the eye were indescribably
+    sickening to the heart. It must not be forgotten, however, that
+    _most of the burning is done by the Imperialists_ before the
+    arrival of the Insurgents, and that what is done by the latter
+    _is generally in self-defence_, and that more lives are lost by
+    suicide than by the sword. Though the deeds of violence
+    perpetrated by the Insurgents are neither few nor insignificant,
+    _still they would compare well with those of the Imperialists_.
+    The people generally speak well of the old rebels. They say that
+    the old rebels are humane in their treatment of the people, and
+    that _the mischief is done by those who have but recently joined
+    them_. We were glad to find that, both at Soo-chow and
+    Kwun-shan, _the country people were beginning to go among them
+    fearlessly to sell; and that they were paid the full value for
+    every article_. We were told at the latter place that to sell to
+    the rebels is good trade, as they give three and four cash for
+    what they formerly got only one cash.
+
+    "We reached Soo-chow early on the 2nd inst., and had an
+    interview with the Kan-wang on the same day. He appeared in a
+    rich robe and gold embroidered crown, surrounded by a number of
+    officers, all of whom wore robes and caps of red and yellow
+    silk. On our entering he stood up and received us with a hearty
+    shake of the hand. He said that our visit made him very happy,
+    and that his heart was quite set free. He then made kind
+    inquiries about his old friends in Shanghae, both native and
+    foreign. He was much pleased to hear of the progress of the
+    Gospel at Amoy; of the recent accession of converts to the
+    Church in the neighbourhood of Canton and Hong-kong; and of the
+    late revival in the West. 'The kingdom of Christ,' said he,
+    'must spread and overcome every opposition; whatever may become
+    of the celestial dynasty, there can be no doubt concerning this
+    matter.'
+
+    "He then put off his crown and robe, and dismissed his officers;
+    after which we had a free and confidential conversation on
+    various points. We gladly accepted an invitation to dine with
+    him. Before partaking of the viands prepared for us, he proposed
+    that we should sing a hymn and pray together. Having selected
+    one of Dr. Medhurst's hymns, he himself started the tune, and
+    sang with remarkable correctness, warmth, and energy. After a
+    short prayer offered up by Mr. Edkins, we sat at table. The
+    conversation turned almost exclusively upon religious subjects,
+    in fact, he did not seem to wish to talk about anything else. He
+    seemed to feel very grateful to Dr. Legge, Messrs. Chalmers,
+    Hamberg, Edkins, and others, for their past kindness to him. He
+    told us that his object in leaving Hong-kong for Nan-king was
+    solely to preach the Gospel to the subjects of the celestial
+    dynasty; and that on his arrival he begged permission of his
+    cousin to be allowed to do so. The chief, however, would not
+    hear of it, but insisted upon his immediate promotion to the
+    rank of king. Though thoroughly devoted to the new dynasty, and
+    determined to live or die with it, he told us repeatedly that he
+    was much happier when employed as a Native Assistant at
+    Hong-kong, than now, notwithstanding the dignity conferred upon
+    him and the authority with which he is invested. We were
+    escorted on horses to our boat at a late hour.
+
+    "We visited him again on the following day. On our arrival at
+    his residence, we found a foreign merchant waiting upon him, and
+    the Kan-wang considerably agitated in mind. The reason of this
+    we afterwards learnt was, that he had heard that the letters
+    which he had sent to the representatives of foreign powers at
+    Shanghae had not been opened; and that the city was held by
+    English as well as French soldiers. _The first he spoke of as a
+    personal insult to himself, and the second as a direct violation
+    of the principle of neutrality which foreigners should adopt
+    between the two contending parties._ * * *
+
+    "Though we told him that these were matters with which we, as
+    _Missionaries_, had nothing to do, still we could not but feel a
+    secret sympathy with him.
+
+    "After the merchant had left, we had a very interesting
+    conversation with him on various matters, but especially the
+    character of Taeping Wang, the chief. Before separating, he
+    proposed that we should commend each other to the care of
+    Almighty God, and invoke His blessing in prayer. After singing a
+    hymn, he engaged in prayer. His prayer was exceedingly
+    appropriate, fervent, and scriptural. _He prayed that all the
+    idols might perish, that the temples should be converted into
+    chapels, and that pure Christianity should speedily become the
+    religion of China. This was a most interesting spectacle--a
+    spectacle never to be forgotten._
+
+    "We were all much pleased with the Kan-wang. His knowledge of
+    Christian truth _is remarkably extensive and correct_. He is
+    very anxious to do what he can to introduce pure Christianity
+    among his people, and to correct existing errors. He says,
+    however, that he can do but very little actively in this work,
+    and that hence he is very anxious to get as many Missionaries as
+    possible to Nan-king, to teach the people. 'I cannot do much,'
+    said he, 'but if you will come, I will get you chapels, exhort
+    the people to attend, and will attend myself regularly.' He has
+    prepared a prayer for the use of the soldiers, which is
+    remarkably good. He wished us to prepare a series of simple
+    prayers for general distribution. We took with us a number of
+    copies of the whole Bible, and a good selection of tracts, all
+    publicly delivered to his care. These will, I have no doubt, do
+    their work among not a few. He expressed his opinion that the
+    Chief is a pious man, notwithstanding all his errors. He
+    devoutly worships God, and is a constant reader of the
+    Scriptures. The Bible and the 'Pilgrim's Progress' seem to be
+    his favourite books. The Kan-wang thinks that much may be done
+    in course of time towards putting him right on various points.
+    _It is very gratifying to find that he does hold the Scriptures
+    of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God, and
+    the standard of faith._"
+
+The following extracts are quoted from the press of China, upon the
+subject of repelling the Ti-pings from Shanghae. The _Overland
+Register_, Sept. 11th, 1860, in its general summary, states:--
+
+    "However affairs may be affected at the North by the action of
+    the Allied Forces, the late proceedings at Shanghae will
+    probably inflict a damage which no success at the North will or
+    can compensate for, and the case is the more dangerous because
+    that _interested_ persons are led to scandalize the
+    insurrection, that the shame of the slaughter of the Insurgents
+    before Shanghae by the arms of Christian England and Catholic
+    France may be lessened. It will be seen from the details given
+    elsewhere that the advance of the Insurgents upon Shanghae has
+    been checked by the _direct_ interference of the allied forces
+    in concert with the Imperial rabble, and by way of adding insult
+    to injury, and of stemming the tide of indignation which a
+    _truly_ christian public sentiment might be expected to pour
+    upon the policy which dictated such action. Sundry individuals
+    are _persuaded_ to _write_ down the Insurgents who have survived
+    the _shooting_ down, and make them out worse than their heathen
+    countrymen. Hardly had the echo of the Christian muskets died
+    away and the heathen allies finished cutting off the arms and
+    legs of the slain to secure their ornaments, when it is found
+    out suddenly that the rebels are blasphemous outlaws, and do not
+    understand _the doctrine of the Trinity_ as taught in the
+    theological schools of England and other Christian countries,
+    and upon the word, every man who would save the reputation of
+    the allied councils, at once commences to damn the Insurgents
+    for blasphemy, that he may be able to bless the Allies for _foul
+    and cruel murder_. We have especial reference to a lengthy
+    dissertation by one Rev. J. L. Holmes, which is far too long for
+    republication in this edition, and which should not find place
+    if it were possible; and though shame may cause many to accept
+    any excuse for _the unwarranted and cruel slaughter_ of the
+    half-christianized victims who came to be converted, not killed,
+    yet we trust there may be found some whose Christianity will
+    take precedence of nationality even, and that the Insurgents may
+    find sympathizers, even though that sympathy involve
+    condemnation of the policy which prompts either to shoot them or
+    write against them.... The fact is, a gross and unmitigated
+    error has been committed at Shanghae, and all the writing that
+    can be published cannot alter the error or excuse it. The
+    Insurgents did not come professing a pure Christianity, on the
+    contrary, every missionary who has visited them, and even their
+    traducer, who shared their hospitality at Nankin, received their
+    parting gifts of friendship, and then returned to print five
+    columns of detraction and abuse in the _North China Herald_,
+    bearing testimony that the Insurgents admit the imperfection of
+    their religious knowledge, and only beg that teachers might be
+    sent them, so that they might know the truth _as it is in
+    Jesus_; and the Christian world may well cry 'shame!' upon any
+    Missionary of the Gospel, who going among them, instead of
+    seeking to instruct them, spends the time of his hospitable
+    reception in seeking out their errors and publishing them in
+    order to turn sympathy away from them and palliate the crime
+    that had already been perpetrated at their expense."
+
+Speaking of the French Jesuitical influence working against the
+Ti-pings, _The Overland Register_ continues:--
+
+    "That France should spurn the Rebellion, it is but natural, for
+    the Insurgents have the _Bible_, and next to the devil, a free
+    Bible may be supposed the object of direst attack on the part
+    of a Jesuitical priesthood. But it will be long ere the stain
+    upon British honour and justice and Christian profession is
+    erased. It is currently stated that the French are savagely bent
+    upon the utter destruction of the Insurgents, and that they will
+    insist upon an attack upon Nankin." (This was mooted at that
+    time, as per Mr. Bruce's despatches, but was not executed,
+    because, as another writer stated, "They have it in their power,
+    we are told, and nobody doubts the truth of the statement, to
+    ruin the foreign trade at Shanghae, and they also have it in
+    their power to form with the representatives here of foreign
+    powers provisional regulations by which in existing
+    circumstances the destruction of that trade may be prevented."
+    This was thoroughly appreciated; therefore, while gradually
+    destroying the Ti-pings and undermining their cause,
+    _neutrality_ was also pretended.) "Such a thing is by no means
+    beyond the bounds of possibility, so that ere long the world may
+    be edified with the sight of the 'Defender of the faith,' in
+    company with the 'woman arrayed in purple and scarlet,' and the
+    disciples of Buddha, all joining in the hue-and-cry after the
+    rascally Bible-reading insurgents.
+
+    "Happy are they who fall by the merciful administration of
+    Christian warfare, for if once their power is broken, there are
+    other Governor Yehs in China to take the place of the cowardly
+    brute who tortured and slaughtered 60,000 of his countrymen in
+    the Canton province, and Shanghae may be treated to the same
+    spectacle which six years ago sent a thrill of horror all over
+    the civilized world, with only this difference--_that the
+    responsibility will rest upon those professedly Christian
+    nations who will have been the cause of them_."
+
+This has happened; but the thrill of horror was either not felt, or the
+professing Christian nations have become exceedingly callous; but then,
+"six years ago," it was Yeh who did all that; during 1860-1-2-3-4, it
+was done by Christian nations.
+
+    "The political creed of the insurgent leaders is _all_ that
+    could be wished by the most enthusiastic admirers of what strong
+    nations call 'international comity,' when the weaker party have
+    anything worth possessing. If the proclamations and other
+    writings from insurgent sources are sufficient authority (and we
+    know of no reason why they should be otherwise regarded), their
+    position is about as follows:--
+
+    "1. That _Chinese_, not Tartars, shall rule China; and surely no
+    Western nation can find fault with that.
+
+    "2. That the exclusive policy heretofore maintained by the
+    Imperial Government shall be superseded by a liberal policy, so
+    that China may become one in the great Congress of Nations,
+    instead of standing aloof in childish pomposity.
+
+    "3. That a free access be given to the arts and manufactures of
+    other nations.
+
+    "4. That kindly relations be cultivated with all foreign people,
+    and the resources of the country be developed by a liberal
+    exchange of its products for those of other lands.
+
+    "5. That the improvements in various mechanical arts, the
+    inventions of foreign nations, be introduced into the country.
+
+    "We have neither time nor space to complete the list, but it may
+    be said, generally, that in the political creed of the insurgent
+    leaders there appears, from beginning to end, a complete
+    revolution of the Chinese ideas in every important particular,
+    and there is not an item of it that should not meet with the
+    warm sympathy of every man who cares for the welfare of any
+    country besides his own, or even any man whose only interest in
+    foreign nations is limited to what may be got out of them...."
+
+It has lately been the common practice to represent the Ti-pings as
+"monsters of cruelty," "ruthless devastators," &c. The following
+extracts, from a communication by a "correspondent of the _North China
+Herald_," republished in the _Nonconformist_ of Nov. 14th, 1860, give
+some authentic particulars respecting the Shanghae massacre of Ti-pings.
+Upon the approach of the Ti-pings to the walls of the city, the writer
+states:--
+
+    "When it was discovered that they were real rebels, orders were
+    given to fire on them. They waved the hand, begged our officers
+    not to fire, and _stood there motionless_, wishing to open
+    communication and explain their object. No notice was taken of
+    this, but a heavy fire of rifles and grape was kept up on them
+    for about two hours, when they retired with a loss estimated at
+    two hundred. Here, as at the South-gate, they seem to have
+    essayed to open communication, and to have been replied to in
+    the same way. After they had been driven back, the French
+    soldiers rushed frantically among the peaceful inhabitants of
+    the place, murdering men, women, and children, without the least
+    discrimination. One man was stabbed right through as he was
+    enjoying his opium-pipe. A woman, who had just given birth to a
+    child, was bayoneted without the faintest provocation. Women
+    were ravished and houses plundered by these ruthless marauders
+    without restraint. Everything was taken away from the poor
+    people, who were trying to escape, and thrown into a heap, so as
+    to do away with the possibility of ever being reclaimed. Unless
+    the article or articles were immediately yielded, the bayonet
+    was brought in to decide the question."
+
+The truth of these statements can be supported by the evidence of my
+personal friends, some of whom were wounded when trying to rescue
+helpless women from unheard-of barbarity.
+
+    "After this sort of work had been going on for some time, the
+    beautiful temple of the 'Queen of Heaven' was set on fire by the
+    French. The fire had been extending ever since, so that now the
+    Eastern suburb presents a sad spectacle. The burning of the
+    Southern and Western suburbs by the English, and the greater
+    part of the Eastern suburb by the French, has deprived thousands
+    of their happy homes and reduced them to irretrievable poverty."
+
+Recounting the events of the following day, the author states:--
+
+    "Now the firing and shelling commenced. The Insurgents stood it
+    for several hours _like men of stone, immovable, without
+    returning a single shot_. At length a well-directed shell from
+    H.M.S. _Pioneer_, bursting in the midst of one of the hamlets,
+    and another from the _Racehorse_, which followed the former in
+    about two seconds, bursting in the midst of the other hamlet,
+    started them fairly."
+
+At Si-ka-wei, a village some few miles from Shanghae, the following
+proclamation was found posted upon the Roman Catholic church:--
+
+    "The Chung-wang herewith commands his officers and soldiers that
+    they may all be thoroughly acquainted with it. Having received
+    the Heavenly decree to lead my soldiers everywhere to fight, the
+    soldiers have already come to Shanghae and have pitched their
+    tents at the chapel. Now it is ordained _that not the minutest
+    particle of foreign property is to be injured_. The veteran
+    soldiers are supposed to be acquainted with the Heavenly
+    religion, that foreigners together with the subjects of the
+    celestial dynasty all worship God and equally reverence Jesus,
+    and that all are to be regarded as _brethren_ (or to belong to
+    the body of brethren). The veteran soldiers will surely not dare
+    to offend, but I have been thinking that the soldiers who have
+    but recently joined us are ignorant of this being a place of
+    worship, and are unable thoroughly to understand that their
+    religion is one with, and their doctrine has the same origin as,
+    ours. Hence the propriety of issuing this command. Because of
+    this, all the soldiers, whether veterans or otherwise, are
+    commanded to be fully aware that, hereafter should any one be
+    found guilty of injuring the property, goods, houses, or chapels
+    of foreigners, it is decreed that he will be decapitated
+    without mercy. Let all tremble and obey. Don't disobey this
+    command. 7th month, 15th day."
+
+The _Times_ of India contains the following, in the article from its
+Shanghae correspondent, dated October 24th:--
+
+    "I thank you for having done what you could for your suffering
+    fellow-creatures in China, but the work is not done yet.
+    Hitherto you have heard nothing but the details of rebels being
+    handed over to the Imperialists for torture; of Shanghae, with
+    its notorious execution-ground, being held by English and French
+    troops; of a steamer manned by sailors from French ships of war,
+    and loaded with rice, being sent to the relief of Imperialist
+    cities; of English officers and sailors fortifying cities and
+    mounting guns, and instructing the Tartar soldiers in fighting
+    against the rebels; of guns being plundered from the Taepings;
+    of duties being collected for the Imperialists; and last, not
+    least, of innocent blood having been shed by Englishmen, and all
+    this _without one single act of retaliation_, a circumstance
+    perhaps _unparalleled in the history of the world_."
+
+But enough of extracts from the press; it is sufficient to state that,
+with few exceptions, the whole British press of China and India
+emphatically condemned the flagrant violation of honour, of
+international law, and of solemnly pledged neutrality. Although too late
+to prevent the deeds in China that have tarnished the national honour of
+England, it is yet possible that similar atrocities may be in future
+arrested, if the British people will only be a little more watchful of
+the dealings of their Government with foreign nations, and will seek
+wider sources of information as regards them than such as may be
+presented through ordinary channels. It is, moreover, of particular
+importance that, upon every question of foreign policy, a man should be
+competent to judge for himself: to content oneself with "home policy" is
+simply absurd, for while other nationalities and other races exist, home
+policy will entirely depend upon foreign conduct, and the relations that
+are established abroad; in fact, as much so as the conduct and
+management of a household is regulated by society and the customs of its
+neighbours.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[31] The opinions of Mr. Holmes afford a fair sample of the anti-Ti-ping
+missionaries.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+    Ti-ping Polygamy.--Ti-ping Women.--Their Improved
+    Position.--Abolition of Slavery by the Ti-pings.--Its Prevalence
+    in China.--Moral Revolution effected by Ti-pings.--Their
+    Religious Works.--Their Conduct Justified.--Jesuit
+    Missionaries.--Consul Hervey's Despatch.--Apathy of
+    Missionaries.--Its Consequences.--Chinese Antipathy to
+    Christianity.--Christianity of the Ti-pings.--Their Forms of
+    Worship.--Ti-ping Marriages.--Religious Observances.--The
+    Ti-ping Sabbath.--Its Observance.--Their Ecclesiastical
+    System.--Forms of Worship.--The Mo-wang.--Ti-ping Churches.
+
+
+During my intercourse with the Ti-pings, if one part of their system and
+organization appeared more admirable than another, it was the improved
+position of their women, whose status, raised from the degrading Asiatic
+_regime_, approached that of civilized nations. This improvement upon
+the ignorant and sensual treatment of 2,000 years affords strong
+evidence of the advancement of their moral character. Although the
+practice of polygamy has by some war Christians been used as an argument
+to justify murdering the Ti-pings, I do not remember an instance in
+which those ultra-moral personages have endeavoured to teach the
+Ti-pings the difference between the law of well-beloved Abraham's time,
+upon which many of their religious rules are framed, and the later
+dispensation of the Gospel. It is, however, a great mistake to imagine
+that the Ti-pings are either confirmed or universal polygamists. In the
+first place, as they have thrown off _all_ the other heathen practices
+of their countrymen, there is no reason to suppose they would make this
+an exception. In the second place, I know that many who have become
+enlightened by the New Testament, have abandoned polygamy; while a vast
+number of the rest, only partially instructed, are either averse to it,
+or simply maintain the establishment of one principal and several
+inferior wives, or concubines, according to ancient custom, and as a
+mark of high rank. It is also a fact that in some countries a plurality
+of wives is rather beneficial than otherwise; and it may be that China
+is one of these. But above all, however detestable we may consider
+polygamy, where is the _Divine_ command against it?
+
+The Ti-pings have abolished the horrible custom of cramping and
+deforming the feet of their women. But although, under their improved
+system, no female child is so tortured, many of their wives have the
+frightful "small feet;" having, with the exception of the natives of
+Kwang-se, some parts of Kwang-tung, and the Miau-tze, originally
+conformed to the crippling custom. All children born since the earliest
+commencement of the Ti-ping rebellion have the natural foot. This great
+benefit to the women, their consequent improved appearance, and the
+release of the men from the tail-wearing shaven-headed badge of former
+slavery, form the two most conspicuous of their distinguishing habits,
+and cause the greatest difference and improvement in the personal
+appearance of the Ti-pings as compared with that of their
+Tartar-governed countrymen. The much higher social position of the
+Ti-ping ladies over that of their unfortunate sisters included within
+the Manchoo domestic _regime_, has long been one of the brightest
+ornaments of their government. A plebeian Ti-ping is allowed but one
+wife, and to her he must be regularly married by one of the ministers.
+Amongst the Chiefs, marriage is a ceremony celebrated with much pomp and
+festivity; the poorer classes can only marry when considered worthy, and
+when permitted to do so by their immediate rulers. In contradistinction
+to the Manchoos, the marriage knot when once tied can never be unloosed;
+therefore, the custom of putting away a wife at pleasure, or selling
+her--as in vogue among the Chinese--or the proceedings of the British
+Court of Divorce, has not found favour in their sight.
+
+Every woman in Ti-pingdom must either be married, the member of a
+family, or an inmate of one of the large institutions for unprotected
+females, existing in most of their principal cities, and superintended
+by proper officials; no single woman being allowed in their territory
+otherwise. This law is to prevent prostitution, which is punishable with
+death, and is one which has certainly proved very effective, for such a
+thing is unknown in any of the Ti-ping cities. The stringent execution
+of the law has, in fact, been rather too severe, for I have seen cases
+where women have rushed about the streets to find new husbands directly
+they have received the melancholy tidings of their late beloved's
+decapitation by the "demon imps." It is possible these bereaved ladies
+may not have been on the strength of the regiment; but at all events
+this acting of the law was rather too exaggerated. The conduct of the
+Chinese lady who fanned her husband's grave to dry it previous to her
+early acceptance of a new lord, and so preserve a correct propriety, is
+more excusable than this. Woman is by the Ti-pings recognized in her
+proper sphere as the companion of man; the education and development of
+her mind is equally well attended to; her duty to God is diligently
+taught, and in ordinary worship she takes her proper place; many of the
+women are zealous and popular teachers and expounders of the Bible; in
+fact, everything is done to make her worthy of the improved position she
+has attained by reason of the Ti-ping movement.
+
+The institutions for unprotected women are presided over by duly
+appointed matrons, and are particularly organized and designed to
+educate and protect those young girls who lose their natural guardians,
+or those married women whose husbands are away upon public duty, and who
+have no relations to protect and support them. Very many of the women
+accompany their husbands upon military expeditions; inspired with
+enthusiasm to share the dangers and severe hardships of the
+battle-field. In such cases they are generally mounted upon the Chinese
+ponies, donkeys, or mules, which they ride a la Duchesse de Berri. In
+former years they were wont to fight bravely, and could ably discharge
+the duties of officers, being however formed into a separate camp and
+only joining the men in religious observances. The greatest physical
+comfort to the women is their enjoyment of natural feet and the ability
+to move about as they wish; though, unfortunately, it is only amongst
+the youngest that this prevails entirely. It is utterly impossible to
+describe a more striking contrast than that presented in the walk and
+carriage of two women, one having the compressed, and the other natural
+feet; the former, even when standing still, has a very unsteady
+appearance, but when stumping along with the usual uncertain tottering
+gait, apparently in danger of rolling over at every step, the crippling
+custom excites the utmost disgust and the greatest commiseration for its
+victims. And yet this revolting exhibition is by the Chinese described
+as "swaying elegantly from side to side like the graceful waving of the
+willow tree!"
+
+It is, probably, due to the feet--and Chinese feet are naturally very
+well formed--being of their natural shape, and the consequent elegance
+of carriage, that many of the Ti-pings' wives have been selected as the
+handsomest prisoners captured during the war, and that they appear in
+such advantageous contrast with the Imperialists.
+
+The detestable system of slavery is totally abolished by the Ti-pings,
+and the abolition made effective by punishment with decapitation upon
+the slightest infringement of the law by male or female. The law as far
+as the slavery of men was concerned had no great occasion for existence,
+such cases being uncommon in China; but the real necessity for such an
+important innovation consisted in the fact that every woman was more or
+less a slave. The head wives of the aristocrat and the plebeian,
+although not actually recognized as slaves, are still purchased by the
+bridal present, upon receipt of which, and never otherwise, they are
+handed over to their purchaser, or husband. The inferior wives are
+simply bought; with or without the knowledge of their family, for no
+equality of position is required, as they are selected according to the
+fancy of their future master, from relatives or slave-dealers as the
+case may be. Besides those who are purchased for wives, a great
+proportion of the women of China become the concubines of successive
+masters, by whom they are sold from one to the other; many are bought
+for domestic slavery; but vast numbers are purchased for a life of
+public infamy. The establishments set apart for this purpose are
+immense, and contain several hundred women purchased at the tenderest
+ages and reared to this wretched existence. At Hong-kong, at Shanghae,
+and several other places in China, buildings of this class are
+maintained upon the British territory, and the Hong-kong colonial
+government, and Shanghae municipal council, regularly tax and recognize
+them. It is the common practice of the poorer Chinese to sell their
+female children, and when the vastness of the population, and the fact
+that these children are mostly purchased for immoral purposes, is
+considered, the consequences may easily be imagined. At many and widely
+separated parts of China, I have seen comely young maidens from twelve
+to twenty years of age, offered for sale by their mothers, or
+speculators, at prices varying from _six_ to thirty dollars, so that, as
+I have frequently heard the Chinese say, "You may sometimes buy a
+handsome girl for so many cash a catty (weight of one pound and a third)
+_less_ than pork." This is the precise state of things which the
+Ti-pings would not tolerate amongst themselves, and which they would in
+time have taught all China to abhor were it not for foreign
+interference.
+
+If the Ti-pings had not been interfered with, it is possible, though
+very improbable, they _might_ have caused a temporary falling-off of
+trade, consequent upon the nullification of Lord Elgin's treaty, the
+usual effects of civil war, &c., and it is quite certain the residue of
+indemnity, as far as the Manchoos were concerned, would have been lost;
+but whatever might or might not have been the result, trade would not
+have suffered much, for the Ti-ping power would soon have been supreme.
+Far nobler, then, would it have been for England to have avoided the
+contamination of the Manchoo alliance, and to have preserved the respect
+and friendship of at least a portion of the Chinese empire.
+
+[Illustration: SALE OF A CHINESE GIRL AS WITNESSED BY THE AUTHOR AT
+E-CHING, ON THE RIVER YANG-TSE-KIANG.
+London, Published March 15^{th} 1866 by Day & Son, Limited Lithog^{rs}
+Gate Str, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
+Day & Son, Limited, Lith.]
+
+The wonderful achievement of the Ti-pings, not only in effecting an
+important moral revolution, but also a national deliverance of their
+countrymen, affords an almost incredible psychological phenomenon.
+Rising, as it were intuitively, from the lowest depths of moral
+degradation, they suddenly recognize and instantly abandon all those
+vices and national evils which had become engrafted upon the Chinese
+mind by the solemn and unswerving practice of 2,000 years. With
+meteor-like perception, the great originator of the revolution becomes
+convinced of the degradation of his countrymen. China, rooted to her
+antiquity, her seclusion, and her apathy, beyond the most distant hope
+of change or improvement, yields to this new influence, and bows before
+the teaching of the almost unknown student, Hung-sui-tshuen. The
+traditional lore of more than 2,000 years, the mystic and
+deeply-venerated teaching of ancient sages, the profligacy and idolatry
+sanctioned and indulged in for ages, are suddenly disregarded. But in
+one way can this be accounted for. Divine Providence has manifested
+itself in a manner as marvellous and superhuman as in the recorded
+miracles of old. The miraculous interpositions of Divine Power in the
+olden times appealed to the senses of small portions of a semi-barbarous
+people by a physical and visible wonder. This most extraordinary of
+revolutions has effected the moral regeneration of a vast proportion of
+the human race by an invisible and wonderful agency. Therefore, whatever
+may be the apparent result of the hostility of foreign dynasties, of
+this we may rest assured, the Almighty Power that has seen fit to kindle
+the glimmering sparks of the first Christian movement in modern Asia has
+lighted a torch that may not easily be extinguished, faint and obscure
+as that light may burn amid the gloom of persecution which, in all
+climes, and in all ages, has marked the dawn of Christianity. Nations
+may rejoice over the seeming triumph of their policy, and may witness
+unmoved the martyrdom of the noble Ti-ping leaders, but nevertheless the
+moment will arrive when that smouldering spark will burst into a fire
+that may not be controlled by human agency.
+
+I have probably had a much greater experience of the Ti-ping religious
+practices than any other European, and as a Protestant Christian I have
+never yet found occasion to condemn their form of worship. In the first
+place, the principal and most important article of their faith is the
+Holy Bible in all its integrity--Old and New Testaments entire. These
+have always been circulated through the whole population of the Ti-ping
+jurisdiction, and printed and distributed to the people gratuitously by
+their Government. Besides the Bible, numerous religious works by the
+Tien-wang (the Tai-ping king), and Kan-wang (his prime minister), have
+been commonly circulated among their followers; but I entirely deny that
+these, or any single one of them, tend to alter, modify, or supersede
+any part of the Word of God, as some persons have taken upon themselves
+to intimate. These works have been issued as the individual explanations
+and opinions of the two authors, but never as any essential article of
+belief. Had such not been the case, is it likely the Bible would have
+been given in a complete form, by which any peculiar and erroneous
+teaching of the Tien-wang would have become exposed? And is not this
+free and unlimited circulation of the Scriptures the very best and most
+certain prospect of improvement? So anti-Christian, however, have been
+the arguments of nearly all opposed to the Ti-pings, that it is even
+possible some of their sect may dispute this truth.
+
+Any one influenced by a sense of justice or Christian feeling will
+naturally wonder why a large proportion of idolaters, suddenly converted
+to the faith and accepting the Bible with joy, should require any
+defence for their unavoidable errors--errors common among the most
+perfect, and such as new disciples must, in the natural order of
+_learning_ the holy mysteries, have been surrounded with. The answer
+must be, that all those in any way interested in the suppression of the
+Ti-pings, carefully circulated all the errors they could detect and all
+they could invent, cautiously concealing the fact that, whatever errors
+there might be are to be attributed to the Ti-pings not being able to
+thoroughly master, and rightly interpret, in a few years what no
+Christians have been able to do unanimously in nineteen centuries.
+
+It may be asked, What had the religion of the Ti-pings to do with the
+war that has been waged against them?--was that religion the true _casus
+belli_? Was any _casus belli_ ever stated? Assuredly not. With none of
+the circumstances allowed by _men_ to justify killing their
+species--such as a just war, a defensive war, &c.--the Ti-pings have
+been most wantonly massacred. It may be urged by some that the
+sanguinary war maintained by the revolutionists can be held as a proof
+of their un-Christian character, and that they are endeavouring to
+propagate their faith by the sword. The simple reply to this is, that
+the Ti-pings have proved themselves to be far more merciful than their
+enemies. Oppressed and persecuted, their patriotism became aroused; they
+sought not to establish their faith by the sword; they sought to recover
+their patrimony from the usurping Tartar. They fought to uphold
+Christianity, not to crush it. Far from being incited by fanaticism to
+deeds of blood, it is a well-known fact--particularly stated by the
+Revs. Griffith John, Joseph Edkins, Lobschied, Muirhead, and
+others--that the Ti-ping chiefs have always deplored the great loss of
+life consequent upon their struggle for liberty. In the tenth century,
+Christianity was introduced into Denmark by the sword, in the thirteenth
+into Prussia, and became established throughout Europe by religious
+wars. All Christianity has been compelled frequently to maintain itself
+by force of arms. The seventh century witnessed the wars against the
+Saracens; and if, as some people have stated, the Ti-pings had been
+fighting for the purpose of _establishing_ their religion, and were
+wrong for so doing, then it is a sad reflection that all Christianity
+must be wrong, and that our Christian ancestors should have become
+either martyrs or Mohammedans.
