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Recreation Fund, to which the building still belongs. This fund has proved very useful in rendering assistance to some other public institutions, besides having purchased all the ground in the interior of the Race Course, which is now leased by the Municipality and, with the exception of the steeplechase course, set aside as a public recreation ground.
At the time the local native Authorities were severely pressed they availed themselves of the services of an American adventurer named Ward, who raised a band of deserters from foreign ships and rowdies of all nations who had congregated at Shanghai, with whose help he drilled a regiment of natives. After Ward was killed the force passed under the command of another low caste American of the name of Burgevine, who subsequently transferred his services to the rebels. The Imperial Authorities found it impossible to control these raw and undisciplined levies, and at their earnest request Admiral Sir James Hope consented to the appointment of Major, afterwards General, Gordon, R.E., to the command. Having by him been made amenable to discipline, this force now rendered the greatest service in the suppression of the rebellion; indeed it is generally believed that the Taipings would never have been overcome but for the assistance of "The Ever Victorious Army," as this hastily raised band was named. Amongst other services they regained possession of the important city of Soochow on 27th November, 1863, which virtually ended the rebellion. There is, however, much room for doubt as to the wisdom of foreigners aiding in its suppression, many of those best capable of judging being of opinion that the civilization of the empire would have had a much better chance of progressing had the decaying dynasty been overthrown. Certainly European nations, merely in exchange for the promise of neutrality might have made almost any terms. A monument in memory of the officers of this regiment who fell stands at the north end of the Bund. From 1860 to 1866 one British and two Indian Regiments and a battery of Artillery were stationed at Shanghai.
Since that time there have been few historical events worthy of record in a brief summary. On Christmas eve, 1870, the British Consulate was burned down and most of the records completely lost. In May, 1874, a riot occurred in the French Settlement, owing to the intention of the Municipal Council to make a road through an old graveyard belonging to the Ningpo Guild. One or two Europeans were severely injured, and eight natives lost their lives. A considerable amount of foreign owned property was destroyed. Another riot took place on 16th and 17th July 1898, owing to the Authorities of the French Settlemen having decided to remove the "Ningpo Joss House." The Volunteers were called out and a force landed from men-of-war, which measures speedily suppressed it, fifteen natives being killed. An extensive fire in the French Concession in August, 1879, destroyed 221 houses; the loss was estimated at Tls. 1,500,000. In 1894 a fire outside the native city along the river bank having cleared away a great and noisome collection of huts and hovels, advantage was taken of this clearing by the native Authorities to make a broad Bund on the model of the Foreign Settlement roads. This Bund extends from the south corner of the French Bund, along the river some three and a half miles, to the Arsenal at Kao Chang Miao. It was formally declared open by the Taotai in October, 1897. A Council has been formed to supervise this Bund and attend to other native municipal matters. The present head of this Council is the celebrated General Teheng Ki Tong; its offices are situated in the Bureau for Foreign Affairs on the Bubbling Well Road. A riot occurred on 5th and 6th April 1897, in consequence of an increase in the wheelbarrow tax. It was suppressed by the Volunteers and sailors from the man-of-war in port, without loss of life. The Consuls and Municipal Council having submitted to the dictation of the Wheelbarrow Guild an indignation public meeting was held on the 7th April, the largest meeting ever held in the Settlements. At this the action of the Authorities was so strongly condemned that the Council resigned. A new Council was elected and the tax enforced. The foreign Settlements celebrated their Jubilee on 17th and 18th November, 1893, when, it is estimated, 500,000 strangers visited Shangbai. A medal was struck as a memorial of the occasion.
Government.
As at all the open ports, foreigners are in judicial matters subject to the immediate control of their Consuls, British subjects coming under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which was opened in September, 1865. Subjects of Her Britannic Majesty have to pay an annual poll tax of two dollars, for which they have the privilege of being registered at the Consulate, and heard as plaintiffs before the Court. There is enforced registration at several of the other Consulates, but it is free of