In 1871, the Chinese Government made a proposal to modify article 13 of the French treaty signed at T'ientsin, 1858, concerning the Catholic religion. The "Memorandum", as it was called, is remarkable as exhibiting the final goal towards which the Chinese Government tends in regard to the Catholic Church. No Missionary Sisters, and no orphanages are wanted. Chinese women must not go to Church. The Foreign Missionaries must not condemn the teaching of Confucius. They cannot purchase property or build thereon without consulting the local Official, who will judge whether and to what extent, it may interfere with the unseen influences (native geomancy or Fungshui 風水) of the locality. They must not protect in anywise the native christians, and must hand to the local Officials the list of all applicants and baptized members of the Church. If these conditions obtain, peace will be secured between converts and non-converts throughout the Empire, for China cherishes both equally. These proposals were rejected, and this holds down to the present day. In the British Treaty signed at Shanghai, September 5, 1902, China obtained from Great Britain a promise to join in an international commission, should China and the Treaty Powers so agree, to investigate the Missionary Question, and if possible, secure the above mentioned and ever desirable peace between converts and non-converts (article 13).
In 1872, the Emperor was married, and having assumed the reins of Government and dispensed with the Regency of the Empress-Mother, the Foreign Ministers demanded an audience. It was reluctantly granted, and to show China's real attitude towards Foreign powers, took place June 29, 1873, in the Hall for receiving tributary nations. The last years of T'ungchi were filled with trouble, and disorder existed throughout the country. A famine prevailed in Shensi and Kansu, and the Yellow River, "China's sorrow", overflowed its banks. On September 10, 1874, Prince Kung was degraded by the Emperor for using unbecoming language to His Majesty, but on the following day (September 11), another decree appeared from the two Empresses reinstating him in his former rank and dignity. The young Emperor thought he was independent, but the two ex-Regents reasserted their power. Two months after, His Majesty became seriously ill, and died January 12, 1875, at the early age of 19. He left no issue, and the young Empress followed him a few days afterwards to the tomb.
Kwangsü 光緒 (1875, and still gloriously reigning). — On the death of T'ungchi, a four-year old son of Prince Shun (Shun Wang 醇王, youngest brother of Hsienfung), was proclaimed Emperor under the title of Kwangsü (Brilliant succession). Tz'ehsi, T'ungchi's mother, was aunt to the new Emperor, and thus by placing her nephew on the throne, she could continue to govern the Empire. Prince Kung was soon after deposed, and Li Hungchang appointed as chief adviser to the Government.
In 1875, the first year of Kwangsü's reign, Mr Margary, of the British Consular Service, was treacherously murdered by Chinese soldiers at Manwyne, in Yünnan. Margary acted as interpreter to the Commission from the Indian Government for opening trade with Yünnan, to which China gave her consent. For some time, war was imminent, as the official inquiry seemed to be a farce. The matter was however settled on the following terms: China to send an embassy to London to apologize for the crime; an indemnity of 200,000 taels to be paid; frontier trade to be allowed between Burma and Yännan; 4 new ports (Ich'ang, Wuhu, Pakhoi, and Wênchow) to be opened to foreign trade, and guarantees given for the better protection of foreign life in future. — During the years 1877-78, a terrible famine desolated the Provinces of
