The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-21

4 Hese, his chief aim was to promote Eng.
4 dis interests since he was first. last and
ell the time British subject
The Hon. Chester Holcombe, who for
sixteen years was u. S. secretary of Lee
CATION at the Chinese capital, and who
S during that time. had plenty OF oppor-
tunities 10 get at the truth regarding
LII Hung Chang, his vices and his char
aoter. declares that concurrent circum-
stances, of which the Chinese Governor
was fully informed. may well have both
intensified, and to a great degree jus
titled, his reserve.
WHY Ii DISTRUSTS EUROPEANS.
A British subject. employed by the
Chinese Government in the custom SER
vice. had been sent by ii to England
with funds for the purchase or construc-
ton of number Of gunboats as first
step towards the establishment of n
Chinese navy. He brought back to Chi
ma a line fleet larger and far more en-
pensive than his instructions had called
for. Differed exclusively by Englishmen,
and having a distinguished British ma
val officer as its admiral. The fact was
developed almost at once upon the ar
rival OF this fleet in Chinese waters that
q provision existed in the contract under
which this admiral had consented to
I serve, that he would obey no orders
given by the Chinese authority, the en-
peror himself not excepted, unless such
orders were countersIgned by the agent
who engaged him; and the agent bound
himself to countersign no such orders
unless In his judgment they were "rea-
sonable" Naturally, this feet was at
once broken up. the admiral returned to
Z Europe by an early steamer, and the
agent who proposed to seat himself
above the Emperor found no further
4 scope for his services In China.
b Ii Hung Chang was advanced to the
not ne SIT
3 tributing cause being the historical mas
sacre of twenty-three Europeans in June
-gof that year al Tientsin. Tseng Kuo
s Eau. the Viceroy Of Chilli, the province
81 In which Tientsin Is situated, thought
I himself too old man TO restore order.
a and being lifelong friend and great
!; admirer of Ii, recommended him for
I. the place.
b IL HUNG CHANGES COMPLEX DtJ.
TIES.
This viceroyalty though the least In.
!. crative OF any in the empire. is the most
4 honorable OF any, since the capital is lo
4 Gated within its limits. and the vicerov
y is guardian of the person of the Emper
Il or, Tientsln, distant eighty-five miles
Y from Peking, Is the seaport of the can't
4 tai though situated not upon the San
& but upon navigable river and there
since the massacre of 1870, has been 10,
& Gated the residence of the viceroy,
SHs But this Office is purely local ana
s would by itself have given to Il neither
the scope nor opportunity for the exer
tfs else OF the great abilities of which he
sis possessed. In point of fact. he has
SSheid four offices almost continuously
sssince 1870. OF which the viceroyalty Is
BY far the least in importance. These
~ offices are: Viceroy of Chill, Secretary
ITO the Grand Council of State, Supcrin-
of Foreign Trade for the Nor
ssltheru Ports, Superintendent of Coast
sslJefcnse for the Northern District.
sfsss In addition to and continuous with
~ these lie has held various other offices,