JOURNALS 6 DECEMBER 1863-15 MAY 1864 Customs,but must be assisted;his business must be facilitated,in that "On Christian Saints."27 The first requires study:the second is a gem.In the way increased,and increase of business will in the end swell the Imperial latter,one part of the antiquity of the New Testament struck me:viz.that coffers. the believers are not spoken of in the books as Christians,but as Saints, 2 I must learn more about the Chinese;about the littoral provinces, Brethren,&c.Now after the Apostolic age,the word Christian was in com- about taxation,about official duties-all with an eye to being useful,and mon use:and if these books were written after that apostolic age,they wd. preserving myself from being "trapped". certainly have used the word repeatedly.As they were written at the time 3.I must try to induce among such Chinese as I can influence a friend- they are [unclear]to have been written,there is then the moral proof of their lier feeling towards foreigners:right conduct:and in that way keep things truth in the fact,that had their narrations been false,they wd.have been straight and ensure peace. contradicted.The word Christians Whately conjectures to have been given 40.I must do what I can to prevent any growth of or encouragement to by the Romans to characterize a sect comprised of both Jews Gentiles, antiforeign feeling on the part of the Imperialists,[i.e.,the Ch'ing govern- before the spread of the gospel,the Romans merely called its disciples Jews, ment]now that the rebellion is being put down. while the unbelieving Jews called the believers,as to this day Nazareans. 5.I must endeavour to ascertain what products of our Western civiliza- A preacher's sermons shd.be timed,not by his own enthusiasm,but by tion wd.most benefit China:and in what ways such changes could most his common sense.He ought to form a rational idea of how much his people affirmatively be introduced. can listen to with attention and profit:and when a man must not read his 6.I must set a good example,in conduct,to all my subs. sermons,but preaches extempore,he ought to remember that going on a sin- 7.I must assist those who are engaged in the noblest of all works,the gle text,he cannot,without touching on other subjects,in short preaching preaching of the Gospel,&the teaching of Christianity,-this highest pur- the whole gospel,talk well profitably for an hour and twenty minutes. est morality,the most comforting religion,and the most civilizing of all Awfully cold the last three days have been:I have felt nothing like it since influences in its purity entirety. I came to China,I think.Strange to say I have got a tremendous,very Lots of other things too have to be done.God help me to work:and to work painful boil,on my left arm:odd at this time of year. well![Curlicue under the last sentence,separating it from what follows.] Had Andrew Happer some others to dinner last night.28 [Red curlicue H.N.Dent wrote this morning a long letter,in a very good spirit about over this sentence.] the "Heron"-somewhat plausible,but yet fallacious arguments.I talked with him on the bund tonight:he admits I had cause for complaint-and that's enough.I must now let them down gently:and,Robert my boy!no 29 DECEMBER 1863:Campbell Butler together in my office this hurry in future！ morning.[Next sentence undecipherable.] SUNDAY,27 DECEMBER 1863:A good but rather lengthy sermon 31 DECEMBER 1863:Dined with Morton at the Beloochee Mess,and tonight from Mr.Muirhead on "God manifest in the flesh."25 His sermons saw the Old Year out with Dick.29 To bed at 1/2 past one.Letters from Mamma, are weakened by his attempts at explaining the points inexplicable by the Cha,and Mary:"they count the days"-Farewell,eighteen'sixty-three! human mind,and by attempts at describing what God,in His wisdom,has left hidden.But he is an earnest preacher.His sermon tonight was too long: and what made it doubly tedious was the great cold.I was half [stoned?, 1 JANUARY 1864:Not up till ten today:and then