this city became terror-stricken, and before the rebels had approached within thirty miles of Ningpo the city became deserted, every place of business closed, and all property of value removed; the Chinese on the foreign settlement side deserted their homes, and, in view of the existing state of affairs and the anxiety naturally felt amongst foreigners, a meeting was held at her Majesty's consulate on the 28th November, as per copy minutes marked enclosure No. 1. With this communication I proceeded to Yu-yaou, thirty miles into the interior, in her Majesty's gunboat Kestrel, (her Majesty's consul remaining at Ningpo,) and presented the same to the general commanding the rebel forces, and had a long personal interview, in which the lives and property of foreigners were most amply guaranteed. For copy translation of the reply to this communication of the general commanding I beg reference to enclosure marked No. 2; and for reply to General Fan, commanding another division of the insurgent forces, approaching the city in an opposite direction, and to whom two days subsequently was presented the same communication, I beg reference to enclosure marked No. 3. On Friday of the last week the insurgents arrived opposite the city walls; on Saturday and Sunday slight skirmishes were had, preparatory to a final and determined attack at the south gate. Yesterday morning at 9 o'clock the walls were scaled, the imperial forces fled, and the rebels are now in possession of the city. The taoutai and admiral commanding escaped; the che-foo and district magistrate were killed. There were but few killed on either side, and, since the possession of the city, no outrages have been known to be committed by the rebels. In this anomalous state of affairs arises the question what course is to be pursued by foreign powers in regard to the customs and various relations which must exist in our intercourse with these people. I have had conference with her Majesty's consul, but no decided course of action has been adopted, and I have great hesitation. I have decided to await advice from the legation, and I would most urgently invite your excellency to come to Ningpo, that, by your personal observation and with a perfect understanding of the state of affairs existing, you may be able to judge of the right policy to pursue. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. ANSON BURLINGAME, WILLIAM BRECK, Acting United States Consul, Ningpo. United States Minister, &c., &c., Shanghai. B. Minutes of a conference held at her Britannic Majesty's consulate, Ningpo, Thursday, the 28th day of November, 1861. Present: William Breck, esq., United States consul; Monsieur Léon Obry, Imperial Majesty's navy, commanding steamer Confucius; Lieutenant Henry Haxham, royal navy, commanding her Majesty's gunboat Kestrel. This conference has been appointed to be held this day, at her Britannic Majesty's consulate, in consequence of the threatened advance of the insurgent forces on Ningpo, and the well grounded reports of their immediate arrival here, with the view of capturing the city. It can only be a source of deep regrets to the undersigned to see Ningpo attacked and exposed to the horrors and destruction consequent on its becoming the scene of a struggle between the rival parties; but, as the undersigned do not consider themselves authorized by their instructions to afford a military protection to the town of Ningpo, or to take any active measures against the insurgents, all that is left for them to do is to afford protection to the persons and property of their respective countrymen, and the means of escape to them, should the authorities attempt to defend the city, and escape become necessary. In the present uncertainty as to the real movements of the rebel forces, and more especially as to their intentions in regard to foreigners, on the arrival at Ningpo, the undersigned, after consultation, have agreed that it would be highly expedient for the security and confidence of foreigners that a direct and personal communication should be held with the insurgents before their immediate approach to Ningpo, for the purpose, in the first place, of ascertaining their instructions, and secondly, of conveying to them the course which the undersigned intend to pursue on the insurgents' arrival. With this view it has been decided that the undersigned shall proceed this day on board her Majesty's gunboat Kestrel to the rebel headquarters, either at Yu-Yaou, or wherever they may be found, between that city and Ningpo, and having obtained an interview with the insurgent leaders, to convey to them verbally, as well as in writing, the following message: First. That the undersigned take no part in the civil contest, but they claim exemption from injury and annoyance at the hands of both parties, and that they will expect full and ample reparation if they are in any way molested. Second. That the undersigned would urge in the most earnest manner, on grounds of Christianity and humanity, before the leaders and body of the Taiping army, the benefits to them of not disgracing their cause by the commission of excesses, either in the locality they now occupy or on their arrival at Ningpo. Third. That the first and paramount duty of the undersigned being the protec tion of the lives and property of their respective countrymen, they desire to inform the leaders of the Taiping body that the quarters of Ningpo, where