The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-18 00:00:00

PROCLAMATIONS OF THE INSURGENT CHIEFS.

(Truestated by Dr. Neffituret4
"In the first year of the Emperor Tee-ping (Great
Tranquillity) of the Ilow-ming or Later Ming Dynasty, in
the 6th day of the 3rd moon (April 23, 1852), the revolu-
tionary army, in five divisions, obtained a second victory,
when a servant of the new dynasty, in command of the
advanced guard, named Tsang•saa-sew respectfully trans-
scribed the following proclamation Kwo, the great
general, having chief superintendence of the forces now in
possession of the region about Hoo-pih province, makes
this proclamation. In judging of the rise or fall of em.
pies., we see that when a power loses the affections
of the people it will soon be broken ; and in ascer-
taining the gracious or unfavourable disposition of
the mind of Heaven, we find that a
rower posseu-
jag virtue will increase in strength. The Tshing, or Man-
chow dynasty, for the last 200 years, has been irregular in
the arrangement of official dignities, while the complaints
of the people have not been attended to; but our Emperor
Teen-tih, with one burst of anger has pacified the people ;
for these three years past he has been attacking the
oppressor; sileatly fathoming the destinies accordiug
to which dynasties survive or perish, he has now
raised an army for the defence of benevolence and
righteousness ; se has compassionated your determined
scholars and virtuous inhabitants of Hoo-kwang, till
his most tender feelings are exhausted, and has slaugh-
tered the ravenous officers and abandoued magistrates till
he is tired of the carnage; now you scholars and people,
having vigorously resolved to make common cause with
him against the enemy, must not flinch from your resolu-
tion. Those who are rich among you must according to
your wealth contribute to the support of the troops; and
those who are poor must select the youngest and stoutest
of our number to swell the ranks of our army. Whoever
can take alive one of these mandarins, whether military or
civil, shall be rewarded with 10,000 pieces of money, and
whoever can bring in one of their heads shall receive
3,000. But should any dare to disobey our commands, we
have resolved to pillage their cities; let them not, therefore,
lay up cause for future regrets: for which purpose this
specici proclamation is issued.
" Heaven originally favours the virtuous, and all men
naturally possess a certain degree of talent. From the ear-
liest antiquity attention has been paid to suitable apparel,
and from the most remote ages regard has been hail to ce-
remony and music; but now these roamers of the barren
desert have entered our palaces, and these inhabitants of
bare mountains have taken possession of our halls. They
have not followed the regulations of Yaou and
Shun in the government of the country, but have
made human beings assume the appearance of ir-
rational animals. Those who diligently study the
works of Confucius and Mencius, seldom succeed,
through the medium of the literary examinations, in attain-
ing official dignity, while those who make use of pecuniary
considerations frequently attain to the highest posts of mili-
tmayry
naanmd
eeiov
nil rainanikta.tioln, sourch
thaeonpeh,
ihlosoavephheirtheerhtowacoungee.t.azleed),
whose residence was at Pohae, and (like the patriot Leu.
: shan3) who dwelt in retirement at Ilan-liwa, also (follow-

