Directory_and_Chronicle_1890 — Page 552

SHANGHAI.

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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- sequently deserted 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, they 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. A monument in memory of the officers 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 three natives lost their lives. A considerable amount of foreign owned property was destroyed. An extensive fire in the French Concession in August, 1879, destroyed 221 houses; the loss was estimated at Tls. 1,500,000.

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 a poll tax of five dollars for "gentlemen" and one dollar for "artisans and labourers," for which they have the privilege of being registered at the Consulate, and of being heard as plaintiffs before the Court. There is enforced registra- tion at several of the other Consulates, but it is free of charge. Chinese resident in the Foreign Settlements are amenable to their own laws, administered by a so-called Mixed Court, which was established at the instigation of Sir Harry Parkes in 1864, and originally sat at the British Consulate. It is presided over by an official of the rank of Tung-chi. The cases are watched by foreign assessors from the different Consulates, The working of the Court, especially in regard to civil suits, is far from satisfactory, as the judge has not sufficient power to enforce his decisions. The matter has for some years been supposed to be engaging the attention of the authorities at Peking. For the French Concession there is a separate Mixed Court, which sits at the French Consulate.

In local affairs the residents govern themselves by means of Municipal Councils, under the authority of the "Land Regulations." These were originally drawn up by H.B.M. Consul in 1845, but have since undergone various amendments. In 1854 the first general Land Regulations-the city charter, as they may be called-were arranged between the British Consul, Captain Balfour, and the local authorities, by which persons of all foreign nationalities were allowed to rent land within the defined limits, and in 1863 the so-called "American Settlement" was amalgamated with the British into one Municipality. The "Committee of Roads and Jetties," originally consisting of “three upright British Merchants," appointed by the British Consul, afterwards became the Municipal Council," elected by the renters of land, and when the revised Land Regulations came into force in 1870, the "Council for the Foreign Community of Shanghai North of the Yang-king-pang," elected in January of each year by all householders who pay rates on an assessed rental of five hundred taels and owners of land valued at five hundred taels and over. The Council now consists of nine members of various nationalities, who elect their own chairman and vice-chairman, and who give their services free. A committee of residents was appointed in November, 1879, to revise the present regulations, and their work was considered and passed by the ratepayers in May, 1881. Many important improvements have been propose, but they have yet to receive the sanction of the various governments,