Thus the year 1857 ended, and the
events of the Chinese war which transpired within it. It is however
desirable, for the sake of consecutive narrative, to continue here the
relation of this war to its close in 1858, notwithstanding the plan of
the History gives a separate chapter to the incidents of each year.
On the 5th of January, 1858, detachments of troops penetrated into the
city. The three most important persons in authority were captured--Yeh,
the viceroy, or chief governor; Pehkwei, governor of the city; and
Tseang Keun, the Tartar general. Yeh was sent a prisoner to Calcutta.
The Tartar general was set at liberty, on condition of disbanding his
troops; and the civic governor was ordered to continue his functions,
subject to a military commission. This last arrangement did not work
well, the Chinese governor continuing to elude the vigilance of
the commission, and perform many hostile and even cruel acts. It is
astonishing that with all their experience of the Chinese, the English
should have expected any other result.
The Emperor of 'China degraded Yeh, and appointed another governor of
the province of Canton in his stead.
The allied plenipotentiaries opened communications with the emperor,
and foolishly awaited a reply, which of course never came. The Russian
ambassador encouraged the plan, and affected to participate,--he knew
well that no answer would arrive, and probably used whatever influence
he had to prevent its arrival.
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