The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-02 00:00:00

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i pursuit of their object, descended the Yang-tse-kiang, 200
junks accompanying the expedition, and possessed them-
selves of Ou-tchang, the capital of Hou-pe. The city has
400,000 inhabitants, and is on the high-road to Nankin.
It is built upon the right shore of the Yang-tse-kiang,
near to the mouth of the Han, one of the chief tributaries
of the Son of the Ocean. The importance of this acquisi-
tion can hardly be over estimated. It is to this place that
all the productions of the celestial empire in thousands of
vessels are conveyed, and that all the manufactures find
their way which come to China from Manchester, Liver-
pool, and the United States. Poor Sen, no longer safe in
his seclusion, was deprived in consequence of the loss of
Ou-tchang of his peacock's feather; fresh proclamations
from Pekin were sent forth to rouse the loyal to a last
exertion in favour of the reigning dynasty. Every city
was placed on a war footing ; every house in Kiang-Si and
Kiang-nan (the last is the province of which Nankin is the
capital) that interfered with a strict line of defence was
demolished ; every town of importance raised its troops,
and every soldier that could be spared from north to
south was marched to Nankin, in order to preserve the
second city of the empire from the danger by which it was
too visibly threatened. His Celestial Majesty fairly con-
fessed in a proclamation that the troubles of his empire
allowed him no repose at night, and took from him all
appetite for food in the day.
One chance of recovery yet remained to him. If the
barbarians, whom he had hitherto treated like dogs,
would only help him with their steamers, he might yet
get the better of his own unruly subjects. The trial
was worth making. A supplicatory address, penned with
great cleveaness and tact, was forwarded to all the repre-
sentatives of the Christian nations residing in the Chinese
ports opened to European trade. For the first time in the
history of China England was styled "a great nation," and
her representatives were all " honourable consuls
-" nor
did the organ of his Imperial Majesty fail to hint that not
only would the Emperor, his Mandarins, and the people be
eternally grateful for whatever aid ie "great nation"
might afford in the hour of extremity, but that the
highest mutual advantages in the prosecution of trade
should indubitably follow the defeat of the insurgents and
the termination of the war. How England answered this
appeal to her generosity we have been informed in the
the late dispatches. She has wisely taken a neutral part
in the conflict, and given both Imperialists and rebels
clearly to understand, that it is foreign to her policy to
mingle in the broils of strange countries. Had her Ma-
jesty's representative been unwise enough to aid the
Chinese Emperor with his guns, it is but too certain that
the Celestial Monarch, instead of publicly expressing gra-
titude for the assistance, would have had the effrontery to
announce that to his whole people that he had subfted
his insurgent subjects with the aid of the latest subjugated
4
foreigners, who
rebels.
The capital o ,
fra..t, • .roved faithful to theirstew '
•
masters in the . : ,_1:‘1.: . -
; ,Te being won, the rebels continued
to descend the Yang:tae-kiang, and occupied, in succession,
Kieou-kiang, Gan-king, and Ou-hon, all on the high road.
to Nankin. Upon the news of their approach, the Go-
vernor-General of Kiang-nan betook himself to the menaced
city at the head of all the troops he could assemble, and
concentrated upon the capital the whole of his disposable
force. The Mandarins prepared for the defence of the
neighbouring towns, and wealthy merchants packed up
their treasures and took deliberately to their heels. A
panic prevailed. Money became tight, provisions scarce,
gold rose to an exorbitant premium, and rice to three
times its value. The rebels, profiting by the universal fright,
seized all the merchant vessels in the river, and, with a
formidable fleet and an army estimated at 50,000 men,
presented themselves before Nankin, the five kings being
at their head.
The city of Nankin, which contains more than half a
million souls, was, under the Mings, the capital of all
China Its walls surround a city three times
Paris, but in the midst of its deserted t
streetsines asage
lareras
found
ploughed fields, and grass grows onthe_
quays which for-
merly boasted a triple line of ships.Nankin is situated
in an immense plain, furrowed by innumerable canals.
The fertile disticts in its neighbourhood show a network
of rivulets and navigable watercourses, and its own banks
are planted with willows and bamboos. In the
pro vin
of Nankin grows the yellow cotton, from which is
madece the material exported once in such large quantities to
Europe. There, also, is raised the greater part of the rice
consumed in the empire.
But, whether as accomplices or adherents, the people of
Nankin have not been slow to make common cause with
the insurgents, and to participate in the general feeling
that has hitherto welcomed the revolutionary party. On
the Bth of March the rebels appeared before the city; on
the 19th they sprang a mine under the wall, stormed the
place, and entered that inner portion of Nankin which
was called " the Imperial city " under the Mingo, and has
now the name again. That the successful besiegers will
ever suffer the rare prize to fall from their hands seems
hardly within the range of probability, To the Tartars
who opposed their entrance they gave no mercy, but let
their blood flow freely. Towards the inhabitants generally
they showed the same respect that has been vouchsafed to
every peaceful citizen on the march. Long ere this these
inhabitants will have learnt the difference between the
effete Government that has been destroyed, and the vigor-
ous Administration that is about to take its place.
The proclamations issued by the rebel chiefs after their
entry into Kiang-nan are models of composition, and would
reflect credit upon civilized warfare in the western world.
The invaders profess to act as deliverers of the people, and
their acts correspond with their language. Their office,
they contend, is to relieve the suffering and to punish the
guilty ; and they express bitter regret that evil spirits,
pretending to labour with them, have taken advantage of
a good cause to rob and pillage, and to commit offences
which, being proved, are worthy only of ignominious
death. All men are warned to be careful of their conduct
to repress all desire for evil, to offer no resistance, and to
write " Obedient" on their doors, in order that the
" patriot " army passing through the city may protect the
lives and property of the well-disposed. Nothing proves
the inexorable discipline maintained in the ranks of the
rebels better than these proclamations ; and nothing is
more striking than the contrast which such discipline pre-
sents to the lawless and disgraceful proceedings that have
at all times characterised the warfare of the Tartar troops
One of these proclamations published about this time is
too remarkable to be overlooked. It announces that the
" patriot " army seeks to preserve, not to destroy; it warns
all foreigners to stand aloof from the fight, in order that
good commercial regulations may hereafter be established
in friendly spirit, and it gives notice to the "stupid priests
of Buddha, to those jugglers of Tao-se, and to the other
corrupt sects, that the time has come to destroy their tem-
ples, and to suppress their worship."
Uneasiness, as we have seen, has been felt by the British
and other foreign residents at Shanghai lest the rebel force,
having approached so close, should doom them to the fate
suffered by the Tartars, and public meetings have been
held to provide against sudden invasion. But there is no
real ground of alarm. When Sir George Bonham visited
the insurgents at Nankin, he found them desirous of
friendly reations and expressing sorrow that Englishmen,
being brother Christians, should hesitate in making com-
mon cause against the Tartar oppressor, whose faith is so
inimical to both. For one moment distrust of the English
prevailed, because it suited the Imperialists to circulate
the report that from the outer barbarians aid had been ob-
tained to prevent the progress of the insurgent force. But
it is recorded on authority that admits of no dispute that
the very moment Sir George Bonham's expedition made
known their neutrality the Chinese flocked to their ship in
confidence, and that their first eager exclamation when
they came on board was, that they too were Christians
and believers in the Universal God.
Of the religious hymns and pamphlets circulated by the
rebels on their route our readers have already had a speci-
men.
" The Book of the Religious Precepts of the Tae-
ping Dynasty," " Tbe Trimetrical Classic," and similar
compositions contain prayers and declarations that may be
uttered by the pious lips of any Christian in this Protes-
tant land • but they carry on their front not only the re-
flection of the missionary mind that suggested them, but
also the evidence of that glaring superstition without
which it seems, in cases like the present, so difficult to
make striking impressions upon the popular conviction.
It has been alleged that it would have been impossible to
rouse the masses in China against the Mantchoo dynasty
without adding a religious element to the political crusade.
It may also be true that the spiritual doctrines of Chris-
tianity would have been utterly useless for the end re-
quired had not the leader of the insurrection claimed per-
sonal relationship with the Messiah he announced, and im-
mediate communion with the Deity from whose hands his
mission was supposed to have been received. Whatever
be the explanation of the extraordinary combination of
truth and error, revelation and paganism, it is certain
that the union is productive of marvellous results. Po-
litical hatred is heightened by religious fervour, and reli-
gious fervour is increased and strengthened by audacious
blasphemy. The rebels ase strong in Nankin ; they have
added another victory elsewhere since they won the city ;
and Pekin may be theirs while we write.