+
+The annals of history, and the practices of modern civilization,
+sufficiently prove the necessity of civil liberty for the enjoyment of
+Christian worship; why, then, should the Ti-pings be blamed if, in order
+to obtain the latter, they have been compelled to fight for their
+freedom?
+
+The rise of the Ti-ping rebellion singularly resembles many events
+mentioned in sacred history, and many of the Ti-pings have delighted in
+comparing themselves to the Israelites of old. Even should the
+revolutionists have placed a warlike interpretation upon such passages
+from the _New Testament_ as, "Think not that I am come to send peace on
+earth; I come not to send peace, but a sword;" "for he beareth not the
+sword in vain;" who among us dare judge them as misinterpreters of
+Gospel, remembering the conversion of the heathen is executed according
+to the will and pleasure of the Lord, and not by any rule or formula
+laid down by man? It would be idle and presumptuous to say this must be
+the plan, or that shall be the manner; and yet there have been found
+ministers of the Gospel who are ready to justify the outrages committed
+on the Ti-pings, because they think they have not accepted the Word of
+God in the manner they should have done!
+
+When the statements of the various missionaries are perused, it must be
+wondered how it is that those who have been sent to China through the
+Christian generosity of the British public, have never yet attempted to
+succour or guide aright the great Christian revolution. The Bishop of
+Victoria, the Revs. Griffith John, Muirhead, Edkins, Mills, Milne,
+Lobschied, Lambath, and many others too numerous to mention, have
+rejoiced in the most eloquent terms about the Ti-pings, have partially
+approved, and criticised their acts, when sending _their reports_ to
+England. What have they _done_ to assist those who have "entreated"
+them, as Mr. Holmes, the Baptist missionary, was entreated, to come and
+teach the Word of God? Absolutely nothing!
+
+Last year, it was estimated that the whole number of Protestant
+Christian converts in China, the result of more than thirty years of
+missionary labour, was some 1,400, and these included all the employees
+of the different mission establishments, many of whom, I have good
+reason to know, have an amount of faith similar to that of the
+Portuguese rice Christians of Macao, who, not long since, struck in a
+body, and told the priests they would not be Christians any longer,
+unless they received another quarter of a catty more rice per day.
+England sends more missionaries amongst the poor benighted heathen than
+any other nation; yet the work of all she has sent to China put together
+will not equal the proselytes of one Jesuit. The Jesuits penetrate the
+vast Chinese empire in every direction, shaven-headed, and dressed as
+natives. With a sublime earnestness of purpose, many of them devote
+their lives to their missionary work; adopting the strange and hostile
+country, and giving up for ever all ties of home, kindred, or nation,
+these devoted men never depart from China, but, till death relieves
+them, labour with that unfaltering perseverance so eminently
+characteristic of the order of Jesus. I do not, by any means, advocate
+either the principles of the Jesuits, or their peculiar mode of
+propagating them; but what I do maintain is, that while the
+self-sacrifice of the Jesuits forms one extreme of missionary labour, so
+the confinement of Protestant missionaries to the treaty ports
+constitutes the other, and that many could be well employed in the
+interior.
+
+What excuse can missionaries give for their surprising negligence of the
+Ti-ping rebellion? Can it be that ministers of the Gospel egotistically
+preferred their 1,400 converts to the 70,000,000, and upwards, of those
+who might have become Christians under the Ti-ping authority during
+1861-2, had our missionaries helped them, and our Government permitted
+them to exist? Of course not! Well then, why? Let the British officials
+who prevented the few missionaries who would have gone to the Ti-pings
+reply for them, and those who would not go at all reply for themselves.
+Their reasons must indeed be plausible to find approbation. If the
+Ti-pings were _very_ bad, all the more occasion for teaching them; if
+very good, how is it the missionaries allowed them to be sacrificed
+without protest? In all probability no reply would be given; but the
+conduct of the British consuls at Canton, Ningpo, and Shanghae, affords
+the true answer, as far as those missionaries who were willing to preach
+the Gospel to the Ti-pings are concerned. At Canton they were refused
+passports to the territory of insurgents. At Ningpo the missionaries
+were withdrawn from that city when it was captured by the Ti-pings, as
+Mr. Consul Hervey states in his despatch of Dec. 31st, 1861, to Mr.
+Bruce:--
+
+    "I would here state that with a view of avoiding needless
+    discussions with the insurgents.... I thought it best to desire
+    our missionaries to abandon the city.... The city has now become
+    a gigantic camp, and a scene of desolation and riot, and has
+    therefore ceased to be the fit and proper abode for teachers of
+    Christianity and propagators of the gospel. (?) _This step will
+    tend to simplify considerably our future relations with the
+    Taepings at Ningpo._"
+
+This sinister passage must be remembered when considering the
+treacherous expulsion of the Ti-pings from the city by the allied
+Anglo-Franco-Manchoo piratical fleet.
+
+Do the subscribers to the mission funds expect Mr. Consul Hervey to be
+the director of the missionaries, or a competent judge of "a fit or
+proper abode for teachers of Christianity"?--if so, in the latter case
+they are wofully deceived.
+
+Captain Corbett, R.N., writes to Admiral Hope from Ningpo on the 20th
+December, 1861:--
+
+    "The missionaries are gradually removing out of the city. I
+    thought it my duty to remonstrate with them against remaining
+    _where, in the event of any difficulty arising between ourselves
+    and the Taepings, they would prove a source of great
+    embarrassment to us_."
+
+Why all this anxiety to force the missionaries away from their duty? To
+get them out of the way before the commencement of the hostilities
+already decided upon, seems the only answer!
+
+At Shanghae Mr. Consul Medhurst has interfered with the missionary work;
+but, above all, Mr. Bruce's regulations actually _prohibit_ the
+communication of missionaries or any other British subject with the
+Ti-pings; in consequence of which, I was compelled to _smuggle_ the Rev.
+W. Lobschied up to Nankin in May, 1862.
+
+It will thus be seen, the teaching of the Word of God, and the spreading
+of the Gospel unto the uttermost ends of the earth, has, in China, been
+made subservient to official intrigue. This may somewhat explain the
+extraordinary apathy of missionaries, although it certainly cannot
+justify their neglect of their Master's orders. Missionaries should be
+servants of Christ alone; but out in China, it appears, they are either
+politicians, or they permit the object of their sacred mission to be
+perverted by unscrupulous officials, and thereby become secularized.
+
+Whatever may have been the benefit of the missions hitherto, their
+wanton, cruel sacrifice of the greatest Christian movement this world
+has ever witnessed has dimmed their glory with a shadow all time cannot
+remove; it is even needless to blame them for neglecting the innumerable
+and less favourable points of the Ti-ping religion--the grand and
+unalterable _fact_ was the possession of the whole Bible as their only
+faith, and the hitherto unparalleled free circulation of it by the
+martyred revolutionists.
+
+Only last June, the Bishop of Victoria, at the Highbury College grounds,
+referred to some of the remarkable scenes incident to the rebellion, and
+observed--"that in Amoy, which had suffered deeply, missionary work had
+made more progress than in any other city in China! One effect of the
+Ti-ping movement had been the wide-spread destruction of idolatry, by
+which a vast work had been done, preparatory to that of the missionary."
+
+The idols, indeed, _were_ all destroyed, but the missionaries did not
+step in. And now that the Ti-pings have been driven from their former
+possessions, and nearly exterminated, all the idols have been replaced
+by the Manchoos; and the missionaries may rest assured it will take them
+infinitely longer to overthrow the re-established Budhism than it
+occupied the Ti-pings in the first place. The Chinese have been edified
+by witnessing the Europeans fighting to suppress what has always been
+looked upon by natives as a religious movement, alien to the ancient and
+national faith of the country, in fact, as Christianity, or the religion
+of the foreigners. This being the case, it would be absurd to expect the
+Chinese will again come forward and adopt the creed for which they are
+daily beholding the Ti-pings suffer,--a creed to which they are
+naturally averse, and dare not profess if they would, not only from
+dread of their Manchoo Government (which will certainly keep a sharp
+look-out to suppress any new outbreak of a movement which so nearly
+overthrew their own dynasty), but from the very fact that they have seen
+the strong and resistless "foreign devils" allied to the Manchoos for
+the express purpose of exterminating the Ti-ping Christians. There can
+be no ground for cavilling about the right of the Ti-pings to such
+denomination, the fact being that they accepted the Bible, acknowledged
+it as the Word of God, and worshipped His Son, as the Tien-wang has
+written, "as the Saviour of men's souls." Can the missionary-made
+Christians do more?
+
+For my part, I shall ever rejoice, because I have been in a position to
+render what little assistance I could to many hundreds of the Ti-pings
+who have requested me to give them the foreign interpretation of
+different articles of faith; and I shall ever regret that, while
+missionaries are sent with exhaustless munificence into parts that _will
+not profess_ Christianity, to the Ti-pings, under whose authority
+millions _have_ professed and accepted the Scriptures with an enthusiasm
+and firmness of purpose never excelled, not one has been sent or
+volunteered to go.
+
+It is difficult to understand, how ministers of the Gospel should not
+have felt a generous sympathy with men, whose profession of Christianity
+not only entitled them to the brotherhood they have always claimed with
+Europeans, but actually deprived their movement of a very great element
+most essential to its success--the popular national rising against the
+Manchoos.
+
+Even Mr. Bruce, their greatest enemy, has stated,--
+
+    "My impression is that both the prospects of the extension of
+    pure Christianity in China through the instrumentality of these
+    men, and the success of the insurrection among the Chinese,
+    viewed as a political movement against the Tartar Government,
+    have suffered materially from the religious character
+    Hung-sui-tshuen's leadership has imparted to it.
+
+    "Not only the gentry and educated classes, but the mass of the
+    people, regard with deep veneration the sages upon whose
+    authority their moral and social education for so many
+    generations has reposed. And the profession of novel doctrines
+    resting on the testimony of a modern and obscure individual,
+    must tend not only to deprive the revolt of its character as a
+    national rising against the Tartar yoke, but must actually
+    transfer to the Tartars and their adherents the prestige of
+    upholding national traditions and principles against the
+    assaults of a numerically insignificant sect."
+
+What could appeal more powerfully to our sympathy than this statement of
+an enemy? But for their profession of Christianity the Ti-pings would
+have carried the whole population of China with them long ago. Mr. Bruce
+in the above statement, and all persons acquainted with Chinese
+character, agree that the minds of the people are so immutable and
+apathetic, and so fixedly rooted to the ancient superstitions and
+idolatry of their country, that all change seems impossible. This being
+admitted, is it not certain that some superhuman effort must be made?
+
+The Chinese, with their strong and peculiar idiosyncrasies, will never
+be _taught_ Christianity: whenever they become Christians, it will be in
+exactly the same manner the Ti-pings became so, viz., by their own
+readings of Scripture, as the Author shall see fit to inspire them, but
+certainly not through foreign teaching or interpretation. If the Ti-ping
+rebellion _should_ be utterly extinguished, the result will be dismal
+for generation after generation. The cause of true religion will have
+been delayed and driven backwards. It is to be hoped that it may be
+otherwise, and that the Bishop of Victoria prophesied truly when he said
+that--
+
+    "On the eventful day on which the flag of Taeping-Wang floated
+    triumphantly from the battlements of Nankin, a light has been
+    kindled in the empire of China, which shall _never_ be
+    extinguished, and those first and faint glimmerings of truth
+    will brighten with increasing clearness, and 'shine more and
+    more unto perfect day.'"
+
+As I have already stated, the principal feature of the Ti-ping faith is
+their acknowledgment of the Holy Bible as the word of the True God. All
+their religious practices are deduced from its authority, and, in so far
+as they have been able to effect it, their form of worship and belief
+assimilates to Protestantism. All the principal sacraments of the
+Protestant religion are either observed or celebrated with such error or
+approximation as they have been interpreted with. The holy communion,
+unfortunately, has not been correctly understood; in its place every
+fourth Sunday the Ti-pings are in the habit of partaking of grape-wine.
+Each Sabbath three cups of tea are placed upon the altar as an offering
+to the Trinity; it is only since 1859, when Hung-jin, the Kan-wang,
+joined the Ti-pings, that the cups of tea have been tasted; previously,
+they were a part of the offerings rendered up at each worshipping,--a
+custom generated by their confusion of the ancient sacrifices mentioned
+in the Old Testament with the offerings and the Lord's Supper of the
+New.
+
+Baptism constitutes the principal and most important of their
+sacraments. Until the arrival of the Kan-wang at Nankin, none but
+grown-up persons who, after a strict and lengthened examination, were
+found duly qualified, were admitted to the fellowship of the Ti-pings
+and baptized as Christians. The following were the forms observed, as
+issued by the royal authority of the Tien-wang, in the "Book of
+Religious Precepts of the Ti-ping Dynasty":--
+
+    "FORMS TO BE OBSERVED WHEN MEN WISH TO FORSAKE THEIR SINS.
+
+    "They must kneel down in God's presence, and ask Him to forgive
+    their sins; they may then either take a basin of water and wash
+    themselves, or go to the river and bathe themselves; after which
+    they must continue daily to supplicate Divine favour, and the
+    _Holy Spirit's_[32] assistance to renew their hearts, saying
+    grace at every meal, keeping holy the Sabbath day, and obeying
+    all God's commandments, especially avoiding idolatry. They may
+    then be accounted the children of God, and their souls will go
+    to heaven when they die; all people throughout the world,
+    whether Chinese or foreigners, male or female, must observe this
+    in order to obtain salvation."
+
+
+The prayer of the recipient of baptism was as follows:--
+
+    "I [_A. B._], kneeling down with a true heart repent of my sins
+    and pray the Heavenly Father, the Great God, of His abundant
+    mercy, to forgive my former sins of ignorance in repeatedly
+    breaking the divine commands, earnestly beseeching Him also to
+    grant me repentance and newness of life, that my soul may go to
+    Heaven; while I, from henceforth, truly forsake my former ways,
+    abandoning idolatry and all corrupt practices, in obedience to
+    God's commands. I also pray that God would give me His Holy
+    Spirit to change my wicked heart, deliver me from all
+    temptation, and grant me His favour and protection, bestowing on
+    me food and raiment, and exemption from calamity, _peace_ in
+    this world and glory in the next, through the mercies of our
+    Saviour and elder Brother, Jesus, _who redeemed us from sin_. I
+    also pray that God's will may be done on earth as it is done in
+    Heaven. Amen."
+
+These prayers, together with many others, were slightly altered by the
+Kan-wang, whose superior, in fact perfect knowledge of Christianity as
+practised by the English Protestant Church, led to the improvement of
+many and important forms of the Ti-ping worship. Unfortunately through
+the total loss of the numerous and valuable original Ti-ping documents I
+had gathered during my service and intercourse with those people, I am
+unable to give my readers a literal translation, or do more than notice
+what may be never otherwise known or rendered verbatim to this world.
+All my journals, manuscripts, and other original papers, collected upon
+the spot, have, although often recommenced, been successively captured
+by the Imperialist troops, with the rest of my baggage; therefore I must
+request those who may feel an interest in my narrative, to excuse the
+incompleteness of any parts I have recounted from memory.
+
+Marriage among the Ti-pings is solemnized with remarkable strictness,
+and the ceremony is performed by an officiating priest, or rather
+presbyter. All the heathen and superstitious customs of the Chinese are
+completely relinquished. The ancient customs by which marriages were
+celebrated--the semi-civilized espousal of persons who had never
+previously seen each other; the choice of a lucky day; the present of
+purchase-money, and many others--are abolished. Those only that seem to
+be retained are the tying up of the bride's long black tresses, hitherto
+worn hanging down, and the bridegroom's procession at night, with music,
+lanterns, sedan-chairs, and a cavalcade of friends (and in the case of
+chiefs, banners and military honours), to fetch home his spouse. As a
+natural consequence of the absence of restraint in the enjoyment of
+female society, marriages amongst the Ti-pings are generally love
+matches. Even in cases where a chief's daughter is given in alliance to
+some powerful leader, compulsion is _never_ used, and the affianced are
+given every opportunity to become acquainted with each other.
+
+I have frequently seen the marriage ceremony performed, and I can only
+say that, excepting the absence of the ring, it forms as close and
+veritable an imitation of that practised by the Church of England as it
+is possible to imagine. When the bridal party are all met together, they
+proceed to the church (_i.e._ "the Heavenly Hall," within the official
+dwelling of each mayor of a village or circle of twenty-five families,
+excepting in the case of chiefs, who are married in their own hall), and
+after many prayers and a severe examination of the bride and
+bridegroom's theological tenets, the minister joins their right hands
+together, and when each have accepted the other, pronounces a concluding
+benediction in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To the best
+of my belief divorce is not only not permitted, but actually unknown or
+thought of. Adultery is punishable with death; and it may be that this
+is the only case in which the Ti-pings consider a complete release _a
+vinculo matrimonii_ justifiable. All their rules upon the subject, and
+in fact their entire penal code, I once possessed; unfortunately I have
+no translations, and none are to be obtained outside their ranks.
+
+All Budhistic ceremonies are rigidly prohibited at funerals, and also
+the common Chinese sacrifices to the manes of their ancestors, while a
+form of Christian burial is established, and a regular service read over
+the coffin by an officiating minister.
+
+Various forms of prayer, ceremonies, and thanksgivings are used upon all
+felicitous or adverse events:--upon the commencement of all expeditions,
+at births, building of houses, previous to battles, after victory and
+after defeat, for daily use, for all sick and wounded persons, for
+harvest, for rulers and princes, for blessings and success vouchsafed,
+which they invariably attribute to God.
+
+In every household throughout the length and breadth of the Ti-ping
+territory the following translation of the Lord's Prayer is hung up for
+the use of children, being painted in large black characters on a white
+board:--
+
+    "Supreme Lord, our Heavenly Father, forgive all our sins that we
+    have committed in ignorance, rebelling against Thee. Bless us,
+    brethren and sisters, thy little children. Give us our daily
+    food and raiment; keep from us all calamities and afflictions,
+    that in this world we may have peace, and finally ascend to
+    Heaven to enjoy eternal happiness. We pray Thee to bless the
+    brethren and sisters of all nations. We ask these things for the
+    redeeming merits of our Lord and Saviour, our Heavenly Brother
+    Jesus' sake. We also pray, Heavenly Father, that Thy holy will
+    may be done on earth as it is in Heaven; for thine are all the
+    kingdoms, glory, and power. Amen."
+
+Frequently I have watched the Ti-ping women teaching this prayer to
+their little children, the board containing it being always the most
+prominent object in the principal apartment of their dwelling. Children
+have often run up to me on entering a house, and then pulling me
+towards the board, commenced reading the prayer.
+
+[Illustration: TEACHING THE LORD'S PRAYER IN A MIDDLE-CLASS TI-PING
+HOUSEHOLD.
+DAY & SON, LIMITED, LITH.]
+
+The seventh day is most religiously and strictly observed. The Ti-ping
+sabbath is kept upon our Saturday, and no sooner has the last knell of
+the Friday midnight sounded, than, throughout Ti-pingdom, the people are
+summoned to worship their God. The Sabbath morn having been ushered in
+with prayer, the people retire to their rest or duties. During the day
+two other services are held, one towards noon and the other in the
+evening. Each service opens with the Doxology:--
+
+    "We praise Thee, O God, our Heavenly Father;
+    We praise Jesus, the Saviour of the world;
+    We praise the Holy Spirit, the sacred intelligence;
+    _We praise the Three persons, united as the True Spirit," &c._
+
+This is followed by the hymn:--
+
+    "The true doctrine is different from the doctrine of the world.
+    It saves men's souls, and affords the enjoyment of endless bliss.
+    The wise receive it at once with joyful exultation.
+    The foolish, when awakened, understand thereby the way to heaven.
+    Our Heavenly Father, of His infinite and incomparable mercy,
+    Did not spare His own Son, but sent Him down into the world,
+    To give His life for the redemption of all our transgressions,
+    When men know this, and repent of their sins, they may go to heaven."
+
+After this the minister reads aloud a chapter of the Bible, and then
+follows a creed, which is repeated by all the congregation standing,
+similar to that contained in the Ti-ping trimetrical classic, than which
+a more closely resembling counterpart of our Apostles' Creed it would be
+difficult indeed to imagine.
+
+    "But the Great God,
+    Out of pity to mankind,
+    Sent His first-born Son
+    To come down into the world.
+    His name is Jesus,
+    The Lord and Saviour of men,
+    Who redeems them from sin
+    By the endurance of extreme misery.
+    Upon the cross
+    They nailed His body,
+    Where He shed His precious blood,
+    To save all mankind.
+    Three days after His death
+    He rose from the dead,
+    And during forty days
+    He discoursed on heavenly things," &c.[33]
+
+After this the whole congregation kneeling, the minister reads a form of
+prayer, which is repeated after him by those present. When this litany
+is concluded, the people resume their seats and the minister reads to
+them a sermon, after which the paper containing it is burnt. During the
+singing of hymns the voices are accompanied by the music of very
+melancholy-sounding horns and hautboys. Upon the conclusion of the
+sermon the people all rise to their feet and with the full accompaniment
+of all their plaintive and wild-sounding instruments, render with very
+great effect the anthem:--
+
+    "May the king live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten
+    thousand years."
+
+Then follow the Ten Commandments, with the special annotations affixed
+to each:[34]--
+
+    "1. Worship the Great God.
+     2. Do not worship depraved spirits.
+     3. Do not take God's name in vain. His name is Jehovah.
+     4. On the seventh day is the Sabbath, when you must praise
+          God for His goodness.
+     5. Honour father and mother.
+     6. Do not kill or injure people.
+     7. Do not commit adultery, or practise any uncleanness.
+     8. Do not steal.
+     9. Do not lie.
+    10. Do not covet."
+
+The services are concluded with a hymn of supplication, and then large
+quantities of incense and fire-crackers are burnt.
+
+The Sabbath is most strictly kept; not the slightest infraction is
+permitted: shops are closed, work suspended, and even military
+operations if possible. Upon that day, between services, the chiefs meet
+together to discourse upon religious subjects and frequently to
+supplicate the assistance of Divine Providence for a deliverance from
+the incessant dangers and perils of their hazardous life. Meanwhile the
+ecclesiastics, until church-time arrives, proceed through the camps and
+dwellings, examining and instructing the soldiers, women, and children.
+
+The ecclesiastical system of the Ti-pings is a form of presbytery. The
+Tien-wang is king and high priest over his people; four princes occupy
+the next rank in the lay government of the Church, and after them
+several grades of clergy, who have to pass special and very severe
+examinations before obtaining their orders. These clerical examinations
+are conducted by the Ecclesiastical Court, presided over by the four
+principal divines and four princes, at Nankin; but before office is
+bestowed upon successful candidates, the whole of the papers, essays,
+and work of the student are submitted to that extraordinarily diligent
+man, the Tien-wang, subject to his approval or rejection. Not only this,
+but the whole work of his vast territory and numerous followers, passes
+through and is culminated in his hands.
+
+Over each parish of five-and-twenty families, a minister is placed, and
+a Church, or Heavenly hall, is built for him; over each circle of
+twenty-five parishes, a superior or elder of the Church is appointed,
+who, in rotation, visits all the churches under his control upon
+successive Sabbaths. In like manner the chief ecclesiastic of the
+district performs his duty, and above him, the superior of the
+department. Once during each month, the whole of the people are
+assembled--soldiers, civilians, men, women, and children, in some
+prominent locality under the canopy of heaven; a platform is erected,
+and their chief Wang or governor preaches to them, and gives a general
+lecture upon the subject of all orders, military, civil, and social
+administration. This mass meeting is also practised previous to any
+grand or important movement taking place.
+
+Issuing forth from the gates of the city, the entire populace follow
+their governor, who, proceeding to the elevated position selected for
+him, generally a small hillock or rising ground, harangues them with
+great energy and enthusiasm. His large--eight-foot square--wang flag is
+planted by his standard-bearer immediately behind him, while his two
+snake flags (the armorial insignia of the chiefs) are held upon either
+hand by their particular bannermen. The foot of the hillock is encircled
+by the chief's body-guard, outside whose cordon the troops, with their
+numerous and many-coloured banners, are formed in brigades; between
+which, the civilians, men, women, and children, are congregated.
+
+As nearly as I can remember, the following is _verbatim_ the delineation
+of an address I heard the Mo-wang deliver at Pau-Yen. Upon reaching a
+table in the centre of the elevated platform, he said aloud, "Let us
+praise the Heavenly Father;" upon which he knelt down, the whole
+multitude following him and praying for several minutes. The Mo-wang
+then rose and asked, "Are all the country magistrates present?"
+Receiving an affirmative answer, he then spoke as follows:--
+
+    "The great God our Heavenly Father has sent the Tien-wang to
+    rule over us, and to subdue the rivers and mountains to his
+    dominion. This is by the great goodness of the Heavenly Father.
+    All you country people, therefore, should listen reverently to
+    the commands of the king, which I now proclaim. Formerly the
+    people suffered much; now you have found peace, and the land is
+    again becoming rich. I exhort any who still remain away from
+    their homes to return to them without fear. The previous
+    distresses which you have endured were sent by the will of
+    Heaven. They are now past, to return no more. _All among our
+    troops who are so wicked as to rob or abuse you shall be
+    punished with death. If there be any such now among you or
+    prowling through the country, bring them to me, and I will
+    punish them as they deserve._ I also exhort you to regularly
+    render the tribute and taxes due to the king. You have eaten the
+    bitter, you may now enjoy the sweet. As for you, O Heavenly
+    soldiers (Tien-ping), we trust only to the help of the Heavenly
+    Father, and expect to obtain the empire. Listen then to the
+    commands of the king. From the beginning till the present all
+    our sufferings and battles have been for you, O people of the
+    middle kingdom, that you might be freed from the hated dominion
+    of the Manchoos. We have hitherto succeeded only by the favour
+    of the Heavenly Father. Whenever, therefore, you go to fight
+    them, let your heart be true to Him, and never suffer the imps
+    to overcome you. When you go forth, do not rob the people, do
+    not commit violence upon females, nor burn houses. If any of you
+    do these wicked things, I will not pardon but certainly punish
+    you."
+
+At these gatherings, the infinite variety of military costume, the
+bright and gorgeous colours, the rich floating folds of the silken
+flags, the whole variegated appearance of the multitude of well and
+becomingly dressed members of a new people, as it were, united for the
+cause of freedom, and imbued in a wonderful and enthusiastic manner with
+the fixed determination of Christianizing their mighty empire,--all
+these combined, presented to the moralist a grand and imposing aspect.
+
+Besides the priests appointed to regular parochial duties, great numbers
+are attached to the army, and each Wang, or chief of high rank, is
+provided with several, both to perform the household religious services,
+and instruct the immediate followers of the chief.
+
+The clergy are all dressed entirely in black; the elders, or superiors,
+being distinguished by an ornament of pearls worn on the front of their
+head-dress.
+
+The churches of the Ti-pings are not separate buildings, but consist of
+a Sacred, or "Heavenly hall," specially constructed for the purpose of
+Divine worship, in all the principal official buildings, and palaces of
+the princes or Wangs. In every case the Heavenly hall is the most
+important portion of the building, and its consecrated character is
+never violated by being used for other than religious purposes.
+
+[Illustration: TI-PING LADIES OF RANK.]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[32] It has, notwithstanding such evidence of their appreciation of the
+fact, been stated that the Ti-pings denied the Trinity and the Holy
+Ghost.
+
+[33] Trimetrical Classic. See Appendix.
+
+[34] Annotations. See Appendix.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+    Ti-pingdom in 1861.--Its Armies.--The Foreign Policy of
+    England.--Its Consequences.--Admiral Hope's
+    Expedition.--Comments thereon.--Its Results.--Lord Elgin's Three
+    Points.--Official Communications.--Secret Orders.--Evidence of
+    such.--Their Object.--Official Communications.--Mr. Parkes'
+    Despatch analyzed.--Newspaper Extracts.--Official Papers.--Mr.
+    Parkes' Measures.--His Arrogant Behaviour.--Result of the
+    Yang-tze Expedition.--Ngan-king Invested.--Modus Operandi.--The
+    Ying-wang's Plans.--His Interview with Mr. Parkes.--Sacrifices
+    his Interests.--Sketch of the Ying-Wang.--Hung-jin's
+    Adventures.--The Chung-wang's Operations.--The Results.--Siege
+    of Hang-chow.--Its Capture.--Manchoo Cruelties.--Position of the
+    Ti-pings in 1861.
+
+
+Far brighter dawned the spring of 1861 upon the Ti-ping cause than did
+the opening of the previous year. In nearly every direction the
+revolutionists were victorious: the principal forces of the Manchoo
+emperor were completely routed, and a considerable portion of the most
+valuable territory in China had fallen into their hands, and was fast
+becoming thoroughly consolidated as a part of their possessions. It
+seemed as though at last their heroic struggles were about to receive
+their well-merited reward. So great was the prestige of their late
+triumphs that, wherever they marched, whole armies of Imperialists
+vanished away without striking a blow, or, if unable to seek security in
+precipitate flight, defended themselves with the wild unorganized
+desperation of despair.
+
+The extent of country entirely under the Ti-ping rule was very
+considerable. Along the line of the great Yang-tze river, from N.E. to
+S.W., their territory extended from its banks below Chin-kiang into the
+central part of the province of Kiang-si, south of the Poyang lake, a
+distance of more than 360 miles; while from the boundaries of their
+possessions N.W. of the river to the opposite limits in the S.E., an
+irregular breadth of 200 to 250 miles included the whole of their
+settled dominions, forming an area upwards of 90,000 square miles, and
+containing a population of some 45,000,000. Besides this, large portions
+of the provinces of Hoo-peh, Hoo-nan, Fu-keen, Che-kiang, and the
+distant Sze-chuan, were occupied by powerful Ti-ping armies. The lowest
+approximate strength of their forces at this time might be estimated at
+350,000; but a large proportion consisted of mere boys. This force was
+divided into five principal armies, the remainder doing garrison duty at
+Nankin, Soo-chow, and many other of the most important cities within
+their jurisdiction. One of the five armies in the field was commanded by
+the Ying-wang in the province of Hoo-peh: the Chung-wang commanded a
+large force in the southern districts of Ngan-whui; the Shi-wang, with a
+very powerful army, was operating in the central part of Kiang-si; and
+the Kan-wang, having proceeded to the province of Hoo-nan, was joined by
+upwards of 40,000 insurgents from the old seats of rebellion against the
+Manchoo dynasty,--the provinces in the southern limit of the empire,
+Kwang-tung, Kwang-se, and Kwei-chow; and, besides this force, far away
+upon the western boundary of China, Shih-ta-kae (I-wang), the Ti-ping
+emperor's brother, in command of a large army, was successfully
+operating in Sze-chuan. In fact, north, south, east, and west, the star
+of the patriots shone brightly in the ascendant, while that of the
+Manchoos seemed setting in the gloom and darkness, through which,
+upwards of two hundred years ago, it had struggled into existence. The
+greatest empire in the world appeared at length about to be relieved
+from that incubus which for two centuries had paralyzed its hopes and
+energies; the enlightenment of China seemed approaching, step by step
+with the advent of Christianity, which, following rapidly on the
+expulsion of the Tartar, with its vast train of benefit and improvement,
+promised, not alone to place that empire upon the pedestal of greatness
+yet reserved for her, but to realize corresponding advantages for the
+whole civilized world. One dark cloud alone appeared to cast a shadow
+upon so bright an horizon--the policy of the British Government.
