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THE 
 
 LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG, 
 
 LATE EMPEROR OF CHINA. 
 
THE 
 
 LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG, 
 
 LATE EMPEROR OF CHINA: 
 
 MEMOIES OF THE COUKT OF PEKING; 
 
 INCLUDING A SKETCH OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS 
 
 IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHINESE EMPIRE 
 
 DURING THE LAST FIFTY YEARS. 
 
 BY THE LATE 
 
 REV. CHARLES GUTZLAFF, 
 
 AUTHOR OB TUB " HISTOBY 01 CHIWA," "CHINA OPENED," &C. 
 
 LONDON: 
 SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. 
 
 1852. 
 
vDS757 
 
 CARPENTIER 
 
 London : 
 
 Printed by Stewart & Murray, 
 
 Old Bailey. 
 
TO 
 
 SIK GEOBGE THOMAS STAUNTON, Bt. M.P. 
 
 THE CONSTANT FRIEND AND PATRON OF ALL SINALOGUES, 
 
 Wb\% 23ook 
 
 IS HUMBLY DEDICATED, 
 
 AS A TRIFLING MARK OF ESTEEM, 
 
 BY 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 M86140 
 
ADVERTISEMENT, 
 
 While this work was passing 1 through the 
 press, the mournful intelligence of the death of 
 its distinguished Author reached this country. 
 
 Dr. Gutzlaff died at Victoria, Hong Kong, 
 on the 9th of August 1851, at the age of 
 forty-eight, of dropsy, preceded by an attack 
 of rheumatic gout. 
 
 The Publishers, being desirous of prefixing 
 to this posthumous publication a memoir of 
 its Author, applied to his friend Sir George 
 Staunton (to whom the work is dedicated), for 
 some particulars of the Author's life ; they 
 also addressed one of the executors of Dr. 
 Gutzlaff on the subject, and were favoured 
 by these gentlemen with such materials as 
 were available for the purpose. But the infor- 
 mation thus afforded was too meagre to con- 
 stitute a memoir suitable for this volume, 
 
\ 
 
 Vlll ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 and added little to the facts stated in a 
 biographical sketch of Dr. GutzlafF, which 
 appeared in the " Literary Gazette" of Oct. 
 25, 1851. 
 
 Moreover, it was intimated that the widow 
 of Dr. GutzlafF is collecting" materials for a 
 memoir of the life and labours of her lamented 
 husband; for publication ; the Publishers, there- 
 fore, considered it advisable to refrain from 
 any attempt to compile a memoir, which must 
 unavoidably have been incomplete and un- 
 satisfactory. 
 
 The Publishers take this opportunity of ex- 
 pressing' their acknowledgments to Sir George 
 Staunton, for his kindness in revising the work 
 for press. 
 
 65, CORNHILL, 
 
 January 1852. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction ...... page ] 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth and parentage of Meenning, afterwards Taou-kwang — His 
 early youth — The Emperor Kefenlung's system of education — - 
 His character and habits — He abdicates — Insurrection of the 
 Meaotze — Projected invasion of India — Destruction of the 
 Chinese army — Rising in the North-Western Provinces — 
 Lawlessness of the soldiery — Death of Keenlung — Revelries 
 of the Emperor Keaking — Eate of his prime minister — Charac- 
 ter and pursuits of Meenning — Cruelties of the Emperor — 
 Conspiracy to dethrone him — His remorse, and subsequent 
 tyranny— Political fraternity of the Water-Lily — Persecution 
 of the Roman Catholics — Conduct and habits of Meenning — 
 His personal character — He eludes the proscription of the 
 Emperor — His choice of friends — He protects European 
 mechanics . . . . . .7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 War against pirates— Occupation of Macao by the English- 
 Imperial proclamation — Chinese policy — Keaking's estimation 
 of the power of the French — Opposition to his government — 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 His debaucheries — Meenning's resolute defence against a band 
 of robbers— He is appointed his father's successor — Keaking 
 describes the incursion of the robbers — Increased severity of 
 the government— Arrival of the English Embassy in China— 
 State of the Chinese Court— Keaking's latter days— Meen- 
 ning's freedom from corruption — His unassuming character — 
 Keaking's sixtieth birthday — His death —His testament— 
 Meenning ascends the throne— His reverence for the Empress- 
 dowager — Description of his person and character . 27 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Accession of Taou-kwang — Superstition of the Chinese — - 
 Humility and generosity of Taou-kwang — Ceremonies on his 
 ascending the throne — He mourns for his father — The harem 
 abolished — Taou-kwang pays homage to the Dowager-Empress 
 — His generosity towards his enemies— Gradual changes in the 
 Cabinet — Character of Lung — His popularity and his rise to 
 power— Yain efforts of the Emperor to remain independent of 
 counsellors — His choice of advisers — Account of Keying — 
 Character of Hegan— Of Chargul— Of Keshen— Of Elepoo— 
 Of Alitsinga— Of Lungan — Office of Kingching and Kwulin — 
 Claims of Prince Paouking — Relatives of Taou-kwang— Serious 
 aspect of the Court — Erugality of Taou-kwang— His desire for 
 accumulating silver — Its effect upon the currency— Economy 
 in the treasury — Taou-kwang's administration — His toleration 
 put to the test . . . . . .45 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 State of the country on Taou-kwang's accession— Taou-kwang's 
 private life — Imperial palaces — Taou-kwang's indifference to 
 art — Expulsion of the Portuguese — Taou-kwang's dread of P 
 western power — Festivities of the Manchoos — Favourite 
 residence of the Emperor — Ascendancy of the council of war — 
 Accessions of territory gained by Taou-kwang's ancestors — 
 Struggles for liberty of the Mahommedans — Restrictions on 
 commerce — Rebellion of Tehangir — Preparations for quelling 
 it — Disunion in Tehangir's army — Triumph and subsequent 
 cruelty of the Imperial troops — Disastrous consequences of 
 
CONTENTS. XI 
 
 the rebellion — Conduct of the Kaya of Kokonor — Changes in 
 the cabinet — Disgrace of Yingho — Elevation of Chung-ling — 
 Rising in Formosa — Corrupt state of administration — Rewards 
 of robbers— Destruction of the Black-caps — Taou-kwang pays 
 homage in the temple of his ancestors — He enacts useful laws 
 — His poetic vein excited . . . .72 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Tomb of the Emperor — Of his mother and wife — Taou-kwang's 
 pilgrimage to the tombs of his ancestors — His deportment 
 amongst his countrymen — His bounty — His predilection — 
 Earthquake at Honan — Effect upon the Emperor — Overflow- 
 ing of the Yang-tse-kiang, and consequent distress of the 
 people — Energy of Taou-kwang on the occasion — Conduct of 
 the government — Irruption of the mountaineers of Haeman — 
 Rebellion of the Andeganos — Disgrace of Chang-ling — Quarrel 
 between the Emperor and his son, and death of the latter — 
 Illness of Taou-kwang — Hwuy-wang appointed his successor — 
 Death of Taou-kwang's wife, and his grief . . 92 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Rebellion of mountaineers — Defeat of Le, and his consequent 
 disgrace and banishment — Hegan despatched against the rebels 
 — His success — Reward of the successful commanders— Ere- 
 quent occurrence of rebellion— Crueltv of the government — 
 Rebellion in Shantung — Policy of the government — Trade 
 society — Persecution of the Christians — Opposition of the 
 Emperor to it — Reproach passed on the government — Pro-, 
 sperity of the country— Frequent famine — Policy of the Man- 
 darins respecting it — IM refill" consequences — Taou-kwang's 
 fondness for punctilio — ! His devotion — Second wife of the 
 Emperor — Her character and pursuits — Her influence on State 
 affairs— Chinese contempt for female government — Attachment 
 of the Emperor to his second wife — Prosperity of the country 
 under her influence — Emperor's neglect of her, and her deatn 
 — Law passed against the interference of eunuchs in State 
 affairs — Changes in the Cabinet — Rise of Yucn-yuen — Retire- 
 ment of Lung and Chang-ling — Business of the Cabinet — 
 Dependence of ministers on the Emperor's favour . 104 
 
Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Taou-kwang's desire for popularity — Distress in 1832— Taou- 
 kwang rewards the charity of the nobles — Laws respecting 
 convicts — Trait of character in the Emperor — Idolatry of the 
 Chinese — An idol raised in dignity — Situation of Canton- 
 Affected contempt for trade of the Chinese — Restrictions upon 
 trade — Alleged causes of the war with England — Government 
 proclamation — Insults of the Governor of Canton to the picture 
 of the British sovereign — His defence — Cessation of monopoly 
 — Arrival of Lord Napier — Conduct of Chinese government on 
 the occasion — Advance of two British frigates — Anger of the 
 Emperor, and disgrace of the governor — Death of Lord Napier 
 — Opposition of Taou-kwang to friendly intercourse with the 
 "barbarians" — Deficiency in the exchequer — Sale of offices — 
 Amount of revenue — Proposed methods of supplying the deficit 
 — Taou-kwang's sensitiveness in money matters— Effect upon 
 government of the sale of offices. . . . 121 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Celebration of the sixtieth birthday of the Empress-dowager, and 
 of the marriage of the new Empress — Principles of Chinese 
 military policy — Burlesque appearance of the soldiers — Neutrali- 
 zation of the military power — Rise of officers— Taou-kwang's 
 sense of the defects in military policy — His wise exhortations — 
 State of the navy — Superiority of the pirate's vessels — Taou- 
 kwang's indignation at the incapacity of the navy — Disgrace 
 of officers — Inefficiency of Imperial edicts — Taou-kwang bewails 
 the degenerate times — His satisfaction with his ministers — 
 Chinese veneration for age — Account of Sung — His character — 
 Power of his name— His degradation — Sentence of the Emperor 
 upon him — He regains favour— He turns author — His appoint- 
 ment under Taou-kwang— His final retirement in 1833 . 135 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Uniformity of Taou-kwang's life— His adulation of his adopted 
 mother — Remonstrance against the expenses of the court — 
 
CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 Lin-tsi-t sen's petition against the land tax— Retrograde move- 
 ment proposed ; and punishment of the author of the proposi- 
 tion—Severity of Taou-kwang — His pilgrimages to the tombs of 
 his ancestors — His quiet life — Report of ministerial progress — 
 Investigation into literary merit — Tranquillity vanishes with the 
 influence of the Empress — Evils resulting from the use of opium 
 — Measures against its use — Charge against the Emperor's 
 uncle— Interruptions to commerce— Lin's proceedings against 
 opium-smokers in Canton — Punishments of dealers and smokers 
 — Success of the measures — Lin's advancement . . 147 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Lin's literary achievement — He proposes improvements in the 
 navy— Trade with England prohibited — Chinese notions of 
 English courage — Impatience for war with the British— Foreign 
 policy — Preparations for war — Proposals for peace — Sentence 
 against deserters — Unlooked-for appearance of the English fleet 
 at the mouth of the Pei-ho — Judicious deportment of Keshen 
 — Ravages of the mob — Taou-kwang's apprehensions — Arrival 
 of the British fleet in the Canton waters — Indignation of the 
 Chinese thereat — Skilful behaviour of Keshen — His subsequent 
 disgrace — Disgrace of Elepoo — Yukeen's barbarous treatment 
 of the English — Defeat of the Chinese — False report of con- 
 quest—Honours paid to the Goddess of Mercy — Victories of the 
 English— Suicide of Yukeen — Execution of Yu-poo-yun . 163 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Proposed plan for the defence of China and conquest of England 
 — Taou-kwang's apprehension for his capital — Brilliant project 
 of Hou-chunn— Attempt at building steamers— Expedition of 
 Yi-king — His defeat — Emperor's desire for peace, and plans for 
 obtaining it — British fleet enters the Yang-tse-kiang— Elepoo's 
 letter to the Emperor— Its effect — Treaty of Nanking— Its con- 
 sequences — Emperor's indignation against the "barbarians," 
 ana false notions about them — Presumption of Chinese generals 
 — False reports of victories — Anxiety of the Emperor during 
 war — Punishment of the ministers who had urged the war 
 — Expense of the war — Robbery of the Emperor, and his in- 
 demnification . . . . ■ .179 
 
XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Keshen restored to favour — Renewal of the war proposed — Taou- 
 kwang's reception of the proposition, and address to the 
 assembly — Reply of the ministers — Nankin treaty ratified — 
 Suicide of Wangling — Death of Elepoo— Foreign adminstra- 
 tion of Keying — Murder of British subjects — Outrage on 
 foreign factories — Treaties with Prance and the United States 
 — Toleration of Christianity— Superstitious faith in idols de- 
 stroyed— Taou-kwang studies works on Christianity — His 
 favourable opinion of them — Keying's belief in Christianity — 
 Propagation of Christianity legalized — Roman Catholics' desire 
 to monopolize the privilege frustrated . . .195 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Ports opened to foreigners — Restrictions on foreign intercourse 
 — Unsuccessful attempt to improve financial affairs — Rise of 
 democratic ideas — Municipal authorities demand a voice in 
 state affairs — Militia proposed — Monster meetings and riots — 
 Effects of the sale of offices — Partial administration of justice — 
 Increase of robbers — Pears for Taou-kwang's government — The 
 Emperor's popularity — Trade improved — Revenue falls off — 
 Avarice of Taou-kwang— His illness — Attempt to restore the 
 native government — Anticipations of Hwuy-wang — Compe- 
 titors for the throne — Recovery of Taou-kwang — His compro- 
 mise with Hwuy-wang — His love of peace — His desire for 
 popularity — Favours conferred in honour of the birthday of the 
 Empress-dowager — Advancement of Keshen . . 205 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Taou-kwang's return to idolatry— Ineffectual prayers for rain — 
 Change of ministers — Muchangah — Paouhing — Success of 
 Keying's negotiations— His sons — His daughter— His advance- 
 ment — He introduces improvements — The Emperor arrests his 
 measures — Laishangah undertakes the direction of the finances 
 — Taou-kwang's pilgrimage to the tombs of his ancestors — His 
 
CONTENTS. XV 
 
 fits of superstition — Celebration of the birthday of the Empress- 
 dowager — Fortification of the Yang-tse-kiang — Cause of 
 financial difficulties — Loss to the exchequer from the smuggling 
 of salt — Indirect taxation proposed— Plans for increasing the 
 revenue— Extent, population, and revenue of China compared 
 with those of Russia and the British Empire— Embezzlement 
 by functionaries — Character of the mandarins — Disastrous con- 
 sequences of the defalcation in receipts— Chusan restored to its 
 government . . . » . .218 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Extended empires of England, Russia, and China — Efficacy of 
 Chinese power — Rising in 1847 — Cashgar taken by the rebels, 
 and Manchoo forces routed — Unusual measures for repelling 
 the enemy — Imperial proposals accepted — Recapture of Cash- 
 gar — Treacherous conduct of the Koja of Kokand — Yi-shan's 
 suggestion of the removal of restrictions on commerce acted 
 upon — Beneficial results therefrom — Lin's erroneous opinion 
 of the resources of the southern powers of Asia — Policy of the 
 Emperor towards the surrounding states — Reverence of the 
 Emperor for sacred things — Anti-national exclusive system- 
 Border war — Advancement of Lin — Rebellion on the western 
 frontiers — Treacherous and blood-thirsty conduct of Lin — His 
 accusation, acquittal and reward — His death, and character — 
 Destruction of crops by inundation — Direful consequences — 
 Difficulties arising from a want of the circulating medium of 
 the precious metal — Remedies for these evils . . 231 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Emperor's distaste for public affairs — Confidence placed by 
 Taou-kwang in Keying — Opposition of the people to the opening 
 of the gates of Canton — Taou-kwang sides with the people, and 
 their triumph— Accusations againstKeying — Hwang dismissed 
 from power — Retrograde movement — Taou-kwang s faculties 
 become weakened — His religious habits increase — His alternate 
 disgust and reverence for idolatry— He becomes reserved — 
 —His anticipations of a long life — Grave character of the 
 Court — Dangers of interfering with the exchequer — The 
 suggestion of improvements considered heresy — Taou-kwang'a., 
 • avours to conceal his increasing infirmities — His pil- 
 grimage to the ancestral tombs— He dispels the rumours 
 
XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 of his approaching death— His criticisms on the army and 
 navy— He proposes plans for the improvement of military 
 discipline — Their inefficiency— Unsuccessful attempts to ex- 
 change the musket for the bow — Slow progress of improve- 
 ment in the navy— Increasing power of pirates— Interference 
 of the British — Piratical ravages on the coast of Kwang-tung 
 under Sapongtsae — His fleet destroyed by the British men- 
 of-war— His escape and rise to rank — Partial cessation of 
 piracy — Attempt at reform of a Portuguese governor — His 
 murder — Peace-offering to his countrymen — Risings in 1849 
 — Geographical knowledge desirable for an Emperor of China 
 — Taou-kwang encourages the publication of geographical 
 works — Influence of Protestant missionaries . . 247 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Taou-kwang's approaching end — Intrigue at Court — Death 
 of the Empress-dowager — The Emperor's account of it — 
 Honours paid to her memory — Her character — Taou-kwang's 
 grief and mourning — His last edict — He appoints Yih-choo his 
 successor — Rumour of Hwuy-wang's plot against the prince — 
 Death of Taou-kwang — Proclamation of Hien-fung — He sums 
 up his father's character — Last request of Taou-kwang— Title 
 under which he is worshipped — Hien-fung's change of charac- 
 ter — His superstition — Muchangah and Keying discarded — 
 Companions of the Emperor — Anticipated effect of steam 
 navigation on China — Conclusion . . . 264 
 
THE 
 
 LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG; 
 
 LATE EMPEROR OF CHINA. . 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To be an Emperor of China, is perhaps the 
 highest dignity to which a mortal can aspire. 
 Leaving* out all that superstition has added to 
 the exalted rank the monarch holds, there 
 remains still very much which would fill 
 minds like those of Alexander and Napoleon, 
 even at the acme of their glory, with envy. 
 It is not necessary to talk about the Great 
 Emperor as the prince of princes, the vice- 
 gerent of Heaven on earth, the very represen- 
 tative of all living beings, to give a sublime 
 idea of his position ; the simple fact of being 
 sovereign ruler over three hundred and sixty- 
 five millions of human beings, is enough to 
 raise the autocrat in worldly estimation. 
 
2 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 When one adds to this, that the descendant 
 of a mere chief of hunters sways the above 
 myriads according* to his will, keeps the unruly 
 Mongols in utter subjection, maintains his 
 supremacy over Tibet, is liege lord of the 
 Eleuths, and administers his government over 
 the wild inhabitants of Kokonor, and the no 
 less', brave inhabitants of Turkistan, one can- 
 not Refuse a tribute of homage to such a 
 mighty potentate." 
 
 To the unregenerate heart of man, there is 
 something inexpressibly charming in the con- 
 templation of unbounded rule, of which the 
 Chinese Emperor furnishes the beau -ideal. 
 flis word is law ; his very actions, how trivial 
 soever, the pattern of conduct ; he can slay and 
 respite at pleasure ; the lives and whole pro- 
 perty of all his subjects being at his disposal, 
 he is under no responsibility to a watchful par- 
 liament, or a powerful nobility. Sole master 
 and lord, under the endearing title of a father, 
 he does what seemeth good to him. Were 
 there ever sovereign power entrusted to man, 
 it is the Emperor of China who wields the 
 same. To judge of him, we must always view 
 the man in this light, for though he may theo- 
 
POWER OF THE EMPEROR. 3 
 
 retically pretend to be amenable to Heaven and 
 his ancestors ; yet these are mere emblems of 
 powers that exercise no influence, except occa- 
 sionally a moral one, upon his mind. 
 
 In viewing the monarch of China in this light, 
 we must not forget the other side of the ques- 
 tion. He who has none to command him, must 
 be himself a slave to custom ; he who is a legis- 
 lator through life, has to attend to the most 
 trivial demands of etiquette. Innumerable 
 forms render the Emperor of China an auto- 
 maton. He may break through them, de- 
 spise them as they really deserve ; but he will 
 not hold long his high rank, nor yet attempt 
 this with impunity. He may be a tyrant, and 
 spread desolation through the court and over 
 the whole land ; but let him be attentive to 
 the sacrifices of his ancestors, regularly hold 
 the plough in spring, go to the temples in 
 rotation, appear in times of national calamity 
 as a penitent in sackcloth, impute to himself 
 all the guilt of the nation, and he will be con- 
 sidered an excellent Emperor. On the other 
 hand, let him neglect the behests of the Board 
 of Rites, withdraw from the frequent audiences 
 that are regularly given, dress or deport him- 
 
4 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 self differently from what is prescribed by 
 immemorial usage, and a hundred voices will 
 exclaim against the unworthy ruler, and with 
 censure upon censure will denounce him. 
 
 A Chinese Emperor can make his mere will 
 the rule of a nation ; but he must, at least 
 ostensibly, now and then, pay deference to the 
 better judgment of his statesmen. The nation 
 at large is nothing in itself; yet the man 
 without an equal must make himself popular, 
 by listening to the wishes of his subjects. 
 Every one ought to have access to his ear ; 
 the poorest widow be allowed to speak to him 
 through the Court of Appeal. In recent 
 years, we may say it has become fashionable 
 at Court to talk about the wishes of the 
 people ; to speak of them as the first to be 
 attended to : as the guide and loadstone in all 
 measures. Though a great many of these 
 phrases are mere verbiage used on proper 
 occasions, still the principles thus expressed 
 have found many admirers throughout the 
 whole land. 
 
 From one part of China to the other, dema- 
 gogical ideas are current, aiming at the 
 curtailing of provincial as well as supreme 
 
DUTIES OF THE EMPEROR. 5 
 
 authority. The Emperor has to contend with 
 these, and to accommodate himself in such a 
 manner as to reconcile the purest despotism 
 with a popular democracy. The Chinese mon- 
 arch must be the father of the great, Black- 
 haired race; always tender, kind, and thoroughly 
 Chinese in all institutions and sentiments. He 
 has to shew himself the worthy chief of his 
 Manchoos, who look up to him as such, and 
 expect much from his bounty. Amongst the 
 Mongols, he must appear as a great Chan; 
 whose riches in cattle, whose influence, whose 
 pervading power in the steppes, must awe down 
 all antagonism. To the Tibetans and the 
 numerous nomades, he has to show himself as 
 a great devotee; who looks upon the Dalai 
 Lama as Heaven's incarnation, and feeds 
 all the Lamas who come near him, from 
 motives of extreme piety. 
 
 The enormous responsibility thus devolving 
 on the shoulders of the Chinese monarch, does 
 not exempt him from paying due regard to 
 these nationalities; and a deviation on either 
 side might often have dangerous consequences. 
 The administration of so great an empire re- 
 quires the aid of many distinguished men ; and 
 
6 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 it would be impossible that some should not 
 become the guides of the monarch: though they 
 call him their master, and reign in his name. 
 However enlightened the u sons of Heaven * 
 may wish to appear before the world, the thral- 
 dom in which superstition holds them is never- 
 theless very strong; and an astrological board 
 — miscalled astronomical — regulates all their 
 important movements. 
 
 We have enumerated these limitations to 
 the sovereign authority of the great Emperor ; 
 because, in order to judge of their measures 
 impartially, it is necessary to keep these points 
 always in view ; and we may thus frequently 
 find a clue to proceedings that would otherwise 
 appear to be unaccountable. A common 
 peasant frequently enjoys more true liberty, 
 more freedom of action, than his prince. 
 
PARENTAGE OF MEENNING. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth and parentage of Meenning, afterwards Taou- 
 kwang. — His early youth. — The Emperor Keenlung's 
 system of education. — His character and habits. — He 
 abdicates. — Insurrection of the Meaotze. — Projected 
 invasion of India. — Destruction of the Chinese army. 
 — Rising in the North-Western Provinces. — Lawless- 
 ness of the soldiery. — Death of Keenlung. — Revelries 
 of the Emperor Keaking. — Fate of his prime minister. 
 — Character and pursuits of Meenning. — Cruelties of 
 the Emperor. — Conspiracy to dethrone him. — His re- 
 morse, and subsequent tyranny. — Political fraternity 
 of the Water- Lily. — Persecution of the Roman 
 Catholics. — Conduct and habits of Meenning. — His 
 personal character. — He eludes the proscription of the 
 Emperor. — His choice of friends. — He protects Euro- 
 pean mechanics. 
 
 Taou-kwang, who as prince bore the name of 
 Meenning", was born in the end of 1781 ; long- 
 before his father had the least hope of ever 
 ascending the throne. 
 
 Kednlung-, his grandfather, had many sons; 
 and he had chosen amongst them, from time to 
 
8 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 time, the most distinguished as his successor; 
 but those elected either died, or proved them- 
 selves unworthy of the high appointment. He 
 left off, therefore, designating- his heir, and 
 treated all his children with great impar- 
 tiality. Anxious to promote their welfare, he 
 gave them very little money, until reaching 
 their 25th year ; when they obtained an estab- 
 lishment worthy their rank, and perhaps the 
 title of Wang, or king, with an income of 
 about 10,000 taels, about £3,000 sterling, a 
 year: the princesses having before been dis- 
 posed of, with a dower, to some Manchoo or 
 Mongol noble, or to a Chinese statesman. 
 
 Keemlung's sons and grandsons were, from 
 their sixth year, put under the most eminent 
 of the Hanlin, or doctors. The ministers of 
 State were entrusted with the superintendence 
 of their education ; the best horsemen and 
 archers of Mongolia and Manchooria were 
 given them as riding-masters. The monarch 
 wished that the princes of the blood should 
 excel in mental discipline and in vigour of 
 body; strong exercise and great exertions he 
 deemed necessary for invigorating their con- 
 stitution, and fitting them for their high rank. 
 
EDUCATION OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY. 9 
 
 There was a large apartment at Yuen-ming- 
 vuen expressly set aside for the instruction of 
 the imperial youths. They were kept there 
 very strictly : the teachers had orders to treat 
 them as the children of common citizens, and 
 to spare no trouble to instil into their minds 
 love for the doctrines of the ancient sages. 
 When they were least aware, the Emperor 
 would suddenly surprise them, inquire into 
 their conduct, make them repeat their lessons, 
 give directions as to the future course of in- 
 structions to be adopted, and punish with 
 very great severity, if there was the least 
 neglect. 
 
 A Manchoo is born a warrior • and how- 
 ever much Chinese learning may be prized, as 
 absolutely necessary at Court, still, to handle 
 with skill a bow and to gallop a horse, are 
 considered higher accomplishments, more in 
 unison with the national spirit. Those who 
 do not partake with delight in these exercises 
 are considered degenerate, and unworthy to 
 form part of the family which rules over the 
 Chinese Empire. The boys also had now and 
 then permission to accompany their father on 
 his hunting tours, to shew their agility in 
 
10 THE LIFE OF TaOU-KWANG. 
 
 riding- and shooting'. Otherwise, they were 
 kept from all public business, and strictly con- 
 fined to their studies, with very little inter- 
 course with the Court. Guards were set over 
 them, to prevent them wandering" about at 
 pleasure, and forming* connections with the 
 people. They generally lived in entire ig*- 
 norance of all the events that were g'oing* 
 on ; and, as long as they were under twelve 
 years, they were treated as mere school- 
 boys. 
 
 Gradually, on coming* of ag"e, they enjoyed 
 more freedom, but could never leave the pre- 
 cincts of the palace without express permis- 
 sion; which was rarely given them. Thus 
 restrained, without occupation and with a 
 scanty subsistence, for princes, their youth 
 was passed in frivolous pastimes. Having 1 
 passed twenty years, they were called to assist 
 at the ceremonies of the Court ; to perform, 
 as proxies for their aug*ust relations, the rites 
 on solemn occasions ; to take now and then 
 a trip to the imperial tombs, or to sit in 
 judgment upon one or other prince : and to 
 change the monotony of life, they received, 
 occasionally, a summons to repair to the 
 
PATRIARCHAL HABITS OF KEENLUNG. 11 
 
 council-table, and thus come in contact with 
 statesmen. 
 
 Keenlung' would sometimes unbend on 
 festive occasions, when the whole family 
 was assembled. In the latter days of his 
 life, he numbered children and children's 
 children of the fifth generation. Amongst 
 them he used to sit down with truly 
 patriarchal benevolence, embrace and carry 
 them, and shew himself the father of the 
 family in the fullest sense of the word. 
 Liberties were, however, never permitted ', 
 and the loving- father was soon changed into 
 the stern monarch, to keep familiarity at a 
 distance. 
 
 In such a circle the early days of Taou- 
 kwang were passed. His father was the third 
 of four surviving sons, and the 15th child of 
 Keenlung, born of a concubine. The legiti- 
 mate children had long before died, and the 
 choice of Keenlung was fixed upon Keaking ; 
 because he had silently prayed to Heaven, 
 and believed it to be the decree from on 
 High, that he should succeed, as the most able 
 of all his offspring. He abdicated the throne, 
 after a reign of sixty years; and the new 
 
 
12 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Emperor trod in the steps of his father, as 
 long* as his father lived. 
 
 It was a very difficult time. Ketmlung 
 declared that he had foregone his own predi- 
 lection, in the appointment of this son to the 
 Imperial throne ; and there was, perhaps, none 
 of the princes less fitted to assume the reins 
 of government than Keaking. 
 
 Meenning's youth fell upon a very stormy 
 period : even the throne was at times endan- 
 gered. The iniquitous wars of his grand- 
 father with Birmah and Annam had im- 
 poverished the treasury, and the revenue was 
 in an irretrievable state of confusion. Go- 
 vernment, having* no physical means to meet 
 the coming* storm, was obliged to temporize, 
 and it became an administration of expediency. 
 
 The Meaotze in Sechuen, who had been sub- 
 dued with barbarous cruelty, and whose princes 
 had been cut to pieces by slow degrees, to 
 please the Court, rose again to a man, and in 
 a very short time dispersed the feeble garri- 
 sons left to keep them in check. They main- 
 tained their ground, kept at defiance the 
 detachments sent against them, and only 
 agreed to peace, when, after many years of 
 
DEFEATS OF THE CHINESE ARMY. 13 
 
 direful contest, a round sum was paid into 
 their hands. 
 
 The defeat which the Chinese army twice suf- 
 fered in the Birmah territory, cooled in some 
 measure Ke&nlung's courage, in planning" the 
 projected invasion of India — a darling* idea 
 with which some European seems to have in- 
 oculated him. It was easy to conclude a 
 treaty with a nation that had gained everything* 
 by the war, and kept undisputed possession of 
 the conquered regions ) and thus matters were 
 adjusted, even before the abdication of Ke&nlung*. 
 
 The invasion of Tunkin, and the annihilation 
 of the whole Chinese army by a handful of 
 rebels, imprinted an indelible stig'ma upon 
 Chinese prowess. Long* afterwards, when An- 
 nam was swayed by its native prince — a man 
 of enterprise and great renown, who prized 
 European science, and despised Chinese an- 
 tiquated lore — threats of instant war were 
 several times thrown out, by a power which 
 had never before been otherwise than in 
 vassalag-e to the Chinese Empire. All these 
 indignities Taou-kwang's father had to endure, 
 without ever being able to crush the puny king 
 who thus rose against his liege lord. 
 
14 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Yet these were trifling- evils, which Keen- 
 lung* bequeathed, when compared with a very 
 g-eneral rising- in the North- Western Pro- 
 vinces. An extraordinary mania seemed to 
 have seized the people to clamour for liberty, or 
 to demand of Government the means of subsis- 
 tence in years of severity. The malcontents 
 appeared in thousands and hundreds of thou- 
 sands, apparently without a real object; laying* 
 the whole of Shensi waste, spreading- to Shansi 
 and even Chihli, and undermining- the very 
 foundations of the State. 
 
 It was indeed a trying- time when these 
 even ts took place. Taou-kwang- was then about 
 twenty years of ag-e ; and, though doubtless 
 unacquainted with the details of the far- 
 spreading- insurrection, he knew, nevertheless, 
 that the storm rag-ed not far from the Imperial 
 palace. The soldiers sent out ag-ainst those 
 masses of marauders, were themselves poverty- 
 stricken, and had to live by plunder ; they were, 
 therefore, as much hated by the peaceful pea- 
 santry as the rebels. Had the latter been 
 organized and formed into a political faction, 
 they would have overthrown the reig-ning* 
 dynasty ) as it was, they merely rendered 
 
SAD CHANGE AT COURT. 15 
 
 themselves odious as robbers. Starvation oc- 
 casioned by drought swelled their ranks, and 
 they might have maintained themselves a very 
 long* time ; if the common people, wearied by 
 their exactions, had not risen to a man against 
 them. 
 
 Keenlung in the mean while died, and Kea- 
 kinjr could now throw off the restraint which had 
 so much harassed him. The whole Court was 
 changed : instead of sage counsellors, frolic- 
 some boon companions filled the halls ; instead 
 of deliberations about the affairs of State, the 
 imperial palace resounded with the sounds of 
 music and revelry ; buffoons and play-actors 
 became the companions of the monarch, and 
 every honest man who had a character to 
 lose withdrew from the administration. 
 
 This was the society into which Meenning 
 was ushered, at an age when the passions are the 
 strongest, and reason is weakest to curb them. 
 The grave tenure of Ke&nlung's government, 
 and the severe discipline introduced in all 
 departments, rendered the change acceptable 
 to the majority of courtiers ; and a thousand 
 flatterers surrounded the throne, to whisper 
 the joys experienced at the commencement of 
 
16 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 the reign of licentiousness. Money was only 
 wanting* to render their bliss perfect ; and this 
 was soon found. 
 
 Hochungtong, the prime minister of Ke^n- 
 lung during* the latter part of his reign, had 
 exacted much of the sovereign, and proved an 
 eyesore to Keaking; who, however, forebore dur- 
 ing the life of his sire: but as soon as he was dead, 
 the magnate received orders to appear at the 
 coffin of the departed, and perform the funeral 
 rites — the highest honours he could enjoy. 
 Soon afterwards the minister was declared a 
 traitor to his country; and a long list of charges, 
 most of them ridiculous, was brought against 
 him. He had many adherents, and as it was 
 not unlikely that a general rising in his favour 
 would take place, he and his whole family 
 were executed with the utmost cruelty. 
 
 This statesman had been one of Taou-kwang's 
 instructors: a man distinguished by the utmost 
 urbanity; who had risen from a life-guardsman 
 to this dignity, partly by his own merit. The 
 sum which the Imperial persecutor obtained 
 from the confiscation of the minister's property, 
 amounted, it was said, to eighty million taels : 
 above twenty millions sterling. This was indeed 
 
ORGIES OF THE COURT. 17 
 
 a treasure ; luxury and rioting had no longer 
 any check : with wasteful levity the money so 
 easily obtained was speedily spent, and the 
 capital now abounded with sybarites and 
 shameless sycophants, who eagerly thronged 
 around such a congenial master. 
 
 The only account we have of Meenniug is, 
 that he was wholly taken up with martial exer- 
 cises. Riding and shooting were his pastimes 
 — his occupation ; no exertion was too great 
 for him ; he willingly underwent fatigues, to 
 harden his body against the effects of effemi- 
 nacy. Whether he partook in the orgies that 
 were daily taking place in his father's house, is 
 not known ; but as he was naturally of a serious 
 disposition and an economical turn of mind, 
 probably he had little taste for such enormi- 
 ties. Being, moreover, not fond of society, 
 he lived a very retired life, and seems to have 
 attracted very little attention. The crowd of 
 princes who thirsted after such pleasures, and 
 gloried in being present at scenes of de- 
 bauchery and drunkenness, no doubt re- 
 garded him with contempt for not mingling 
 in their riots. 
 
 Many of the ancient counsellors had left 
 
 c 
 
18 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 the court voluntarily, disgusted with the utter 
 disregard of all moral principle. The few 
 who remained, saw with terror the fearful 
 progress of the voluptuary ; who often in a fit 
 of drunkenness committed the most cruel acts : 
 but none dared to remonstrate ; for the sword 
 was ever ready to stop the mouth of any dar- 
 ing censor. At an early period, therefore, a 
 conspiracy was formed, for the express purpose 
 of dethroning Keaking and setting a more wor- 
 thy monarch upon the throne ; and it had very 
 extensive ramifications. In the year 1803, the 
 Emperor returning one day in a palanquin to 
 his palace, was attacked by assassins. Only 
 a few officers came to his assistance ; and the 
 eunuchs, in this instance, seem to have saved 
 him. 
 
 On examining into all the details of this 
 attempted regicide, it was discovered that the 
 highest officers of state and the very princes of 
 the blood were implicated ; and it was thought 
 dangerous to receive the confession of one of 
 the traitors, who had turned king's evidence, as 
 conclusive. The Emperor wished that the pang 
 might have been spared him of being abhorred 
 by his own kith and kin, and he therefore in a 
 
CRUELTIES OF KEAKING. 19 
 
 public edict declared, that he attached no belief 
 to the denunciations : " Even a bird of prey," 
 he says, " does not devour its own young* ; 
 how then could it be supposed that his rela- 
 tions would be so abandoned as to commit 
 such a horrible deed." Only a few individuals 
 were executed ; but these in the most horrible 
 manner; amongst them was the son of the 
 degraded minister Hochung'tung-, one of the 
 principal conspirators. 
 
 Keaking- seemed to feel some remorse on 
 this occasion, and expressed it openly : but 
 his tiger nature soon returned. One prince 
 after another, on whom the suspicion had 
 fallen, was removed under various pretences, 
 and sentenced to end his life in solitary con- 
 finement, or in banishment on the borders of 
 the Helung-keong". From this moment, the 
 Emperor became a terrible tyrant to his family, 
 and actually ragged ag*ainst its members as his 
 worst enemies. In all these transactions the 
 name of Meenning- not once occurs : it is more 
 than probable that he kept entirely aloof from 
 court cabal, and avoided the determined con- 
 spirators who had sworn the death of his father. 
 
 Keakinir had suffered much from the insur- 
 
20 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 rection of the Pe-leen-keaow, or i( Sect of the 
 Water Lily/' a wide-spread political party, 
 that threatened the overthrow of his adminis- 
 tration. Against this fraternity, which obliged 
 him to be in arms years together, he conceived 
 a bitter hatred ; which extended to all reli- 
 gious associations : and none had to feel his 
 wrath so much as the Koman Catholics. He 
 was their fierce persecutor ; and endeavoured 
 by all means in his power — by executions, 
 fire, and sword — to destroy these religionists. 
 From one end of the empire to the other, the 
 torch of religious hatred was lighted, and thou- 
 sands died under the hands of the executioner. 
 None of Meenning's actions shew, that in 
 this respect he resembled his father. It is very 
 probable that he had some knowledge of Chris- 
 tianity 5 for several of the princes had, in times 
 of yore, embraced it, and the investigation as 
 to their belief had made known most of the 
 tenets \ and those who openly condemned 
 them were obliged, at the same time, to 
 acknowledge their excellence. The recent 
 persecution of the Christian religion attracted 
 attention more than anything else; and the 
 favourable opinion subsequently entertained 
 
KEAKIXG OPPOSED TO COLLEGES. 21 
 
 by Taou-kwang towards Christians, mny 
 mainly be ascribed to his having 1 early learned 
 to detest the intolerant spirit shewn by mere 
 debauchees. 
 
 It had been proposed that colleges might 
 be erected for the instruction of Manchoo 
 youth. Keaking ridiculed the very idea ; for, 
 said he, my countrymen are warriors born : 
 the horse and bow are the only objects worthy 
 their study. They are naturally averse to re- 
 searches of a studious nature ; and there are 
 few who, even with honours and emoluments 
 put before them, arrive at a thorough know- 
 ledge of literature. 
 
