the high officers ruling the other provinces-Chekeang, Fokien, and Kwang-tung-for the gradual introduction of a uniform customs system, and the suppression of smuggling. This was the first time, for two centuries, that a foreigner had been allowed to hold an official position in China, and another great and peaceful revolution was thus effected! This step was cordially supported by Lau, GovernorGeneral of the two provinces of Kwang-tung and Kwang-si, as well as by Kingtwan, Governor-General of Fokien and Chekiang provinces. They must have felt that there was a party of progress in the country, and especially at Pekin, ready to support them, or they would not have dared to introduce such sweeping reforms. On the 25th October 1859, we find Lau, Governor-General of the two Kwang and a Vice-President of the Board of War, addressing the English Inspector-General.* He says he has been long aware of the vigilance and ability which characterised his administration at Shanghai, and he rejoices at the prospect of a similar reform in the customs of Canton, and feels sure that it must lead to an increase of revenue and a suppression of abuses. He assures Mr Lay that he has ordered the local authorities of Canton to co-operate faithfully in the proposed re-organisation of the customs. Furthermore, this worthy wrote, in November 1859, to His Imperial Majesty, and graphically describes his difficulties.

"As regards the Canton customs, the revenue has not been flourishing, owing to the unsettledness of foreign affairs, and excessive contraband trade. The waters of Canton are a labyrinth of creeks, the people lawless. There is more smuggling there than in any other port of the Empire, and the difficulties of the preventive service immense-the more so that the dishonest native and foreign merchants combine to defraud the re

venue; and the action of our executive is hampered by the fear of misunderYour standings with the foreigner. resting this evil but the adoption of a Majesty's servant sees no remedy for arsystem similar to that in force at Shanghai, under which foreigners are employed for the control of foreigners. thorough acquaintance with the language, and comprehension of all customs questions, will put collusion out of the while our revenue will benefit, we shall power of the dishonest natives, and avoid causes of quarrel with foreign nations."

Their

"There is, however, in this place," he says, a very large class of dishonest dealers, ill-conditioned persons, and official hangers-on, who have an interest in smuggling, and these are now making the ways resound with their indignation at the contemplated swoop upon a preserve which, by many years' prescription, they had regarded as their own, and exclaim against the reversion to the public exchequer of funds hitherto flowing into their private purses. They are offering every hindrance, fabricating reports, cavilling insubordinately, and even amongst the inferior officials and gentry there are some who side with them, assuming that your servant has been imposed upon. Such has worked so well at Shanghai is sure persons will not comprehend that what to succeed at Canton. It will, however, be for your servant simply to adhere unflinchingly to his opinion, and to aid in directing the necessary arrangements with such care as to render them satisfactory."

We think our readers will say with us, "Well said, Lau-ts'ung-kwang!" and rejoice that the Emperor did subsequently approve his proceedings. The memorial to the throne by the Governor-General of Chekiang and Fokien provinces was nearly to the same effect; and Kingtwan, writing in March 1860, adds

that

"Whereas a customs inspectorate has been established at Shanghai and Canton, there ought to be, for uniformity's sake, a corresponding arrangement at the three open ports within my jurisdiction, i. e., Fuh-chau, Amoy, and Tai-wan in Formosa. As soon as Mr Lay shall arrive from Canton, your slave will direct

the necessary arrangements to be made, to the end that contraband trade may be suppressed, the customs revenue increased, and the virtuous influence (welldoers) be encouraged."

Thus the system of a Foreign Customs Inspectorate grew from one stage to another, until, in 1861, it embraced the whole of the open ports, and Mr Lay appointed the following gentlemen to hold the important posts of Commissioners of Customs. We give their names: Mr Tudor Davies, late Chief Magistrate of Hong-Kong; Mr George Fitzroy, late attaché to the British Embassy; Mr Glover, late United States Vice-Consul; M. Meritens, interpreter to French Mission; Mr Ward, late United States Secretary of Legation; M. Giquel, late interpreter in French service; Messrs Klecszkowski, Wilzer, Williams, and Leonard, and others of various European nations; and last, but not least, a very able and promising sinologue, Mr Hart, who is discharging the duties of Inspector-General during Mr Lay's temporary absence in England. As many inquiries have been made upon the point, we may add that these Commissioners draw from £1500 to £2000 per annum, and the Inspector-General £4000.

The foreign merchants, as well as their partisans in England, have contracted a notion that the Foreign Inspectorate of Chinese customs is intended simply to enforce regulations and restraints against Europeans. They are wrong. It is far more effectual in restraining the Chinese from infractions of the laws of honesty and of treaties; it is a most potent engine for introducing to the minds of the Chinese governing classes western ideas and practices, political and moral as well as commercial; and a perfect guarantee against any more Chinese wars with Europe. Similar views with respect to an Eastern Power much nearer home, seem to have prompted Sir Henry Bulwer to advocate recently the employment of competent Euro

peans in the several administrative departments of Turkey. If the Turk to honestly collect his France and England had taught revenue, and develop the commercial resources of his country, as we are doing in China, instead of first teaching them to spend their money in soldiers and ships, contractors might have exclaimed, but the Ottoman Empire would have been in a far sounder condition to-day; and slow as Cathay may be said to be, we hold her progress to be the sounder of the two.