feeling rather unclear]before the first hymn was half sung through. seedy-thanks to punch cigars on New Year's Eve.A great many calls This morning,lying in bed half asleep,I almost heard the choristers in today,the loveliest New Year's Day,I ever knew. Hillsborough church singing"Oh joyful in the Lord,"to the anthem-air they use there on Christmas mornings.36 I could see Robert Rosborough, could hear Jonny Watkins'tenor voice:and the fat burly good humoured 2 JANUARY 1864:Lay wants me to sign the legal discharge:I face of the melodious shoemaker bellowing forth his tremendous bass object,for I say that if the wind-up is to be a legal document of such tech- [unclear]down from the organ loft.Oh dear!Oh dear!When shall I again nicality,the preceding examination ought to have been correspondingly attend service in that church?How I shall delight in going there.I'm sure exact,legal and technical.It's not fair of him:but now that he's down,one I'll feel inclined to "blubber"the first time I'm there. does not like to be hard!Still if I don't take care,I may burn my own fingers Read today two of Whately's sermons:"On Search after Infallibility"& most horribly. 54 55
JOURNALS 6 DECEMBER 1863-15 MAY 1864 3 JANUARY 1864:[No entry] [punishment]He is too able a man though,to be thrown overboard:they'll probably wig him,but lew jin [retain him at his post].31 Chinkiang is said to be threatened just now;and the "Firefly"is some- 4 JANUARY 1864:This morning at eleven a.m.,Lay came to me, where in that neighborhood.32 If she gets out on the Yangtsze,she may do Dick and Man being present,to make the final settlement of the various a/c. damage:she could cover a party of rebels if they wished to land on the north We signed: bank. 19.the a/c of the Peking Establishment: Ping wang taken the other day by Ching and Major Bailey.3s Consider- 2.the 'of the Steam Fleet from 1st Augt.1862@31 Oct.1863; able slaughter on both sides:Ching's actions are generally attended with a 3.a document in which Lay certifies that he has paid me all money,& butcher's bill. declares that he neither holds money of,nor is indebted to the Chinese govt.: At Nanking 30 tls [?a picul is offered for rice,and nonc is to be bought.34 40.a document signed by me in token of receipt of all the sums handed I must put the“Elin”down near Chinkiang35 to me by Lay: Brown,Moffitt,Kleinwachter,Bowra,and Wright to dinner tonight.36 5.a document signed by Lay in token receipt of various sums claimed Recd.a letter yesterday from the Tsung Le Yamun about confiscation by him,and agreed to by me: cases and other matters. 5°，a discharge, Today placed Dick in charge,and took leave of the officc people as Com- All documents signed in quadruplicate. missioner for Customs.Red curlicue Lay wanted me to sign a legally worded discharge;I refused to do so alleg- ing that that wd.leave it to be inferred that I had legally technically aud- [Last page of this volume signed "Robert Hart."] ited all the a/c:which I have not done,&c.cd.not at this stage do-I told Lay that I only signed the discharge,worded as it was,because I believed his statements:&that had I not known him,I would not at this stage have Volume 5 fournal of Robert Hart signed any discharge atall.[Red curlicues on this paragraph] 9 January 1864-19 July 1864 Antrobus called too about volunteers:I said if 50 men wd.join,I wd. authorize it-but not otherwise.30 18 JANUARY 1864:Lay,as I have noted in the preceding volume, left Shanghae on the 9th instant.Since then I have been chiefly engaged 9 JANUARY 1864:Exactly eight months ago,on the 9th May 1863, with drafting replies to four semi-official letters recd from Ching and the I returned to Shanghae from the Yangtsze ports,and about two o'clock met other Tsung Pan of the Yamun.I number them under the [kung"public"or Lay,who had just returned from England.I then ceased to be Officiating "official"]character:theirs to me are under the character [si"duties;"i.e. Inspector General,his duties as Inspector General were