+Language can scarcely express how seriously the interests of the
+universe, and of England in particular, have been prejudiced by a
+persistence in the suicidal measures dictated by a policy so mistaken.
+
+Forcibly as the moral effect of the general foreign policy of England
+has been denounced by statesmen, how few have been found to raise their
+voices in the British senate in protestation against the practical evils
+which that policy has engendered in the far East, a country abounding in
+tea and silk, and now paralyzed by opium instead of being enriched by
+the manufactures of Great Britain. The moral effect of bad
+statesmanship, however much it may weaken England's just influence and
+the future peace of Europe, cannot sensibly affect the _present_ wealth
+and pursuits of the people. Trade, politics, civilization, and religion,
+are pretty well balanced and regulated throughout Europe; therefore,
+whatever evil might result from the foreign policy of the British
+Government, no particular improvement could be expected to take place in
+a state of affairs which we consider almost perfect. But very different
+are the results of our peculiar kind of foreign policy in the case of
+China. With that extensive empire present relations are unsatisfactory,
+and the mutual benefits to be derived from a free intercourse are yet
+hidden in the vale of futurity. Mutual benefit is hardly the correct
+expression, for from a country which may be regarded as the richest in
+the world in proportion to its extent and population, England would
+derive far greater commercial advantages than she could possibly bestow.
+Whenever a prospect of the most satisfactory relations offered, and
+whenever a free intercourse was not only offered, but actually
+established by any section or part of that innumerable people, it would
+be only natural for England to rejoice, if not for the sake of the
+Chinese, and the higher objects of humanity, at least for selfish
+motives. But this is exactly what the British _Government_ has proved
+incapable of appreciating, by preferring temporary interests to those
+which were much greater and far more lasting.
+
+The Ti-pings offered not only satisfactory relations and free
+intercourse, but every advantage that England could possibly wish for or
+be benefitted by. Christianity and civilization, as practised among
+ourselves, would have become morally and physically certain under their
+rule. The detestable opium trade would have been completely annihilated,
+and British produce would have taken its place, to the benefit of the
+Chinese, and the relief of the choked markets and distressed operatives
+of England. The fulfilment of the Ti-ping law, that European "brethren"
+should "go out or in, backwards or forwards, in full accordance with
+their own will or wish," whether for pleasure or "to carry on their
+commercial operations," _did_ throw open the whole of their territory to
+free intercourse and trade, and would have done the same for the entire
+Chinese empire. The exclusiveness and hatred of the Manchoo Government
+to the "outer barbarians" and "foreign devils" _was_ by the Ti-pings
+changed into friendship and kindness. Modern improvements would have
+been extensively introduced. The trade, at present restricted to a few
+treaty ports, would have become universal throughout the empire, and the
+vast stores of mineral riches, almost unknown to foreigners, would have
+yielded forth their mines of wealth, while a general and enormous
+commerce, perfectly free and unfettered (excepting opium), would have
+thrown open an empire richer in itself than all Europe. To England
+especially, as the greatest commercial power, an inexhaustible source
+of profit would certainly have been established, and would have
+produced, without aggression or usurpation of territory, a revenue far
+excelling any derived from India. All these and many other important
+advantages _were_ partially established by the Ti-pings, and would
+undoubtedly have been completed upon the final overthrow of the
+Manchoos.
+
+Strong as these inducements should have been to cause England to adopt a
+different policy towards China, and much as such a course would have
+tended to her own advantage, there was another and a higher
+consideration which she should have permitted to influence her. As a
+powerful and influential nation, a duty was cast upon her, if not to
+extend the hand of friendship to a people who were nobly struggling to
+follow her in the path of civilization and to learn the true religion,
+at least not to thwart such efforts, and, by untimely interference,
+render them hopelessly inoperative. Personal experience, the reports of
+men of intelligence and honour, all prove but too plainly how the
+friendly Ti-ping nation was crushed by British interference. It has been
+urged that the friendly professions of that people were not genuine, and
+that their undertaking would never have been performed. Had such a
+course, so opposed to their nature, been pursued, surely it would have
+been more grateful to the martial spirit of England to resort to arms
+for the purpose of enforcing an observance of good faith and honour,
+than for that of avenging the capture of a wretched opium smuggler.
+
+Upon the 11th of February the expedition under command of Admiral Hope,
+started for the Yang-tze-kiang with the object of opening that river to
+foreign trade, in accordance with the treaty lately concluded at Pekin.
+In all respects this expedition was of the greatest importance, as well
+to the Chinese as the foreigners whom it most particularly interested.
+Its results were entirely prejudicial to the Ti-pings. The diplomatic
+and military authorities of the expedition mostly opposed the Ti-ping
+movement for its interference with the "carrying into due effect the
+terms of the treaty" just forced from the Manchoo at the cannon's mouth,
+and the almost certain prospects of its success, which would not only
+sadly affect the "China indemnity," but their own individual prospects
+of office and aggrandizement expected through their intercourse with the
+suddenly changed polite and obliging Manchoo mandarins. The deputation
+of the mercantile community attached to the expedition was utterly
+absorbed with its trading pursuits, and looked upon anything and
+everything likely to interfere with its _immediate_ profits with no
+little amount of hostility: the _future_ was completely ignored; its
+expectations were an uninterrupted trade for _three_ years, and a return
+to England with a large fortune; therefore it is hardly to be wondered
+at that it looked with hatred upon the change progressing in the shape
+of the Ti-ping revolution. Besides the personal and spontaneous
+prejudice entertained by these two classes against the Ti-pings, it
+seems pretty certain that directly after all the efforts of the Manchoo
+Government to repel foreigners by _force_ had failed, intrigues to
+deceive and induce them to act against the rebels they were unable to
+subdue, were successfully adopted. Even Mr. Bruce (who had stated in his
+despatches--"If there is one art of diplomacy understood by the Chinese
+it is that of separating interests which ought to be identical") seems
+to have been thoroughly imposed upon, while the false professions of the
+Manchoos, in order to obtain the assistance of the British against the
+Ti-pings, have had no small share in consummating that gross outrage.
+Again discussing the policy of assisting the Imperialists (which the
+latter had requested, making great protestations of "friendship,"
+"mutual commercial interests," &c.), he says:--"It is evidently for the
+interest of the Chinese authorities to induce us to embark in a course
+of action which will embroil us with the insurgents."
+
+Yet, eventually, Mr. Bruce chose to place implicit faith in their
+professions, and took one occasion out of many, in that disgraceful
+affair of the Anglo-Chinese fleet (depending upon the truth of the
+truthless Prince Kung, whose hands yet reeked with the blood of our
+murdered countrymen), to give his favourable opinion to the British
+Government; and the British people, depending upon their
+representatives, who depended upon the Government, who depended upon Mr.
+Lay, who depended upon Wan-siang, president of the Manchoo Foreign
+Office, who depended upon Prince Kung, who depended upon some one else,
+actually permitted the very laws of the land to be set aside, by
+allowing the ordinance of neutrality to be broken, and the Foreign
+Enlistment Act to be declared null and void. Fortunately the disgraceful
+affair terminated in the most ignominious manner, and the British
+sailors were saved the degradation (that had been thrust upon the
+soldiers) of becoming the mercenary braves of a corrupt and sanguinary
+despotism.
+
+Upon the opening of the Yang-tze to trade, and the selection of the
+cities of Han-kow, Kiu-kiang, and Chin-kiang as the treaty ports, it
+became necessary to enter into some agreement with the Ti-pings, who
+commanded the river throughout its principal positions; in fact, by
+their possession of Nankin, Wu-hoo, Tae-ping-foo, the cities of
+Seaou-shan, Tung-shan, and several others, this trade was almost as
+completely in their power as the valuable silk trade had been since May,
+1860. In consequence of this, Admiral Hope (ignoring, with all the
+arrogance of superior strength, the fact that the murderous repulse of
+the Ti-pings from Shanghae had given them a perfect right to make it a
+_casus belli_, and to retaliate upon British commerce, lives, or any
+other possession) communicated with the Ti-ping authorities at Nankin,
+and _pledged_ the neutrality of the British nation once more.
+
+The Earl of Elgin's instructions to Admiral Hope contain the
+following:[35]--
+
+    "It is obvious, however, that before British vessels can
+    navigate the river in safety, some understanding must be arrived
+    at with the rebels, who are believed to be in possession of
+    certain points upon it. It is with the view of obtaining your
+    assistance towards the accomplishment of this object that I now
+    address myself to your Excellency.
+
+    "Nothing, I am confident, would so surely tend to the
+    establishment of such an understanding on a satisfactory basis
+    as your Excellency's own presence and authority, if your other
+    engagements should permit of your proceeding up the river in
+    person. At any rate, I would venture to suggest that a naval
+    force, sufficiently large to inspire respect, should present
+    itself before Nankin, and that the rebel authorities should be
+    informed _that we do not appear as enemies, or with the
+    intention of taking part in the civil war now raging in China_,
+    but that we require from them some sufficient assurance that
+    British vessels proceeding up or down the river for trading
+    purposes shall not be interfered with, or subjected to
+    molestation by persons acting under their orders."
+
+In his letter of instruction to Mr. Parkes, who accompanied the admiral
+as diplomatic secretary or agent, Lord Elgin gave three points to be
+observed:--
+
+    "THE EARL OF ELGIN TO MR. PARKES.
+    "Hong-kong,
+    "_January 19, 1861_.
+
+    "1. That attempts on the part of foreigners to introduce into
+    the disturbed districts munitions of war and recruits should be
+    vigorously repressed."
+
+    "2. That the dues of the Chinese Government on foreign trade,
+    both inwards and outwards, should be collected at Chin-kiang or
+    Shanghae."
+
+    "3. That we should maintain an attitude of _strict neutrality_
+    between the Imperial Government and the rebels."
+
+    HOW LORD ELGIN'S INSTRUCTIONS WERE INTERPRETED AND ACTED ON.
+
+    Notwithstanding existing pledges of neutrality, the Imperialists
+    were supplied with ships, stores, arms, and every munition of
+    war _they_ required, at Shanghae and all the _treaty ports_.
+
+    The revenues were secured to the Tartars, and the ports of
+    collection defended against the Ti-pings.
+
+    By assisting the Imperialists in every possible way; protecting
+    the treaty ports and constituting Imperialist bases of operation
+    against the Ti-pings at each of them; allowing trade with the
+    Imperialists and prohibiting any with the Ti-pings;--by
+    supplying the Imperialists with revenue, and protecting it
+    against the Ti-pings;--by defending Shanghae for the
+    Imperialists and shooting down the Ti-pings when they demanded
+    it in 1860 and 1862;--by supplying the Imperialists with arms to
+    the prejudice of the Ti-pings.
+
+The following passage appears in the letter of instructions addressed
+by the Earl of Elgin to Mr. Parkes, viz.:--
+
+    "It is not possible to anticipate with certainty the reply which
+    the rebel leaders may give to the communication which the
+    admiral is about to make to them, although there is, I think,
+    reason to hope that they will not receive it in an unfriendly
+    spirit; nor, if it were possible, would it be necessary that I
+    should attempt to do so on the present occasion, _as you are
+    already fully acquainted with the views that I entertain
+    respecting the policy which it is expedient to adopt towards
+    them_, and the objects which we ought to endeavour to accomplish
+    under the provisional arrangement for opening up the Yang-tze,
+    which has been entered into by Mr. Bruce and Prince Kung."
+
+Reading these instructions together with the third of the three articles
+above cited, it would not be unreasonable to conclude that a policy of
+neutrality was intended to be acted upon: how far such intentions were
+sincere may be gathered from the following "orders" addressed to
+Commander Aplin.
+
+    "ORDERS ADDRESSED TO COMMANDER APLIN.
+    "Memo.     _Coromandel_, Nanking, _March 28, 1861_.
+
+    "You are, in company with Mr. Muirhead, to wait on the chief
+    authorities of the Taepings, for the purpose of making the
+    following communication, leaving a copy with them, should they
+    wish you to do so, and noting their answers in the margin for my
+    information.
+
+    "(Signed)      J. HOPE,
+    "Vice-Admiral, and Commander-in-Chief."
+
+    "Commander APLIN,
+    Her Majesty's ship _Centaur_, Nanking."
+
+    "COMMUNICATION MADE BY COMMANDER APLIN TO THE TAEPING
+    AUTHORITIES AT NANKING.
+
+    "I am directed by the Commander-in-Chief of the naval forces of
+    her Majesty the Queen of England in China, to acquaint you that
+    it is his intention to have beacons put up on the river-side
+    between Woo-sung and Fu-shan....
+
+    "_That the Governments of England and France having ordered_
+    that any attempt of the Taeping army to enter Shanghae or
+    Woo-sung shall be repelled by force; and it being clear,
+    therefore, that the presence of the Taeping troops in that
+    vicinity can be productive of no good to them, and may lead to
+    collision, it is very desirable that they should not approach
+    within two days' march of these places, and the
+    Commander-in-Chief requests that orders may be sent to the
+    officers in command of their troops to this effect; copies to be
+    supplied to me. _Should this be done, he will exert his
+    influence to prevent any hostile expedition issuing from these
+    places for the purpose of attacking the Taeping troops._"
+
+With regard to this document, in the first place, the statement that the
+English Government had "ordered" Shanghae and Woo-sung to be defended
+_vi et armis_, is simply untrue. The Foreign Secretary's first
+"_orders_" with regard to the defence of Shanghae, or any other treaty
+port, bear date, "Foreign Office, July 24th, 1861," and are given to Mr.
+Bruce:--
+
+    "I have received from the Admiralty, together with other papers,
+    a copy of Vice-Admiral Hope's letter to you of the 8th of
+    May.... I have caused the Admiralty to be informed, in reply,
+    that I am of opinion that Vice-Admiral Hope's measures should be
+    approved; and I have _now_ to instruct you to endeavour to make
+    arrangements to secure the neutrality of all the treaty ports
+    against the rebels. The Government of Pekin will probably make
+    no difficulty in abstaining from using the treaty ports as bases
+    of operations against the rebels, provided the rebels on their
+    side refrain from attacking those ports.... _You will
+    understand, however, that her Majesty's Government do not wish
+    force to be used against the rebels in any case, except for the
+    actual protection of the lives and property of British
+    subjects._
+
+    "I am, _&c._,
+    "(Signed)       J. RUSSELL."
+
+If then orders had been issued to Admiral Hope or any one else, they
+must have been _secret_ orders, for none are upon record to such effect
+as stated in the communication to the Ti-ping authorities. Moreover, the
+_condition_ upon which the neutrality of the treaty ports was proposed
+in the Foreign Secretary's despatch was _not_ observed. The Pekin
+Government was never asked to abstain from using Shanghae as a base of
+operations against the Ti-pings; on the contrary, they were not only
+assisted to make it one by the moral and indirect support of the British
+authorities, but by the actual assistance of British soldiers and
+sailors in the field, chiefly headed by Admiral Hope, who almost before
+the ink of his guarantee was dry openly violated it. What renders this
+flagrant disregard of all truth and honour still more to be deplored is
+the fact that the Ti-pings, in their wonderfully earnest endeavours to
+cultivate the friendship of Europeans, complied with every requisition
+of _even_ Admiral Hope and his colleagues. They agreed not to attack
+Shanghae for the space of _one year_, upon the special understanding
+that the British upon their part would prevent the Imperialists from
+using that city for any aggressive or belligerent purposes; and although
+not even the shadow of an attempt was made by Admiral Hope, or any other
+_British_ authority, to fulfil the pledges given upon the part of
+England, with an almost incredible forbearance and good faith, the
+Ti-pings to the very day, nay, nearly to the very hour, faithfully, but
+entirely to their own prejudice, refrained from any attack upon
+Shanghae. As for the orders with regard to _Woo-sung_, they can only be
+attributed to the exuberant imagination of the diplomatic Admiral, such
+place having never upon any occasion been referred to by the "orders"
+from the Foreign Secretary.
+
+It is difficult indeed to consider Admiral Hope's communication, either
+in accordance with the _public_ instructions of Lord Elgin and Earl
+Russell, or other than in direct opposition to them. Of course it would
+be idle to suppose that either Mr. Bruce, the minister to Pekin, Admiral
+Hope, Mr. Parkes, the diplomatic agent, or any of the consuls, would
+have dared to systematically violate the orders of their Government; it
+can therefore only be concluded that secret orders were given.
+
+To those who cannot reconcile Admiral Hope's and Mr. Parkes's
+communications with the Ti-pings, with the explicit instructions they
+had each received, and can neither approve of their idea of "strict
+neutrality," it must appear that the Admiral's communication at Nankin
+was simply a very unsailor-like trap to catch the Ti-pings. The plot was
+doubtless very creditable to the ingenuity and diplomatic finesse of
+those who planned it; but those admirable politicians, though remarkably
+indifferent moralists, cannot easily reconcile it with honour and
+justice. Had the drama been enacted nearer to home, it would from its
+very clumsiness have attracted attention; but as it occurred so far
+away, scarcely a soul but those personally interested either knew or
+cared anything about it.
+
+The intention evidently was to induce the Ti-pings to promise not to
+attack Shanghae, and then, by converting that city into a base and
+nucleus for the Manchoos, to _compel_ them to do so for their
+self-preservation. The theory was a bold one, and would have been
+realized were it not for the extraordinary forbearance of the Ti-pings,
+which forced Admiral Hope, and the others, to commence hostilities
+themselves. The _conditions_ upon which the insurgents had agreed not to
+attack Shanghae, the violation of the British pledges, and the _true_
+position of affairs, of course, formed no part of the programme to be
+made public; and it was correctly considered that China was too far
+away, and the British people not sufficiently interested to scrutinize
+matters very closely. Thus it is that a few unprincipled officials have
+been able to attempt the justification of their conduct, upon the pleas,
+that the Ti-pings _broke faith_ and attacked Shanghae, and that the
+leaders of this great Christian and patriotic movement were a horde of
+banditti who desolated everything, and meditated the destruction of
+Shanghae, &c. &c. &c.
+
+The reply of the Ti-ping authorities to Admiral Hope's "strict
+neutrality" despatch, as translated by government interpreters, is
+thus:--
+
+    "Mung, the Tsan-sze-keun (successor elect to the Prince Tsan),
+    of the heavenly Tai-ping kingdom, issues the following urgent
+    orders to the Ching Tsin-kwan, Ai-teene, and Moh-hun-te" names
+    of certain high officers, "for their information:--
+
+    "'Whereas officers, deputed by the Admiral of Great Britain,
+    have come to the palace of the Tsan-sze-keun, and stated that,
+    as Shanghae and Woo-sung are depots of their commerce, _they_
+    have undertaken the protection of those two places, in order
+    that the safety of all classes of the people living there may be
+    secured; they therefore request that the forces of the Celestial
+    dynasty may not go to those two places, the same being
+    _unnecessary_, and not likely to be attended with any material
+    advantage. The Tsan-sze-keun accordingly issues these urgent
+    orders to his younger brethren, in order that they may direct
+    the troops composing the different divisions that, whenever they
+    arrive in the vicinity of the places named, they must not
+    approach nearer to them than 100 li, an arrangement which will
+    conduce to the advantage of both parties. They are also to
+    understand that the capture of those places is to form no part
+    of the plan of campaign for the PRESENT YEAR.'"
+
+This decree sufficiently evinces the anxiety of the Ti-ping Government
+to act in accordance with the wishes of that of England.
+
+Commander Aplin thus reported the result of his mission to Admiral
+Hope:--
+
+    "With reference to the communication made by me to the chief
+    Taeping authorities at Nankin.... I received a promise to-day
+    that the order should be given, as requested, respecting the
+    beacons; that, with regard to the 2nd paragraph of the
+    communication, an order would be sent to their officers in
+    command not to attack Shanghae or Woo-sung THIS YEAR"....
+
+Mr. Parkes, in his report of the means by which the agreement of the
+Ti-pings to Admiral Hope's communication was obtained, states:[36]--
+
+    "We replied that, of course, any insurgents having the folly to
+    attack Shanghae, after the Governments of France and England (?)
+    had determined to protect that port, would meet certain
+    destruction, but that the object of the Commander-in-Chief was
+    to prevent collision and unnecessary bloodshed. We had long been
+    doing all in our power to avoid this; (!!!) _we took no part in
+    the struggle_ between the Taepings and the Imperialists, with
+    whom we were also at peace, and should fall out only with those
+    who injured us ... and any Taeping movement upon Shanghae would
+    be considered as an attempt to injure us. (!!) Were they, on
+    their part, equally anxious to maintain a friendly understanding
+    with us, they would surely write the orders they had been
+    requested to furnish if this were the case, and a refusal to do
+    so would naturally lead us to mistrust their intentions." (!!!)
+
+Mr. Parkes continues:--
+
+    "I endeavoured to make clear to them the objects of British
+    policy in China; (?) that our interests here were strictly
+    commercial, and that they must disabuse their minds of an
+    impression which I fancied they entertained, that we, like
+    themselves, sought the possession of territory, and therefore
+    that our interests were opposed to theirs. It was for the
+    protection of our commerce, and for that purpose only, that we
+    stationed a force at Shanghae."
+
+Mr. Parkes had ample room to dilate on this subject, for it is difficult
+to imagine in what light, save that of an usurpation of territory, the
+Ti-pings could behold the seizure of Shanghae, Woo-sung, Ningpo, &c.
+
+    "Experience," continues Mr. Parkes, "had proved to us that we
+    could not trust to the Imperial Government to protect the place,
+    either against the Taeping forces, or the inferior bodies of
+    insurgents...; that experience had also shown that, owing to
+    their imperfect organization and discipline, plunder and
+    violence marked the progress of the Taepings; and consequently,
+    _to secure the safety of our people and their property, it was
+    necessary we should protect ourselves_. (!!) That this mode of
+    protection was perfectly efficient, but as it put us to expense
+    and inconvenience, we should be glad when it was rendered no
+    longer necessary by the restoration of the country to order,
+    whether this was effected by its becoming wholly Taeping, or by
+    reverting to Imperial rule, and when Shanghae or any other place
+    that the English Government might see fit to protect, would
+    revert to the hands of the governing power.... They (the
+    Taepings) wished to know, however, in which way the Admiral
+    would 'use his influence' to prevent their being attacked by the
+    Imperialists from Shanghae; and whether one of their officers
+    would be allowed to visit Shanghae to learn what arrangements
+    were made in this respect."
+
+This very singular extract is much open to objection. 1. If "experience
+had proved" that the Imperialists were unable to withstand the Ti-pings,
+how is it that Mr. Parkes states, with regard to the defence of
+Shanghae, &c., "we should be glad when it was no longer rendered
+necessary by the restoration of the country to order," particularly when
+the policy that was pursued naturally prolonged the struggle and delayed
+that result? 2. The inaccuracy of the statement that, "to secure the
+safety of our people and their property, it was necessary we should
+protect them ourselves," is thoroughly proved by the capture of Ningpo
+by the Ti-pings on the 9th December, 1861, when not the slightest
+particle of British property was touched, and all foreigners were
+treated as "_brothers_" by the Ti-pings; and, moreover, by the fact that
+_not a single case is upon record_ in which the Ti-pings have ever
+retaliated upon European life or property when they might have done so
+with every justification. 3. Then, with regard to the "any other place
+that the English Government might see fit to protect," when the whole of
+the province, with the exception of Shanghae, _was_ in the possession of
+the Ti-pings, and when the entire silk and a great proportion of the tea
+trades were also in their undisturbed possession, why was not Shanghae
+surrendered to the rising and triumphant power, as Ningpo had been;
+particularly when we are told that "it was rendered no longer necessary,
+by the restoration of the country to order," to pursue the policy of
+defending the treaty ports, or any other place, "that the English
+Government might see fit to protect"?
+
+Mr. Parkes continues his report thus:--
+
+    "I then said that our discussion had chiefly related to
+    Shanghae, and to the warning given them by the Admiral not to
+    approach that port; but I was anxious to learn how far the
+    friendly dispositions they professed" (more than the
+    Imperialists ever did) "would induce them to abstain from
+    obstructing our commerce, and whether they were disposed to
+    agree to propositions of the following nature:--
+
+    "1. No Taeping force to advance within 100 li of any Chinese
+    port or place open by treaty to British trade, _provided_ that
+    the Tartar government do not send out expeditions from those
+    parts or places to attack the Taepings." (It was upon this
+    condition the Ti-pings promised not to attack Shanghae during
+    the "present year," 1861.)
+
+    "2. The Taeping authorities or forces not to obstruct the
+    transit of native produce to the aforesaid ports or places, nor
+    to prevent British merchandise passing from thence into the
+    interior." (This clause always was, and has been, faithfully and
+    regularly observed; and such being the case, upon what grounds
+    but the extraction of the "indemnity" from the Imperial customs
+    at Shanghae, can the plea of injury to trade upon the capture of
+    that city by the Ti-pings rest, seeing that elsewhere they never
+    injured, but did their utmost, even amidst the sanguinary and
+    fierce prosecution of civil war, to foster and preserve it?)
+
+    "At the close of the interview I had to go into some further
+    explanations as to the rights and duties of neutrality, in
+    consequence of their having asked whether the English vessels of
+    war at Nankin would carry supplies from them to the besieged
+    garrison at Ngan-king, which I, of course, told them could not
+    be done."
+
+This savours rather highly of hypocrisy when it emanates from one of
+those fully acquainted with what was to be. "Of course," their
+destruction being predetermined, the Ti-pings "could not be" assisted;
+can Mr. Parkes and his superiors explain the conduct described in the
+following extract by the same "rights and duties of neutrality"?
+
+    "TO THE EDITOR OF THE _Shanghae Times_.
+
+    "Sir,--Do the authorities think that the terms of the treaty
+    were that foreign vessels should be allowed to transport troops
+    and ammunition for the suppression of this revolutionary
+    movement in China?
+
+    "That foreign vessels should be the chief instruments in the
+    hands of this imbecile government to do their _dirty work_,
+    although garnished with _gold_. Can it be possible that H. B.
+    M.'s Government will allow its ships to take passengers from
+    here--_ostensibly as coolies, but really as soldiers_--a fact to
+    which the whole foreign and native community here are alive? Can
+    it be possible that, after so much experience and the sacrifice
+    of so many of our countrymen, we are going to throw ourselves
+    needlessly into the boiling caldron?
+
+    "Let us look before we leap. Vessels are loading here with
+    soldiers for Shanghae" (Imperialist soldiers). "The fact is
+    known at Hong-kong, and it will create much difficulty. Let the
+    history of the three past wars with China teach us not to create
+    another.
+
+    "Yours, &c.,
+    "A FRIEND TO CHINA.
+    "Hankow, _January 11, 1862_."
+
+For some months this disgraceful work proceeded, till at last the
+following official sanction appeared:--
+
+    "CONSUL MEDHURST TO MR. BRUCE.[37]
+    "Shanghae, _March 21, 1862_.
+
+    "Sir,--The Taoutae" (Manchoo governor of the walled Chinese city
+    of Shanghae) "having been anxious for some time past to get a
+    reinforcement from the army under General Tseng-kwo-fan"
+    (Manchoo general commanding Imperialist troops up the river
+    Yang-tze) "for the relief of this garrison and that of
+    Sung-kiang-foo, and having repeatedly questioned me as to the
+    possibility of allowing a few British vessels to be chartered
+    for the purpose of bringing the troops down....
+
+    "The Taoutae accordingly entered into negotiations with a house
+    here for the employment of a certain number of steamers for the
+    conveyance hither of 9,000 men.... I at once addressed Sir J.
+    Hope a letter, ... and from his answer ... you will observe that
+    he entirely approves of the measure.
+
+    "I have, &c.,
+    (Signed)       "W. H. MEDHURST."
+
+This arrangement, in accordance, we are bound to believe, with the
+"duties of neutrality," was executed by the house of Mackenzie,
+Richardson, & Co., of Shanghae, _in consideration of the sum of 180,000
+taels (L60,000)_ paid by the Manchoo Government.
+
+While the British steamers have passed the walls of Nankin, crowded with
+Imperialist troops, hastening to the destruction of the Ti-pings in the
+neighbourhood of Shanghae, I have sat on the silent batteries and
+sympathized with the too credulous people who, faithful to _their_
+promises of neutrality, foolishly allowed the Tartar troops to pass
+scathless right under the muzzles of their guns, simply because they
+were safely sheltered by the British ensign flying over them. The _ruse_
+of shipping the soldiers as coolies, and so smuggling them past the
+Ti-ping positions, was abandoned upon the _legalization_ of the trade by
+the same admiral and authorities who, but a few months previously, had
+explained the "duties of neutrality" to the Ti-pings, and had given them
+to understand it was impossible _their_ stores could be conveyed to
+Ngan-king, as any such act would constitute a breach of neutrality!
+After the _legalization_, the Imperialist _braves_ were carried down to
+Shanghae by thousands, and many a time I have longed to put a shot
+through the hulls of their conveyances; but the Ti-pings would not allow
+me, because, as they said, it might hurt the "foreign brethren"!
+Meanwhile, directly the cowardly rabble had passed out of range of the
+batteries, their yells of bravado could be plainly heard, and British
+oak and British seamen became hidden and disgraced by a cloud of Manchoo
+flags waved in defiance, whenever it could be done in safety.
+
+As Mr. Parkes and his co-adjutors did not obtain an instant compliance
+with their grossly unjust demands upon the Ti-pings, viz., not to attack
+Shanghae, a city belonging to them by every known right as natives of
+the soil, if they were able to capture it from the Manchoos; not to levy
+duty upon the British vessels passing through their territory, and to
+avoid all the principal ports, the great sources of revenue to their
+enemies, simply because their capture of such places _might_ interfere
+with the British trade--they took more active measures, _viz._:--
+
+    "To effect this, we proceeded early on the following morning to
+    the palace of the Tien-wang ... and on arriving there at 10 A.M.
+    handed the following note to an officer, with the request that
+    it might be sent to the Tien-wang:--
+
+    "The undermentioned British officers, namely, Captain Aplin,
+    senior naval officer in the Yang-tze river, and Mr. Parkes,
+    having been engaged during the last five days in fruitless
+    endeavours to arrange certain important business with the
+    Taeping authorities, and being greatly inconvenienced by the
+    delay thus occasioned, respectfully request admission to the
+    Tien-wang, or that the Tien-wang will appoint an officer to meet
+    them with full authority to settle their business without
+    further trouble.'"