In 1861, the Council of Regency officially recognised the Inspectorate as a department of the State in the following Commission, which is so far curious as being the first addressed to a foreigner in China since the days of Marco Polo :

"From H.I.H. the PRINCE of KUNG, &c. &c., to HORATIO NELSON LAY, Esq.

(Translation.)

"Whereas the supplementary treaty and tariff negotiated by England, France, and America lays down in Article X. that, in order to the protection of the revenue, one system shall be adopted at every port, and that if it seem good to the officer deputed to administer the customs revenue, he shall employ foreigners to assist him, whom he shall procure without foreign recommendation or intervention, &c.; and whereas it appears that while the Inspector of Customs, Mr H. N. Lay,

has aided in the collection of duties in the Kiang Hai Customs (Shanghai), there has been a satisfactory improvement therein, the Prince seeing that, with the additional number of ports now opened, strenuous exertion will be more than ever required, does now appoint Mr Lay to aid therein, and to exercise a general surveillance over all things pertaining to the revenue or foreign trade.

"It will be the duty, therefore, of the Inspector-General aforesaid to aid the officers deputed to collect the revenue at the different ports, in accordance with the Treaty; proceeding with fidelity (or zeal); not allowing foreigners of Chinese merchants to be clandestinely to sell goods for Chinese, or the goods included in foreign cargoes, with a view to the commission of frauds; also to distinguish carefully exports from im

ports, and to prevent the one being confounded with the other. And whereas it is impossible for the Chinese Government to form an estimate of the

merits of the different commissioners and other foreigners engaged in the public service at the ports, the InspectorGeneral will be responsible for the misconduct (lit. unsatisfactoriness, unsteadiness) of any of these.

"Their salaries will be in proportion to the amount of revenue collected (or, collectable) at each port, and will be settled by the customs authorities with the Inspector-General. There must be no excessive expenditure. It will be for the Inspector-General to see what men of what nation will do the duty well, and to charge them with it accordingly. His responsibilities are very serious. Mr Lay has ever been found a diligent and trustworthy person, and it is for this cause that the Prince appoints

him to do this service.

Having accepted this serious responsibility, the Inspector-General must be just and energetic, enduring in pains. He must not allow the inspectors or the other employées to trade; and if there be anything unsatisfactory in their conduct, he must dismiss them.

"The Inspector-General must not disappoint the great confidence the Prince reposes in him.

"A special instruction addressed to the Inspector-General, Mr Lay. HienFung, 10th year, 12th moon, 11th day (21st January 1861)."

Thus we have brought our narrative of progress in China to a point where the people, officials, and rulers are shown to be acting in unison, so far as their relations with the foreigner and his wants and necessities are concerned; and there can be no doubt that there is every desire at Pekin to act up to their engagements with us, whilst reforming their financial condition and customs arrangements; and more than that, the

Regency, fully cognisant of the miseries under which the people of China are suffering, have recently permitted the provincial authorities to legalise the Emigration of the Chinese people. This act we believe to be fraught with the greatest importance at this critical period, and in itself sufficient, if carefully worked out by European aid and counsel, to contribute largely to the pacification of the Empire. Prince Kung and the Council of the Regency have likewise recognised the inefficient organisation of the executive forces and police of China. For the first time in the history of that self-sufficient and arrogant race, they turn to Europe, and say, we are going to avail ourselves of your inventions and your knowledge. They have set aside a portion of the revenue derived from foreign commerce to purchase steam-vessels, and have asked for officers and men of Western Europe to teach them how to handle them. They are ready to relieve us of the enormous expense of policing their coasts and waters; and, with our instruction and aid, it will be easy to open up fresh pathways for European commerce, and secure fresh guarantees for progress in civilisation. How we think this should be done we will hereafter relate, but space only now admits of our again saying, that China is progressing, and will progress; and it only remains for England to say whether she will assist that Empire in its hour of need, or leave its government to throw themselves into the arms of non-treaty powers and filibusters, to the detriment of our enormous trade, and the prejudice of a promising future.

THE next day dawned amid the agitations natural to such a crisis of affairs. Almost before it was daylight, before Susan had woke, or the young stranger stirred upon her sofa, Miss Smith, troubled and exemplary, had returned to see after her charge. Miss Smith was in a state of much anxiety and discomfort till she had explained to Mrs Vincent all the strange circumstances in which she found herself; and the widow, who had ventured to rise from Susan's side, and had been noiselessly busy putting the room in order, that her child might see nothing that was not cheerful and orderly when she woke, was not without curiosity to hear, and gladly took this opportunity, before even Arthur was stirring, to understand, if she could, the story which was so connected with that of her children. She ventured to go into the next room with Miss Smith, where she could hear every movement in the ante-chamber. The widow found it hard to understand all the tale. That Mrs Hilyard was Mildmay's wife, and that it was their child who had sought protection of all the world from Susan Vincent, whom the crimes of her father and mother had driven to the very verge of the grave, was so hard and difficult to comprehend, that all the governess's anxious details of how little Alice first came into her hands, of her mother's motives for concealing her from Colonel Mildmay, even of the ill-fated flight to Lonsdalewhich, instead of keeping her safe, had carried the child into her father's very presence and all the subsequent events which Miss Smith had already confided to the minister, fell but dully upon the ears of Susan's mother. "Her daughter-and his daughter and she comes to take refuge with my child," said the widow, with a swelling heart. Mrs Vincent