ventured upon by customs].37 My first had reference chiefly to the steam-fleet as originally pro- him.And very odd today at two o'clock,Lay went on board the "Ganges"en posed:my second to the dispute at Ningpo about the ground-said by route for England Brown to have been set apart for the Customs-purchased by Kirby Co.: Well:as I look back,I can see nothing to blame myself for in the slightest my third to 'mixed tribunal for investigation of infractions of revenue laws': degree-I was true to him all through:I acted properly in the Steam Fleet and my fourth explained why I had been so long in answering their first affair,I am sure,and I'm likewisc confident it would have been a success had three.I sent these letters through Le Footae on the 16th,and suppose they my views been acted on.He,however,took his own way:smashed the fleet; will reach Peking about the 10th February-somewhere near the Chinese smashed himself:and nearly smashed all of us too.However,all's well that New Year. ends well:he is gone,and now I must try if I cannot set things right after In the same cover I forwarded a long letter to Sir F.Bruce:do.to Brown, my own fashion. with a note for St.John:a cover containing chits for Brett,Hobson,and Sib Gordon still inactive at Quinsan.The Imperial Edict sent him Tls 10000, bald:and a despatch ordering Mackey,with Sibbald,to NewChwang.38 and a decoration of the first class:he received nothing,and,under present Today I wrote to Chefoo ordering Baker to Tientsin.39 circumstances,I don't see how he could accept anything.I shall go up to see The Taoutac [circuit intendant]called today;I got little out of him,but him and the Footae in a few days and endeavour to bring about some under- that little corroborates the report that Kea-Hing has surrendered:Hoo- standing. Chow too is said to have tendered its submission.Hsich Wae-lung is the The Footae has memorialized saying he was guilty of an imprudent act man connected.with the capitulation of the former place.Genl.Ching is when he promised Gordon to spare the Wangs,he now asks for Choo fun said to have been shot before ChangChow,where,as well as at Chinkiang 56 57
JOURNALS 6 DECEMBER 1863-15 MAY 1864 and Keang-yen,the Imperialists appear to have been suffering of late.40 20 JANUARY 1864:By 9 in the morning got to Wong Doo,passing Now I start,taking Man with me,for Quinsan and SooChow,to see Gor- don and Le Footae.My intention is to endeavour to get Gordon to work through the bridge of"a thousand autumns."Tsing poo to our left,Kea- ting to the right:+3 country very desolate and pheasants numerous;Man's again,and to find out all the circumstances connected with the Footae's gun went off at half cock,fortunately pointed heaven wards,otherwise I action in beheading the Wangs at SooChow.This is a matter that must be might have become the recipient of the charge.Many wandering Braves. gone into with perfect coolness and self-possession;and [on]its settlement hang very important results.[Underlined later in red pencil;and written in red pencil across the paragraph,"Successful in every respect!"] 21 JANUARY 1864:Got to Kwan-shan at noon,and found that Gor- Were Gordon to resign,the brigade wd.go over to the rebels:holding the don had started the night before on a surveying trip to the west of SooChow. command he refuses to fight:refusing to fight,he disobeys orders:disobey- Walked to the top of the hill;visited some of the barracks and the hospital, ing.orders,he shows the Chinese that even an able and reliable man,such and dined with Moffitt. as he is,is unmanageable:seeing him unmanageable,they find his men so too;and,such being the result,they are not likely to be very favorably impressed with the military system,which brings together a powerful body 22 JANUARY 1864:12th m.[lunar month]14th d.