 Such an exhortation found therefore many 
 admirers; but none, perhaps, realized the 
 wishes of the Emperor as fully as Meenning. 
 He had never shown great predilection for the 
 science contained in Chinese books, yet had 
 learned sufficiently to pass his examinations, 
 under the strict rule of his grandfather. Now, 
 however, he gave himself entirely up to archery 
 and horsemanship. He exerted himself so much 
 th;it he weakened his constitution by con- 
 tinually riding and drawing the bow, running 
 and wrestling, until he was obliged to take 
 
22 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 tonics to invigorate his body. Of these the 
 Chinese pharmacopeia has a great variet} r , and 
 they are frequently applied with very little 
 discretion. Meenning partook of them im- 
 moderately, and permanently undermined his 
 health. Premature age crept upon him : even 
 as a youth, he had the appearance of a man of 
 forty. His features, which had never been 
 very attractive, were now much contracted 
 and shewed deep wrinkles ) he lost most of his 
 teeth, which contributed to the deformity of his 
 mouth ; and his whole aspect became that of a 
 stern and unbending censor. Yet under this 
 severe exterior, which struck every stranger, 
 there was much good nature and kindly feel- 
 ing, a forgiving spirit and honesty of purpose. 
 It was about this time that Meenning saw 
 his two uncles condemned, on suspicion that 
 they intended to subvert the existing govern- 
 ment. The usual doom — solitary confinement 
 in darkness — was pronounced upon them \ and 
 it is very probable that they died of grief and 
 hunger. Keaking always affected the great- 
 est regret at being obliged to have recourse 
 to such harsh measures ; and an edict, ex- 
 pressing in set phrases his moral rectitude, and 
 
HIS CONDITION AND CONDUCT. 23 
 
 his abhorrence of the turpitude of his nearest 
 relations, prefaced the sentences pronounced 
 against them. One after the other fell a 
 victim to his suspicions; and even his very 
 children were no longer secure. 
 
 Whilst Meenning abstained from all politi- 
 cal affairs, he eluded the spies that beset all 
 princes. He was, moreover, not a youth of 
 high promise, as far as mental capacity was 
 concerned ; and on that score could inspire no 
 fear. Seeing 1 nothing but desolation and terror 
 about him, he naturally sought some friend to 
 whom he might cling; and he then formed 
 those connections and friendships which lasted 
 through life. None was a greater favourite 
 with him than the youthful Keying : we have 
 from his own mouth, a relation of how they 
 used to come together to sing and enjoy them- 
 selves, and how amidst their sports all cares 
 were forgotten. 
 
 There was at that time (1807-1812) not the 
 slightest probability that Meenning would 
 ever ascend the throne ; on the contrary, 
 there were others who had far higher claims, 
 and finally became objects of Keaking's 
 jealousy. Amongst the friends of the young 
 
24 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Meenning-, we must also number Muchang-ah, 
 Lung-wan, an especial favourite, Heg-an Paou- 
 king-, and the Chinese Pwansheg*an — the latter 
 for a short time, as we belie ve, his tutor — with 
 many others. The constancy of his attach- 
 ments was very remarkable : once having* called 
 them friends, he did not forget them when on 
 the throne ; they then became his counsellors, 
 his ministers, with whom he was in daily con- 
 verse. Trusting- less to his own judg-ment, he 
 leaned upon them entirely for advice, and was 
 unhappy without their society. 
 
 He felt, on the other hand, very little incli- 
 nation to have anything* to do with the 
 ministers of his father. Even the celebrated 
 Lung-, who had to g-o through so many phases 
 of degradation and exaltation, and was con- 
 sidered the most straig-htforward and unbend- 
 ing* minister of his time, seems to have given 
 rise to no feeling's of veneration in Meenning-'s 
 breast. Perhaps he wished to avoid even the 
 semblance of political partisanship, and, there- 
 fore, kept entirely aloof from all statesmen. 
 
 There was at that time a very strict order 
 issued, that none of the princes should correspond 
 privately with any mandarin: even the most 
 
HIS IB i DIFFERENCE TO SCIENCE. 25 
 
 indifferent subjects were not to be made topics 
 of conversation between them ; and if they met 
 on duty^ they had to confine themselves entirely 
 to the prescribed rules of intercourse. A look, 
 a slight oversight of etiquette, compromised, at 
 that critical time, the safety of any one at 
 court; and there were always a number of 
 men who interpreted to Keaking, in the most 
 malicious manner, what was otherwise per- 
 fectly innocent in itself. 
 
 Meenning had perhaps not sufficient capa- 
 city to appreciate western science. During' 
 the preceding- reign, artists of some talent had 
 found their way to the court ; Ke&nlung* had 
 painters, mechanics, and musicians (the latter 
 from Europe) to afford him amusement, and at 
 the same time to entertain him intellectually. 
 Keaking reduced their number, put them 
 under strict surveillance, and very rarely re- 
 quired their services. The great persecution 
 wag-ed against the missionaries robbed them of 
 all the influence they formerly possessed at 
 Court. Meenning appears never to have sought 
 their acquaintance, like so many princes before 
 him; or in subsequent years, when on the 
 throne, to have valued their scientific acquire- 
 
26 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 ments. For him such abstruse subjects had no 
 charm : yet he felt that those men were un- 
 justly dealt with ; and one of his first measures, 
 when in power, was to put a stop to the dis- 
 graceful treatment they received at the hands 
 of government. Padre Serra seems to be the 
 only man who knew the prince before his ac- 
 cession 5 but he has very little to communicate 
 respecting* his history. 
 
WAR AGAINST PIRATES. 27 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 War against pirates. — Occupation of Macao by the 
 English. — Imperial proclamation. — Chinese policy. — 
 Keaking's estimation of the power of the French. — 
 Opposition to his government. — His debaucheries. — 
 Meenning's resolute defence against a band of robbers. 
 — He is appointed his father's successor. — Keaking 
 describes the incursion of the robbers. — Increased seve- 
 rity of the government. — Arrival of the English Em- 
 bassy in China. — State of the Chinese Court. — Kea- 
 king's latter days. — Meenning's freedom from corruption. 
 — His unassuming character. — Keaking's sixtieth birth- 
 day. — His death. — His testament. — Meenning ascends 
 the throne. — His reverence for the Empress Dowager. 
 — Description of his person and character. 
 
 The great convulsions in the whole western 
 world did not reach China. There was a more 
 ignominious war to be waged at that time 
 against pirates ; who fought, for some time, 
 under the command of an old woman. The 
 weakness of government was never more strik- 
 ing than when treating with those lawless ma- 
 rauders; and the badge of a mandarin became a 
 
28 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 bye-word, wben those men of blood were in- 
 vested with the rank, and held commissions 
 in the imperial navy. 
 
 As a few buccaneers were able to terrify 
 the great Emperor, his astonishment and fear 
 must have been tenfold on hearing of the ap- 
 proach of a British force, sent to occupy Macao 
 for a time, and avert a threatened French in- 
 vasion. Consternation seems to have spread 
 through the whole length and breadth of the 
 land, on both occasions ) in 1802 and 1808. 
 The Court might, perhaps, have overlooked 
 the matter, but two Portuguese missionaries 
 presented a memorial, describing the danger 
 which threatened the country. The suspicious 
 mind of Keaking scarcely needed such a moni- 
 tor; he magnified the risk, and began to tremble 
 for the safety of his realm. If the pirates, in 
 their crazy vessels, could not be driven from 
 the shores of China by the imperial navy, how 
 much less a well-armed fleet of foreigners. 
 What must be the consequences of their land- 
 ing, when the nation had been goaded by bad 
 government into insurrection, and men of high 
 standing were only waiting for an opportunity 
 to overturn the existing order of things ? 
 
BRITISH OCCUPATION OF MACAO. 29 
 
 The anxiety was very great; and, though 
 the expedition of 1802 withdrew much sooner 
 than could have been expected, there remained 
 a secret grudge on the part of the imperial 
 government. This was shewn still stronger 
 in 1808, when Admiral Drury made his ap- 
 pearance to take formal possession of Macao, 
 and protect it against the French. In the 
 rescript, which followed upon the representa- 
 tion of the Chinese governor, it is said : — 
 
 * The war of the French with the English 
 is a matter of the outside barbarians, in which 
 the Central Empire is not concerned ) just as 
 little as, latterly, in the contest between Siam 
 and Birmah. The great Emperor looks upon 
 all with the same benevolence, and has not the 
 least partiality for any. The middle kingdom 
 and the foreign territories have each their 
 respective appointed borders. Our vessels do 
 never proceed over a wide ocean to foreign 
 countries and establish themselves there; whilst 
 ye all at once dare to sail to Macao, and go 
 and live there on shore ; which is the height of 
 fool-hardiness. If ye say, that, being appre- 
 hensive lest the French may come to insult 
 the Portuguese, you have therefore hastened 
 
 
30 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 to their aid; can you be ignorant that the 
 Portuguese barbarians are established in the 
 Central Empire, and that the French will not 
 dare to invade and take them, and thus wan- 
 tonly offend against the Celestial Empire ? Had 
 the French really this object in view, the hosts of 
 the Celestial Empire are in full force, and will 
 not shew the least indulgence. A large army 
 will be sent forth to exterminate them, and 
 the maritime prohibitory regulations will thus 
 be vindicated. 
 
 " Your nation has acknowledged fealty to the 
 Celestial Empire, and sent the customary tri- 
 bute, and have been called respectfully obe- 
 dient. Now, however, you are ignorant, and 
 daringly offend against the laws; is this not 
 most irrational ? It is on this account that 
 we send these clear orders to you. If you 
 will learn to fear, and immediately with- 
 draw your soldiers, and sail away without 
 stopping a single moment, we may indulgently 
 forgive your crimes, and, as heretofore, allow 
 your nation to trade. But if you delay, and 
 do not obey the laws, not only will the trade be 
 stopped for the present, but we shall also block 
 up the entrance of Macao, cut off your provi- 
 
CHINESE POLICY. 31 
 
 sions, and send an army to surround you. 
 Then repentance will be too late." 
 
 These were the leading* ideas that sug- 
 gested themselves as most applicable to terrify 
 foreigners into compliance. Whatever interest 
 Meenning took in this matter — and it seemed 
 as if the whole Court was alive to the emer- 
 gency — whatever was his private opinion, the 
 above words remained deeply engraven in his 
 mind, and were many times repeated whilst 
 he was emperor: it was, indeed, the essence of 
 Chinese policy from first to last ; until the spell 
 was dissolved by the Nanking treaty. The 
 statesman's aim seems to have been, to keep 
 barbarians at a distance ; attack their dearest 
 interest— commerce — when they became un- 
 ruly ; and avoid the least approach to a good 
 understanding-. 
 
 Of the French power, Keaking appeared to 
 have no adequate idea : he hoped to surround 
 those warriors, if they dared to approach the 
 Chinese coast, with his terror-inspiring* army, 
 and annihilate them at his leisure. And, after 
 this remark, he asks triumphantly: "What 
 can the fish do when once in the kettle ?" 
 
 The hand of God changed events, and 
 
 
32 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 overthrew Napoleon's power. But had his 
 legions conquered in Russia, had the Turkish 
 Empire fallen a prey to his ambition, had 
 Persia and India bowed before the conqueror, 
 would China have escaped ? He certainly 
 was the man to conceive and execute such 
 designs, as the conquest of the Empire ; and 
 the highest triumph of his life would likely 
 have been, to send an order from Peking* for 
 constructing* a large canal in France, on the 
 model of that of China. Such, however, was 
 not the will of Providence; and it is, per- 
 haps, not by European influence that China 
 is to be added to the great family of our civi- 
 lized race. 
 
 After this digression, we shall refer to the 
 event which gave to Meenning the throne, and 
 fixed for ever his father's affections upon him. 
 
 Whilst the coast was ravaged by pirates, 
 the country did not enjoy tranquillit}\ One 
 sect after the other arose to oppose the go- 
 vernment ; and the efforts to put them down 
 were frequently not very successful. There 
 seemed to be a determinate struggle against 
 the Manchoos as rulers ; but the heads of the 
 conspiracy were not unanimous, and had a far 
 
HE SAVES HIS FATHEK'S LIFE. 33 
 
 greater desire to burn and plunder the peace- 
 ful villages, than to overthrow a weak govern- 
 ment. 
 
 Keaking troubled his head very little about 
 coming* events. Surrounded by voluptuous 
 women and entertaining' mountebanks, he 
 spent his time as a debauchee. All the duties 
 of the monarchy were confined to giving 
 audience twice in the day, and when this was 
 over he retired again to the harem to celebrate 
 his orgies. The fear of disturbance seems to 
 have finally dwindled away; because every 
 courtier and prince was terrified, and dared 
 not to rise against the unworthy ruler ) even 
 the palace gates were, either intentionally or 
 from sheer neglect, not guarded. When, in the 
 eventful year 1813, a band of robbers pene- 
 trated to the very harem, there was none 
 to defend the Emperor, except a few princes ) 
 amongst these was Meenning, who, seeing the 
 assassins climbing the last wall, and approach- 
 ing the apartment where his father was, shot 
 two of them dead with his own hands. This 
 stance in time of need, and his resolute 
 defence, decided Keaking to name him sub- 
 sequently his successor. 
 
 D 
 
34 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 In speaking* of the extraordinary event, the 
 Emperor remarks, that he had " endeavoured 
 to rule for eighteen years with great deter- 
 mination; eight years the struggle ag*ainst 
 the Water Lily faction (Pe-lien-keaon) lasted, 
 and the nation suffered most fearfully. At 
 length, the Tien- lee (heavenly principles) 
 triumphed, and orders for the extermina- 
 tion of these rebels were issued. Seventy 
 of these villains penetrated into the inner 
 palace, and killed the soldiers and servants. 
 Four of them, however, were seized, whilst 
 one ascended the wall to enter the imperial 
 apartment. Just then my second son, Meen- 
 ning, seized a musket and shot two of them ; 
 another prince killed a third, and thus forced 
 them to retreat. In the mean while kings and 
 ministers thronged to render assistance, and 
 one night and two da}^s were spent in putting- 
 down the robbers. Though this attack/ the 
 Emperor continues, u was sudden, the prepa- 
 rations must have required a considerable time ) 
 and we ascribe this to the criminal neglect of 
 the ministers. "We, on our part, will examine 
 into our conduct and amend our faults, &c." 
 
 This fearful event caused much sensa- 
 
 
CONSPIRACY AND PERSECUTION. 35 
 
 tion ; and from that moment the Emperor was 
 execrated by the whole nation, which univer- 
 sally ascribed those conspiracies to his own 
 conduct. None of the courtiers had appeared 
 personally as the aggressors ; yet it was soon 
 ascertained that the higher nobility were deeply 
 implicated, and that princes of the blood were 
 waiting* to finish what the assassins had com- 
 menced. The investigation into this affair 
 was kept a great secret, until several high 
 nobles were condemned to die, on the tombs of 
 their ancestors, to make the punishment more 
 severe. 
 
 It is very probable that Meenning from 
 henceforth was always about his father, though 
 he did not exercise any influence upon the 
 government. This was carried on with still 
 greater cruelty : the mere imputation of belong- 
 ing to a prohibited sect became a reason for 
 sentencing a man to capital punishment ) in- 
 formers were rewarded, and, in a few years, 
 there were about 12,270 persons in prison, 
 doomed to expiate their offence by death. 
 
 In such a state was the Empire when the 
 English embassy, in 1816, reached the Court. 
 It was not to be expected that such a visit 
 
36 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 escaped the attention of Meenning*; and we 
 should have liked very much to have heard his 
 observations upon these foreigners from afar. 
 
 The rude behaviour of the Manchoo princes 
 made no very favourable impression upon the 
 strang-ers. Partly to show their bravado, 
 partly to exhibit their natural character in the 
 worst points, they indulged in boisterous 
 conduct which could not but greatly disgnst 
 their foreign visitors. 
 
 We may form some idea of the state of the 
 Court, when the whip was used to keep the 
 courtiers in order* and constant evasion and 
 falsehood were employed to inveigle the 
 foreigners into derogatory concessions. No 
 mention is made of Meenning"; and this is 
 evidence of the retired life he lived, or that 
 he was not yet openly acknowledged as the 
 future sovereign. It is very probable that he 
 did not live at Court ; being* disgnsted with 
 the society there, and unable to exist in such 
 an atmosphere. For his own sake, we shall 
 persuade ourselves to believe this. 
 
 The latter days of Keaking's reign were as 
 stormy as ever ; and the same cruel persecution 
 against the prohibited sects rag*ed througn- 
 
KEAKING AND HIS COURT. 37 
 
 out the Empire. But to give lustre to his 
 reign, he caused a beautiful essay upon g*ood 
 government to be written, predicting the return 
 of the glorious times of antiquity, and hinting 
 that the golden age might yet arrive under his 
 administration. A storm or earthquake, or any 
 other phenomena of nature, in which even the 
 Imperial voluptuary beheld a higher hand, 
 roused him to reflection ; and Keaking then 
 began to moralize. He even complained that 
 he was surrounded with spies by his own 
 ministers; and, when he sought refuge amongst 
 the eunuchs and play-actors, his favourite com- 
 panions, he threw upon his ministers all the 
 guilt of his bad government. 
 
 Meenning could not fail to be occasionally 
 present at the parties given by his father, 
 and to behold the abandoned characters of 
 those who constituted his bosom friends ; and 
 that he, in such a hot-bed of vice, should have 
 breathed a pure atmosphere, and left this den of 
 all that was vile, unsullied, is matter of ad- 
 miration, and speaks volumes in favour of his 
 character. He avoided, on the other hand, all 
 interference, and never remonstrated, whatever 
 might happen. Nor did he come forward, as the 
 
38 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 appointed heir of the crown, to arrogate those 
 honours which in that character would fall to 
 his share. Had he shewn the least incli- 
 nation to exhibit himself as the future ruler 
 of the vast empire, he would, with many of 
 his best contemporaries, have soon ceased to 
 behold the light of the sun. It was his un- 
 assuming' character that pleased his father most; 
 for he g-ave no rise to suspicion, and betrayed 
 no emotion amongst the most trying* scenes, 
 when his kindred and acquaintances were hur- 
 ried to execution ; and he lived without making 
 any party for himself. When he had his bow 
 and arrows, his matchlock and horse, Meen- 
 ning was satisfied, and cared very little for the 
 affairs of state ; which were beyond his reach. 
 Being totally devoid of the talent for plotting, 
 none of the grandees ever made him a con- 
 fidant of their plans J and even slander could not 
 accuse him of having meddled with politics. 
 
 The sixtieth birthday of his father finally 
 approached. Great rejoicings were to take 
 place ; as Keaking wished to shine by his gene- 
 rosity and magnificence. All eyes were di- 
 rected to him ; and thousands of petitions were 
 sent to beg for relief, for justice, or for the life 
 
 ^M&&.: 
 
DISAPPOINTMENTS AND INTEIGUES. 39 
 
 of a friend or relation unjustly sentenced. 
 Keaking had promised to hear and to settle 
 all ; hut when he found that whole heaps 
 of representations were thrown upon him, he 
 repented of his promise : the applicants were 
 sent to his ministers, and the auspicious day 
 ended with disappointments to every one. It 
 seemed that a fatality attended everything" 
 the Emperor did. The few remaining* honest 
 men amongst his ministers, including the cele- 
 brated Lung, were forced to leave his service ; 
 and servants of a similar stamp with their 
 master were entrusted with the administra- 
 tion of important affairs. There was no end 
 of bickering" and recrimination : the whole 
 cabinet was occupied with nothing but in- 
 trigue. Woe to the man that would have 
 dared to cleanse the Augean stable ! 
 
 Tyrants do not, however, live for ever. 
 Keaking, for many years, expressed his desire 
 to go on a pilgrimage to the mausoleums of 
 his ancestors; this being a duty he owed to 
 his kindred, and an act of piety which all his 
 predecessors had performed. But he did not 
 like to leave his luxurious capital: he was 
 afraid of an insurrection, and hence always 
 
40 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 found an excuse. During- these consultations 
 the seal of the Board of War was lost; which in 
 China, where nothing is done by subscribing' 
 the name, and everything' is certified by seals, 
 was a very serious matter. Keaking's sus- 
 picions were roused, many grandees were de- 
 graded, a regular persecution followed, and the 
 whole Court was thrown into a state of terror. 
 Keaking at last set out upon his intended 
 journey, and was reported to have died (2nd 
 Sept. 1820) at some one of his pleasure palaces : 
 but none ever exactly told how he came to his 
 end. So much only is certain, that he was 
 detested by all, even his own boon companions; 
 and that, since his last acts of cruelty, nobody's 
 life at Court was safe, even for twenty-four 
 hours. 
 
 We quote the following" passag-es from the 
 edict published as his will : — u The g*reat 
 Emperor, who received the Empire from re- 
 volving- nature and Heaven, was three years 
 instructed by his father. A good administration 
 consists in venerating- Heaven, imitating- the 
 ancestors, diligence in government, and love 
 to the people. In the beginning of my govern- 
 ment the robbers of three provinces were still 
 
LAST WILL OF KEAKING. 41 
 
 in full array ) but after four years the world 
 was at rest. I was always an enemy to strange 
 opinions ; I have suppressed the same, and in- 
 culcated true principles, as the best means to 
 support human society. All the evils that fell 
 upon my subjects I instantly removed, and 
 I remitted all arrears on my sixtieth birth- 
 day. 
 
 " When I was recently going out hunting, 
 I found some difficulty in ascending a moun- 
 tain, the phlegm of my chest rose to the 
 throat. In my days of health, however, I 
 had appointed a worthy successor, and in- 
 scribed his name on a piece of paper pre- 
 served in a chest. This prince had killed 
 two robbers when they attacked my palace, 
 the remainder were thereby terrified, and I 
 gave him the cognomen of Wise. The present 
 sickness is likely to end my life, and I, there- 
 fore, confer the empire of the world upon 
 this my son, on account of his great virtues. 
 Do thou, my son, have intercourse with vir- 
 tuous persons; foster thou the Black-haired 
 nation, and follow up my measures." 
 
 Keaking breathed his last in the same Palace 
 where his father was born. Whether he him- 
 
42 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 self penned his long* testament is very un- 
 certain. Meenning was near at hand, however, 
 and no doubt omitted nothing to establish his 
 authority. It is said that Keaking, in his 
 last moments, wished to declare a younger 
 son, the legitimate offspring" of the Empress, 
 his successor. But this son was still a 
 boy ; and the mother, fearing* a collision, her- 
 self suggested the necessity of his abiding by 
 the first choice. Thus was Meenning raised to 
 the throne. His brother, known afterwards by 
 the name of Hwuy Wang, though long his 
 companion and friend, afterwards became his 
 competitor \ and for a time engaged in a strug- 
 gle about the succession : but he has outlived 
 the time of persecution, which he brought 
 upon himself, and has lived to see Taou- 
 kwang's son, Hien-fung, on the throne. 
 
 Meenning never forgot the service thus 
 rendered him by the Empress ; and having lost 
 his mother, a mere concubine, he adopted the 
 Empress as his own parent ; giving her the 
 title of Empress-dowager, and honouring* her, 
 as such, with all marks of filial piety. The 
 obedience he shewed her, the open reverence 
 he exhibited whenever he approached her, and 
 
HE IS CALLED TO THE THRONE. 43 
 
 the regard he paid to her suggestions, shewed 
 that the honour and homage which he offered 
 were not merely external, but were prompted 
 by the feelings in his breast. 
 
 His two uncles, who were in confinement, 
 were set at liberty, and reinstated in all their 
 offices ; and a general amnesty, which was 
 never broken, was the first act of his accession. 
 But we must not anticipate events. 
 
 Thus called upon, in his thirty-eighth year, 
 to assume such an important office, and be- 
 come the greatest of all earthly sovereigns, it 
 was the general opinion of the courtiers that 
 the new Emperor would be a mere tool in the 
 hands of designing women or eunuchs. They 
 came to this conclusion in consequence of the 
 extreme reserve which characterized Meenning 
 as a prince. He never expressed his own 
 opinion, never gave advice in important 
 matters, and did not venture to speak in the 
 presence of strangers. Instead of the cognomen 
 of the Wise, he ought to have been called the 
 Discreet : and he fully justified such a title. 
 
 Meenning was lank in figure and low of 
 stature, with a haggard face, a reserved look, 
 and quiet exterior. He silently pondered over 
 
44 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 his good fortune ; having" learned well enough 
 to suppress his genuine feelings, and to assume 
 apathy: the only safeguard under such a 
 suspicious master. He had heen tutored in 
 the art of apparently taking no interest in 
 anything, and indulging in a quiescent state ; 
 and many of those who did not know him, 
 augured a reign worse than that of his pre- 
 decessor. Yet he possessed an unbending 
 honesty of purpose ; a kindly feeling towards 
 sufferers, and a readiness to help in time of 
 need; and he had also those business habits, 
 which would have given him the first rank at 
 a banking-house and on the exchange. But 
 he was not born to be an emperor : he would 
 have shone as an honest farmer ; and in 
 any position of life where solid qualities, 
 but not a bright understanding, were required. 
 
HIS ACCESSION. 45 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Accession of Taou-kwang. — Superstition of the Chinese. — 
 Humility and generosity of Taou-kwang. — Ceremonies 
 on his ascending the throne. — He mourns for his father. 
 — The harem aholished. — Taou-kwang pays homage to 
 the Dowager - Empress. — His generosity towards his 
 enemies. — Gradual changes in the Cabinet. — Character 
 of Lung. — His popularity and his rise to power. — Vain 
 efforts of the Emperor to remain independent of coun- 
 sellors. — His choice of advisers. — Account of Keying. — 
 Character of Hegan. — Of Chargal. — Of Keshin. — 
 Of Elipoo. — Of Alitsinga. — Of Lungwan. — Office of 
 Kingching and Kwulin. — Claims of Prince Paouking. 
 — Relatives of Taou-kwang. — Serious aspect of the 
 Court. — Frugality of Taou-kwang. — His desire for accu- 
 mulating silver. — Its effect upon the currency. — Eco- 
 nomy in the treasury. — Taou-kwang's administration. 
 — His toleration put to the test. 
 
 There was at first an endeavour to bestow a 
 different name, Yuen-hwang-, upon the new 
 Emperor; but Taou-kwang* — Reason's lustre or 
 light, was finally adopted as the most apposite. 
 The superstition of the Chinese lays a very great 
 stress upon the name assumed by the Govern- 
 
46 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 ment : days are spent in making- a choice of 
 the proper characters, and the astrologers most 
 carefully inquire whether the title will prove 
 acceptable to the stars. If there is a malig- 
 nant influence above, the characters must be 
 changed. 
 
 From the State papers published at his 
 accession, we make a few extracts. In one 
 he says : — a From the late Emperor, who is 
 now gone the great journey, I received the 
 utmost possible kindness and care. Although 
 his benevolent life has been continued more 
 than six decades of years, his celestial person 
 was still robust, and his energy and spirits 
 undiminished. I, the Emperor, who con- 
 stantly waited on him in the palace, de- 
 sired his days to be protracted, and hoped 
 that he would reach his hundredth year. 
 When he finally became ill, and a great 
 danger to his life was apparent, I, the 
 Emperor, beat the ground with my head, and 
 called on Heaven to bring him back, but in 
 vain. My sacred and indulgent father had, 
 in the year that he began to rule alone, 
 silently settled that the throne should devolve 
 on my contemptible person. I, knowing 
 
HIS GENEROSITY. 47 
 
 the feebleness of my virtue, at first felt much 
 afraid that I should not be competent to the 
 office. But on reflecting* that the sages, my 
 ancestors, left to posterity their plans, that 
 his late Majesty had laid the duty on me, 
 and that Heaven's throne could not long- be 
 vacant, I have done violence^ to my feelings. 
 A new monarch ought to confer benefits on 
 hi3 kindred, and bestow gracious favours ex- 
 tensively/' 
 
 This was not an empty promise : the 
 Manchoo noblemen, the Chinese mandarins, 
 the people at larg*e, the culprits in prison, all 
 shared in the imperial g-enerosity. Taou-kwang* 
 turned his attention to the old and decrepit, to 
 the deserving, and to the humble field-labourer 
 as well as the courtier ; his soldiers also, Tartar 
 as well as Chinese, received largesses. There 
 was a general emulation amongst all classes, 
 to try who should be most worthy of the im- 
 perial generosity. 
 
 After all the bounty to be bestowed is set 
 forth, the Emperor concludes with saying-, — 
 u Lo ! now, on succeeding to the throne, I shall 
 exert myself to give repose to millions of my 
 people. Assist me to sustain the burthen laid 
 
48 THE LIFE OF TAOTJ-KWANG. 
 
 on my shoulders. With reverence, I receive 
 charge of Heaven's great concerns." 
 
 Such gracious declarations usher in the 
 reign of every prince; hut how far the intentions 
 of a new monarch to confer general benefits 
 are realized, we are unable to say. The best 
 and most praiseworthy resolutions often fall 
 to the ground, because the members consti- 
 tuting the government possess neither honesty 
 nor virtuous energy enough to carry out the 
 designs ; and b}^ far the greater part remains a 
 mere matter of form, put on record, as having 
 been published in such a year and such a 
 month. 
 
 As the day for celebrating the ceremony of 
 Taou-kwang's ascending the throne approach- 
 ed, great were the preparations made; and 
 the Board of Eites published a whole pamphlet 
 upon the subject. It would be useless to repeat 
 all the minutiae; which can have attraction 
 only for a Chinese. To a foreigner, the pa- 
 geantry would be well worth seeing ; because 
 all the splendours that Asia can afford is dis- 
 played to most advantage by Chinese skill. 
 There were elephants, horses, chariots, guards 
 and servants, ministers and courtiers without 
 
HE ASCENDS THE THKONE. 49 
 
 number ; and the whole Imperial pageant pre- 
 sent at Peking to do homage to their chief. 
 It was indeed a crowded assembly — as gay 
 as silks, satin, and embroidery, could make the 
 mandarins. The important Act itself is pre- 
 scribed in the following manner : — iC The pre- 
 sident of the Board of Rites shall step for- 
 ward, kneel down, and beseech his Majesty 
 to ascend the Imperial throne. The Emperor 
 shall then rise from his seat, and the proces- 
 sion moving on in the same order, as above 
 described, to the Imperial palace of peace, his 
 Majesty shall ascend the seat of gems, and 
 sit down in the Imperial throne, with his face 
 towards the south. At the Woogah the bells 
 shall then be rung, and the drums beaten." 
 The proclamation is afterwards read, the seal 
 delivered over 3 there is no end of kneeling 
 and knocking the head, burning incense, and 
 going through divers rites, until the paper 
 prepared for the occasion is read in a loud 
 voice. 
 
 When on the throne, Taou-kwang said, — 
 " In consequence of all the kings, nobles, great 
 statesmen, the civilians, and military officers, 
 having said with one voice : Heaven's throne 
 
50 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 must not long 1 be unoccupied, it is incumbent 
 that, by the consent of the imperial manes and 
 the gods of the land, a sovereign do early 
 assume the sway 5 I have yielded to the 
 general voice, and interrupting for a short 
 time my keen sorrow, I announce this circum- 
 stance to heaven and earth, and to my impe- 
 rial ancestors, and sit down on the imperial 
 throne. Let the next year be the first of the 
 reign of Taou-kwang." * 
 
 According to the general custom observed 
 for ages, in mourning for the deceased monarch, 
 the shaving of the heads was generally pro- 
 hibited, and all show of joy interdicted, for the 
 period of one hundred days ; during which time 
 no marriage could take place, no music be 
 played, no red paper be stuck up, no idol 
 worshipped. The women in the harem laid 
 aside their ornaments, and cut off their hair ; 
 and the Emperor himself built a hovel near the 
 coffin of his father, to mourn there in sackcloth 
 and in ashes. This ceased only for a short 
 time, when the Emperor ascended the throne : 
 he retired immediately afterwards to his for- 
 mer lonely cell, living* then on rice and water, 
 • 1820. 
 
HIS REFORMS AT COURT. 51 
 
 to give an example of filial piety to the whole 
 Empire. According 1 to the strict rules of the 
 country, this ought to last for three years ; in 
 this case, however, it was abridged for the 
 public benefit, to prevent its interfering with 
 the administration. 
 
 And now came the sunny days of accession 
 to power. The silent, the pensive Taou-kwang*, 
 whom every one believed to be unfit for hold- 
 ing such a high station, began to look about in 
 order to effect the necessary reforms. The 
 harem had been made a place of abomination, 
 and the vilest of womankind reigned there 
 supreme; thither, therefore, the attention of 
 Taou-kwang was first directed : he dismissed 
 the women, allowing each to return to her 
 parents and relations; there were few that 
 had not earned large sums by the most nefa- 
 rious traffic. The comedians, buffoons, and all 
 that class were also discharged, and the whole 
 establishment was cleared. 
 
 To give an example of continence, Taou- 
 kwang confined himself, in his intercourse with 
 the sex, to the woman of his choice, whom he had 
 long before married; and he raised her to the 
 dignity of Empress. There was, however, a more 
 
52 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 important duty to be performed. The Empress- 
 Dowager, who by her noble disinterestedness 
 had contributed to Taou-kwang's elevation, 
 was raised to the highest honours, and the 
 Emperor himself came to pay her homage. 
 This day was celebrated with very great pomp, 
 and by a general amnesty to female delinquents : 
 all women who had committed crimes were 
 dismissed from prison, and proceedings against 
 them stopped. 
 
 With the princes of the blood who had been 
 hostile to him, Taou-kwang was very soon re- 
 conciled. He did not wish to take vengeance ; 
 but to restore harmony and peace ; none were 
 punished, none were molested : a rare example 
 of generosity ; for Taou-kwang's predecessors, 
 without exception, had satiated their revenge 
 on their accession. There were many who 
 pined away in prison, and one of the first 
 imperial acts was their liberation : several of 
 them had, by long confinement, lost their rea- 
 son, and others died soon after, in conse- 
 quence of ill treatment. 
 
 And now Taou-kwang's care was directed to 
 the government. The cabinet claimed his first 
 care 5 and the removal of ministers, partly on 
 
 
HIS CLEMENCY — THE MINISTER LUNG. 53 
 
 account of their age, partly for having' been 
 the creatures of his father, took place suc- 
 cessively. But in these proceedings no 
 violence or injustice was done. It had been 
 customary, on the accession of a new emperor, 
 to mulct the richest amongst them, and hav- 
 ing done so, to draw up a register of their 
 crimes, in order to condemn them to the 
 utmost penalty. Now, the changes took place 
 gradually, without the slightest vituperation. 
 
 The people, however, hoped that the famous 
 Lung, once so celebrated as a statesman, and 
 now banished from the Court, would again be 
 called into power. This did not take place im- 
 mediately; Taou-kwang disliked the man on 
 account of his boisterous, imperious manners. 
 When he was upbraided for neglecting such 
 an excellent statesman, he simply remarked, 
 that he was willing to receive advice; but 
 would not, in this case, leave the intermeddler 
 unpunished. Lung remained a month at the 
 Court, and was then sent in charge of the 
 pleasure-grounds of Gehol. 
 
 There are few adventurers who have lived 
 such a chequered life as this courtier. He 
 was always happy, always buoyant : no punish- 
 
54 THE LIFE OF TAOIT-KWANG. 
 
 ment would cast him down entirely, no pro- 
 motion or good fortune make him proud and 
 overbearing". Profuse in his expenditure, 
 always poor and harassed, he never took a 
 farthing- from the poor ; nor did he in any 
 manner encroach upon the rights of the people. 
 This gave him great popularity ; and when- 
 ever any calamity afflicted the country, it was 
 to Lung to whom the people looked. He 
 remained for some time at the pleasure-garden ; 
 perceiving, however, very soon that mere merit 
 never proved sufficient to retain the Imperial 
 favour, he managed to get a daughter into the 
 harem ; and having succeeded in this, he had 
 a very strong advocate at Court. 
 
 In a short time he was made governor- 
 general of the province Chih-le ; a very high 
 post, as Pekin is situated within its jurisdic- 
 tion. He obtained quite the ascendancy in 
 the cabinet, talked a good deal, and wrote still 
 more : being given to hard drinking, he often 
 appeared in the council-chamber with a nap- 
 kin dipped in water round his head, to cool 
 his cranium. He then was the soul of the 
 ministry, discussing all the points with great 
 volubility, giving much good advice, and proving 
 
 % 
 
HIS FRIEND KEYING. 55 
 
 of some avail to Taou-kwang. But the Emperor 
 wished to be free from vain interlocutors, and, 
 therefore, availed himself of an opportunity to 
 send this too powerful grandee to Ko-lo, to set- 
 tle some quarrels there. Thus he was freed from 
 Lung's presence, and began to breathe again. 
 Taou-kwang had a very great desire to 
 reign alone. He had given orders always to 
 wake him during the night whenever im- 
 portant matters required his presence. This 
 seems now and then to have been done, and 
 greatly contributed towards giving him a very 
 great name for diligence in the administration 
 of affairs. Yet all his efforts to be independent 
 of his counsellors were in vain : he was not the 
 man to stand alone ; and though he always 
 would have the name of being, in the fullest 
 sense of the word, an autocrat, he was reduced 
 to the necessity of relying upon others for 
 advice. But his ministers were old men, in- 
 capable of taking a right view of the state of 
 affairs, and too much accustomed to the arbi- 
 trary sway of his father ; he, therefore, did 
 not put much confidence in them, but leant on 
 his youthful friends. Amongst the latter, we 
 may mention Keying, the son of a minister 
 
56 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 of state, and, by his sister's marriage, related 
 with the Imperial house. He passed rapidly 
 the examinations, and long remained at Court, 
 as Meenning's companion, before there was 
 the least expectation of his ever attaining to 
 the Imperial dignity : the friends seemed to 
 have been made for one another. Ke}dng , s 
 first entrance upon public life, after having 
 mastered three languages, was as superin- 
 tendent of customs at Shan-hae-kwan. This 
 put him in possession of money ; and with this 
 commodity much can be done in the capital. 
 He returned to Peking some time after the 
 accession of his friend, and then rose gra- 
 dually step by step, from grade to grade. 
 He is one of the few favourites who never 
 abused his power either for the destruction of 
 his enemies or for enriching himself. His 
 father's family was very rich \ and the young 
 aspirant belonged to the most distinguished 
 and influential Manchoo nobility. He was a 
 man of peace, the adviser of conciliatory mea- 
 sures, individually sacrificing much to prevent 
 an interruption of the good understanding 
 between influential parties ; and was vene- 
 rated as such by the whole Court. 
 
HEGAN AND MUHCHANGAH. 57 
 
 Of a wholly different stamp was Hegan, 
 who possessed much talent for intrigue and 
 mastery, and was a cunning* sycophant hy 
 profession, with strong interest in the harem 
 to support him. He was born a courtier; 
 and hovered about Taou-kwang*, flattering his 
 vanity, offering suggestions, and acting' with 
 arbitrary power ; quite independently of any 
 other consideration, than to curry the favour 
 of his sovereign. He for a long time held 
 the highest office about the person of the 
 monarch, possessed entirely his ear, and was 
 a terror to the whole Court ; for he was a dan- 
 gerous man, ever ready to promote mischief 
 and to get people into difficulties. 
 
 None resembled his master so much as 
 Muhchangah; a man of the same phlegmatic, 
 passive temperament, and equally undecided; 
 speaking little, because he had few ideas, but 
 able to cast his mind entirely into the mould 
 of the Emperor's. The latter found, therefore, 
 always an echo in his servant ; with whom he 
 spent most of his time. Muhchangah was a 
 learned man in his way, reasoned as a Man- 
 choo, and endeavoured by all means at his 
 command to live only for one, whose shadow 
 
58 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 he was. He had regularly risen in the way 
 of examinations, and, like many youth of that 
 period, remained unemployed ; this procured 
 him, however, an opportunity of gaining' the 
 friendship of Meenning. After having once or 
 twice met, they became inseparable. Of all the 
 statesmen of his time he kept longest in power ; 
 without the customary variation, so very com- 
 mon at the Chinese court, of being to-day a 
 grandee, and to-morrow a mere hanger-on. 
 Steady, like his own master, the latter must 
 first have censured himself, before he could 
 have condemned his fac-simile, the minister. 
 