THE STRIKES.

.e.

THE LIGHTERMEN. —Yesterday, the men on strike
again assembled at the Bell Tavern, Thames-street, and
a depu+ation from them proceeded to wait on the
spokesman appointed by the master lightermen, to see
if they could come to terms. On the part of the master
lightermen the deputations were given to understand
that whilst the men maintained their present attitude,
the masters declined all negotiations. Let them return
to work, and the masters were willing to go into a dis-
cussion of the matter, and to effect, if possible, a settle-
ment of the question. At the same time, though no
positive undertaking .was given, the master lightermen
wished it to be understood that they did not object to
increase the pay for night-work to 3s. 6d. At the same
time it was stated that arrangements had been made (in
the event of the men holding out) with the Watermen's
Company to throw open their privilege. The men, how-
ever, would be satisfied with nothing short of a positive
promise ; and last night the strike still continued.
THE CARPENTERS.—The men on the firm of Mr. W.
Jackson have come to an amicable arrangement With
their employer, who has consented to give them tne
advance. Another employer, a Mr. Freirligt hassot
only given the men the advance, but joined them in
promoting the movement.
THE HALFPENNY BARBERS.—The whole of the fialf-
penny barbers at Somers-town yesterday increased their
charge to a penny, and this day the movement will
be general throughout the metropolis.

A NEW GAS.—In the Nova Scotia Legislature, Dr.
Gesner submitted a proposal to light the lighthouses be-
longing to the provinces with his new Kerosene gas,
which he estimates would effect a saving of 15,000/. per
annum over the present mode. He has been allowed to
try the experiment with the lighthouse at Meagher's
Beach, which he illuminated at a charge of 191. per an•
num, and effecting a saving of 501. It appears that the
mode of procuring the gas was quite simple, and a steam-
boat company there had all their vessels lighted with it,
as well as the wharves, &c. It was brought on board in
India-rubber bags. The works are stated to be managed
by a common labouring man. No mention is made of
the mode of preparation, nor of the material from which
it is manufactured, but it is said to be much cheaper
than ordinary gas.
REVIVAL OF CONyOCATION AT YORK.—At the general
meeting of the Society for the Revival of Convocation
for the Province of York, held on Wednesday last, the
Rev. I'. Collins in the chair, a resolution was passed
directing the presentation of an address to the convention
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, about
to meet at New York in October next, soliciting an ex-
pression of sympathy on the part of the Church in
America with the Church of England in her desire for
the restoration of synodical action.
Jenny Lind, now Madame Goldschmid, has becom•
mother, having recently given birth to a son.