shelter on the coast of Cochin-China, and the crew were obliged in their distress, and on account of the unfriendly attitude of the native authorities, to sell both their cargo and ship, and to take passage in a Chinese junk for Macao. On the journey the Chinese formed a plot for their murder, and the design was carried out. The massacre was accomplished within sight of the haven whither they were bound, and only one sailor escaped by jumping overboard. His evidence served to bring the criminals to justice, and in the following year seventeen of the murderers were executed. The tragedy served one useful purpose. It enabled the French Government to establish its right to be represented by a Consul at Canton.

The grievances of the merchants consisted principally in the heavy dues exacted from them, by the Hoppo and his agents, for the right to trade. Among the most deeply felt of these was the cost of the permit to proceed from Canton to Macao, without which the journey could not be undertaken. This passport, or chop, as it was called, cost in all between seventy and one hundred pounds; and seeing that in these days no ladies or children ever visited Canton, but that the merchants always left their families at Macao, this costly and rigorous imposition was felt very keenly by the European merchants. Exceptionally heavy taxes on articles of commerce were hard enough to bear without murmur, but they sank into insignificance beside those that fettered the liberty of movement, and interfered with the relations of families.

When the dissatisfaction caused by this state of

*

things was at its height, an English merchant, Mr. James Matheson, the principal representative of one of the chief houses in the China trade, took upon himself to demand an interview with the mandarins, and succeeded in bringing the hardship of the regulation so clearly before their minds, that its rigour was at once abated, and some of the most objectionable features were removed.+

It was not until four years later that the further privilege was granted of allowing the English merchants to bring their wives and families up to Canton. The failure of some Chinese trading firms, or hongs, was the immediate cause of this further concession to the foreigner. The Hoppo and his agents were most anxious that the trade should not be in consequence suspended, and, while they were constrained to publish the Edicts of Pekin, they were fully resolved not to put an end to their own source of profit.

Although Taoukwang was in reality less disposed to cultivate relations with the outside peoples than any of his immediate predecessors, and notwithstanding that the anti-foreign party had never been more active than it was at this period, still the first ten years of Taoukwang's reign witnessed a remarkable development in the trade of Canton, and a not less striking improve. ment in the relations between Chinese officials and the

* Afterwards Sir James Matheson, of Jardine, Mathesons.

The interview was not without a dramatic side. One of the mandarins present, catching hold of Matheson, passed his hand round his neck, signifying by this action that he deserved to be beheaded. Mr. Matheson was equal to the occasion, and, seizing the official, repeated the process on him, with the difference that he performed the operation twice!

English merchants. There was a corresponding disadvantage to be taken into account as a set-off against this agreeable progress. The more the trade increased, the firmer the foot-hold of the foreigner on the soil became, the more did the transaction present a mark to and attract the indignation of the old-fashioned party at Court, which regarded this growing outside intercourse in the light of an unmitigated misfortune, and which foresaw only the evils that its continuance would entail.

Even in this matter Taoukwang appears to have had no decided conviction and no settled views of his own. Personally he was too much given to reflect not to see that there were merit and strength in European knowledge; yet he was so swayed by his fears, and by the representations of his most intimate counsellors, that he banished all foreigners from the capital. Irresolute even in his new decision, he allowed the trade at Canton to go on assuming larger proportions, and, although the ultimate consequence of that course of proceeding was plain, he took no measures towards checking the development of or abolishing external commerce. Each year made the exclusion of the foreigner and the cessation of trade a matter of greater difficulty, but Taoukwang preferred to wait on the course of events rather than to take a bold initiative. He was at a later period of his life to find a counsellor whose boldness was equal to his ability; but at the period which we have been describing the Emperor had no adviser of the courage and capacity of Commissioner Lin. Had he possessed one, and struck as boldly in defence of China's right to remain a secluded country as he did in 1842, there is no saying but that

the object might have been attained. If the Chinese had been as clear of vision in any of the years between the departure of the Amherst Embassy and the close of Taoukwang's first decade on the throne, as they were resolute in action and unyielding in their lofty pretensions, they might have put a stop to the foreign commerce; whether they could have prevented smuggling on the very largest scale or not is quite an independent matter. The opportunity was not utilised, and, although the attempt was subsequently made, the attendant circumstances were never equally propitious. Never again was China as strong relatively as she was then, and never afterwards did the China trade appear of as little importance to the English people and Government as it did for a short time during this period.

CHAPTER III.

TAOUKWANG'S REIGN-(continued).

Position of Affairs in Central Asia.-A Fifty Years' Peace.What the Chinese had undertaken.-China's Reputation.Condition of things in Ili and Kashgar.-A Relaxation of Vigour. The Natural Tendency of Empires.-The Khanate of Khokand.-A Chinese Tributary.-Progress of Trade.Mahomed Ali Khan.-Repudiates the Tribute.-Further Concessions to him.-Aksakals.-The Khoja Family. The Sons of Sarimsak.-Jehangir.-Resolves to assert his Claims.Invades Kashgar.-His Kirghiz Allies.-Defeated.-Flees to the Issik Kul.-His Raids.-The Chinese pursue him. Their Defeat.-A Detachment destroyed.-His Second Invasion.Battle outside Kashgar.-Chinese Defeat.-General Rising.Jehangir's Proclamation.-His brief Reign.-Return of the Chinese. General Chang.-Battle of Yangabad.—Chinese Victory. Incident of the Battle.-Capture of Jehangir.-His Execution. The Measures that followed.-The Tarantchis.— Attitude of Khokand.-Yusuf's Attempt.-Insurrection in Formosa.-Rebellion in Hainan.-Domestic Difficulties.— Taoukwang's Sons.-His Illness.-Hwuy Wang's Intrigue.Death of Son and Empress. The Miaotze.-The Golden Dragon. Abortive Attempt to promote National Movement. -Death of the Chief.-Chinese Success.-Chinese Defeat.— Settlement of Difficulty.-The Wolf-men.-Deficit in Revenue. -Condition of China.-Undiminished Pretensions. The Tributary States.-The Approach of the Foreign Question. THE overthrow of the Eleuths and the conquest of Central Asia had been among the most creditable and remarkable of the exploits of the great Keen Lung.