+
+Let Englishmen apply this arrogant document to themselves. The Tien-wang
+was crowned sovereign over a vast territory; his large armies were in
+victorious possession; and he, being invested with all the mystery and
+divine attributes common to eastern monarchs, became a much more
+unapproachable object than western rulers, even to his own people. What
+would Englishmen do if some foreign official, dissatisfied with waiting
+"five days" in negotiation with their proper authorities "to arrange
+certain important business," were to force themselves into Her Majesty's
+palace, and "request" her to personally treat with them, or "appoint an
+officer to meet them," and so infringe official etiquette?
+
+Not satisfied with issuing this presumptuous summons, Mr. Parkes
+proceeds:--
+
+    "After having repeatedly inquired whether the Tien-wang had
+    taken any notice of our application, and been as often told that
+    it had been sent in to him, we at last ascertained that instead
+    of this having been done, our note had been forwarded to the
+    Tsan-sze-keun" (one of the Ti-ping secretaries of state, and the
+    proper authority to receive any communication). "We now told the
+    officer who had deceived us to bring back our note, and while
+    waiting for it the Tsan-sze-keun and Le Teen-tseang, a chief who
+    had taken a prominent part at all the interviews, sent to tell
+    us that the orders we wanted should be ready to-morrow. _We took
+    no notice of this message_, and they sent a second time to say
+    that they wished to see us at the Tsan-sze-keun's residence. To
+    this we replied that having found it necessary to make an
+    application to the Tien-wang himself, we could not now return to
+    them, _and that if they_" (the persons appointed by the Ti-ping
+    Government to transact such business) "_wished to speak with us
+    they should come to the palace_."
+
+If Mr. Parkes had met with the fate of Mr. Richardson and others in
+Japan, or experienced indignities similar to those suffered by Mr. Edan,
+political agent at the Bhootanese court, during his superlatively
+arrogant dictation to the Ti-ping chiefs, can it be denied that it
+would have been his own fault?
+
+In his explanation of thrusting himself into the Tien-wang's palace, and
+outraging all the Ti-ping rules and ceremonies, Mr. Parkes has evidently
+forgotten himself, and represented his own conduct as that of the
+Ti-pings. He says:--
+
+    "It was clearly necessary to take a stand of this kind when we
+    saw that the ignorance and pride of these people induced them to
+    assume the same absurd and insufferable pretensions in their
+    treatment of foreigners that characterized the Mandarins in days
+    that are past."
+
+This little conceit of the diplomatic agent is really amusing, by reason
+of its being perfectly unique. I cannot remember another instance in
+which the Ti-ping has been compared with the Manchoo in behaviour to
+foreigners or anything else. When people set themselves to work
+deliberately to injure others, it generally happens that they strive to
+vilify them in order to justify themselves. To this motive, I suppose,
+we must ascribe the "clearly necessary stand" of Mr. Parkes.
+
+The result of the Yang-tze expedition, in so far as the Ti-pings were
+concerned, amounted to a treaty of neutrality between them and England;
+a promise on their part not to attack Shanghae, and to remain 100 li
+(about 30 miles) away from it during the "_present year_" (1861), upon
+_condition_ that the British authorities prevented the Imperialists from
+attacking them from that place, or using it for belligerent purposes;
+and a pledge from Admiral Hope, that if the Ti-ping forces were to
+attack the other treaty ports, all British subjects being "unmolested
+both in their persons and property, the commanders of the vessels of war
+stationed there will receive directions in _no way whatever to interfere
+in the hostilities which may be going on_, except for the purpose of
+protecting their countrymen, should it be necessary to do so." It also
+resulted in their being compelled to break their engagements, and thus
+expose themselves to British hostility and encourage the violation of
+solemn pledges of neutrality. Grave as are the accusations which may be
+brought forward against a number of British officials, it must be
+admitted that their conduct fully justified the most severe
+animadversions.
+
+In the meanwhile, during the negotiations at Nankin, the Ti-ping forces
+mentioned in the first pages of this chapter were severally engaged
+prosecuting, upon the whole, a very successful series of operations.
+
+The city of Ngan-king (capital of Ngan-whui province) having become
+closely invested by an Imperialist army of some 20,000 men, and a
+flotilla of several hundred gun-boats, the Ying-wang was charged with
+the relief of that city during his march up the course of the Yang-tze
+to his destined operations in the province of Hupeh.
+
+Although Ngan-king had been threatened by Imperialist forces during some
+eighteen months, until the spring of 1861 it had never been seriously
+menaced, the Manchoo _braves_ having contented themselves with the
+ordinary phase of Chinese warfare--watching, flag-waving, and yelling at
+a safe distance from any probable vicious attempt of the dangerous
+Chang-maous.[38] Ngan-king, however, was a place of great strength for
+Chinese warfare; it formed the _point d'appui_ of all Ti-ping movements
+either to the northern or north-western provinces, and previous to any
+attack upon their capital, Nankin, or its fortified outposts, its
+reduction was an absolute necessity. The city being built right on the
+brink of the great river, was absolute mistress of that important
+highway, without which, and its invaluable water communication, any
+extensive movement of the Manchoo armies in an easterly direction became
+impracticable. At last, therefore, the Manchoo warriors girded up their
+loins, that is to say, tucked up the bottoms of their petticoat
+inexpressibles, fiercely wound their tails around their cleanly-shaven
+caputs, made a terrible display of huge flags, roaring gongs, horridly
+painted bamboo shields, and a most extravagant waste of gunpowder, and
+moving forward with terrific cloud-rending yells, established themselves
+safely out of cannon-range of the walls, and proceeded to complete the
+investment of the doomed city by building themselves in with a
+formidable series of earth-works and stockades, from which they could
+neither climb out nor enemies climb in. As a rule, the Chinese never
+fight unless they are obliged to. Not that they are so cowardly as some
+Europeans have mistakenly seemed to believe, but rather from those
+singularly refined traits of reasoning which, with these peculiar
+people, border closely upon the absurd. For instance, having myself
+often spoken with Chinamen regarding their ineffective and almost
+childish, but for the merciless treatment of the vanquished, military
+tactics, I have always been answered to the following effect:--
+
+"Hi-ya, how can? Two piecee man no can stop one place aller same time,
+spose nother piecee man _must_ wantchee come, mi must wantchee go; spose
+mi _must_ wantchee stop, nother piecee man no can come."
+
+Singularly enough this principle is generally applied. If a determined
+resistance is _certain_, those who should attack content themselves by
+safely fortifying themselves at a distance, as in the case at Ngan-king;
+but should the determination of the defensive party be doubtful, then an
+attack, with no little impetuosity and daring, will almost surely take
+place.
+
+Now, the Ti-pings have never been known as remarkable for the logic,
+cowardice, or whatever it may be termed, generally peculiar to the race
+of Chinese: upon the contrary, their reputation has ever been that of
+fighting men. In consequence of this certain prospect of hard knocks in
+the event of their being irrational enough to try and climb over the
+walls of Ngan-king when the Ti-pings were determined to try and prevent
+them, the Imperialists very wisely made themselves masters of the
+situation by establishing a complete cordon of stockades around the
+city, extending from the river above to a point just below its walls,
+calculating, with a perfect philosophy, that when the rice within the
+city became finished, those without might make a good breakfast, then
+scale the walls free from any "hard knocks," and, better than all,
+gather the heads of the helpless and famished garrison, _ad libitum_;
+thus capturing the city, obtaining the emoluments of a long and easy
+campaign, and winding up with the head-money, all without the danger of
+fighting.
+
+Meantime, although the city was fast becoming straitened for provisions,
+the Ying-wang confined his efforts for its relief to distant operations,
+probably considering its garrison amply sufficient not only to maintain
+the place, but to prevent any complete blockade by sallying forth upon
+the Manchoos, as their strength, although less than half that of the
+besiegers, was considered such as would not be likely to diminish their
+possible chance of victory. In this case, however, too much was expected
+from a mostly newly-levied force, exposed to the attack of Honan
+_braves_ and Tartar troops, the best forces in the service of the
+Manchoo emperor.
+
+The Ying-wang, his plans, and the success attending his hitherto
+operations, became known to the Yang-tze expedition, under Admiral Hope,
+in March. Upon the 22nd of that month Mr. Parkes visited the Ying-wang
+at the city of Hwang-chow, situated upon the northern bank of the river,
+50 miles from the treaty port Han-kow. In his report of the interview he
+states:--
+
+    "At the gate by which we entered I observed a proclamation in
+    the name of the Ying-wang, assuring the people of protection,
+    and inviting them to come and trade freely with the troops.
+    Another proclamation, addressed to the latter, prohibited them
+    from that date from wandering into the villages and plundering
+    the people. A third notice, _appended to the heads of two
+    rebels_, made known that these men had been executed _for
+    robbing_ the people of their clothes while engaged in collecting
+    grain for the troops."
+
+This statement, to those who know anything about the Ti-pings, appears
+perfectly true; how does Mr. Parkes reconcile it with his report that
+"plunder and violence marked the progress of the Ti-pings"?
+
+    "He informed me that he was the leader known as the Ying-wang
+    (or Heroic Prince); that he was charged from Nankin to relieve
+    Ngan-king, and had undertaken a westward movement with the view
+    of gaining the rear of the Imperial force, and besieging that
+    city on the western side. So far he had been completely
+    successful.
+
+    "Leaving Tung-ching, a city forty miles to the north of Nankin,
+    on the 6th instant, he marched in a north-westerly direction
+    upon the city of Hoh-shan, thus avoiding all the Imperialist
+    posts in the districts of Yung-chung, &c. On the 10th he took
+    Hoh-shan, where there was no considerable force to oppose him;
+    and then turning to the south-west, reached Yung-shan on the
+    14th, which fell in the same way. Hastily securing the munitions
+    of these two places, of which he stood in need, he pressed on to
+    Kwang-chow, and succeeded in surprising a camp of the Amoor
+    Tartars, killing, as the Ying-wang said, all the men, and
+    capturing all the horses. This, and a small affair at Paho,
+    placed him in possession of Kwang-chow, which he entered without
+    opposition on the 17th instant. He had thus taken three cities,
+    and had accomplished a march of 600 li (say 200 miles) in eleven
+    days, and was now in a position either to attack in rear the
+    Imperial force which he had just turned, and draw them off from
+    Ngan-king, or, postponing that operation, to occupy Han-kow,
+    from which he was distant only fifty miles. He added, however,
+    that he felt some hesitation in marching upon the latter place,
+    as he had heard that the English had already established
+    themselves at that port.
+
+    "I commended his caution in this respect, and advised him not to
+    think of moving upon Han-kow, as it was impossible for the
+    insurgents to occupy any emporium at which we were established,
+    without seriously interfering with our commerce, _and it was
+    necessary that their movements should be so ordered as not to
+    clash with ours_."
+
+Now this exaggerated "caution" and absurd regard for "_our_ commerce"
+made the Ying-wang sacrifice his _own_ interests.
+
+His expedition was planned for the express purpose of capturing Han-kow
+(preparatory to that of Wu-chang, the capital of the Hupeh province,
+situated directly opposite, on the other side of the Yang-tze); the
+relief of Ngan-king was to be effected _en route_, either by the direct
+attack of his army or by the effect of its success elsewhere. At the
+time of his interview with Mr. Parkes, either operation was simply a
+matter of choice, for Han-kow was almost undefended and offered an easy
+capture; while having completely outmanoeuvred the besiegers of
+Ngan-king, he might have fallen upon their rear, and, with a sortie of
+the garrison, probably exterminated them. Of course, to effect either
+plan a continuation of his hitherto prompt and decisive action was
+imperative; this, however, became arrested by the unfortunate and
+prejudicial presence of the English, who, in the midst of his successes,
+established themselves at the city the capture of which formed the
+terminal point of his campaign. Of course, Mr. Parkes does not report
+the threats of hostility thrust upon the Ying-wang to deter him from
+advancing upon, and occupying the Eldorado on which foreigners of every
+degree were greedily intent, trusting to the terms of the Elgin treaty
+with the Manchoo Government for the fulfilment of their golden visions.
+But it were idle, indeed, to suppose so energetic a commander as the
+Ying-wang would allow all the fruits of his past operations and the
+favourable prospects of a rapid prosecution of his movement, to be lost
+either by "hesitation in marching upon Han-kow," or by the _advice_ of
+Mr. Parkes. The Ying-wang undoubtedly received a threat of "strict
+neutrality" in event of his appearing at Han-kow--that sort of
+"neutrality" with which Mr. Parkes was "fully acquainted," and which has
+invariably been assumed towards the Ti-pings, but which some might
+interpret by the words, "gratuitous hostility."
+
+The Ti-ping cause suffered from British contact in this, as in every
+other instance, as the Ying-wang delayed his march upon Han-kow, and
+sent to Nankin for orders. His army, although mustering nearly 50,000
+men, did not possess a fighting strength of more than half that number,
+the rest being simply the coolies in usual attendance upon all Chinese
+armies; therefore delay in the enemy's country simply meant defeat. The
+critical and favourable moment to strike a successful blow was lost,
+and while the great cause of Christianity and freedom was once more
+paralyzed by the incubus of British interests, the opponents to both
+received such ample time to concentrate their out-generalled forces,
+that when, after a delay of several months, the Ying-wang received
+orders to advance upon Han-kow, and open communication with the British
+authorities, he encountered their vastly superior army close to the city
+of Ma-ching, and after a most desperately contested battle, was defeated
+with heavy loss, and then gradually driven beyond the city of Ngan-king
+without having been able to succour that position, or obtain the
+slightest advantage from his previous brilliant exploits.
+
+The Ying-wang, although only twenty-four years of age, had already, by
+his extraordinary courage, obtained one of the highest positions among
+the Ti-pings, ranking at this time as a generalissimo of the army, and a
+noble of the first degree, with the honourable title of Ying-wang
+(Heroic Prince). By the Imperialists he had received the cognomen of
+"Sze-ngan-kow" (Four-eyed dog), in consequence of his remarkably rapid
+and successful strategy; and next to the Chung-wang his presence
+inspired more fear in Manchoo bosoms than the vicinity and operations of
+any other Ti-ping leader. Singularly romantic were the antecedents of
+this young and gallant chieftain. A youthful Cantonese student, while
+immersed in studying the wise proverbs of the Chinese classics, he
+chanced to meet a fellow-scholar related to some of the Hung family, who
+had originated and still formed so important a part of the Ti-ping
+rebellion. Shortly afterwards, having been unfairly treated in his
+examination by the corrupt government officials, he turned towards the
+new doctrines of the Ti-pings, and, with the assistance of his friend,
+paid a visit to Hung-jin, the future Kan-wang, who at this time, 1857,
+was fulfilling the duties of Christian teacher and catechist to the
+London Missionary Society at Hong-kong. Of an impulsive and enthusiastic
+disposition, he soon became a convert to Christianity, which Hung-jin
+preached with an eloquence that obtained the future Prime Minister of
+Ti-ping-wang the confidence and entire approval of all missionaries and
+Christians for many years, though, singularly enough, when the time of
+Hung-jin's elevation to the second place among the Ti-pings
+arrived--that is to say, the moment when by his power and influence it
+might naturally have been _known_ that his exertions to Christianize
+China would have become immense, and would have been accompanied by
+proportionately gigantic results--his English pretended friends for the
+most part abandoned him.
+
+The Ying-wang added one more to the large number of proselytes obtained
+by the earnestness and devotion of the warm-hearted and noble-minded
+Hung-jin. He had been for some months under the tuition of the latter,
+and had become greatly attached to him, when, deeply impressed by the
+information of the imprisonment of Hung-jin's mother, wife, and several
+other relatives, by the Canton mandarins, because of their connection,
+though very distant, with the principal members of the Ti-ping
+rebellion, and that they were only saved from execution by the efforts
+of some missionaries, he formed the determination to rescue them from
+imprisonment and ill-treatment.
+
+Proceeding with his fellow-student to the city of Canton, they managed,
+through bribing some of the prison warders, to obtain a moment's
+admission to the aged mother of Hung-jin. To their surprise they found
+with her, besides other relatives, a granddaughter of surpassing beauty,
+who was the orphan of Hung-jin's brother--a brother who, with nearly the
+whole of his family, perished during the ruthless massacres of the
+innocent kindred of the Ti-ping rebels. Although their first meeting
+lasted but a few minutes, it seems the future Ying-wang and the
+beautiful captive maid became mutually attached. In their case, however,
+the romance admits of explanation. I have myself seen both the Ying-wang
+and the lady, and I consider that of each sex they were by far the most
+handsome I ever beheld in China. I can, therefore, easily believe that
+when in the wretchedness of her captivity, the young and noble-looking
+student appeared before her surrounded by all the extra attractions of
+his position as her deliverer, the lonely and miserable girl turned
+towards him with her whole heart. Not less natural seems the passion of
+the student, whose newly-aroused religious enthusiasm predisposed him to
+entertain the warmest feelings towards those he came to rescue and whose
+cause he had already espoused. During the short moments of his first
+interview, he told the prisoners to be prepared for an attempt to escape
+upon a certain night. The appointed time arrived, but no rescue, for the
+would-be deliverer, betrayed by one of the gaolers whom he had bribed
+and trusted, was seized while making his way into the prison by means of
+false keys, and thrust, helpless as themselves, among those anxiously
+awaiting his assistance. Brought before the cruel Manchoo mandarins, he
+was sentenced to the barbarous death by "cutting into a thousand
+pieces," while Hung-jin's mother, wife, niece, and several other
+relatives, were condemned to torture and decapitation.
+
+Time flew onwards, and at length the evening before the fatal day
+arrived. What dread and overpowering feelings those poor doomed
+creatures felt upon that last day of life, while anticipating the horrid
+tortures coming with the morrow's sun, I do not know; but what I can
+tell is, that suddenly, about midnight, the doors of their prison were
+burst asunder, and the whole of the captives liberated by an
+insurrection of famine-maddened Chinamen.
+
+These tumults, created for want of rice, are of very frequent occurrence
+in China, and are often attended with great loss of life; in nearly all
+such cases the rioters break open the prisons and augment their strength
+with the released captives. To such an event were the Ti-pings indebted
+for their brave Ying-wang, for many a future victory, and for the
+Manchoos' oft-repeated defeat.
+
+Making his way down to the European settlement, Hung-jin's pupil, with
+his teacher's mother, wife, and niece, and several male relatives of the
+Hung family, found safety under the kind protection of some European
+missionaries. In the morning they all embarked and took passage to
+Hong-kong on board an American river steamer plying between the two
+places, and within four or five hours anchored in safety under the folds
+of the flag of freedom.
+
+Hung-jin's happiness in the release and society of his wife and mother
+may easily be imagined; but soon rumours of other Manchoo persecution
+reached him, and, dreading the sudden death of his dearest relatives, if
+captured, he determined to make his way to Nankin, and then return for
+them, if such a plan proved practicable. His travel through the country
+and ultimate arrival at Nankin has been noticed in another chapter;
+suffice it, therefore, to say, he was accompanied by him who afterwards
+became the Ying-wang, himself disguised as an itinerant surgeon, and the
+latter as his attendant. Upon their arrival at Nankin, Hung-jin was
+detained and created Kan-wang by his relative the Ti-ping-wang, while
+his companion, receiving a commission in the Ti-ping army, was given
+letters to a number of Ti-ping partisans in the provinces of Kwang-tung,
+Fo-keen, and Kiang-si, and also received instructions to bring the
+Kan-wang's relatives from Hong-kong, and having delivered his
+despatches, to return to Nankin in company with those who would join his
+party (several Ti-ping officers accompanying him) by the way. Reaching
+Hong-kong safely, disguised as wandering mendicants, the whole of the
+refugees succeeded in arriving at the first rendezvous in small parties
+of two or three, under his guidance. At this place several hundred men
+mustered in arms, and recruited at other parts of their route. After
+many encounters with the Manchoo troops and many perilous adventures,
+the Ying-wang having principally contributed to the successful efforts
+of his comrades by his distinguished gallantry, re-entered Nankin with
+the Kan-wang's family. Soon after the successful issue of his mission,
+the Ying-wang was promoted, and received the beautiful niece of his
+patron and friend in marriage.
+
+The Ying-wang having studied for a military life and possessing
+undaunted bravery, soon rose in the Ti-ping army, and during the famous
+victories obtained over the besiegers of Nankin in May, 1860, while in
+command of a small division, defeated the Tartar body-guard of
+Chang-kwoh-liang, second in command of the Imperialist army, and killed
+that general, falling himself desperately wounded in the moment of
+victory. Upon his recovery he received the title and position of
+Ying-wang.
+
+While in the west, successes that would undoubtedly have led to the
+capture of Han-kow and other important positions were rendered nugatory
+through the presence of the English; in fact wherever the Ti-pings
+carried on their operations apart from that baneful influence, good
+fortune crowned their efforts.
+
+The Shi-wang in Kiang-si, the I-wang in Sze-chuan, the Kan-wang in
+Hoo-nan, and the Chung-wang in Che-kiang, were successful in each
+province.
+
+Although the movements of the three former Wangs were very extensive,
+and although the Shi-wang had captured the capital and many other large
+cities in Kiang-si, and in June had occupied the city of Wu-chang-hien
+(situated a few miles below the Ying-wang's position at Hwang-chow, but
+on the opposite side of the river, and from which two points the armies
+of the Shi and Ying Wangs would have co-operated in the reduction of
+Han-kow, but for the stoppage of their movements caused by the presence
+of British authorities and merchants at that city, and the menaces they
+had been treated to by the politicians of the Yang-tze expedition), all
+these operations paled before those of the Chung-wang in Che-kiang.
+Pressing rapidly forward with a small army of observation, the
+Commander-in-Chief made a false attack upon the important city of
+Hang-chow, the provincial capital, strongly garrisoned by Tartar troops
+of the Eight Banners, and after satisfying himself as to the strength of
+the enemy, by a rapid and brilliantly executed series of manoeuvres,
+succeeded in capturing the important cities of Chapoo, Hayen, Kashen,
+Hoo-chow, Hi-ning, &c., and, in fact, obtaining complete possession of
+all that most valuable territory extending from the south of the Ta-hoo
+lake to the walls of Hang-chow, and from the banks of the river Yang-tze
+to the sea at Shanghae, with the exception of that small portion
+adjacent to the latter city that was guaranteed by the agreement with
+Admiral Hope to remain a neutral ground during the "present year."
+
+In consequence of the tactics pursued by the Commander-in-Chief as the
+result of his short campaign of observation, the main body of the two
+armies respectively commanded by the Shi and Kan Wangs were recalled
+from their distant successes and concentrated at the important cities of
+Hwuy-chow (capital and centre of the green tea districts in Ngan-whui,
+upon the south of the Yang-tze, at the time completely under the
+jurisdiction of the Ti-pings) and Soo-chow, with a large force already
+under the personal command of the Chung-wang himself. These two columns
+were marched, the one from Soo-chow in a south-westerly, and that from
+Hwuy-chow in an easterly direction, co-operating with each other upon
+the city of Hang-chow.
+
+The Manchoo force concentrated at Hang-chow for its defence, and for the
+general defence of the Che-kiang province, numbered 125,000 men, of whom
+35,000 were Tartars of the Eight Banners, the whole commanded by the
+Imperial commissioner and Tartar general, Luy-chang, assisted by the
+noted Chinese commander Chang Yuh-leang.
+
+At the commencement of the Chung-wang's campaign, a movement took place
+which was attended by a success that put in action the hostile
+operations of the British Government, and thus brought disaster to the
+Ti-pings, whose available forces amounted to about 295,000 men, as
+opposed to 420,000 Manchoo Imperialists. Although to a casual and
+uninformed observer these figures may appear greatly advantageous to the
+Imperial cause, such was very far from being the case. With the
+exception of their Tartar troops and certain portions of the Chinese
+regulars, the Manchoo Government could not depend upon its defenders.
+Those who might fairly be trusted did not exceed two-thirds of the total
+number; the rest, comprising the militia (_braves_), were comparatively
+useless in the field, and many of the veteran Ti-pings confidently
+advanced against a greater odds than ten to one.
+
+The two divisions of the Chung-wang's army uniting under the walls of
+Hang-chow, commenced the siege of that city with much vigour. The Tartar
+garrison being of great strength, and aided by an army in the field, for
+nearly a month the progress of the besiegers was not very material.
+Numerous actions occurred, and a severe struggle was maintained, without
+any decided success upon either side. At last, unable to carry the city
+by direct attack, after severely repulsing a sortie of the garrison,
+combined with an attack of the army of co-operation, the Chung-wang
+determined to reduce the city by cutting off its communications, and
+with this intent organized operations that, judging by their results,
+proved of the very gravest importance to Manchoo, foreigner, and Ti-ping
+alike.
+
+Establishing the main body of his army in lines of circumvallation
+around Hang-chow, a strong division of nearly 50,000 men was detached
+under the command of the generals Hwang and Fang, with orders to capture
+all the important cities to the south-east of Hang-chow, and terminate
+the expedition with the full possession of the seaport Ningpo, one of
+the treaty ports open to foreign trade.
+
+Dividing into two columns, respectively commanded by the above-mentioned
+generals, the division pushed rapidly forward, acting under the direct
+orders of the Shi-wang, who superintended the movement against the
+enemy's communications, while the Chung-wang himself conducted the siege
+operations. The columns of Hwang and his colleague Fang, during the
+month of November, successively captured all the cities to the south and
+south-east of Hang-chow, while other expeditionary columns detached by
+the Shi-wang obtained possession of all situate between the possessions
+of the Ti-pings in the north and north-east, round to the westward, and
+to the positions occupied by the two subordinate generals; thus
+completely cutting off every communication of the besieged city. After
+reducing the departmental and district cities, Shaou-shing, Fung-wha,
+Yue-yaou, Yen-chow, Tsze-ke, and many others, and after receiving a
+deputation from the European residents of Ningpo, who left them highly
+satisfied, the leaders of the two columns effected a junction of their
+forces, and, moving upon Ningpo, carried that city by a sudden assault
+on the 9th of December, 1861. Meanwhile, other divisions, detached from
+the Chung-wang's army, captured and garrisoned all the southern,
+western, and eastern departments of the province, so that when, upon the
+29th of December, the garrison of Hang-chow succumbed to famine and the
+determined assault given by the besiegers on that day, the whole of
+Che-kiang became subject to the Ti-ping Government.
+
+In consequence of these successful operations, the end of the year found
+the Ti-pings in almost entire possession of the two richest and most
+densely populated provinces of China, Che-kiang and Kiang-su, while the
+small portion of Kiang-su yet held by Manchoo authorities was comprised
+within a radius of thirty miles around Shanghae. Faithfully observing
+_their_ part of the agreement made with Admiral Hope and his coadjutors,
+the Ti-pings refrained from any advance upon Shanghae, even although
+the non-fulfilment by the British authorities of the _conditions_ upon
+which the said agreement was made fairly released them from its
+obligations; but directly the "present year" had expired, every other
+position in the province being already in their hands, troops were moved
+forward to drive the Manchoos from this their last stronghold in the
+province.
+
+As has been already observed, the position of the Ti-pings was one which
+but for the interference of the British Government must undoubtedly have
+caused the overthrow of the Manchoo Tartar dynasty. They possessed the
+valuable silk districts, the tea districts of Ngan-whui and Che-kiang,
+the cotton districts of Kiang-su, and the potteries and porcelain
+manufacturing districts of Kiang-si, which together constitute the
+principal sources of revenue in the empire. The repulse of the
+Ying-wang, and consequent fall of Ngan-king upon the 5th of September,
+afforded the Imperialists but little compensation for their defeats
+everywhere else. Ngan-king, completely invested by land and water, and
+unrelieved by the Ying-wang, after its garrison had endured the most
+terrible privations, fell into the hands of the besiegers. Three
+regiments of the garrison, unable to endure the horrors of the famine
+raging within the doomed city, which had reduced them to cannibalism of
+the most frightful description, human flesh being eagerly sought at the
+price of eighty cash per catty[39] and devoured with avidity,
+surrendered to the Imperialists upon condition of a free pardon, but
+were massacred to a man, and their headless bodies cast into the
+Yang-tze. After this the remaining portion of the fighting men came to
+the usual Chinese arrangement with the besiegers, and leaving the city
+unmolested, reached the Ti-ping position at Loo-chow. Then came the
+triumph of the Manchoos, who, entering the city, ruthlessly slaughtered
+the non-combatant inhabitants: men, women, and children, whose mutilated
+bodies were borne down towards the sea by the swiftly rushing waters of
+the great river. I beheld them mangled with every atrocity that fiends
+could perpetrate, floating down the stream in hundreds, huddled
+together, while the river steamers, _Governor-General_ and _Carthage_,
+surrounded by the ghastly remnants of mortality, became impeded in their
+movements.
+
+[Illustration: MAP OF CHINA _Showing the position of Ti-ping Tien-Kwoh,
+or the settled dominions of the Ti-pings at the close of the year 1861,
+the zenith of the Ti-ping Power. Also indicating the most important
+movements places &c., connected with the Revolution from its
+commencement_.
+London Day & Son (Limited)]
+
+The capture of Hang-chow and the entire of the Che-kiang province
+concluded the operations of the Ti-pings in 1861. They had now attained
+a magnificent position; the richest provinces and most important cities
+of China had become subservient to them, the most valuable sea-coast in
+the world was partly theirs, their base of operations against the
+Manchoos could not be surpassed, and it only now remained to capture the
+commercial city of Shanghae. The whole of the trade of the interior,
+valuable beyond calculation, was justly theirs,--it had been so since
+1860; but yet that city was maintained by British forces as the citadel
+of the Manchoos, whereby the Ti-pings were defrauded of the export and
+import duties which belonged to them, but which, in the hands of the
+Manchoos, not only answered for the "indemnity," but served to obtain
+for them all munitions of war needed to carry on the struggle. Under
+these circumstances, the possession of Shanghae became imperatively
+necessary, and yet such was the chivalrous observance of good faith on
+their part that they refrained from hostilities until the expiration of
+the "present year," although long since released from all moral
+obligations, and prompted by all considerations of self-interest and
+aggrandisement to subjugate Shanghae without a moment's notice or
+delay.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[35] See Parliamentary "Correspondence respecting the opening of the
+Yang-tze-kiang river to foreign trade."
+
+[36] See Blue Book, "Upon the Rebellion in China," presented to
+Parliament April, 1862.
+
+[37] See "Further Papers relating to the Rebellion in China," presented
+to both Houses of Parliament by command of her Majesty.
+
+[38] Long-haired, a name given the Ti-pings because of their tresses.
+
+[39] About fourpence per 1.333 lb. avoirdupois.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+    Life in Nankin.--Ti-ping Character.--Its Friendly
+    Nature.--Religious Observances.--Cum-ho.--Curious Adventure.--A
+    Catastrophe.--Love-making.--Difficulties.--Trip to
+    Shanghae.--Reflections.--On the Yang-tze River.--Life on the
+    River.--An Adventure.--The Deserted Lorcha.--The Murdered
+    Crew.--"Mellen's" Fate.--Arrival at Shanghae.--Return
+    Voyage.--Sin-ya-meu.--A "Squeeze Station."--The
+    "Love-chase."--Fraternizing.--Wife-purchasing.--The Grand
+    Canal.--China under Manchoo Rule.--Its Population.--The Manchoo
+    Government.
