P*eng Tti-lin 3& JH (T. ® !^). A. D. 1824-1890. A native 1642
of H6ng-yang in Hunan, who passed the examination for h»iu ts^ai
only. In 1852 he was secretary to Ts£ng Eno-fan, and in 1853
was placed in command of the Yang-tsze fleet and operated with
success against the T^ai-pMng rebels. On the fall of Nanking, he
was ennobled as Duke and became a JunioY Guardian of the Heir
Apparent. In 1865 he was appointed acting Director General of the
Grain Transport, but declined the post. In July 1868, partly with
a view to recruit his health, which had been undermined by long
warfare on the Yang-tsze, he obtained leave to go into mourning
for his mother, who had died in 1852 when iie was in active service.
Owing however to the transfer of Ts6ng Euo-fan to Tientsin, he
was unable to avail himself of this leave until 1870. In 1872 he
resumed his command on the Yang-tsze, and during the next 10
years was frequently employed in investigating charges against various
high officials. Ill-health drove him to apply for leave to vacate his
post, which was granted on condition of his making an annual
inspection of the Yang-tsze. In 1881 he was appointed Viceroy of
the Two Eiang, but declined the post, recommending the appoint-
ment of Ts£ng Euo-ch'tian. In the same year he entered a vigorous
protest against the use of ironclads and the introduction of railways,
lu 1883 he declined the post of President of the Board of War;
after which he was sent to Canton to oi^anise its defences, in view
of a rupture with the French ovef Tongking. He remained at Canton
as Imperial Naval Commissiouer until Jan. 1886, during which
period his proposals to get Siam to attack the French in Cambodia,
and to invite Singapore Chinese to kill French officers and men,
were coldly received at Peking. In May 1884 he protested strongly
against peace with France. He retired to his home in Sept. 1886,
and remained there, except for annual tours of inspection, until
his death. He enjoyed an extraordinary reputation for fearless probity.
40