 Keshen combined the courtier with the man 
 of business ) and in both capacities he stood un- 
 rivalled : even in the presence of a Metternich 
 or a Talleyrand, he would have commanded 
 respect. He was a man of the most polite, in- 
 sinuating manners ; who, with the utmost defe- 
 rence for the opinion of others, kept pertina- 
 ciously to his own ; and whilst always appear- 
 ing to yield, never gave up a single point. Such 
 a character was exactly fitted to be a governor 
 of the province in which the capital was situ- 
 ated. Inexhaustible in suggestions, compre- 
 hensive in his plans, with a keen eye for the 
 
KESHEN AND ELEPOO. 59 
 
 future, he might have passed for the Ulysses 
 of the whole circle of faithful friends that sur- 
 rounded the young Emperor. He had, how- 
 ever, two prominent faults — censoriousness and 
 avarice — that outweighed many of his good 
 and shining qualities. Constantly finding fault 
 with his fellow-officers, high and low, he always 
 appeared as their accuser, and wrote long and 
 biting tirades against their administration. If 
 he could bring upon them a heavy fine, he was 
 indeed happy, and considered his end gained. 
 Taou-kwang- seems to have been aware of this 
 weakness, and gave others an opportunity to 
 denounce him ; when he was fined in his turn. 
 His love of money knew no bounds ; and, in 
 this respect, he resembled his master. Always 
 grasping, never satisfied, accumulating wealth 
 without an object, he yet lived a refined and 
 luxurious life. None could come into his circle 
 without being struck with the affability of his 
 manners, and his penetrating look. How fas- 
 cinating must he have been when in the 
 company of his master ! how rich his conver- 
 sation, since he could mix the useful and 
 pleasant ; and how instructive his discourse ! 
 He had no claim to preferment ; being a mere 
 
60 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Mongol noble, without a patron ) but he became 
 accidentally known to Meenning, and his for- 
 tune was made. 
 
 The very opposite of this great statesman 
 was Elepoo ; a man older than Taou-kwang, 
 and in early life attached to his person. His 
 whole character was that of straightforward- 
 ness, without blandishment : he had little talent, 
 but great honesty of purpose ; whenever this 
 was wanted, he was the man. As he often spoke 
 his mind freely, he gave frequent offence, and 
 was repeatedly exiled to the provinces ; where, 
 however, he held high offices. Yet his master 
 never took off his eye from his faithful servant ; 
 and when every one thought that he was for- 
 gotten, a summons was all at once issued to 
 call him to the capital. There he was again 
 treated with great respect, until his unconquer- 
 able uprightness brought on another rupture. 
 
 Alitsingah was throughout the official hero : 
 the pains-taking, hard - working man ; a 
 lawyer and the counsellor in criminal cases. 
 He belonged to the band that gathered around 
 the prince, when there was no prospect of his 
 ever succeeding to the throne. Yet the atmo- 
 sphere of the Court was rather against his 
 
ALITSINGAH, LUNGWAN, ETC. 61 
 
 constitution ; he soon sickened, and was, there- 
 fore, frequently sent to the provinces.* But 
 when maturer years had given him a great 
 desire for seeking* repose, he reappeared in the 
 Court circle, without having- experienced the 
 vicissitudes of a boisterous, unsteady, official life. 
 
 The very opposite in sentiment and practice 
 was Lung-wan ; who was happy only when he 
 could appear among-st the crowd of prostrate 
 mandarins in the presence of Taou-kwang-. 
 He was truly attached to his master, and 
 tasted with him all the sweets and bitters of 
 intrig-ues. Being- a man of few words, of firm 
 disposition, and unshaken in all his purposes, 
 he resembled in many respects his sovereig-n ; 
 who thoug-ht hig-hly of him as a soldier, and 
 kept him among- his g-uards. 
 
 King--ching- and Kwei-lin are two other stars 
 that shone brig-htly among-st Taou-kwang-'s 
 coterie. They were his Nestors : men of the 
 executive, who never asked why or wherefore, 
 but could be entrusted to carry out the su- 
 preme command, and act like machines. With 
 them the imperial will was everything : they 
 undertook anything- required of them, and 
 had no idea that human being-s could be pro- 
 
62 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 pelled by other more powerful agency. Long* 
 they remained the friends and confidants of the 
 sovereign; and the disgrace into which they 
 occasionally fell, was never of long duration. 
 
 Men like Yutac and Naurhing, who rose from 
 the Manchoo stock, and had suffered some- 
 thing from Keaking's whims, were more par- 
 ticularly anxious to have a good situation and 
 large emoluments ; and to this end they made 
 all their efforts subservient. The first, a scion 
 of the Imperial house, was one of the few for- 
 tunate princes who were employed in the ser- 
 vices of the State without giving rise to sus- 
 picion. King-ching was another who held 
 many high offices, and, though he was not 
 distinguished as a statesman, he seems to have 
 had the patience of plodding through his work ; 
 from first to last he remained with his relative, 
 and rendered many important services. Yutac 
 worked his way through all difficulties ; patient 
 and forbearing, studying nothing but his own 
 interest, and arriving at the acme of all his 
 desires. 
 
 In many respects resembling Taou-kwang, 
 was prince Taou-hing. He had played with 
 Meenning when he was a boy, had frequently 
 
HIS KELATIVES. G3 
 
 read with him, and pleased the prince by a 
 similarity of disposition ; he was much accus- 
 tomed to consult Meenning's judgment, and 
 thereby flattered his pride. Taou-kwang, when 
 raised to power, laid great stress upon the 
 learning of Taou-hing, and was not slow to 
 reward his friendship by sundry important 
 offices; but Taou-hing, though he never be- 
 trayed his trust, could not defend himself from 
 the general imputation of incapacity for busi- 
 ness. 
 
 Amongst the elder branches of his family 
 Taou-kwang honoured his uncle Etsin-wang; 
 who had suffered much under the preceding 
 reign, and was taken from prison at his acces- 
 sion. He shewed very little capacity ; for 
 solitary confinement extinguishes the mental 
 powers, but lived quietly in the palace, much 
 honoured and respected, though undeservedly. 
 His brother resembled Keaking in depravity 
 of taste, and was once found guilty of a rape ; 
 the poor victim hanging herself from despair. 
 Taou-kwang was thus forced to pronounce 
 judgment upon him, and sentenced him to 
 three years imprisonment. He died unknown 
 and unregretted. 
 
64 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 None was so much esteemed and consulted 
 as Yih-shaou, Taou-kwang-'s cousin. An inti- 
 mate acquaintance in youth, a similarity of 
 pursuits and tastes, and a fervent desire to 
 please one another, rendered their intercourse 
 lasting*. He was long* at the head of the esta- 
 blishment of the princes — a most difficult situa- 
 tion, full of troubles and annoyance — and ap- 
 pears to have lived in the greatest intimacy 
 with Taou-kwang-. The hig-hest honours the 
 Emperor could bestow, that of Titular king*, 
 with larg"e emoluments and a constant attention 
 to his wishes, testified the imperial favour. He 
 appears not to have possessed any shining- 
 qualities, but to have been one of those steady- 
 g-oing 1 , easy men, who are very seldom roused 
 from the tenor of an even life 3 and who, with- 
 out giving* themselves trouble to investig-ate the 
 actual state of thing's, remain wedded to their 
 own opinions to the last. 
 
 The favour shewn by the Emperor to Hwuy- 
 wang", his young-er brother who oug*ht to have 
 reig'ned, was not misplaced. He seems to have 
 been of an amiable disposition, combining* with 
 great quietness of manner, deep thought. Now 
 and then Taou-kwang" had some twinges of 
 
HIS BROTHER AND FAVOURITE. 65 
 
 jealousy ; for the brother's dignified, statesman- 
 like behaviour gained him a very strong' party. 
 He was then disgraced for a short time, and 
 had to live far away from the sunshine of Court 
 favour; but soon his rival proved a source 
 of Taou-kwang's regret, and the intimacy 
 of the brothers became still stronger. Hwuy- 
 wang seems to have been the mentor of his 
 brother for many years, and in several in- 
 stances the counsellor who guided his course. 
 
 A very unworthy subject upon which Taou- 
 kwang lavished great favour, was Yih-king. 
 He had all the vices of an unbridled Tartar 
 youth, with little knowledge of affairs, was a 
 debauchee by habit, and too inert to enter upon 
 any business with earnestness ; yet the highest 
 affairs were entrusted to his hands: he was 
 looked upon as a paragon, and none dared to 
 make known his faults, without irrevocably 
 incurring the Emperor's displeasure. In the 
 cabinet and in the camp he committed equal 
 blunders; but remained for many years the 
 darling of the Emperor. 
 
 Upon a still lower scale stood the nephew 
 of the Emperor, Yih-shan — a proud and over- 
 bearing prince, without the slightest talent; 
 
 F 
 
 
66 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 but always desirous of assuming* pretensions to 
 wisdom. He was much cherished, and arrived 
 at all possible honours, till the incontrovertible 
 proofs of his imbecility forced Taou-kwang to 
 send him away from the capital. 
 
 Such were the most prominent characters 
 that filled the Court. Though there was no 
 soaring* talent amongst them, no comprehen- 
 sive judgment, still there were men of very 
 solid qualities : and all were as serious as their 
 master. The gaiety of the former reign was 
 utterly banished, and the comedians became, 
 as heretofore, an object of scorn. Taou-kwang 
 did not wish to incur great expenditure, and 
 forced his best friends to imitate his example : 
 frugal in his table (though delicacies were sent 
 him from all parts of the empire), moderate in 
 dress, and extremely reluctant to part with a 
 single farthing, his friends considered it fashion- 
 able to be equally stingy. 
 
 The ceremonies of the Court, though kept 
 with very great strictness, were observed in 
 the least expensive manner ; in the cost of 
 the table, in the pleasures and amusements, in 
 the furniture of the palaces, yea, even in their 
 repairs, the utmost economy was observed. 
 
 
HIS AVARICE. 67 
 
 Taou-kwang was for amassing* money : the 
 solid substance of silver j and not, like his ances- 
 tors, for accumulating* a number of valuable 
 things, and putting* them away only to be shown 
 on festive occasions. He was poor enough when 
 still a prince, because the purse of his imperial 
 father had been always empty; he had learned 
 to be content with little, and acquired the habit 
 of making* a small sum last a long while. Now, 
 however, a passion for hoarding took possession 
 of him, and to behold the shining metal was the 
 most intense delight the Emperor could enjoy. 
 His friends knew this, and never failed to be 
 munificent in their presents. The quantity of 
 sycee silver which he accumulated in the regu- 
 lar way, as well as by these gifts, was immense ; 
 and its being gradually withdrawn from circu- 
 lation had a very detrimental effect upon the 
 currency of the country, and occasioned great 
 misery. Now, however, under the present Em- 
 peror, it stands a fair chance of taking wings. 
 
 Great difficulties were experienced in obtain- 
 ing a grant of money from the public treasury ; 
 for there, also, the same economy was intro- 
 duced ; and when it was finally paid, it was 
 with so many deductions, and such hard con- 
 
68 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 ditions, that the receivers had reason to com- 
 plain of their lot. 
 
 Taou-kwang- himself held whatever he had 
 once grasped, and but scantily supplied his 
 servants with the means of procuring' the very 
 necessaries of life. Were a pleasure-g , arden in 
 a state of dilapidation, or a palace nearly 
 tumbling' down, a number of officers went to 
 report on the expenditure; and woe to the 
 man who made too high an estimate : his 
 favour was for ever g-one. When the amount 
 of expenditure was fairly made out, the pay- 
 ment of the money was put upon the shoulders 
 of some person or other, under various pre- 
 tences ) and the Emperor himself advanced 
 little on such occasions. None of his high 
 functionaries ever escaped paying* largely, in 
 one shape or the other, for the favour they en- 
 joyed. Did any of them fall under his dis- 
 pleasure, the first step was the confiscation of 
 his property ; even before a sentence was pro- 
 nounced. The most intimate of his friends 
 and companions had to g*o through this or- 
 deal ; and, though restored to favour, they 
 never regained their previous property. It 
 was, therefore, prudent to hide and make no 
 
HIS JUSTICE AND BENEVOLENCE. 69 
 
 display of riches; for there would follow cer- 
 tain deprivation of the property, if it had once 
 attracted Taou-kwang's attention. With this 
 allowance, however, his avarice might be con- 
 strued into economy ; and it had, indeed, most 
 beneficial consequences for the exhausted 
 country : though, on the other hand, the ex- 
 ample from such a high quarter did a great 
 deal of mischief amongst the lower authorities. 
 
 Taou-kwang had, however, a natural sense 
 of justice : he hated anything like made-up 
 statements for the sake of effect ; and, in all 
 judicial proceedings, leaned towards clemency. 
 So far as a Chinese emperor is able to investi- 
 gate the true bearings of a case, he did his 
 best to arrive at the truth ; and always hon- 
 oured his servants greatly for this sterling 
 quality. He even could bear to be contra- 
 dicted by them on this account, and publicly 
 acknowledged whenever it was pointed out to 
 him that he had not acted justly. 
 
 Taou-kwang was rather of a kind disposi- 
 tion, and his long residence amongst nefarious 
 courtiers had by no means soured his temper. 
 Just before the commencement of his reign 
 there happened an earthquake, the sufferings 
 
70 THE LIFE OF TAOIMCWANG. 
 
 occasioned by which were very extensive. The 
 Emperor was one of the foremost to relieve 
 the destitute multitude \ and on all similar 
 occasions, when heavy calamities afflicted the 
 land, he acted with equal paternal care : the 
 only condition was, that it should cost him, 
 personally, nothing*. 
 
 Keaking had waged a long* war against 
 the sects j not that he objected to their tenets, 
 but merely because he detested the very name : 
 it was in him a mania ; and the moment he 
 heard the name, he was incensed with bitter 
 resentment. Towards the close of his reign, 
 however, he became finally convinced that the 
 fiercer the persecution, the more likely were 
 the people obstinately to adhere to their ideas. 
 And after having* boug*ht this experience by 
 shedding* torrents of blood, he relaxed some- 
 what in this severe treatment. Upon Taou- 
 kwang* the lesson was not lost ) and he was 
 deeply impressed with the absurdity of inflict- 
 ing* penalties, and perhaps death, upon a per- 
 son who differed in his views, either political 
 or religious, from the orthodox standard. 
 
 The Chinese are not a nation given to re- 
 ligious speculations 3 the principles they ad- 
 
HIS TOLERATION. 71 
 
 vocate are mostly of a politico-economical 
 nature, and in many instances so absurd that 
 they scarcely deserve repetition. It was the 
 wish of the courtiers to try how far their new 
 master would tread in the steps of the father ; 
 and they, therefore, accused three individuals 
 of being- Christians. Taou-kwang- took no 
 notice of these men; nor did he consider it 
 necessary to enforce in any case the former 
 punishments established against the introduc- 
 tion of Popery. From this principle of tolera- 
 tion he seldom deviated ; and if his grandees 
 acted otherwise, and quoted the penal statutes 
 against these foreign intruders, it was not in 
 accordance with his wishes. 
 
 The only sects that came under the lash 
 of the law were those political associations 
 which had for their object the overthrow of 
 the existing* government, or mere plunder and 
 rapine. From time immemorial these have 
 existed, and boldly defied the law; forming" 
 again, after being* dispersed, and reappearing" 
 under another name, if the former was not 
 safe. They have many times invaded the 
 tranquillity of the country, and been denounced 
 with all possible severity. 
 
72 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 State of the country on Taou-kwang's accession. — Taou- 
 kwang's private life. — Imperial palaces. — Taou-kwang's 
 indifference to art. — Expulsion of the Portuguese. — 
 Taou-kwang's dread of Western power. — Festivities of 
 the Manchoos. — Favourite residence of the Emperor. — 
 Ascendancy of the council of war. — Accessions of terri- 
 tory gained hy Taou-kwang's ancestors. — Struggles for 
 liberty of the Mahommedans. — Restrictions on com- 
 merce. — Rebellion of Tehangir. — Preparations for quell- 
 ing it. — Disunion in Tehangir's army. — Triumph and 
 subsequent cruelty of the Imperial troops. — Disastrous 
 consequences of the rebellion. — Conduct of the Kaya 
 of Kokonor. — Changes in the cabinet. >— Disgrace of 
 Yingho. — Elevation of Chung-ling. — Rising in Formosa. 
 — Corrupt state of administration. — Rewards of robbers. 
 — Destruction of the Black-caps. — Taou-kwang pays 
 homage in the temple of his ancestors. — He enacts 
 useful laws. — His poetic vein excited. 
 
 Taou-kwang's accession was tranquil; we may 
 almost say, unnoticed. All his grandsires, 
 without exception, had to contend with great 
 difficulties; not only among'st their relations, 
 but likewise with the grandees and courtiers. 
 But all those parties were hushed into silence 
 
TRANQUILLITY OF THE EMPIRE. 73 
 
 by the former tyrannical government, and 
 every one expected relief from a most in- 
 tolerable burden ; there was thus no difficulty 
 in uniting* all hearts to one common purpose. 
 
 The state of the country was also very 
 favourable for the young 1 monarch. The 
 people had left off constantly rising- ag-ainst 
 the constituted authorities, and submitted 
 themselves to a more humane rule, without 
 murmur. The only exceptions were in Yun- 
 nan, amongst the mountaineers ; and in some 
 of the northern provinces, where starvation 
 had made a very fearful inroad. All these un- 
 important oppositions were very soon silenced, 
 however, and general tranquillity reigned 
 throughout the land. 
 
 There had not for a long period been a time 
 like the first four years of Taou-kwang's reign; 
 so quiet, so tranquil, so void of all commotion. 
 It was easy to sway the large empire, because 
 there were no discordant elements to be brought 
 in unison. The sea was free of pirates, and 
 maritime trade rose to a height never known 
 before ; the arts of peace, and all the industry 
 which this nation developes, appeared to the 
 best advantage. When, now and then, a 
 
74 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 river broke its embankments, or a wet year 
 destroyed the crop, still the mass of the people 
 did not suffer, but went on increasing 1 in opu- 
 lence. There is little recorded of this time ; 
 and this is always a proof that the passions of 
 man must have been at rest, not to give rise 
 to violent outbreaks, and thus furnish matter 
 for historians. 
 
 Taou-kwang 1 was fond of domestic enjoy- 
 ments, and little relished the bustle of the 
 court; but he was equally averse to leaving 1 
 the capital and g'oingf upon a distant journey, 
 like his ancestors, to hunt in Tartary. His 
 favourite solitary abode was Yuen-ming , -yuen, 
 not far from the capital : the trees had been 
 allowed to grow, the grass was very high, and 
 it was indeed a rural spot, which few would 
 have recognised as an imperial park. Thither 
 the Emperor retired, to spend the time with 
 his friends and some concubines; and there 
 he was seen to glide solitarily through glades 
 of trees ; or, in company of some women, 
 proceed in a boat along 1 the miniature rivers. 
 He was then lost to all the world ; eunuchs 
 guarding 1 carefully the entrance, and all busi- 
 ness being" banished from these sacred precincts. 
 
HIS PARK AND PALACES. 75 
 
 It does not seem that the Emperor engaged 
 in any peculiar pursuit ; his mind needed not 
 to be constantly occupied, and required re- 
 laxation rather than incessant application. 
 The eunuchs were the principal men who ap- 
 peared before him, and they received his be- 
 hests in a few words, often very unintelligible. 
 
 His ancestors had rendered these palaces 
 abodes of art : there were beautiful painting's 
 executed by European and Chinese masters, 
 watches, clocks, &c. in hundreds ; and the most 
 beautiful pieces of workmanship that Europe 
 could produce in very great abundance. 
 Kanghi even had musical instruments placed 
 about in the rooms, and amongst them beau- 
 tiful spinets, which he touched now and then, 
 to the astonishment of all present. There were 
 at that time Europeans always in attendance, 
 who explained the nature of the instruments, 
 and repaired them whenever they were out of 
 order. But the taste of Taou-kwang did not 
 lie that way ; so that the finest pieces of art 
 were jumbled together in oue great magazine, 
 and many were broken or rotten ere the least 
 notice was taken of them. 
 
 The last of the Portuguese remained only a 
 
"76 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 few years in the capital, at the board of 
 astronomy, and were sent away in 1826. 
 The only Europeans left behind were a few 
 Russians. All the connection between the 
 east and west was thus stopped, and a very 
 strong- retrograde movement ag'ain took place. 
 It was, perhaps, more a dread of western 
 power than any real aversion to the arts and 
 sciences, which prompted Taou-kwang* to the 
 utter expulsion of all that had even the ap- 
 pearance of affinity to those distant countries. 
 He did not hate the men, but he feared their 
 ascendancy ; persuading himself that their in- 
 fluence would prove subversive of his autho- 
 rity. These fears were by no means dispelled 
 by subsequent events, yet this undefined dread 
 also kept from the Emperor the knowledge 
 which mig-ht have enabled him to avoid a colli- 
 sion with western powers. 
 
 The drunken orgies of his predecessor had 
 entirely ceased ; there was no longer the 
 pageantry of comedians, and any festivity was 
 of rare occurrence. It is the ancient custom of 
 the Manchoos to assemble and eat meat without 
 rice, to recall their origin of hunters ; on which 
 occasions an intoxicating liquor made of mare's 
 
MANCHOO FEASTS. 77 
 
 inilk is drunk in great abundance. To such 
 feasts the Emperor invited his grandees fre- 
 quently. These were boisterous assemblies, and 
 the greater the quantity of viands they could 
 consume, the greater the respect they shewed 
 towards the exalted host. During* the repast 
 they sang- songs, descriptive of the union be- 
 tween all Manchoos, and pledged each other's 
 fealty. Thus they spent many hours ; and when 
 the party broke up, they took to their houses 
 the meat that was left. To be invited to 
 the feast was a certain proof of the Emperor's 
 favour ; and only those whom he honoured as 
 his confidential friends were admitted. 
 
 The Emperor very rarely visited Zehol, the 
 favourite abode of Kanghi and Ke&nlung ; for 
 he liked to spend his time in and near the 
 capital. On that famous artificial hill, within 
 the precincts of the palace, which is surrounded 
 by lakes, rivers, and rocks, all made by the imi- 
 tative Chinese, most of his days were passed. 
 
 The attempt to rule alone had entirely mis- 
 carried ; for the amount of business was so 
 great, that it was an impossibility to attend to 
 the most necessary transactions. This, then, was 
 a favourable opportunity for Hegan, and others 
 
78 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 of a similar stamp, to assume the control of 
 affairs, and defeat the intentions of their oppo- 
 nents. The old ministers held only nominal 
 rank, all actual measures being- taken by fa- 
 vourites: the Emperor, though having a cabinet 
 consisting' of four principal and two assistant 
 ministers, nevertheless, calls his council (Chi- 
 nese Council of War, literally) at pleasure; 
 and at this any one he chooses is admitted. 
 All important affairs are then decided ) and 
 without the approbation of this council 
 nothing" can be done. The friends of Taou- 
 kwang were installed in this place with su- 
 preme authority, and began there to direct 
 the affairs of the Empire. The ascendancy 
 of master spirits, before whom the Emperor 
 bowed, prevented that contest and disunion 
 which often mars the most salutary measures. 
 These men were entrusted with power for 
 better and for worse ; and five years passed 
 thus in comparative tranquillity. 
 
 The natural confines of the Chinese Empire 
 present such strong barriers against foreign 
 encroachments, that the country may be said 
 to stand there protected by bulwarks strong 
 and invincible. Since the Manchoos occupied 
 
CHINESE CONQUESTS. 79 
 
 the throne, their native land, Manchooria, was 
 also added to China ; and subsequently, after 
 a very hard struggle, Mongolia likewise. 
 There the spirit of conquest ought to have 
 paused, as it was dangerous to add other 
 possessions to the already too vast Empire. 
 Yet the Emperor thought differently, and 
 Tibet gradually became a dependency. Keen- 
 lung, who wished to establish his fame, and 
 to crush the Eleuths, a nation that had boldly 
 resisted the arms of his grandsire, began, 
 therefore, a very expensive and disastrous 
 war in that country. No worldly advantage 
 could accrue from it; still, notwithstanding the 
 heavy losses, it was carried on. Unexpected 
 events gave to the Chinese armies finally the 
 victory, and the nomadic inhabitants of those 
 tracts succumbed to the Manchoo sway. 
 
 About this time (1757) the Usbecks, to the 
 south of the Teenshan, apprehending a similar 
 fate to the Eleuths, who had been butchered in 
 myriads, rose in open hostility against the 
 Chinese. Thus the war was carried on far 
 beyond its intended limits ; and the Manchoo 
 general did not stop until the Mahommedan 
 citif \s, with Kashgan and Yarkand, were in 
 
80 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 his possession. The cruelties practised on this 
 occasion were unheard of; but Turkistan was 
 also subjected to Keenlung's sceptre. 
 
 Nothing- could have been so unwise as to 
 extend the Chinese territory beyond its natural 
 boundary; and as soon as the Usbecks had 
 recovered from their panic, they revenged 
 themselves upon their oppressors. 
 
 Such had been the case already, during- the 
 reig-n of Taou-kwang's grandsire, when the 
 rebellion was quenched by torrents of blood; 
 and under his own administration, another 
 more fearful struggle for liberty commenced, 
 of which the issue for some time was very 
 dubious. 
 
 The fanaticism of the Mohammedans had 
 been roused to madness ; it became a holy war 
 against idolaters, whom it was the greatest 
 dishonour to serve. But the Chinese came 
 with overwhelming forces ; treason lurked 
 amongst the Usbecks ; their chiefs were de- 
 livered over to the barbarity of the Manchoos, 
 and their army, in a very short time, annihi- 
 lated. Yet the fire was thereby not yet ex- 
 tinguished : it smouldered long under the ashes. 
 
 One great cause of general disaffection, was 
 
RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERCE. 81 
 
 the restrictions imposed on commerce. The 
 western Buchanans and other nations are 
 fond of tea, and dress themselves on festive 
 occasions in Chinese silks. A great trade 
 had sprung- up, much to the advantage of 
 all parties ; but the Chinese custom-house 
 officers practised such monstrous extortions, 
 that it was impossible to derive much profit 
 from the traffic. The evasions and bribes 
 were many; but the Chinese government 
 thought that to restrict the commerce would 
 be to secure the frontier. It was even in con- 
 templation to prohibit it entirely, and cut off 
 all connection with the west. 
 
 A number of native merchants had, how- 
 ever, been accustomed to visit in their travels 
 the adjacent countries, and were still more 
 inflamed against the infidel rulers by their 
 fellow-believers. All the combustibles for a 
 tremendous explosion had long- ag*o been col- 
 lected; a conspiracy was ably arranged, and 
 the leader was only wanting 1 . This man was 
 soon found in Tehangir, a descendant of one 
 of the former Princes, who was driven from 
 his home and possessions by the Manchoos. 
 He had lived alternately at Bokhara and 
 
 G 
 
82 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 with the Kokand chief, and watched the 
 opportunity for regaining his patrimony. In 
 1826, he had assembled round him a number 
 of desperate Turkomans and vagabonds of 
 all nations; and, favoured by his host, the 
 Kokand ruler, he forthwith penetrated by 
 the valley of Syr, and proclaimed himself 
 the deliverer of the Faithful. The idolatrous 
 conquerors he had devoted to the sword; 
 to the believer, he promised a happy state of 
 independence, and freedom from oppression ; 
 to all, he wished to be a benignant ruler. 
 
 The first attempt of Tehangir, however, did 
 not prove very successful ; and he had to re- 
 treat towards Bodakshai : where, fortunately 
 for his cause, the mandarins had driven the 
 Mahommedans to despair by their oppression. 
 There remained nothing for them but to rise in 
 open rebellion, and to join the standard of their 
 fellow-believers. With this exasperated crowd, 
 Tehangir attacked Cashgar, took the place, and 
 killed all the Chinese and Manchoo inhabitants 
 whom he could capture. As soon as the Kaja, 
 or chief of Kokand heard this, he instantly 
 came with his bands to share in the plunder ; 
 and assisted, likewise, in the capture of two 
 
REBELLION OF TEHANGIE. 83 
 
 cities. But he was a faithless ally, merely 
 instigated by sordid self-interest, and left his 
 friend as soon as he conceived it politic to advocate 
 the Manchoo cause, to promote his advantage. 
 
 Tehangir, in the mean while, exulting in his 
 good success ; became overbearing in his con- 
 duct, and harsh towards his adherents: in- 
 stead of the liberty he had promised, another 
 era of servitude seemed to have begun. 
 
 The postal establishment of the Chinese go- 
 vernment is of the best description : couriers 
 traverse the desert, and the most inhospitable 
 regions, with incredible velocity ; so that 
 scarcely twenty days had elapsed, when the 
 disaster was known to its full extent in Pe- 
 king. Every one now expected that Taou- 
 kwang would take the field in person : he 
 had when a prince been fond of military pa- 
 rade, drill, and exercise, and it was generally 
 anticipated that he would put in practice what 
 he had studied with so great attention in youth. 
 But the disappointment was great, when the 
 generals who were to march against the rebels 
 were nominated, and a very large army ap- 
 pointed to proceed directly to the seat of in- 
 surrection. 
 
84 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Taou-kwang shewed great ability in assem- 
 bling- the army ) worked day and night to 
 render it effective; and, in order to procure 
 supplies sufficient for the enterprise, he in- 
 sisted that all corporations and wealthy indi- 
 viduals should offer patriotic gifts on the altar 
 of the fatherland : a measure to which he had 
 had constantly recourse throughout his reign. 
 The Hong* merchants, at Canton, paid most 
 on this occasion. It was found that the 
 army cost, on an average, 23,000/. of our 
 sterling" money per day ; and that it must lead 
 to national bankruptcy, if all the resources 
 of the country were not put into requisition 
 to meet the exigency. 
 
 The army, a most motley group of tribes 
 and nations, with a great preponderance of the 
 scum of the people, was finally set in motion. 
 The march through the desert beyond Hame 
 was most disastrous ; men and cattle died of 
 want, and the commissariat proved very de- 
 fective. 
 
 Had Tehangir awaited the disheartened, 
 half-starved remnant of the Chinese forces at the 
 passes of the Teenshan, which led into Turk- 
 istan, he would have been able to annihilate 
 
DEFEAT OF THE USBECKS. 85 
 
 the whole ; but he delayed, and lost this golden 
 opportunity. The troops refreshed themselves 
 in the few cities that remained faithful to the 
 Chinese, and the contest now commenced. 
 
 On the banks of the Turim river, which 
 traverses the whole breadth of the country, 
 the great battle was fought ; and 60,000 men 
 met there in mortal strife. It does not appear 
 that the Usbecks made a desperate stand : 
 their forces had been weakened by desertion ; 
 and, even in the hour of need, the mutual 
 hatred between the black and white caps — 
 two distinguishing- marks of the Mahomme- 
 dans in those regions — could not be forgotten. 
 The former detested Tehangir, and rejoiced at 
 his misfortune. 
 
 Various other engagements took place, of 
 which we have only the statements of Chinese 
 writers, who never fail to report victories. 
 Tehangir kept them long at bay ; the imperial 
 forces had to be considerably increased, and 
 new sums of money to be sent : no less than 
 10,000 camels were employed in carrying pro- 
 visions to the army. The Emperor was weary 
 of a war that could only entail loss and never 
 afford any advantage ; he, therefore, ordered 
 
86 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 that no money should be spared to seize the 
 rebel leader, either dead or alive. 
 
 From that moment a system of treachery 
 commenced, which robbed Tehangir of his best 
 friends. The four cities he had taken were 
 lost, and he became again a fugitive. When 
 Taou-kwang heard of the surrender of Kash- 
 gar, he wept for joy. What bribery could not 
 effect, cruelty was to accomplish; the Man- 
 choos murdered, without any remorse, all that 
 came before them, women and children not 
 excepted. In one victory, an officer, whose 
 relation had fallen in battle, sacrificed four 
 prisoners to his manes. It was a war of exter- 
 mination : nevertheless, the black caps sup- 
 ported it with all their might. In various 
 battles the Usbecks again retrieved their ill 
 fortune ; and if they had had a settled plan, 
 a common rallying point, or even an arsenal at 
 their disposal, they would have gained the day 
 in the end. But they were without any as- 
 sistance, and even not united amongst them- 
 selves. 
 
 When Tehangir, who belonged to the 
 Altktak (white caps), saw all was lost, he 
 implored the assistance of the PoolootihMahom- 
 
FATE OF TEHANGIR. 87 
 
 medans, in 1827. He might have long main- 
 tained a running warfare, and wearied out 
 the Chinese forces, if a traitor, named Isaak, 
 who belonged to the adverse faction of the 
 Karatak (black caps), had not surrendered 
 Tehano-ir into the hands of the Manchoos. 
 He was taken to Pekin, and there cut to 
 pieces in the presence of Taou-kwang; his 
 relations were exiled, and some took refuge 
 amongst the Kirghis; who refused to deliver 
 them up on any terms, because they were their 
 guests. 
 
 The whole of Turkistan was nearly converted 
 into a desert, and misery reigned everywhere ; 
 China had lost many million ounces of silver, 
 without reaping any advantage ; and the only 
 gainer in the whole affair was the treacherous 
 Kaja of Kokand. After having plundered both 
 friend and foe, he came to an agreement with 
 the Manchoos that they should pay him a 
 round sum ) that he should be the umpire in 
 all differences between the Usbeck, take the 
 lead in religious questions, and collect a cer- 
 tain sum of money from the caravans on their 
 way to Turkistan. 
 
 Taou-kwang was obliged to make changes 
 
88 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 in his cabinet during* the war, because the 
 ministers were not agreed upon some points. 
 There was a proposition made to open the sil- 
 ver mines in the neighbourhood of the capital ; 
 but the great mover in this matter, the assistant 
 Manchoo minister, Yingho, was finally accused 
 of having- obtruded visionary schemes upon his 
 sovereign, and dismissed with disgrace. 
 
 The most daring- in the whole war was 
 Chung-ling. He was subsequently made a 
 member of the cabinet, and entrusted with the 
 management of the campaign. His whole 
 conduct seems to have been that of a con- 
 summate general ; and he was therefore subse- 
 quently, by degrees, raised to the premiership, 
 the highest rank of nobility was conferred on 
 him, and everything- was done to shew the 
 high estimation in which he was held by the 
 monarch. Though a Mongol by birth, the 
 Emperor treated him as one of his own rela- 
 tives, and Chung-ling became henceforth the 
 man to whom he looked for advice in all 
 matters of importance. Several generals who 
 distinguished themselves in the war, became 
 subsequently famous for their conduct when 
 coming in contact with the English : amongst 
 
POLITICAL CORRUPTION. 89 
 
 others may be mentioned, Yu-po-yun, Yang-- 
 fang*, and Hoochaou. 
 
 Simultaneously with this event, occurred a 
 rising* in Formosa : a very hot-bed of rebellion, 
 because the refuse population of the opposite 
 Chinese coast took refuge there as emigrants. 
 Both rising's left an empty treasury, which 
 was to be filled by patriotic gifts ; and these 
 were ag*ain called forth by promises of emolu- 
 ments and offices to the liberal donors. 
 
 It was not the first time that the govern- 
 ment had had recourse to this expedient ; but 
 now the practice, reduced to a complete 
 system, exercised a most baneful influence 
 upon the State : it made everything- vendible, 
 and put men into office whose sole endeavour 
 was to reimburse themselves for their outlay, 
 with interest. Not only did money become the 
 sole mover of all enterprises ) but every other 
 acquisition and accomplishment lost their value. 
 The great scholars of China, who had pored 
 over ancient books, and stood hig-h for their 
 attainments in literature, had very little chance 
 of promotion, if they had not also cash to 
 support their claims. The whole administra- 
 tion thus became radically changed, a new set 
 
90 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 of men was introduced, and a spirit, which 
 prevails at the present day, gradually sprang- 
 up : it was only the greedy, grasping-, bribing-, 
 and tricking- officer that ever could look for 
 advancement. 
 
 The rewards bestowed upon all those who 
 during- the Turkistan war had disting-uished 
 themselves, extended even to the convicts ; 
 who had been sent thither from all parts of 
 China, and rendered very great services by 
 kidnapping- enemies, or betra}dng them into 
 the hands of their employers. They received 
 buttons and peacocks' feathers, and obtained 
 permission to return to their native places; 
 where they proved, in many instances, a 
 plag-ue to their countrymen, by resuming- 
 their former profession of thieves and rob- 
 bers. Others obtained more substantial re- 
 wards ) especially the Usbecks (black caps), 
 who had so greatly contributed towards the 
 defeat of the rebels. A great number of them 
 became officers in the Chinese army, others 
 rose to high distinction in their native country, 
 and all the important offices devolved upon 
 them ; whilst their antagonists could only rise 
 to the rank of Imaums. 
 
 i$jpm 
 
HONOURS OF VICTORY. 91 
 
 Taou-kwang was prompted by flatterers 
 to give to his reign a more high-sounding 
 title on account of this victory; but he was 
 too sensible to follow such advice. On the con- 
 trary, he proceeded to the temple of his ances- 
 tors, and there paid homage ; for to their 
 propitious influence he ascribed his success. 
 His adopted mother also received her share 
 of praise j and he shewed peculiar honour 
 to his uncle, a man far advanced in years. 
 Thus, having performed his filial duties, he 
 enacted many excellent laws respecting the 
 future government of Turkistan ; and finally 
 adopted the reasonable proposition of attaching 
 the people through kindness, and not driving' 
 them again to rebellion by vexatious regula- 
 tions. But twenty Usbecks had first to suffer 
 decapitation, for having transgressed the law, 
 ere the Emperor could come to this result. 
 
 The success in the war awoke in the other- 
 wise prosaic Taou-kwang the poetical vein, 
 and he actually composed stanzas about the 
 Tsing dynasty and the Manchoo victories, 
 which were duly printed and blazoned forth as 
 great masterpieces. 
 
92 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Tomb of the Emperor. — Of his mother and wife. — Taou- 
 kwang-'s pilgrimage to the tombs of his ancestors. — 
 His deportment amongst his countrymen. — His bounty. 
 — His predilection. — Earthquake at Honan. — Effect 
 upon the Emperor. — Overflowing of the Yang-tse- 
 kiang, and consequent distress of the people. — Energy 
 of Taou-kwang on the occasion. — Conduct of the 
 Government. — Irruption of the mountaineers of Hae- 
 man. — Rebellion of the Andeganos. — Disgrace of 
 Chang-ling. — Quarrel between the Emperor and his 
 son, and death of the latter. — Illness of Taou-kwang. — 
 Hwuy-wang appointed his successor. — Death of Taou- 
 kwang' s wife, and his grief. 
 
 Peculiar stress is laid by the Chinese upon 
 the exact spot of their burial ; and to make a 
 proper choice of the same, no labour is spared, 
 no expense grudged. There are professors of 
 the art — which has received the name of Fung- 
 Shwey, or, wind and water — whose sole busi- 
 ness it is to find out the propitious piece of 
 ground desired. But months often elapse be- 
 fore even such a diligent individual can come 
 to results satisfactory to himself and his em- 
 
 1 
 
SITE FOR HIS TOMB. 93 
 
 plovers; and the greatest eulogy to be be- 
 stowed upon him is, that he has worn out a 
 pair of hob-nailed shoes in the search. Much 
 investigation must take place before an Em- 
 peror can erect a mausoleum for himself; 
 which is generally done during his lifetime : 
 the coffin is also prepared, while he is still 
 hale and strong, to receive his last remains. 
 
 To be very certain in this particular, Taou- 
 kwang sent his minister, and a celebrated doctor 
 of this wonderful science, to make the needful 
 search. They did not betray their trust ; but, 
 after long and anxious investigation, the iden- 
 tical spot where the tomb ought to be erected 
 was finally discovered, and the work begun in 
 good earnest. This, however, only prepared 
 the downfall of the minister; for water col- 
 lected in the hole that had been dug, and the 
 ground proved to be entirely unfit for a burial- 
 place. The unfortunate statesman was, con- 
 sequently, doomed by the exasperated monarch 
 to exile, on the borders of the Amour, near 
 Siberia; there to spend the few remaining 
 days of his life amidst snow and ice. The 
 grave of the Emperor's departed mother was, 
 however, chosen with greater care; the diggers 
 
94 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 first making- a hole, and waiting- for a long- time 
 to see whether any water would collect. Simi- 
 lar precautions were also taken when subse- 
 quently selecting- a spot for the grave of his 
 wife. 
 
 There was still a very pious act to be per- 
 formed by the dutiful Emperor, — his pilgrim- 
 age to the tombs of his ancestors ; a duty 
 which devolves upon every Chinese monarch. 
 The consultations upon this subject had been 
 manifold ; there being* always a lurking- dread, 
 that during his absence some bold usurper 
 mig-ht seize upon the government. The Em- 
 peror, therefore, proceeds thither at the head 
 of an army. The Astronomical, or rather As- 
 trological Board, must first calculate the pro- 
 pitious month, day, hour, and even minute, 
 when the stars will benignantly shine upon the 
 Great Emperor ; and when this is ascertained 
 beyond all doubt, the cavalcade proceeds : the 
 temporary administration of government mean- 
 while having been entrusted to the most ex- 
 cellent personages who can be depended upon. 
 
