So far Shén's career had been a series of isos; now for a time fortune was to be <t him, though in the long run ho has perhaps strengthened his "position through the very circumstance that once seemed adverse. Trouble began with what might appear a simple request pub forward by Capt. Corr of ILMLS. Pique, made through the Bri sh Consul to the Shangh Paotai, for permis sion to land his blue okets at Woosung to drill then on shore. The Taotai raised no objection and gave permission, but Viceroy Liu, to whose knowledge the matter came, saw ave diplomatic dangers and vetoed the Emetion: The matter was taken up by the British Minister and pressure brought to bear to bring about the concession. Shen was consulted as lo a course of action and his suggestion was that, Woosing was sv near the commercial of Shanghai, it might, be well smakee it also into an open port. The old fort commanded the Settlements bul there was no need for its guns to point against the Shanghai bund. It would be Vetter employed in defending the Yangtze higher up. 1f Woosung were made also into a. foreign settlement no fort could remains therefore, it would be necessary to pull that existing down and erect another. This scheme was so far adopted, to secure the demolition of the old Woosung fort and the erection of those at Clump and Nanshihtang. Woosung was placed within the jurisdiction of the Shanghai Taotai, with Shen as Director of the new port to open it up to trade. He had resigned from his posttion in the German drilled army, as it had been determined to carry on the Brigade without the assistance of foreigners. This, he feared, would speedily man a slipping hack to old Chinese way with possibilities of equeczing and make believe. which European book-keeping and methods had absolutely prevented.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.