he commands that all fields are to be divided into nine orders, and to be classed according to their produce. Divisions of fields are regulated according to the number of individuals in a household. Everything is arranged 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." In every circle of five-and-twenty families there is to be a granary and a church. The youths of these families are daily to go to their church and study the Old and New Testaments. On the Sabbath day all are to attend service, "the males and females are to sit in separate pews. On these occasions there will be preaching, thanksgiving, and offerings to our Heavenly Father, the Great God." Certain seasons are set apart for the supplying of vacancies in offices, and for elevating or degrading officers. Provision is made for the performance in each circle of twenty-five families, of the duties of potter, blacksmith, carpenter, and mason, and regulations are made for the proper supply of soldiers. The pamphlet thus concludes: "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, the Great God and Universal Lord; they must also explain the Holy Book. Should any fail in this, they shall be degraded to the level of plebeians." According to the testimony of a young captive woman, who escaped from Nankin in 1855, it appears that the Tien-Wang was in the habit of himself explaining the dogmas of his religion to his followers.1 No This he did in his own palace. The Père Clavelin, upon her authority, states that all orders were issued through Yang, the Eastern king. Yang did not much longer enjoy his high position, for, in August, 1856, he, with a number of his adherents, was slaughtered. very reliable information has been obtained which would explain the reasons which led to his destruction. Dr. Bridgeman, in a letter written to one of the local papers, says that Yang had been, for some time previous, plotting the overthrow of the Tien-Wang. This coming to the latter's ears, preparations were made to meet the emergency, and one night Yang's palace was surrounded by a large force of armed men, and on the following morning Yang and his attendant officers were found dead-some had been speared, others decapitated.3 The death of Yang must be considered a most important event in the history of the Taepings. In his religious capacity as the direct means of communication between God the Heavenly Father and his worshippers, and in his political capacity as adviser of the Tien-Wang, and the acknowledged head of all civil and military organization, he always took a most leading, if not the leading part, in the progress of the rebellion. Letter from Père Clavelin, Prop. de la Foi.' 2 The Northern king is also said to have been put to death at this time, in consequence of being leagued with Yang in the intended revolt. 3 Dr. Bridgeman's authorities for his statement were three persons who said they were eye-witnesses; these, from their inferior positions, were little qualified to give an opinion as to the reasons for Yang's murder. CHAP. X. MILITARY OPERATIONS. 213 CHAPTER X. Proceedings of the Taepings - Lord Elgin's expedition to Hankow THE military operations of the Taepings, after the failure of their great northern expedition in 1853-54 are little else than a series of incursions made upon the country bordering on the Yang-tze-kiang, in order to obtain contributions of money and provisions. The large cities of Wu-chang (capital of Hoo-peh), Han-yang and Hankow, captured by them in June, 1854, were evacuated in the following October, after having taken from them all the supplies they required, and which were forwarded to the treasury and granaries at Nankin. The smaller cities lying north and south of the river between Hankow and Nankin were also one after the other abandoned, and the imperialist forces regained possession of them. Early in 1855,' another force was detached along the river up to Hankow, and in March Wu-chang was for the third time carried by storm, the imperialists suffering considerable losses. The Taepings again occupied the three cities, and for a much longer time than before. During this year the Pekin Gazettes published numerous accounts of actions fought in the provinces of Kiang-si and Hoo-peh, generally favourable to the 1 Summaries from Pekin Gazettes. imperialists. Towns were taken and retaken, but no very important results were obtained on either side. The local rebels in the adjoining provinces, emboldened by the example of the Taepings, created great ravages, and caused much trouble to the government. In January, 1856, the Gazette records several successes in the province of Kiang-su; and on the Yang-zte the Taeping fleet is said to have been pursued with great loss to within a few miles of Nankin. At this time the Taepings were in possession of the greater part of the country bordering on the south of the river from Chin-keang to Hankow; they also held portions of the provinces of Kiang-si and Hoo-peh. Their northern army which, after its repulses in 1855, commenced its retrograde march towards the south, incited all the lawless characters on their line of march to rise in arms against the magistrates. In a report of one of the latter, named Tuh-shih-tsuen, published in the Gazette of April, 1856, it is stated that "On the appearance of the Kwang-tung outlaws (Taepings) in the third year of Hien-Fung (1853) the local vagabonds dwelling on the common boundary of Honan and Ngan-hwui rose in swarms, and in the autumn of last year Chang-lohking, and other rebel leaders, having privily made banners of five colours, took each one a colour of his own, assumed the title of king (Wang), appointed officers, enrolled followers, committed violence, and ventured on insurrection. They have slain the authorities and harassed the people, trampling them under foot at their good pleasure. From Ngan-hwui, westward, into Honan, throughout a region measuring some three hundred 'li' in length, and one thousand 'li' in circumference, the villages are in ruins, and dead bodies are lying in all directions. . . . Their force is something under one hundred thousand men, they spread to the east into Kiang-su, and north to the borders of Shan-tung. The waters of the Yellow River have lately been disturbed, and the sufferers, having no home to return to, are seduced into joining these bands." Previous to this report of Chang-toh-king, Honan had suffered also from famine, and the whole province was in a frightful state of anarchy. In a decree of the 25th March, the emperor announced his intention of calling in the forces of Inner Mongolia to suppress the rebellion. This was a strong measure, and one only resorted to under great pressure. The old jealousy between the Manchu and Mongol Tartars is too strong ever to allow the Mongols to be placed in a position which might endanger the power of the present dynasty. On the 1st of June the imperialists suffered a severe defeat before Chin-keang, and about the same time their lines before Nankin were forced to retire. During the whole of this year the suburbs of these cities had been the constant scene of conflict, and, latterly, the Taepings gained considerable advantages. In the provinces of Kiang-si, Hoo-nan, and Hoo-peh, the imperialists regained possession of several large towns. In the early part of the year, they, for the third time, recaptured Wu-chang, and consequently its adjoining cities. The Taepings fell back, down the stream, upon |