kept log the esample of Ilea-yew) who ept secret au 44..
of himself at Kesan, further (treading in tlio
of Leu-sbang) who concealed his name at Wei-sltSru—s
My ancestors by • lineal descent have been ti;
subjects of the Ming dynasty ; from that day to
this upwards of 200 years have elapsed, arid none of
them to the day of their death have ever brevets
the imps of the Tartar dynasty. I myself having no des4.--
for the emoluments conferred by the Manchows, hare .-
hi-
therto remained in a private station, but now seeing so
oppressed by this tyrannical government, and obsJm
how the rapacious officers and corrupt magistrates, with o,
the slightest regard fur the country 'fettle people, have uni.
fortnly offended against the principles of tieuevoleace sad
rectitude, thus causing you people to be estranged st oats
from each other and from virtue, and to fall into calaaire
without any fault of your own; whether high or low, ?1
seem contending alike for gain: whether courtier °Felon.
none appear to aid any other in the practice of virtue ; est,
aidering, farther, that the black-haired race have been for
a long time oppressed, and that the general body of them.
pie have no one to rely on, therefore 1 have letliforth my brute
warriors, and furbished my spears and swords; thus want,
our energies in defence of righteousness we press forouri
lin the attack, and raising the virtuous standard we intend
first—to overturn the dynasty, and then—proceed to kiwi,.
fast. We reverently worship the Deity (Shangste) in order
to protect the people. We simply arrange our plans for
attacking and killing the tyrant, and fur • time we ant
forth our armies in imitation of Ching-ehang, and Woo;
wang. But you Tartars, having no wise counsellors or
planning statesmen, and being equally destitute of brays
generals and good soldiers, have hastily assembled the get•
and elders to collect and drill their neighbours, and ba
violently urged the village braves to turn out in roiled?,
fence ; the ancients employed a standing army to protect
the people, but you now drive the peaple to biome
soldiers. You frequently complain of distress cigal
to that of splitting boner, and when our troops
advance in the least degree, you abandon the pry.
tection of the people, and are the first to run away alone
Now you may know that the generals and soldiers olio;
state have conceived the determination to proceed eon.
ward, and have the ability to borrow the eastern wind whet
we need it. We, both prince and people, are in pOlintigg
of great intelligence, and heaven-conferred courage: boo
is it then that you Tar:ars do not know that it is time
is
collect your scattered bones, and fire the signal beacons ig
indication of your terror ; thus displaying our illustrious
virtue, and imitating the states of Yu and key, who but
of regard to the virtue of Wanwang) settled their mntno
differences. If you still remain ignorant of the signs of the
coming empire, now that we, having determined to math
our royal troops, with the attainment of our object foil in
view, have but to gi re the signal for advance, and we wend
the hill of our hopes and dash through the barrier that op.
poses our progress; then when you had no &fence in !iu
iron-bound citadel, nor repose in your pearly palaces, ti
what use will be your unavailing regrets."
Here follows a description of the persons of the revolu-
tionary chiefa, as given by the friends of the goverunett.
Hung-sew-tseuen, who assumes the title of '1" hopira
wang, great pscificatiog king, is 41 years of age, tall in s:s.
ture, with • red face, sandy beard, and • native of lira
heen, in Canton province (lat. 21 deg. 37 min. N., lon.
110 deg 48 min. E.). The name and surname of this ic4i•
vidual are falsely reported his true name is not known.
The agents of the imperial army have not been able to as.
certain it correctly.
Yang-sew-tsing, who assumes the title of Tung wing,
eastern king, is 34 years of age, marked with the small pox,
and wearing moustaches. Ile married the elder sister of
Hung-seu-tseuen.
Seaou chosen kwci, who assumes the title of Se-wiag
(western king), is 30 sears of age, of • fair complexiso,
without moustaches. Ile married the younger sister of
Hungsew-tseuen. Ile is a native of
Kwang-se (lat. 23.7 N., len. 101.19 Ii ). This man is sild
to be very courageous in military matters.
Fang-yun-san, who assumes the little of tan-wit;
(southern king), is 32 years of age, of a pale complexix,
and small moustaches. He also is a native of Hwa.lieen,
Cantos, and is a literary graduate of the rank of &o-
boe._

Wei-thing, also called Wei.ch'bang.bwuy, assumes the
title of Pih-wang, or northern king, is 24 years of age, tat,
of a dark compleziEb, with a small moust.che, and is ass.
tire of Ping-nan, in Kwang.se (lat. 23.32 N., lon. 110.3 E).
Fung-jih-ch'hang, who assumes the title of Chia,-
seang, chief minister, seated on the left hand, is 37 years of
age ; he is of a light complexion, having a small maustade,
and is a native of Hwa-heen, in Canton province.
Shih-ta-k'hae, who assumes the title of second minister,
seated on the right hand ; he is of a dark e^mplexion, with
a long neck, small mourache' and is a native of UT
ching, in Canton (lat. 23.5 N., lon. 113.50 E.) He is j
years of age, is slightly acquainted with literature, arid
draws up all the proclamations issued by the revolutionist,.
Tsang-can-sew assumes the title of general of the army
is advance.

Lo-ta-kang, or Lo-a-wang, assumes the title of lientenset•
general of the army in advance. This man is called by te
revolutionists Lo to-ko, and is very courageous.
Hoo-e see and Tung-se bath assume the title of genenl
of the guards.
Choo-seih•kwan assumes the title of inspector-general.
Lae-hen-ying and Lae-han-kwang are the brothers:of t:e
wives of Hung-sew-tstuen ; they have assumed the title o;
chiefs of the guards, but have not been especially appoiatel
to any office.
Seaou•chaou-p'hun, Tang-san.yay, T'hoo-yih-yay,
are employed by the revolutionists as counsellors.

The above names are those only which are known; there
are besides many who give their advice on oceret affairs cf
state, whose names arc not known. The revolutionists hase
also their inspectors of troops, their paymasters, their impe-
rial guards, their masters of the horse, their surveyors,
their officers in charge of the signal department, all of what
wear yellow scarfs, and yellow kerchiefs; these are sa
dignified with the title of excellency. Besides these there
are some who wear red, green, and flowered scoffs, u
their distinguishing marks ; while those who wear rea sad
black scarfs, urge the people to enter into their confederate
—the oath they administer is to the following effect "Lit
those who do not heartily unite with us be blown away from
guns, or be cut in pieces with swords, or be thrown into the
sea."

