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lgin was truly provoked by the stories from the released prisoners, who demanded redress for their horrible experiences in prison. Even back in London, the news of mistreatment of British prisoners made Lord Palmerston’s “blood boil with indignation” (Elgin to Russell, October 25, 1860, in British Parliamentary Papers 1969 lxvi, No. 103; “Palmerston to Russell, 26 December 1860,” quoted in Costin 1937, 1968, 337). The prisoners testified that they were “bound,” “put into prison, confined in a cage, and loaded with chains.” Among them, Lieutenant Anderson became “delirious” and died nine days after imprisonment. Five days after Anderson’s death, Ram Chun, a sowar, “died in the same state.” And three days after Ram Chun’s death, De Norman died. The prisoners did receive better treatment after Anderson’s death, until their release (cited in M’Ghee 1862, 222–223; cf. 224–229) 去书内
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  • 林勇辉 林勇辉

    This excerpt unveils the critical Western justification for the burning of the Yuanming Yuan, offering authoritative first-hand sources to explain Elgin’s fierce resolution for punitive retaliation. Unlike previous passages focusing on Qing officials’ helplessness and humiliation, this text shifts to the core trigger of the retaliatory action: the brutal mistreatment and death of captured British prisoners. Supported by official parliamentary papers and contemporary witness records, the passage details the prisoners’ sufferings: being bound, caged, and heavily chained in harsh prison conditions. The successive deaths of Lieutenant Anderson, sowar Ram Chun, and De Norman fully exposed the severity of their ordeal, with Anderson even falling delirious before his death. Notably, improved treatment only arrived too late, after the irreversible casualties. These tragic cases enraged both on-site Allied forces and British domestic authorities, with Prime Minister Palmerston expressing intense indignation. This writing supplements the complete historical context of the Yuanming Yuan arson, revealing that the Allied retaliation stemmed from real prisoner abuse incidents. It balances the one-sided narrative of pure imperial aggression, presenting a more objective, multi-faceted historical truth and perfecting the causal chain of the 1860 Sino-Western conflict.

    2026-06-19 喜欢(0) 回复(0)

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