 There were no less than two thousand camels 
 in the train ; the princes of the blood, several 
 beauties of the harem, and the favourite minis- 
 
 
AN IMPERIAL PILGRIMAGE. 95 
 
 ters, all joined the procession. The road leads 
 through very uncultivated spots, and is often 
 impassable; so that even an emperor cannot 
 travel without being- subject to great fatigues. 
 Preparations of every description had been 
 made beforehand; sheds and wooden houses 
 were erected where no villages are to be found : 
 still Taou-kwang-, with his whole Court, had 
 often to encamp under tents. 
 
 Along- the whole journey the people crowded 
 in thousands to see their monarch. In Peking* 
 such liberties are severely punished ; and the 
 streets throug-h which the imperial cavalcade 
 wends its way are empty and silent as death : 
 none dare look up to the Great Emperor, un- 
 less specially allowed by his rank to behold the 
 drag , on-face. In the country, however, the 
 same formality could not be observed ; and 
 some Chinese even went so far as to pre- 
 sent petitions; but Taou-kwang- could not 
 brook such liberties, and had recourse to 
 punishments to deter others from approaching- 
 his person. 
 
 After many days he arrived in Moukden; 
 an insignificant place, which owes its celebrity 
 to the first establishment of Manchoo power, 
 
96 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 and is, therefore, considered as a sacred spot. 
 It has all the tribunals and institutions of Pe- 
 king- in miniature ) the most celebrated estab- 
 lishment, however, is that of the ancestral tombs. 
 These are kept in good repair, well guarded, 
 and have always a considerable garrison, to 
 keep watch that the abode of the Imperial 
 manes be not desecrated. 
 
 Taou-kwang during this time shewed him- 
 self quite the family man : they were his dear 
 countrymen amongst whom he spent his time ; 
 his friends, his relations. Laying, therefore, 
 all formality and imperial pride aside, he 
 hastened as a poor pilgrim to the shrine of the 
 mausoleums, to prostrate himself there. This 
 he did repeatedly ; acknowledging his utter 
 insufficiency to emulate the virtues of his 
 ancestors. Thousands and thousands followed 
 his example ; especially his own numerous 
 kith and kin, who did so as in duty bound. 
 
 When all ceremonies were performed, the 
 Emperor looked about for some deserving sub- 
 jects upon whom to shew his favour, and singled 
 out the descendants of some of his most meri- 
 torious officers, who contributed most materi- 
 ally to his conquests. They received three-eyed 
 
 § 
 
HIS MUNIFICENCE. 97 
 
 peacock feathers; the highest distinction an 
 emperor of China can confer. 
 
 Great numbers of poor and proud noble- 
 men live in and near the city, who are en- 
 tirely destitute ; for they have no inclination to 
 labour, and if they do so they lose caste. To- 
 wards these the Emperor was very bountiful, 
 and gave large sums of money to relieve them 
 from their pecuniary difficulties. 
 
 When he had everywhere liberally bestowed 
 his gifts, he left, moreover, one million taels 
 behind in the treasury, to enable the govern- 
 ment to make any profitable improvement that 
 might be deemed necessary. Having thus 
 spread happiness and joy everywhere around, 
 he bent his steps home, to take again upon 
 himself the cares of governing a great country. 
 His predilection for his ancestral domain was 
 always very great ; and he often made, subse- 
 quently, great sacrifices to promote its prosperity. 
 - Thus, all had been joy and contentment ; but 
 there happened, soon after Taou-kwang's re- 
 turn to Peking, an event which left a very 
 deep impression upon his mind, and filled him 
 with sad forebodings. An earthquake in 
 Honan extended its shocks to the very capital. 
 
 II 
 
98 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Many thousands of people were crushed under 
 the ruins of their dwelling's ; others sank with 
 the earth into an abyss. The Emperor fan cied 
 he could hear the stifled cries of his subjects 
 in their last agonies ; and this idea profoundly 
 afflicted his soul: he trembled at the very 
 thought that men should be buried alive ; and 
 shut himself up for three days, without admit- 
 ting* any person to see him, to give full vent 
 to his unbridled grief. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, the Yang-tze-keang 
 broke its bounds, and overflowed the country 
 round Nanking*. Many persons were drowned, 
 for the water came very suddenly ; the harvest 
 was also destroyed, and the misery, conse- 
 quently, very severe. Under these pressures 
 Taou-kwang* shewed great energy to relieve 
 the distress, and to obliterate the traces of the 
 calamity. Much was paid and done to rescue 
 people from absolute starvation, and to keep 
 up the drooping spirits of the multitude. In 
 this respect the Emperor endeavoured to main- 
 tain the character of " father of his country," 
 and to impress the minds of the people with 
 the deepest veneration for his name. 
 
 The Chinese government has adopted the 
 
 ♦ 
 
 i 
 
DISASTROUS CALAMITIES. 99 
 
 plan always to keep a large quantity of grain 
 in its' storehouses, at the cost of the people, to 
 be prepared for emergencies. On this occa- 
 sion, however, the rice had to be brought from 
 a great distance, and ere it could reach the 
 place of its destination, thousands had already 
 died of hunger ; when it arrived, however, it 
 was boiled in large kettles, and every poor 
 starving man received a sufficient quantity of 
 soup to satisfy his craving appetite. In the 
 spring, government issued seed corn ; exacting, 
 however, the promise of repayment. 
 
 Amongst the minor troubles that disturbed 
 the mind of the Emperor, we may mention an 
 irruption of the mountaineers of Haenan ; who 
 plundered the peaceful Chinese, and committed 
 very great atrocities. The soldiers sent against 
 them were beaten back, and the consterna- 
 tion on account of this defeat was very great 
 amongst all the Chinese colonists ; who are very 
 industrious people, busily engaged in fisheries, 
 trade, and agriculture, peaceful and timid. The 
 governor-general of Kwang-tung was finally 
 obliged to yield to the earnest request of the 
 islanders, and come in person to put down the 
 disturbance. He did this finally very effec- 
 
100 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 tually, and reaped great advantages from his 
 interference; for the aborigines were driven 
 back to their mountains, and never afterwards 
 disturbed the thriving 1 settlers. 
 
 Much worse were the affairs in Turkistan, 
 in 1830. There, new troubles had arisen, on 
 account of the restrictive commercial system 
 carried out by the frontier authorities; and 
 this time a race called the Andiofans were the 
 aggressors. As the number of dissatisfied 
 people is there very great, it was very easy 
 to gather a great crowd, and fall upon the 
 unwary Manchoo commander. The forces 
 were scattered in a short time ; and the rebels 
 laid siege to Yarkand, which is the principal 
 city in the south, and the great emporium for 
 the Indian trade. There, however, a brave 
 general, Chang-pe, commanded; who boldly 
 opposed the attacking forces, withstood their 
 assaults for a long time, was himself the fore- 
 most in the hour of danger, and behaved 
 manfully in everything. 
 
 Taou-kwang, foreseeing the disasters that 
 must ensue if the most vigorous measures 
 were not instantly taken, sent 4,000 camels 
 and two millions of taels in silver to settle 
 
 mk 
 
NEW REBELLION IN TURXJSTAN. 102 
 
 matters; instead, however, of waging* along and 
 destructive war, and consuming fche>^efy mar- 
 row of the State, great bribes were adminis- 
 tered, peace was bought, and the whole matter 
 hushed up. It was never generally known in 
 what way the differences had been removed, 
 but they were much sooner put a stop to than 
 in the first instance. 
 
 Chang-ling, the veteran hero, who was again 
 sent to quell the new insurrection, returned ) but 
 only to be accused of heavy crimes, and to lose 
 the influence which he possessed as second minis- 
 ter of the cabinet. Taou-kwang saw too late 
 the erroneous policy of extending the Empire 
 beyond its natural boundaries, and deeply 
 regretted having committed the blunder: but 
 it was now too late. 
 
 The Emperor had several children born to 
 him ; amongst others a son, who had now 
 reached (1831) his twentieth year. He was 
 the heir-presumptive, as many believed ; and 
 proud, perhaps, of his high destiny, he gave 
 offence to his father. A quarrel ensued, in 
 which it is said the Emperor lost his temper, 
 and gave person alty, with his own hand, a 
 chastisement to the prince. The young man was 
 
J 02 ote.ufe of taou-kwang. 
 
 infected with the, vice of opium-smoking", at 
 $ at- time ver}' common in the harem, and died 
 from the consequences of it. This occasioned 
 many evil rumours, and Taou-kwang" was 
 himself accused of being* the murderer of his 
 child ; though there is certain evidence to 
 prove that he was almost inconsolable at his 
 death. His mind was partly relieved by the 
 report that two Chinese concubines had borne 
 him two sons (one the present Emperor Hien 
 Fung-, born in Sept. 1831), to be a support 
 in his declining* years. 
 
 The shock, however, was too great for the 
 Emperor : he fell sick of a very serious disorder, 
 his life was despaired of, and his brother, 
 Hwuy-wang, fixed upon as his successor: 
 the very prince who at his accession was too 
 young* to be entrusted with the cares of the 
 State. A strong faction was formed at the 
 Court in favour of this prince, who had a 
 great name for sagacity and moderation • but 
 the spell was soon dissolved by the recovery 
 of the Sovereign, who hence conceived a great 
 dislike towards the competitor, and repeatedly 
 degraded him. 
 
 This was not, however, the only misfortune 
 
HIS DOMESTIC AFFLICTIONS, 103 
 
 that befel Taou-kwang- : one much more deeply- 
 felt by him was the loss of his spouse, in whom 
 all his affections were centered. He had loved 
 and esteemed her when still a prince, and he 
 shared with her all the imperial pomp. This 
 event happened not long* after the celebration of 
 his fiftieth birth-day, when he was just re- 
 covering' from his malady. He seemed to be 
 stupified by this bereavement, and withdrew 
 for some time from public business, and in- 
 dulged his grief. When he was at length 
 roused from his lethargy by the ministers, he 
 was so indigmnt at their intrusion that he 
 disgraced them all. 
 
104 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Rebellion of mountaineers. — Defeat of Le, and his con- 
 sequent disgrace and banishment. — Hegan despatched 
 against the rebels. — His success. — Reward of the suc- 
 cessful commanders. — Frequent occurrence of rebellion. 
 — Cruelty of the government. — Rebellion in Shan- 
 tung — Policy of the government. — Trade society. — 
 Persecution of the Christians. — Opposition of the 
 Emperor to it. — Reproach passed on the government. 
 — Prosperity of the country. — Frequent famine. — 
 Policy of the Mandarins respecting it. — Direful con- 
 sequences. — Taou-kwang's fondness for punctilio. — 
 His devotion. — Second wife of the Emperor. — Her 
 character and pursuits. — Her influence on State affairs. 
 — Chinese contempt for female government. — Attach- 
 ment of the Emperor to his second wife. — Prosperity 
 of the country under her influence. — Emperor's neglect 
 of her, and her death. — Law passed against the in- 
 terference of eunuchs in State affairs. — Changes in the 
 Cabinet. — Rise of Yuen-yuen. — Retirement of Lung 
 and Chang-ling.- — Business of the Cabinet. — Depen- 
 dence of ministers on the Emperor's favour. 
 
 Between the provinces of Hoonan, Kwang-se, 
 and Kwang-tung* ; are very high mountains, for 
 the most part inaccessible ; which are in- 
 
 Ji 
 
REBELLION OF MOUNTAINEERS. 105 
 
 habited by a race of aborigines, brave and 
 determined, rude and free. They have re- 
 sisted successfully the whole power which the 
 mandarins could bring* against them ; for they 
 are good archers, and in their mountains in- 
 vincible. The mandarins are very strict against 
 them, and by their conduct often irritate them 
 to such a degree that the mountaineers take 
 dire revenge upon their oppressors. Whenever 
 they are unruly, Government prohibits the im- 
 portation of salt, to force them, by withholding" 
 this necessary of life, to submission. 
 
 In 1832 one of the chiefs, in a strangle 
 frenzy, declared himself Emperor of China, 
 and sped down the mountains to lay the whole 
 lowlands waste. There were, perhaps, some 
 other causes that led to this outbreak ; which, 
 however, have never been made known. 
 
 The soldiers sent against these mountaineers 
 were beaten, and a division led by a Manchoo 
 was likewise nearly annihilated in a mountain 
 defile, into which he had been inveigled ) 
 the terror grew in the same measure as the 
 imperial forces were scattered. 
 
 In this emergency the Emperor commanded 
 Le, the governor-general of Kwang-tung and 
 
106 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Kwang-se, who had also a seat in the cabi- 
 net as assistant-minister, to lead forward his 
 troops to victory, and exterminate the rebels 
 with one fell swoop. He accordingly com- 
 menced a toilsome march, but saw, with great 
 concern, that two hundred of his one thousand 
 warriors were so debilitated by opium-smoking 
 that they had to be left behind. A number 
 of them also asked leave of absence, on the plea 
 that they had to attend to their old mothers 
 at home ; and, according 1 to Chinese law, were 
 allowed to return^ with a few blows awarded 
 them as cowards. 
 
 Le, though commander-in-chief, had never 
 commanded a single company, still less an army; 
 but, as the creed of the Chinese goes far to 
 assert that whosoever has read the books of 
 Kung-foo-tze is capable to undertake anything, 
 the most renowned literary characters are also 
 considered the greatest generals. High hopes 
 were, therefore, entertained of Le ; who forth- 
 with, to make an end of the affair, advanced 
 deep into the mountains. This was just what 
 the miao-tse wanted. For a long while not a 
 single enemy was seen; on a sudden, how- 
 ever, during the night, the whole Chinese 
 
DEFEAT OF THE CHINESE FORCE. 107 
 
 force was surrounded, and attacked on all sides. 
 To make matters worse, a great quantity of 
 gunpowder accidentally exploded, by which 
 many warriors lost their lives. This caused 
 much consternation, and the Chinese heroes 
 were oblig-ed fairly to retreat as fast as possible ; 
 for arrows flew from every hiding*- place. 
 
 Such a misfortune as this rendered the 
 governor wretched : he had no hope of re- 
 trieving his losses ; the soldiers rose in open 
 mutiny against him, because he would not ask 
 for rewards sufficiently to indemnify the rela- 
 tives of the fallen ; and the grandee was 
 finally denounced as unfit to serve his imperial 
 Majesty any longer. His sentence was, to be 
 transported for life; which he, with all his 
 cunning and bribes, could not avert : he wan- 
 dered in exile with his family, and was after- 
 wards never heard of. Yet he was a most 
 adroit man, and had powerful friends who 
 held the highest offices; and, moreover, he 
 possessed access to the imperial ear. 
 
 Taou-kwang very soon perceived that iron 
 and steel would not do the work against the 
 barbarians; he, therefore, despatched He- 
 gan, his trusty servant, as commissioner ; who 
 
108 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 having* a short time before been in disgrace, 
 had now an opportunity offered to retrieve 
 his character. He did not come with soldiers, 
 but money : with imperial warrants, high pro- 
 mises, and judg*es, to settle the whole strife 
 by the civil power. There could be nothing' 
 more unwarlike than this expedition ; yet it 
 was the best calculated to answer the end. 
 
 Other troops advanced from the side of 
 Hoonan. They were, according' to their own 
 account, successful enough ; for they took two 
 cities of the miao-tse, and burnt the houses 
 down. Then appeared Heg-an with plenipo- 
 tentiary powers, announcing' dire vengeance 
 on all who would not instantly submit. Emis- 
 saries were at the same time sent to effect the 
 surrender of the leading" rebel, and of some 
 of his adherents. Upon this, nine hundred 
 thousand ounces of silver were paid to buy a 
 peace; on which the mountaineers agreed to 
 let the Chinese forces withdraw unmolested. 
 
 The chief who had occasioned so much 
 trouble, and assumed the name of Golden 
 Drag*on, was, with some others, sent to 
 Peking-, and there cut to pieces ; their heads 
 being* carried about in triumph through the 
 
THE REBELLION SUPPRESSED. 109 
 
 city, as a trophy of the glorious con- 
 quest just obtained. The whole was mag- 
 nified into a victory, officially reported, and 
 an imperial rescript was obtained to bestow 
 rewards on the generals ; the Emperor being 
 very liberal with tobacco-pouches, bow-rings, 
 and peacock feathers, which were freely be- 
 stowed on the fortunate commanders. 
 
 Thus the rebellion was extinguished. But 
 the miao-tse retained all their liberties, and 
 maintained them also with a powerful hand. 
 The mandarins endeavoured to build castles, 
 in order to coerce the refractory mountaineers; 
 but these forts they pulled down with indigna- 
 tion, and it was intimated that if the autho- 
 rities wished to remain in peace, they must 
 not interfere with their affairs. 
 
 China is a very extensive empire; and though 
 the whole nation uses the same character to 
 express its ideas, and obeys the same Sage in 
 its institutions, still there is frequent col- 
 lision, strife, war, and rebellion. Foreigners, 
 who know nothing about the internal state 
 of the country, are apt to imagine that there 
 reigns lasting peace. Nothing is, however, 
 more erroneous: insurrections of villages, cities, 
 
110 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 and districts, are of frequent occurrence. The 
 refractory spirit of the people, the oppression 
 and embezzlement of the mandarins, and other 
 causes, such as dearth and demagogues, fre- 
 quently cause an unexpected revolt. In 
 these cases, the destruction of property and 
 hostility against the rulers of the land (espe- 
 cially if these have been tyrants) is often 
 carried to great excess: there are instances of 
 the infuriated mob broiling their magistrates 
 over a slow fire. On the other hand, the cruelty 
 of government, when victorious, knows no 
 bounds : the treatment of political prisoners 
 is really so shocking as to be incredible, if one 
 had not been an eye-witness of these inhu- 
 man deeds. 
 
 Since 1831 several insurrections occurred 
 in the northern provinces, and in Se-chuen. 
 The worst of these was in Shan-tung, where a 
 priest of the Tao sect headed the rebels. He 
 had grained many adherents, and might have 
 proved formidable, if the system of bribing had 
 not been found efficacious. It was, throughout, 
 the policy of the government to set the leaders 
 against each other by administering suitable 
 bribes ; and then, when their cupidity had been 
 
INSURRECTIONS AND PERSECUTIONS. Ill 
 
 inflamed, to induce them to betray one another. 
 In this manner protracted civil wars, like those 
 under the reign of Keaking, were avoided, and 
 a revolt was very soon quelled. 
 
 Secret societies again obtained the credit 
 for being at the bottom of all the mischief: 
 the Tien-tee-Hwuy, or Triad Society, to 
 appear patriotic, would still talk about the 
 usurpation of the Manchoos, and incite the 
 people to shake off the yoke. These efforts, 
 however, were very feeble, the plans badly 
 concerted, and amongst all their political profes- 
 sions, there lurked always a very strong desire 
 to rob ) vagabonds like these, therefore, were 
 very soon put down, and the government re- 
 covered its ascendancy. 
 
 On many occasions the mandarins wreaked 
 their vengeance upon the Christians, whom 
 they included amongst the dangerous sects. 
 Local persecutions were set on foot ; and 
 European missionaries not rarely suffered death. 
 The Emperor, however, never approved of 
 these proceedings, and in some instances put 
 a stop to them. 
 
 A very undeserved reproach was passed 
 on Taou-kwang's government : the people 
 
112 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 asserted that not a single year had passed 
 without calamity, or some untoward event. 
 Speaking" by comparison, however, as every- 
 thing* in this sublunary world is changeable, 
 the whole course of events did not exhibit ex- 
 traordinary calamities ; and there was more pro- 
 sperity amongst the nation than during" pre- 
 ceding reigns. The trade by sea flourished 
 considerabty, foreign commerce increased 
 rapidly, and all over China property was 
 generally secure : still it would be difficult to 
 point out a single year during which some 
 local misfortune or the other had not be- 
 fallen the land. 
 
 One of the most common evils in China is 
 starvation. The population is very dense ; the 
 means of subsistence are, in ordinary times, 
 frequently not above the demand; and it is, 
 therefore, nothing extraordinary to witness, on 
 the least failure of the crop, utter wretched- 
 ness and misery. To provide for all the hungry- 
 mouths is impossible * and the cruel policy of 
 the mandarins carries their indifference so 
 far, as to affirm that hunger is requisite to 
 thin the dense masses of people. 
 
 Whenever such a judgment has come upon 
 
RECURRENCE OF DISORDERS. 113 
 
 the land, and the people are in want of the 
 necessaries of life, dreadful disorders soon 
 arise, and the most powerful government would 
 not be able to put down the rising- and rob- 
 beries which are committed on the strength 
 of the prevailing' misery. There seems to be 
 a total change in the peaceful nature of the 
 inhabitants, and many a patient labourer turns 
 fiercely upon his rich neighbour, like a wolf 
 or a tiger, to devour his substance. 
 
 No one can have an idea of the anarchy 
 which on such occasions ensues, and the utter 
 demoralization of the people. Yet as soon as 
 relief is afforded, and a rich harvest promises 
 fair, the spirit of order again prevails, and 
 outrages are put a stop to. The people 
 then combine, arm themselves, and proceed 
 in thousands to catch marauders like wild 
 beasts. No mercy is shewn on such occasions > 
 and the mandarins, on account of their weak- 
 ness, cannot interfere. Scenes of this descrip- 
 tion very often occurred, without giving rise to 
 severe reflection on the character of Taou- 
 k waiig^s administration. 
 
 Minds like those of the Emperor are very 
 fond of punctilio, and what they are wanting 
 
 I 
 
114 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 in of ideas they supply in etiquette and forms. 
 No one was more attentive to these points than 
 Taou-kwang\ Early and late he was at the 
 appointed hour in the council. The temples 
 were not forgotten, for he had very much the 
 character of a devotee. He was absent on 
 no festive occasion * and, especially when 
 threatened calamities seemed to he near at 
 hand, he w r as very careful in the performance 
 of his duties : if no rain had fallen for many 
 months, he might be seen in sackcloth, like 
 a common penitent, approaching* the idols, im- 
 ploring- them to look down upon the nation for 
 whom he interceded. He went through the 
 regular fasting and preparations; and, not 
 to be behind, he often appeared at the altar to 
 perform the duties of a high priest. In all 
 thing's he was ready to give an example to 
 the whole nation of a stately pag*an worship. 
 With the Dalai Lama he had frequent inter- 
 course, and received from his sainted hands 
 rosaries, images, candles, and incense-sticks, 
 which that hig'h priest had blessed. Taou- 
 kwang was fond of making* a grant of these 
 idolatrous objects to his favourites, on whom 
 he thus inculcated the duties towards images. 
 
HIS SECOND EMPRESS. 115 
 
 How grievous must it be to Christians, to 
 see themselves outdone by a heathen poten- 
 tate, overwhelmed with cares, and steeped in 
 the lowest and most despicable superstition, 
 for which he finds always time, amidst a 
 turmoil of constant, important occupation ! 
 Should we not be more frequently found at 
 the footstool of our Saviour, than these be- 
 sotted heathen at the shrine of their demons ? 
 
 Taou-kwang was still mourning on account 
 of the death of his consort, with whom he had 
 enjoyed for twenty-six years connubial bliss, 
 when a beautiful woman, with the highest 
 accomplishments, drew upon herself his choice 
 as second Empress. She was a Manchoo 
 maiden, who, instead of whiling away her time 
 in frivolous pursuits, had betaken herself to 
 literature, and studied statistics. Being ac- 
 quainted with all the details of government, 
 she filled her now exalted sphere with much 
 dignity. She knew how little judgment her 
 husband possessed, how unable he was to sway 
 the Empire; and she resolved forthwith to 
 become his proxy, without appearing so. 
 
 The Chinese look upon the government of 
 women as the worst slavery, and would never 
 
116 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 allow any to assume supreme authority. The 
 lady, therefore, instead of ostensibly meddling 
 in politics, lived in the innermost recesses of 
 the harem, and directed the whole machinery 
 with consummate skill. There was not a 
 single important measure in contemplation, of 
 which she did not previously receive notice. 
 The attachment of her husband to her was 
 unbounded, and she used this power for the 
 weal of the country, to guide his steps. The 
 most distinguished statesmen were recom- 
 mended by her to his choice; and all pro- 
 ceeding's were so arranged that they answered 
 this end. 
 
 No period during his whole reign shewed 
 so much vigour and activity. The new men 
 she chose, and the measures which she put into 
 operation, proved efficient, and from one end 
 of the Empire to the other her beneficial yet 
 invisible power was felt. She was for years 
 the guardian angel of the Empire : the faith- 
 ful, affectionate counsellor of the Emperor, 
 and the mother of the country : for in works 
 of benevolence she shone conspicuous. Yet 
 she never usurped power ; never obtruded her- 
 self; never kept favourites to promote them 
 
DEATH OF THE EMPRESS. 117 
 
 to high offices. Thus she was a powerful aid 
 to her aug-ust spouse for about six years ; 
 incessantly occupied with the welfare of the 
 nation, and never giving* any occasion for 
 slander to say that she held the reins of 
 government. 
 
 Unfortunately, she had no children; and 
 another woman more beautiful than she herself 
 being" put in the way of her husband, he fell 
 in love, neg-lected his faithful and affectionate 
 wife, and caused her death by his indifference. 
 She is the only female, during* the whole 
 reign of Taou-Kwang*, who is known to have 
 exercised political influence. In former dynas- 
 ties the harem had frequently been the cabinet, 
 and eunuchs and women the ministers. But 
 the Manchoos, who ascribed to that circum- 
 stance the downfall of their predecessors, had 
 erected an iron tablet on which an eternal 
 law was engraven, declaring- that eunuchs 
 should never be employed in any official 
 capacity. Though women were not men- 
 tioned, yet the proscription likewise included 
 them ; and they were also debarred at first 
 from exercising" their fascinations for political 
 purposes. Instances of this description are, 
 
118 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 therefore, extremely rare ; and it is more 
 difficult still to find a woman who made use 
 of her power with such judgment and recti- 
 tude as the late Empress. 
 
 Great changes took place in the Cabinet 
 on the new Empress arriving at her high 
 dignity. The old statesmen, who were mere 
 cyphers, had to make room for more enter- 
 prising men; and Muchangah and Keshen 
 became gradually the leading minds : the one 
 as president of one of the boards, and, after 
 some years, as premier ; the other as governor- 
 general of Chih-li province, and subsequently 
 assistant-minister. 
 
 Amongst the personages who were raised 
 to high honours was the ancient Yuen- Yuen ; 
 who, in his eighteenth year, had attained to 
 high literary rank, and was likewise employed 
 as tutor by the principal descendant of Con- 
 fut-sze, who bears the title of Sacred Duke. 
 He then contracted a great intimacy with the 
 daughter, who was very talented, and married 
 her, and finally obtained the highest degree 
 of preferment in the Han-lin college. His 
 connection procured him influence; and he 
 was raised to the governorship of Kwang-tung 
 
CHANGE OF COUNCILLORS. 119 
 
 and Kwang-se. When in this position, he 
 ordered a very valuable work on astronomy to 
 be written by a Chinese priest, with the assis- 
 tance of Europeans. He was, however, too 
 learned to be a practical man, and did many 
 things contrary to common sense. This, 
 however, did not prevent him becoming- 
 governor of Yunnan and Kweichoo subse- 
 quently ; when he gave great satisfaction : 
 especially at the time of the earthquake, by 
 which a great part of some of the richest 
 districts was ruined. Though now already far 
 advanced in years, he was called to be member 
 of the Cabinet, and continued for a con- 
 siderable time to hold his office. 
 
 Lung's career was now run; he retired from 
 service when a general, and was a most extra- 
 ordinary instance of the versatility of genius 
 and the changes of fortune. Old Chang-ling, 
 celebrated in the Turkistan wars, and highly 
 spoken of for his administrative talents, was 
 likewise forced, by the infirmities of age, to 
 leave his office. The Chinese assistant-minister 
 Went out also; and thus, by a natural course 
 of events, the road of promotion for the per- 
 sonal friends of Taou-kwang, became open. 
 
120 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 We must not imagine, however, that the 
 Nuy-ko, or Cabinet, is an institution similar to 
 that in Europe. The highest dignitaries of the 
 State belong to it, whose business it is to go 
 through a series of forms, and uphold the 
 routine of government ; but as they are mostly 
 decrepit men, who have lived already too long, 
 a number of promising youths, mostly belong- 
 ing to influential families, are attached to the 
 establishment, and do all the work. 
 
 The power of administration, however, does 
 not reside here, but in the privy council ; an 
 assembly called together at the option of the 
 Emperor, without any reference to the station 
 and rank of the adviser. A minister is, 
 therefore, only so far powerful as the sove- 
 reign is pleased to ask him for his opinion ; 
 otherwise, he has only to follow the general 
 routine, which leaves him quite powerless. 
 The despotism of China centres in one indi- 
 vidual, and leaves nothing even in name to 
 others ; unless the possessor of all power 
 deigns to impart some influence to the indi- 
 vidual. A change in the Cabinet, therefore, 
 implies seldom a change of measures — always 
 a change of favourites. 
 
taou-kwang's popularity. 121 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Taou-kwang's desire for popularity. — Distress in 1832. — 
 Taou-kwang rewards the charity of the nobles. — Laws 
 respecting convicts. — Trait of character in the Emperor. 
 — Idolatry of the Chinese. — An idol raised in dignity. — 
 Situation of Canton. — Affected contempt for trade of 
 the Chinese. — Restrictions upon trade. — Alleged causes 
 of the war with England. — Government proclamation. — 
 Insults of the Governor of Canton to the picture of the 
 British sovereign. — His defence. — Cessation of mono- 
 poly. — Arrival of Lord Napier. — Conduct of Chinese 
 Government on the occasion. — Advance of two British 
 frigates. — Anger of the Emperor, and disgrace of 
 the governor. — Death of Lord Napier. — Opposition 
 of Taou-kwang to friendly intercourse with the " barba- 
 rians." — Deficiency in the exchequer — Sale of offices. 
 — Amount of revenue. — Proposed methods of supplying 
 the deficit. — Taou-kwang's sensitiveness in money 
 matters. — Effect upon government of the sale of 
 offices. 
 
 Taou-kwang laboured much to be popular in 
 his capital. In so large a city, with a teem- 
 ing" population, frequently during* cold winters 
 in want of the necessaries of life ; it is re- 
 quisite to take measures to prevent a general 
 
122 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 rising* in case of dearth, for there are instances 
 on record when the starving" clamorous rabble 
 pressed to the g-ates of the palace, and would 
 not be refused relief. 
 
 In the winter of 1832, their sufferings were 
 very great; and it was then rendered obligatory 
 on the Government to provide for the wants of 
 the poor. During- ten days, more than 400,000 
 mouths were fed. This number proves the 
 larg*e pauper population inhabiting" Pekin. 
 Several rich men had subscribed larg-ely to 
 procure rice, and the Emperor, hearing- of it, 
 conferred peacocks' feathers on some ; on 
 others, the rank of Kin-jin or Doctor of Laws. 
 
 A censor, hearing" of this, praised this 
 sig*nal act of favour, but deprecated it as 
 a precedent ; for, said he, if rich men can 
 obtain degrees for money, farewell to the 
 prospects of the poor scholar : talent and 
 learning- will g*o out, and wealth and stupidity 
 come in to the service of Government. The 
 Emperor took this reproof silently. 
 
 He was, at the same time, very ill pleased 
 with a sug-g-estion of the board of punishment, 
 for altering- the law which involves in the 
 punishment of a rebel, all his kindred likewise. 
 
CLEMENCY TO REBELS. 123 
 
 Taou-kwang- replied, u Eebels are as virulent 
 poison, which infects a whole reg-ion ; and inas- 
 much as they involve officers, soldiers, and their 
 families, their crime is of the deepest dye: their 
 wickedness of the worst description. If, then, 
 their kindred are not all extirpated, it is 
 an act of clemency. The court wished that the 
 convicts banished for political crimes should 
 not be allowed to marry on arriving- at the 
 place of their exile. The Emperor replied, 
 this will never prevent the increase of the 
 brood. In the existing- law, however, there 
 is an inequality of punishment: at present, 
 the kindred of rebels, when arrived at years 
 of maturity, are banished to new settlements, 
 and given to the soldiery for slaves; and 
 those under ag-e, are emasculated : which is 
 treating- them with more severity than other 
 criminals. 
 
 We quote these sentences to shew how 
 severe the Emperor was in theory, how mild 
 in practice. Unlike his forefathers, he forg-ave 
 the insurg-ents, punishing- only the leaders for 
 their crime ; and thereby conciliated many 
 an inveterate enemy. 
 
 China, with all its wisdom, does not know 
 
124 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 God ) and, though philosophizing- upon many 
 subjects, the whole nation, with the great Em- 
 peror at its head, is given to the most absurd 
 idolatry. As an instance, we may here men- 
 tion a request of the Governor-general of 
 Kwang-tung and Kwang-se, and of the Lieu- 
 tenant of the latter province, to Taou-kwang, 
 to confer honours upon an idol, the image of a 
 man who lived during the Sung dynasty. 
 
 This image was believed to have shewn 
 wonderful power during the rebellion of the 
 mountaineers; as, when they passed the villages 
 where its shrines stood, they did not enter to 
 burn them. On another occasion, a number 
 of prisoners, bound in one of its temples, 
 tried to loosen their bonds during the night, 
 when suddenly a flame rose from the roof, 
 which alarmed the Chinese soldiers, who 
 began instantly to fire upon the fugitives ; 
 and the idol remained unhurt, though the 
 prisoners were all killed. For this inter- 
 vention, the great Emperor, at the sug- 
 gestion of his officers, vouchsafed to the 
 idol that it should be raised several decrees, 
 to shew the veneration and esteem for the ser- 
 vices rendered to the dynasty. 
 
CHINESE COMMERCE. 125 
 
 We must now turn our attention to Canton, 
 and give a brief detail of matters there since 
 the accession of Taou-kwang; as they most 
 materially affected the whole Empire subse- 
 quently. The coast of China is very much in- 
 dented, and possesses many harbours ; and the 
 commercial spirit of the nation has opened 
 man}- emporiums of trade. None, however, is 
 so conspicuous as Canton, a very large city, 
 more populous than Calcutta, and situated on 
 the Chookeang (or pearl river), which is navi- 
 gable even for large vessels up to within a few 
 miles from the city. The situation pointed it 
 out as a great outlet for commerce, and it has 
 been for centuries the focus of foreign trade \ 
 having become more and more so since the 
 Manchoo conquest. 
 
 The Chinese do not really despise trade, but 
 the}' affect to do so ; the Government does so 
 likewise, and is always accustomed to speak 
 of the whole commerce of the Empire as some- 
 thing very trifling, and of the revenues as not 
 a feather's weight in importance. 
 
 It was merely the compassion of the great 
 Emperor that allowed barbarians to trade \ and 
 hence the laws and regulations respecting them 
 
126 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 are very strict: if any one did not choose to 
 submit to them, he might leave the country. 
 A system of petty annoyance had, therefore, 
 been established, circumscribing* the liberty of 
 foreign merchants, and imposing- many galling* 
 burtbens upon commerce. If anybody had to 
 complain, it was to be done through the Hong 1 
 merchants ; who might, as it suited their inte- 
 rest, prefer the complaint, or bury it in oblivion. 
 When one now considers the spirit which ani- 
 mates the natives of the west, one can easily 
 conceive that collisions must have been frequent, 
 and that the necessity of a change was apparent 
 to all. This, however, the Chinese Government 
 obstinately denied ; and Taou-kwang, notwith- 
 standing the increase of commerce, strenuously 
 resisted all reforms. His own interests were, 
 however, somewhat at stake; for the duties 
 arising from foreign commerce are directly paid 
 into the imperial exchequer, and a superin- 
 tendent of customs, who is independent of the 
 governor, is for this purpose sent from the 
 capital. 
 
 Complaints of the extortions of the man- 
 darins and the bankruptcy of the Hong mer- 
 chants had been very frequent, and upon 
 
CAUSE OF WAR WITH ENGLAND. 127 
 
 several occasions it appeared that matters were 
 coming- to a crisis. Both parties, however, 
 being* much interested in the preservation of 
 the commerce, found it necessary to temporize 
 for their common interest ; the matter of dis- 
 pute was, therefore, again forgotten, until 
 another cause of dissatisfaction broke out. 
 To understand better the causes of the war 
 with England, it is well to describe in a few 
 words the course of events. 
 
 In 18*28, a large firm of the Hong- mer- 
 chants — the class which had the exclusive trade 
 with foreigners — had failed. The Government 
 guarantees the solvency of these merchants, 
 and by its permission an extra duty was levied 
 upon the trade, to constitute a fund for liqui- 
 dating* the debts of any bankrupt. The credi- 
 tors therefore applied to the governor, and 
 received for answer : — " The laws of the Celes- 
 tial Empire are rigidly severe, and never 
 shew any partiality. To dun me with petitions 
 and to prove that no justice is done, shews that 
 the barbarians' madness, rebellion, and audacity 
 have reached their utmost limits. By right, 
 they should be immediately seized and punished ; 
 but in clemency I first issue this reprimand 
 
128 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 publicly. I will decidedly not shew the least 
 indulgence. Tremble at this ! " 
 
 Various other grievances occurred the fol- 
 lowing year, and there was an entire stop put 
 to the trade ; in consequence a remonstrance 
 was sent to the city gate. The Government re- 
 plied : — " The proclamations " (containing very 
 vile accusations) " are really to shew kindness 
 to the foreigners, and to soothe and tran- 
 quillize them; but the}', ignorant how to 
 be excited to gratitude, turn round, and be- 
 cause of the proclamations disallowing them 
 to bring barbarian women to Canton, and to 
 sit in sedan chairs, present whining petitions. 
 Do not scheme for selfish convenience, and 
 obstinately adhere to your former talk. Thus 
 with a quiet mind, keeping in your station, 
 you may enjoy the favour of a benevolent 
 ruler. The chief" (of the foreigners) " exhibited 
 every sort of contemptuous behaviour. Death is 
 not sufficient to expiate his crime." In his 
 report to the Emperor, the governor says : — 
 " If any should ag*ain presume to oppose, it 
 will be our duty, in obedience to your Majesty's 
 will, to form some plea for driving them out, 
 and inflicting severe punishment and correc- 
 
INSOLENCE OF CANTON AUTHORITIES. 129 
 
 tion, without in the slightest degree bending 
 or making* accommodations with them; in order 
 to make the dignity of the Empire revered, 
 and to keep in awe the stupid obstinacy of the 
 barbarians." 
 
 From the tenor of this language, one would 
 have supposed that the whole trade was on 
 the eve of ceasing altogether. Nothing', how r - 
 ever, was farther from the reality : it was in- 
 creasing in spite of all obstacles; until new 
 differences arose, two years later. These in- 
 duced the Governor-General of India to write a 
 letter to the Canton authorities, which scarcely 
 elicited an answer. 
 
 There was at that time a Lieutenant-gover- 
 nor at Canton, a very determined enemy of 
 foreigners, and an orthodox Chinese in the 
 fullest sense of the word, who set all their 
 claims at open defiance, treated with in- 
 solent contempt the picture of the British 
 sovereign, which stood in the great hall, and 
 added other indignities. On a remonstrance 
 being sent in, the perpetrator of the outrage 
 said, u When young I read poetry and books, 
 and my natural disposition is, to issue orders 
 with attentive respect. Even on a child, I 
 
 K 
 
130 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 would not trample, if it had not violated the law. 
 How could I enter this people's factory, and 
 insult their king's picture ? As to worshipping 
 the picture of princes, there is originally no 
 impropriety in it ; but it is befitting that a cur- 
 tain screen and an altar with incense be set up, 
 that the intended devotion may be manifested." 
 
 In 1834 the monopoly of the East India 
 Company ceased, and the British became a 
 free trade. This was a new epoch, different 
 from all preceding ones; and the arrival of 
 Lord Napier, as chief superintendent of trade, 
 caused immense sensation. We shall quote here 
 some of the sentiments expressed on this 
 occasion, to shew that the Chinese Govern- 
 ment had a deep-rooted aversion to coming to 
 a proper understanding with foreign powers. 
 
