A VISIT TO TSENG KWO-FAN-SKETCHES OF NATIVE AND Tseng Kwo-tsun-View of Nanking and the Imperialist lines--Appearance of Tseng Kwo-fan-Gordon's conversation with him-Generals Paou and Ping-Chinese mandarins—Mandarin buttons-Ki Ying's history-His ode on leaving Canton-His treatment by Lord Elgin, and his fate-Yeh and Pih Kwei-Kweiliang and Hwashana-Sankolinsin-Su Shu-en and the Princes of I and Ching-Shung Pow-Prince Kung--Wan See-ang, the present Premier of China-Lí Hung Chang-Tseng Kwo-fan, Gene- ralissimo of all the Chinese forces-Sir John Bowring-Lord Elgin-Sir Frederick Bruce—Sir R. Alcock—Mr Wade, Sir Harry Parkes, and Mr The Tien Wang's indifference and seclusion-Sweet dew-His wisdom and good fortune-Complete investment of Nanking-Despair of the Faithful King-Last days of Hung Sew-tsuen-His death and burial-His son Fu-tien ascends the throne-The fall of Nanking-Capture of the Faith- ful King-His character and autobiography-His execution-Fate of the Shield King and of the young monarch-State of Nanking when captured -Report on its condition by Vice-Consul Adkins-Reception of the news at Peking-Imperial decree-The fall of Wuchu-Experiences of Patrick Nellis-Retreat of the Tai-ping remnant through Kiangsi into Fukien- They appear at Changchow, near Amoy-Manifesto of the Attendant King -Their dispersion and final disappearance-Fate of the I Wang, 318-342 NIEN-FEI AND MOHAMMEDAN REBELS. Meaning of the name Nien-fei-Origin of these rebels-Their character and tactics-Weakness of the central government in China-Political parties -Sankolinsin and Tseng Kwo-fan-Death of Sankolinsin-Varying for. tune of the Nien-fei—Lí Hung-chang appointed to the command against them-His suppression of them-Relationships between China and Mo- hammedanism-The Mohammedan Rebels in Shensi-Their retreat into Kansuh-The province of Ili and its relation to China-The Miaoutsz CONTENTS. China at present in a period of disturbance and transition-Causes of such periods-Over-population-Falsehoods regarding the prevalence of infan- ticide-Dangers of prosperity-China's present favourable position- Crushing of the Nien-fei rebels-Degradation of Li Hung-chang-Euro- pean gunboats and artillery employed by the Government-Military re- form-Services of a British officer required-China's foreign relationships -Foreigners have provoked hostility-Spaniards and Portuguese-Opium versus tea-English merchants in China-The East India Company— Opening of the five ports-Remarkable success of our merchants—Their dissatisfaction-The Treaty of Tientsin-Our merchants ruined by the open- ing of China-Over-trading-Tea sold cheaper in London than in China -Complaints as to exactions on the transit of goods--Memorials of the Anglo-Chinese Chambers of Commerce-Jardine, Matheson, & Co. on the opium traffic, and on access to the interior of China-Net results of an aggressive policy-A prophecy by Wan See-ang--Danger of our trade LIST OF CHINESE TITLES, CIVIL AND MILITARY, LIST OF OFFICERS AND OTHER EUROPEANS KILLED AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLACING THE EVER- VICTORIOUS ARMY UNDER THE JOINT COMMAND OF CHINESE AND FOREIGN LIST OF MAPS. 1. Map of China, to face title-page. TO FACE PAGE 2. Sketch-Map of the Routes taken by the Rebel Forces 3. Map illustrating the Operations of the Chung and Ying Wangs, 1855-64, 4 Sketch - Map of the Operations against the Rebels, 1862-64, 5. Sketch of Taitsan and Quinsan, 48 68 122 142 ✓ 6. Sketch of Country ravaged by Rebels, March 1864, 209 PREFACE. THE Chinese people and Government have had to struggle during the last ten years with difficulties of no ordinary kind. In that period they have carried on a prolonged war with two of the most powerful nations of the earth, whose demands upon them, however warrantable, necessarily weakened the power of the Chinese State by lowering it from an authoritative position; they have had to adapt their long-isolated civilisation to the disintegrating influence of close contact with Foreigners*-a difficult and hazardous task, only accomplished by a ministerial coup d'état almost tantamount to an internal revolution; and they have suppressed a great internal movement, which had become a most formidable rebellion chiefly because a long period of isolation and of peaceful prosperity had led the authorities of the country to neglect the arts of war. The latter feat forms the topic of this book; but it has been found impossible to treat of it in anything like a * The words "Foreigner" and "Foreign," when commenced with capital letter, refer to the Europeans and Americans in China as opposed to the people of the country. Hence "Foreign" is a proper name nearly equivalent to the term "Occidental," which some writers use in its place. satisfactory manner without many references to the other two difficulties just mentioned; for they not only all existed contemporaneously, but were also closely connected, and aggravated each other in a high degree. It was not merely that the war with Foreigners gave opportunity to the Tai-ping Rebels, and the Rebellion diminished the means of external defence: the Rebellion had its origin in the contact of China with Foreign nations; it was almost suppressed in 1859, when a new difficulty between Foreigners and the Imperial Government came to its aid; the loss of power consequent on the Rebellion made it difficult for the Emperor to grant Foreign demands, and the loss of prestige caused him by Foreigners decreased his power of dealing with the Rebellion. Several interesting and instructive works-such as those of Mr Meadows, Mr Oliphant, Commander Brine, and Dr Rennie-have been published, relating to the first half of the transition period through which China has recently passed, and which closes with the Peking coup d'état of 1861; but the important events which followed, which have resulted in the complete suppression of the Tai-ping Rebellion, and the restoration of China to a state of comparative order and peace, are known to the British public only through an indistinct recollection of telegrams and newspaper reports, or through the frantic complaints of ignorant or unscrupulous Tai-ping sympathisers. In these events Foreigners in China took an important part. Some Englishmen and Americans fought on the side of the Rebels; while on the other hand it will not be forgotten that almost every mail from the Far East, during great parts of |