THE TAEPING REBELLION.

"Who ponders national events shall find

An awful balancing of loss and gain,
Joy based on sorrow, good with ill combined,
And proud deliverance issuing out of pain
And direful throes; as if the All-ruling Mind,
With whose perfection it consists to ordain
Volcanic burst, earthquake, and hurricane,
Dealt in like sort with feeble human kind
By laws immutable.",

WORDSWORTH.

THE TAEPING REBELLION

IN CHINA;

A NARRATIVE OF ITS RISE AND PROGRESS,

BASED UPON ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION
OBTAINED IN CHINA.

BY COMMANDER LINDESAY BRINE, R.N., F.R.G.S.,

LATELY EMPLOYED IN CHINESE WATERS.

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,

AND CHARING CROSS.

PREFACE.

THE political and commercial relations between China and the Western Powers are rapidly becoming of such great and increasing importance, that it is the duty of those who have lived for some time in that empire, and have had opportunities of observing the character of the people, together with the system of government, to make known the result of their experience. This conviction has, in a great measure, led to the publication of the present volume.

The career of the Taepings has long attracted the notice of all Europeans interested in whatever relates to the development of the Chinese nation; partly on account of the semi-Christian tenets promulgated by them, but principally because of their influence over the tea and silk districts, and consequent power to injure or advance the prospects of trade. Hence, by devoting a considerable portion of time since my return to England to the arrangement in a connected form of such of my notes as related to the Rebellion, and which were compiled during my stay in that part of China mainly occupied by the contending forces, I considered that my purpose would be adequately fulfilled.

The History of the Rebellion, when related step by step, throws much light upon subjects connected with the political condition of the empire, and in this work