 A letter sent by Lord Napier to the Canton 
 Government was refused, and the Governor 
 animadverted upon this act, saying : — u The 
 barbarians are permitted to visit Macao only ; 
 and when they have business of buying and 
 selling, are allowed to request a permit to 
 come to the provincial city. The barbarian 
 eye must not be allowed to loiter about." 
 
 As the British representative would not leave 
 
CHINESE EDICTS. 131 
 
 Canton, the trade was stopped by the Hong* 
 merchants ; one of whom was imprisoned, be- 
 cause the boat in which Lord Napier had come 
 belonged to a ship which the merchant had 
 supplied. Much irritation was occasioned by 
 Lord Napier remaining- at his post, and not 
 retiring- to Macao; and the edicts against him 
 became more furious than ever. The Gover- 
 nor wrote to the Emperor : — u The disposition 
 of the English barbarians is ferocious; they 
 trust in the strength of their ships and the 
 effectiveness of their guns ; but the inner seas 
 having but shallow water, with many banks 
 and rocks, the said barbarian ships, though 
 they should discharge their guns, cannot do it 
 with full effect. The barbarian eye having 
 placed himself in the central flowery land, 
 we are in the state relatively of host and 
 guest. If he should madly think to overleap 
 the bounds, our troops may composedly wait to 
 do their work ; and he will be found powerless." 
 When the restrictions became more galling, 
 two small British frigates, lying outside, were 
 ordered to move up the river to the anchor- 
 age of the ships. This was not done without 
 their being fired at by the forts, and the 
 
132 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Chinese stockading the river, to prevent their 
 coats from reaching- Canton. When it was 
 reported to Taou-kwang that the Bogue forts 
 had heen passed, he wrote : — " It seems that 
 all the forts are erected in vain ; they cannot 
 heat back two barbarian ships! it is ridicu- 
 lous, detestable ! The military preparations 
 being' reduced to such a state as this, it is not 
 surprising- that the outside barbarians regard 
 them slightly?" The Governor, who was also 
 a member of the cabinet, was degraded, and 
 died subsequently of grief. 
 
 Lord Napier, however, was so much ha- 
 rassed, that he was seized with a dangerous 
 disease, from the effects of which he died, 
 much regretted. 
 
 Here the quarrel ended : it was, however, 
 resumed six years later, under a very different 
 aspect, though the foundation of it had long 
 ago been laid. Meantime Taou-kwang shewed 
 the utmost aversion to any approach to friendly 
 intercourse with the English ; and denounced 
 the man who dared to suggest such a thing : 
 keep barbarians at a distance, was the maxim 
 of his Government. 
 
 Notwithstanding the utmost parsimony, the 
 
DEFICIT IN THE REVENUE. 133 
 
 Chinese revenue had fallen short of the expen- 
 diture The outlay had exceeded the income 
 more than thirty millions of taels in 1833 ; 
 owing* to the various wars, rebellions, public 
 works, drought, inundations, and other contin- 
 gencies, which made extraordinary expenditure 
 necessary. To make up the deficit, Taou- 
 kwang- had recourse to the sale of offices : to 
 which we before alluded. 
 
 One of the censors, passing* his remarks upon 
 the financial state of the country, says : — "The 
 whole income from land-tax, salt monopoly, 
 customs and duties, as well as other items, 
 does not exceed forty million ounces^of silver ! 
 This is nearly the net amount of silver^ sent to 
 the capital from the provinces, for the use of 
 the general Government ; the provincial trea- 
 sure and income, the Imperial exchequer, 
 and the tribute in kind, which is very con- 
 siderable, being quite separate from the above, 
 and not included. The national expenditure 
 is thirty and odd million ounces. Of late 
 years not one has elapsed in which most nume- 
 rous defalcations in every department has not 
 occurred ; and the income has not been suffi- 
 cient even in times of peace ; whilst in times 
 
134 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 of insurrection, scarcity, &c, the deficit has 
 amounted to millions. To supply this, some 
 advised to open the mines, some to raise the 
 price of salt, some to sell appointments, and 
 induce merchants to subscribe for the necessity 
 of the State; thus causing- great anxiety to the 
 sacred mind of the sovereign." 
 
 This was indeed the case; and if Taou- 
 kwang- was sensitive on any point, it was in 
 money matters. A hundred plans were pro- 
 posed and rejected, and the result of all was, that 
 the sale of offices should furnish the means. 
 From henceforth there commenced a traffic in 
 prospective emoluments and honours : every- 
 thing was for sale ; and the very foundations of 
 Government were thereby sapped. 
 
REJOICINGS AT COURT. 135 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Celebration of the sixtieth birthday of the Empress-dowa- 
 ger, and of the marriage of the new Empress. — Principles 
 of Chinese military policy. — Burlesque appearance of the 
 soldiers. — Neutralization of the military power. — Rise 
 of officers. — Taou-kwano-'s sense of the defects in military 
 policy. — His wise exhortations. — State of the Navy. — 
 Superiority of the pirate's vessels. — Taou-kwang' s in- 
 dignation at the incapacity of the Navy. — Disgrace of 
 officers. — Inefficiency of Imperial edicts. — Taou-kwang 
 bewails the degenerate times. — His satisfaction with his 
 Ministers. — Chinese veneration for age. — Account of 
 Sung. — His character. — Power of his name. — His 
 degradation. — Sentence of the Emperor upon him. — 
 He regains favour. — He turns author. — His appoint- 
 ment under Taou-kwang. — His final retirement in 1833. 
 
 One of the most joyous da}^s at Court was the 
 celebration of the sixtieth birthday of the 
 Empress-dowager. This old lady had exer- 
 cised considerable influence over her adopted 
 son, on several occasions ; and he dared not to 
 undertake anything of importance, before he 
 had received her sanction. It was she, her- 
 self, who pointed out the necessity of con- 
 ferring honourable titles on three concubines; 
 
136 THE LIFE OF TAOTJ-KWANG. 
 
 who took rank accordingly in the harem ; and 
 she also sanctioned the union of Taou-kwang 
 with the celebrated empress. It is, therefore, 
 no wonder that great rejoicings took place on 
 this occasion ; for, according to Chinese chron- 
 ology, she had, on that day, completed a 
 whole cycle. Parsimony was forgotten ; new 
 examinations were granted, as a great favour, 
 to accelerate promotion ; and other great boons 
 were conferred. The nuptials of the new em- 
 press were celebrated at the same time, and the 
 lugubrious appearance of the court vanished. 
 
 The Chinese navy and army now came in con- 
 tact with western foreigners; and experience 
 proved that they were utterly useless when 
 their services were required. According to the 
 never-varying principle of Chinese polity^ the 
 army ought to be just sufficient to protect the 
 State and the people from violence and insurrec- 
 tion; and the greatest calamity which can befall 
 the country is military rule ; when the sword is 
 substituted for the pencil, and military glory 
 becomes the object of ambition for noble minds. 
 Though the Manchoo power was founded on 
 conquest, and though warriors became the 
 masters of the land, it was considered most 
 
DREAD OF MILITARY RULE. 137 
 
 conducive to the retention of the conquest to 
 make the civil power supreme, entrust the chief 
 command of the provincial troops to the civil 
 governors, and make all military officers, with 
 the exception of the free Manchoos, subser- 
 vient to them. The army was reduced to the 
 very minimum, in time of peace — about 
 1,700,000 men — and chang-ed into a kind of 
 police : the officers received small pay, and 
 were obliged to enrich themselves by allowing- 
 the men to g-o on furlough and drawing* their 
 rations. 
 
 Whilst, therefore, alwa}'s keeping* a very cor- 
 rect muster-roll, the actual number of the sol- 
 diers was far short of the names. They were, 
 moreover, badly clothed and fed, and miserably 
 accoutred ; so that when called out for service 
 they presented a very burlesque appearance, 
 and forced a smile of pity from the beholders. 
 Did war require any addition to the army, it 
 was always deemed necessary to call out a 
 strong* body of militia for the time being-, 
 under the command of hig-h civilians, to neu- 
 tralize the military power entrusted to a single 
 general. The officers rose, like the civilians, 
 by examination — not in literary lore, but in 
 
138 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 the art of shooting* with the bow ; and whoso- 
 ever was most expert in that branch was 
 promoted. Many officers rose from the ranks, 
 and were very ignorant men. 
 
 Taou-kwang perceived the evil, and regretted 
 the forlorn state of the country in case of a 
 general war; he administered many wise ex- 
 hortations, and suggested very excellent means 
 for improvement, but never put his hand to the 
 removal of difficulties ; which were indeed for- 
 midable. In one of his rescripts he says : — 
 "Hereafter let all the governors and lieutenant- 
 governors act with real zeal for the discipline in 
 the army, and for the maintenance of correct 
 principles. Let the officers entrusted with the 
 reviews, lay aside all undue regard for others, 
 and distinguish with a perfect regard to jus- 
 tice, the several merits and demerits of those 
 submitted to their inspection; even as if we 
 were ourselves present to review them." 
 
 He had heard that military officers were 
 wont to go in sedan chairs, and denounced this 
 as a most effeminate custom : one of the 
 military functionaries went out hunting once 
 in a sedan chair, when on a tour of official 
 investigation. These and other matters caused 
 
STATE OF THE ARMY AND NAVY. 139 
 
 Taou-kwang' to exclaim : "A thousand parts of 
 the machinery daily demand our care, and if 
 our thoughts wander from them in the least 
 degree, excess or deficit, in one quarter or the 
 other, is inevitable. Have all my servants, 
 the recipients of many favours, never heard 
 the rule which a thousand ages have ratified 1 
 that they owe their merits to their prince, their 
 faults they themselves must correct 1 Hence- 
 forth, then, let them make it their anxious 
 endeavour to shake off sloth and indolence, and 
 forsake every bad habit." Here the matter 
 rested, and no real improvements were ever 
 introduced ; which would, however, have been 
 impracticable without the aid of foreign officers. 
 The state of the navy was still worse. The 
 vessels were scarcely as good as a common trad- 
 ing junk, and were stationed in a certain cir- 
 cuit, beyond which they never went; so that 
 the naval officers were ignorant of their own 
 coast. In heavy weather these junks were not 
 sea-worthy ; many foundered every year ; and 
 it was very difficult, if not impossible, to beat 
 Up against a stiff gale. Several of them, 
 unable to fetch the land during a storm, 
 drifted to Siam or Cochin-China. As the 
 
140 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 pirates had fitted out superior vessels, bet- 
 ter manned and armed, they could boldly 
 encounter the mandarins; and Government 
 was finally obliged to obtain models of pi- 
 ratical craft, and fit the vessels of the navy 
 out in the same manner, in order to ensure 
 their efficiency. 
 
 Taou-kwang- heard with indignation that 
 barbarian vessels were constantly cruising 1 on 
 the coast, without being* driven away by his 
 navy ; the vessels of which, he supposed, 
 were stationed like chessmen all along* the 
 inner seas. He upbraided an admiral for 
 having- chased a ship to the south, which subse- 
 quently appeared in the north ; and many of the 
 officers were deprived of their rank. These, in 
 their turn, asserted that the foreign ships sailed 
 with the swiftness of a shuttlecock, and that 
 it was impossible to intercept them. The edicts 
 were numerous, and every one stronger than 
 the other ; but the navy remained what it had 
 been before — a useless appendage, to increase 
 the expenditure of the State. 
 
 These and many other subjects furnished 
 topics of invective, in which Taou-kwang 1 
 frequently lost his temper. He bewailed the 
 
STATE OF THE ADMINISTRATION. 141 
 
 degenerate times, and spoke of the frequent 
 calamities, the corruption and venality of his 
 officers, and the bad state of the administration. 
 For many of these censures there was sufficient 
 ground ; but the energetic measures of the em- 
 press removed many stumbling-blocks. 
 
 On passing in review the services of his 
 ministers, before the re-modelling of the cabi- 
 net already alluded to, Taou-kwang expressed 
 himself very favourably about it. One of the 
 cabinet, the premier, having served during 
 three different reigns, and been premier in ] 817, 
 Taou-kwang left him in his office, as the au- 
 tomaton dignitary : such a personage alwa} T s 
 being desirable as director. With one short in- 
 termission he had maintained himself constantly 
 in his place, for he interfered with none. One 
 of his colleagues, although eighty-six years of 
 age, was still hale and strong, but he died soon 
 afterwards ; a third minister departed at the 
 age of eighty-seven, full of honours. These, 
 however, were ordinary men, and as it is 
 customary in China to honour age, the very 
 presence of such functionaries inspired vene- 
 ration. 
 
 Sung's turn, as we already observed, had 
 
142 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 arrived, and he was laid upon the shelf for 
 ever. We have so frequently referred to this 
 extraordinary man, that it may not be out of 
 place to give here a short account of his rise 
 to power. He was first brought to European 
 notice by Lord Macartney, who thus speaks 
 of him : — " He possesses an elevated mind, and 
 during" the whole time of our connection with 
 him, he on all occasions conducted himself 
 towards us in the most friendly manner." He 
 was, even at that early age, a courtier, whose 
 great tact and uncommon energy rendered 
 him worthy of such notice. He held several 
 offices, both military and civil, under Keen- 
 lung, after having passed an examination much 
 to his credit. He rose by degrees, and in every 
 situation gained the esteem of the people 
 under his rule ; which extended to the far- 
 distant Turkistan and Canton. In the former 
 place he had some of the native princes plead- 
 ing for him; in the latter he had been appointed 
 Governor-General, to pacify the barbarians 
 after Admiral Drury's expedition ; in which he 
 perfectly succeeded. His name was such a 
 talisman, that some censors suggested that it 
 would be best to send him to the disturbed 
 
THE MINISTER SUNG. 143 
 
 districts to render assistance, as it was 
 quite certain that his very presence would 
 brinsf alleviation. Although he could not 
 avoid falling* occasionally into disgrace, he 
 maintained the rank of prime minister until 
 1817. He was degraded from that high 
 rank for having* cast some blame upon his 
 master. The latter adds to the sentence : 
 — u Let his name be retained in the books, 
 and if for eight years he commit no error, 
 let him be eligible for his former situa- 
 tion." His friends, and amongst others the 
 astronomical board, attributed to his degrada- 
 tion a fearful hurricane, which occurred during 
 his disgrace. Sung-, however, did not despair ; 
 he was made military governor of Manchoo- 
 ria ; and when Kea-king visited the tombs of 
 his ancestors, he regained his favour; and as 
 he was then ailing-, he received from his imperial 
 master ten ounces of ginseng*, as a panacea 
 inst all ills. In 1819, however, the 
 emperor pronounced him to be inadequate to 
 the duties of minister in the imperial presence, 
 because, being- seventy years of age, he rode 
 very badly ; he was therefore sent to his old 
 station with the sume title. On Taou-k wang's 
 
144 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 accession he was first degraded — because he 
 was thought to be implicated in the loss of the 
 seal of the war department ) then made gover- 
 nor of Gehol, the imperial summer residence, 
 and afterwards president of the Censorate. 
 He now turned author, and wrote a book 
 respecting the newly-acquired possessions in 
 Turkistan, where he had spent many of his days. 
 In 1824 he became again president of the 
 Censorate, when he was directed to attend to 
 the routine of office, instead of wildly confusing 
 and puzzling himself with extraneous matters. 
 He went as a commissioner in 1826 to Shanse ; 
 the next year, however, he was again in 
 Peking, and sat near the emperor at one of the 
 new year parties. Afterwards he became the 
 tutor of the heir-apparent, and was made a 
 member of the sacrificial court \ and, finally, 
 again sent back to Gehol. 
 
 He subsequently wrote to the emperor, re- 
 questing that his whole income of 700 ounces 
 per annum should go towards liquidating a 
 long standing debt of 40,000 ounces. Since he 
 incurred this debt he had been military gover- 
 nor of Elee, a post of some importance, as in its 
 jurisdiction the newly-conquered territories are 
 
THE MINISTER SUNG. 145 
 
 comprised ; governor-general of Keangnan 
 and Keangse — the highest provincial appoint- 
 ment — and governor-general of Kwang-tung* 
 and Kwangsi ; and yet, during all this time, he 
 could not save sufficient to pay it off. Taou- 
 kwang, in reply to his request, said : — u I am 
 aware of Sung's pure official character, and 
 therefore remit the claim. ,, 
 
 He was subsequently nominated governor 
 of Peking, and president of the military 
 board, and suddenly ordered to proceed to the 
 distant Kopto, on a tour of inquiry. This 
 disagreeable commission was finished a year 
 afterwards, and he was then nominated presi- 
 dent of the colonial board, and lord of the 
 three treasuries, or of the private purse of 
 his imperial master; but he shortly retired 
 from office on the plea of ill health. 
 
 A month afterwards he again solicited em- 
 ployment, and then Taou-kwang remarks: — 
 " Sung informed us lately that, in consequence 
 of his great age, his back and feet were weak — 
 his eyes could no longer fulfil their functions — 
 his hand trembled when he signed documents 
 — and his memory was perceptibly weakened. 
 He therefore requested to retire, to seek 
 
 L 
 
146 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 repose, which was granted. He now asks 
 again for employment, and he has heen ap- 
 pointed general of the blue Manchoo stand- 
 ard. His constant application arises from 
 his accustomed boldness in plaguing* us with 
 remonstrances. Although Sung has acted 
 with caprice, we leave him to the rebuke of his 
 own conscience." 
 
 Sung was, however, disgraced in the begin- 
 ning of 1832, and degraded to the third degree 
 of rank. But in August of the same year he 
 was again restored, to commence a political 
 struggle with Hegan, the brother-in-law of the 
 Emperor. Hegan wished to usurp all power, 
 and his relation in the harem had even dared 
 to take away Sung's daughter, who had for 
 many years upheld the falling fortunes of her 
 father. From this disgrace he never recovered, 
 and he retired finally in 1833. Sketches 
 like these give us some insight into Taou- 
 kwang's government, which shared with all 
 other Asiatic despotisms the rule by intrigue, 
 and the insecurity of power. 
 
HIS UNIFORM MODE OF LIFE. 147 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Uniformity of Taou-kwang's life. — His adulation of his 
 adopted mother. — Remonstrance against the expenses 
 of the court. — Lin-tsi-tsen's petition against the land 
 tax. — Retrograde movement proposed ; and punish- 
 ment of the author of the proposition. — Severity of 
 Taou-kwang. — His pilgrimages to the tomhs of his 
 ancestors. — His quiet life. — Report of ministerial pro- 
 gress. — Investigation into literary merit. — Tranquillity 
 vanishes with the influence of the Empress. — Evils re- 
 sulting from the use of opium. — Measures against its 
 use. — Charge against the Emperor's uncle.— Interrup- 
 tions to commerce. — Lin's proceedings against opium- 
 smokers in Canton. — Punishments of dealers and 
 smokers. — Success of the measures. — Lin's advance- 
 ment. 
 
 Taou-kwang's mode of life became, with the 
 increase of his years, more and more uni- 
 form. He used, after breakfast, to attend to 
 his duties in the council, and then take a 
 stroll to pay a visit at the window of his adopted 
 mother. He was often at a loss how to 
 honour her ; and presented himself before her, 
 
148 THE LIFE OF TAOTJ-KWANG. 
 
 whilst surrounded by his courtiers, as her 
 dutiful son. In one of the congratulatory 
 addresses on her birthday, on speaking" about 
 her, he says, — u Our exalted race has become 
 most illustrious under the protection of that 
 honoured relation, to whom the whole court 
 looks up. To her happiness, already unalloyed, 
 the highest degree of felicity has been super- 
 added, causing* joy and gladness to every 
 inmate of the palace. Her majesty, the great 
 Empress, benign and dignified, universally 
 beneficent, perfectly serene, extensively bene- 
 volent, composed and discreet, thoroughly 
 virtuous, placid, and self-collected, in favours 
 unbounded, who in virtue is the equal of the 
 exalted and expansive heavens, and in goodness 
 of the vast and solid earth : she has within her 
 perfumed palace aided the renovating endea- 
 vours, rendering the seasons ever harmonious, 
 and in her maternal court has afforded a bright 
 rule of government thoroughly disinterested." 
 Such was the bombastic adulation offered 
 up to this old woman ; and altars were erected 
 in all provinces to worship her as a goddess. 
 One wonders how so intelligent a nation as 
 the Chinese can go so far in its absurdities. 
 
TRAFFIC IN OFFICES. 149 
 
 But they grope in darkness, and have not the 
 light from above. 
 
 Parsimonious habits increased on Taou- 
 kwang with his age; }^et he was never- 
 theless blamed for the profusion of his ex- 
 penditure, by a censor who expostulated with 
 his master regarding" the traffic in offices. 
 This practice had brought much misery upon 
 the land, and caused trouble in all the depart- 
 ments, because greedy extortioners bought high 
 offices ; there were even instances of a robber- 
 chief and a priest — a person of very low degree 
 in China — having attained to great honours by 
 paying for the same. The censor goes on to re- 
 commend saving, and is very much dissatisfied 
 with the profuse expenditure of the court esta- 
 blishment ; saying, "that if the expenses of 
 imperial establishments were once removed, it 
 would save as much in a year as the sales of 
 offices have produced in ten years; for the 
 expense of the flour and rouge at the Tung- 
 tsaou harem, is annually 100,000 taels ; the 
 salaries of eunuchs are 120,000 taels; the 
 gardens of Yuen-ming-yuen cost more than 
 200,000 ; the establishment at Gehol, 480,000 ; 
 the superintending officers enjoy salaries of 
 
150 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 160,000 taels; and the women of these gardens 
 receive in presents 250,000 taels. If these 
 few items of expense were abolished, there 
 would be a saving* of more than a million taels 
 of useless expenditure, talent might be brought 
 forward in the service of the country, and the 
 people's wealth be secure." 
 
 Remonstrances like these were placidly re- 
 ceived, because Taou-kwang could never blame 
 himself for extravagance. He laboured very 
 hard to keep the finances in order, but found it 
 a hopeless task : in the tenth year of his reign 
 he had to remit the whole arrears of taxes, 
 amounting' to more than twenty millions of 
 silver; which, to his parsimonious mind, was 
 a very great trial. 
 
 Subsequently, however, matters again went 
 wrong. We quote here the remonstrances 
 of the famous Lin-tsi-tsen, who was subse- 
 quently commissioner at Canton, and at that 
 time lieutenant - governor of Keangsoo pro- 
 vince. He pleaded for the exemption of that 
 province from paying the customary taxes on 
 land. He says, he received a letter from the 
 imperial council, and a few words written with 
 the vermilion pencil, in the Emperor's own 
 
EEMONSTBANCES OF LIN-TSI-TSEN. 151 
 
 hand, threatening- the local government for not 
 collecting* the revenue. When he read this, 
 kneeling* on the ground, he was struck dumh 
 with fright and vexation; yet after a while 
 he resumed his pencil, and, with tears in his 
 eyes, wrote as follows : — "All that the govern- 
 ment possesses comes from the people, and at- 
 tention to them is the first duty of a statesman. 
 In the third year of Taou-kwang, the pro- 
 vince subscribed 1,950,000 ounces of silver, in 
 the eleventh, 1,400,000 ; yet non-payment of 
 taxes has become the rule instead of the 
 exception." To this moving- address the Em- 
 peror was pleased to listen. The payment of 
 taxes was dela}'ed, and Lin-tsi-tsen praised 
 as a worthy statesman, true and faithful to his 
 duty, and subsequently promoted. 
 
 All, however, fared not so well. There 
 was a great learned man, who being* heartily 
 disgusted with the immorality of his con- 
 temporaries, and the whole state of things 
 around him, wrote a memorial to the Empe- 
 ror, in which he urged, that the people ought 
 to revert to the happy state of antiquity, 
 when the land was cultivated by the united 
 efforts of the government and people, and 
 
152 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 starvation unknown : as the ancients lived, 
 so he wished the present race to live. 
 
 The Emperor decided that, for his presump- 
 tion in tendering" advice unasked, he should 
 receive 100 blows with a large bamboo, and 
 be transported for three years. The memo- 
 rialist, however, was the only son of an old 
 mother ; and the law directs, that in such a 
 case the necessary support be not withdrawn 
 from the decrepit parent. The culprit was, 
 therefore, first to be bambooed, then made to 
 stand on the pillory, and, finally, allowed to 
 go home. 
 
 Taou-kwang, in his latter days, was very 
 often severe, and on one occasion lectured the 
 governors and lieutenant-governors for their 
 remissness in seeing that the judges performed 
 their duty. He said, they must not allow 
 themselves to be deluded by the phrase, " You 
 may save the living, but cannot save the 
 dead," and such like prating, which is only 
 used to recommend a lax and mitigated punish- 
 ment. Judges ought neither to prevent the 
 action of the law, nor to connive at crime, but 
 should aid in maintaining impartiality in the 
 administration of justice. When an offender, 
 
HIS SEVERITY AND DEVOTION. 153 
 
 who had committed justifiable homicide, was 
 recommended to mercy, nothing* could be ob- 
 tained but the commutation of his sentence from 
 being- cut in pieces to decapitation. Wishing* 
 to be impartial, we mention such cases as 
 these, which are little in accordance with the 
 whole tenor of Taou-kwang's life. 
 
 The Emperor went twice, subsequently, on 
 a pilgrimage to the tombs of his ancestors, 
 so soon as he perceived that the tranquillity 
 of Shanse was restored. All the intervening* 
 time he lived as much incognito as possible, 
 and we have scarcely any account of his pro- 
 gress. A quiet life became more and more 
 attractive to him, and two years passed with- 
 out any memorable event ; the old ministers of 
 the cabinet dropping* off one after the other. 
 
 It is customary for the sovereign to express 
 his opinion freely once a year, and this is 
 published to the whole land. We g*ive here 
 an example in the one of 1838. " The cabinet 
 minister, Chang-ling*, has strenuously exerted 
 himself during a long* lapse of years ; he has 
 reached his eightieth year, yet his energies 
 are still in full force. His colleagues have 
 invariably displayed diligence and attention, 
 
154 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 and have not failed in rendering 1 us assistance. 
 The president of the Board of Offices has 
 knowledge and attainments of a respectable 
 and sterling" character, and has shewn himself 
 public-spirited and intelligent in the perform- 
 ance of special duties assigned to him. The 
 president of the Board of Punishments retains 
 his usual strength and energies, and in the 
 performance of his judicial duties has displayed 
 perspicacity and circumspection. Keshen, the 
 assistant-minister and governor of Chihle, 
 transacts the affairs of his government with 
 faithfulness, and the military force under his 
 control is well disciplined. The governor of 
 Shense and Kansuh is cautious and prudent, 
 and performs the duties with careful exact- 
 ness," &c. 
 
 But his opinion of others is not so favour- 
 able; for Taou-kwang says of one subordi- 
 nate member of the cabinet: — cc He is hasty, 
 and deficient both in decision and capa- 
 city ) he is incapable of moving and acting for 
 himself; let him take an inferior station, and 
 receive an appointment in the second class of 
 the guards. The governor of Hoo-kwang-, 
 though having under him the whole civil and 
 
HIS OPINIONS OF MINISTERS. 155 
 
 military forces of two provinces, has yet been 
 unable these many days to seize a few sedi- 
 tious, beggarly vagabonds ; let him, therefore, 
 be degraded," &c. Censures like these are so 
 common, that, in order to prevent them, the 
 high officers are in the habit of accusing them- 
 selves. In such cases, the monarch forgives, 
 or inflicts the very punishment which the 
 grandee himself dictated. All this is done in 
 China according to routine. 
 
 Taou-kwang was required to assist at the 
 examinations for the highest degrees, which 
 are held in the palace ; the Emperor, who 
 is in everything the greatest personage, being 
 also considered the best judge of literary talent. 
 When all the doctors, who are to undergo the 
 examination of his Majesty, are assembled, he 
 himself gives out the themes from the Classics. 
 We quote some of them : — " Be always sin- 
 cere in speech, and determinate in action. — All 
 things are nourished together, without in- 
 juring each other. — The laws of nature move 
 on in unison, without collision." This has 
 reference to the recommendation, that the 
 government of a state ought to be a tran- 
 script of the course of nature. " Reciting their 
 
156 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 poetry, and reading- their books, can one remain 
 ignorant of the ancients ? " Such were the 
 favourite topics of the monarch's own choosing", 
 which he proposed to the disquisition of his 
 learned assembly. He who wrote best upon 
 these subjects was entitled to promotion to 
 higher literary degrees. 
 
 The last four years had passed very placidly ; 
 a noble woman held the reins of the govern- 
 ment, watched over all movements, and took 
 care of her husband ; statesmen of renown, who 
 rose in importance through her interest, were 
 at the head of affairs ; eve^thing seemed to 
 thrive ; and if difficulties arose, they were 
 very soon removed. The beneficent hand that 
 guided the helm was everywhere felt, though 
 not acknowledged ; but from the moment that 
 this excellent lady lost her influence, through 
 a rival, matters grew worse and worse, and 
 national calamity upon national calamity fol- 
 lowed. 
 
 We must here remark, that the great bane 
 of China was the introduction of the use of 
 opium by foreigners. Its consumption in- 
 creased, in the course of a century, from two 
 hundred to twenty thousand chests, and it be- 
 
PRACTICE OF OPIUM-SMOKING. 157 
 
 came greater every year. Both the morals of 
 the people, and the circulation of the precious 
 metals, were thereby most materially affected, 
 and many edicts had been issued to prohibit 
 the importation of the drug", and put a stop 
 to the vice of opium-smoking. As, however, 
 so much has been written upon the subject in 
 detail, it will here be necessary to refer to it 
 only so far as the life of Taou-kwang is con- 
 cerned. 
 
 Opium had made great ravages in the 
 harem, amongst a dissolute set of women and 
 eunuchs ; and rumour says, that Taou-kwang 
 himself partook of the poison j if so, he soon 
 roused himself from its lethargic and danger- 
 ous effects, and resolved to proceed with great 
 severity against the opium-smokers. 
 
 Before this resolution was taken, however, 
 some wise men suggested, that it would be 
 better to legalize the use of the drug. The 
 project was submitted to all the high authori- 
 ties throughout the Empire, and negatived 
 by an overwhelming majority ; those few in 
 f;t\our of it were dismissed from office, and 
 Taou-kwang himself took the lead in adopting 
 measures against its use. Those princes of 
 
158 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 the blood accused of this vice were disgraced, 
 and others under imputation of indulging* in it 
 sent away from court. 
 
 A very serious accusation was, at the same 
 time, brought against an uncle of the Emperor's : 
 it was said that he kept a number of people 
 confined at his house, in order to extort 
 money from them. How such things can 
 happen in the neighbourhood of the palace, 
 without being* instantly discovered, is a riddle. 
 
 Throughout the empire, stringent measures 
 were enforced ag'ainst the use of opium ; and 
 as the custom of smoking it had become gene- 
 ral amongst mandarins, soldiers, sailors, and 
 merchants, in the maritime provinces, and 
 many were guilty of having* traded in the 
 poisonous drug, the prisons filled ver}^ rapidly. 
 The informers were numerous and unscru- 
 pulous: whoever had a grudge against his 
 neighbour, denounced him as a transgressor 
 of the laws respecting this drug ; thousands 
 of innocent persons were thus brought under 
 the ban of the law; and all commerce was 
 nearly at a stand-still, because villains, pre- 
 tending to search for opium, robbed the traders 
 and committed very great outrages. 
 
STOPPAGE OF THE OPIUM TRADE. 159 
 
 Theprincipal place where the poison abounded 
 in China, was Canton ; and to strike the de- 
 cisive blow there, was the firm resolution of 
 Taou-kwang. He chose, as the instrument to 
 effect his purpose, that very Lin-tsi-tsen, who 
 had remonstrated with him so very earnestly 
 in behalf of the people in Keangsoo ; and who, 
 when subsequently raised to be governor- gene- 
 ral of Hoo-kwang, had proceeded with the 
 most relentless cruelty against opium-smokers. 
 As he was a sincere, resolute man, unscrupu- 
 lous as to the means of gaining his ends, and 
 ready to undertake the difficult task, he re- 
 ceived from the hands of Taou-kwang himself, 
 plenipotentiary powers to carry out the Impe- 
 rial behest of extirpating the opium traffic 
 root and branch. 
 
 With these he arrived at Canton, and being 
 confident that foreigners could be treated in 
 the same manner as Chinese, he endeavoured 
 to effect his ends by force ; putting the guilty 
 and innocent alike under restrictions, and ful- 
 minating dire threats of vengeance if the whole 
 of the opium in the ships along the coast were 
 not given up. 
 
 The British representative then stepped be- 
 
160 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 tween, and gave up the whole of the opium 
 belonging* to British merchants, in the name 
 of his government, in order to save the lives of 
 the merchants ; and the immense quantity thus 
 obtained was nominally destroyed. Lin flat- 
 tered himself that he had for ever annihilated 
 the evil ; and by way of security for the 
 future, he exacted a bond from every vessel 
 entering the port of Canton, in which the 
 captain pledged himself to undergo capital 
 punishment with his crew, and to have his 
 whole ship and cargo confiscated, if any opium 
 were found in his possession on board. 
 
 The proceedings of the authorities against 
 the opium dealers at Canton were most rigor- 
 ous : they were severely punished, and the 
 prisons were filled with wretches falsely de- 
 nounced as opium-smokers. To suppress the 
 vice, government decreed, at the suggestion of 
 Lin, that dealers in the drug* should hence- 
 forth be decapitated, and smokers strangled. 
 To wean the latter from this vile habit, six 
 months were to be given them to live in seclu- 
 sion ; when, if they became entirely free from 
 the propensity, they were to be respited ; other- 
 wise, thev were to be executed. 
 
TRIUMPH OF LIN. 161 
 
 The effect of these measures was magical. 
 The people at once felt an abhorrence for the 
 vice ; the government officers endeavoured to 
 find out every scrap of opium and burn it. 
 Terror pervaded the whole land ; all business 
 had ceased, and every one trembled, fearing 1 
 to be draped to the tribunal and made to 
 suffer for having indulged in the vice. 
 
 This lasted a few months. Lin triumphed, 
 and suggested that the tithing" system should 
 be introduced, and every ten families be- 
 come mutually responsible for the abstinence 
 of their members from opium-smoking*. Thus 
 matters proceeded according* to the wish of 
 the commissioner: and who would not have 
 rejoiced at seeing* the whole nation abandoning* 
 such a* vice? Yet the period of abstinence 
 was short, and in a few months matters grew 
 much worse than they had ever been before. 
 
 Elated with his extraordinary success, Lin 
 forwarded such accounts to his sovereign as 
 gained the favour of Taou-kwang*, and pro- 
 cured from him the high appointment of 
 governor-general of Keangnan and Keanse. 
 He received a peacock's feather as a reward, 
 
 M 
 
162 THE LIFE OP TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 and now anticipated that lie would be able to 
 effect everything he desired. 
 
 When, however, the trade of Canton was im- 
 peded by his measures, the Emperor thought 
 fit to direct him to remain governor of that 
 province, so long as affairs were in a doubt- 
 ful state. His predecessor in that situation 
 had largely profited by the traffic, as nearly 
 every mandarin in authority had done, and a 
 stigma was, therefore, attached to the office. 
 He governed for a short time, and was subse- 
 quently sent into exile. 
 
lin's foreign policy. 103 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Lin's literary achievement. — He proposes improvements in 
 the navy. — Trade with England prohibited. — Chinese 
 notions of English courage. — Impatience for war with 
 the British. — Foreign policy. — Preparations for 
 war. — Proposals of peace. — Sentence against de- 
 serters. — Unlooked-for appearance of the English fleet 
 at the mouth of the Pei-ho. — Judicious deportment of 
 Keshen. — Ravages of the mob. — Taou-kwang's appre- 
 hensions. — Arrival of the British fleet in the Canton 
 waters. — Indignation of the Chinese thereat. — Skilful 
 behaviour of Keshen. — His subsequent disgrace. — Dis- 
 grace of Elepoo. — Yukeen's barbarous treatment of the 
 English. — Defeat of the Chinese. — False report of 
 conquest. — Honours paid to the Goddess of Mercy. — 
 Victories of the English. — Suicide of Yukeen. — Exe- 
 cution of Yupooquen. 
 
 Hitherto, not one of the Chinese grandees 
 had ever troubled his head about foreign coun- 
 tries ; Lin was the first who evinced an interest 
 in them. lie employed a number of tran- 
 slators to furnisli him with information, which 
 was afterwards compiled into a book, and is 
 
164 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 perhaps the most extraordinary medley of 
 falsehood, fiction, and history, ever printed. 
 
 It was this grandee who declared, that 
 China ought to assume its high station amongst 
 the nations of Asia, and have a navy befitting 
 its power, constructed upon the most approved 
 principles of western nations, and maintained 
 by the duties arising from foreign trade. None 
 but he himself dared to say such things, and 
 his words were recorded but disregarded : Taou- 
 kwang was determined not to advance an inch 
 in the proposed improvements, for fear of sub- 
 verting the whole system, and undermining 
 the very foundations of his government. 
 
 The subsequent measures of Lin shew the 
 ruthless character of the man. He ordered 
 the burning of a Spanish brig, which he 
 knew had never been engaged in opium smug- 
 gling, because he wished to exhibit to all the 
 ships engaged in this illicit practice an exam- 
 ple of the fate that awaited them. A party 
 sent by him attacked a boat, which had left 
 Macao at his express command, and murdered 
 several people on board. When all his endea- 
 vours had failed in inducing the English mer- 
 chant ships to enter the river, he procured 
 
TRADE WITH ENGLAND PROHIBITED. 1G5 
 
 from the Emperor an order prohibiting* the 
 trade with England for ever. 
 
 The mayor of Peking", a native of Hiang- 
 shan, near Macao, at the same time requested 
 his master to confine the whole foreign trade 
 to that settlement, and make such arrange- 
 ments that whenever a ship approached the 
 coast she might be captured by stratagem ; 
 thus the haughtiness of the barbarians would 
 be curbed, and when they could not obtain tea 
 and rhubarb from the bounty of the great 
 Emperor, they would become humbly submis- 
 sive, and be content to comply with whatever 
 his Majesty might be pleased to direct. 
 
 Taou-kwang thus became gradually con- 
 vinced that he could curb the insolence of 
 the barbarians; and many of his counsellors 
 rejoiced at the prospect of a war, in which 
 Chinese prowess might be shewn to advan- 
 tage, and the great Emperor appear the victor. 
 By such means, the desire of engaging in 
 a sanguinary struggle was nourished; and a 
 Chinese, pretending to be well acquainted 
 with the character of foreigners, declared 
 that herds of bullocks and sheep let loose upon 
 them would be sufficient to drive their hosts 
 
166 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 into the sea, if the crews dared to land on the 
 Chinese shores. 
 
 All overtures for settling- matters peace- 
 fully, though frequently made, were haughtily 
 rejected; for the Celestial Empire desired 
 to crush the proud harbarians. Taou-kwang 
 heeded no longer the warnings of his wise 
 consort ; who died about this time of sheer 
 grief. The men in the cabinet as well as in 
 the council clamoured for war ; and though 
 the Emperor himself was very peacefully 
 inclined^ he could not suppress the public 
 clamour; defensive preparations were made 
 accordingly. 
 
 It is deeply to be regretted that human 
 beings endowed with reason should ever have 
 recourse to arms, to settle a matter which 
 might be adjusted by arbitration ; but it was 
 the system of the Chinese monarchs to issue 
 commands to foreign potentates, and never 
 to listen to their remonstrances, or remove 
 differences by an amicable conference. 
 
 Lin himself had gone so far in his over- 
 bearing pride, as to write a letter, quite in the 
 style of Chinese superiority, to the Sovereign 
 of Great Britain. The Emperor, therefore, 
 
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. 167 
 
 was much less inclined to enter into negotia- 
 tions^ or to pay the least attention to foreign 
 proposals for the adjustment of differences. 
 It would have seemed ridiculous if the Celes- 
 tial Empire had condescended to send a minis- 
 ter to treat with the British representative. 
 Such were the orders, and these must be suffi- 
 cient: obey implicitly; this was the watchword. 
 
 Such was the state of affairs in the begin- 
 ning- of 1840. Orders were given from Peking 
 to put the whole coast in a state of de- 
 fence, and immense sums were lavished in 
 making the preparations. The British fleet 
 finally appeared, and efforts were made to 
 induce the Chinese government to listen to 
 proposals ; but, according to the stringent 
 orders promulgated all along the coast, these 
 were disdainfully rejected. The strict com- 
 mands were to fire, and, if possible, annihi- 
 late every vessel, and never to enter into any 
 parley whatsoever. 
 
