The Suppression Of The Piratical Confederacy Of The Bogue Was The First Occasion Of That Employment Of European Force, Which Was Carried To A Much More Advanced Stage During The Taeping Rebellion, And Of Which We Have Certainly Not Seen The Last Development.

One of the last acts of Taoukwang's reign showed to what a depth of mental hesitation and misery he had sunk.

It seems that the Chinese New Year's day - February 12, 1850 - was to be marked by an eclipse of the sun, which was considered very inauspicious, and as the emperor was especially susceptible to superstitious influences, he sought to get out of the difficulty, and to avert any evil consequences, by decreeing that the new year should begin on the previous day. But all-powerful as a Chinese emperor is, there are some things he cannot do, and the good sense of the Chinese revolted against this attempt to alter the course of nature. The imperial decree was completely disregarded, and received with expressions of derision, and in several towns the placards were torn down and defaced. Notwithstanding the eclipse, the Chinese year began at its appointed time. Some excuse might be made for Taoukwang on the ground of ill-health, for he was then suffering from the illness which carried him off a few weeks later. His health had long been precarious, the troubles of his reign had prematurely aged him, and he had experienced a rude shock from the death, at the end of 1849, of his adopted mother, toward whom he seems to have preserved the most affectionate feelings.

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