+
+
+After my return to Nankin from the Chung-wang's army, I spent some very
+pleasant months in that city. The warm summer weather of central China
+produced a sort of lassitude both of mind and body, and for a time,
+while leading a happy and listless life, mixing with the kind and
+enthusiastic Ti-pings, or wandering through the beautiful gardens of the
+Chung-wang's palace with Marie, the outer world became forgotten.
+Aroused each day with the rising sun, my friend, Philip, and I would
+meet the Chung-wang's household at the morning prayers in the "Heavenly
+Hall." Here, from about six o'clock till seven, I regularly joined in
+the prayers of people whose devotion I have never seen excelled
+elsewhere. The men and women were separated by occupying different sides
+of the Hall, and the worship was generally conducted by the Chung-wang's
+chaplain. After a long form of supplication, the anthem was chanted,
+followed by a doxology and hymn; the officiating minister then closed
+the service by reading a written prayer, which when finished was always
+set on fire and consumed.
+
+[Illustration: A TI-PING CHURCH.
+DAY & SON, (LIMITED) LITH.]
+
+Oftentimes while kneeling in the midst of an apparently devout
+congregation, and gazing on the upturned countenances lightened by the
+early morning sun, which poured its golden rays through the quaintly
+carved windows, have I wondered why no British missionary occupied my
+place, and why Europeans generally preferred slaughtering the Ti-pings
+to accepting them as brothers in Christ; and while scanning the
+assembled Christian Chinese, praying from the Bible we Europeans trust
+in and declare to be our guide, I have felt a sympathy and enthusiasm
+for their cause that never can be weakened or subdued.
+
+About an hour after prayers the great drums at the palace entrance would
+sound for the morning meal. When the family were assembled, the
+following form of grace was given by the master of the house, or, in the
+absence of the Chung-wang, by his brother:--
+
+    "Heavenly Father, the Great God, bless us thy little ones. Give
+    us day by day food to eat and clothes to wear. Deliver us from
+    evil and calamity, and receive our souls into heaven."
+
+After breakfast the household would disperse upon their various daily
+occupations,--the ladies to their private apartments, there to employ
+themselves with embroidering the exquisitely ornamented shoes and silken
+garments in vogue among the Ti-pings, to perform more domestic duties,
+or amuse themselves with music and singing.
+
+The Chung-wang's cousin, Yu-wang (the Admired Prince), being
+Vice-President of the Board of War, and member of the Tien-wang's Privy
+Council, seemed generally overwhelmed with business. First he would
+gallop off with a numerous escort to the offices of the "Board of War."
+Having returned from thence, after the mid-day meal he would don his
+state robes and attend the royal court. This chief possessed a high
+reputation for wisdom in council, sanctity in living, and bravery in the
+field.
+
+Besides his civil appointments, he was a general of the "Loyal troops of
+the palace of the Tien-wang" (the veteran _elite_ of the Ti-ping
+forces). He was married to but one wife, though many of his associates
+were polygamists, and, although a young man, was of a remarkably grave
+and religious character, so much so, that even his little running pages
+seemed affected by it and forgot their wild mischievous propensities.
+
+Each day the major-domo mustered his people to prayers, to feed, and to
+work. The captain of a detachment of the Chung-wang's body-guard
+regularly drilled them in the large courtyard of the palace. The
+Commander-in-Chief's adjutant-general, Lee-wang, daily conducted the
+business connected with his office, employing an immense number of
+scribes, officials, and soldiers, who waited and carried away huge
+sheets of yellow proclamations almost larger than themselves. In another
+part of the Chung-wang's palace his private secretaries seemed for ever
+writing, or rather painting, interminable Chinese characters on
+large-sized paper and small-sized paper, which they continually added to
+the vast heaps of manuscript piled up around them, while I have often
+wondered what it could all be about.
+
+These various duties were executed with a wonderful exactitude and
+regularity, almost mechanical; indeed, throughout Nankin and every part
+of Ti-pingdom I have always found a similar state of methodical
+organization.
+
+I frequently visited the Minister of the Interior, the Chang-wang
+(Accomplished Prince), and other chiefs, with my two companions, and we
+were always received with such kindness and hospitality that every house
+in Nankin became our home. We usually employed a part of each day
+instructing the Ti-ping soldiers in gunnery or drilling them upon a plan
+combining the line and column formation of European tactics with their
+own more undisciplined manoeuvres. The Chinese are well known for their
+imitative ingenuity; but we found these _free_ Chinamen still more
+easily taught, their quick acquirement of English words and
+extraordinary aptitude for every kind of instruction being really
+marvellous.
+
+When I look back upon the unchangeable and universal kindness I have
+always met with from the Ti-pings, even while their dearest relatives
+were being slaughtered by my countrymen, or captured by the Manchoos to
+be tortured to death and their wives and daughters when not killed
+infamously outraged and passed from hand to hand by the rabble
+Imperialist soldiery, it almost seems to be a dream, so difficult is it
+to comprehend their magnanimous forbearance, when, according to the _lex
+talionis_ in vogue among civilized nations, they should have executed
+every Englishman they met with similar barbarities to those practised
+upon the unfortunate Ti-ping prisoners given up by British officers
+(during the years 1862-3-4) to the Manchoo authorities.
+
+During all my intercourse with the Ti-pings I can recollect nothing
+_more_ unpleasant than being made "bogie" to frighten unruly children;
+and even this was of rare occurrence, so great a feeling of respect for
+Englishmen did their parents entertain. Sometimes, while strolling
+through a city, I have been pointed out as a white man bogie to little
+yellow-skinned Ti-pings by their black-haired pretty mother, qualified,
+however, in most cases by a polite invitation to enter and partake of a
+cup of tea; and so the only offence that could be taken at becoming
+"bogie" would be from the unflattering opinion one's appearance caused
+in the juvenile imagination. How different are the scowling looks and
+the epithet "Yang-quitzo" applied to us with the aspiration of hate by
+our Manchoo allies!
+
+The kind and friendly feeling of the Ti-pings I often found so excessive
+as to be absolutely annoying. For hours together I have been quite
+wearied out by their attentions. Some impulsive Ti-pingite would seize a
+hand of his "foreign brother" and retaining it between his own for
+several hours, all the time maintain an energetic conversation,
+perfectly regardless as to whether I understood him or not; probably
+when tired he would leave me in the hands of a particular friend, who in
+turn, after exhausting his own conversational powers and my patience,
+would give me up to another. To those who have experienced the ordinary
+dislike and contumely of the Chinese, the surprising friendliness of the
+Ti-pings is no less remarkable than pleasant. The ingenuous earnestness
+with which they always welcomed Europeans as "Wa-choong-te" (brethren
+from across the seas), and the apparent sincerity with which they would
+claim the relationship as fellow-worshippers of "Yesu," seems to have
+impressed all who have really been among them with similar feelings of
+unmingled pleasure.
+
+When I remember in what manner these people have been treated by my
+country, I almost feel the blush of shame at being an Englishman. None
+who love their country can behold its foreign policy with satisfaction,
+or hope for its future. It requires but a glance at the history of the
+greatest nations of ancient and modern history to perceive our danger,
+and the parallel between our present position and the meridian of their
+greatness. The yearning for self-aggrandizement has caused the overthrow
+of many nations, and day by day we see the rich colonies forming part of
+some overgrown aggressively created empire, seceding from and breaking
+the power of their former oppressor. Well for us or our descendants will
+it be if by changing our policy and pursuing one of righteousness and
+non-aggression, England is preserved from destruction amid the regular
+and successive crash of falling nations.
+
+Can we look upon our acquisition of India, of our old American colonies,
+of New Zealand and the Cape of Good Hope annexations, &c., or our wars
+with China, Burmah, Japan, and last though not least, our war upon the
+Ti-ping Christian revolution, without remembering the fate of the mighty
+empire of Imperial Rome? Can we ponder with satisfaction over the former
+greatness of Spain, Portugal, and Holland, the decline of their power,
+and its causes? In connection with this subject I cannot forbear quoting
+the following extract from a letter written by the Bishop of Victoria to
+the Archbishop of Canterbury, dated Hong-kong, May 23rd, 1853, and in
+which, referring to the Ti-ping revolution, he states:--
+
+    "And if Britain, and, above all, Britain's Church, neglect the
+    call, and arise not to her high behest as the ambassadress of
+    Christ and the heraldress of the cross among these Eastern
+    empires, then the page of history will hereafter record the
+    melancholy fact that, like Spain, Portugal, and Holland, who
+    each enjoyed their brief day of supremacy and empire in these
+    Eastern seas, and then sank into insignificance and decay, so
+    Britain, wielding the mightiest sceptre of the ocean, and ruling
+    the vastest colonial empire of the world, failed to consecrate
+    her talents to Christ, and, _ingloriously intent on mere
+    self-aggrandizement and wealth, fell from her exalted seat in
+    merited ignominy and shame_."
+
+At Nankin each day the signal for prayer was given from the Tien-wang's
+palace, when the great gongs within the first courtyard were sounded.
+The signal was then repeated from house to house, till at last the
+brazen reverberation having died away in the most remote corners of the
+city, and having been echoed along the massive ramparts by the solitary
+watchmen to the distant suburbs, the knee of every man within, or in the
+adjoining villages without the walls, became bent in prayer. Often have
+I stood upon the old time-worn mural defence of Nankin, with the last
+lingering light of sunset throwing strange fantastic shadows around me,
+and listened to the humming noise rising up from the praying people
+below. At other times I have gazed from that same ancient wall at
+midnight, as the last hollow tap from the sentinel's bamboo drum was
+sounded, have seen the whole populace assemble to welcome the Sabbath
+day; then turning towards the distant hills, crowned with the
+fortifications and numerous tents of the idolatrous Imperialists, I have
+felt that God would never forsake those who so fervently believed and
+studied his word.
+
+Dark days have come upon the Ti-ping cause; but although many have
+perished who hopefully assured me "the Heavenly Father would protect
+them," and although others are now wanderers from what they had settled
+as a Christian territory, so long as even one righteous believer shall
+remain, I have faith in God's word for their eventual success.
+
+The idol-worshippers and the worshippers of mammon have together made
+merry over persecuted Christians, but if right is ever vindicated upon
+earth, and if the Bible shall not for the first time in its history
+cause the entire extermination of those who suffer for professing it, a
+day will come when their unholy rejoicing shall be turned into trouble
+and lamentation. That day of retribution may be far distant, yet recent
+events would seem to prove it near; and whenever it does come, how
+terrible it will be.
+
+Time flew onward at Nankin with seemingly treble rapidity, so happily
+passed the days with myself and European comrades. At last a shadow came
+athwart the general happiness. My friend, since our return to the city,
+had taken every advantage of his honourable scars to forward his dumb
+suit of her ladyship Cum-ho, the Chung-wang's daughter, and as _he_
+thought with great success. Nearly every day Miss Cum-ho and Marie would
+join us in the palace gardens, and from simple "Chin-chining," pressing
+one hand on the region of his heart, &c., my friend somehow managed to
+pick up a little Chinese in a very short time, by which his courtship no
+doubt was considerably benefited. For awhile things went on thus; but
+one unpropitious morning the pretty princess was entrusted with a little
+brother for a ramble in the gardens. As usual, at the commencement of a
+large shrubbery my friend and her ladyship took the wrong path, and so
+became separated from Marie and myself.
+
+We could not have strolled far, when suddenly a most tremendous
+screaming arose in the direction of the palace. Leaving Marie to follow
+me, I ran in the direction of the noise as fast as possible. When close
+up to the termination of the shrubbery, I heard voices proceeding from a
+little by-path, and, following it up, soon ascertained the cause. It
+appeared that the princess having become absorbed with my friend's
+endeavours to study the Chinese language, forgot her young brother, and
+left him to his own devices, when, with the usual perversity of small
+people, he straightway got into mischief. Not content with making mud
+pies on the open walks of the shrubbery, or otherwise innocently amusing
+himself, this wretched child saw fit, in an evil moment, to investigate
+the dark and tortuous windings of the path in which I found him.
+
+Late rains had made the out-of-the-way part this infant mind determined
+to explore, a perfect quagmire, through which he had successfully
+wriggled along, until, reaching one of those large earthen jars peculiar
+to China, sunk into the ground, and filled with agricultural compost,
+the Chung-wang's youngest "olive-branch" tumbled in. After the first
+suffocating dip, he had managed to stick his head out and give tongue in
+his loudest key. The scene of disaster being only a few hundred yards
+from where the servants lived in rear of the palace, the noise had
+attracted the attention of several, who at once hastened to the spot;
+and they had just succeeded extracting their young lord from his
+unenviable position when I arrived among them.
+
+His little Excellency was led off by the faithful serving-men, while I
+returned for Marie, and after seeing her to the palace, ran down the
+shrubbery to its end, and there, calmly oblivious to all besides
+themselves, found my friend and his companion side by side on one of the
+garden seats. Miss Cum-ho was terribly frightened at my tale, not only
+for the sake of her brother, but because the affair would make known her
+meetings with my friend. We had no time to make any arrangement by which
+this might be avoided, for I had scarcely told them of the mischance
+when up came a couple of young pages in search of the lady.
+
+Upon reaching the palace, the Mrs. Chung-wang appeared, superintending
+the washing of her son and ready to receive her delinquent daughter. Two
+old duennas, of particularly vinegar aspect, advanced upon the girl, who
+for a moment clung to my friend's arm. That moment, however, must have
+sufficed to show the Chung-wang's better-half the state of her
+daughter's affections, whom she now sharply upbraided while being
+dragged into the palace. Poor Cum-ho disappeared in tears, doubtless
+severely pinched by her two guards, while the injured "parent," after
+seeing her purified boy carried in before her, retired with a Parthian
+exclamation of "Yang-quitzo," thrown at my friend.
+
+It was the first time I had ever heard an European called "foreign
+devil" in Ti-pingdom, and Mrs. Chung-wang must have been hugely offended
+to have uttered such a thing. Turning to L----, I exclaimed, "Well, old
+fellow, what do you think of it?"
+
+"Think," he answered; "why it's the last I shall see of Cum-ho."
+
+"Yes, I suppose it will be; but that won't trouble you much?"
+
+After a moment's thought, my friend seriously said to me:--"My dear
+fellow, I really believe I love that girl; Chinese or not, she is a
+good, warm-hearted creature, and--I think she loves me; besides, she is
+very pretty. What do you think of her hair? is it not long and
+beautiful? I do not believe any English girl has such tresses. She has a
+straight nose too, and her eyes are very fine; don't you think so?"
+
+"Yes, there's no question about it; she is a very good-looking girl,
+but, unfortunately, you must remember she is the Chung-wang's daughter."
+
+"I don't care if she's the Lord Duke of Macaciac's daughter; if she
+loves me I _will_ see her again."
+
+"Have you spoken to her about love?" I asked.
+
+"I cannot exactly say I have, for I do not know the Chinese version of
+the verb, but I believe she understood what I meant when I tried to. How
+do you express "I love you" in Chinese?"
+
+"Gno gnae ne," I told him as well as I knew.
+
+"Noo nay nee; well, I think I shall remember that; noo nay nee; yes,
+that's simple enough; but how shall I meet Cum-ho again to tell her so?
+that's the question."
+
+"Trust to the Chinese Cupid, if there is one; besides, if she loves you,
+depend upon it you will hear from her somehow before long; but I must
+say I still retain a vivid remembrance of some of your Hong-kong
+attachments; there was A-far, the pretty daughter of Canton Jack, our
+boatman; do you forget how desperately in love you fancied yourself with
+that sun-burnt, black-eyed, rough-headed 'Sanpan girl?'"
+
+"Oh, nonsense," replied my friend, pettishly, "there's a vast difference
+between the two; at that time I was fresh from England and could not be
+much smitten by a Chinese boat-girl, with the thoughts of the dear girls
+at home filling my mind. But now I have been so long in China I have
+almost forgotten what an English woman is like; you cannot deny that
+Cum-ho is handsome; see what a beautiful little mouth she has, what
+teeth, what ----."
+
+"There, that will do, my friend; it is needless to recapitulate the fair
+celestial's charms, you are evidently a victim of the little Chinese
+god; but I will just ask one thing; apart from the danger of becoming
+obnoxious to so powerful a chief as the Chung-wang, who would certainly
+never look with pleasure upon an alliance between his daughter and
+yourself, leang-sze-ma (lieutenant) in his guards though he has made
+you,--how would you feel disposed to carry home to England a Chinese
+wife?"
+
+"Home!" said he, bitterly; "most likely I shall never see home again, at
+all events I love the girl, and I am determined not to give her up so
+easily; if I escape the gingall-balls and rusty spears of those rascally
+Imps, the Chung-wang may yet be willing to give me his daughter; it
+appears to me the marriage ceremony of the Ti-pings is much like ours,
+and if nothing else will succeed, why, an elopement _a la_ Ti-ping
+Gretna Green may."
+
+"You shall never do anything so rash," I responded, as we entered the
+palace and proceeded to our quarters, "we shall be leaving Nankin for
+some days very shortly, and when we return, if you are still of the same
+mind, we will resume the subject and see what can be done."
+
+After this event Cum-ho was never permitted to meet us, although she
+managed now and then to send a message by Marie to the "Yang-quitzo."
+The misfortune of that confounded child would have proved a source of
+much merriment, but for the interruption of our pleasant promenades it
+effected. Besides making a prisoner of Cum-ho, it very considerably
+annoyed Marie and myself; for the vigilance of the elder ladies of the
+household having become aroused, they carefully watched over my
+betrothed wherever she went. I cannot but admit that, one and all, the
+women of Ti-pingdom were paragons of modesty and propriety, and although
+in this case their espionage proved rather vexatious, I did not admire
+them less for it.
+
+Previous to this, I had determined to take a trip to Shanghae in order
+to ascertain, if possible, the purport of the will left by Marie's
+father, and also to make various arrangements with regard to obtaining
+supplies of grain, European arms, &c., for Nankin; all of which the
+Manchoos were able to obtain _ad libitum_ from Europeans at the treaty
+ports, although furnishing the same articles to the Ti-pings was
+strictly prohibited by the British authorities, in spite of their
+pledged neutrality. Before setting out upon my journey, I had an
+interview with the Minister of the Interior, Chang-wang, who gave me a
+number of passes, requesting me to bestow them upon respectable
+Europeans and inform them Nankin was open to trade. A few foreign
+vessels were occupied trading to the city, and among them my friend
+Mellen, with two of his own lorchas. I had met him several times when in
+port, and shortly before I set out for Shanghae he had sailed with the
+vessel he was on board, intending to return with a cargo of rice, &c.
+
+When all was ready for a start, I had no small difficulty in getting my
+friend away with me; Philip I left behind to continue drilling and
+otherwise instructing the soldiery, and also as my agent for other
+affairs. Besides the bother with my friend, I experienced a more serious
+one before getting the crew of my vessel to obey orders. These men
+during my stay had become thoroughly Ti-pingized, and having allowed
+their hair to grow, did not seem at all inclined to shave and adopt the
+Manchoo badge of slavery again. So attached to the Ti-ping
+re-establishment of Chinese customs had they become, that I was
+compelled to call in the Sz-wang to make them shave and leave Nankin. It
+may be that, as a rule, the Chinese are pretty well contented with and
+accustomed to the monkey tail, but let their national spirit once be
+aroused upon the subject, they feel the degradation bitterly. With
+scarcely an exception, the whole crew violently protested against
+resuming the guise of the Tartar, and one fine young fellow felt so
+acutely while under the hands of the barber that he actually cried like
+a child.
+
+At last, however, the tresses were all shorn off, and having parted with
+Marie with the full intention of making her my wife when I returned, and
+having given her a letter for Cum-ho, concocted by my friend from a
+Morison's Chinese and English Dictionary, the anchor was rudely dragged
+forth from its snug hiding-place in the muddy bottom of the Nankin
+creek; then clapping my shiny-headed men on to the halyards fore and
+aft, all sail was made, and Nankin bidden adieu for a time.
+
+The Yang-tze river, at its mildest mood and lowest period in the middle
+of winter, is still a mighty and a swift-running stream; but in summer,
+when swollen with the vast torrents from the melted snow of the region
+of great mountains, amid which it rises far away beyond the western
+limits of Thibet, its waters rush fierce and foaming far into the
+country upon either side of its proper channel. Such was the case upon
+my departure from Nankin.
+
+Sailing was out of the question, because what little wind there came
+was, as the sailors say, dead on end. But although our canvas could not
+help us on our way, the boiling tide did, and that at the rate of nearly
+five knots an hour. I have many a time floated along the bosom of that
+grand Yang-tze, and with nature all beautiful around me, crew and
+servants obedient to the slightest wish, and, above all, a sympathizing
+friend, fancied more complete happiness impossible.
+
+At such moments I have often reflected upon the great Ti-ping movement,
+and wondered whether my partisanship could have blinded me to any of its
+defects, and so led me to disagree with the manifold tales of horror and
+detraction narrated by persons who opposed the rebellion. I have even
+tried to persuade myself that I was a fool, that I had been imposed upon
+and deceived by the Ti-pings as to their real character, and that the
+hostile reports were true. But then I could not help feeling myself
+sincerely a well-wisher of the rebels; I knew that I became a partisan
+from my conviction of the righteousness and favourable characteristics
+of their cause, and from no mere worldly interest or attraction; and,
+moreover, against the hearsay adverse testimony I could certainly plead,
+"seeing is believing," and prefer my own eyesight and personal
+experience to the tales of others, the greater proportion of whom had
+never even seen a Ti-ping under any circumstances, much less when at
+their home and uninfluenced by the horrors of Asiatic warfare. Besides
+this, nearly all my friends and acquaintances were entirely of the same
+opinion as myself, including the Revs. W. Lobschied, Griffith John, and
+other missionaries, who had really seen Ti-ping life and manners.
+
+[Illustration: A Mast Head View Of Nankin From The River As It Appeared
+On The Morning Of Departure.
+London, Published March 15^{th} 1866 by Day & Son, Limited Lithog^{rs}
+Gate Str, Lincoln's Inn Fields.
+Day & Son, Limited, Lith.]
+
+These driftings on the Yang-tze were productive of much meditation. Far
+from the trammels, disturbance, and troubles of the great cities of men,
+with the warm pure air blowing freshly upon us, we could think only of
+the justice and reason of things, completely unbiassed by the
+stereotyped customs and formal conventionalities of society; but the
+living voice of Nature all around us, manifested in the murmur of the
+moving waters, the humming noise of manifold insects, the myriad lamps
+of the fire-fly at night, and the brilliant-coloured feathery songsters
+in full chorus among the reed-beds' luxuriant foliage by day, whispered
+a better and more comprehensive theory of existence. So far as society
+was concerned, it might have been extinct, for we were at such times
+perfectly isolated, myself and friend were alone with regard to
+companionship, will, and authority. Of course this sort of life requires
+change; it is all very well for a few months; but then one seems to wish
+for something more than the voice of nature, and the novelties of
+strange people, new faces, and busy life, become excessively attractive.
+
+To descend unto the mere creature comforts of such living:--at four in
+the morning we arose; As-sam, with meek devotion, or rather serpent-like
+Asiatic stealthiness, would bring coffee, containing just a dash of
+strong waters, with a little breakfast of rice-cake or toast, by way of
+fortifying oneself in a cholera country. This sailors' inseparable
+morning stimulant despatched,[40] habited in thin white silk, we were
+douched with many buckets of water, drawn overnight and separated from
+the thick muddy particles of the Yang-tze by settling and cooling till
+morn, when the clear part was poured off for use; then a couple of
+brawny Chinese mariners would rub us down like young horses, and our day
+began.
+
+If the _locale_ was favourable and the breeze light, a stroll along the
+river's bank, gun in hand, keeping time with the progress of our vessel
+with the tide, almost surely supplied us with many fat pheasants, wild
+pigeons, and some of the numerous Chinese summer water-fowl, or snipe
+and curlew of singular variety. A stroll to the trees and bushes further
+inland would possibly reward us with a few woodcock, rice-birds or
+ortolan, and other delicious game peculiar to China.
+
+Whenever the game-bag became full, or the sun too high to be pleasant,
+we returned to our floating home, probably with some fish purchased from
+a solitary dip-net fisherman, working at a little clear spot among the
+tall bulrushes overhanging some tideless deep pool, the favourite resort
+of his legitimate prey.
+
+About 11 a.m. our breakfast was served, that breakfast a feast for an
+epicure: choice and fragrantly-scented tea the principal beverage, and
+fish, newly plundered from the rich stores of the river, the standing
+dish. How shall I sing your praises, ye finny tribes of the Yang-tze?
+Large and small, long and short, thick and thin, flat and deep, every
+conceivable shape and colour, with every possible flavour appertaining
+to fishes of any part of the world, or the most approved delicacy, I
+safely pronounce ye unequalled by your brethren of foreign seas, lakes,
+or running streams. Above all ranks the delicious Ke-yu (chicken-fish),
+combining the qualities of British salmon, turbot, and whiting, equally
+the favourite of natives and Europeans, and in some of the distant
+cities eagerly purchased at fabulous prices by the wealthy gourmands.
+
+The remnants of fish being carried away, the hot and greasy face of
+As-sam would be thrust into our cabin, followed by that individual's
+other parts, carefully bearing to his yet strong-appetited masters a
+brown and juicy pheasant or wild duck, done as he knew how to do them,
+with Chinese ingenuity and cunning spices. A plentiful supply of
+fruit--oranges, pears, pumelos, peaches, li-chees, and Chinese
+preserves--finished a cheap, though almost Sybarite repast; and last,
+but not least in a hot climate, one glass of ice-cold water was
+forthcoming.
+
+If the day was not oppressively hot, we would while away the time with
+books, or my friend would bring out his soft-toned flute, and join in
+melody with the birds, huge dragon-flies, and other flying, creeping,
+and crawling things, which had all woke up to be happy in the bright
+sunshine.
+
+Should we, perchance, fall in with some fellow wanderer, we met as
+brothers and equals; but this did not often happen. Swiftly roll the
+yellow waters, yellower still in the fierce sunlight, spreading away
+over islands, villages, and cultivated fields, far into the interior.
+Sometimes, when in flood, even 500 miles from its mouth, this mighty
+river is bounded here and there by the glittering horizon of its own
+waters. At one spot the roof of a tall house just shows above the
+stream; at another the tops of some great trees may be noticed bending
+along with the rushing tide.[41]
+
+Purple, dim, and vast, rise the mountains, lazily flaps the white
+canvas, while through the tall bulrushes beautiful little summer ducks
+skim about, great "Bramley" kites wheel high above, uttering their
+piercing cries, and in and out of the feathery-topped bamboo strange and
+brilliantly-plumaged birds incessantly play. Still we glide with the
+flowing waters, which, from unknown mysterious regions flow onward, flow
+ever, towards the great outside ocean, whither for hundreds of centuries
+it has flowed, untired and unceasing, and whither it will flow to all
+eternity.
+
+"Ho-li" is echoed along the decks, and reverentially our long-tailed
+cook brings burning charcoal between iron pincers. The day is too hot
+now for work, for talking, almost for thinking, and whilst the tide
+sweeps along, we slowly puff our cheroots and recline under the grateful
+shade of the awning in a state of semi-coma.
+
+Lying on the flat of our Saxon backs, and lazily wreathing
+reflective-producing columns of smoke from our Manilas, we build castles
+in the air, loftier far and not so grim as those which ever and anon
+frown back at the mountains on either side. We dream with revolver in
+belt and gun at hand, ready to knock over stray unwary ducks, or savage,
+plundering, military Manchoos, should it become necessary. Little kings
+are we in our own right; obsequiously bends As-sam, pattern of boys and
+servants, to our lordly nod; meekly answers A-foo, _lowder_, captain,
+and pirate that he is; for the white men are strong, the Chinese think,
+and we must be civil to them while awake, even if we murder them when
+asleep.
+
+We have no bad smells here, no wear and tear and flurry of cities; our
+habits are primitive, and for the most part, we own the open heavens
+only as our roof, and breathe the pure and uncontaminated atmosphere of
+the temperate zone.
+
+A mid-day siesta, for at night we must be watchful of straggling
+piratical Manchoo gunboats, followed by another gunning excursion in the
+cool of the evening, or possibly a few minutes passed in some secluded
+village; then dinner at dusk, almost the same as breakfast, excepting
+the addition of curry (real curry, not as is often the case, a
+yellow-looking mess of that name only), some of the many descriptions
+of Chinese vegetables, and pastry made by that clever As-sam; followed
+by a game of chess, a duet with my concertina and friend's flute, and a
+fragrant Manila to accompany the constitutional after-dinner
+quarter-deck promenade, terminate the pleasures of the day.
+
+While daylight lasted we were generally safe; but whenever night spread
+her sable mantle over river, shore, and man alike, the utmost vigilance
+was required. By generally keeping underweigh all night, and choosing
+the centre of the stream, with one or two exceptions I avoided any
+serious danger from the Imperialist _braves_ and gunboats, as one
+well-directed shot would mostly satisfy them; some of my friends,
+however, were not so fortunate, and on this occasion of my river life I
+came upon a scene of horror I never shall forget.
+
+After successfully running past the fortifications and flotillas
+situated at the commencement of the Imperialist jurisdiction, early one
+morning, when within a few miles of Chin-kiang, we came in sight of a
+lorcha close in to the river's bank. As the wind was too scant to be
+useful for vessels bound up the river, at first I paid but little
+attention to the otherwise singular position of the strange craft, but
+when nearly abreast, to my astonishment I discovered her to be the
+_Fox_, my friend Mellen's lorcha. The daylight was now pretty well
+developed, and almost at the same time I was enabled to discern some one
+on deck waving a large white signal. Upon this I steered directly for
+the lorcha, and when sufficiently near, saw the figure was that of a
+woman, apparently alone; that the vessel was evidently derelict, from
+the confusion and dismantled state of her rigging, and that she was run
+ashore high and dry, her bow actually projecting a considerable way over
+the land.
+
+Running as close alongside as we could without grounding, we anchored in
+the stream right abeam of her, and arming ourselves and a couple of good
+men, my friend and I proceeded to board the lorcha. Upon doing so we
+were met at the gangway by the old nurse of Mellen's children, who was
+wringing her hands and loudly vociferating the peculiar lament in vogue
+among the Chinese women when in grief.
+
+A deserted ship has at all times a disheartening, melancholy sort of
+effect, upon a sailor at all events; but although I had seen such a
+thing before, even far away upon the vast ocean hundreds of miles from
+the nearest land, I never experienced so sudden and so fearful a chill
+as the moment my feet touched that lorcha's deck. It was not the
+grievous aspect of old As-su, neither was it the deserted appearance of
+the vessel itself, but the atmosphere seemed heavy with some undefinable
+horror, that unearthly smell, or rather perception, of human blood which
+those who have discovered deeds of slaughter will easily appreciate, but
+which I cannot further explain.
+
+Of course my first endeavour was to gather something from the old nurse,
+meanwhile my friend proceeded aft towards the lorcha's cabin. Before I
+could distinguish anything tangible from the sobbing "hi-yo hi-yo's" of
+As-su, I was startled by his horrified exclamation.
+
+"Great God! come here, A----," called he in the sharp accents of
+powerful excitement. In a moment I was by his side and gazing down
+through the torn-off cabin skylight.