did not know what secret it was that lay heavy on the soul of the desperate woman who had followed her last night from Grove Street, but somehow, with a female instinct, felt, though she did not understand, that Mrs Hilyard or Mrs Mildmay, whatever her name might be, was as guilty in respect to Susan as was her guilty husband-the man who had stolen like a serpent into the Lonsdale cottage and won the poor girl's simple heart. Full of curiosity as she was, the widow's thoughts wandered off from Miss Smith's narrative; her heart swelled within her with an innocent triumph; the good had overcome the evil. This child, over whom its father and mother had fought with so deadly a struggle, had flown for protection to Susan, whom that father and mother had done their utmost to ruin and destroy. They had not succeeded, thank God! Through the desert and the lions the widow's Una had come victorious, stretching her tender virgin shield over this poor child of passion and sorrow. While Miss Smith maundered through the entire history, starting from the time when Miss Russell married Colonel Mildmay, the widow's mind was entirely occupied with this wonderful victory of innocence over wickedness. She forgot the passionate despair of the mother whose child did not recognise her. She began immediately to contrive, with unguarded generosity, how Susan and she, when they left Carlingford, should carry the stranger along with them, and nurse her clouded mind into full development. Mrs Vincent's trials had not yet taught her any practical lessons of worldly wisdom. Her heart was still as open as when, unthinking of evil, she admitted the false Mr Fordham into her cottage, and made a beginning of all the

misery which seemed now, to her sanguine heart, to be passing away. She went back to Susan's room full of this plan-full of tender thoughts towards the girl who had chosen Susan for her protector, and of pride and joy still more tender in her own child, who had overcome evil. It was, perhaps, the sweetest solace which could have been offered, after all her troubles, to the minister's mother. It was at once a vindication of the hard "dealings" of Providence, and of that strength of innocence and purity, in which the little woman believed with all her heart.

The minister himself was much less agreeably moved when he found the governess in possession of his sitting-room. Anything more utterly vexatious could hardly have occurred to Vincent than to find this troubled good woman, herself much embarrassed and disturbed by her own position, seated at his breakfast-table on this eventful morning. Miss Smith was as primly uncomfortable as it was natural for an elderly single woman, still conscious of the fact that she was unmarried, to be, in an absolute tête-à-tête with a young man. She, poor lady, was as near blushing as her grey and composed non-complexion would permit. She moved uneasily in her seat, and made tremulous explanations, as Vincent, who was too young and inexperienced to be absolutely uncourteous, took his place opposite to her. "I am sure I feel quite an intruder," said poor Miss Smith; "but your mother, Mr Vincent, and little Alice and indeed I did not know I was to be left here alone. It must seem so odd to you to find a lady-dear, dear me! I feel I am quite in the way," said the embarrassed governess; "but Mrs Mildmay will be here presently. I know she will be here directly. I am sure she would have come with me had she known. But she sat up half the night hearing what I had to tell her, and dropped asleep just in the morning. She is wonderfully

changed, Mr Vincent-very, very much changed. She is so nervous -a thing I never could have looked for. I suppose, after all, married ladies, however much they may object to their husbands, can't help feeling a little when anything happens," continued Miss Smith, primly; "and there is something so dreadful in such an accident. How do you think it can have happened? Could it be his groom, or who could it be? but I understand he is getting better now ?"

"Yes, I believe so," said Vin

cent.

"I am so glad," said Miss Smith, "not that if it had been the will of Providence-I would make the tea for you, Mr Vincent, if you would not think it odd, and I am sure Mrs Mildmay will be here directly. They were in a great commotion at Grange Lane. Just now, you know, there is an excitement. Though she is not a young girl, to be sure it is always natural. But for that I am sure they would all have come this morning; but perhaps Mr Fordham

If

"Not any tea, thank you. you have breakfasted, I will have the things removed. I have only one sitting-room, you perceive," said the minister, rather bitterly. He could not be positively uncivil

his heart was too young and fresh to be rude to any woman; but he rang the bell with a little unnecessary sharpness when Miss Smith protested that she had breakfasted long before. Her words excited him with a touch beyond telling. He could not, would not ask what was the cause of the commotion in Grange Lane; but he walked to the window to collect himself while the little maid cleared the table, and throwing it open, looked out with the heart beating loud in his breast. Were these the bells of St Roque's chiming into the ruddy sunny air with a confused jangle of joy! It was a saint's day, no doubt

a festival which the perpetual curate took delight in proclaiming his observance of; or-if it might