foreigners are principally located, being quite distinct from the city, and on a branch of the river separating the two, care must be taken by the Taiping leaders and men from coming on the foreign settlement side, as such a step might lead to serious evils, and in all probability complicate questions between them and foreigners. Fourth. That whether in or out of the city, or the foreign settlements, or elsewhere in the suburbs where their countrymen reside, the lives and property of those countrymen must be cared for and respected-not the least attempts being made to injure or annoy them-and the undersigned cannot but strongly urge on the leaders the serious consideration of this last and important recommendation. Done at Ningpo, at her Britannic Majesty's consulate, at the time and place above given. WILLIAM BRECK, United States Consul. L. OBRY, Capitaine du Confucius. FREDERICK HARVEY, Her Majesty's Consul. HENRY HAXHAM. Com'g Her Majesty's Steamer Kestrel. C. Copy translation of communication of General Fan, native commander of one portion of the Taiping army, on its approach to Ningpo, in reply to joint communication of consuls, &c., as per above. Pursuant to the truly heavenly edict of the Taiping heavenly realm, (from) the royal city, the Taou-nyih, (destroyer of rebellion, a title of nobility,) General Fan, native, answer to the English consul, &c., Ningpo, Harvey; the American consul, &c., Breck; the English naval commander Haxham, and the French naval commander Obry, most respectfully, that by this reply to your communication your hearts may be at rest. Inasmuch as the Heavenly Father, the Emperor Lord and Sovereign (or august) God, and the Heavenly brother Jesus sent my truly sacred Lord, the Heavenly King, down to this world to govern China with the design of destroying the imps and saving the people, and of lightening up the inhabitants of China, therefore I, the native commander, have reverently received this special edict to conquer the regions beyond (Nankin) and extend the Taiping dominions, in order solely to save the people and punish offenders. Now, my brave army has reached Ningpo, (foo,) with intentions of taking the foo city and make it the base of operations, and thus restore quiet to the people. I have at this junction received your communication and fully appealed its. imports, and what you have said I, the native commander, fully agree to. It is, of course, plainly my duty thus to warn the soldiers, that they may, revering the mercy (literally, the heart) of heaven, abstain from all disorderly conduct. It is my wish that you may be free from anxiety. In reference to the day of which we spoke in our personal interview, you will certainly abstain from mentioning it. Let us be perfectly sincere, (literally, make sincerity our basis.) The houses, persons, and property belonging to (citizens of) each of your honorable countries I, the native commander, and bound most stringently to forbid the soldiers from molesting in the slightest degree. With respect to your honorable countries, merchandise, and their business going on as before, let them be buying and selling with even greater equity, and (the soldiers) will by no means dare to rob and plunder. The words of a gentleman are all to be depended upon, for then his faithfulness (sincerity) can by no means be changed. A special reply to your communication with salutations, I also send papers, (i. e., posters, to be posted upon houses belonging to American citizens.) 11th year, 10th month, 22d day of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. D. Copy communication (translation) from general of left division (hong) of the Taiping army on its approach to Ningpo, in reply to joint communication of consuls, &c., as per annexed. Pursuant to the heavenly edict (of) the Taiping heavenly realm, (of) the heavenly dynasty from the royal city, (literally, nine gates, epithet of division of the army of Nankin?) the founder of the dynasty, (from his) royal official residence, the commander of the left division, the Paout-an nyi, (probably a title of nobility,) (Wong) makes this communication to the American consul, &c., at Ningpo, Breck; the English consul, &c., Harvey; the English [French] naval commander Obry, respectively, requesting their consideration, in order that we may concert peaceful measures. It is understood that since the creation of the world, then in China and foreign countries. In China we got our lord, (emperor,) and so with every foreign country; they have their rulers, &c. I speak concerning the Ching, (present dynasty;) they are nothing but barbarians, and they have disguisedly entered China and overlook the government ever since the time of the former "Ming" dynasty, and have polluted the customs and rules of the place, on account of which they are inexcusable. It was two hundred more years up to now, and their sins are much exaggerated; therefore they have caused our Heavenly Father to be very angry, but our Heavenly Brother, Jesus Christ, is full of compassion to save the world, who intentionally sent the Sacred Lord, the "Tui-Wong," to come down to the world, in order to clean away the barbarians, and to replace everything for the re-establishment of Hou dynasty. This is the time when to see heaven and men on agreeably mutualized, and this is the very time when to see the kingdom to be altered. And now I, the general, have respectfully received the