CHAPTER XX.

Ti-ping Disasters.--The Vampyre Fleet.--Important Letters.--Mr. Roberts's Case.--Mr. Consul Harvey.--Letters continued.--Misrepresentations.--Anti-Ti-ping Meeting.--The Sherrard Osborne Theory.--The Fleet Afloat.--The "Lay" and "Osborne" Agreement.--The Fleet repudiated.--Pecuniary Loss to England.--A Resumé.--General Burgevine.--Lieutenant Ridge.--Act of Piracy.--A Tartar caught.--Exit of the Anglo-Chinese Flotilla.--General Ward's Proceedings.--Progress of the War.--Death of General Ward.--Captain Dew's Disgrace.--How caused.--His Mode of Proceeding.--Its Effect upon Trade.--Operations before Kah-ding.--"Wong-e-poo."--General Burgevine dismissed from his Command.--Major Gordon takes Command.--Sir F. Bruce's Despatches.--His Objections to Gordon's Appointment.--Also to General Brown's Interference 562