14 



ARROGANCE OF INSURGENTS. 



Chap. T. 



of this expedition it appears to have been useful in 

 setting the insurgents right as to onr determination 

 to remain strictly neutral, and at the same time, if 

 their statements were to be relied upon, it was 

 ascertained that they had no intention of molest- 

 ing us in any way at Shanghae. But the officials 

 amongst the insurgents appear to have been full to 

 the brim with Canton ideas of their superiority 

 over all the nations of the earth, which augurs ill 

 for our future connection should they be successful 

 in upsetting the present dynasty and establishing 

 one of their own. Listen to the modesty of the 

 " Northern Prince — " The Lord of China is the 

 lord of the whole world ; he is the second son of 

 God, and all the people in the whole world must 



obey and follow him The true Lord 



is not merely the Lord of China ; he is not only 

 our lord, but he is your lord alsoT 



In order to show their views more fully, I must 

 quote from another extraordinary document re- 

 ceived by Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary at the 

 time : — " But now that you distant English have 

 not deemed myriads of miles too far to come and 

 acknowledge our sovereignty, not only are the sol- 

 diers and officers of our celestial dynasty delighted 

 and gratified thereby, but even in high heaven 

 itself our Celestial Father and Elder Brother will 

 also admire this manifestation of your fidelity and 



truth We therefore promulgate this 



new decree " [permitting us to carry on commer- 

 cial relations as usual, &c.] " of Tai-ping for the 