 Chusan was subsequently taken, and the 
 Emperor ordered that all officers who fled, 
 or abandoned their posts, should be sentenced 
 to death ; because it was their duty to die on 
 the spot, and not to retreat in the hour 
 
168 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 of danger. The orders to fight to the last 
 were still more strenuously enforced; when, 
 finally, the fleet appeared at the mouth of the 
 Pei-ho, and the British commander insisted 
 upon communicating* direct with the supreme 
 government. 
 
 Such a proceeding was not anticipated, and 
 Taou-kwang was greatly astounded at seeing 
 the foreigners, of whom he had entertained 
 an innate dread, so near the seat of his power. 
 In this emergency he had recourse to his trusty 
 servant Keshen, a minister of most astute cha- 
 racter ; who instead of imitating the boister- 
 ous, undignified manner of all the other offi- 
 cers of government, appeared yielding* and 
 complaisant. He began to negotiate with great 
 tact, declared the intention of his sovereign 
 to look into these matters, and announced 
 the decision of Taou-kwang to send him 
 to Canton as commissioner. His sole object was 
 to get the fleet from the mouth of the Pei-ho ; 
 for it was dangerous to provoke a quarrel, 
 which sooner or later must have ensued, if 
 the vessels had any longer remained in their 
 stations. 
 
 The anxiety pervading the capital was now 
 
KESHEN NEGOTIATES. 1C9 
 
 very gTeat. Taou-kwang saw all the dangers 
 of a rupture with England in the true light, 
 and that the contest carried on in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Peking must have ended in his 
 utter discomfiture. 
 
 There is an immense Chinese rabble ready to 
 seize every opportunity to commit ravages upon 
 industrious citizens, and to plunder the govern- 
 mental stores, whenever the attention of the 
 mandarins is directed towards the defence of 
 the country, and their forces are beaten; 
 and when the English took a city this was 
 always the case : the mob completely plundered 
 all the houses, and took away even doors and 
 window-frames. 
 
 If this had happened on a large scale at the 
 capital, the devastation would have been im- 
 mense, and could never have been repaired, how 
 strenuous soever the efforts, even if years had 
 been spent for that purpose. If the praetorian 
 bands had once been beaten, which no doubt 
 would have been the case, the whole machinery 
 of government would have been upset, and 
 the most disastrous consequences would have 
 ensued. Indeed, it is probable that the Em- 
 peror, once obliged to leave his capital, without 
 
170 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 being* able to reassemble his scattered forces 
 after a defeat, could not have rallied again. 
 
 Such were the apprehensions that agitated 
 Taou-kwang* ? s mind; and they were well 
 founded upon the precarious tenor of his power. 
 If he allowed his minister to make promises 
 which he never intended to fulfil; or if he, 
 for the moment, entirely discarded all the war- 
 like sug-g-estions of his cabinet, it was from 
 the impulse of terror. No one blamed Keshen 
 for his measures; and the grandee, as soon 
 as the fleet had left, hastened to act as in- 
 termediator — an armistice having* been agreed 
 upon. 
 
 A man of similarly pacific intentions, who 
 knew well the strength of his own govern- 
 ment, had been sent from Nanking* as com- 
 missioner to Ning*po. This was Elepoo, 
 who, from the first, saw the impossibility of 
 contending* with a naval power, and preferred 
 the most disgraceful peace to a disastrous war. 
 
 The war-cry being* for a moment hushed, the 
 British fleet arrived in the eastern waters. 
 When this was known at Peking*, a total 
 chang*e of opinions took place ; the dang*er 
 was considered as visionary; punishment for 
 
CLAMOUR AGAINST "BARBARIANS." 171 
 
 the insolence of the barbarians called for ; and 
 from all quarters of the vast empire, there 
 arose one general cry of " Destruction to the 
 barbarians! death to the whole race!" 
 
 The Empress-dowager was wrought upon to 
 such a pitch, that she declared to her son that 
 unless he waged war to the extermination of 
 the wicked barbarian brood, his ancestors 
 would never acknowledge him in Hades \ that 
 the English could not co-exist with the Chinese 
 under the canopy of heaven: one must fall. 
 The Celestial Empire must assert its dignity 
 over those barbarian robbers, and administer 
 a signal chastisement. It seemed as if all 
 the Chinese dignitaries had lost their senses : 
 they called for blood, extermination, destruc- 
 tion ; there was to be no peace, until the whole 
 English fleet was annihilated. 
 
 Keshen was not moved by these clamours : 
 he well knew that all this was idle vapour- 
 ing, and that peace would be forced upon 
 the nation, whatever might be the language 
 of its rulers. Throughout the whole affair he 
 behaved with consummate skill : he yielded in 
 fact nothing, and was profuse in polite expres- 
 sions. He had flattered himself that this 
 
172 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 would be sufficient \ but found out too late 
 that he had reckoned without his host. The 
 military operations, and the utter discomfiture 
 of the Chinese forces, obliged him to come to 
 terms; the best that could have been made 
 under existing* circumstances. 
 
 For this act, Keshen, the only sensible man 
 in the land, was denounced as a traitor to his 
 country ) and, before sentence had been pro- 
 nounced, his whole property, amounting in 
 silver alone to three millions sterling, was con- 
 fiscated, and he himself summoned to the capital 
 as a culprit with a chain round his neck. 
 When the minister arrived at Peking, he 
 heard that sentence of death had been passed 
 upon him ; and his enemies, of whom there 
 were many, rejoiced in the prospect that it 
 would soon be executed, and that he would 
 die the death of a traitor. Taou-kwang, 
 however, was too wise to sentence a use- 
 ful servant, who had shewn so much tact 
 in the management of affairs, to instant exe- 
 cution ) he, therefore, ordered that he should 
 remain in prison and await his pleasure. But 
 all his possessions were confiscated, his very 
 wife and concubines had been sold by auction \ 
 
DISGRACE OF KESHEN AND ELEPOO. 173 
 
 ami Keshen, who had been one of the richest 
 men in the Empire, had not now the means to 
 buy even a meal or a jacket. He would have 
 sunk under this accumulation of misfortunes, if 
 he had not been of a very elastic temperament ; 
 but he looked forward to a time when the 
 government would return to reason. 
 
 Elepoo fared in nowise better. His crime 
 was that of having- acted up to the engage- 
 ment entered upon, by giving back the En- 
 glish prisoners; instead of complying with 
 subsequent directions to send them up to 
 Peking, to grace the triumph of some ima- 
 ginary conqueror, and then be cut to pieces. 
 
 The wife of a captain having been wrecked, 
 and thus thrown into the power of the Chinese, 
 was put into a cage, and carried about for 
 show. Some mandarins suggested the idea of 
 letting her pass for the sister of the barbarian 
 Queen ; and she would have had to suffer the 
 most excruciating death in that capacity, if 
 Elepoo's faithfulness had not delivered her up. 
 
 The whole cabinet was indignant at his 
 conduct; he was not only denounced as a 
 traitor, but also as a coward, and called to 
 appear instantly in the presence of his exas- 
 
174 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 perated sovereign. Dispirited and suffering" 
 he arrived at the capital, and appeared as 
 a penitent kneeling at the gate. No notice 
 was taken of him : he, though an old man, had 
 to stop there several days, and was finally 
 told that he had been sentenced to transporta- 
 tion to the Amour river, in the Chinese Siberia. 
 
 The most renowned heroes were now 
 marched forward to meet the English in battle. 
 Yukeen, the successor of Elepoo at Ningpo, 
 wreaked his vengeance upon the British sol- 
 diers who had died on the island : their bodies 
 were disinterred, thrown into quick lime, and 
 then cast into the sea; the gravestone of a 
 colonel was put in the walk leading to the 
 haughty dignitary's rooms, to be trodden upon 
 by every one. When he had thus glutted 
 his revenge upon the dead, he flayed alive 
 some Englishmen who had accidentally been 
 caught ) and then proclaimed in a public edict 
 that he had cooled the courage of the barba- 
 rians, and felt confident that their forces would 
 not dare to come and attack him. 
 
 Hitherto, the success of the British at Can- 
 ton had been ascribed to the treason of Keshen, 
 who was hated with bitter hatred ; but when, 
 
DISCOMFITURE OF CHINESE FORCES. 175 
 
 the imperial nephew, Yishan, took upon him- 
 self the command, and Yangfang, the re- 
 nowned general who had obtained victories in 
 Turkistan, appeared, the same result — utter 
 defeat — attended their efforts. 
 
 No thundering- edicts from the throne could 
 inspire them with courage ; they were hemmed 
 in; and their soldiers, instead of fighting against 
 the enemy, turned upon the people, and all 
 their plans proved abortive. They wrote many 
 reports of their conquests to their Imperial mas- 
 ter, who at last disdained to believe them ) for 
 the ransom that was paid, and the utter discom- 
 fiture of the Chinese in all parts, spoke volumes 
 against them. Yang-fang* went home in dis- 
 grace, and soon died of a broken heart. Yi- 
 shan lived a disgraceful, voluptuous life, and 
 affixed an indelible stain upon his family. 
 
 Yet he petitioned in favour of the idol 
 temple of the Goddess of Mercy — in which 
 building, near the walls of Canton, large 
 stores of gunpowder had been kept — who, it 
 was said, when the shells were thrown into 
 the magazine, received them in her lap, and 
 thus prevented their explosion. For this great 
 service she was raised several steps in the 
 
176 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Pantheon. Taou-kwang agreed to it, and duly 
 forwarded the act of canonization \ he also 
 sent some candles, which the Lama of Tibet 
 had blessed, with incense to be burnt before 
 her shrine. To such a degree is the mind of 
 the Chinese under the dominion of super- 
 stition, that the highest authorities are, in a 
 religious point of view, below the Malay \ who 
 at least worships one God above all. 
 
 The preparations for receiving- the bar- 
 barians had been immense ; but the vigorous 
 measures of Lord Goug-h, Sir William Parker, 
 and Sir Henry Potting-er, defeated all the 
 plans. Amoy fell, Chusan came ag-ain into the 
 hands of the English, and Yukeen finally had 
 his heart's desire — an engagement with the 
 barbarians. 
 
 He wished them to come close to the muz- 
 zle of his grins ; but before this gratification 
 had been afforded him, the fortifications were 
 demolished by cannon and bombs, and his 
 forces defeated ; he himself being- the first to 
 flee to save his life. On his retreat he repented 
 of his precipitancy, and attempted to drown 
 himself to avoid the imputation of cowardice \ 
 he was, however, drawn out of the water by 
 
CONDUCT AND FATE OF YUKEEN. 177 
 
 a poor fisherman ; but he afterwards swal- 
 lowed some gold-leaf, and thus committed 
 suicide. 
 
 A flaming' account of Yukeen's prowess 
 being- sent to the court, Taou-kwang* com- 
 manded that the coffin containing the re- 
 mains of this faithful servant should be 
 brought to the capital, and divine honours be 
 paid to the corpse ; his son had an audience 
 with the Emperor, and received an office in 
 anticipation ; and all that was honourable and 
 noble was attributed to him. But when the 
 real state of affairs became known, to the sur- 
 prise of all, it was ascertained beyond doubt 
 that Yukeen's whole career had been one of 
 vain boasting ; that he had squandered the 
 public money by millions, and then abandoned 
 his post : in short, that his whole conduct, 
 from first to last, had been one course of 
 deceit. The reaction was strong : Taou-kwang 
 decreed that the whole property of Yukeen's 
 family, which was very considerable, should 
 be confiscated, and all the honours bestowed 
 on him recalled. 
 
 One of the heroes on this occasion was Yu- 
 poo-yun, likewise a general of great renown 
 
 n 
 
178 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 in the Turkistan wars ; who strenuously advo- 
 cated war in opposition to Elepoo, with whom 
 he had previously been associated. When, 
 however, he himself had to encounter the 
 barbarians, he soon subdued his warlike spirit, 
 and became a most humble, peaceful man. 
 The Emperor g-ave him time to redeem his 
 character from the reproach of cowardice ) 
 but not being* able to do so, he was finally 
 beheaded at the capital. Yu-poo-yun was 
 one of the guardians of the grates of Peking-, 
 and of military rank corresponding* with that 
 of an European field-marshal. 
 
PLAN FOR DEFENDING CHINA. 179 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Proposed plan for the defence of China and conquest of 
 England. — Taou-kwang's apprehension for his capital. 
 — Brilliant project of Hou-chunn. — Attempt at building- 
 steamers. — Expedition of Yi-king. — His defeat. — 
 Emperor's desire for peace, and plans for obtaining it. — 
 British fleet enters the Yang-tse-kiang. — Elepoo's letter 
 to the Emperor. — Its effect. — Treaty of Nanking. — 
 Its consequences. — Emperor's indignation against the 
 " barbarians," and false notions about them. — Presump- 
 tion of Chinese generals. — False reports of victories. — 
 Anxiety of the Emperor during the war. — Punishment 
 of the ministers who had urged the war. — Expense of 
 the war. — Robbery of the Emperor and his indemni- 
 fication. 
 
 Thus disaster had followed disaster up to the 
 end of 1841 ; still the warlike spirit was not 
 yet extinct. Some great men, who had de- 
 rived their information respecting 1 European 
 affairs from Chinese colonists who visited the 
 islands of the Indian Archipelago brought 
 forward a plan for defending 1 China on a large 
 scale, and carrying the war into Great Britain. 
 
180 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 To effect this, it was first necessary to create 
 a fleet thrice as numerous and strong* as that 
 of the English, and to station these immense 
 vessels near Singapore and Anjeer, to inter- 
 cept all the ships on their way to China, and 
 thus annihilate the British fleet piecemeal, 
 before it reached its destination. To obtain 
 materials for shipbuilding*, the forests of China 
 were to be felled; but in order to provide 
 models of ships for the grand design, English 
 men-of-war had first to be taken. There was 
 another suggestion equally sagacious, which 
 was nothing more or less than to march an 
 army of 300,000 men right through the 
 deserts of Siberia and Eussia to London, and 
 thus put a stop to all farther operations ! 
 
 These projects were sent to Taou-kwang, 
 who admired the ideas, but feared that their 
 practical execution was fraught with insur- 
 mountable difficulties. As no river in his 
 Empire had been secure against foreign in- 
 vasion, and all edicts against barbarians 
 proved ineffective, Taou-kwang began to 
 tremble for his capital; which could be ap- 
 proached very closely with small iron steamers, 
 leaving only a few hours' route by land-car- 
 
PLANS FOR DEFEATING THE BRITISH. 181 
 
 riage. Hou-chunn, the general at Peking*, 
 who stood in as high estimation amongst his 
 countrymen as Ney did amongst the French, 
 then su<nrested to build a steamer that would 
 carry six thousand men, half divers and half 
 gunners, and that could be worked at the 
 rate of a mile in a few minutes. With this 
 extraordinary vessel he was ready to face the 
 whole British fleet; the moment he came in 
 sight of it, the divers were to jump into the 
 water and bore lanre holes in the bottoms of 
 the men-of-war, whilst the gunners were to 
 keep up an incessant fire. 
 
 Striking as this plan appeared, Taou- 
 kwang doubted its practicability; for he had 
 previously given orders to build some line-of- 
 battle ships, and the officer entrusted with the 
 behest, instead of executing the order, had 
 committed suicide. Imitation steam-ships had 
 likewise been attempted ; and though exter- 
 nally they resembled the foreign vessels in 
 every respect, there was no steam-engine to 
 put the paddle-wheels in motion, and the paddles 
 had to be turned like a treadmill. 
 
 Many of the works thrown up to keep off 
 the barbarians had been erected by public con- 
 
182 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 tributions, the subscribers expecting* to be 
 raised to high rank for their money. Large 
 bodies of militia were also raised by some 
 spirited individuals. The people, however, 
 losing* all confidence in their government, and 
 becoming even distrustful of the aid of their 
 gods, to whom they had first applied with 
 such assiduity, soon became weary of lavishing 
 money in a senseless war ; millions upon 
 millions had therefore to be taken from the 
 national treasury. Yi-king, a very near rela- 
 tion of the Emperor, holding at that time 
 the highest offices at court, was then de- 
 spatched with a very large army to drive the 
 barbarians into the sea : his orders were very 
 strict not to allow a single individual to escape. 
 But when within a few days' journey of the 
 seat of war, he stopped at the celebrated city 
 Loochoo, where he led a most disreputable life, 
 like another Sardanapalus. 
 
 When, finally, the great army was assembled, 
 in the beginning of 1842, all the operations 
 of Yi-king consisted in kidnapping stray 
 foreigners, and putting them in cages. He had 
 thus collected prisoners of a great variety of 
 races — for there were men of all colours and 
 
DISPERSION OF THE CHINESE ARMY. 183 
 
 nations in the British army — and he intended 
 to sacrifice a great number of these unfortu- 
 nate captives to the God of War ; but the 
 humanity of the British general, who gene- 
 rously sent back the Chinese prisoners, gave 
 a different direction to his thoughts. His 
 army was defeated in several engagements, 
 and the main body remained for a long while 
 inert in the camp ; at length, the greater part 
 was driven home by the want of pay and 
 provisions, the superior officers having em- 
 bezzled the money. 
 
 Successive reverses at last taught the Em- 
 peror that it was time to think about peace, 
 otherwise the war would come to his own 
 door. Most people who are so fond of recom- 
 mending this scourge of the human race, do 
 so when they are far away from its pernicious 
 influence ; the moment it comes in all its force 
 to their homesteads, they begin to feel a real 
 horror of it. 
 
 The Emperor at first endeavoured to strike 
 terror into the barbarians, by sending Commis- 
 sioner Lin, incognito, to the neighbourhood of 
 Ningpo. This grandee had been degraded, 
 and sentenced to transportation ; he was, how- 
 
184 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 ever, kept near the seat of war, and even 
 appointed governor of the canals and rivers. 
 He had at his own cost, when in Canton, 
 maintained a company of volunteers, whom 
 he took the trouble of drilling- with very great 
 care. On the approach of the English, how- 
 ever, these "braves" — the name by which 
 they were called — left their employer, and he 
 was reduced to the disgraceful necessity of 
 hiding himself. 
 
 When it was found that Lin's presence could 
 effect nothing, Keshen was fetched out of 
 prison, and likewise sent incognito to Hung- 
 choo, to recommence negotiations, if possible, 
 upon the former basis. But his dishonour had 
 gone before him : he was declared by all to 
 be a traitor, and the governor of that place 
 would not even admit him within the pre- 
 cincts of the city. 
 
 There remained, then, only Elepoo who 
 could be made useful in this emergency ; for he 
 had obtained a very great name for probity, 
 even amongst foreigners. As he had not yet 
 reached his place of exile, he was recalled by 
 Taou-kwang, and forthwith commenced his 
 ourney, to make proposals for peace. He, 
 
THE BRITISH FLEET IN THE RIVER. 185 
 
 however, not having plenipotentiar} r powers, 
 it was in vain that he asked for a cessation 
 of hostilities, and pleaded the expediency of 
 a compromise, by sending back the British 
 prisoners. 
 
 The British fleet having- finally entered the 
 Yang-tse-kiang, it was thought that Woo- 
 sung, which had been fortified the whole 
 length of the shore, would prove a barrier to 
 the encroaching barbarians. The governor- 
 general was himself present, and to stimulate 
 the courage of his soldiers, distributed small 
 pieces of paper, calling upon the warriors to 
 fight to the last. The general response was, 
 " Wan-suy-yuy," — long live the Emperor, — 
 and the shouts of the multitudes of fighting- 
 men rent the air. These demonstrations, 
 however, availed nothing against powder and 
 shot : the fortifications were destroyed, and 
 the whole army scattered. 
 
 When, finally, the British fleet rode safe 
 in the Yang-tse-kiang, and had reached the 
 first bend, there happened a total solar 
 eclipse ; and it was murmured that the sun of 
 China had set for ever ! 
 
 In Chin-kiang-foo one of the great advo- 
 
186 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 cates for the war was the commandant; and 
 it was here that the Tartar forces were nearly 
 annihilated^ and terror struck into the heart 
 of all adherents of the Manchoo dynasty. 
 Elepoo had slowly followed in the train of 
 the expedition, and when he heard of the 
 rout of his countr3 r men, anticipating" the im- 
 pression which their defeat would make upon 
 the nation, he wrote to Taou-kwang that the 
 struggle was no longer for adventitious claims, 
 but for the throne : by peace, it might be 
 preserved ; by war, it would be lost. He 
 painted in true colours the state of affairs, 
 and then added, that being- an old man, he 
 was ready to bear all the punishment which 
 his freedom might bring upon him : he was 
 not far from the brink of the grave, and 
 his last and most urgent advice would be, 
 to make peace. 
 
 This letter, couched in very few words, had 
 the desired effect ; Taou-kwang's eyes were 
 opened to the danger before him, and he 
 actually gave orders that his effects should 
 be packed up, that he might fly to some of 
 the interior provinces. On this occasion, in 
 the great haste and confusion, nine million 
 
CHINESE TREAT FOR PEACE. 187 
 
 ounces of silver were stolen from the imperial 
 private treasury. 
 
 On more mature reflection, however, and 
 when the British forces were about laying- siege 
 to Nanking-, Taou-kwano; was assured that 
 peace might be obtained ; he, therefore, gave 
 carte blanche for the conclusion of a treaty. 
 
 "We have already, in the preceding' pages, 
 referred to Keying", a successful statesman, 
 who in 1832 was commander-in-chief of the 
 guards, president of several boards in the 
 capital, and a man of great influence. Sub- 
 sequent intrigues removed him from the court 
 to Moukden, where he became military go- 
 vernor; but his name as a pacificator stood 
 very high, and on that account Taou-kwang 
 sent him, in the capacity of the Canton Tartar 
 general, to try what could be effected by 
 negotiations. 
 
 The idea seems then to have been prevalent 
 at the court of Peking, that on the conces- 
 sion of some paltry advantages, or making 
 some high sounding promises, as had been 
 done two years ago at the Pei-ho, the whole 
 fleet would return to Canton. Accordingly, 
 Keying remained in the background, and 
 
188 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Elepoo was put forward as the man to effect 
 this purpose ; for as he held only a very sub- 
 ordinate rank, no responsibility could attach 
 to him. But these expectations were disap- 
 pointed by the firmness of the British pleni- 
 potentiary. Keying 1 then thought it high 
 time to step in to save the dynasty from ruin, 
 and take upon himself all the responsibility of 
 the measures. From the moment this states- 
 man assumed the charge of affairs, he entered 
 upon the business with great candour. He 
 found an equally sterling character in the 
 British plenipotentiary, Sir Henry Pottinger, 
 and the negotiations proceeded successfully. 
 Then, under the terror inspired by anticipated 
 events, Taou-kwang conceded all ; the treaty 
 of Nanking was signed on the 29th August 
 1842, and the whole international relations of 
 China with Great Britain totally changed. 
 
 This news created a great sensation through- 
 out Europe as well as in China : the Chinese 
 people perceived with astonishment that their 
 great Emperor was a common mortal, like 
 every other man ; by no means exalted above 
 the princes of the earth, but only their equal. 
 One can form no adequate idea of the utter 
 
TREATY OF PEACE CONCLUDED. 189 
 
 amazement of the Chinese on perceiving' that 
 the " Son of Heaven" was not invincible, and 
 that he was even fallible : a revulsion of feel- 
 ing* took place, such as had never been known 
 before, and the political supremacy which 
 China had so proudly asserted, was for ever 
 lowered to the dust. 
 
 When the account of the conclusion of the 
 treaty arrived at Peking*, Taou-kwang could 
 scarcely believe that the barbarians would 
 keep faith, now that the whole Empire was in 
 their grasp. From first to last he had desired 
 to avoid the war, but was goaded into hostile 
 measures by the unanimous clamour of his 
 grandees ; he saw with astonishment that one 
 million after another vanished, to pay for the 
 war, and that grandee after grandee was 
 defeated ; until at last there remained neither 
 army nor navy, neither general nor admiral 
 to command them had they existed, and not 
 even a minister to negotiate a peace : for all 
 the statesmen had been deterred by Keshen's 
 fate from entering upon a similar career. 
 
 The Emperor was not sparing of denuncia- 
 tions and threats of utter destruction, if the 
 barbarians would not instantly leave the coasts ; 
 
190 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 and he called upon the people to arm them- 
 selves en masse, and protect their lives and 
 property against the insolent harharians ; but 
 all these exhortations fell to the ground, for 
 the government had no hold upon the patriot- 
 ism of the nation. Some of his flatterers had 
 told Taou-kwang at the outset that the bar- 
 barians inhabited a small island in the furthest 
 part of the globe ; for thus is England repre- 
 sented on the orthodox Chinese maps. Admit- 
 ting even that their ships were strong and 
 their cannon effective, still a war could not 
 be continued by them for any length of time 
 from such a distance, as supplies would soon 
 be wanting. Some mischievous foreigners also 
 had intentionally nourished Chinese presump- 
 tion, and pointed out the impossibility of Eng*- 
 land ever making an impression upon such a 
 large empire. 
 
 Every new general sent against the enemy 
 made promises that he would exterminate the 
 whole body in a short time ; and plans were 
 from time to time submitted to Taou-kwang's 
 inspection, in which it was shewn that the 
 whole barbarian forces would be surrounded, 
 and in a short time annihilated. On one occa- 
 
OFFICIAL MISREPEESENTATIONS. 191 
 
 sion, a dissolute adventurer with a host of 
 ruffians came over to Chusan, took away some 
 of the ships' boats, burnt them on shore, and 
 then actually sent pieces of them to the court 
 of Peking*, to prove that the whole British fleet 
 had been destroyed by fire. Such reports, how- 
 ever untrue, were greedily caught at, and these 
 pretended victories of the government formally 
 published ; but by these trickeries the adminis- 
 tration lost ground in the estimation of the 
 people, who easily saw through the deceit. 
 
 When, then, it was officially reported that 
 the barbarian fleet, phcenix-like, had risen 
 from its ashes, and was advancing to the old 
 capital of the Empire, Taou-kwang's indigna- 
 tion knew no bounds. The whole time of the 
 war had been a period of great anxiety to his 
 mind : all festivities were suspended ; even 
 the warlike Empress - dowager made known 
 that on her birthday no ceremonies would 
 take place, and no public congratulations be 
 received. To the parsimonious Taou-kwang, 
 the immense sacrifice of money was the most 
 disagreeable part of the whole enterprise : 
 there seemed to be no end of supplies, no end 
 to expenditure. And when enormous sums 
 had been squandered for some visionary ob- 
 
192 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 ject, the Emperor was perhaps told that the 
 army which had cost so much, had to be dis- 
 banded for want of means ; and that the large 
 arsenals had been destroyed by the barbarians, 
 the fortifications taken and blown up, the guns 
 spiked and carried off, and the public treasury 
 taken possession of. Then a thundering' edict 
 was issued to the commanding* officer, which still 
 more intimidated the mandarins, and rendered 
 them entirely unfit to act in an emergency. 
 
 What, however, affected the Emperor most, 
 was the fact that wherever the British arms 
 proved victorious, the rabble gained the 
 ascendancy, the government was entirely de- 
 stroyed, and robbery and anarchy prevailed. 
 The few Manchoos — the props of his autho- 
 rity — who, though fighting bravely, had on 
 all occasions been defeated, presaged the 
 same fate to his legions at the capital ; he 
 saw that his authority hung on a slender 
 thread, and this consideration, if we may 
 judge from the state papers of that time, fre- 
 quently disturbed his slumbers. 
 
 The moment that peace was concluded, Taou- 
 kwang considered it his first duty to punish 
 the foremost champions of the war party, who, 
 when sent against the enemy, had proved the 
 
HIS MERCILESS SEVERITY. 193 
 
 most arrant cowards. They had all, without 
 exception, engulfed immense sums, and not 
 one was able to shew for what purposes the 
 money had been spent. In this doom his 
 near relations, Yi-shan and Yi-king were 
 also comprised ; because, as commanders-in- 
 chief, they had acted in the most disreput- 
 able manner. Lung-wan had died from grief, 
 for he could not see the triumph of the 
 barbarians without repining*; some had com- 
 mitted suicide, and others ran away. Many 
 of the civilians and military officers, who could 
 not help themselves, but had to surrender their 
 cities, were treated with merciless severity, un- 
 worthy of a just monarch. 
 
 The next step was to ascertain the amount 
 of expenditure ; this was not much below sixty 
 million ounces of silver, besides the money 
 paid to the English ; and yet not a single for- 
 tress, built at such cost, could stand an attack 
 beyond a few hours: every one fell, without 
 exception. This was indeed a severe lesson for 
 a parsimonious man, who saw the money thus 
 squandered lost for ever. The evils consequent 
 upon the financial difficulties that existed before, 
 were now augmented to an extent hitherto 
 
 o 
 
194 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 unknown, and the government was verging 
 towards a national bankruptcy. 
 
 There still remained some objects of ven- 
 geance upon which the Emperor could wreak 
 his whole wrath. The nine million ounces of 
 silver, which had been stolen from his own 
 stores during the packing up for the intended 
 flight, were not restored ; and, as it was im- 
 possible to discover the authors of the theft, 
 in the great turmoil that then prevailed, 
 Taou-kwang now ordered that this sum 
 should be refunded by the officers, small and 
 great, who for thirty years successively had 
 had the administration of the treasury : of 
 those who were dead, their descendants, even to 
 the third generation, had to indemnify the ex- 
 chequer. This announcement created universal 
 terror ; many officials, and some of the highest 
 Manchoo nobility were thrown into prison, be- 
 cause they could not make good their liability ; 
 and misery prevailed throughout the land. 
 Eut the money had to be reimbursed, and 
 after two years of the most severe extortion, 
 the nine millions were replaced in the treasury; 
 though the parties really guilty escaped. 
 
KESHEN REINSTATED. 195 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Keshen restored to favour. — Renewal of the war proposed. 
 — Taou-kwang's reception of the proposition, and address 
 to the assembly. — Reply of the ministers. — Nankin 
 treaty ratified. — Suicide of Wangling. — Death of 
 Elepoo.— Foreign administration of Keying. — Murder 
 of British subjects. — Outrage on foreign factories. — 
 Treaties with France and the United States. — Tolera- 
 tion of Christianity. — Superstitious faith in idols de- 
 stroyed. — Taou-kwang studies works on Christianity. — 
 His favourable opinion of them. — Keying' s belief in 
 Christianity. — Propagation of Christianity legalized. — 
 Roman Catholics' desire to monopolize the privilege 
 frustrated. 
 
 When matters took the turn which Keshen 
 had foretold, the Emperor ordered a reprieve 
 of the sentence passed upon his sagacious 
 councillor, who now stood in his presence as a 
 common attendant ; being the bearer of his 
 pipe, and following* him in that capacity to 
 the privy council. 
 
 Some of the ministers, in whom the desire 
 for war was not yet stifled, and who spoke 
 
196 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 openly of Keying* as a traitor to his country, 
 were highly exasperated on perceiving the 
 altered fortunes of the favourite now in the 
 ascendant. They watched their opportunity, 
 and when it was proclaimed that the British 
 forces had left, and that the Canton populace 
 had manfully withstood the barbarians, and 
 were even ready to fight over again the battles 
 of the great Emperor and restore the fortune 
 of the army, they began to murmur at the 
 peace. 
 
 They held a consultation, at which it was 
 resolved to declare the treaty null and void, to 
 denounce Keying as a traitor, and Elepoo as 
 his abettor, and to proclaim the renewal of the 
 struggle and the utter defeat of the barbarians 
 necessary to save the honour of the country. 
 Everybody who considered himself a patriot, 
 and to whom the ascendancy of the Celestial 
 Empire was dear, joined in the outcry; and 
 the subject was duly laid before Taou-kwang 
 in a conference. 
 
 He was sickened of the war, as every man 
 of intelligence was; and to recommence the 
 course which he had just now abandoned was 
 repugnant to him ; he, therefore, resolved to 
 
EFFORTS OF THE WAR-PARTY. 197 
 
 quiet this sanguinary spirit for ever. Having 
 praised the patriotic sentiments of his servants, 
 and fully approved of them, he observed, that 
 so weight}' a matter required mature considera- 
 tion, and begged them, therefore, to appear 
 before him on the following day. 
 
 It was a very august assembly : nobles and 
 mandarins of the most influential party, all 
 attended. Taou-kwang asked whether they 
 were still resolved upon war ; and their answer 
 was, — "To the entire extermination of the 
 English race." Whereupon the Emperor gave 
 his full assent, agreed to recall Keying, to 
 punish Elepoo and all the friends of peace 
 severely, and to re-establish the deadly enemies 
 of the barbarians in their full power. 
 
 Every one was delighted with the prospect, 
 and rejoiced, in anticipation, at the entire 
 overthrow of the cowardly statesmen who had 
 betrayed the birthright of the Celestial Em- 
 pire, by acknowledging another potentate as 
 the compeer of the Son of Heaven. 
 
 The sovereign, perceiving the general sen- 
 sation of joy, continued to harangue his 
 counsellors. " You know," he observed, " that 
 all our armies sent against the hated race 
 
198 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 have been beaten ; that the navy has ceased 
 to exist ) that not one general has proved suc- 
 cessful, but that all are degraded, or sen- 
 tenced to severe punishment. It need not be 
 told you that the treasury is exhausted, and 
 that we have nothing- to replenish it, as the 
 sources of revenue in all the provinces visited 
 by this dreadful scourg-e have been dried up." 
 To this a g'eneral assent was given. " Still," 
 he added, ce you are for the resumption of the 
 war, and I applaud } r our zeal in behalf of the 
 honour of my person. To accomplish this an 
 army is necessary, and one much stronger and 
 better appointed than any of the former ones. 
 I, therefore, commission you " (pointing* to 
 some of the most clamorous ministers) " to 
 raise this army, to drill the men, and to place 
 yourselves at the head. If you fail to exter- 
 minate the barbarians as you propose, you will 
 have to undergo capital punishment instantly." 
 Then, turning* towards others, he remarked 
 that the navy no longer existed, and that 
 a new one, more powerful, and better adapted 
 to cope with the barbarians than the former, 
 oug*ht to be created : with this honourable 
 enterprise he charged them. Finally, he re- 
 
HE SILENCES THE WAIi-CLAMOUK. 199 
 
 quested that the rich individuals present should 
 not only furnish the money for these under- 
 takings in the first instance, but likewise bear 
 the expenditure throughout the whole war ; as 
 the state could not afford to lose another sixty 
 millions in a similar enterprise. 
 
 This speech had an extraordinary effect : 
 every one present was struck dumb. Taou- 
 kwang requested his servants to come on the 
 morrow, and give a decisive reply ; but at this 
 assembly every one was silent and grave. The 
 Emperor asked the first who had so violently 
 advocated war, whether he was ready to form 
 the army, procure the means for its mainte- 
 nance, and lead forth the troops to victory. 
 A very polite excuse, expressing total inability 
 to undertake such a task, was the answer. 
 The second pleaded total ignorance of naval 
 matters, having never even seen the sea \ the 
 third most emphatically declared, that he had 
 not money sufficient for his own wants, 
 and still less for such vast enterprises : every 
 one advanced some obstacle or other ; and 
 amidst all the courtiers, not one was ready to 
 lay down his life and property on the altar of 
 the country. 
 
200 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Taou-kwang had patiently listened, and then 
 declared that their ardour in behalf of their 
 country was mere pretence : to wage war 
 was impossible ; peace ought to be the watch- 
 word of all, and if any one dared again to 
 speak of war, he should be considered worthy 
 of death. 
 
 This speech effectually put a stop to all 
 future bickering's : the Nanking- treaty was 
 ratified, and the country remained quiet. One 
 minister, however, Wangling", declared that he 
 would not survive the disgrace of his country, 
 and went home from the council-table and 
 hanged himself. 
 
 Elepoo, in the mean while, continued the 
 negotiations, and died, at an advanced age, at 
 Canton ; his heart's desire — the conclusion of 
 peace — having been accomplished. He was a 
 very superstitious man ; and during his illness 
 never left off counting his beads. Keying was 
 now entrusted with all foreign affairs ; and, 
 owing to his judgment and energy, matters 
 proceeded without obstacle. 
 
 There were, however, two circumstances 
 which might easily have rekindled the flames 
 of war, if the individuals engaged in these 
 
TRANQUILLITY RESTORED. 201 
 
 important negotiations had not acted with be- 
 coming- prudence and forbearance. One was 
 the murder, in cold blood, of a number of ship- 
 wrecked British subjects, Asiatics as well as 
 Europeans, at Formosa. The authors of this 
 treacherous and cruel act were called to account 
 by the Chinese government; and though not 
 punished, as had been promised, still they were 
 denounced, and treated for a short time with 
 rigour. 
 
 The other was the outrage committed by the 
 Canton rabble on the foreign factories, when 
 the news of the peace was generally known. 
 This was construed into a victory; but the 
 authorities gave an indemnification for all the 
 losses, and the affair was thus settled. 
 
 Other nations, hearing of these extraordi- 
 nary events, sent their envoys to form similar 
 treaties. France and the United States of 
 America had their representatives on the spot 
 for this purpose ; and both concluded treaties, 
 which in the main resembled the English ; 
 containing, moreover, some additional provi- 
 sions to the advantage of commerce. 
 
 Amongst the great changes that now took 
 place, was the free toleration of Christianity 
 
202 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 throughout the Empire. Idolatry had received 
 a very decisive blow during the war : the hopes 
 placed in idols by generals had been disap- 
 pointed ; the magnificent processions, the pil- 
 grimages to shrines, the feeing of priests to 
 invoke the destruction of the English by the 
 power of the elements, had all been without 
 effect. The temples were taken and the images 
 destroyed^ but still no avenging hand of the 
 gods prevented the indignities : in many in- 
 stances, the temples had been converted into 
 arsenals or barracks, yet the patron saint or 
 genius of the building had never done a single 
 thing for the protection of the charge entrusted 
 to him. The Chinese are an observing people, 
 and having so many proofs of the impotence 
 of their idols, they finally ridiculed their own 
 superstition, and began even to be incensed 
 against the priests who misled them. 
 
 Taou-kwang, who in his maturer years had 
 become very superstitious, was latterly pre- 
 vailed upon, in some few instances, to punish 
 the Christians, as being in league with the 
 barbarians. At the same time the Scriptures, 
 and other Christian books, which had been 
 circulated along the coast, were sent by the 
 
CHRISTIANITY TOLERATED. 203 
 
 local mandarins for his perusal. He notified 
 in the gazette their being in his possession, and 
 declared them unclassical. Not long after- 
 wards, a Manchoo New Testament fell into 
 his hands ; he and his whole court read it 
 attentively, and were thus favourably disposed 
 towards the doctrines of Christianity. He 
 afterwards, at the conclusion of the Nanking" 
 treaty, obtained a great many Christian works ; 
 and as his mind was greatly disturbed, he 
 perused them with far greater attention than 
 he would have done in ordinary times. The 
 result of this study was a declaration, to the 
 effect that these books taught the people 
 virtue, and ought not to be prohibited, but 
 circulated. 
 
 It was, therefore, very natural that, at such 
 a juncture, the conclusion of the Nanking 
 treaty should have given rise to different 
 ideas of the religion of the west. Keying, a 
 thinking, practical man, had no predilection 
 for idolatry; the futility of which was very 
 clear to him. To judge from his own de- 
 claration, he believed Christianity to be true ; 
 and therefore had no hesitation in begging 
 his master to grant, at the suggestion of the 
 
204 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 French envoy, general toleration for this 
 religion. 
 
 This was accordingly done; and, for the 
 first time in Chinese history, there was 
 legal permission given to propagate Christian 
 doctrines. In former times this privilege had 
 depended upon the personal inclination of the 
 Emperors, and they extended or rescinded the 
 liberty according to their pleasure : now, 
 however, the doctrines could be openly 
 preached. 
 
 A Roman Catholic dignitary, wishing to 
 interpret this permission as extending to Ro- 
 man Catholics only, requested a local officer to 
 proclaim that only persons who told their 
 beads, worshipped images and the cross, were 
 included in this toleration. This insidious 
 distinction was, however, at the application 
 of the British plenipotentiary, entirely nega- 
 tived subsequently, and full liberty granted to 
 all Christian denominations. 
 
