CHAPTER XVIII.

Earl Russell's Despatch.--Its Effect.--"Taking the Offensive."--Official Reports.--General Staveley.--Attacks the Ti-pings.--General Ward.--Hope and Ward repulsed.--Che-poo attacked.--Its Capture.--Loot Regulations.--Kah-ding attacked.--Its Capture.--Ti-ping Loss.--Newspaper Comments.--Tsing-poo besieged.--Inside the City.--Ti-ping Losses.--Na-jaor besieged.--Cho-lin besieged.--Ti-ping Bravery.--Cho-lin captured.--The Chung-wang.--Kah-ding evacuated.--Consul Harvey's Despatch.--Despatch reviewed.--Ningpo threatened.--Captain Dew at Ningpo.--His Despatch.--The Reply.--Captain Dew's Rejoinder.--Preparation to attack Ningpo.--Captain Dew's Inconsistency.--His Ultimatum.--Official Despatches.--Ningpo attacked.--Ningpo evacuated.--Newspaper Reports 498