Part 8 (1/2)
Now, Mr. Harvey makes this false a.s.sertion in face of the ”Proclamation by Tien-w.a.n.g, establis.h.i.+ng a scale according to which the number of wives are to be regulated in all ranks,” as published in 1862, at page 45, Blue Book upon ”The Rebellion in China,” and which commences--
”Formerly I made a decree as to the canon of marriages....”
This unbia.s.sed official winds up his sober and dispa.s.sionate effusion with a few equally temperate conclusions. For example--
”I now, therefore, take the liberty of declaring, once for all (_and for ten years I have firmly adhered to, and been consistent in, this opinion_), that the Taeping rebellion is the greatest delusion as a political or popular movement, and the Taeping doctrines the most gigantic and blasphemous imposition as a creed, or ethics, that the world ever witnessed.... There is nothing in past records so dark or so bad; such abominations committed under the name of religion; such mock-heroic buffoonery; such horrors accompanied by pantaloonery; and so much flimsy web worked in the midst of blood and high tragical events.”
If the ”ten years” of obstinate adhesion to an opinion formed before anything was known of the Ti-pings, is Mr. Harvey's idea of ”sober sense” and ”no bias” (and he declares it is), we can easily believe that the ”dispa.s.sionate” ruminations of so long a period destroyed what little reason and religion he may at one time have possessed. His partizans.h.i.+p even lays him open to the charge with which he has so falsely accused the Ti-pings when stating that their doctrines were ”the most gigantic and blasphemous imposition,” &c.; inasmuch as the Ti-ping doctrines are taken from our Bible, are in all essential particulars precisely similar to our own, and alone const.i.tute their ”creed, or ethics.”
Mr. Harvey terms himself ”a sensible and reasoning Englishman,” and proceeds to declare the revolution--
”A sanguinary raid, and an extended brigandage over the country, burning, destroying, _and killing_ EVERYTHING _that has life in it_.”
In a surprising manner, after a few sentences, he brings the dead to life:--
”They come, and the helpless inhabitants crouch down and submit.
They (the Taepings) go, and the people breathe again and rejoice.”
”Tel maitre, tel valet,” it is said, and Mr. Harvey seems to have likened into Mr. Bruce amazingly. Mr. Bruce has stated, ”every locality is totally destroyed by the Ti-pings.” Mr. Harvey chimes in with the above, ”killing everything,” and ”not a vestige” diatribes. Mr. Bruce, in a despatch dated ”Pekin, April 10, 1862,” inclosing Mr. Harvey's precious production to Earl Russell, states with regard to the Ti-pings:--
”NO commerce can co-exist with their presence, and NO specific relations are possible with a horde of pirates and brigands, who are allowed to commit every excess, while professing a nominal allegiance to an ignorant and ferocious fanatic.”
Again, in a despatch dated ”Pekin, April 18, 1862,” Mr. Bruce states that their presence in any district is ”accompanied by the _utter_ destruction of the materials of trade.”
Singularly enough, General Staveley, although chief leader of the ma.s.sacres of Ti-pings, in a despatch to the Secretary of State for War, dated ”Shanghae, July 3, 1862,” entirely and absolutely contradicts the imaginary devastations of Mr. Bruce and his Consul by the following statement:--
”Europeans continue to visit the rebel country _for purposes of trade_, and are treated with civility; _large quant.i.ties of silk_ have been brought into Shanghae during the last fortnight, _and trade seems in a thriving state_.”[10]
Mr. Harvey concludes his judgment pa.s.sed in ”sober sense and dispa.s.sionately” by the following words:--
”Your Excellency may rest a.s.sured that we shall only arrive at a correct appreciation of this movement, and do it thorough justice, when it is treated by us as land piracy on an extensive scale--piracy odious in the eyes of _all_ men--and, as such, to be swept off the face of the earth by _every means_ within the power of the Christian and civilized nations trading with this vast empire.”
Such are the avowed sentiments of the man who protests that he has ”no bias” or prejudice.
Although the occupation of Ningpo by the Ti-pings actually increased the export trade, and although even Mr. Consul Harvey admitted that it was captured and held with ”wonderful moderation;” still, when hostilities had become established by Admiral Hope and General Staveley, it was impossible either their designs could succeed while Ningpo was in Ti-ping possession, or the anomalous policy of holding Shanghae, and not Ningpo, be continued. Consequently, both to stop the supplies and munitions the Ti-pings obtained at the port, and to follow out the hostile policy settled upon, the British authorities determined upon driving them out of Ningpo on the first opportunity. As the scrupulous good conduct and friendliness of the revolutionists afforded no cause of hostility, it became necessary to invent one. How this was effected the following account will show.
One day (the 22nd April, 1862), while giving a salute upon the return of the General Fang from Nankin, several shots appear to have been fired by some Ti-pings in the direction of the foreign settlement. It was thereupon _reported_ that these shots had killed a Chinaman or two in that location. This, however, seems very doubtful. At all events, the affair was immediately taken up by Captain Cragie, of H.M.S. _Ringdove_, who wrote to the Chiefs upon the subject, and received a completely satisfactory answer, stating--
”I beg to a.s.sure you that, as soon as I have discovered the offenders, I will punish them very severely. I hope, then, that you will think no more about the matter.”[11]
Upon the 26th of April Captain R. Dew, with H.M.S. _Encounter_, arrived at Ningpo from Shanghae, having been ordered there by Admiral Hope.
Judging by the conduct of the Admiral at that time, and by the whole circ.u.mstances of the war upon the Ti-pings, it becomes morally certain that Captain Dew was dispatched with the reinforcement to Ningpo on purpose to drive them out. The day after his arrival (27th April, dates are important), Captain Dew wrote as follows to the Ti-ping generals in command of the city:--
”_Encounter_, Ningpo, April 27, 1862.
”Sir,--We have received from Commander Cragie your communication regarding the _accidental_ discharge of bullets whilst firing a salute ... as well as the communication from General Hw.a.n.g. Both these are _so satisfactory_, and tend so much to impress on us your wish to maintain friendly relations with the English and French, that we beg to inform you _that we shall not insist on the demolition of the battery at the point_,[12] but we still do that you remove the guns....
”We again inform you that it is the earnest wish of our Chiefs to remain neutral[13] and on good terms with you at Ningpo. Till the late acts, they had every reason to be satisfied with your conduct, and you may rest a.s.sured that no breach of friendly relations shall emanate from our side....
”(Signed) R. DEW.”