[day]arrived at of men in no way,when a crisis arrives,under their control.Quixotry does SooChow at 3 1/2 p.m.Sent my card to Le Footae,who said he wd see me on not do at the present moment in China;an expediency that aims at the the following day at 11.Walked about under the city wall,near the Low-mun; right-not an adherence to the right that allows wrong to continue uninter- the wall spiked in triple rows,and beams hung up to let fall on the heads of fered with-is what is now requisite."Tis a hard task indeed to decide whoever attempted to scale;many skeletons,and much ruin everywhere. between the onward party [the Taipings],whose course though tending towards liberalism is marked with so many atrocities,and must be unsuccess- ful for so many years to come,and the Imperialist [Ch'ing]party,not very SATURDAY,23 JANUARY 1864:Today being the 15th of the moon liberal(and perhaps for good reasons)in its tendencies,but yet conservative is a lucky day.Saw Le Footae at 11 in his new quarters,lately occupied by of law and order. the Chung Wang-the Chung Wang foo:well built and clean,but awfully There have been some murders in the vicinity lately:two of Gordon's offi- cold.He went into the details of the execution of the Wangs,and what he cers coming down from Quinsan have been among the victims;I hope Man did seems to have been right and necessary,and not the result of premedi- and myself may not get into any difficulty.I hope to be back in less than a tated treachery.He wishes me to endeavour to get Gordon to meet him. fortnight;but,perhaps,if I get Gordon to move,I may stay up there,and Spoke of compensation for wounds,and money to be given to Brennan dis- see things out-or at least well started. missed by Gordon:advised him to pay everything without delay.Talked for Gave yesterday Tls 1000 to the "Union Chapel.Wm Lay Swinhoe an hour or two,and then came away.He said I shd.find Gordon at Muh-tuh applicants for Customs'Employ:the latter wd like the berth I vacated,the or Tung-ting-shan.Met General!!!Rhodey.++Left SooChow at 3 1/2,and former anything!Saw Wadman a few days ago:he hardly knew me.Wonder arrived at Muh-tuh,some twenty miles S.W.at dark;learned that Gordon where Meritens in the "Volunteer"has got to.42 had passed through the day before.The boatmen said we should have to retrace the steps as Tung-ting Shan is divided from Muh-tuh by a lake they daren't cross.The rebels had been thrice at Muh-tuh,and last left it on the 11 FEBRUARY 1864:My dearly beloved journal,isn't it about time 24th of the 1lth moon.The people are gradually returning to their homes; to commit to your keeping the record of my wanderings and doings during this place was once famous for its gardens;population formerly over 10000. the last three weeks? SUNDAY,24 JANUARY 1864:Left Muh-tuh with a high head wind TUESDAY,19 JANUARY 1864:Started,accompanied by Man,with a couple of boats,at 3 1/2 p.m.The boat men presented their compliments at 9 a.m.:got as far as the village Mondi [?Jiu-tsin-keaou,a fine 9-arched bridge.s Could not get through. on the usual congratulatory red card;the joss-stick was brought;the gong beaten;and we got away.Day chilly,with rain:no pleasant prospect. MONDAY,25 JANUARY 1864:Got to a place through a marsh,called Too-chuh [Hart crossed out that name.Rain.Very few people,and much ruin in the villages. 58 59
JOURNALS 6 DECEMBER 1863-15 MAY 1864 TUESDAY,26 JANUARY 1864:Through a dreary marsh,with rain in an awful funk.After an hour's going,they began to yell the boat was sinking: and wind.Crossed a stream leading to WooChowfoo,and some Hoonan and sure enough she was making water enough.Cast adrift;got the boat close gunboats,who said Gordon was not at Tung-ting shan:I passed some large to the bank,put Leang ashore with orders to go to Quinsan for another boat; stockades at a place called Too Chuh,and about noon got to Tung-ting- put my blankets on board the"Hyson",lay down in my clothes on a trunk, shan,a long-3 miles-village running along the base of some hills.46 Gor- tried to sleep:couldn't do so.At 3 1/2 arrived at Wae-quau-dong.s don had not been there.Bought some fine fish,and started to return at 3 1/2.Rain.Again through the marshes. 