sacred command, and with a large army have reached from north to south of this empire, for to save the people and punish the wicked. Is not this act, on my part, to save the people agreeable to the command of the court, and in not so also to cut down all wicked for the, consequently, wherever place I entered, the people, with their vessels containing victuals, &c., came out to meet me and welcome my army. At present my great army has come to Chit-Kiang province; and it has been told to me that you, honorable countries (consuls) of Ningpo, have come to Yu-Yaou, and as I, the general, and always bearing in mind the good meaning of harmony, and not wishing to see the injury of each other, have to request that you would make this known to every officer and soldier of your respective nations, that when my army arrives at Ningpo my men will not be allowed to go abroad and to disturb the houses and properties of the people, nor allowed to hurt the life of any man of your respective nations. I, the general, will certainly give orders to my officers and soldiers about the same; and, should there be any of bad officers or soldiers who daringly cross over and make any disturbance, be good enough to take hold of such wicked men and hand over to me, where I, the general, will most undoubtedly cut off his head; and, supposing there should be any unlawful man of your honorable countries, (consuls,) would also direct such men to come back and not to help them at all, which act will show that we are in harmony, and our agreement will never be disregarded, and begging you to be assured in mind about this harmony, &c., &c. Wishing you daily happiness, Dated Taiping, Tui Kock, 11th year, 10th moon, and 19th day, i. e., November 21, 1861. [All these papers printed exactly as received at the department.] PEKING, December 3, 1861. SIR: It was with a real pleasure that I learned your appointment as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States in China. The friendly intercourse of all our predecessors made me always desire the presence of a representative of your government in Peking, and I therefore look forward with impatience to prove once more towards your excellency those sentiments of sincere friendship which have always existed between our respective governments. I am very sorry to state that the advanced season will not permit a personal acquaintance with you before the beginning of the spring, but let me assure you that I shall be most happy to be in anything useful to the success of your mission, and avail myself of this occasion to pray your excellency to agree the high consideration, sir, of your most obedient servant. L. D. BALLUZEEH. His Excellency Mr. A. BURLINGAME, PEKING, December 3, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your excellency's letter, informing me of your appointment as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States in China, and of your assumption of the duties of that office. The cordial and friendly relations that existed between his excellency Mr Ward and myself during a very eventful period in China have always been a source of much gratification to myself, and I can assure your excellency that you will find in me a sincere disposition to continue those relations on the same footing with yourself. The interests of our two governments in this country are absolutely identical, and united action cannot fail to promote them. I may state that the beneficial results of direct intercourse with the highest officers of this empire are becoming more and more manifest in proportion as that intercourse is extended. I avail myself of this occasion to express to your excellency the assurance of my highest consideration. FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Mr. Burlingame to Mr. Seward. [Extract] No. 7.] SHANGHAI, January 9, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that Vice Admiral Sir James Hope, of whom I made mention in my last despatch, has returned, and that he has done me the honor to communicate to me, confidentially, the results of his expedition. The object of it was briefly this: to demand payment for certain robberies committed by the rebels on British subjects in the Yang-tze Kiang river; to inform them that Chinese junks, purchased by British subjects, were bona fide British property, and, therefore, must not be interfered with by them; to notify them of the measures which had been taken to prevent the assumption of the British flag by improper parties; to call their attention to the fact that they had not kept the pledge they had made last spring, not to approach within one hundred li of Shanghai; and to inform them, as Hankou and Kew Kiang had become of great importance for trade, that, like Shanghai, they must not be molested. These demands and information were made known to them, through senior officer Henry M. Bingham, by Mr. Harry S. Parkes, who acted as interpreter. The rebels responded with great spirit, declaring that they should attack not only the places indicated, but all others held by the "imps," and that, if the foreigners interfered, they must perish with them. They refused utterly to respond to any of the demands made by the admiral, but, in doing so, they expressed a desire to be at peace, and claimed to belong to the same family, because they worshiped the same God. The admiral responded in the most pointed and peremptory manner, that, if they interfered |