however, when a ship belonging to your honourable nation came hither (the 'Hermes'), she was followed by a fleet of impish vessels belonging to the false Tartars; now, also, when a boat from your honourable nation comes among us, the impish vessels of the Tartars again follow in its wake. Considering that your honourable nation is celebrated for its truth and fidelity, we, your younger brothers, do not harbour any suspicions. At present both heaven and men favour our design, and this is just the time for setting up the Chinese and abolishing the Tartar rule. We suppose that you, gentlemen, are well acquainted with the signs of the times, so that we need not enlarge on that subject; but while we, on our parts, do not prohibit commercial intercourse, we merely observe, that since the two parties are now engaged in warfare, the going to and fro is accompanied with inconvenience; and, judging from the present aspect of affairs, we should deem it better to wait a few months, until we have thoroughly destroyed the Tartars, when perhaps the subjects of your honourable nation could go and come without being involved in the tricks of these false Tartars. Would it not, in your estimation, also, be preferable? We take advantage of the opportunity to send you this communication for your intelligent inspection, and hope that every blessing may attend you. We also send a number of our own books, which please to circulate amongst you."

The information gathered through Dr. Taylor's visit is specially interesting upon the point of the religion of the Taepings. It shows that the religious forms and ceremonies were as strictly carried into practice at Chin-keang, forty-seven miles away from the immediate superintendence of the respective chiefs as at Nankin itself; and taking into consideration the fact that the governor of the former city was previously a member of the Triad Society, and not an original "God-worshipper," all due credit should be given to the TienWang and his assistant chiefs for having been able, in so short a time, to enforce the observance of their religious laws.

For a year subsequent to the visit of the 'Hermes,' no European intercourse took place with the Taepings at their capital.

The important military proceedings of this year have now to be noticed, and it will be found requisite, in order clearly to understand them, to make frequent reference to the map.

Northern March

1

CHAPTER IX.

Susquehanna's' Visit to Nankin - Decalogue Visions of the Eastern King - His death.

THE possession of Nankin caused a complete change in the tactics of the Taepings. Hitherto little better than a migratory horde, they had now concentrated all their forces at their capital and its immediate neighbourhood, and devoted their time to fortifying the cities they retained and drilling their troops. In addition to this, the minds of the Tien-Wang and other leaders were occupied in the formation of a kind of government, with its attendant tribunals and courts of justice. The imperialists gained great advantages by this stationary change. Instead of hopelessly following in the rear of an advancing and devastating army, they were now enabled to combine their forces on one or two points; and, consequently, the Taepings soon found themselves at Nankin and Chin-keang invested both by land and water by a force which they could have but small hopes of defeating in the field. Nankin became the great dépôt for stores and troops, and the plans now adopted were to send out bodies of men in different directions, either for the mere purpose of conquest, or else to obtain the necessaries required for the maintenance of the Nankin garrison. It was in May, 1853, that the great northern expedition was determined upon. It

has been doubted with what intention this expeditionary force was detached. Judging from the line of march, which was as far as possible direct for Pekin, it seems probable that the capture of that capital was intended; but the force employed, and the officers appointed to command it, were peculiarly inefficient to carry out the plan with any hopes of ultimate success.

It was in the middle of May that the northern army of Taepings left Nankin and crossed to the northern bank of the Yang-zte-kiang. Their numbers do not

appear to have exceeded six or seven thousand fighting men, and were commanded by one of the inferior chiefs; the Tien-Wang and the four assistant wangs remaining behind at Nankin. After defeating a body of Tartar troops that were stationed near the point of debarkation, the army proceeded rapidly in a north-west direction through the provinces of Ngau-hwui and Hoo-nan. Kaifung, the capital of the latter province, and famous to Europeans by being the city in which the small and only tribe of Jews in China have their synagogue and carry out their religious observances, was attacked without success, but great injury was caused to the city. Near this point the Taepings crossed the Yellow River, and proceeded to the departmental city of Hwae-king. Here they were checked in the northern progress by the imperialist forces, and were forced to diverge for a considerable distance in a westwardly direction as far as Yuen-keuh, which city they captured on the 4th of September. Here they again turned north, and with but slight deviations kept steadily on in the direction of Pekin, capturing several important cities on their way.

Late in September they entered the province of Chih-le, and, after a rapid advance through that province, capturing city after city with but little resistance, they arrived on the borders of the Grand Canal towards the close of October. Proceeding by the Grand Canal they reached and occupied, about the 28th October, the district city of Tsing-hae, distant about twenty miles from Tien-tsin. At this point their advance was arrested. A portion of their force detached from the main body appeared before Tien-tsin on the 30th October, but was driven back with considerable loss. At this time the Court at Pekin were much alarmed at the progress the Taepings were making, and every possible means was adopted to send troops down in sufficient numbers to stop them. A portion of the Manchu garrison of Pekin, together with a large force of Mongols, arrived before Tsing-hae early in November, and these were soon reinforced by the imperialist troops that had followed, as rapidly as possible, in the rear of the Taepings, ever since they had changed the direction of their march after the check received at Hwae-king. The combined forces now closely blockaded the rebel position at Tsing-hae. Here, in the north, everything was in favour of the imperialists. The roads were good, and consequently their cavalry was now of great service. Being near Tien-tsin, the great northern commercial city, they stood in no want of supplies, and Pekin could always, if required, detach additional troops. The Taepings, on the other hand, were completely cut off from all communications with their brethren at Nankin; besides which it is probable that few, if any,