1 FEBRUARY 1864:Up at 7.breakfasted with Gordon in his boat at 8,he had got up before the steamer;he then showed me over the scene of the 27 JANUARY 1864:Last night blew a hurricane:this morning bit- fight at the Low mun stockades,and then we went into the city:I visited the ing cold,with a high wind.Tried to move a little,but had to give it up. Footae alone first,told him the execution of the Wangs,and the Emperor's Stopped near "Dza-boo-dziaou"Find nearly every place takes its name presents,were not to be talked about.Then Gordon came in:he presented from a bridge;all the people more or less easily understand Mandarin.7 Davidson,Tapp,Kirkham;and the Na-wang's adopted son,who was Many mulberry trees. made a Show-fei [second captain],and told to be a good boy.s2 It was agreed that Gordon shd.take the force into the field after the China New Year,and cooperate even with Ching,unless told not to do so by Sir.F.Bruce; 28 JANUARY 1864:Awoke and found the ice an inch thick in the the Footae is to issue a proclamation,taking the responsibility of the execu- canal.Make a little way at many attempts:our captain smoked opium, tion on himself,and showing that Gordon knew nothing about it.Gordon cursed,and was very disagreeable.Got to WanKin 50 le from SooChow.+8 then left:I had some further chat with the Footae,got him to authorize the payment of the $7000 expended by Gordon from his own funds,when getting Burgevine out of SooChow.Called at Pwan Tajin's;but he was out. 29 JANUARY 1864:I am bound again this morning.In the after- Ching is not dead;Kirkham saw him in the city.Left the Footac at 3 P.M. noon got to Jiu-tsin-keaou,many"divers";Man's gun got us only two hare Saw Mandel someone else,dealers in arms,in the court yard:they had however.arrived at SooChow S.W.gate at 8 P.M. gone in before 11,and had to cool their toes for four hours.Footae said that Macartney did all he wanted,and,so long as he did so,he would keep him: was very anxious about the Shot Manufactury left behind by Osborn for 30 JANUARY 1864:City moat frozen:however got away,and man- sale.53 aged to get down as far as Ta Eding.49 Got back in Quinsan at 8. SUNDAY,31 JANUARY 1864:Left the boats and walked on to Quin- 2 FEBRUARY 1864:Gordon had out the men,2400,to let me see san,about six miles:long day.Were stopped at the gate,until Gordon,fortu- them.Talked in the afternoon.He thinks Sir F.will consider him rather nately caught at last,sent out orders to admit us.Met Gordon for the first unstable;I'm to write explaining matters to the chief:Gordon says the force time:about thirty years of age;slightly made;with a restless and very blue- must be broken up.Bade him good bye at 10. light blue-eye.Had along talk with him:found the Footac had paid all claims; and said Gordon-"You nearly missed me again;for I was near going to Soo- Chow today to call on the Footae."He asked me to go with him,saying I wd. 3 FEBRUARY 1864:Having worked [the boat]during the night,got increase my influence with the Footae;but I told him the first thing I shd say well down towards Shanghae.My left knee very painful. to the Footae wd be that G.had of himself,before I met him,determined to visit H.E.He sd.,"You surely wd not induce me to visit him:["]To this I made no reply:no use striking fire,when things were found to be in train. 4 FEBRUARY 1864:Arrived back at Shanghai,about noon.Merit- Gordon introduced me to his Comprador Linguist,and to the Na Wang's ens arrived from FooChow on the 21st.Found many letters awaiting me. son,a fine youth named Lc native of the same prefecture in Ganwhuy from Thus my trip,uncomfortable as it was,had been completely successful. which Le Footae comes:he is only the adopted son of the Wang,whose Gordon hd seen both the Footae and Ching,had determined on future name was Kaou.50 Got my small boat alongside the"Hyson"and started in operations!Never say die! tow,at 11 P.M.for SooChow.Much ice;freezing Keen [?]My boat people I need not recount here what I said to Gordon,what he sd to me,or what 60 可