+
+I have passed among the bodies of thousands killed in the sanguinary
+Chinese battles; I have moved slowly along creeks, ay, even the broad
+Yang-tze itself, literally choked with poor remnants of humanity; quite
+lately I have wandered through once happy Ti-ping villages, at this time
+tenanted alone with the starved, dead, and the miserable living
+cannibals, yet existing upon their former companions. I have passed
+through all these fearful scenes, yet never did I feel the overpowering
+horror I experienced while gazing into that lonely cabin; lonely,
+indeed, for only the bodies of the ruthlessly murdered composed its
+ghastly tenancy.
+
+Blood stained the sides, the ceiling, and the furniture, while the deck
+of that gory cabin seemed one coagulated mass. Doubled up at the foot of
+his berth my poor friend Mellen, one of the bravest among the brave, lay
+mangled and hideous; above him, in the very attitude of protecting her
+husband, stood the corpse of his noble-hearted wife, frightfully
+disfigured and covered with wounds; while the innocent little child lay
+gashed and lifeless by its father's side. I will not further horrify my
+readers with a description of the fearful nature of the wounds inflicted
+upon these unfortunates; suffice it to say that although Mellen himself
+was cut up with many, his brave wife was literally hacked to pieces.
+
+I afterwards ascertained, through inquiries made in the vicinity by my
+interpreter A-ling, and from the testimony of the nurse As-su, who
+escaped the fate of her mistress by secreting herself, that my friends
+had been thus brutally murdered by a number of Imperialist soldiery in
+combination with some of the crew.
+
+Poor Mellen had on board a large amount of money, some L6,000 sterling.
+At E-ching his crew had informed the Mandarins of this, and they, taking
+the opportunity to pocket a large sum by simply gratifying their hatred
+of a solitary "foreign devil," had authorized a party of soldiers to
+murder him. These soldiers assembled on board a large _Ti-mung_ close to
+where I found the _Fox_; but as the latter happened to pass them during
+the day, and moreover, in company with another vessel, their designs
+were frustrated for a little while. With true Chinese cunning, however,
+these wretches managed to get Mellen into their murderous clutches. At
+the village of Kwa-chow, within sight of the treaty port Chin-kiang, the
+Chinese _lowder_ (captain), by making some plausible excuse, induced his
+master to anchor there and allow him to go on shore. Returning on board
+with a couple of soldiers disguised as merchants, this wretch (who was
+actually the father of Mellen's wife, and whose life his master had once
+saved at the peril of his own) pretended the pseudo traders were anxious
+to have a large cargo taken to Nankin, to be embarked some distance up
+the river, and for which they agreed to pay a very high freight. Mellen
+was very unwell, and trusting to the statements and integrity of his
+Chinese father-in-law, unfortunately agreed to return up the river and
+take in the fictitious cargo for the Ti-pings. That same night his
+vessel was anchored but a short distance from the _Ti-mung_ and her
+bloodthirsty crew. About midnight the assassins took to a couple of
+small boats and pulled for their prey. At this time the confederates
+among the lorcha's crew made a noise on deck, probably to get Mellen out
+in the dark, when their work would be safer than in a light cabin with a
+deadly revolver to oppose them. Mrs. Mellen, leaving her sick husband
+below, ran on deck with a revolver, and seeing the two boats close
+alongside, instantly fired several shots at them. As the yelling savages
+swarmed on board, she ran down to her husband closely followed by them,
+and then the butchery commenced. Poor Mellen was killed rising from the
+berth, and ere he could draw the sword I found half unsheathed just
+underneath him. His wretched wife, after suffering every torture and
+atrocity the cruel Chinese particularly excel in, died over her
+husband's body, faithful to the last, with one arm round his severed
+neck, the other upraised as though to ward the blow her eyes had seen
+coming ere they closed for ever. Poor girl! I can never forget the
+horribly mutilated state in which I found her: it would hardly have been
+possible to touch an unwounded spot on her body. She had killed one and
+hit another of the murderers; they stated ashore that she was as bad as
+a "Yang-quitzo" (all this my interpreter ascertained); and they wreaked
+a most ferocious vengeance upon the defenceless woman. When the victims
+were killed, the treasure was carried off, and the whole vessel
+pillaged fore and aft; and when everything of the slightest value had
+been taken, the crew and soldiers, after running her ashore upon the
+bank, took their departure. The old nurse, after some time, had ventured
+from her hiding-place, and for four days had been living on the deck of
+the charnel ship when we boarded her.
+
+Having sent news of the tragedy to Chin-kiang, a steamer came to the
+spot and towed the _Fox_ down to Silver Island, where the mangled bodies
+were removed and given Christian burial. And so terminated my friendship
+with poor Mellen and his courageous wife; since then all my friends, I
+may say, in that distant and fatal land have perished by the sword, by
+sudden death, or by the deadly diseases of the country.
+
+The facts of the foregoing barbarous murders I forwarded to H.M.'s
+consul at Chin-kiang, who, with the officers of the gunboat on the
+station, beheld the bodies and saw them buried, yet no redress was ever
+sought from the allies of the British Government. This is but one of
+many and many a similar specimen of the Manchoo feeling towards
+Englishmen, and this is the style of people who are to be firmly
+established throughout China by the overthrow of the Ti-ping rebellion
+by the aid of British arms.
+
+Leaving my vessel at Chin-kiang (I had at this time entirely purchased
+her from the previous owner), in charge of A-ling, I took a passage to
+Shanghae with my friend on board one of the river steamers. When all
+business was arranged, I set out upon my return to Nankin, leaving L----
+in charge of a fine lorcha we had jointly purchased as a blockade-runner
+to the Ti-ping capital, to follow me as fast as wind and tide would
+allow. I found out Marie's relatives, and they told me that Manouel
+Ramon had inherited all her father's property, that he had raised a
+foreign contingent of Manila-men and Portuguese, with which he had
+joined the Imperialists, and that he was determined to be revenged upon
+myself and betrothed.
+
+While at Shanghae I sought out many Europeans who owned lorchas, Ningpo
+boats, and other river craft, and stating the advantages to be derived
+from trade with Nankin, induced a goodly number to undertake the risk,
+to whom I bestowed the passes given me by the Chung-wang. When I had
+settled various transactions with regard to obtaining arms, agents, and
+a correspondence with that portion of the Shanghae press known to be
+impartial, I returned by steamer to Chin-kiang, accompanied by Captain
+P----, whom I had formerly seen in command of the schooner whose crew
+had mutinied at the Lang-shan crossing. I had met him in Shanghae, and
+he willingly took a share of my vessel at Chin-kiang, agreeing to run
+her himself in the Nankin trade.
+
+Upon reaching Chin-kiang and taking up my quarters on board the old
+craft, I determined to proceed with her to a town some thirty miles up a
+branch of the Grand Canal, purchase a cargo of rice, and take it with me
+to Nankin. This idea was soon put into force, and after the _lowder_ had
+collected his men from the gambling dens in the village immediately
+opposite the city of Chin-kiang, on the other side of the river, we got
+underweigh. With a light breeze and beautiful weather we proceeded
+merrily on our trip, with that exhilarating feeling the prospect of a
+visit to a strange and interesting country always produces.
+
+After being swept down stream for more than an hour, just below Silver
+Island, we came to the entrance of the creek up which lay our further
+course. Steering into its mouth, we left the swift and turbid waters of
+the great Yang-tze, and landing our crew with their collars and rope,
+slowly tracked along the quieter stream. Our destination was the town of
+Sin-ya-meu, the great emporium of that part of China. From the river
+inland the whole country is richly cultivated, and the style of
+agriculture and farm-house seems more nearly approaching that of
+England than I have observed elsewhere. Barley, wheat, rye, and oats
+greet the eye in place of the interminable paddy-fields of most parts of
+China. Haystacks are seen about the farms, and the dwellings are all of
+a large and spacious build. The country is slightly wooded and full of
+wild pigeons, and of these my friend and self obtained many, thanks to
+our double-barrels. These pigeons are quite unlike any I have seen in
+other countries; their colour very closely resembles that of the dove,
+but the breast and wings are like the golden plover; and a beautiful
+circlet round the neck, similar to the ringdove, with a large black
+tail, completes their exquisite plumage. The delicacy of this bird
+excels that of any other I have ever tasted, yet the Chinese pay no
+attention to their presence, and neither attempt to catch, eat, tame, or
+do anything else with them.
+
+This country would be perfect were it not for the imperfections of the
+people who inhabit it, or rather, the evil qualities of its rulers, for
+I believe the Chinese themselves are capable of almost any improvement.
+During my trip to Sin-ya-meu I particularly noticed the abominable
+extortion of the Manchoo Government. Although the distance from the
+mouth of the creek to the town is considerably less than thirty miles, I
+passed no fewer than fifteen custom-houses established along its banks.
+The creek is a very broad one, and forms the principal route for the
+wood rafts bound from Han-kow (up the Yang-tze) to the town. I passed
+many on my journey, and conversed with the merchants to whom they
+belonged, who all bitterly complained of the gross extortion of the
+Customs officials, and assured me that by law no more than two
+duty-stations were authorized, yet at each of the fifteen they were
+squeezed of the same amount of duty that ought only to have been paid
+twice.
+
+Sin-ya-meu I found to be a very extensive unwalled town, the centre of
+an immense trade. What little business is transacted at the treaty port
+Chin-kiang, is entirely dependent upon Sin-ya-meu; and unless the native
+merchants can be induced to establish themselves at the former city, it
+will never become a place of much commercial importance.
+
+[Illustration: A MANCHOO SQUEEZE STATION.]
+
+While the invaluable A-ling was negotiating for the rice, I took a trip
+as far as the walled city of Yang-chow-foo with my friend P----. This
+town and the district has long been famous for its women, who, the
+natives say, are the handsomest in China. Although our experience was
+limited to a couple of days, from what we saw in the country and town
+during daylight, and in the sing-songs at night, we were able to form
+the same opinion. The women, though darker than those of the Honan
+province, are quite as straight-featured and much more rosy and robust.
+They also appeared taller than is usual in south and central China, and
+their eyes seemed larger and not quite so oblique.
+
+When within a few _li_ of Yang-chow, a turn of the creek placed our boat
+close to a pair of damsels on the bank, but they no sooner espied the
+strange faces of myself and P----, than they rushed towards a
+neighbouring farm-house, screaming "Yang-quitzo-li" (foreign devils are
+coming) at the top of their shrill voices. We had just that moment been
+talking of the reputed loveliness of the Yang-chow ladies, and P----,
+with his head full of the subject, jumped ashore and ran after the two
+fugitives in order to have a nearer opportunity to satisfy himself as to
+their superior charms. With my boy As-sam I followed my friend on shore.
+The girls, terrified by the pursuit of the "foreign devil," were headed
+by that individual just before they managed to hobble up to the house.
+Their crippled feet sadly interfered with what would otherwise have been
+their very graceful figures. Their faces were certainly very pretty, and
+the excitement added not a little to their interesting appearance. At
+first, when P---- appeared between themselves and their home, they clung
+to each other and continued to yell, while several Chinamen came running
+towards them armed with hoes and spades, and the dogs of the farm joined
+chorus with a tremendous barking. But when the ladies found my friend
+did not attempt to carry them off, but continued in front of them bowing
+and scraping like a French dancing master (although this, of course,
+they did not know), and when the advancing Chinamen observed my
+fowling-piece and one of the snapping curs had been saluted with a large
+stone between its eyes, which changed the baying into howling, the
+commotion gradually subsided, although paterfamilias, and materfamilias,
+who now put in her appearance, seemed by no means satisfied.
+
+When the farmer's men, carrying hoes and other agricultural instruments,
+for the nonce converted into warlike weapons, arrived upon the scene,
+P---- suddenly thrust a hand into an inside breast pocket of his coat,
+and winding up a small musical-box he carried there, changed the
+combative feeling of the natives into the greatest surprise and
+curiosity. Taking advantage of the pause, while the astounded people
+seemed to look upon my friend, with "the British Grenadiers" issuing
+from the region of his heart, as a "Joss" man, I told As-sam to inform
+the head of the family that we had landed to inquire the way to
+Yang-chow. This seemed to brighten the old fellow's dingy countenance
+without the aid of water, although he still seemed dubious as to whether
+we were "Joss" men, robbers, or honest travellers. One of his sons at
+this moment displayed a remarkable genius by guessing the cause of my
+friend's music, and it afterwards transpired that the clever youth had
+an old musical-box in a forgotten corner of the paternal dwelling, which
+had been obtained from the foreign-frequented city of Chin-kiang a year
+or two ago, but had been broken by over-winding just when it began to
+play.
+
+The two pretty daughters having been conveyed to the inner apartments by
+their watchful mother, who, I believe, penetrated the real cause of our
+visit, and did not seem very much inclined to dazzle the vision of the
+strangers from afar with their celestial charms, we were invited to tea
+by their father, and the musical-box was produced for the general
+delight of the company.
+
+After tea and rice-cakes had been despatched, the musical-box nearly
+worn out, and the girls peeping through the bamboo screen fairly
+propitiated by our gentle manner and extraordinary tales, the old farmer
+discovered that he had in former days been acquainted with As-sam's
+father in Canton; at once we were pressed to remain and partake of
+dinner, and the already genial humour of the old man became redoubled.
+
+The day passed over very comfortably, except that at dinner the Chinese
+yeoman would persist in being polite, and as this involved the
+fishing-up of pieces of meat from the dinner bowls with his own
+chop-sticks and the careful depositing of the same morsels in his
+visitors' basins, it was not exactly pleasant.
+
+Towards evening we were gratified by the presence of the young women to
+perform various duties in the principal room, in which we were
+established. Whether the small cups of rice-spirit at dinner had made
+their father unusually relaxed in domestic _regime_ I do not pretend to
+say, but he certainly called his daughters up to him, and actually
+permitted them to be gazed upon by strangers and to gaze in return, and
+to listen to their marvellous tales of other lands, these latter
+singularly improved upon by As-sam whenever my knowledge of the Chinese
+language was at fault.
+
+To my unqualified surprise, when upon the point of taking our departure,
+As-sam asked me to let him have fifty dollars and stop it from his
+wages, as he wished to buy our host's youngest daughter! It appeared
+that the old gentleman, warmed with the recollection of his friendship
+for our servant's father, or impressed with As-sam's importance and
+wealth through the eloquence of that cunning individual himself, and
+seeing him in connection with Europeans, whom the Chinese always look
+upon as overburdened with dollars, had offered him his daughter in
+marriage for the sum of fifty dollars. I refused to be a party to the
+transaction, so As-sam had to leave without a bride, although he
+promised to return and claim her whenever he had saved her value. I bade
+the farmer and his household farewell, wishing more than ever for the
+success of my Ti-ping friends, who had abolished this buying and slavery
+of women among themselves, and intended, God willing, to do so
+throughout the land.
+
+Upon reaching Sin-ya-meu I found the faithful A-ling had obtained the
+cargo of rice and loaded our craft with it. We therefore at once set out
+upon our return to Nankin, choosing the route by the Grand Canal, which
+would bring us into the Yang-tze river at Kwa-chow, some few miles above
+Chin-kiang.
+
+Placing the crew on to the _yu-lo's_ (which, working in a figure of
+eight motion, urge a vessel along upon the same principle as the screw
+propeller), by these large oars our vessel was soon impelled beyond
+Sin-ya-meu and into the Grand Canal. This magnificent work of olden time
+is artificial for an extent of some 550 miles. Originally throughout
+nearly the whole of this length, its sides were built of marble, with an
+uniform breadth of more than 150 feet, and a depth of not less than 25.
+Since the conquest of China by the Manchoos, however, this great work
+has been sadly neglected, and at many parts the marble sides are no
+longer visible. At frequent intervals between Hang-chow (the capital of
+the Che-kiang province, where the canal terminates in the waters of
+Hang-chow bay) and the city of Lin-tsing (where it joins a branch of the
+Pei-ho river and continues on for about 180 miles up to Pekin, the
+capital of China), the canal is no longer navigable, while the sluices,
+having become neglected, have broken down the raised embankment and
+flooded the surrounding country. This vast work was executed about 600
+years ago by Koblai Khan, the first Emperor of the Yuen or Mongol
+dynasty, as a means of supplying the sterile province of Chi-le (in
+which the capital is situated) from the rich and fertile provinces of
+Keang-su, Shang-tung, and Che-kiang, through which the canal is
+constructed.
+
+Not only the Grand Canal, but every other work of art, antiquity, and
+manufacture, has been injured and allowed to fall into decay by the
+Manchoo dynasty. Although the latter claim descent from the refugee
+Mongol Princes, who were expelled from China by the first of the native
+dynasty of Ming, A.D. 1366, they have done far less towards any
+advancement of the physical or moral prosperity of China. During the
+Mongol era many great works of public benefit and improvement were
+preserved and others created, but since the epoch of the Manchoo China
+has seriously deteriorated in every phase of her antique civilization.
+The Manchoo conquerors are self-evidently preying upon the nation at the
+present day, even although they have been in possession two hundred
+years, and exhibit not the slightest wish to improve or benefit the
+people, whom they only plunder. They seem to be actuated by the
+knowledge that their reign is but for a time, and consequently rule
+against freedom or improvement in order to make that time as long as
+possible. They have proved themselves to be unequalled destroyers, and
+have produced absolutely nothing. All Chinese of mind and education
+declare that the Manchoo dynasty cannot last; even the highest officials
+of the very Government itself have made the same observation to members
+of the last British Embassy to China. Had the Ti-pings not possessed
+Christianity, China would have risen to their standard as one man; had
+the revolution not seemed likely to interfere with British "indemnities"
+and opium trading, it would have succeeded; and had not England
+interfered, the wretchedness of China would have been relieved by the
+change of dynasty, the necessity for which becomes more apparent daily.
+
+The only advancement China has undergone during the Manchoo rule has
+been her rapid increase of population within the last century. For more
+than one hundred years after the conquest the depopulating effect
+continued in full force. Thousands of the Chinese emigrated to Formosa,
+Hae-nan, Thibet, Cochin-China, Ava, Siam, the territories of the
+Miau-tze, and other independent tribes; while many thousands fell by the
+sword, and a greater number perished by famine, the inevitable and most
+deadly companion of war in that densely populated and closely cultivated
+country. But since the Chinese have become used to the Tartar yoke,
+about the middle of the eighteenth century, the population has continued
+increasing at the Malthusian ratio of doubling every twenty-five years.
+Still this enormous increase is estimated to have simply restored to the
+land the number of people it maintained before the Manchoo invasion.
+This conclusion is formed from the most moderate data, but, as Malthus
+himself observes, "The more difficult as well as the more interesting
+part of the inquiry is to trace the immediate causes which stop its
+further progress." The loss of life by the Ti-ping revolution may be one
+cause, for it is a moot question whether war be not one of the ordained
+methods to arrest the pro-creative power. This, however, is a
+consideration for those who have made such theories their study. At all
+events it is certain that the great increase of the population of China
+has ceased, and it is palpable that, with already more than three
+hundred inhabitants on a square mile, the soil is unable to support any
+further multiplication of its children.
+
+The increase of the population of China seems another likely enemy of
+the continuance of the Manchoo dynasty. The ranks of the people having
+become full again, all the old hatred of the Tartar, his tail-wearing
+badge of servitude, extortion, monopoly of office, oppression, &c.,
+naturally assume a more formidable aspect. The means of livelihood are
+also more precarious, and the famine riots have become more frequent and
+threatening, the impoverished people of course turning against the
+Government whose extortion not a little helps to create their misery.
+The number of malcontents become continually increased, while the
+impotence and corruption of the Government, or rather the Manchoo
+subjugators, is daily more apparent to them.
+
+It is a singular fact that the Tartars have never amalgamated with the
+Chinese, and that at the present day, by their organization of the eight
+tribes of "Bannermen," they are as distinct as during the reign of their
+first Emperor. Manchoo troops of the "eight banners" garrison every
+important city in China, Manchoo officers hold every military command,
+but I never found a Chinaman who would admit relationship to one, or
+that did not feel himself insulted by the supposition.
+
+Whether the cause may be patriotism, famine, increase of population, or
+the extortion and oppression of the Government, certain it is that at
+this period[42] the Chinese are unusually disaffected towards their
+rulers, and that, besides the Ti-ping movement, there are distinct
+rebellions progressing in each of the eighteen provinces.
+
+The Manchoo Government is generally admitted to be hopelessly
+oppressive, cruel, and totally corrupt; it is also believed that they
+have, and by their system are compelled, to oppose Christianity and
+modern civilization. In the face of all these facts he must indeed be a
+very wise or a very foolish man who will either venture to believe that
+the Manchoo-Tartar dynasty can endure, or will wilfully criminate
+himself by upholding their cause. Most probably the British Government
+thought only of their own interests during their late interference, and
+it is at least doubtful whether a sincere mercenary motive or a sincere
+desire to perpetuate the Manchoo dynasty would have been the most
+wicked.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[40] The coffee of the morning watch (4 a.m. to 8 a.m.) has become so
+inveterate and cherished a custom that I have had a main-yard carried
+away in a sudden squall while rousing the men from the galley-fire and
+their hook-pots.
+
+[41] The immense volume of water composing the Yang-tze in the middle of
+summer must be incredible to those who have not seen it. In consequence
+of its great rise (some 35 feet) and strong current, villages and towns
+are always built upon high ground throughout the whole length of its
+course.
+
+[42] Commencement of the year 1865.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+    Ti-ping Revolution in 1861.--Official Correspondence.--Its
+    Review.--Professions of Neutrality.--How carried out.--Captain
+    Dew's Interpretation.--Ti-ping Remonstrance.--Cause of British
+    Hostility.--Mr. Bruce's Assertions.--Mr. Bruce's Second
+    Despatch.--Mr. Bruce's Difficulty.--His Inconsistency.--Despatch
+    No. 3.--Inconsistent Statements.--Ti-pings approach
+    Ningpo.--Interview with Ti-ping Chiefs.--Mr. Hewlett's Interview
+    with "Fang."--General Hwang's Despatch.--General "Fang's"
+    Despatch.--Capture of Ningpo.--British Intervention.--Ti-ping
+    Moderation.--Open Hostilities commenced.--Commander Bingham's
+    Despatch.--Taeping Reply.--Commander Bingham's Rejoinder.
+
+
+In order to form a just appreciation of the position of the Ti-ping
+revolution at the close of the year 1861, it becomes necessary to review
+briefly the political relations of each party engaged in it from the
+period of ratification of the Yang-tze expedition treaty of neutrality
+with the Ti-pings (by Admiral Hope), and the commencement of actual
+hostilities against them at the opening of the year 1862.
+
+By the following review of the official correspondence (as given in Blue
+Book form of "Papers relating to the Rebellion in China" for 1861) men
+of every party, partial or impartial, may form an opinion as to British
+policy in China.
+
+Exactly thirty-six days after his solemn pledges of
+non-intervention--given in accordance with his instructions from Lord
+Elgin--to the Ti-ping authorities, at their capital, Admiral Hope, upon
+hearing of the capture of Chapoo, penned the following orders, dated
+H.M.S. _Scout_, Nagasaki, May 8, to Captain Dew, H.M.S. _Encounter_:--
+
+    "You are further to put yourself in communication with the
+    leader of the rebel forces, and to point out to him that the
+    capture and destruction of the town of Ningpo would be extremely
+    injurious to British trade, and that of foreigners generally,
+    and, therefore, that you require him to desist from all hostile
+    proceedings against the town, and, without committing yourself
+    to the necessity of having recourse to force, you will remind
+    him of what took place last year at Shanghae, and the
+    impossibility of his capturing the place should you find
+    yourself compelled to assist in its defence, a course, you will
+    add, you are unwilling to adopt, as placing you in a hostile
+    position in regard to the Taepings generally, _with whom we have
+    no wish to quarrel_."
+
+In this despatch the Admiral states he has no "wish to quarrel" with the
+Ti-pings, yet, in violation of his own pledges, and his orders to
+"maintain an attitude of _strict neutrality_," he constitutes himself
+dictator over their operations--operations unavoidable during their
+expulsion of the Manchoos, and essential to their self-preservation,
+general interests, and military honour--and interferes between the
+belligerents and their natural rights; and then continues as follows:--
+
+    "You will further, immediately on your arrival at Ningpo, place
+    yourself in communication with the Chinese authorities for the
+    purpose of ascertaining what their means of resistance are, and
+    the probabilities of their proving successful; and should you
+    find them amenable to advice, you will point out to them such
+    measures as circumstances may render expedient, _and you will
+    place every obstruction in the way of the capture of the town by
+    the rebels_...."
+
+At this time not only was British national faith pledged to a neutral
+course, but the Admiral's actions were diametrically opposed to his
+instructions.
+
+Mr. Bruce, writing some time previously to Lord Russell upon this
+subject, in a despatch dated Tien-tsin, January 3, 1861, states:--
+
+    "But I have directed Mr. Sinclair" (Consul at Ningpo) "not to
+    undertake the defence of the city, and _to confine his efforts_,
+    should it be attacked, to a _mediation_, which may save the
+    place from being the scene of pillage and massacre."
+
+In a despatch to Admiral Hope, upon the same affair, Mr. Bruce writes:--
+
+    "I do not consider myself authorized to protect the town of
+    Ningpo from the insurgents...."
+
+In his instructions to the consul at Ningpo, Mr. Bruce stated:--
+
+    "But I do not consider myself authorized to afford any military
+    protection to the town of Ningpo, or to take any active measures
+    against the insurgents.... Your language should be, _that we
+    take no part_ in this civil contest, but that we claim exemption
+    from injury and annoyance at the hands of both parties...."
+
+These _professions_ of neutrality received the following sanction from
+the British Government:--
+
+    LORD J. RUSSELL TO MR. BRUCE.
+    "Foreign Office, March 28, 1861.
+
+    "Sir,--Her Majesty's Government approve the instructions which
+    you gave to Mr. Consul Sinclair, as reported in your dispatch of
+    the 3rd of January last, with reference to the probability of
+    the rebel forces attacking Ningpo.
+
+    "I am, &c.,
+    (Signed) "J. RUSSELL."
+
+How, then, can Admiral Hope's offering "every obstruction in the way of
+the capture" of Ningpo by the Ti-pings be accounted for, otherwise than
+as the result of secret instructions from the British Government; for it
+would indeed be preposterous to imagine that the Admiral dared act in
+direct opposition to the public orders, or that, having done so, his
+disobedience would have received the unqualified approval his "every
+obstruction" policy did.
+
+Admiral Hope, in a despatch to Mr. Bruce, of the same date as the "every
+obstruction" one, in detailing his plan, wrote:--
+
+    "There can be no doubt of the importance of Ningpo to _our
+    trade_ under existing circumstances, and should you therefore
+    find it expedient to sanction forcible interference for its
+    security, I request you will communicate with Captain Dew
+    direct...."
+
+By this it appears that a British Admiral would have felt himself
+justified in considering his Government's orders, his own pledges, and
+the national honour, secondary in consequence to the temporary
+advantages arising from "our trade." Lord Russell, upon receipt of the
+Admiral's "every obstruction" despatch, instructed Mr. Bruce as
+follows:--
+
+    "I have received ... a copy of Vice-Admiral Hope's letter to you
+    of the 8th May, respecting the measures adopted by him for the
+    defence of Ningpo.... I have caused the Admiralty to be
+    informed, in reply, that I am of opinion that Vice-Admiral
+    Hope's measures should be approved.... You will understand,
+    however, that Her Majesty's Government _do not wish force to be
+    used against the rebels in any case except for the actual
+    protection of the lives and property of British subjects_."
+
+Professions of neutrality are here reiterated, although at the same time
+the Admiral's hostile policy is approved of. Meanwhile, in the face of
+these plain orders to "observe neutrality," Admiral Hope thus addressed
+the Ti-ping chief in command of Chapoo:--
+
+    "The following communication from Vice-Admiral Sir James Hope,
+    K.C.B., commanding the naval forces of Great Britain in China,
+    is made to the General commanding the Taeping troops at
+    Chapoo:--
+
+    "1. I have been informed that the troops under your orders have
+    lately captured the town of Chapoo, and that there is an
+    intention on their part of advancing on Ningpo.
+
+    "2. As the capture of Ningpo would be extremely injurious to
+    British _trade_, and that of foreigners generally, I beg you to
+    desist from advancing on that town within a distance of two
+    marches.
+
+    "3. Should these my wishes be disregarded, and I sincerely trust
+    they may not be, as it would be with deep regret that I should
+    place my forces in a hostile position towards the Taepings,
+    _with whom we wish to maintain amicable relations_, I may be
+    compelled to assist in the defence of Ningpo, and in that case I
+    need hardly point out to you the hopelessness of success on your
+    part, whilst what occurred at Shanghae last year is still fresh
+    in your memories.
+
+    (Signed) "R. DEW, Captain.
+    "_Encounter_, June 11, 1861."
+
+In this despatch the Ti-ping general is insulted by menace; an unmanly
+reference is made to Shanghae; a hostile attitude is threatened if the
+Ti-pings capture cities the possession of which is most essential to the
+success of their cause--and yet, withal, a wish "to maintain amicable
+relations" is professed!
+
+Upon the 8th August, 1861, after the singular interpretation of
+neutrality by his subordinates and Admiral Hope, Earl Russell indited
+the following order to Mr. Bruce:--
+
+    "Her Majesty's Government desire to maintain, as they have done
+    hitherto, neutrality between the two contending parties in
+    China. If British subjects are taken prisoners by either party,
+    you should do your utmost to save them from torture or capital
+    punishment, but otherwise you should _abstain from all
+    interference in the civil war_."[43]
+
+When the massacre before Shanghae, in 1860, is remembered, when the
+subsequent approval of Admiral Hope's hostile intentions is considered,
+and when the various modes in which our pledges of neutrality were
+indirectly violated are counted, this despatch will require no comment.
+
+In fulfilment of the desire (to maintain neutrality, "_as they have done
+hitherto_," upon the part) of his Government, Captain Dew gave all the
+assistance he possibly could to the Manchoo defenders of Ningpo; besides
+framing eight plans[44] for the defence of the city against the
+Ti-pings; according to Mr. Bruce:--
+
+    "He fitted twelve heavy guns with carriages, &c., to mount on
+    the walls."
+
+Again, in the same despatch,[45] Mr. Bruce states:--
+
+    "Captain Dew had gone farther, than he was strictly warranted in
+    doing, in his desire to save the city of Ningpo...."
+
+We are forced to believe this fitting of heavy guns, and defence of
+Chinese cities, a part of the neutrality Her Majesty's Government had
+"hitherto" maintained, and in their opinion a true interpretation of
+this order, "that excepting intercession for British prisoners our
+authorities should abstain from _all_ interference in the civil war!"
+
+Captain Dew's next interpretation of this order took the form of a
+buccaneering exploit against the Ti-ping custom-houses. Upon the
+occupation of the country between the silk districts and Shanghae by the
+Ti-pings, Europeans were sent in charge of the silk boats plying on the
+inland waters, one being placed with each valuable boat load, in order
+to pass it through the Ti-ping territory as foreign property. Consul
+Medhurst, in a despatch to Captain Dew,[46] writes:--
+
+    "The consequence is, that foreign escorts go inland without
+    passports, and a number of irresponsible seamen are introduced
+    into the country ... the result of this state of things cannot
+    be good.... The _principal_ danger to be feared by persons
+    sending up country arises, not so much from the acts of the
+    rebels themselves, as from the squeezing and plundering
+    propensities of the _Imperialist forces_, and from the pilfering
+    attacks of lawless peasantry.... Both kinds of marauders might
+    be kept in good check through visits made periodically by Her
+    Majesty's gun-boats.... If you approve of this scheme, I would
+    suggest your sending a gun-boat up in the course of the next few
+    days...."
