Defeat of the imperialist army besieging Nankin- Capture of Soo- State of the country between Nankin and Shanghae - Mr. Muir- head's visit Letter from Mr. Roberts giving reasons for leaving Precepts and Odes published by Hung-siu-tsuen in the second and third years of the Taeping Rebellion (A.D. 1852-1853) The Decalogue PAGE .. 367 THE TAEPING REBELLION. CHAPTER I. Historical sketch from the period of the Tartar Conquest until the outbreak of the Rebellion. THE narrative of the progress of the Taeping rebellion, from the time of its outbreak in the province of Kwang-si, A.D. 1850, requires to be preceded by a slight summary of the state of the Chinese empire at that period, together with a notice of the resources for education, and the qualifications demanded for appointments to office under government. Many of the early proclamations issued by the rebel chiefs bear immediate reference to their position as representatives of a conquered people, and would not be readily comprehended except by those well acquainted with the circumstances attending the Tartar conquest. The examinations by public competition have been of considerable weight in moulding the character and influencing the actions of Hung-siu-tsuen (the Taeping leader), whose life, from boyhood until his thirty-fifth year, was principally passed in severe study as an aspirant for literary honours, or as a teacher at the I Throughout these pages the word European is to be understood as applicable to all people who, however geographically distributed, own a common European origin. B village-schools in his native district; and, consequently, those readers who desire fully to understand the career of this extraordinary man should make themselves conversant with the Chinese scholastic and competitive systems. To this end, I shall, in as condensed a form as possible, give such data upon these subjects as will fulfil that object to the extent necessary for the present purpose. The Tartars obtained their first permanent footing in China proper early in the twelfth century. It was during the reign of Whey-tsong, eighth emperor of the Sung dynasty, that the Manchus, or Eastern Tartars, invaded the country, and rapidly conquered the provinces situated to the north of the Yellow River (A.D. 1127). They steadily continued their progress during the rule of succeeding emperors, until Kan-tsong, tenth of the Sungs, was forced to remove his court to Hang-chow, chief city of the province of Che'-kiang, and thus leave the invaders in possession of Northern China. The Manchu chief fixed upon Honan, in the province of that name, for his capital. For one hundred and seventeen years the, Manchus retained their conquest, and, by judiciously accommodating themselves to the customs of the people, obtained a considerable degree of popularity. During this time, Southern China remained steadfast to the rule of the legitimate sovereigns, and the Tartars, notwithstanding their endeavours, were unable to possess a single foot of ground south of the Yang-zte-kiang. Towards the close of the year 1207, Genghis-Khan, the chief of the Western Tartars (Mongolians), having consolidated his empire, which then included a great |