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438 the Southern Sang dynasty. A Taoist phyriognomist who wai asked to pronounce upon the Groyemor's daughters, foretold her rise, which he further effected by reporting on her beauty to the Emperor Eao Tsung. On the accession of Euang Tsungf she leagued herself with the eunuchs, and sowed disaension between her husband and his father who had refused to let her son be nominated as Heir Apparent. She served up to the Emperor the hands of a lady whom be had admired, and put to death his favourite concubine. Having thus terrified him into an illneas she seized on all power, and even after his recovery would not let him give audience. In 1194 the Emperor was forced to abdicate, and she was kept in seclusion until her death.

Li Hang-Chang (T. H. ). Born A.D. 1822. A native of Ho-fei in Anhui, and younger brother of la Han-chang. After graduating as chin shih in 1847, he entered the Hau-lin College. In 1858 he raised a regiment of militia at his native place in order to oppose the T'ai-p'ings, and by his niiorgetic measures attracted the notice of Tsêng Kuo-fan, then Viceroy of Hu-Kuang and Commander-in-chief. In 1859 he was sent to Fuhkien as Taot'ai, but ere long he was back again operating against the T'ai-pings, this time with the so-called "Ever Victorious Army." For his successes against the rebels he was appointed Governor of Eiangsu in 1862. In 1863 it was arranged that on condition of surrendering the city of Soochow, the lives of the rebel Princes who thus made submission should be spared. No sooner however had the city been handed over, and Li Hung-chang had obtained possession of the Princes, than he at once allowed them all to be beheaded. This base act of treachery will always remain an indelible stain upon a character which might otherwise have been called honourable as well as useful to his country. It caused General Gordon, to whose leadership the success