+
+Captain Dew having approved the "scheme," we will proceed to notice what
+he did. Instead of paying attention to "both kinds of marauders" pointed
+out by Consul Medhurst as the "principal danger," the Captain, towards
+the middle of June, as stated in _The Friend of China_, employed himself
+about the following piratical outrage:--
+
+    "Sixteen boats freighted with bales of silks and cocoons, with
+    some Europeans in charge of them, and belonging to European
+    firms in Shanghae, were passing a Taeping custom-house at
+    Loo-chee, some distance up the Shanghae or Wong-poo river. They
+    were brought to, and a small duty of four dollars per bale of
+    silk was demanded. The boats belonging to two of the firms paid
+    the duty and proceeded on their voyage, but the person in charge
+    of the boats belonging to Messrs. Adamson & Co., of Shanghae,
+    refused to pay it, and he was then told he could not proceed
+    until the duty was paid, and the boat and bales of silk were
+    consequently taken possession of. This was construed into an act
+    of 'atrocious piracy,' and the _Flamer_ and Captain Dew went to
+    Loo-chee to demand restitution. Explanations were given by the
+    Taeping Governor of the district, but they were unavailing; the
+    unqualified restoration of the silk was insisted on under a
+    threat of bombardment; the boats and bales of silk were
+    therefore surrendered to Captain Dew, but as some small arms
+    were missing, Captain Dew took possession of the guns of the
+    custom-house, and seized some customs' police, and took them
+    away with him to be detained until the arms missing from the
+    boat should have been returned. The letter written by the
+    Governor of the district, named Wan, to the authorities of
+    Shanghae, consequent upon this outrage, is dignified and
+    forbearing, and it were well for us to act in the spirit it
+    manifests. The above are only examples of our professed
+    neutrality; many others, however, have occurred."
+
+The following are extracts from the letter written upon the subject by
+the Ti-ping chief, Wan:--
+
+    "I find on inquiry, that the silk, &c., lost by your merchant,
+    was seized in lieu of duties, in consequence of an attempt on
+    his part to get by the custom-house and _evade_ payment of
+    duties, on which he was arrested, and your charge, therefore,
+    that he was plundered, is utterly without foundation.
+
+    "The Truly Sacred Lord who has established the Divine Dynasty,
+    has also _established custom-houses wherever the country is
+    quiet_, and by his law all merchants who pass these must pay the
+    _regular duties_, and your merchant _in daring to force his way
+    through and evade the payment of customs, and you_ in coming
+    here and making a disturbance _and squeezing the money back_,
+    have behaved in a manner at utter variance with propriety....
+
+    "A special communication."
+
+Meanwhile, Mr. Bruce, the chief diplomatist, unable to justify this
+increasing aggression otherwise, fiercely assailed the Ti-ping theology
+and civil administration. In a despatch to Lord Russell, dated at
+"Pekin, June 23, 1861,"[47] he takes upon himself to state (supremely
+indifferent to, or rather ignoring, the valuable testimony of the Revs.
+Griffith, John, Edkins, Medhurst, Muirhead, Legge, &c.):--
+
+    "The evidence of _all_ classes of observers seems unanimous,
+    both as to the destructive nature of the insurrection, and as to
+    the blasphemous and immoral character of the superstition on
+    which it is based."
+
+Does Mr. Bruce and those who agree with him, venture to term _our_ Bible
+the so-called "blasphemous and immoral superstition?"--for on that, and
+that alone, is the Ti-ping faith established. The following extracts
+from the same dispatch, and two others, having been approved by Her
+Majesty's Government, contain a complete key to the course taken against
+the Ti-pings, and lay bare a policy deduced from false premises, and
+founded upon utter violation of principle. The three despatches under
+consideration consist of--1. Mr. Bruce to Lord Russell, June 23, 1861;
+2. Mr. Bruce to Vice-Admiral Sir J. Hope, Pekin, June 16; 3.
+Vice-Admiral Sir J. Hope's reply to Mr. Bruce, dated, _Imperieuse_,
+Hong-kong, July 11.--Dispatch No. 1 states:--
+
+    "In the enclosed letter to Sir James Hope, to which I beg to
+    draw your Lordship's attention, I have stated at length the
+    dangers to which the progress of the insurrection exposes
+    British interests in China.... Our permanent interests are those
+    of _trade_, the prosperity of which is linked with order and
+    tranquillity. We have, in addition, a _temporary interest
+    arising out of the indemnities_ payable from the custom-house
+    revenue, which is, however, intimately linked with the former.
+
+    "What is to become of these interests if the ports fall into the
+    hands of the rebels?"
+
+Here we have the true cause of British hostility to the Ti-pings. Not
+that our Government feared the trading "interests" would suffer if the
+Ti-pings captured the treaty ports--by no means; but they dreaded the
+certain loss of the "temporary interest arising out of the indemnities."
+They knew full well, as a quotation from dispatch No. 3 will prove, the
+Ti-pings had never injured our trade; that although the capture of the
+ports _might_ cause a temporary stagnation, those who would take them
+came as their "brothers" in Christ, and ultimately would have
+established a free and general commerce throughout the country; but
+they also knew that the success of the Ti-pings would imperil their
+existence, by stopping the indemnification for the last unnecessary and
+aggressive war with China, and by sweeping away the immense revenue
+derived from the vile opium traffic.
+
+In the same despatch, Mr. Bruce, with his usual acumen, winds up his
+syllogism of fallacious assertions--"The nature of the insurrection is
+destructive" and its religion "blasphemous and immoral;" the
+insurrectionists are able to capture the Imperial cities, therefore, the
+"commercial prosperity" of the treaty ports and the "temporary
+interests" would be destroyed by the success of the Ti-pings--in the
+following words:--
+
+    "The motives of the far larger part of the force are, I
+    apprehend, a desire to live on the spoils of the rich and
+    industrious, to carry off women, and to lead a life of alternate
+    adventure and licence, with little feeling for the Taeping
+    cause.... I see, therefore, little hopes of communities like
+    those of Shanghae and Ningpo escaping destruction.... The
+    commercial prosperity of the ports would receive a fatal
+    blow.... The proceeds of the custom-houses would fall off, and
+    nothing but force would enable us to receive the proportion of
+    duties we are entitled to" (the indemnities) "under the
+    convention of Pekin, out of their diminished receipts."
+
+Now, I submit, these forebodings with regard to the indemnity having
+been verified by the capture of Ningpo and the rapid success of the
+Ti-pings, led to the participation of England in the Chinese internecine
+war. If Mr. Bruce, by the above-quoted statements, intended to advise
+his Government to assist the Imperialists--and they cannot admit of any
+other interpretation--how can that distinguished and consistent
+statesman reconcile them with his strong disapproval of any such policy
+expressed only a few months before, and which I have already quoted in a
+previous chapter:--
+
+    "No course could be so well calculated to lower our national
+    reputation, as to lend our material support to a Government the
+    corruption of whose authorities is only checked by its
+    weakness."
+
+Mr. Bruce first states, the worst possible policy England could choose
+would be to interfere against the Ti-pings; and then he declares, if we
+do not interfere, "that nothing but force would enable us to receive"
+indemnities and enjoy trade. The _present_ British Government has
+thought fit to adopt the suicidal course pointed out by Mr. Bruce, and
+now it has experienced the fact that "no course could be so well
+calculated to lower our national reputation." The last testimony of Mr.,
+or rather, Sir F. Bruce; of Mr. Lay, C.B., late Inspector-General of
+Chinese Customs; of Captain Sherrard Osborne, R.N., late Admiral of the
+so-called Anglo-Chinese flotilla; and of all who have the least
+opportunity of knowing anything about the subject, unite in confessing
+the evil of the past policy exercised towards the Ti-pings, and state
+that the Manchoo Government, despite the fact that it owes its very
+existence to the help of the British, has thoroughly returned to its
+exclusiveness, its evasion of treaty obligations, and its hatred of the
+"outer-barbarians" who have saved it from extinction.
+
+We will now proceed to notice despatch No. 2, addressed by Mr. Bruce to
+Admiral Hope, which affords further proof of the false principles on
+which British interference was founded:--
+
+    "The Government will soon be in possession of the accounts ...
+    of the agreement entered into by the rebels not to attack
+    Shanghae for a _twelvemonth_, and of the corresponding assurance
+    that, _if we are not molested in trading up the river_, our
+    _desire_ and _intention_ are to remain _neutral_ in the civil
+    contest now in progress in China....
+
+    "Her Majesty's Government will probably abstain from rendering
+    active assistance _at present_ to the Imperial Government, both
+    on account of the assurances of neutrality we have given to the
+    insurgents, and on account of the serious and indefinite
+    consequences to which any such intervention would in all
+    probability lead."
+
+The signification of the "at present" will be seen upon perusal of the
+following paragraph, which exactly describes the plan very shortly
+adopted by the British Government, in direct violation of those
+"assurances of neutrality we have given to the insurgents":--
+
+    "Another course is open to consideration, namely, that of taking
+    the open ports or the principal ones under our protection and
+    safeguard, and declaring that we will repel by force any attack
+    upon them by the insurgents. _Considering that by treaty we have
+    an interest in the revenue derived at these ports from trade,
+    and that this, the only source of our indemnities, would be
+    materially diminished, if not altogether destroyed_, should they
+    be assaulted and captured ... I think it may be urged, with
+    truth, in justification of such a course, that it affords the
+    best means of protecting our interests.... But this course is
+    not unattended with difficulty. The insurgents would naturally
+    object, that in leaving the revenue and administration of these
+    places in Imperial hands, we do in reality assist the
+    Imperialists."
+
+This conclusion is correct; for, so impossible was it to usurp the
+treaty ports and not "in reality assist the Imperialists," that the mask
+was thrown off by openly making war upon the Ti-pings. The only
+"difficulty" to allude to, which indeed is really almost creditable to
+the conscience of Mr. Bruce, was the fact that England was pledged to
+the opposite policy; but it must be remembered that the only tie which
+bound her to carry out that policy was one of justice and honour, while
+strong temptations to its violation were in existence; also, that it is
+not the lot of every minister to be able to discern how the commercial
+interests of his country may be best provided for.
+
+    "To this we should reply that we exercise the legitimate right
+    of self-defence in protecting our own interests, and that if in
+    doing so we are obliged to limit the belligerent _rights_ of the
+    insurgents, _the cause_ is to be found in the ruthless nature of
+    the war they wage."
+
+This excuse is the principal one given by the British Ministry to
+justify its breach of faith; but "the cause" must, from what has already
+been stated, be regarded as utterly false.
+
+But, should we for a moment admit the hypothetical "ruthless nature of
+the war they wage," by what right were we "obliged to limit the
+belligerent rights of the insurgents," when it is universally admitted
+that the Imperialists are quite as ruthless, if not more so? Moreover,
+did the British Government attempt to limit the belligerent rights of
+either North or South in America? yet the one was ruthless enough, and
+the cotton trade was injured. Unscrupulous persons who would justify the
+destruction of semi-civilized people, when it can be done with impunity,
+may say these cases are not parallel; nevertheless, the only difference
+is, that with America we have treaties allowing Englishmen to settle and
+trade everywhere, while in China the treaty limits the settling and
+trading to certain parts. The principle of non-intervention applies
+quite as strongly to the one nation as the other; moreover, the Ti-pings
+never did, or would have attempted to, blockade the trade of any port at
+which Europeans were settled. Did either belligerent so far study
+foreign interests in America?
+
+To resume our review of despatch No. 2, Mr. Bruce continues:--
+
+    "The Government would, no doubt, wish to hear from you whether
+    Nankin could be attacked with success by a purely naval force."
+    ...
+
+After deprecating any partial hostilities against the Ti-pings, the
+despatch continues:--
+
+    "And on the other hand, we should lose a favourable opportunity
+    of placing our relations with the Emperor on a satisfactory
+    footing, if we were deprived by some incidental event of the
+    power of making our aid _a matter of bargain_ with the Imperial
+    Government.... The longer we are able to preserve an indifferent
+    attitude between the two parties, the more inclined they will be
+    to _bid higher_ for our friendship and support."
+
+What an accomplished frequenter of the Rialto the author of these
+creditable sentences would have made! This despatch was written on the
+16th June, 1861; within seven months open hostilities were initiated
+against the Ti-pings by Admiral Hope, in direct violation of his
+Government's existing orders to maintain neutrality; and within nine
+months the British Government adopted the policy "of taking the open
+ports under our protection," and violated all pledges of neutrality by
+prosecuting a regular, though never openly declared, war upon the
+insurgents.
+
+The following are the most important passages from despatch No. 3. They
+plainly state that our "commercial interests" would _not_ suffer from
+the acts of the rebels, and that trade was _not_ injured by them,
+although completely in their power.
+
+After disapproving of any attack upon Nankin, Admiral Hope states:--
+
+    "The Taeping authorities will be open to easy access by us so
+    long as Nankin remains the seat of Government; and from such
+    experience as our short intercourse has afforded, I see a fair
+    prospect of our acquiring sufficient influence with them to
+    enable us to carry _all points which are essential to our
+    commercial interests_, even to that of eventual abstinence from
+    molesting the consular ports.
+
+    "It is further clear that we cannot afford to quarrel with them,
+    as _at any moment they might stop the whole trade of Shanghae_,
+    at this time by far the largest portion of that from China."
+
+Nothing can be more to the point than this admission that the Ti-pings
+did not injuriously affect our trading interests; but the opium traffic
+and indemnities _were_ threatened, and to save them the treaty ports
+were held against the victorious patriots.
+
+In his reply to the three despatches quoted from, Earl Russell wrote:--
+
+    "I have to state to you that Her Majesty's Government agree with
+    Admiral Hope in regarding an attack on Nankin as highly
+    impolitic, but it _might_ be expedient to defend the treaty
+    ports _if_ the Chinese" (Manchoos) "would consent not to use
+    those ports for purposes of aggression."
+
+It will thus be seen Lord Russell did not authorize the defence of the
+treaty ports even "_if_ the Chinese (Manchoos) would consent not to use
+those ports for purposes of aggression," as he indefinitely states that
+in event of such action upon the part of the Manchoo Government, "it
+_might_ be expedient to defend" them. Yet, although even this ambiguous
+suggestion could not become an absolute order in the absence of the
+fulfilment of the condition precedent, the British authorities in China
+acted as though Lord Russell had imperatively _ordered_ the military
+occupation of the ports, upon the proviso having been agreed to by the
+Imperial belligerent; and it was not till _after_ the open violation of
+the oft-guaranteed neutrality by the commencement of systematic
+hostilities against the Ti-pings, that the Foreign Secretary publicly
+authorized the proceedings.
+
+Admiral Hope declared "all points" could be carried with the Ti-pings,
+even regarding their avoidance of the treaty ports, "_essential_ to our
+commercial interests." Most undoubtedly he was correct. The Ti-pings
+never injured the trade, and would have abstained from molesting the
+treaty ports had they been made neutral; but the ports having become the
+principal depots of the enemy, naturally compelled them to endeavour to
+obtain possession of them.
+
+When the agreement or treaty of neutrality was made with the Ti-ping
+authorities by the leaders of the British expedition opening up the
+Yang-tze to trade, Mr. Parkes reported:--
+
+    "They wished to know, however, in which way the Admiral would
+    use his influence to prevent their being attacked by the
+    Imperialists from Shanghae; and whether one of their officers
+    would be allowed to visit Shanghae, to learn what arrangements
+    were made in this respect."
+
+No such arrangements ever were made, although upon that _condition_ had
+the Ti-pings consented to refrain from capturing Shanghae for "one
+year." When at length they were driven to attack the very citadel of the
+enemy, they truthfully gave this reason:--
+
+    "If there were no impish (Manchoo) forces at Shanghae and
+    Woo-sung, the Chung-wang and She-wang would certainly not think
+    of sending their troops to take those places."
+
+Upon July 28, the British Consul at Shanghae wrote to Mr. Bruce:--
+
+    "The Imperialist authority does not extend beyond a circuit of
+    from fifty to sixty miles from Shanghae, and I see no reason
+    whatever to suppose that they will ever be able to drive the
+    rebels beyond that limit.... The presence of foreign forces in
+    this city alone saves its authorities from summary ejection.
+    But, if the rebels were allowed to take possession, the country
+    in our immediate vicinity would at once lapse into the wretched
+    state of anarchy which exists beyond the rebel lines; the native
+    population would inevitably disappear, property would miserably
+    deteriorate." ...
+
+Mr. Bruce, in his notice of this despatch to Lord Russell, states:--
+
+    "Your Lordship will observe that he states that the capture of
+    Shanghae would be fatal to the commercial prosperity of the
+    port. To me it is rather a matter of surprise that trade should
+    continue at all.... The export of silk between June 1860 and
+    June 1861 has, in spite of these disadvantages, amounted to
+    85,000 bales."
+
+Directly after this we find Mr. Bruce bearing testimony that Ti-ping
+"success in any locality is attended with its total _destruction_!"
+Admiral Hope admitted that the insurgents had the Shanghae trade, "by
+far the largest portion of that from China," entirely in their power,
+but did _not_ stop it; Mr. Medhurst (Shanghae Consul) declared the whole
+country within "fifty to sixty miles" was under Ti-ping jurisdiction;
+and Mr. Bruce notices the large export of silk from the districts where
+silk, he states, meets with "total destruction"! Now, common sense may
+inquire whether this totally destroyed country, "wretched state of
+anarchy," "native population that inevitably disappeared," and "property
+that miserably deteriorated," could have managed to produce 88,112 bales
+of silk in the year 1861? This, with only one exception, was the largest
+amount _ever_ exported from China in one year. The silk districts were
+entirely in the possession of the Ti-pings, and every bale had passed
+through their hands. A reference to the table of statistics[48] will
+convince the most sceptical that the Ti-pings actually _increased_ the
+valuable trade, but that since their expulsion from the silk districts,
+the produce and exportation of that article _has fallen off more than
+one half_.
+
+There is another matter to be considered with regard to the political
+morality of Mr. Bruce. At the beginning of the year 1861 he officially
+stated:--
+
+    "It does not appear to me necessary to take any part in this
+    conflict; but our material interests at Shanghae justify us in
+    insisting on its being exempted from attack _until_ the
+    insurgents have sufficiently established their superiority to
+    enable us to consider the contest as respects that part of China
+    at an end. In that case, the population of the town will be
+    quite ready to acknowledge the new power, and the authority of
+    the Mandarins will fall without a blow."
+
+Yet, when, according to the extracts from the despatch of Consul
+Medhurst, this "_until_" had arrived by the complete establishment of
+the Ti-ping superiority, Mr. Bruce singularly enough forgets his
+declaration of only a few months previous.
+
+The Ti-pings at length, after successively capturing the important
+cities of Shou-shing, Fung-wha, Yue-yaou, and Tsze-kee, came in contact
+with the British authorities at Ningpo. Having occupied every part of
+the Che-kiang and Kiang-su provinces, to the south of the Yang-tze, with
+the exception of the three treaty ports, Shanghae, Ningpo, and
+Chin-kiang, the Ti-pings, both to preserve their conquests and prosecute
+their cause, were obliged to advance upon those cities, which had become
+the strongholds of the enemy. Upon their approach to Ningpo, a
+conference was held by the representatives of Great Britain, France, and
+the United States. The official report of this meeting states:--
+
+    "It has been decided that the undersigned[49] shall proceed this
+    day (28th Nov.), on board Her Majesty's gun-boat _Kestrel_, to
+    the rebel head-quarters ... and having obtained an interview
+    with the insurgent leaders, shall convey to them verbally, as
+    well as in writing, the following message:--
+
+    "'1. That the undersigned take _no part_ in this civil contest,
+    but that they claim exemption from injury and annoyance at the
+    hands of both parties." ...
+
+This fresh pledge of neutrality, together with three other clauses
+respecting the forthcoming occupation of Ningpo, the foreign settlement,
+and the lives and property of the European residents, was given to the
+Ti-ping generals at Yue-yaou and Fung-wha. Nothing could have been more
+satisfactory than the result of this communication. The following are
+extracts from the account given by Mr. Hewlett (Consular Interpreter) of
+the interview with the Ti-ping chiefs:--
+
+    "We at once informed Hwang (Commanding-General at Yue-yaou) of
+    the object of our visit," to which "he gave his unqualified
+    assent, 'although,' he added, 'in the event of the Mandarins
+    resisting, and of my having to attack Ningpo, I cannot be
+    responsible for the lives of any of your countrymen who may
+    remain inside the city. Otherwise, I will do all I can to
+    prevent their being molested, and will at once behead any of my
+    followers who dare to offer them any annoyance.'
+
+    "He assured us that his desire was to keep well with foreigners,
+    with whom _he was anxious to open trade_; spoke of us as
+    worshippers of the same God and the same Jesus as themselves,
+    and denominated us--'Wai-hsiung-te'--_their foreign brothers_.
+
+    "He seemed to entertain no doubt whatever of being successful in
+    his attack on Ningpo.
+
+    "Eager inquiries were made on all sides for foreign firearms, of
+    which they seem to have but few--a want that would be
+    sufficiently felt were they ever to come in contact with troops
+    courageous enough to stand against them."
+
+This paragraph may fairly account for the successes afterwards gained
+over the ill-armed Ti-pings by Major Gordon's and other troops, well
+provided with British artillery, shell, rifles, &c., &c.
+
+    "As far as human life is concerned, the rebels, at the capture
+    of Yue-yaou, appear to have used their opportunity with
+    forbearance; we saw but few dead bodies, and of those some, as
+    we were informed, _were their own men who had been caught
+    plundering and burning_.
+
+    "Hwang having informed us that another body of troops, also
+    under the She-wang's orders, and commanded by one Fang, a
+    general of equal rank with himself, was advancing on Ningpo from
+    the Fung-wha, or south-west side, we proceeded up that branch of
+    the river early on Monday morning, the 2nd instant, and found
+    the said insurgents encamped at a place called Pih-too, but ten
+    miles from Ningpo."
+
+The following account of Mr. Hewlett's interview with Fang is worthy of
+the best attention, proving, as it does, the earnest desire of the poor
+Ti-pings to be on terms of friendship, even brotherhood, with all the
+nations of their "foreign brethren;" and that _any reasonable_ wish of
+the British authorities would have been complied with.
+
+    "We at once went ashore, and put ourselves in communication with
+    the leader, Fang, a man of only 25 years of age, and a native of
+    Kwang-se. We hastened to represent to him the serious injury to
+    trade that must ensue on the capture of Ningpo by his forces,
+    and the consequent loss that would accrue to foreign interests,
+    besides the danger, in reality no slight one, to foreign life
+    and property, to be apprehended both from the lawless characters
+    in his own ranks, and equally so from the bands of unruly
+    Cantonese and Chin-chew men at Ningpo, ever on the look-out for
+    an opportunity of indiscriminate plunder. We ended by eagerly
+    dissuading him from advancing on Ningpo.
+
+    "To our two objections Fang replied by assuring us that his
+    party were most anxious to keep well with foreigners, who,
+    indeed, were no other than their brothers, inasmuch as both
+    worshipped one God and one Jesus; and that as for trade, that
+    would be allowed to go on as formerly, while he begged us to
+    feel quite at ease as to the persons and property of our
+    countrymen, any molestation shown to whom would be followed by
+    instant decapitation. _Their object being the overthrow of the
+    present dynasty, they could not allow Ningpo to remain in the
+    hands of the Imperialists._
+
+    "It was with difficulty that we succeeded in persuading Fang to
+    delay his attack on Ningpo for one week; another day, he said,
+    was to have seen him there, had we not interposed.
+
+    "One could not help feeling struck with the earnestness and
+    apparent sincerity of this young leader. Whilst alive to the
+    dangers attending the cause in which he was engaged, he seemed
+    to be confident that the support of Heaven would carry them
+    through all their difficulties, and that, so aided, they must
+    prevail. He told us that nearly the whole province was in their
+    hands, or would be before long, and that Hang-chow, the
+    provincial capital, would fall, 'as soon as Heaven should see
+    fit to give it into their hands.'"
+
+The General Hwang gave the following reply to the communication of the
+foreign representatives, which, together with Fang's, fairly expresses
+the aim and feeling of the Ti-ping Government:--
+
+    "HWANG, TAI-PING LEADER AT YU-YAOU, TO CONSUL HARVEY."
+
+    "Hwang, a noble of the rank of E,[50] with the praenomen 'Paon
+    teen' ('Precious Heavenly'), and Commander-in-Chief of the chief
+    army of his Highness Prince[51] Tsung, who is of the Royal
+    body-guard in the capital of the Heavenly Dynasty, which is the
+    dynasty patented under the true Divine Commission as the
+    Heavenly Kingdom of Universal Peace, addresses an official
+    communication to F. Harvey, Esq., Her Majesty's Consul; W.
+    Breck, Esq., United States Consul; Lieutenant H. Huxham, Royal
+    Navy; Captain L. Obry, His Imperial Majesty's Navy, in reference
+    to the interview held (this day) for the purpose of deliberating
+    on the maintenance of friendly relations between the respective
+    countries.
+
+    "From the foundations of the heavens and the earth, the world
+    has been divided into the central kingdom, China, and the
+    external kingdoms, foreign countries. Each kingdom, whether
+    China or those of foreign countries, has been ruled over by men
+    of its own nation. (This has been the universal practice.)
+
+    "But in the time of the Ming dynasty the Tartar imps, originally
+    serfs from beyond the northern frontier, stole into China, and
+    usurped the emblems of royalty [_lit._, seized upon the divine
+    materials], making unclean and polluting the land to a degree
+    that no tongue can tell of [_lit._, to a degree difficult for
+    the fingers to reckon].
+
+    "Even till now, and during a period of more than 200 years, have
+    they been going on in their wickedness, until at last their cup
+    of iniquity is filled to the overflowing.
+
+    "At these their sins the Heavenly Father being exceeding wroth
+    [_lit._, his anger was as an earthquake], would have destroyed
+    the world; then Jesus, the Heavenly Elder Brother, out of his
+    mercy and lovingkindness towards mankind, sent down the true and
+    holy Lord, the Heavenly King, to wash out the stains of the
+    northern serfs, and to set up anew the house of Han [_i.e._, to
+    re-establish a purely native dynasty].
+
+    "These, then, are the times of changing the dynasty, and of
+    reforming the kingdom prescribed by Heaven and submitted to by
+    man.
+
+    "The command of the valiant troops of this great army has been
+    conferred upon me by royal commission, with the allotted task of
+    rooting out of the earth all that is unholy [_lit._, of
+    destroying in the east and exterminating in the west, part of a
+    complete sentence, signifying a thorough eradication of evil
+    from all the four quarters of the globe], and of visiting on the
+    heads of their rulers the afflictions of the people.
+
+    "The highest object of my mission is none other than the
+    foundation and establishment of the dynasty; subordinate to
+    that, my aim is the welfare of the people [_lit._, the
+    black-haired multitudes], that I may weed out from among them
+    those that oppress, and give peace to such as are true of heart.
+
+    "Hence it is that throughout the whole of my onward course
+    'there were none' (as it is written) 'that came not forth with
+    meat and drink to welcome the soldiers of the King.'[52]
+
+    "Our great army having at this time invaded the province of
+    Che-kiang, and the representatives of your several countries,
+    stationed at Ningpo, having come this day to my head-quarters at
+    Yue-yaou, to deliberate about maintaining amicable relations with
+    us, on the understanding of mutual non-interference, and having
+    requested me to order my troops to abstain, on their arrival at
+    Ningpo, from injuring the persons or property of your respective
+    countrymen at that place, I hereby promise to issue the above
+    orders to my troops, and to command them to respect the terms of
+    the agreement.
+
+    "In case any of my troops should dare, contrary to my orders, to
+    molest any of your countrymen or to injure their property, I
+    will, on your arresting and handing over to me the offender, at
+    once behead him.
+
+    "In the same way, if any of the subjects of your respective
+    countries should, contrary to your orders, take upon themselves
+    to assist the imps in repelling our advance, you will in your
+    turn direct them to refrain from so doing.
+
+    "From and after this date the friendly arrangement now agreed
+    upon is to be binding on both parties.
+
+    "Sincerely trusting that you will not allow yourselves to feel
+    anxious about this matter, and with wishes for your good health,
+    I beg to forward this special communication.
+
+    "19th day of the 10th month of the 11th ('Sin-yew') year of the
+    Heavenly Kingdom of Universal Peace" [November 29, 1861].
+
+The General Fang gave the following answer:--
+
+    "FANG, TAI-PING LEADER AT FUNG-HWA, TO CONSUL HARVEY.
+
+    "Fang, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, charged with the
+    reduction of the disobedient, and a member of the Royal
+    body-guard in the capital of the Heavenly Dynasty, &c., in
+    official reply to F. Harvey, Esq., Her Majesty's Consul; W.
+    Breck, Esq., United States Consul; Lieutenant H. Huxham, R.N.;
+    Captain L. Obry, His Imperial Majesty's Navy, requesting them to
+    set their minds at rest.
+
+    "The Almighty God, the Supreme Lord, the Heavenly Father, and
+    Jesus the Heavenly Elder Brother, sent our true and holy Lord,
+    the Heavenly King, down into the world, and ordained him to be
+    Ruler over the Central Kingdom. To destroy the imps, to deliver
+    the people, and to rescue the Central Empire; these are the
+    chief objects of his desires.
+
+    "The special task of chastising the nation[53] [_lit._, those
+    without the palace doors], with a view to the establishment of
+    the Dynasty, has now been conferred upon me by royal commission.
+    My mission is simply to show compassion to the people, and to
+    punish the crimes of their rulers.
+
+    "The troops of my great army have now entered the department of
+    Ningpo, and I fully purpose capturing the departmental city, and
+    making it revert to the King to serve as a basis from which we
+    may give peace to and console the four estates of the nation
+    [scholars, husbandmen, mechanics, and traders].
+
+    "I have this day received your letter, and informed myself
+    completely of its contents; all the requisitions therein
+    contained I promise to comply with. I will, therefore, order my
+    troops to frame their conduct after the Divine pattern, and to
+    abstain from tumult and acts of aggression.
+
+    "Wherefore I beg of you to set your minds at rest.
+
+    "Good faith, as a principle of action, being a most important
+    desideratum, no retractation must be made in respect of the
+    number of days conceded prior to our advance on the city.
+
+    "With reference to the persons and property of your respective
+    countrymen, I will issue the strictest orders, forbidding either
+    the one or the other to be injured in the very least degree.
+    Trade shall be allowed to continue as usual, with the additional
+    advantage of being conducted on a fairer footing. On no account
+    will acts of violence or robbery be permitted.
+
+    "One word from the superior man is sufficient to settle any
+    affair; he is true, he is sincere, and hence no mistake or
+    misunderstanding can arise.
+
+    "Whilst forwarding this in reply, I beg to express my wishes for
+    your happiness.
