392
Letter of Wang
Tinglan
JULY.
and promptly to have opposed them could have been only right and proper; and that this was not done is the third one of the items which are inexplicable.
The position of Níching, covering the northern entrance to the city, is one of much importance. Now it happened that in the attack on Wangtong, there was among the runaways one colonel Liú Tá. cháng, whom his excellency the governor reported for military honors, as one who had fallen in the service of his country. The honors were according conferred, when lo! the said runaway colonel came back, and reported that, having been wounded, he escaped alive by swimming; and so his case was again reported to the emperor! After- wards the governor appointed this same fellow, with another of like quality, to be chief officers in the camp at Níching—an act of mere favoritism. But the sound of the enemy's guns had scarcely reached their camp, when these two veteran heroes fled, and to this day not a word of censure has been heard. On the fifth day, the robbers with their ships gained possession of the public landing-place and the forts in front of the city, and our soldiers fled leaving their artillery behind them. None of the troops in the city came out to their aid. The city was now shut up, and for three successive days the robbers con- tinued their fire, throwing shells within the walls. On three sides, the fierce flames rose up to the heavens, and thousands of the people's houses were burnt. The sound of their cries was distressing. At this crisis orders came from the authorities that the scattered soldiers, who had fled from their posts around the city, might enter the gates, but that no man or woman of the people would be allowed to go out. Thus the troops were not employed in defense of the people, while the city was made a place of refuge for the soldiers. This is the fourth of the items which are inexplicable.
For more than ten days Elliot resided in the foreign factories, while but few ships and boats remained on the river, and he might have been seized without difficulty. He was constantly off his guard, sometimes purchasing articles in the market, and sometimes going and coming in a sedan. At this time a few daring fellows could have seized him, and carried him off as safely as a nut in a bag. But the governor would give his consent to such measure, because they were talking of peace, and therefore everything must be kept quiet. This is one of the things that are to be regretted.
On the tenth day the robbers had left the forts (which they had taken), and were rambling about through the neighboring villages, plundering the people and doing violence to the womnen. The alarm