The revolutionists have set up several female school!,
over the doors of which there is written on red paper
" This is the place where young females reside, should
any one presume to enter in a disorderly manner, he will
be beheaded."

The revolutionists have marshalled their army according
to the following arrangement :—A Kwan•chang, sergeant,
has charge of 2d men; a Pih•chang, lieutenant, take
charge of four sergeants, or 100 men ; a Leu-suh, captain,
superintends four lieutenants, or 400 men; a Sze•sub.
colonel, has the command over four captains, or 1,60)
men • and a Koun-suh, brigadier, is over four colonels of
8,400 men.

Last year it was reported that the revolutionist chief
Wei-eking, assumed the title of T'hae-ping-wang, great
pacificating king, and had Yang-sew tsing and Chin-yob-
shoo as his chief ministers ; also he had Lesng-chaou-heung,
and Leaou-pa, as his generals. Besides which Wei•yuea-chin
and Wei-yuen-kwang were his uncles ; Wei-nsng and Wei-
son were his brother.; also Wei-heen, Wei•sze,
Wei-san, Wei-luh, were his cousins ; and Fung-yan•san
was his military adviser. Besides these, Hoo-e•kw:mg,
Chin-k'hae, Chang-a-ho, and Lin-a-Chang, were all dis-
tinguished chiefs in bigamy.
It is also reported that one revolutionary chief, called
Choc-keg-tams, is superior to Hung-sew-tseuen ; and it if
said that at How-Vhow-san, when he arrived in Hoe-nan,
all the revolutionary chiefs came out to receive him on their
knees. They also slaughtered oxen and pigs, and had
feast for three days on the occasion.* This was only once
i reported, but not afterwards mentioned.

Hung, captain-general of the army, having entire super-
intendence of military affairs, and aiding in the advance-
ment of the T.hae-ping, or Great Pacfficating Dynasty, in
obedience to the will of heaven, issues this important and
triumphant proclamation, to announce that he has punished
the oppressor and leaved the people.
It appears that, throughout the empire, rapacieue officers
are worse than violent robbers, and the corrupt mandarins
of the public offices are no better than wolves and tigers;
all originating in the vicious and sottish monarch at the
head of affairs, who drives honest people to a distance, and
admits to his presence the most worthless of mankind, self-
lag offices and disposing of preferments, while he represses
men of virtuous talent, that the spirit of avarice is daily
inflamed, and high and low are contending together for
gain ; the rich and great are abandoned to vice without con-
trol, while the poor and miserable have none to redress
their wrongs; the very recital of which exasperates one's
feelings, and makes one's hair stand on end. To refer to
the ease of the land revenue in particular, it appears that
of late the exactions have been increased many fold,
while the taxes due up to the thirtieth year of the last
King's reign were at one time said to be remitted,
and then again exacted, until the resources of the peoplo
are exhausted, and their miseries grown to excess. 'When
our benevolent men and virtuous scholars contemplate these
things, their minds are deeply wounded, and they cannot
restrain themselves from rooting out these plundering offi-
cers and wolfish mandarins of each prefecture and district,
in order to save the people front the flames and floods in
which they are now involved. At the present moment our
grand army is assembled like clouds, the province of Kwang-
se has been settled and Chang sha (the capital of Hoo nan)
tranquillised ; and, being now about to proceed towards the
region of Kiang-se, we deem it necessary to announce to the
people that they need not be alarmed; while agriculturists,
mechanica,merchants,and traders may each peacefullypursue
their occupations. It is necessary, however, that the rich
should have in readiness stores of provisions, to aid in the
sustenance of our troops ; let each clearly report the amount
of their contributions to this object, and we will furnish
them with receipts, as security that hereafter the menu
shall be all repaid. Should there be any bold and strong
men or wise counsellors among you, let them with one
heart and effort aid us in our great design ; and when
tranquillity is restored, we will have them promoted and
rewarded according to their merit. All the officers of pre-
fectures and districts who resist us shall be beheaded: but
those who are ready to comply with our requisitions, must
forthwith send in to us their seals of office, and then they
may retire to their native villages. With regard to the rab-
ble of wolfish policemen, we shall, as soon as we succeeds
hang up their heads as a warning to all. Being now appre-
hensive lest local banditti should take occasion from our
movements to breed disturbances, we wish you WO
clearly to report the same, and we will immediately ester-
minate them. If any of the citizens or villagers dare to
assist the marauding mandarins in their tvauny, and tea'
our troops , and adherents, no matter whether they re'
side in great or small places, we will sv,eep them from tu

• Illla is probably " the cooling man," a eettendant c f the er:
porora of the Min; .Istalty. who 1021 luy claim to the tat:rt.-14.