+
+    (Enclosed, twenty-one Proclamations.)
+
+    "22nd day of the 10th month of the 11th ('Sin-yew') year of the
+    Heavenly Kingdom of Universal Peace" [2nd December, 1861].
+
+Faithfully fulfilling that extraordinary example of their willingness to
+preserve friendship with foreigners--the promise to delay their
+occupation of Ningpo one week--the Ti-pings, immediately upon the
+expiration of the seven days, on the morning of December 9, moved up to
+the city walls, and within an hour Ningpo was completely in their
+possession; the Manchoos, Mandarins, regular troops, _braves_, pirates,
+and all, having fled from the city, scarcely striking a blow in its
+defence.
+
+Although the British authorities contented themselves upon this occasion
+with underhanded hostility against the Ti-pings, the same unworthy
+procedure was equally as much a violation of the principle of their
+pledged neutrality as the open warfare they shortly commenced in the
+neighbourhood of Shanghae. As all assertions of this description require
+proof, it is necessary to encumber this narrative with extracts from the
+official documents that, for the honour of England, should remain in
+oblivion for ever, were they not necessary to prove the disreputable
+transactions of various officials, and my reasons for advocating the
+Ti-ping cause.
+
+I have already noticed the singular sort of interpretation put upon the
+"no wish to quarrel," "the wish to maintain amicable relations," and the
+orders to "abstain from all interference in the civil war," "maintain an
+attitude of strict neutrality," &c., by Admiral Hope and Captain R. Dew.
+We will therefore conclude the review of "fitting twelve heavy guns,"
+&c. at Ningpo, by one other example of breach of faith and neutrality.
+
+The instructions to the Ningpo Consul by Mr. Bruce were to "take no
+part" in defending the city. The written guarantee forwarded to the
+leaders of the _powerful_ advancing army were precisely similar. "The
+undersigned take _no_ part in this civil contest." Now, in spite of
+these pledges, we have seen Admiral Hope order "every obstruction" to be
+placed before the Ti-pings. In his account of the capture of Ningpo he
+fairly admits his own faithlessness thus:--
+
+    "2. Everything had been done to assist the Imperialists in the
+    defence of the town, except the use of force, in their favour,
+    and their Lordships will not fail to observe how utterly useless
+    such measures proved, in consequence of the cowardice and
+    imbecility of the Mandarins."
+
+This taking "no part" and at the same time doing "everything to assist"
+one belligerent requires no comment.
+
+When the Ti-ping forces assaulted Ningpo, the Commander-in-Chief of the
+Imperialists ran away, and being lowered over the city wall with a
+number of retainers, received protection from the British Consul, who
+facilitated their escape. This same Consul, in his report of the city's
+capture to Lord Russell, states:--
+
+    "Ningpo is now in the full and unquestionable possession of the
+    Taeping forces. I am glad to state that, up to the present time,
+    there has been no slaughter, or massacre, or fires, within the
+    walls; and that, with the exception of a few men killed, and a
+    certain amount of destruction of property, the rebels have, so
+    far, conducted themselves with _wonderful moderation_."
+
+Admiral Hope, in his report to the Admiralty of the same event,
+states:--
+
+    "The behaviour of the rebels has been good hitherto, and they
+    profess a strong desire to remain on good terms with
+    foreigners."
+
+Here we find the most positive proof that the principal alleged reason
+for the defence of Shanghae against the insurgents, namely, because
+their "success in any locality is attended with its _total
+destruction_," is utterly false. While "the ruthless nature of the war
+they wage" is thus urged (as though even it could justify the
+dishonouring of British pledges) against the Ti-pings, we find that upon
+the only occasion this theory was subjected to proof, by the reports of
+their most bitter opposers, they behaved "_with wonderful moderation_."
+
+Mr. Parkes (late Secretary to Lord Elgin's Embassy), in a memorandum
+upon the capture of Ningpo, still further proves the great friendliness
+of the insurgents. He says:--
+
+    "The Ningpo rebels have shown the utmost desire to be on
+    friendly terms with foreigners. Outside the south gate, which
+    formed the point of attack, stands the establishment of the
+    Sisters of Charity, which, if occupied, would form excellent
+    cover for an assaulting force, as its upper windows command the
+    city walls; yet, although they crouched underneath its
+    enclosures, as they collected for their rush on the gate, they
+    did not trespass for a moment within the premises. Another large
+    Roman Catholic establishment was one of the first buildings they
+    had to pass, as they poured into the city, flushed and excited
+    with their success; but they only stopped to _welcome_ a small
+    knot of foreigners who were standing underneath the porch, and
+    to charge their people to offer them no harm. Roman Catholics
+    and Protestants they hailed indiscriminately as being of the
+    same religion and fraternity as themselves....
+
+    "The house of one of the principal Chinese of Ningpo, who is
+    well known at Shanghae, from his wealth and the prominent
+    support he has always given to the Government, remain untouched,
+    _simply because he has hired a Frenchman to live in it, and give
+    his name temporarily to the premises_."
+
+Now the ignorant and designing have delighted themselves by exhausting
+the most damnifying epithets upon the so-called "bloodthirsty
+marauders," "ruthless brigands," &c.; yet the following extract from the
+same memorandum (of an enemy, be it remembered) seems to indicate those
+persons as being either remarkably imaginative or mendacious:--
+
+    "It must be stated, however, to their credit, that as yet the
+    capture of Ningpo, and it is believed also of the other cities
+    of this province, has _not_ been marked with those atrocities
+    which the rebels are known to have committed elsewhere."
+
+The "atrocities" committed elsewhere were those occasioned by the hard
+necessity of the war, and when the Ti-pings had no choice but to kill or
+be killed. But the question of Ti-ping atrocities could not possibly be
+construed into any fair cause of hostilities against them, it being a
+well-known fact that of the two belligerents they were by far the most
+humane.
+
+The occupation of Ningpo by the Ti-ping forces may be justly considered
+the culminating point of their successes, and the termination of a
+period of British policy towards them, that period being the deceitful
+one. Almost immediately after that important event, the hitherto covert
+hostility of the British Government became exchanged for a more decided
+action, and the epoch of open hostility was established by the
+commencement of direct military operations against the Ti-pings from
+Shanghae, shortly followed by the same policy at Ningpo.
+
+Some few days after the fall of Ningpo, Admiral Hope proceeded to Nankin
+for the purpose of obtaining a renewal of the promise by the Ti-ping
+authorities not to attack Shanghae for one year, as the former agreement
+expired at the end of 1861. The arrangement, however, was not again
+approved by the Ti-pings, not only because the British contracting
+officials had broken faith with regard to their pledge of preventing the
+Imperialists from using Shanghae for purposes of aggression against
+them, but from the fact that Shanghae had become the very arsenal and
+rallying-place of their enemy. To these principal and all-sufficient
+causes, others might be added, such as the undeniable belligerent right
+of the Ti-pings to capture any city just as they captured Ningpo.
+
+The Ti-ping authorities having very properly refused to become a party
+to prejudice their own interest, Admiral Hope conducted the following
+communication with them, as if to find some pretext for making the
+approach of the Ti-pings upon Shanghae a _casus belli_. The
+correspondence is well worthy of the closest attention. The open
+arrogance and unsound reasoning of the British portion being no less
+conspicuous than the righteous tenor and sound argument of the Ti-pings.
+
+    "COMMUNICATION MADE BY COMMANDER BINGHAM TO THE TAEPING
+    AUTHORITIES AT NANKING, ON THE 27TH OF DECEMBER, 1861.
+
+    "I am directed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of
+    Her Majesty the Queen of England in the Chinese Seas, to
+    acquaint you--
+
+    "1. That during the last year certain British subjects have
+    sustained losses by robberies committed in the territories which
+    are held by your armies, and that it is therefore necessary that
+    you make immediate and satisfactory arrangements for their
+    receiving compensation. These losses amount to 7,563 taels 1
+    mace 7 candarenes, 4,800 dollars, 20 bales of silk, and 2
+    muskets, as shown by the accompanying list.
+
+    "2. That junks which carry British colours are no less British
+    vessels than those which are foreign-built, and that they must
+    be allowed to pass up and down the river free from examination
+    or any other molestation, in conformity with the agreement made
+    with you in the early part of this year. That in order to insure
+    that no junk hoists a British flag which is not entitled to do
+    so, their papers will be examined by the senior officer here,
+    who will take the British flag away from any vessel not entitled
+    to wear it, and will give notice of having done so to the Chief
+    Officer of the Customs.
+
+    "3. That the promise made by you that your troops should not
+    approach within 100 _li_ of Shanghae and Woo-sung has not been
+    faithfully observed. The Commander-in-Chief now requires that,
+    in proof of your good faith you select an officer of high rank
+    who shall accompany him to Shanghae and who shall from thence
+    proceed in company with one of his officers to the ports in its
+    vicinity, which are held by your forces, so that the order on
+    the subject may be shown to the officers commanding them, with
+    the view of preventing further mistakes.
+
+    "4. That a large and valuable British trade having sprung up at
+    Kiu-kiang and Hankow, the Commander-in-Chief is under the
+    necessity of requiring a promise from you that your forces will
+    not approach these places within 100 _li_; also that you are
+    distinctly to understand that Silver Island, the residence of
+    the British Consul at Chin-kiang-foo, is not to be molested.
+
+    (Signed)      "HENRY M. BINGHAM.
+    "_Renard_, Nanking, December 27, 1861."
+
+   "REPLY OF THE TAEPING AUTHORITIES AT NANKING TO COMMANDER BINGHAM.
+
+    "Mung, the young Prince of Tsan, Jin, Prince of Chang, and Se,
+    Prince of Shun, Defenders of the Court, Pillars of Heaven, in
+    the Divine Kingdom of Universal Peace, being the Kingdom of the
+    Heavenly Father, the Heavenly Elder Brother, and the Heavenly
+    King, make this joint reply to Captain Bingham, British Senior
+    Naval Officer at Nanking.
+
+    "On the 18th day (December 28) of the 11th month of the 11th or
+    Sin-yew year of the Divine Kingdom of the Heavenly Father,
+    Heavenly Elder Brother, and Heavenly King, we received your
+    letter setting forth four points, which you state you had been
+    directed to communicate to us by the Naval Commander-in-Chief of
+    your country.
+
+    "We have acquainted ourselves with the contents of your
+    communication, which has occasioned us the greatest surprise; we
+    bear in mind that while your country pays adoration to Jesus,
+    our Divine Kingdom respectfully worships Shang-te.
+
+    "The worship of Jesus is the fount and origin of our religions,
+    and thus from age to age we have been as one family; therefore
+    when your country came to discuss matters with us in the spring,
+    our Lord the Heavenly King issued to us his sacred commands
+    ordering us to receive you with courtesy, and to deal with you
+    in perfect sincerity, in order to mark our high regard for those
+    who are allied with and are of the same origin as ourselves.
+    Being thus united by our religion, which is the worship of
+    Heaven, and also by our friendly (political) relations, it is
+    above all things necessary that we should respectively adhere to
+    our Heavenly principles both in mind and action, and that we
+    should compare our wants with those of others, instead of
+    seeking only our own profit at the expense of the interests of
+    our fellow-men. It is thus that you prove your friendship to be
+    indeed sincere.
+
+    "On considering the four proposals set forth in your
+    communication, we find that our Divine Kingdom cannot assent to
+    them, and we shall proceed to state in detail the grounds of our
+    refusal.
+
+    "The first point is a demand for compensation for 7,360 taels
+    and odd silver, 200 taels' worth of copper cash, 4,800 dollars,
+    20 bales of raw silk, and 2 muskets, all said to have been taken
+    by people of our Divine Kingdom in the 5th, 6th, and 7th months
+    of the present year at Soo-heu, Suh-kea-kiang, Lew-hoo,
+    Kaou-ching (Laou-ching), and other places.
+
+    "There is an absence of right in this demand. Everything
+    deserving of credit admits of proof. Although the places named
+    are not 1,000 _li_ distant from our capital, they are situated
+    several hundreds of _li_ from it, and nearly half a year has
+    elapsed since the alleged occurrences took place.
+
+    "It is unreasonable to demand compensation for claims, when no
+    proofs can be produced, and the assertion of such claims is in
+    itself a very unfriendly act. Were we, of the Divine Kingdom, to
+    put forward such unfounded claims, what course, may we ask,
+    would your country pursue? If our nation have indeed established
+    a custom-house at San-le-keaou, and exacted a double levy of
+    duty in the manner stated, how is it, as your merchant-boats are
+    constantly passing that spot, that a single instance only of
+    such conduct should have occurred? We will not, however, take
+    upon ourselves to deny that your boat had to submit to the
+    exaction; but, granting that it occurred, it should be
+    remembered that at this juncture, when a movement is going on
+    throughout the Empire, local marauders and wandering people
+    naturally take advantage of the opportunity afforded them to
+    commit depredations. How, therefore, do you know that these
+    robberies were not the work of parties of these vagabonds,
+    simulating the appearance and profiting by the fear inspired by
+    the troops of the Divine dynasty? Or how do you know that some
+    of the Tartar imps have not personated the officers and troops
+    of the Divine Kingdom, and in that feigned character plundered
+    your merchant-boats, with a view, by these nefarious means, of
+    causing ill-will between our two families? Moreover, if the
+    places named have indeed been brought under the rule of our
+    Celestial dynasty, our lieutenants must be there in garrison;
+    and if these irregularities were committed by their troops, how
+    is it that your country did not immediately bring them to the
+    notice of those officers, in order that they may at once take
+    steps for the punishment of the offenders? Instead of doing
+    this, however, you allow a long time to elapse, and then you
+    suddenly come to our capital to raise discussions with us on the
+    subject at this distance!
+
+    "In the second point of your communication you claim, 'that
+    junks which carry British colours are no less British vessels
+    than those which are foreign-built, and must therefore be
+    allowed to pass up and down the river free from examination or
+    any other molestation, in conformity with the agreement made in
+    the early part of this year.'
+
+    "On this we have to observe, that an agreement once entered into
+    should be most faithfully and strictly adhered to, and cannot be
+    departed from. Now in the agreement concluded with you in the
+    spring, it is not stated that junks carrying British colours are
+    no less British vessels than those which are foreign-built, and
+    are therefore entitled to pass free from examination or
+    molestation.
+
+    "The idea is now suddenly started by your country for the first
+    time. But in the transaction of business, an open and
+    straightforward course of action must be pursued, if distrust
+    and suspicion are to be avoided. Suppose that a Chinese
+    merchant has goods, the duties on which amount to a considerable
+    sum, and that your country would not ask him to pay more than
+    half that sum in return for a flag and papers which should free
+    him from all charge on passing our custom-houses, is it not
+    evident that the dishonest trader would gladly turn such an
+    opportunity to account, and that in that case we should soon
+    find that our custom-houses had been established to no purpose?
+
+    "Moreover, the rules of the custom-houses of our Divine Kingdom
+    permit the merchants and people of all places, and those who
+    still shave their heads, to pass to and fro, and trade in salt
+    and other goods on payment of the duties that are defined by
+    regulation. This institution has been too long in existence to
+    make it reasonable that it now should be set aside.
+
+    "Again, in the former agreement, no arrangement whatever was
+    made respecting the employment of Chinese junks by your country,
+    the stipulation as to the free passage to the river being
+    confined to vessels of your own country. We agreed to this
+    arrangement as a friendly act to those who are of the same
+    family as ourselves. But if native junks should be largely
+    employed by your nation, we have good cause to fear the
+    treachery of the Imperial imps, who will employ these junks in
+    the furtherance of their own dark and evil designs by falsely
+    passing them off as your trading-craft. If this were the case,
+    how greatly would our difficulties of defence be increased!
+
+    "Furthermore, the customs form the most important source of
+    revenue on which we depend for the support of the soldiers of
+    our Divine dynasty; and if, by undue protection granted to
+    native junks, the payment of duties is avoided, general
+    indignation would be felt among all our princes, high
+    functionaries, officers, and soldiers; and they would never
+    allow such an arrangement to continue in force. In putting
+    forward this proposal, your country shows that you seek only
+    your own profit, regardless of the welfare of others; and you
+    are acting in a manner that is calculated neither to promote
+    friendly relations, nor to induce reliance on your own
+    promises.[54]
+
+    "The third point states that the promise made in the second
+    month of the present year, that the Taeping troops should not
+    approach within 100 _li_ of Shanghae and Woo-sung has not been
+    faithfully observed, &c.
+
+    "It is true that in the spring of this year we did make an
+    agreement of this nature, but if we discuss it by strict
+    principles it will be seen that there is no spot under the wide
+    canopy of heaven that was not created by Shangte, that upon us
+    rests the obligation of recovering by our arms the whole of
+    China for Shangte, and that it is difficult for us to make any
+    exception in the matter of territory, even to the extent of a
+    foot of soil. It was only in consideration of your nation being
+    of the same origin as ourselves that we acted as we did.
+
+    "Though commerce may be to you the means of livelihood, to us
+    the possession of territory is all-important. It was only as a
+    mark of our benevolent and just regard for our fellow-men that
+    we consented for the space of the present year to avoid making
+    any attack on Shanghae and Woo-sung, and when we entered into
+    that agreement we issued our commands requiring it to be
+    observed at all places in our possession, and have received
+    reports from our various commanders, assuring us that our orders
+    have been most scrupulously observed. But as it is obligatory on
+    our Divine armies to kill the imps wherever they are to be
+    found, how can our heavenly troops be forbidden to fulfil this
+    duty? If there were no impish forces at Shanghae and Woo-sung,
+    the Chung-wang and She-wang would certainly not think of sending
+    their troops to take those places; and should you be willing to
+    undertake the expulsion of the impish soldiers, then our Divine
+    dynasty will send officers to tranquillize those places, and to
+    protect not only the people but your trade also.
+
+    "Why, then, should the advance of our Divine soldiers within 100
+    _li_ occasion you any apprehension? The present year is now
+    drawing to a close, and with it the time named in our agreement,
+    and we can never consent that our Divine troops shall not
+    prepare to attack those places, simply out of consideration for
+    your trade. It occasions us, therefore, great surprise to
+    suddenly receive from you such a proposal, at the very time when
+    the Chung-wang and She-wang, at the head of several millions of
+    the Divine soldiers, are engaged in recovering from the enemy
+    Soo-chow, Hang-chow, and the whole province.
+
+    "Your fourth point is to the effect that, as a large and
+    valuable British trade has sprung up at Kiu-kiang and Hankow,
+    you wish us to promise not to approach these places within 100
+    _li_, and also not to molest Silver Island, the residence of the
+    British Consul at Chin-kiang.
+
+    "We have well considered this proposal, and consider that in
+    putting it forward your country has committed a grave error. The
+    case stands thus:--It is now long since our vast and illustrious
+    Empire of China became the prey of these Tartars, who know no
+    respect for Shangte, nor any other worship than that of devils.
+    All sons and daughters of Heaven should be moved with the
+    deepest enmity against them, with a hatred too deep to allow of
+    their living together with them in the same world, and,
+    therefore, wherever they are to be found, death should await
+    them at our hands. Strange that just at the very time when we
+    are about to despatch troops to take Hankow, Kiu-kiang,
+    Chin-kiang, and Silver Island, your country should seek, under
+    the guise of maintaining friendly relations with ourselves, to
+    render secret assistance to the Tartar imps, by occupying
+    several of their most important positions, and thus completely
+    fettering our movements.
+
+    "How can we possibly consent to such a proposal?
+
+    "When we have taken Hankow, Kiu-kiang, Chin-kiang, and Silver
+    Island, and tranquillized those places, if your country should
+    then wish to conduct trade there as before, what is there to
+    prevent your entering into further negotiations with our nation
+    on these points? That being the case, what object can you have
+    in requiring us not to take those places? If you entertain fears
+    as to the conduct of our soldiers, and think that they may
+    commit wanton slaughter or destruction, you should know that
+    Heaven guides all our actions, and that while we kill all those
+    who pay Heaven no respect, we save, on the other hand, all those
+    who prove themselves, by worshipping Heaven, to be Heaven's
+    children.
+
+    "All our power is derived from Shangte, and from Christ comes
+    our support; all our acts are done in their sight and receive
+    their entire approval.
+
+    "If you make the anticipated dispersion of the merchants and
+    people of those ports an argument in favour of your proposal, we
+    meet it by observing that when your officers conferred with us
+    in the spring, this very point came under discussion. At first
+    it was proposed on your side that we should not attack Kiu-kiang
+    and Hankow, but afterwards, when we made it clear (to your
+    officers) in the orders we gave them that it was necessary that
+    we should attack and take the whole of China, as being the
+    territory of Shangte, they replied, If your troops do not kill
+    or injure British subjects, or do not burn or plunder British
+    houses or property, then we shall remain neutral and assist
+    neither party. To which we replied that you should not only
+    remain neutral, but should also take no offence at our troops,
+    if the people in their alarm were to disperse, and thus cause
+    your trade to be interfered with. Your officers replied, We
+    shall take no offence, but we shall require you to give us
+    notice of your intention to attack these places. To this we
+    answered, We will not refuse to give you notice before we make
+    our attack, but we are afraid that our communications with you
+    may be obstructed by the impish camps, and that when we shall
+    have succeeded in sweeping these away, the time then left will
+    not be sufficient for the purpose, and the omission may prove a
+    cause of trouble. We added, however, that your country must not
+    again act as you did at Shanghae, where you received the letters
+    of our nation, and yet assisted the Tartar forces to defend that
+    city. Thus it will be seen that the point has been already fully
+    considered, and that it is useless to enter into any further
+    discussion.
+
+    "To resume. As friendly relations exist between us, let us
+    regard each other as people of the same family. Those whom we
+    are thus hotly engaged in slaughtering are no other than the
+    Tartar imps and robbers, and the whole empire of China is the
+    conquest we intend to effect. As the Tartar imps have not yet
+    been exterminated, and the great work of conquest is still
+    incomplete, we cannot give our consent to such proposals as
+    those which your country now makes to us.
+
+    "Your only course, therefore, is to wait until the Tartar imps
+    shall have been annihilated, when we shall be ready to give our
+    attention to any advantageous measures that your country may
+    have to propose.
+
+    "We trust you will listen to this advice and raise no further
+    questions; also that you will firmly maintain the present
+    peaceful relations, and give no occasion for distrust or
+    ill-will. These are the hopes that should be earnestly
+    entertained on both sides.
+
+    "P. S. We observe that the translation of the letter before us,
+    and the paper communicating the points under discussion (the
+    English original?) are written on white paper and bear no seal.
+    It is very difficult for us to know whether documents thus
+    prepared are spurious or authentic, and we fear that they could
+    easily be imitated by the Tartar imps, and that the fraud might
+    be attended with serious consequences.
+
+    "We trust, therefore, that in order to establish the
+    authenticity of your documents your country will in future
+    observe the practice of affixing your seal to them.
+
+    "Dated the 22nd day of the 11th month of the 11th or Sin-yew
+    year of the Divine Kingdom of Universal Peace, being the Kingdom
+    of the Heavenly Father, Heavenly Elder Brother, and Heavenly
+    King (January 1, 1862)."
+
+    "COMMANDER BINGHAM TO THE TAEPING AUTHORITIES AT NANKING.
+    "_Reward_, Nanking, January 1, 1862.
+
+    "I am directed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Naval Forces of
+    the Queen of England in the Chinese Seas to acknowledge the
+    receipt of your reply to the communication made by me four days
+    ago, and to acquaint you--
+
+    "1. That in bringing the demands for compensation for the
+    robberies committed on British subjects to the notice of the
+    authorities at Nanking, instead of exacting redress for them on
+    the spot where they were committed, he has given you the
+    strongest proof of his desire to treat you in a friendly manner.
+
+    "Your refusal to do justice gives him the right to take his own
+    measures for procuring adequate redress for these injuries.
+
+    "2. That he will take effectual measures to prevent any vessel
+    carrying the English flag which has not the right to do so, but
+    that he will not permit vessels, whether of European or Chinese
+    construction, which are owned by British subjects, to be
+    interfered with in any way or under any pretext, in their
+    undoubted right of navigating the Yang-tze-kiang River free from
+    all molestation, and you will do so at your peril.
+
+    "3. The towns of Shanghae and Woo-sung, as you well know, are
+    occupied by the military forces of England and France, and if
+    you repeat the absurdity of attacking them, you will incur, not
+    merely a repulse as on a former occasion, but such further
+    consequences as your folly will deserve.
+
+    "4. Your refusal to enter into an engagement to leave Silver
+    Island, Kiu-kiang, and Hankow free from molestation, all places
+    which you have not the slightest chance of attacking with
+    success, proves to the Commander-in-Chief that your expressions
+    of friendly feeling are mere words, and the necessity of dealing
+    with you accordingly.
+
+    (Signed)       "HENRY M. BINGHAM."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[43] See page 46, Blue Book.
+
+[44] See page 50, Blue Book.
+
+[45] See page 64, Blue Book.
+
+[46] See page 50, Blue Book.
+
+[47] See page 51, Blue Book.
+
+[48] See Appendix B.
+
+[49]
+    William Breck, Esq., United States Consul.
+    M. Leon Obry, His Imperial Majesty's Navy, commanding steamer
+        _Confucius_.
+    Lieutenant Henry Huxham, R.N., commanding H.M.'s gunboat _Kestrel_.
+    Frederick Harvey, Esq., Her Majesty's Consul.
+
+[50] "E" corresponds to the Chinese title "Kung," or Duke.
+
+[51] _i.e._, She-wang (the Assistant Prince).
+
+[52] A quotation from the "Sze Shoo Mencius," tom. i. chap. 2. The King
+of Tse is inquiring of Mencius whether he ought to take possession of
+the kingdom of Yeu, lately conquered by him. Mencius, instancing the
+practice of the ancient kings Wan and Woo under similar circumstances,
+replies that, unless the voice of the people invites the invader to take
+possession, he is not justified in so doing. Hence the rebels would have
+it believed that they have enlisted in their cause the sympathies of the
+nation, without which, according to received notions, it will be
+impossible for them to obtain the "Teen-ming" (the Divine Commission),
+and, by consequence, the Empire.
+
+[53] _i.e._, those of the nation who do not submit.
+
+[54] "On the occasion when they recently stopped some British junks at
+Woo-hoo, eventually retaining two (subsequently released by the
+_Bouncer_), in pledge for payment of duty, on the whole their demand
+amounted to 2,000 taels. Their right to levy moderate duties on all
+vessels trading in the territories they hold was allowed in the original
+arrangement entered into with them, but they were, at the same time,
+distinctly acquainted that I had stationed a vessel of war at Nanking
+for the express purpose of securing to British vessels entire freedom in
+the exercise of their right of navigating the Yang-tze. The necessity of
+preventing any interference whatever with the passing trade by the
+rebels, arises from the impracticability of recovering any duties they
+might extort without a serious collision. In the case of Imperialists,
+redress could always ultimately be obtained by reference through the
+Minister to the Government at Peking.--J. HOPE."
+
+This is the excuse given for depriving the Ti-pings of their revenue.
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
+
+The frontpiece and title page contain Chinese characters which are
+transcribed in the UTF and HTML versions.
+
+Hyphen added: co[-]adjutors (p. 342), E[-]CHING (caption of image facing
+p. 304), E-ching (p. 379), Kwang[-]si (p. 144), Pei[-]ho (pp. 229, 230),
+sand[-]bank(s) (pp. 107, 202), semi[-]civilized (p. 228), Shang[-]te (p.
+418), Soo[-]chow (pp. 272, 273), Tai[-]ping (p. 306), Tien[-]Kwoh
+(caption of map facing p. 359), Ti[-]mung (twice on p. 132),
+water[-]fowl (p. 20), Woo[-]sung (p. 199).
+
+Hyphen removed: banner-men (p. 322), blood[-]thirsty (p. 415),
+fire[-]arms (pp. 79, 408), good[-]will (pp. 88, 102), main[-]land (p.
+21), Ning[-]po (p. 356), Po[-]yang (p. 88), Shen[-]si (p. 157),
+under[-]mentioned (p. 342), Vice[-]roy (p. 71), Wu[-]hu (p. 267),
+Ye[-]su (p. 175).
+
+The following words appear in multiple forms and have not been changed:
+"benefited" / "benefitted", "Budhist" / "Buddhist", "gunboat" /
+"gun-boat", "Han-kow" / "Hankow", "Honan" / "Hoonan" / "Hoo-nan",
+"Hoopeh" / "Hoo-peh", "Nan-kin" / "Nan-king" / "Nankin" / "Nanking",
+"Shang-te" / "Shangte", "Tae-ping" / "Taiping" / "Tai-ping" / "Ti-ping",
+"Woo-san-kwei" / "Wu-san-kwei".
+
+p. 61: "jingall" changed to "gingall" (a gingall battery).
+
+p. 70: "Atalanta" changed to "Atlanta" (the occupation of Atlanta).
+
+p. 86: "sovereignity" changed to "sovereignty" (his divine commission to
+earthly sovereignty).
+
+p. 86: "sufficent" changed to "sufficient" (with guns or sufficient
+powder).
+
+p. 88: "Imperalist" changed to "Imperialist" (Imperialist troops in
+Hoo-nan).
+
+p. 111: "1838" changed to "1858" (Elgin treaty (June 1858)).
+
+p. 125: duplicate "that" removed (that something was most likely
+dangerous).
+
+p. 127: [=a] represents the letter "a" with a macron above it (L[=a],
+l[=a]). The correct character appears in the UTF and HTML versions.
+
+p. 197: "exclaming" changed to "exclaiming" (exclaiming, "hish.").
+
+p. 212: "inconoclasts" changed to "iconoclasts" (iconoclasts of the
+strictest order).
+
+p. 237: "skook" changed to "shook" (shook hands).
+
+p. 241: "acomplished" changed to "accomplised" (accomplished prince).
+
+Caption of image facing p. 261: "HU-KAN" changed to "HU-KAU".
+
+p. 271: "superintendant" changed to "superintendent" (in his capacity as
+superintendent).
+
+p. 295: "dissertion" changed to "dissertation" (a lengthy dissertation
+by one Rev. J. L. Holmes).
+
+p. 329: "ursurpation" changed to "usurpation" (without aggression or
+usurpation).
+
+p. 331: "gave" changed to "give" (to give his favourable opinion).
+
+p. 331: "bravos" changed to "braves" (becoming the mercenary braves).
+
+p. 342: "Imperialst" changed to "Imperialist" (the Imperialist
+_braves_).
+
+p. 344: "forgottten" changed to "forgotten" (has evidently forgotten
+himself).
+
+p. 348: "Impearialist" changed to "Imperialist" (all the Imperialist
+posts).
+
+p. 349: "prejudical" changed to "prejudicial" (prejudicial presence).
+
+p. 350: "chieftian" changed to "chieftain" (gallant chieftain).
+
+p. 354: "politicans" changed to "politicians" (politicians of the
+Yang-tze).
+
+p. 356: "compartively" changed to "comparatively" (were comparatively
+useless).
+
+p. 368: "parient" changed to "parent" (the injured "parent,").
+
+p. 371: "Sze-wang" changed to "Sz-wang" (to call in the Sz-wang).
+
+p. 388: "detoriated" changed to "deteriorated" (has seriously
+deteriorated).
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh, by Augustus F. Lindley
+
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