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ment, as he looks upon this country as his home." Mr Burlinghame, the American Minister, writes of him in similar high terms, but very loosely as to facts, for he speaks of him as having fought in nearly one hundred "battles" in the Chinese service, though Burgevine had really not been in more than five engagements. Prince Kung, in treating this subject, very clearly said that the restoration of Burgevine was a matter which lay in the hands of Lí, the governor of Kiangsoo; and there does not seem to have been any disposition on the part of the native authorities either at Peking or at Shanghai to restore him to command, though it has been stated that he returned to the latter city in company of an Imperial commissioner directed to replace him in his former position. It is quite evident from the American Diplomatic Correspondence that neither the Prince of Kung nor Governor Lí had the slightest thought of reinstating him; and whether his case were a hard one or not, the Chinese authorities knew very well what manner of man he was, and what chance there existed of their being able to work along with him. As to the action of the British Minister in this matter, the truth is, he at first considered Burgevine had been unfairly dealt with; and, taking this view, thought further, that if a man with such apparent claims upon the Chinese Government could be dealt with unjustly, the same course might be adopted in regard to any Englishmen who entered the service of the Chinese. Moreover, as the officer to be appointed in Burgevine's place was an Englishman, Sir Frederick Bruce believed it would be extremely ungracious for the British Minister to refuse his support to the claims of this American.

On the 24th March 1863, Colonel (then Major) Gordon was put in orders to command the force of disciplined

Chinese in Kiangsoo, and next day went up to Sungkiang to take over the command from Captain Holland, accompanied by Captain Stack, of her Majesty's 67th Foot, as his Commandant; Ensign Stevens, of her Majesty's 99th Regiment, as Adjutant-General; Lieutenant Ward, R.A.; as Commandant of Field-artillery; D. A. C. G. Cooksley as Quartermaster-General; and Assistant-Surgeon Moffitt of the 67th as Principal Medical Officer. It was announced that both the officers and men had determined to obey no one but Burgevine; but Colonel Gordon, having assembled the officers and non-commissioned officers, told them plainly that they need not fear sweeping changes or anything that would injure their future prospects;. and no outbreak took place.

The first operation requested of the new commander was an attack upon the town of Fushan, situated a considerable way from Sungkiang, above the Tsung Ming island, at the estuary of the Yangtsze. This place, long a haunt of pirates, was held by the Rebels; it threatened Chanzu, about ten miles inland, in which an Imperialist force was besieged; and an unsuccessful attack had been made upon it shortly before, by Major Tapp, commander of the disciplined artillery, with 600 men and a few howitzers. Colonel Gordon proceeded against Fushan in two steamers, with the 5th Regiment, a 32-pounder, and four 12-pounders, being supported also by Major Tapp's force, and by some ordinary Imperialist troops that were stockaded on the beach and on some neighbouring hills. The Rebel stockades were not strong, but there were heavy masses of Tai-pings in the rear and on each flank. The 32-pounder, however, which was placed in position during the night at some risk of being taken, was too much for their guns, and soon brought down the wall of the stockade in masses.

On

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the advance being sounded, the defenders left, and the place was taken with the loss of only two killed and six wounded on the Imperialist side. A slight effort was made by the Rebels to return, but they only succeeded in inflicting what eventually proved a mortal wound on Captain Belcher, of the 5th Regiment. On the road to Chanzu, Colonel Gordon passed, near a large joss-house, no less than thirty-five crucified Imperialist soldiers, who had been burned in various places before death.

The garrison of Chanzu itself had a curious story to tell. They had all been Rebels, but had suddenly transferred the town and their services to the other side. Their chief, Lo Kwo-chung, had persuaded them to shave their heads and declare for the Imperialist cause early in the year, and this they did in conjunction with the garrison of Fushan; but no sooner had they done so, than, to their dismay, the Faithful King came down upon them with a large force, took Fushan, and laid siege to them, trying to overcome them by various kinds of assault and surprise. He brought against them 32pounders which had been taken at Taitsan, and partially breached the wall. He offered any terms to the soldiers if they would come over; and, in order to show his great success, sent in the heads of three European officers who had been killed at Taitsan. Lo, in these trying circumstances, had been obliged to do a good deal of beheading in order to keep his garrison stanch; but he, and probably most of his followers, felt they had committed too unpardonable a sin ever to trust themselves again into Tai-ping hands. For this affair Colonel Gordon was made, by decree of the Emperor, a TsungPing, a title which is a grade higher than any Ward ever held, and which may best be translated by our phrase Brigadier-General This alone, not to speak of

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