JOURNALS 6 DECEMBER 1863-15 MAY 1864 we talked about with the Footae;my letters of the 7th to Sir F.Bruce and of the 8th to Brown explain all these things.54 This afternoon I recd.a letter from the Tsung Le Yamun dated 27th of the 12th m.4th Feb.informing me that my letters from this on the 16th Jany arrived on the 1st Feb:15 days from Shanghai to Peking!They defer discus- FRIDAY,5 FEBRUARY 1864:Dined at Dent's,and met the Taoutaes sion of all matters till I visit Peking,tell me to set my mind at rest:that Hwang,Woo:Ting,and the Defense people two of the name of Chin.55 the fleet failure is not in any way attributed to me. A despatch from Le Footae authorizing Gordon's $7000:and another with a valid copy of the Proclamation.Mayer [sic]wrote round to ask me for SUNDAY,7 FEBRUARY 1864:Tiffined with Mayers,who is opposed my English draft of the proclamation I had drawn up for the Footae!Good?58 to any move on Gordon's part:sent a note to Gordon by Creamer [?] FRIDAY,19 FEBRUARY 1864:Had a letter today from Gordon,in MONDAY,8 FEBRUARY 1864:Gordon'sletter of 7th to hand:Mayer's which he blames Mayers for talking so much.G.is quite right;had M.held [sic]in an awful frame. his tongue,there wd.have not been half the criticism on G's movements that now go about S'hae.He also sent me for perusal,and to be deposited with Mayers,a copy of Sir F.Bruce's desp.to the Genl.and a private letter to him- TUESDAY,9 FEBRUARY 1864:Wrote to Gordon. self:Sir F.wrote on the 25th Jany,and though he said the main points for which we had been all along working,and must be kept steadily in view,he thinks G.has been duped by the Footae,and says"it is clear that he cannot WEDNESDAY,10 FEBRUARY 1864:-again wrote to Gordon:my take his orders"-which opinion he has conveyed to the Prince.59 The letters to Sir F.B.Brown and the Yamun went to SooChow yesterday. Yamun promises an enquiry into the Footae's conduct.Gordon nevertheless Hobson ordered [forth]for special service.56 goes on,and will answer all enquiries stop all condemnation by crushing the rebellion. Called on Sir Rutherford Lady Alcock. SATURDAY,13 FEBRUARY 1864:Dined at Heard's,meeting Mr. Robinson and others. SATURDAY,20 FEBRUARY 1864:My 29th Birthday!Goodbye to the Twenties,and all hail the advent of what may be called the second-half of the MONDAY,15 FEBRUARY 1864:Tead at Dr.Andersons. Three Score."Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life!" Mayers very anxious to get Gordon's papers today:he says Sir F.'s letter TUESDAY,16 FEBRUARY 1864:Another chit from Gordon,saying to the Genl.is stronger than he expected,and that it "amply indicates the position he took up.” he is to move out today,leaving 250 men at Quinsan.People at Shanghai are savage that he moves;he says it will harm him personally(which I doubt), Col.Hough says his instincts are strong against M.,and that he wishes but that to put a stop to the misery of the people,he is willing to sacrifice some one else had the keeping of G's papers.60 himself.Markham wants to know whether I wrote,at Mayer's urgent desire, Dick,Wright,Chase,Mercer,St.Croix to dinner tonight:a very plea- sant evening. to ask G.not to go:in order that he may write the exact facts to the F.O.!!!! Very like a whale! Jebb and Clements called in today.s1 Busy thelast few days preparing replies about all Lay's affairs for the Yamun. Snow falling for the last three days. On my trip,I asked a man if such a place had been important."Impor- Ying came in today and told me that Ting-heang hein Han-yin chow tant!"said he,"why,it had two pawn shops!" have submitted.Keahing foo daily expected to surrender;and then the Kwan-ping [official troops]can go on at WooChow.52 THURSDAY,18 FEBRUARY 1864:The mail in today from England. Letters from Cha Brazier.Thackeray dead!What a loss! SUNDAY,21 FEBRUARY 1864:Not up till near eleven o'c!Snow still Sir R.Alcock arrived en route for Japan. on the ground,but the cold not very severe.My knee cap continues to show some symptoms of being still out of order. 6 63