PORTS OPENED TO FOREIGNERS. 205 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Ports opened to foreigners. — Restrictions on foreign inter- 
 course. — Unsuccessful attempt to improve financial 
 affairs. — Rise of democratic ideas. — Municipal authori- 
 ties demand a voice in state affairs. — Militia proposed. 
 — Monster meeting's and riots. — Effects of the sale of 
 offices. — Partial administration of justice. — Increase of 
 robbers. — Fears for Taou-kwang's government. — The 
 Emperor's popularity. — Trade improved. — Revenue falls 
 off. — Avarice of Taou-kwang. — His illness. — Attempt 
 to restore the native government. — Anticipations of 
 Hwuy-wang. — Competitors for the throne. — Recovery 
 of Taou-kwang. — His compromise with Hwuy-wang. 
 — His love of peace. — His desire for popularity. — 
 Favours conferred in honour of the birthday of the 
 Empress-dowager. — Advancement of Keshen. 
 
 A new era had now commenced. Five ports ; 
 namely, Canton, Amoy, Foochoo, Ningpo, and 
 Shanghae, were open to foreign enterprise ; 
 and the intercourse of the natives with other 
 nations could no longer be restricted as here- 
 
206 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 tofore. To the north of these ports, the 
 channel of Shanghae affords a medium of 
 communication with the interior ; and had the 
 limits to excursions not been circumscribed, 
 had the liberty of travelling- in China been 
 allowed to all foreigners, the results must 
 have been extraordinary ; but by drawing* a 
 line of demarcation, enforced by very heavy 
 penalties, much good that might have arisen 
 was rendered nugatory. 
 
 One of the first measures after the war, was 
 to render the finances more flourishing. This, 
 however, met with a very determined resis- 
 tance. Partly from the intolerable exaction 
 of the mandarins, partly from contempt of 
 their power, which had utterly failed during 
 the war, the people resisted the tax-gatherer. 
 Soldiers being then ordered to enforce the 
 claim, were in most cases beaten back; the 
 government was, therefore, obliged to effect 
 a compromise, and to hush up the matter. 
 This very disastrous enterprise begat similar 
 resistance in other parts of the Chinese do- 
 minion, and the revenue suffered to an enor- 
 mous extent. 
 
 It had been proved beyond all contradic- 
 
RISE OF DEMOCRATIC IDEAS. 207 
 
 tion, that the mandarins were common mor- 
 tals ; and that the great Emperor, also, did not 
 sway the whole world, as he pretended, but 
 was subject to defeats, as well as all other 
 potentates. This made a very deep impres- 
 sion upon the nation, and democratic assem- 
 blies, in which the rights of man were declared, 
 rose in every part of the land. The elders 
 and gentry took the lead in this matter, and 
 demanded that in all measures in which the 
 happiness of the people was concerned, they 
 should first be consulted : if there was any- 
 thing that did not suit their wishes, they 
 instantly remonstrated ; and if this proved in- 
 effectual, they proceeded with an immense 
 crowd to the government offices, and carried 
 by force what was denied to courtesy. 
 
 In Canton and the environs, a belief pre- 
 vailed that the populace could beat the bar- 
 barians, and applications were made to go- 
 vernment for permission to wear arms and 
 organize a numerous militia. The leaders of 
 Ail movement were demagogues, who, when 
 they saw their power thus established, held 
 monster meetings, where they decided all 
 important questions. Many functionaries, see- 
 
208 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 nig the impossibility of stemming* the popu- 
 lar current, sided with the people, and put 
 themselves at the head of these movements. 
 Every effort was made to rule by the masses, 
 and to establish practically the truism that 
 government exists on account of the people, 
 and not the people on account of government ; 
 and the power of the administration was con- 
 sequently much weakened. 
 
 Whilst this operated very advantageously 
 in circumscribing' the arbitrary power of the 
 mandarins, it unhinged, on the other hand, 
 the whole existing* system of patriarchal 
 despotism, and gave rise to much anarchy. 
 
 A prefect having* on one occasion beaten 
 an innocent man in the streets, the sufferer 
 appealed to his fellow-citizens, collected a 
 crowd of more than ten thousand, and pro- 
 ceeded directly to the establishment of the 
 obnoxious mandarin, which was burnt down 
 and razed to the ground ) a declaration being* 
 made, that in such a manner the sovereig-n 
 people would avenge themselves. The military 
 were called out, but would not attack the 
 people; and the Government, utterly power- 
 less, had to overlook the insult. 
 
SCENES OF POPULAR REVENGE. 209 
 
 A Tartar general having* beaten a woman, 
 who used to importune him by begging* near 
 his house, she shewed the marks of her stripes 
 to the passers-by in a crowded thoroughfare, 
 and had a tablet stuck up calling upon the 
 people to revenge her cause. In the evening 
 a mob assembled, penetrated into the city, 
 smashed all the furniture in the general's 
 house, and then seized the grandee himself, laid 
 him flat upon the ground, and gave him double 
 the number of blows inflicted on the woman. 
 
 Similar scenes of outrage and popular re- 
 venge occurred in many parts of China, and the 
 ascendancy of the populace daily increased. 
 Men of the worst character, gifted with a 
 glib tongue, put themselves at the head of 
 the movement, and did incalculable mischief. 
 The mandarins were often obliged to buy off 
 these demagogues, and make their peace by 
 very large and important concessions. Thus 
 the whole state of society underwent a change 
 such as had never been anticipated. The 
 people armed themselves, and paraded in large 
 masses, ostensibly for the purpose of exter- 
 minating robbers, but in reality to terrify the 
 mandarins. 
 
 P 
 
210 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 We must add to this, that the sale of offices 
 became more and more common ; that many of 
 the functionaries were worthless men, utterly 
 unfit for their situation, and that the hatred 
 they excited doubly augmented the spirit of 
 popular resistance. 
 
 In many instances, the demands of the 
 people were most unreasonable ; yet still they 
 were granted : not unfrequently to the great 
 injury of the applicants. In others, when 
 requests were most reasonable, being founded 
 upon the existing state of affairs, they were 
 perhaps not acceded to ; and their refusal 
 provoked a long and ruinous struggle. 
 
 Amidst all this turmoil, citizens and pea- 
 sants turned politicians, and neglected their 
 work ; great poverty and misery were the con- 
 sequences, and only a few, urged by sore expe- 
 rience, returned to their useful and profitable 
 occupation. Favoured by such circumstances, 
 large bands of robbers assembled and com- 
 mitted terrible ravages upon the country; 
 indeed, they became at length so numerous 
 and powerful as to set the Government at de- 
 fiance, and to make the forces brought against 
 them contemptible. 
 
HE SIDES WITH THE PEOPLE. 211 
 
 Many anticipated that Taou-kwang*s go- 
 vernment would not be able to withstand 
 such rude shocks. In this, however, they 
 were mistaken : it is the policy of the 
 Chinese administration to adapt itself to cir- 
 cumstances, and to yield, instead of putting* 
 the supreme authority in jeopardy by firm re- 
 sistance. 
 
 The Emperor, hearing* of all these commo- 
 tions, and being* accurately informed as to 
 their causes, instantly took the popular side. 
 He threw the blame upon the mandarins, 
 appointed substitutes for those who had been 
 accused, praised the popular leaders, remitted 
 the taxes that had been refused by an act of 
 grace, and thus rendered himself a most 
 popular monarch. Every one in the cabinet 
 was now for measures to gain the favour of 
 the multitude ; the laws were relaxed, fre- 
 quently to the great injury of well-disposed 
 citizens, and the people were again and again 
 termed children of the Emperor. 
 
 The sacrifices at which peace had been 
 bought were, indeed, not slight. The sums 
 which the government had engaged to dis- 
 charge were, however, paid with scrupulous 
 
212 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 punctuality, and the articles of the treaty 
 kept with tolerable exactitude. Commerce 
 was thus greatly benefited, and the amount 
 of duties considerably increased. Yet in all 
 other branches of revenue, the falling- off 
 was very considerable ; so much so that the 
 stanchest ministers began to tremble for 
 the future. 
 
 Whilst, however, the national treasury was 
 empty, Taou-kwang's was full. Even during 
 the war, he had been accumulating large 
 sums of money from the confiscated property 
 of unsuccessful grandees; who were, without 
 distinction, sentenced to heavy penalties, or 
 who lost their all by a single stroke of the 
 vermilion pencil. With increasing years the 
 avarice of Taou-kwang- increased ; he would 
 not part with a single ounce of silver, which 
 lay then in an immense heap, useless to him- 
 self and others : his heart was entirely in his 
 treasure, and he felt wretched if he could 
 not constantly survey the glittering- baubles 
 spread before him. 
 
 In the summer of 1845, Taou-kwang again 
 fell ill; his disease was of a dangerous 
 nature, and he was verging- towards eternity. 
 
CONTEST FOR THE SUCCESSION. 213 
 
 The expectation of his death rekindled the 
 ambitious spirit of all parties, and they con- 
 tested very strenuously for the mastery. 
 
 For many years the patriotic spirit of the 
 influential Chinese had nourished the idea of 
 forming- an association for the restoration of 
 the Chinese dynasty of Ming*. This being" a 
 very dangerous project, was kept secret ; and 
 the members of the society being now in 
 power, and possessed of wealth, no proceed- 
 ing's had been taken against them : as it was 
 not thought expedient to drive matters to ex- 
 tremity. Now was their time, therefore, for 
 putting- all their power in motion, and en- 
 deavouring' to obtain their object. 
 
 They would have succeeded, if they had 
 been able to fix upon a man worthy the rank 
 of emperor ; but there were too many com- 
 petitors : every one considered himself en- 
 titled to ascend the throne, and would not 
 permit his partner in the perilous struggle to 
 attain to that high honour. Thus their efforts 
 were crippled, and their forces divided. 
 
 Much more powerful and united were the 
 adherents of Hwuy-wang ; who, as the nearest 
 relative of blood, the most influential prince to 
 
214 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 whom of right the throne belonged, and the 
 wisest amongst the courtiers, stood foremost 
 in claiming- the succession. Nothing was left 
 untried to secure to him that dignity, and 
 he rejoiced in the prospect of soon swaying the 
 great Empire. 
 
 Taou-kwang had no legitimate heirs: two 
 sons horn of Chinese concubines were the only 
 legal claimants ; and according to the letter of 
 the law they could not succeed, although their 
 mothers had been nationalized as Manchoos. 
 Who, therefore, should succeed were it not 
 Hwuy-wang, whom all looked upon as the most 
 worthy of the princes ? Taou-kwang urged the 
 succession of his son, then fourteen years of 
 age ; but it seemed as if the whole court were 
 ready to rise in open rebellion, and the idea 
 was therefore dropped. Besides the above 
 competitors, there were Manchoo nobles of 
 high standing, who had rendered great ser- 
 vices, and therefore thought they had a right 
 to the throne. 
 
 Matters would have come to an outbreak, if 
 Taou-kwang had not unexpectedly recovered. 
 Every one believed him on his deathbed ; but 
 a favourable crisis ensued, he gradually re- 
 
HE APPOINTS HIS SUCCESSOR. 215 
 
 covered strength, and resumed his duties. 
 Never was disappointment greater: though 
 all parties rejoiced ; each thinking* that it was 
 better to have the old monarch again on the 
 throne, than to see a rival occupy the seat of 
 power. 
 
 Taou-kwang never forgave the indecent haste 
 with which his people had acted, when he was 
 apparently approaching the grave. It was 
 to him a bitter thought, that men who be- 
 haved so servilely before him when in full 
 possession of the imperial authority, should so 
 greedily become the partisans of another 
 presumptive ruler. He looked upon his 
 brother as too formidable a rival, whom he 
 could not offend with impunity ; he, there- 
 fore, effected a compromise, and requested 
 Hwuy-wang to adopt one of his sons as his 
 own ; and forced from him the promise, that if 
 ever he ascended the throne, this boy should be 
 crown - prince. Thus peace was again re- 
 stored, and all plotters agreed that they would 
 wait until the decease of the Emperor, before 
 carrying out their plans. 
 
 Taou-k wang^s maxim was, let there be peace 
 in my time ; and acting on this sentiment, he 
 
216 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 overlooked political offences, rather than have 
 them brought to light and proceed against 
 the culprits. He wished to be popular at his 
 court, in the capital, and throughout the whole 
 Empire ; and made many sacrifices to attain 
 that object. 
 
 His adopted mother had now reached her 
 seventieth year, and wishing to give some 
 substantial proofs of the high estimation in 
 which she was held, Taou-kwang remitted the 
 arrears of taxes, amounting* to about fourteen 
 million in sterling money. One might praise 
 the magnanimity of the monarch, but for 
 knowing the fact that the outstanding debt 
 was entirely hopeless : to make a virtue out 
 of necessity, however, was very politic. He 
 prohibited at the same time the customary 
 autumnal assizes, and the execution of all 
 criminals who were on the list; prisoners who 
 had committed only slight crimes were set at 
 liberty, and convicts on their way to exile 
 were reprieved. His hatred against the 
 officers who had behaved in so cowardly a 
 manner in the last war had now subsided, and 
 many of them were recalled. 
 
 Keshen, who had long been in attendance 
 
KESHEN RESTORED TO FAVOUR. 217 
 
 upon his master, witnessed this entire revul- 
 sion of feeling*, and saw the changes which 
 followed each other so rapidly, with indescrib- 
 able pleasure. Taou-kwang soon perceived 
 that what Keshen had foretold was only too 
 true, and that the treaty concluded by his dis- 
 carded minister was far more favourable than 
 Keying's; and perceiving- that he could not 
 have been very far wrong*, and experiencing", 
 perhaps, a twinge of conscience, appointed him 
 Resident in Thibet. This is a very lucrative 
 station, in which rapacious men can soon fill 
 their coffers with gold ; and Keshen was too 
 well versed in these arts to neglect such an 
 opportunity. He remained there several years, 
 during* which he overruled the wishes of the 
 Dalai Lama and the native nobility, obtained 
 the entire ascendancy, and returned, richly 
 laden with official booty, to become governor- 
 general of the large province of Szechuen. 
 
218 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Taou-kwang's return to idolatry. — Ineffectual prayers 
 for rain. — Change of ministers. — Muchangah. — 
 Paouhing. — Success of Keying 1 s negotiations. — His 
 sons. — His daughter. — His advancement. — He in- 
 troduces improvements. — The Emperor arrests his 
 measures. — Laishangah undertakes the direction of the 
 finances. — Taou-kwang's pilgrimage to the tombs of his 
 ancestors. — His fits of superstition. — Celebration of the 
 birthday of the Empress-dowager. — Fortification of 
 the Yang-tse-kiang. — Cause of financial difficulties. — 
 Loss to the exchequer from the smuggling of salt. — 
 Indirect taxation proposed. — Plans for increasing the 
 revenue. — Extent, population, and revenue of China 
 compared with those of Russia and the British Empire. 
 — Embezzlement by functionaries. — Character of the 
 mandarins. — Disastrous consequences of the defalca- 
 tion in receipts. — Chusan restored to its government. 
 
 It had been a very dry summer ; and Taou- 
 kwang, immediately after his recovery, again 
 had recourse to the idols, and frequently pros- 
 trated himself to pray for rain. His brothers 
 did the same, but their supplications were in- 
 
THE MINISTER MUCHANGAH. 219 
 
 effectual : hours were spent in prayers, but the 
 imag-es heeded them not. The heat had so 
 scorched the land that it was impossible to 
 gather a harvest from the parched soil, and 
 the public granaries had to be opened to supply 
 the immediate wants of the Peking* populace. 
 
 The late war had brought a different set of 
 men into the cabinet. Muchangah, who had 
 now for several years been premier, never 
 gave his advice boldly, but always waited to 
 hear his master's sentiments, and then re- 
 echoed them. He, therefore, could not have 
 been accused of incapacity or misconduct, and 
 any blame attaching" to his measures was 
 equally referable to his master. He was 
 naturally inclined for peace, and with his whole 
 heart accorded in this respect with Taou- 
 kwang. In addition to his already numerous 
 offices and titles, he was created inspector- 
 general of the troops, and thus the military 
 power was likewise entrusted to him. Through 
 him all the documents were transmitted, and 
 he enjoyed the highest confidence, which was 
 never disturbed. 
 
 His coadjutor, Paouhing, was governor- 
 general of Szechuen, and did not, therefore, 
 
220 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 appear at the capital. Though he was accused 
 of incapacity and imbecility, yet Taou-kwang 
 took his part, subsequently called him to 
 Peking, and when he had there ended his days, 
 he wrote a high eulogy upon his character for 
 probity and uprightness. 
 
 Keying's services were very great, and 
 though Taou-kwang might smart for the loss 
 of the twenty million dollars paid to the 
 English, which he could very ill spare, he 
 nevertheless admired the sagacity of the 
 servant which had averted general loss and 
 ruin: all his negotiations had been brought 
 to a successful issue; he had conciliated the 
 foreign powers, and could boldly face his 
 enemies, who accused him of high treason, and 
 ask them, " What have you done for your 
 country ?" 
 
 To shew the hi^h estimation in which he 
 was held by his sovereign, his sons were 
 advanced to high stations. His daughter 
 held a most influential rank in the harem. 
 Did anything happen to disturb the good 
 understanding, it was she who redressed all 
 grievances, and put matters again in a fair 
 train : her kind, soothing hand removed many 
 
SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS OF KEYING. 221 
 
 sorrows from the brow of her father; and 
 she was his principal prop, when, far away 
 from the seat of power, a single mischance 
 might have sent him for ever into exile. 
 
 Keying was now appointed assistant minis- 
 ter, though holding still his post of governor- 
 general; and he also obtained a peacock's 
 feather as a reward. At the seat of govern- 
 ment, he was much despised and hated by 
 the populace, because he had allowed the 
 barbarians to conclude a treaty, and had been 
 on friendly terms with them. He heeded not 
 the bitter reproaches uttered against him, but 
 endeavoured, by some means or other, to in- 
 troduce improvements into the whole system. 
 For this purpose, he had cannon cast accord- 
 ing to the exact model of the foreign guns, 
 and sent them up to the capital. The Chinese 
 likewise imitated the shrapnel-shells, and 
 other missiles ; and Keying endeavoured, like- 
 wise, to introduce steam navigation : he even 
 intended, if he could obtain permission, to 
 proceed on a tour of inquiry, as Chinese 
 ambassador to Europe. 
 
 All these plans were in a fair way of being 
 carried into effect, when Taou-kwang was 
 
222 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 alarmed by some advocates of ancient abuses, 
 at the altered course of events : he began to 
 fear that the proposed improvements from 
 the west would require the employment of 
 foreigners ; and that they, instead of humbly 
 remaining' servants, would very soon become 
 masters. 
 
 No arguments shewing the great advan- 
 tages that would accrue from the plans pro- 
 posed, could persuade the Emperor to assent 
 to thern. The fleet, partly constructed on an 
 European model, remained near the Bogue 
 forts, whilst pirates ravaged the coast ; and the 
 steamer that had been constructed at Canton, 
 was found, when completed, to have an ex- 
 traordinary defect, that of being stationary; 
 for nothing could move the paddle-wheels. 
 Thus was Keying defeated in many of his 
 proposed designs, and China remained what 
 it had always been — an automaton, moving 
 only in a certain routine. All the bright 
 prospects of the march of intellect and its 
 beneficial effects vanished : yet not for ever. 
 
 The finances were in such a hopeless 
 condition, that none dared to undertake the 
 direction of them, except Laishangah, a 
 
THE FINANCIER LAISHANGAH. 223 
 
 Mongol of a most determined character and 
 fearless nature. He had been president of 
 the colonial board, and knew nothing* of the 
 difficulties of his new situation ; yet he per- 
 severed in it to this time, and is still at the 
 head of affairs. 
 
 His predecessor had lost the situation by 
 declaring* that there was a deficit in every 
 province. Taou-kwang thereupon sent round 
 a circular, calling* upon all governors and 
 lieutenant-governors to furnish him with a 
 correct list of the arrears, and the actual an- 
 nual income. An account of this was to be 
 published ; and the various functionaries were 
 to be asked, What measures should be adopted, 
 in order to avert a general bankruptcy ? 
 
 Everything being now quiet, Taou-kwang 
 ventured again, in 1846, on a pilgrimage to 
 the tombs of his ancestors ) whence, however, 
 he soon returned. Falling again into super- 
 stitious fits, he went frequently to the temples ) 
 worshipping, especially, the black dragon ; and 
 notwithstanding his parsimony, he made great 
 presents to the Lamas, and treated the priest- 
 hood in a very liberal manner. 
 
 The birthday of the Empress-dowager was 
 
224 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 to be celebrated in the most magnificent style, 
 and Taou-kwang therefore ordained, that every 
 person in the whole Empire, above eighty 
 years of age, should receive, on that memor- 
 able day, ten catties of meat and a piece of 
 silk. When, however, the lists were drawn 
 up, the computation of the cost made, and it 
 was found that this munificence would cost 
 above a million of ounces of silver, the Em- 
 peror withdrew his liberal vote, and substituted 
 a badge of rank, which cost very little. 
 
 The Emperor having been very much cha- 
 grined on beholding the ease with which the 
 British fleet proceeded up the Yang-tse-kiang, 
 without any effective opposition, now sent 
 a trustworthy servant, Pei-chung, who had 
 been for some time governor- general of the 
 Keangnan and Keangse provinces, to fortify 
 the river. He collected money and made 
 many preparations for that purpose ; and when 
 all was in readiness, Laishangah, the great 
 financier, came to inspect the whole, and pass 
 his approval upon it. 
 
 There were long- walls, with innumerable 
 port-holes and guns, constructed in the Chinese 
 manner, so as to require for actual defence 
 
REVENUE AND POPULATION OF CHINA. 225 
 
 ten thousand men ; but in time of need these 
 would be quite useless, being* too much ex- 
 posed to the shot of an enemy. Some river 
 boats were likewise built, and all with the 
 greatest secrecy, lest the barbarians should 
 take umbrage. A flotilla of steamers, for 
 which this river is admirably adapted, might 
 have been built with the same outlay, and 
 would have proved an effective aid to the 
 public service. 
 
 The year 1846 brought a recurrence of 
 financial difficulties, more serious and threat- 
 ening* than the former ones. In every other 
 country, the revenues increase with the in- 
 crease of the population; in China, the con- 
 trary appears to be the case. The population 
 seems to have reached that point which some of 
 our political economists consider as the ne plus 
 ultra of population; though it is only an 
 imaginary limit derived from the existing* 
 state of society. The land is subdivided into 
 small parcels, and each family has to live on 
 a spot which scarcely supplies it with suffi- 
 cient nourishment, and still less affords the 
 means of paying taxes. Thus the dense popu- 
 
 Q 
 
226 THE LIFE OF TAOTJ-KWANG. 
 
 lation renders a regular system of taxation a 
 matter of impossibility. 
 
 Next to the land-tax, the principal resource 
 of government is the tax on salt; which is 
 sold by monopolists, under the direction of 
 mandarins. Latterly, the smuggling* of this 
 article had caused great losses to the exche- 
 quer, and many of the monopolists became 
 bankrupt, and were unable to pay their liabili- 
 ties \ the State thus suffering immense losses. 
 There are a hundred other articles that mioht 
 have been taxed ; but the statesmen of China 
 preferred a direct impost upon one of the 
 necessaries of life, though the burthen of it 
 fell upon the mass of poor people. 
 
 Many consultations were held as to the 
 ways and means of indemnification for these 
 losses: indirect taxation was proposed, but 
 rejected as a novelty ; tobacco, spirits, and a 
 variety of luxuries, were represented to be law- 
 ful objects of taxation, but objected to because 
 there was no precedent for levying money 
 upon them. Finally, about a year after Key- 
 ing had reached the capital, a committee was 
 formed, to take these matters under consider a- 
 tion. It was then agreed that the mines 
 
TAXATION AND REVENUE. 227 
 
 should be opened ; a measure previously con- 
 sidered fraught with insurmountable difficulties 
 and dangers for the country, as it attracted so 
 large a number of the rabble ready to rise 
 against the government. Saving's were, more- 
 over, to be effected, by withdrawing- for several 
 years the salaries to both low and high civil 
 authorities ; and all the existing* branches of 
 revenue were to be, if possible, increased. Such 
 was the result of the deliberations ; but only 
 the first of the suggestions was carried into 
 effect. 
 
 China has an area of 60,000 geographical 
 square miles, and about 108,533,000 English 
 acres under rice cultivation ; on which, not 
 including the lands for vegetable production, 
 three hundred million of human being's have 
 to live. The dependencies are Manchooria with 
 34,300 square miles, and, according* to the 
 account of government, only 4,300,000 inha- 
 bitants : perhaps not one-third of the actual 
 number ; Mongolia about 91,300 geographical 
 square miles, numbers perhaps 15,000,000 
 inhabitants; Tibet, 30,200 square miles, with 
 about 6,000,000 ; Bokhara and Turkistan, 
 27,300 square miles with 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 
 
228 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 inhabitants. The British Empire has 296,180 
 square miles with 203,000,000 inhabitants ; 
 Bussia, including* its ice-fields, 368,276 square 
 miles, with 62,000,000 inhabitants. 
 
 If. we compare the revenues of the respective 
 countries, the discrepancy is still more glar- 
 ing*. Including- all the items of revenue, 
 provincial and municipal, China does not yield 
 above thirty-three million per annum in ster- 
 ling money. Of this, in days of yore, thirteen 
 million went to the general supreme govern- 
 ment, and in kind — rice, pulse, and silks — per- 
 haps four million more. Yet in 1846, accord- 
 ing to the official statement, only seven mil- 
 lion eight hundred and twenty-two thousand 
 pounds reached the court, and only one-third 
 of the tribute in kind. The falling off was, 
 therefore, very considerable, and Taou-kwang 
 deeply lamented the state of things. 
 
 The greatest drain upon the finances was 
 embezzlement by government functionaries. 
 Since the introduction of notorious harpies 
 in the capacity of officers, this evil had be- 
 come more extensive ; and the small sums 
 obtained from the sale of offices were swal- 
 lowed up tenfold by these greedy adventurers. 
 
DEFALCATIONS IN THE REVENUE. 229 
 
 The extortions which have always been more 
 or less practised have likewise most detrimen- 
 tally affected the finances, and dried up many 
 sources of revenue. These are, however, evils 
 engrained in the Chinese character, to eradi- 
 cate which all endeavours have proved fruit- 
 less. There is neither honesty nor principle 
 in most of the mandarins; and if any man 
 were strictly to attend to his duties, and never 
 to take a farthing- beyond his dues, he would 
 not be able to bribe his superiors, and conse- 
 quently would very soon lose his office. 
 
 The great defalcations in the revenue had 
 the most disastrous consequences. Govern- 
 ment being" unable to pay its servants, the 
 latter were obliged to shift for themselves ; and 
 often had recourse to the most oppressive means 
 of extortion, by which the people were greatly 
 excited, and frequently broke out in open re- 
 bellion. Robbers gained confidence, for the 
 forces marched against them were insufficient 
 to suppress their outrages ; and the coast be- 
 gan to swarm with pirates, the navy being 
 utterly unable to offer any opposition to the 
 marauders. Complaints came in from all quar- 
 ters ; and edicts were issued without number ; 
 
230 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 but no improvement was made in the wretched 
 condition of the police, nor were the means of 
 defence rendered more efficacious. 
 
 It was in this year that China fulfilled all 
 its pecuniary engagements with the British, 
 and Chusan was accordingly restored to the 
 Chinese government. This island, under a 
 proper administration, might have reached the 
 highest prosperity, and diffused the blessings 
 of civilization in all the surrounding countries. 
 
EXTENSION OF GREAT EMPIRES. 231 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Extended empires of England, Russia, and China. — 
 Efficacy of Chinese power. — Rising; in 1847. — Cashgar 
 taken by the rebels, and Manchoo forces routed. — Un- 
 usual measures for repelling the enemy. — Imperial pro- 
 posals accepted. — Recapture of Cashgar. — Treacherous 
 conduct of the Koja of Kokand. — Yis-han's suggestion 
 of the removal of restrictions on commerce acted upon. 
 — Beneficial results therefrom. — Lin's erroneous opinion 
 of the resources of the southern powers of Asia. — Policy 
 of the Emperor towards the surrounding states. — Re- 
 verence of the Emperor for sacred things. — Anti- 
 national exclusive system. — Border war. — Advance- 
 ment of Lin. — Rebellion on the western frontiers. — 
 Treacherous and blood-thirsty conduct of Lin. — His 
 accusation, acquittal and reward. — His death, and 
 character. — Destruction of crops by inundation. — Dire- 
 ful consequences. — Difficulties arising from a want of 
 the circulating medium of the precious metal. — Reme- 
 dies for these evils. 
 
 By a gradual course of conquests, the three 
 largest empires in the world have gradually 
 been approximating towards each other's fron- 
 
232 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 tiers. England, from the most distant west, 
 has extended its power, and its colonies now 
 horder on Tibet, which China, from the far- 
 thest east, took under its protection; Russia, 
 the colossus of Europe, has traversed the ice- 
 fields of eastern Asia, unmindful of dangers and 
 difficulties, and furnished an extensive frontier 
 to Mongolia ; which may be considered as in- 
 corporated with China. 
 
 Regardless of sound policy, all three have ex- 
 tended their power beyond reasonable bounds ; 
 and having succeeded beyond their expecta- 
 tions, have had too much reason to regret their 
 ambition. But all three co-operate in keep- 
 ing within due bounds the hordes of Asia ; 
 which, but for this, would long ago have made 
 more of those disastrous incursions, by which 
 whole regions have been utterly destroyed, and 
 many nations exterminated. Such ravages 
 have taken place periodically, and changed the 
 very face of the globe; but now these powers 
 operate, with their combined forces, to pre- 
 serve the world from similar calamities. 
 
 The country that effects most with the 
 smallest means, is China. Its army on the 
 frontiers must appear burlesque, when compared 
 
EFFICACY OF CHINESE POWER. 233 
 
 with the well-appointed warriors of its two 
 neighbours; but these contemptible soldiers 
 effect what the most powerful states, with all 
 the western improvements, could scarcely hope 
 to accomplish ) for through their means the 
 most unruly nations, such as the Usbecks, 
 Calmucks, and Kinghis, are kept in a state of 
 subjection. 
 
 We have already mentioned one exception 
 to this general rule, and are constrained again 
 to speak of a very strong rising in 1847, 
 during which the city of Cashgar and another 
 place were taken, and the whole of the Man- 
 choo forces routed. 
 
 In former times this would have induced the 
 Peking court to despatch forthwith a very 
 large force, and expend several millions in a 
 useless campaign ; but now the means used to 
 repel the enemy were quite different. A dis- 
 tinguished man of the diplomatic corps re- 
 paired to the seat of war, and commenced 
 negotiations ; these were very much protracted, 
 and the enemy, consisting of a large number 
 of very bigoted Bokharians, made greater and 
 greater inroads into the Chinese territory. 
 This state of things had lasted for some time, 
 
234 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 when large sums of money arrived, and the 
 offer of an immediate armistice was made. 
 
 The leaders of the Mahomedans consulted 
 with each other, to decide whether it would be 
 more to their advantage to continue to plun- 
 der, or to accept the imperial bounty ; and on 
 mature consideration, the opinions inclined to- 
 wards the latter. As, moreover, there was con- 
 siderable danger in the former proceeding, 
 and experience had shewn that the Usbecks 
 were routed in the end, some of the descen- 
 dants of the ancient Kodas, who had been ex- 
 pelled by the Chinese, again most strenuously 
 argued that the country was theirs, and ought 
 of right to be reconquered by the true be- 
 lievers ; but their argument availed nothing 
 against the glittering offer of the Emperor. 
 An attempt upon Yarkand had, likewise, 
 miscarried , and all the warriors of the Cres- 
 cent were agreed that nothing would be 
 gained in the end by fighting. 
 
 It was, therefore, unanimously resolved to 
 adopt a medium course, and allow the Man- 
 choos to take the two cities by military 
 force ) stipulating, at the same time, for the 
 safety of the inhabitants. This was done ; the 
 
TREATY TVITH THE KOJA OF KOKAND. 235 
 
 imperial troops reaped much honour in recap- 
 turing- Cashgar, a splendid account of their 
 achievements was forwarded to Peking", and 
 published in the "Peking- Gazette/' and a 
 treaty was concluded with the Koja of Kokand. 
 
 This worthy had, as on the former occasion, 
 looked only to his own advantage, and had in 
 turn betrayed both friend and foe. He now 
 appeared as mediator ; received, as such, a 
 round sum of money ; presented himself as a 
 faithful vassal to his imperial Majesty, and was 
 now formally acknowledged as an ally, who was 
 to guard the frontiers in the direction of Bok- 
 hara. 
 
 Great was the joy of Taou-kwang on hearing 
 the issue of his measures; and the diploma- 
 tist was raised ten steps above the general. 
 It is remarkable that this convention was 
 finally ratified by Yi-shan, his nephew ; the 
 very individual who also concluded the ransom 
 of Canton for six millions. On that occasion 
 he sent the heads of some English soldiers, to 
 convince his master that, notwithstanding the 
 amicable arrangements, the chiefs of the bar- 
 barians had duly been decapitated. Now, 
 however, he sent nothing but good advice; 
 
236 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 which was, fortunately for the country, strictly 
 followed. 
 
 All these collisions had arisen from the re- 
 strictive system of commerce, which was car- 
 ried out with great severity. Yet the revenues 
 arising* therefrom were so trifling, compared 
 with the enormous expenditure incurred, that, 
 to remedy the evils caused by it, Yi-shan 
 suggested that the trade should be thrown 
 entirely open. 
 
 Taou-kwang", who had a keen sense of his 
 own interests, began to calculate the loss and 
 gain; he balanced both carefully; and then 
 declared that, once for all, he abolished all 
 restrictions upon commerce, which should 
 henceforth be free. The effects were most 
 beneficial, and were felt throughout the whole 
 land: merchants from western and southern 
 Asia thronged thither, and the fairs of Yar- 
 kand and Cashgar assumed a very busy ap- 
 pearance. Since that time no further diffi- 
 culties have occurred. 
 
 It was Commissioner Lin who first sug- 
 gested that the southern powers of Asia ought 
 to be rendered serviceable in the war with 
 England. He foolishly supposed that Cochin- 
 
FREE TRADE AND CONCILIATION. 237 
 
 China, taking" part in the quarrel, would be 
 able to fit out a large fleet to intercept the 
 English ships ; that the Birmahs would make 
 a diversion, and the Goorkhas and Affghans 
 could be roused to join in the war. These 
 were very crude ideas, suggested by some 
 foreigner ; but the Commissioner easily caught 
 at them, because such alliances, while they 
 might prove very serviceable in the manage- 
 ment of affairs, would cost nothing". 
 
 Nearly a century ag-o some ambitious 
 courtier at Peking- encouraged the warlike 
 Keen-lung- to try to possess himself of India, 
 as the power of the Great Mogul had be- 
 come decayed. He listened with great at- 
 tention to this proposition, which had great 
 interest for one with his ardent desires of 
 conquest, and he commenced with an attack 
 on Birmah ; but two campaigns ended in de- 
 feat, and the project was ultimately abandoned. 
 
 Now, however, it was the policy of China 
 to conciliate those states, and not to bring- on 
 a war ; the tribute-bearers, therefore, who came 
 successively to the coast, were received with 
 uncommon politeness : instead of the contempt 
 formerly shewn towards them as the mere 
 
238 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 messengers of vassals, they had an audience, 
 during- which Taou-kwang condescendingly in- 
 quired into all the affairs of their nation ; and 
 when he sent them back, it was with the rich- 
 est presents and the most flattering' letters. 
 
 Thus the chiefs were to be attached to the 
 Chinese interest. With none, however, was 
 this so much the case as with the ambassador 
 from Katmand, after the revolution that 
 took place in the affairs of that country. 
 That officer was several times summoned be- 
 fore the Great Emperor, and distinguished 
 from the crowd of sycophants \ his master 
 received the peacock's feather, with rank and 
 title, and his name was inscribed amongst 
 the most obedient vassals of the Celestial 
 Empire. Thus the bonds between these two 
 countries were henceforth to be considered as 
 indissoluble. 
 
 In regard to Tibet, the customary policy was 
 observed : the country was brought more and 
 more under the Chinese influence, until it re- 
 sembled a province ; all power was entrusted 
 in the hands of the resident there, and Keshen 
 most strenuously seconded his master's inten- 
 tions ; so that on his departure for his new 
 
CHINESE RELATIONS WITH TIBET. 239 
 
 government, the nation, its nobles, and the 
 Dalai Lama, were entirety under the jurisdic- 
 tion of mandarins. 
 
 The struggle had been long and toilsome, 
 but it was successful in the end. Taou- 
 kwang, however, was extremely devout, and 
 received the envo} r s of the priest with great 
 honour. The idols, rosaries, candles, and in- 
 cense-sticks sent from Tibet were to him 
 sacred things, highly prized, and only to be 
 bestowed upon favourites, or given on extra- 
 ordinary occasions, to be burned at festivals or 
 during grand processions. Thus the spiritual 
 dominion of the priest remained unimpaired, 
 and was used on all occasions to enforce the 
 imperial authority amongst the Mongols. 
 
 A party of wild Sikhs having crossed the 
 borders, and invaded the Tibetan frontier, the 
 jealousy of English or Hindoo travellers had 
 very much increased. The former were allowed 
 to ramble about, and even treated with re- 
 spect ) but they could obtain no provisions, and 
 were, therefore, obliged to retrace their steps. 
 All along the frontier, guards were stationed, 
 whose duty it was to give instant notice of 
 the arrival of a stranger, and to transmit this 
 
240 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 intelligence to all points, that the Chinese ex- 
 clusive policy might be carried out to its full 
 extent. All foreign connections that had pre- 
 viously existed were cut off, and not the least 
 hope allowed of resuming an intercourse with 
 those regions. In preventing this, the fore- 
 sight of Taou-kwang had accomplished his aim. 
 Though the greater nations were in friendly 
 relations with China, some of the smaller fron- 
 tier tribes gave much trouble to government ; 
 amongst others the chiefs of Kokonor, a very 
 independent, unruly race, who, though nomi- 
 nally acknowledging the supremacy of China, 
 are very arbitrary in their proceedings, and 
 are often at open war with the mandarins. 
 They had made various inroads into the coun- 
 try and committed great ravages, causing 
 much terror in the surrounding region. Even 
 an envoy of the Dalai Lama, with them a very 
 sacred person, was plundered on his way to 
 Pekin. However reluctantly government 
 took the field, it was nevertheless obliged to 
 proceed vigorously, and a long desultory 
 border war commenced, in which the cattle 
 and other property of the Chinese were re- 
 peatedly carried off by the enemy. 
 
lin's atrocious cruelties. 241 
 
 The late Commissioner Lin had gradually 
 regained favour. He was at first allowed to 
 return from exile, because it was asserted that 
 he did much to encourage the clearing- of land 
 in those regions; a very meritorious deed in 
 the eyes of government. He was next made 
 treasurer, then lieutenant-governor, and finally 
 governor-general of Yunnan and Kweichoo. 
 
 At that time a very formidable rebellion 
 broke out on the western frontiers. The in- 
 habitants are not Chinese, and are called 
 Mahomedans ; with what justice it is difficult 
 to say. Lin marched against this people ; 
 who, according to his confession, had been 
 excited to insurrection by rapacious func- 
 tionaries. His whole course from first to last 
 was marked by bloodthirsty treachery : he 
 inveigled the people into his power by false 
 promises, and then butchered them, or burnt 
 them alive. 
 
 Thus he expected to quell the insurrection ) 
 but the aborigines fought with desperation, 
 and he was obliged to return several times to 
 finish the work of extermination. It was a 
 costly war : the Chinese soldiers were cut off 
 by hundreds ; and the victory would have been 
 
 B 
 
242 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 very doubtful, if the never-failing- panacea, 
 silver, had not been profusely applied. 
 
 The deeds done made even the hardened 
 Chinese shudder : Lin was accused, and a com- 
 mission appointed to investigate the affair. 
 He managed, however, so adroitly, that in- 
 stead of any blame being cast upon him, 
 he was extolled, and received the peacock's 
 feather as a reward for his great services. 
 
