"Second.—Can the Ti-pings form a Government with which foreign Powers can treat?
"He argues a negative answer to these questions, and I take issue with him on his argument as follows:—
"First.—He alludes to the agreement made with the Ti-pings at Nankin by Admiral Hope, restricting them to a limited distance of thirty miles from Shanghae. The arrangement was made about the end of 1860, and was generally understood at the time to be limited to the space of one year. The agreement was faithfully kept for that time. When Admiral Hope and Mr. Parkes went to Nankin at the close of 1861,[31] they found the Ti-pings stubborn, and, I believe, the latter would give no further pledge, while Shanghae, under our protection, was made the arsenal, mint, and storehouse of their opponents!... I believe that the Ti-pings acted in good faith, as far as they knew, and that the accusation is fallacious.
"Earl Russell, on the assumption of their want of faith, proceeds to say:—'They approached very near to Shanghae. Junks belonging to British owners were seized, the crews were imprisoned, one European was murdered, and every determination was shown to interfere with the British trade at that port.'
"This is a very sweeping sentence, and to a great extent fallacious.
"'A. The Ti-pings certainly, early this year, came in strong force close to Shanghae. Their leaders sent in a note immediately to the British and French authorities.... All negotiation was repudiated by our authorities.'
"Seeing that Shanghae was the centre, from which, under cover of our flags, safe from harm, the Imperialists organized all their plans, provided all the necessaries of war, and found a ready treasury in the customs' revenue, it is not to be wondered at that the Ti-pings were most anxious to get possession of a place so important to the success of their cause; and it is scarcely reasonable, in this view, to suppose that they ever intended to pledge themselves in perpetuity, to allow such a state of matters to continue.
"'B. Junks belonging to British owners were seized, and their crews imprisoned.'
"This is so vague, that it is difficult to know what instances are alluded to. Some boats, British owned, were, during last season, stopped at the passes from the silk districts, in possession of the rebels, from their attempting to run the pass without paying the usual toll. I have never heard of any boat being molested which stopped and paid the moderate duty exacted by the de facto power....