the chief to come to his court and give his counsel to the new government. Minister Marshall, whom he consulted, told him that it was hardly consistent with his neutral status as an American citizen to respond to the call. Notwithstanding this advice, Mr. Roberts repaired to the camp of the insurgents at Nankin, but a short stay convinced him that they were not controlled by the spirit or principles of Christianity. The leader had so surrounded himself with the august ceremonials of his exalted position that Mr. Roberts was not permitted to see him, and he returned to his post of duty at Canton disappointed and disgusted with the movement.
By the middle of the year 1853 the rebellion had assumed such proportions as to warrant the assumption that it might become the de facto government of the empire, and Mr. Marshall's successor, Mr. McLane, was authorized in his discretion to recognize it as such, if on his arrival the situation justified such a course. Soon after he reached Shanghai, he made a visit in a naval vessel to the headquarters of the Taiping leader in order to study personally the state and spirit of the movement. After some difficulty in making his approach to Nankin, Mr. McLane was able to communicate his arrival and his desire to meet the official charged with foreign intercourse. His action was interpreted as an approach to do homage to the government of the rebellion, and the minister of state sent him a long reply couched in a haughty tone of superiority, in which he said:—
"If you do indeed respect Heaven and recognize the Sovereign, then our celestial court, viewing all under