 He then remained in tranquillity for some 
 time, and finally retired on account of sick- 
 ness ; when he was again called, in 1850, to 
 suppress a rising in Kwangse. He proceeded 
 thitherward, but died on his way ; thus closing 
 a most chequered career, in which states- 
 manlike conduct was blended with the most 
 despicable and criminal actions, and magna- 
 nimous, patriotic enterprizes were followed 
 by treachery and ruffian-like deeds. Yet 
 he was the idol of the people : the man who 
 alone could strike terror into barbarians \ and 
 on that account much revered. The Emperor 
 assigned him a station in Hades, under the 
 title of the Faithful Duke. 
 
 One of the greatest calamities of recent 
 occurrence, was the destruction of the crops 
 
INUNDATIONS AND FAMINE. 243 
 
 in Hon an, by inundation. This misfortune 
 was very extensive : millions were deprived of 
 their subsistence, and terror and misery spread 
 throughout the whole land. Many of the 
 sufferers were relieved by death from their 
 privations; others dragged out a miserable 
 existence : everywhere there was wretched- 
 ness, disease, and death ; notwithstanding* the 
 great and constant efforts made to relieve 
 the sufferers. 
 
 A famine in China, amongst teeming mul- 
 titudes, is much more fearful than a visitation 
 of the same kind in countries less densely 
 populated, where the people do not, in ordinary 
 times, live up to their means of subsistence. 
 After months of intense suffering, there came 
 a fruitful harvest, and the people were at 
 length rescued from utter destruction. This 
 was not, however, the last time that the 
 country was thus laid waste ; for the follow- 
 ing year similar inundations in Keangsoo, 
 Houpe, and elsewhere, occasioned like destruc- 
 tion and starvation, as the rice, just in the ear, 
 was swept away from the fields. The conse- 
 quences were most fearful, and those districts 
 still suffer from them. 
 
244 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 If a Chinese emperor, according" to the 
 theory so frequently put forward in the 
 public proclamations, does sympathize with all 
 the misfortunes of his children, he certainly 
 can scarcely have a moment of joy; for some 
 untoward event or other will always occur to 
 harrow his feeling's. A deficiency of the 
 circulating- medium, the precious metal, was 
 felt most severely, and occasioned great em- 
 barrassment to g-overnment. Taou-kwang- saw 
 the thirty million ounces silver, that were 
 always kept as a reserve fund in the national 
 treasury, dwindle down to eig-ht millions ; the 
 second deposit, also, at Moukden, which is 
 kept there to serve in time of need, was nearly 
 reduced to half its amount, and yet the func- 
 tionaries were not paid their regular salaries. 
 
 All schemes for remedying- the evil failed : 
 the general account given by order of the 
 g-overnment stated that there were forty 
 million ounces of arrears. It was, therefore, 
 resolved that the military only should receive 
 pay, and the civilians wait until the finances 
 should be in a more flourishing- condition. 
 
 Taou-kwang- now felt the necessity of 
 substituting- some other taxes for the exist- 
 
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. 245 
 
 ing* system of deriving" the revenue solely 
 from the necessaries of life ; but he had 
 not the courage to act up to his views, and 
 overthrow a system that had become vene- 
 rable through the usage of ages. 
 
240 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 The Emperor's distaste for public affairs. — Confidence 
 placed by Taou-kwang in Keying. — Opposition of the 
 people to the opening of the gates of Canton. — Taou- 
 kwang sides with the people, and their triumph. — 
 Accusations against Keying. — Hwang dismissed from 
 power. — Retrograde movement.— Taou-kwang's facul- 
 ties become weakened. — His religious habits increase. 
 — His alternate disgust and reverence for idolatry. — 
 He becomes reserved. — His anticipations of a long 
 life. — Grave character of the court. — Dangers of in- 
 terfering with the exchequer. — The suggestion of 
 improvements considered heresy. — Taou-kwang's en- 
 deavours to conceal his increasing infirmities. — His 
 pilgrimage to the ancestral tombs. — He dispels the 
 rumours of his approaching death. — His criticisms on 
 the army and navy. — He proposes plans for the im- 
 provement of military discipline. — Their inefficiency. — 
 Unsuccessful attempts to exchange the musket for the 
 bow. — Slow progress of improvement in the navy. — 
 Increasing power of pirates. — Interference of the Bri- 
 tish. — Piratical ravages on the coast of Kwang-tung 
 under Sapongtsae. — His fleet destroyed by the British 
 men-of-war. — His escape and rise to rank. — Partial 
 cessation of piracy. — Attempt at reform by a Portu- 
 guese governor. — His murder. — Peace-offering to his 
 countrymen. — Risings in 1849. — Geographical know- 
 
KEYING IN HIGH FAVOUR. 247 
 
 ledge desirable for an Emperor of China. — Taou- 
 kwang encourages the publication of geographical 
 works. —Influence of Protestant missionaries. 
 
 The Emperor's life became, with his advanced 
 age, more retired : he felt a disinclination to 
 interfere in the government, and left most of 
 his affairs to his ministers. Keying espe- 
 cially was honoured with the most distin- 
 guished marks of favour : he was constantly 
 about his master's person, was entrusted with 
 the management of the most important affairs, 
 stood at the head of various institutions and 
 establishments, and was established as the 
 great favourite, who sat frequently at the coun- 
 cil table, and directed the course of policy. 
 
 The year 1849 now approached, when, 
 according to treat}', the city gates of Canton 
 were to be thrown open to foreigners. Keying 
 himself had pledged his word that this should 
 take place, and, in a council held on the sub- 
 ject, he declared that the fulfilment of this 
 engagement was not to be avoided. The 
 Canton populace, under the guidance of Seu, 
 the governor-general, thought otherwise ; and 
 through their protector they addressed a peti- 
 tion of rights to Taou-kwang, insisting strenu- 
 
248 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 ously upon the privilege of deciding* this 
 matter themselves, and adopting- measures of 
 self-defence to repel the barbarians. The 
 Emperor was weak enough to grant this, and 
 wrote back that the will of the people was the 
 will of Heaven. 
 
 From that moment the populace considered 
 themselves supreme ; they paraded the streets 
 armed, and committed outrages, to shew that 
 they were a sovereign people. 
 
 Keying- was in the mean while accused of 
 having- sold the country, and laid the founda- 
 tion of all the subsequent financial difficulties, 
 by paying- over so much money to the English. 
 Taou-kwang could not disguise his fears that, 
 on account of this breach of the treaty, 
 Chusan might again be occupied ; and Key- 
 ing was sent to the adjacent coast, to nego- 
 tiate in case such an event should occur : but 
 he proceeded thither ostensibly to investigate 
 the pecuniary state of the Chekeang pro- 
 vince, and to hold a review of the troops. 
 
 Keying was much annoyed by being con- 
 stantly taunted with having yielded in a 
 cowardly manner to the barbarians, instead 
 of boldly resisting them, like Seu. His 
 
TRIUMPH OF THE CANTON PEOPLE. 249 
 
 enemies had undermined his authority at the 
 capital^ and he returned from his mission sick 
 at heart. Taou-kwang- sent him some ginseng 
 to restore him, as a last token of favour j yet, 
 notwithstanding- all his endeavours, he could 
 not reg-ain his former power. 
 
 His trusty coadjutor, Hwang", had fallen 
 long- before. The Emperor had praised him, 
 in his circular, as the most effective and wisest 
 of his officers ; but shortly afterwards he was 
 accused of having- transgressed the law, by 
 recommending- an officer of sixty-one years of 
 ag-e for a command : sixty years being- the 
 utmost limit of ag-e during- which promotion 
 can take place. On this absurd pretence he 
 was dismissed from his office and left at 
 Canton, to serve there for a time in an in- 
 ferior capacity; nor did he ag-ain appear on 
 the theatre of political action. 
 
 Several other mandarins, the declared friends 
 of foreig-ners, gradually lost their offices, and 
 others of the most opposite sentiments took 
 their place. This was a retrograde move- 
 ment, much to the injury of the best interests 
 of the Empire in its foreig-n relations ; but it 
 was applauded by the Canton people, being- 
 
250 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 flattering* to their national vanity, though in 
 reality destructive to their wealth and pro- 
 spects. 
 
 Taou-kwang was not without misgivings 
 that the course pursued might lead to a fearful 
 collision, and require new sacrifices from the 
 already exhausted treasury. But day after 
 day wore on ; no remonstrance, no demonstra- 
 tion ensued ) and seeing that no notice was 
 taken of the matter, he listened to the voice 
 of the stronger party clamorous for war, and 
 followed their suggestions : or rather gave an 
 assent to what they dictated. 
 
 He had reached a premature old age : his 
 faculties were weakened, his body decayed, 
 and frequent monitors appeared, in the shape 
 of temporary indispositions, to remind him 
 that he was not long for this world. His reli- 
 gious habits increased in the same degree : 
 he frequently hastened to the temples to pour 
 out libations, he also fasted, and submitted to 
 other exercises enjoined by the Lama priests. 
 Yet there were times when idolatry appeared 
 to him as an abomination, and he abstained 
 from its rites with disgust ; but then, again, 
 the worship of the black dragon attracted 
 
HIS IDOLATROUS WORSHIP. 251 
 
 his attention, and it was all at once heard that 
 he had entered the temple of that god, and 
 prostrated himself before the altar, whilst 
 burning 1 incense to the idol. 
 
 It is very difficult to divine the workings of 
 the imperial mind ; but he seems to have had 
 an idea, that the emblem of the Chinese dragon 
 was the patron to whom prayers ought to be 
 addressed ; and the worship of the serpent, the 
 old dragon, engaged his attention for a con- 
 siderable time. 
 
 In his manners, Taou-kwang grew more 
 and more quiet and reserved : he spoke little, 
 and that very indistinctly ; performed the cus- 
 tomary ceremonies at court without taking 
 much interest in them ; and held intercourse 
 with very few friends. Some of the men to 
 whom he had been most attached were re- 
 moved by death ; others had been separated 
 from him by political intrigue ; and he did not 
 wish to form new connections in the evening 
 of his life. 
 
 Any one who had seen the haggard old 
 man, might have believed that his existence 
 could not be prolonged more than a few days ; 
 but Taou-kwang had an idea that he was to 
 
252 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 live as long* as his grandsires, and therefore 
 clung* to life with uncommon tenacity. 
 
 Whatever may be the doctrines of paganism, 
 they give no cheering* view of eternity ; they 
 do not lessen the ag'onies of death, or admi- 
 nister consolation in the hour of need. This 
 alone can be effected by the blessed gospel, 
 that promises eternal life to all believers. All 
 other trust falls to the ground. 
 
 The court partook much of the habits of 
 the Emperor : only old people had any au- 
 thority, the young* ones being* placed in the 
 background ; and a grave routine of busi- 
 ness prevailed, unrelieved by any change, or 
 any exhilarating* recreation. Unless inunda- 
 tions, deficits in the treasury, or a casual 
 rising of the people, occasionally roused the 
 ministers from their torpor, little was done or 
 said * and the most trivial things were sub- 
 mitted for consideration to fill up the time. 
 Keying was for a long time the only active 
 member of the cabinet, and he was ill 
 rewarded for his pains : if any one asked for 
 money, he was sure to be most severely 
 reprimanded, if he did not lose his place 
 altogether. 
 
HIS RETROGRADE POLICY. 253 
 
 It was permitted to all officers, and to the 
 people, to suggest any plan they pleased for 
 filling* the exchequer ; but woe betide the 
 man who forced himself upon the attention of 
 the revenue department as an adviser : what- 
 ever might be his merits, he was sure to be 
 punished in some way or other. 
 
 The march of intellect, that which seemed 
 in theory an alloy to " Reason's Glory" (Taou- 
 kwang — the name of the Emperor's reign), was 
 looked upon as a monster, however attractive 
 the shape under which it appeared : even in 
 the form of certain improvement, it was hooted 
 and denounced. What ten years before had 
 been acceptable advice, was now rank heresy ; 
 the promoters of the advancement of the nation 
 were looked upon as dangerous innovators, if 
 not as traitors. 
 
 We have now to relate the events of the two 
 last years of the Emperor's life. There were 
 many who speculated upon his death ; and 
 it was, therefore, Taou-kwang's determination 
 always to appear, in the presence of strangers, 
 hale, strong, and active, in order to give the 
 lie to such expectations. It was for this 
 reason that he set out in the spring for the 
 
254 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 eastern tombs. Everybody anticipated that 
 this pilgrimage would be made by proxy ; 
 when suddenly an order appeared directing 
 the astronomical board to ascertain the pro- 
 pitious moment when the Emperor might set 
 out on his journey. 
 
 After a greal deal of deliberation, and con- 
 sulting the stars, it was finally settled ; a host 
 of officers were ordered to form the cortege ; 
 the government at home was arranged; and 
 the cavalcade set forth with great pomp. 
 Several officers presented fruits, others ingots 
 of silver, others silk dresses ; and all were most 
 graciously received by the Emperor. Those 
 who thought that he would be unable to bear 
 the fatigues of the journey, were greatly dis- 
 appointed ; for the whole journey was per- 
 formed in a very short time by easy stages,, 
 and the Emperor's health seemed to be im- 
 proved by the trip. 
 
 It is a crime for which capital punishment 
 is awarded in China, even to allude to the 
 probability of the Emperor's death ; and many 
 have suffered death on that account, or because 
 they were accused of having used magical 
 arts to ascertain the hour of his decease, or of 
 
HE AFFECTS HEALTH AND VIVACITY. 255 
 
 having* made images resembling- the monarch, 
 and burned them. These and similar foolish 
 practices, affording- grounds for suspicion and 
 cruelty, had prevailed, in all the preceding 
 reig-ns ; but Taou-kwang's reign was free from 
 such absurdities. 
 
 Whenever the rumour g-ained ground, that 
 he would very soon leave this world, the Em- 
 peror suddenly appeared in public, dressed in 
 gorgeous style, and exerted himself to the 
 utmost to shew that he still possessed great 
 energy. Such was the case at a large party 
 given on the second day of the year, when 
 Taou-kwang had assembled a number of guests. 
 All the highest grandees dined with him ; and 
 he was all cheerfulness and happiness, having 
 cast off his lugubrious appearance : there was 
 an extraordinary flow of conversation, and 
 everybody congratulated the Emperor on his 
 good looks. Yet, notwithstanding this flat- 
 tery, his days were numbered. He also re- 
 viewed the body-guard, was present at the 
 examination of archery, and, with his own 
 hands, bestowed the rewards. The ridiculous 
 custom of bringing damsels from all parts of 
 the empire, for the Emperor to make choice 
 
256 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 from amongst them, was still continued, and 
 Taou-kwang pursued his ordinary course of 
 life. A pilgrimage to some other spot was 
 also projected, but not performed. 
 
 The discussions about the army and nav} r 
 were manifold ; and Taou-kwang, who thought 
 himself thoroughly versed in military affairs, 
 passed many strictures upon the existing* 
 state of affairs. He regretted that so many 
 great defects should exist, and issued order 
 after order, notifying all the errors committed 
 by the framers of the system, and the upholders 
 of military discipline. There were to be re- 
 views; searching inquiries were to be made 
 in every branch of administration; and the 
 utmost vigilance, combined with requisite 
 talent, was to be employed to render the 
 army effective. 
 
 On reading such papers, and knowing that 
 they were drawn up by a despot, one is apt 
 to imagine that all these behests must have 
 been enforced ; yet, on beholding the condition 
 of the troops, the conclusion is inevitable that 
 the projected improvements ended in words: 
 the army, indeed, was in a worse condition 
 than before the war. Frequent attempts have 
 
STATE OF THE ARMY AND NAVY. 257 
 
 been made to exchange the musket for the 
 bow ; } r et the ancient custom still prevails : it 
 was with the aid of the bow that the Manchoos 
 took the country, and this weapon is, therefore, 
 considered very sacred. A number of the men, 
 however, use the matchlock, whilst many of the 
 self-constituted militia corps are furnished with 
 fire-arms imported from Europe. 
 
 The state of the navy was much worse. 
 Orders had been given to restore it to its 
 pristine strength, and great efforts were made 
 to carry them into effect. The progress, how 
 ever, was very slow ; and when, at length, a 
 few vessels left the stocks, they kept in the 
 harbours near the station, and very seldom 
 went to sea. \ 
 
 The war having done great injury to the 
 maritime trade, a host of idle, vicious sailors 
 embarked in piracy, and began to oppose the 
 mandarin junks, whose crews had acted in so 
 cowardly a manner during the whole war. 
 The evil rapidly increased ; and the power of 
 the pirates became so great, that no vessels, 
 loaded with valuable articles, would venture to 
 leave the port. 
 
 Taou-kwang, therefore, urged on the reluc- 
 
 s 
 
258 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 tant naval officers to encounter these pirates 
 in the open sea. To save their character 
 and commissions, these officers were obliged 
 to get up some sham fights, and report great 
 victories. This only increased the evil; for 
 the pirates, emboldened by success, sailed up 
 the rivers even to cut out vessels, and carried 
 destruction into the harbours. 
 
 Such was the state of affairs when the 
 British men-of-war on the coast of China 
 were finally obliged to interfere ; there being 
 no longer security for any trade. They com- 
 menced in the north, on the coast of Fokeen, 
 where they did terrible execution ; but the 
 greatest destruction of the outlaws took place 
 on the west coast of Kwangtung, near Tunkin, 
 and some distance eastward of Hong- Kong-. 
 In a very short time, a ruffian, formerly resident 
 upon the latter island, had, collected several fleets 
 of junks, well armed and properly manned, 
 with which he laid the whole coast under con- 
 tribution. The outrages and cruelties com- 
 mitted by these pirates would appear in- 
 credible, if truly described; they were the 
 terror and scourge of the people on shore, and 
 of every sea-going junk. 
 
CHINESE TREATMENT OF PIRATES. 259 
 
 The pirates had long- acted with impunity, 
 and the Chinese Government, in its customary 
 way of putting* down commotions, had offered 
 to appoint Sapongtsae, the leader, to be a naval 
 officer in the imperial service, if he would sur- 
 render his fleet. To this he assented, and 
 was upon the point of coming* to an agree- 
 ment, when the British men-of-war carried 
 utter destruction amongst the whole fleet. 
 Sapongtsae, however, escaped to shore, was 
 well received by the governor-general, raised 
 to high rank, and employed in an insurrection 
 that had broken out on the peninsula of Leen- 
 choo. There was now a temporary cessation of 
 piracy on a large scale, whilst petty attacks at 
 sea were as common as heretofore. 
 
 The Portuguese, after the treaty of Nan- 
 king, had concluded an agreement with the 
 Chinese government, by which many privi- 
 leges were secured to them. A liberal gover- 
 nor, who perceived the galling vassalage in 
 which his countrymen were held, attempted 
 several considerable changes, and greatly irri- 
 tated the Chinese authorities. He was, there- 
 fore, proscribed; and sundry placards, osten- 
 sibly issued by the people, but in reality at the 
 
260 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 instigation of satellites of government, incited 
 the populace ag-ainst him. He, however, paid 
 no heed to these denunciations ; but one day, 
 when riding* out accompanied by his aide-de- 
 camp, he was attacked unawares near the bar- 
 rier, drag-god down from his horse, and assas- 
 sinated ; his head and one hand (the other 
 having" been lost in some eng-agement) being 1 
 cut off, to be taken as trophies to Canton. 
 The murderers acted most deliberately; and 
 afterwards rendered thanks to their idols, for 
 the success of the horrible plot. Seu, the go- 
 vernor-general, wrote word to the Emperor, 
 that any punishment, however fearful, would 
 be too slig-ht for the crimes of the murdered 
 man ; but that Providence had interfered and 
 made an example of him, by allowing- him 
 to suffer sudden death at the hands of some 
 men who had to avenge their own injuries. 
 
 To satisfy the Portuguese government, Seu 
 took a criminal out of prison, cut off his head, 
 and sent it, with that of the late governor, as a 
 peace-offering. There could be no doubt, that 
 the Chinese functionaries had had a hand in these 
 proceeding's ; but it was impossible to bring- it 
 home to them by direct proofs. Some ruffians 
 
ATROCITIES OF OFFICIALS. 201 
 
 who had murdered two British officers, received 
 the rank of mandarins, and were employed 
 in quelling* an insurrection. It would almost 
 appear incredible that the Chinese government 
 could descend so low : but it is an adminis- 
 tration of expedients, and no means, however 
 infamous, are rejected, if they accomplish the 
 end. ** 
 
 In the representations made to Taou-kwang 
 of all these proceedings, the odious part of the 
 affair was alwa} T s left out ; the emperor can- 
 not, therefore, be said to have given his appro- 
 bation to such infamous measures, but merely 
 to have acceded to what was reported to him. 
 He acted up to the advice of Governor-general 
 Seu, who was greatly esteemed by him ; and 
 by whose patriotic exertions, falsely so called, 
 affairs in Kwang-tung were kept in proper 
 order. 
 
 Whatever might be the professions of this 
 grandee of carrying on an effective govern- 
 ment, he could not prevent the coming for- 
 ward, in 1849, of a mere adventurer, who was 
 proclaimed king. This pretender promised 
 exemption from taxes, and an entire freedom 
 from all restraints ; and great numbers of idle 
 
262 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 fellows joined his standard ; but he had 
 reckoned upon the support of foreigners, and 
 as he did not find it, he was obliged to fly for 
 his life. Several hundreds of his adherents 
 were killed on the spot, and the whole band 
 dispersed. Similar risings took place in Shan- 
 tung* : a province remarkable for the stubborn- 
 ness of the people;- though it gave birth to 
 Kung-foo-tze, the great legislator for obe- 
 dience and entire submission. These were, 
 however, suppressed, after repeated and length- 
 ened expeditions, by dint of persuasions and 
 threats. 
 
 We find several indications of Taou-kwang 
 having, in the latter years of his life, paid 
 much attention to statistics. It requires a 
 zest for geographical science, to study all 
 parts of the Chinese empire with accuracy ; 
 and there have been few emperors who have 
 had a distinct idea of all their vast dominions. 
 Taou-kwang, no doubt, formed an exception ; 
 and he even encouraged the publication of 
 geographical works respecting other countries : 
 formerly thought a subject too trivial to be 
 considered worthy of notice. Two foreigners 
 compiled works of this description at the 
 
GEOGRAPHY ENCOURAGED. 263 
 
 express desire of the Emperor ; and some 
 Chinese officers of hig-h rank made similar 
 attempts. These books were sent to the high 
 authorities in the various provinces, that they 
 might acquire some knowledge of other lands. 
 The number of Protestant missionaries who 
 had gradually established themselves in the 
 emporiums of the empire open to foreign 
 trade, contributed, likewise, to promote a 
 better and more accurate knowledge of the 
 character of foreigners, and gave rise to the 
 hope that they would materially influence the 
 minds of the Chinese nation, by inculcating 
 the only principles given to man which convey 
 the knowledge of salvation. The pure gospel 
 had been embraced by a number of distin- 
 guished natives, who themselves promulgated 
 it by word of mouth, and by their writings. 
 Though a mere drop of truth in the ocean 
 of error, yet, under the guidance of an Al- 
 mighty Saviour, who has all power in heaven 
 and in earth, great results may be expected : 
 without that aid, how powerless are all human 
 endeavours ! 
 
264 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Taou-kwang's approaching end. — Intrigues at Court. — 
 Death of the Empress-dowager. — The Emperor's 
 account of it. — Honours paid to her memory. — 
 Her character. — Taou-kwang's grief and mourning. — 
 His last edict. — He appoints Yih-choo his successor. — 
 Rumour of Hwuy-wang's plot against the prince. — 
 Death of Taou-kwang. — Proclamation of Hienfung. 
 
 — He sums up his father's character. — Last request 
 of Taou-kwang. — Title under which he is worshipped. 
 — Hienfung's change of character. — His superstition. 
 
 — Muchangah and Keying discarded. — Companions of 
 the Emperor. — Anticipated effect of steam navigation 
 on China. — Conclusion. 
 
 Taou-kwang seems to have had some fore- 
 boding's of his approaching* end \ he accord- 
 ingly regelated all the affairs of his house, 
 and removed some of the princes from the 
 court, under various pretexts \ but in reality 
 because they had given great umbrage by their 
 violent conduct. He drew his friends nearer 
 
INTRIGUES AT COURT. 265 
 
 and nearer round him, and endeavoured to 
 strengthen the ties of their attachment by in- 
 sinuating' manners, and by presents, of little 
 value in themselves, but very precious as 
 marks of the donor's favour. 
 
 He was particularly fond of sending- pre- 
 sents of ginseng 1 to invalids, or very old ser- 
 vants ; and he would sometimes inscribe with 
 his own hand, on a large piece of paper, the 
 character for happiness and longevity. These 
 were hung up in the hall of state, and pre- 
 served as the most precious relics. 
 
 Intrigue was, however, still at work, to de- 
 prive the Manchoo and Chinese titular princes 
 of their station. It was a frivolous charge 
 brought against them, to effect their downfall J 
 but it required a very tedious investigation, 
 and finally led to their being put down some 
 steps in rank. Taou-kwang, however, was 
 soon reconciled to his ancient faithful ser- 
 vants : all the reminiscences of their past ser- 
 vices returned, and they remained in autho- 
 rity. This was quite contrary to the expecta- 
 tions of some sycophants, who had purposely 
 laid a trap to inveigle the grandees into com- 
 mitting a fault. 
 
2Q6 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 Matters proceeded in their ordinary course 
 during the last months of Taou-kwang-'s reig-n, 
 until a sad event happened, which grieved 
 the Emperor to the very heart's core. This 
 was the death of his adopted and idolized 
 mother, to whom he had given his whole con- 
 fidence, and shewed the most devoted vene- 
 ration, whom he visited regnlarly, who was 
 to him everything", and whose loss was a 
 blow from which his shattered constitution 
 could never recover. 
 
 The official account given by the Emperor 
 himself, respecting- the decease of his adopted 
 parent, is as follows : — " We have attended her 
 Majesty since we ascended the throne, and 
 have nurtured her twenty-nine years. We 
 have seen that in her declining" days she had 
 every comfort, and that she had passed the 
 ag*e of eig-hty ; and we encouraged ourselves 
 that she would happily add one year to an- 
 other, until she enjoyed the felicity of seeing- a 
 century. Lately, on the 19th Januar} r (1850), 
 she took an airing- in the g-arden, and returned 
 to her palace ; we daily went to inquire about 
 her health; and then unexpectedly became 
 aware that our beloved relative was not in 
 
DEATH OF HIS ADOPTED MOTHER. 267 
 
 usual vigour. We thought that if she was 
 nursed a few days with care, she would then 
 recover her health ; but, contrary to all antici- 
 pation, her ailments daily increased in vio- 
 lence, and on the 24th, at half-past three 
 o'clock p.m., she drove the fairy chariot, and 
 went the long- journey. Our grief broke out 
 in loud lamentations, for we were greatly 
 afflicted. We have been happy in attending* 
 to her behests, as men are rejoiced b}' the sun 
 which prolongs their lives; but we can never now 
 again look upon her affectionate countenance, 
 and we are inconsolable. We received her 
 last orders, that mourning should be worn 
 only twent3'-seven days ; but we cannot be 
 satisfied with this, and therefore, as it is right, 
 we ourselves shall put on the filial garb for a 
 hundred days, twenty-seven of which we shall 
 pass in deep mourning. As to her requisi- 
 tion, that since we are nearly seventy years 
 old we ought not to give way to deep grief, 
 for the cares of government are heavy, we 
 cannot presume to disobey it, and must con- 
 st ruin ourselves to repress these feelings. Let 
 daily libations be poured out before her in the 
 palace of Contentment. We shall ourselves 
 
268 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 remain at the palace where her bier is placed, 
 to sacrifice to her manes," &c. 
 
 Divine honours were rendered to her shade 
 throughout the whole Empire ; and in every 
 city tablets were erected to commemorate her 
 virtues, and to honour her in her death. Such 
 is the idol worship of the Chinese : one gene- 
 ration deifies the other. The Empress was for- 
 mally canonized ; and her title — that of filial, 
 harmonious, reverend, affectionate, healthy, 
 cheerful, placid, accomplished, heavenly-con- 
 formed, prosperous, holy Empress of Keaking 
 — placed amongst the long series of tablets 
 in the imperial ancestral temples, to be fre- 
 quently worshipped by the monarch and the 
 whole imperial clan. 
 
 It is difficult to ascertain whether the Em- 
 press had any influence upon government 
 affairs. Nothing is known of it, and we are 
 therefore inclined to believe that she was satis- 
 fied with now and then dropping an exhorta- 
 tion, when her son humbly appeared below her 
 window. Only once she interposed, and then 
 it was to excite him to wage an exterminat- 
 ing war against foreigners. It was, perhaps, 
 the Manchoo pride which stimulated her to call 
 
CHARACTER OF THE EMPRESS. 269 
 
 forth all the energy of the Emperor to maintain 
 his sinking* cause. She was otherwise very 
 placid ; not easily aroused to anger, and free 
 from that low intrigue which is the disgrace of 
 most oriental courts. To move in a certain 
 routine, and above all to avoid collisions with 
 parties that were foreig-n to her rang*e of 
 idea3, was her first wish. When hig-h offi- 
 cials endeavoured to make use of her to obtain 
 their ends, she very adroitly withdrew, and 
 disappeared in the recesses of the harem. 
 
 Taou-k wang^s grief was sincere ; it preyed 
 daily upon his mind, and he appears never 
 ao-ain to have been himself. When a con- 
 tracted mind concentrates all its strength upon 
 one object, and no other thoug-hts or ideas 
 occupy it, the consequences are often fatal : 
 the individual is either reduced to a state of 
 monomania, or the bodily frame sinks under 
 the pressure. The latter was the case with 
 Taou-kwang". There remained few attractions 
 for him in life ; he had tasted all the joys which 
 fall to the share of a mortal, and his shattered 
 frame could not well endure mental ag^ony. 
 His daily food was limited, according- to 
 Chinese custom, to rice and water ; he passed 
 
270 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 his time, with dishevelled hair and dressed in 
 sackcloth, near the coffin, sleeping* upon a very 
 hard couch. 
 
 The last edict he issued was to the effect 
 that the new year's day should he changed, 
 on account of an eclipse that was then to take 
 place; it being" a very unfortunate omen to 
 commence another year with such an event : 
 this was on the 11th February 1850. Nothing" 
 more was heard of Taou-kwang- for several 
 days, although various reports, one as impro- 
 bable as the other, were current. On the 25th 
 February, however, there appeared an edict 
 in the vermilion pencil: — "Let Yih-choo, the 
 imperial fourth son, be set forth as heir- 
 apparent. You princes and officers, why wait 
 for our words ? Assist and support him with 
 united hearts. And do you all reg-ard what- 
 ever pertains to the concerns of the country 
 as of high importance, without caring" for any- 
 thing" else." 
 
 These were ostensibly the Emperor's last 
 words : what actually happened in the palace 
 is not accurately known. It is said that 
 Hwuy-wang- did his utmost to be appointed 
 successor, and that he was supported by a 
 
HIS LAST EDICT AND DEATH. 271 
 
 strong* party. A fire — whether accidentally 
 breaking- out, or intentionally kindled to create 
 disturbance, is not known — hastened the death 
 of Taou-kwang. His wishes no doubt were, 
 that Yih-choo, his son, whom he tenderly loved, 
 should be Emperor after him ; and these pre- 
 vailed against a powerful faction. 
 
 The prime minister, Muchang-ah, seems to 
 have been undecided ; and Keying- was in- 
 active for some time ; but a number of powerful 
 nobles, with Lnishangah, the president of the 
 Colonial Board, at their head, were very anxious 
 to raise Yih-choo to the throne. Eumour 
 says; that Hwuy-wang went so far as to ar- 
 range a plot for the destruction of the prince ; 
 and that his younger brother, the adopted heir 
 of his uncle, joined in the attempt. If this 
 were actually the case, the new Emperor 
 readily forg-ave its author; for from the mo- 
 ment he attained to power he honoured Hwuy- 
 wang above all courtiers, and had him fre- 
 quently at his side; dispensing-, at the same 
 time, with the prostrations, and other de- 
 grading ceremonies. Thus died Taou-kwang, 
 aged sixty-nine years and seven months, 
 baring been born 12th September 1781. 
 
212 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 His son Yih-choo, who subsequently, under 
 the name of Hien-fung (general plenty), as- 
 cended the throne, said in his proclamation : — 
 u We have received from our late imperial 
 father, his Majesty, who has just gone on his 
 journey, our being* and support; enjoying" a 
 great nourishing*, anxious care, as hig*h and 
 boundless as Heaven. Last year, after the 
 summer had commenced, he suddenly felt him- 
 self indisposed ; his bodily strength had been 
 somewhat impaired, and the important duties 
 connected with the demise of the Empress- 
 dowager, and his grief and anxiety, aggra- 
 vated his weakness and disease, so that his 
 strength and constitution were greatly en- 
 feebled. He called to-day the council, and 
 ordained that we should be regarded as the 
 heir-apparent. We received this decree in an- 
 guish and tears ; for we still hoped that, by the 
 utmost and constant care of his person, and a 
 temporary cessation of his burdensome care, 
 his vigour and health might be preserved. We 
 had barely received his last commands and 
 regards, when his malady increased in force 
 and violence to the utmost, and he mounted 
 the dragon, and became a guest on high. 
 
PROCLAMATION BY HIS SON. 273 
 
 Beating* the ground and invoking* Heaven, I 
 vainly essayed to reach and recall him." 
 
 The son, summing* up the character of his 
 father, says of him : — " He ruled the world 
 for thirty years ; day and night he attended 
 with great diligence to his duties, not allowing* 
 himself the least rest. In all thing's he re- 
 verenced Heaven, and imitated his prede- 
 cessors; and his sedulous attention to the 
 affairs of government, his love for his people, 
 his literary attainments, and his military 
 prowess, are not easily described. And in 
 respect to his diffusing* happiness, and his 
 anxious care lest there should be pestilence, 
 or other distress, no sooner had any province 
 met with a slight calamity than he disbursed 
 his treasures and remitted the taxes; his 
 gracious benevolence being* instantly shewn. 
 So, too, he was constantly laying* up the re- 
 venue in store for use, and devising* means 
 to prevent damag*e from the (yellow) river, 
 and planning* so that no living* thing* should 
 lack protection. His boundless humanity 
 drew all within its influence, so that every- 
 thing* that has breath laments his departure. 
 Whilst weeping tears of blood and beating 
 
 T 
 
274 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 our breast, how can we yet refrain our words ? 
 Considering" the duties imposed upon our own 
 unworthy self, we are troubled with painful 
 apprehensions ; yet we rely upon the constant 
 loyalty of our civil and military officers to 
 assist us to rule with glory." 
 
 The last requests of Taou-kwang rather 
 shewed him a humble man. He did not wish 
 that long* mourning* should be ordered for 
 him, and desired that no stone tablet should 
 be erected to record his merits ; that no sacri- 
 fices, conjointly with heaven and earth, should 
 be offered up to him ; and that his ancestorial 
 tablet of wood should not be placed in the 
 state temple of his predecessors. In the 
 testament, Taou-kwang speaks with similar 
 modesty of himself and his government; 
 hoping' the best, and alluding 1 but slightly to 
 the war with the English, and other disagree- 
 able matters. We quote some passages. 
 
 " From the commencement of our reign, we 
 have sent out orders, written by ourself, warn- 
 ing above all things against gaiety, licentious- 
 ness, covetousness, and selfish desire of gain ; 
 statesmen and people throughout the realm, 
 have been alike cognizant of this. The little 
 
HIS TESTAMENT. 275 
 
 fools beyond the western ocean were chastised 
 and quelled by our troops, and peace was 
 soon made ; but we presumed not to vaunt our 
 martial powers. 
 
 " A trifling 1 dispute subsequently arose on 
 the maritime frontiers, in the south-east ; but, 
 like the good men of ancient times, who re- 
 garded love to men as a prime virtue, how 
 could we bear that our innocent babes should be 
 exposed to the horrors of war ? We therefore 
 waived our trifling dissatisfaction, and entered 
 upon a compact, whereby we both tranquillized 
 our own borders, and compassionated those 
 from afar, as has been now the case for ten 
 years; instantly causing the hurtful flames 
 of war to die of themselves, and new people 
 and foreigners to trade with each other in 
 harmony. In this respect, we certainly ex- 
 hil)ited the inexpressible affection we have for 
 our beloved people, and to this day the world 
 has worthily judged of our intentions. 
 
 " When overwhelming calamities by flood or 
 drought came, we blushed for ourself, that we 
 had involved our people in constant misery 
 and toil; when our officers have requested 
 us to remit arrears, or grant aid, there has 
 
276 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 been no case in which we have not copiously- 
 bestowed our largesses. 
 
 (C Our own personal health has usually been 
 vigorous ; but about the spring" and summer of 
 last year j we felt suddenly indisposed. Lately 
 our breathing* has been more difficult, and our 
 disease daily increases. Whereas Heaven 
 created this people, and has set over them a 
 shepherd, let him incessantly shew his careful- 
 ness, diligence, solicitude ; thereby he will learn 
 the tempers of men, comfort his people, and 
 perpetuate our mig'hty dynasty." Of his son 
 and successor, he remarks : " the heir-apparent 
 has exhibited a humane and filial disposition, 
 and he is well established in virtue, recti- 
 tude, and generous feeling*; so that he will 
 be adequate to receiving* the charg*e entrusted 
 to him." 
 
 The ancestral title, received in the hall of 
 the ancestors, wasLeuen-tsung , -ching , -kwang , -te 
 (wise ancestor and perfect Emperor), which 
 will be the name under which Taou-kwang* 
 is to be worshipped. 
 
 The successor, Hien-fung*, on his accession, 
 greatly disappointed many a courtier. Scarcely 
 amenable to control when yet Prince Yih-choo, 
 
HIS SUCCESSOR HIEN-FUNG. 277 
 
 he has since become sedate and pensive, fond 
 of pageantry and pomp, and exceedingly 
 superstitious. He constantly repairs to the 
 temples, consults the idols, sacrifices in person, 
 and never undertakes a single important act 
 without obtaining encouragement from some 
 image or other. 
 
 He does not intend to tread in the steps of 
 his father, and has discarded Muchangah, the 
 premier, as well as Keying ; partly because 
 they were favourable to foreigners. The 
 great man at court, amongst others, is Sae- 
 shangah. Hien-fung's character is, however, 
 not yet sufficiently developed to speak with 
 certainty about his future proceedings; nor 
 has he been sufficiently tried to shew the real 
 stuff of which he is composed. Most of his 
 companions are Manchoos ; men well known 
 for their obstinate disposition and violent pas- 
 sions. Still, his government is not yet formed, 
 and it would be proper to wait the further 
 development. All parties are agreed that he 
 possesses little understanding, and that he is 
 rather a child of circumstances than of fore- 
 thought. 
 
 If we consider the thirty years of Taou- 
 
278 THE LIFE OF TAOU-KWANG. 
 
 kwang's reign as the most important period 
 of Chinese history, it is from a feeling* of the 
 immense results which the partial opening- of 
 the country must finally have upon the whole 
 nation. Steam navigation has brought China 
 thousands of miles nearer Europe, and in- 
 creased tenfold the influence of European 
 ideas : it is impossible to prevent their ap- 
 proach, and the inevitable consequences which 
 soon will shew themselves. The time for an 
 imperceptible progress of the human race 
 is past; greater events, rapid advances, and 
 extraordinary strides may now be expected, 
 even in the most sluggish of all races— the 
 Chinese. 
 
 The Creator did not call into being* these 
 myriads merely to go through a material ex- 
 istence; dishonouring the only true God by 
 idolatry and superstition, and then sinking 
 into the grave to meet the Judge of the living 
 and dead. Far higher is the destiny of this 
 very intelligent race ; and China may yet ex- 
 hibit a displa}^ of divine power and wisdom 
 such as the world has never witnessed. The 
 whole human race must ultimately be sub- 
 jected to the reign of the Son of God ; for 
 
TRIUMPH OF CHRISTIANITY. 279 
 
 He must rule until His foes are made His 
 footstool. China, with all the adjacent coun- 
 tries, is comprised in this general conquest : 
 not by the arms of men, but by the powerful 
 conviction of the Spirit of God; who will 
 glorify Christ, and subject to Him all hearts. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 I/radon : Printed by Stewart and Murray, Old Bailer. 
 
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