Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 405

976

SHANGHAI.

As a port for foreign trade Shanghai grew but gradually until it gained a great impetus by the opening in 1861 of the Yangtze and Northern ports, secured by the Treaty of Tientsin, and a further increase by the opening up of Japan. The first event of importance since the advent of foreigners was the taking of the city by a band of rebels in September, 1853, who held it for seventeen months. This caused a large number of refugees to seek shelter within the foreign settlements, and the price of land rose very considerably. At this time a Volunteer force was formed among the foreign residents, under the command of Captain, now Sir Thomas Wade, which did really good service. The battle of "Muddy Flat," when in conjunction with the Naval forces, they droy the Imperialists from the neighbourhood of the Settlements and burned their camps. was fought on 4th April, 1854. Owing to the occupation of the city the authorities were powerless to collect the duties, and it was in con sequence agreet between the Taotai and the three Consuls (British, French, and United States') that they should be collected under foreign control. This was found to work so much to the advantage of the Chinese Government that the system was extende 1, subsequently to the Treaty of Tientsin, to all the open ports, and thus the Foreign Inspectorate of Customs was established, the head- quarters of which were for some years, and according to the original regulations ought still to be, at Shanghai. In 1861 the Taipings approa hed Shanghai and threatened the city and settlements. The taking of Soochow on 25th May, 1860, had driven a large number of the inhabitants of that city and the surrounding districts to Shanghai for protection, so that the native population increased rapidly, It was variously estimated at from four hundred thousand to a million, but the smaller number is probably nearer the truth. So immensely did the price of land rise that it is stated ground which had originally cost foreigners fifty pounds per acre was sold for ten thousand pounds. At this time the old Cricket Ground was sold at such an enormous profit that after the shareholders had been repaid the original cost there was a balance of some forty-five thousand taels, which the owners generously devoted to the foundation of a fund for the use of the public, to be applied to the purposes of recreation only. Unfortunately thirty thousand taels of this amount was lent by the treasurer on his own responsibility to the Club, in which institution he was a share- holder. As the profits on the club were never sufhient to enable the shareholders to repay this loan, the building and furniture were taken over in 1869 by the trustees on behalf of the 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 for public recreation all the ground in the interior of the new Race Course. By 1861 provisions had increased in price to four times what they had been some years previously, Efforts were made to keep the rebels at a distance from Shanghai; a detachment of British Royal Marines and an Indian Regiment garrisoned the walls, while the gates on the sile towards the French Settlement were guarded by French Marines. In August, 1861, the city was attackel, and the suburbs between the city walls and river were in consequence destroyed by the French, the rebels being ultimately driven back. In December, the rel-els to the number of one hundred thousand again threatened the Settlements. The approaches were barricaded and the Defence Creek constructed and fortified at an expense of forty-five thousand taels. Before the close of 1862 the rebels had been driven by the British Forcos beyond a radius of thirty miles around Shanghai.

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 passing under the command of another low caste American of the name of Burgevine, who sub- Eequently deserted to the rebels, the Imperial Authorities found it impossible to control these raw and undisciplined levies, and at their carnest request Almiral Sir James Hope consented to the appointment of Major, now General, Gordon, R.E., to the command. Having by him been made amenable to discipline, they now render the greatest service in the suppression of the rebellion; indeed it is generall, held

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