Blonde Shoal no serious difficulty was experienced, a depth of from eight to seventeen fathoms having been found in the Yang-tse-Kiang, as far as Nanking. After the Commissioner had communicated with some of the rebel chief's, and the object of the voyage was accomplished, a further exploration of the river was made as far as Wu-hu, a large town sixty miles above Nanking. No foreign vessel had ever before advanced beyond the latter city. The river was found to be everywhere broad and deep, flowing through superb valleys; the soil was fertile and capable of supporting an immense population. The current was very swift, and the Susquehanna, on her return, frequently ran at a speed of sixteen or seventeen knots. Her appearance, especially in the regions beyond Nanking, created the greatest astonishment among the Chinese, thousands of whom crowded the banks as she passed. The voyage was completed with entire success, no accident of any kind having occurred.

Life in Shanghai-The Rebels Expected-My Journal-The Fall of Nanking-The Grain Trade-Soo-Chow Threatened-Barbarities at Nanking-Rumors Concerning the Rebels-Capture of Lorchas-Threats towards Foreigners-Alarm of the Taou-tai-A Rebel Proclamation-Imperial Rewards and Pardons-Col. Marshall's Proclamation-Nanking Besieged by the Imperial Army-Flight from ShanghaiSir George Bonham-Meetings of the Foreign Residents-Ransom for ShanghaiSoo-Chow not Taken-Uncertainty-Mr. Meadows at Soo-Chow-Defensive Works Commenced-Trouble with the Men of Foo-Kien-Marauders in the CountryBurning of Thieves-The Foo-Kien Grave-yard-Desertion of the City-A Rumored Battle-Death of Tien-teh-Mr. Meadows-Various Rumors-Return of the Science-Destruction of Chin-kiang-foo-The Excitement Subsides.

AFTER our inglorious return, the Embassy was again shifted to the American Consulate, and we became once more the guests of our kind friend, Mr. Cunningham. I was supplied with a room and the services of a young Chinese valet, and having, as etiquette prescribed, made the first calls upon the American and English residents, received in due course of time invitations to dinner in return. The presence of the Susquehanna, with a fine band of music on board, was the occasion of a round of festivities, which were kept up with more or less energy, during the remainder of my stay. The presence of both the American and English Commissioners, and of five vessels of war at once, was an unusual event for Shanghai, and

in spite of the rumored approach of the rebels, the ignorance of their disposition towards foreigners, and the anticipation of an assault, society there had never before been so gay and animated.

During the first fortnight of April, we were in almost daily expectation of the appearance of the vanguard of the rebel army. Each hour brought a new rumor, and each day led to conclusions and conjectures which the morrow proved to be unfounded. Although the true rebellion did not commence until some months afterwards, and the recollection of those days has doubtless been obliterated from the memories of the foreign residents of Shanghai, by the more stirring events which followed, they were sufficiently exciting and interesting at the time. I know no better way of giving a picture of the uncertainty of all news in China, than by transcribing a few pages from a journal which I kept at the time:

April 5th, 1858.

At length we have positive news that Nanking has fallen. The Taou-tai of Shanghai admits it, which is a certain sign of its correctness. The information was received yesterday by M. de Montigny, the French Consul, through the Catholic Missionaries at Nanking, but the fact was doubted by most of the merchants here until the Taou-tai confirmed it. In the final assault, 20,000 Tartars were slain. The streets were blocked up with corpses, and 1,000 cash each was paid by the victors for their removal. Twenty thousand rebel troops were left to garrison the city, and a body of 40,000 was dispatched to intercept the imperial troops on their way from Pekin, to raise the siege. The rebels, it is said, will establish their

THE GRAIN TRADE-800-CHOW THREATENED.

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capital at Nanking, and for the remainder of the year will content themselves with consolidating their power in the South and West.

One circumstance, which has operated in their favor, is the almost total destruction of the grain trade between the South and North, by means of the Grand Canal. This has been caused within a few years by inundation between the Yang-tse-Kiang and the Hoang-ho, which have damaged the Canal to such an extent as to render it impassable for the larger class of vessels. The immense transportations of grain, for the supply of the northern portion of China, which were formerly made entirely through this channel, are now transferred to the coasting-junks, which sail at this season from Shanghai, Chapoo and Ningpo.

The city of Soo-Chow, it is said, has paid a ransom of 700,000 taels, to be exempted from capture and pillage. There seems to be no doubt of this, as business is beginning to revive there, and several Soo-Chow families, who had fled to this place, returned last night to their homes. It is not yet known whether a descent on Shanghai is meditated, but word reached us yesterday that Tien-teh does not intend to interfere in any way with foreigners in China.

April 6th.

Yesterday Mr. Forbes conversed with a native, who returned in one of the Taou-tai's lorchas from Nanking. The man is known to the Americans here, who place full reliance on his communication. He states that, after the taking of Nanking the city was given up to sack and slaughter, during three days, and 20,000 Tartars-men, women and children—were massa.

cred. The Viceroy was quartered and his remains nailed to the four gates of the city. Previous to his death his veins were opened and his blood made to flow into a large vessel of water, which the conquerors drank. His daughter, a girl of nineteen, was stripped in the public square, bound upon a cross, and her heart cut out. Many of the Tartar officers were thrown into boiling oil, or tied to stakes surrounded with bundles of oiled straw, and slowly roasted to death. The recital of these atrocities has aroused the utmost horror and indignation among the foreign residents. They were previously, almost to a man, disposed to rejoice at the success of the rebels.

That the Viceroy has been slain, is beyond a doubt. Col. Marshall has received the news officially, through the Governor of Soo-chow, upon whom the functions of Viceroy now devolve, and who is supposed to possess the seals; though another account says they were lost at Nanking. The ransom paid by the merchants of Soo-Chow only exempts the city from pillage. The rebels announce their determination to attack it, and the gates have been closed for several days.

The rumors afloat to-day are still more alarming. The rcbels are stated to be marching to Hang-Chow, a large city about midway between here and Ningpo, at the head of the intervening gulf. Their proclamations have been received by the Governor of Soong-Keang, a city only forty miles from this place, and it is also supposed that they have been privately sent here, to the native merchants. Tien-teh was to have been formally inaugurated as Emperor yesterday, at Nanking Among the tribute sent from Soo-Chow were 1,000 pieces of yellow silk to be used on the occasion.

The Taou-tai this morning sent word that twenty of the