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

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field, and followed up their advantage by adding three
important towns to their already numerous acquisitions.
The magistrates of these towns were summoned to acknow-
ledge the sovereignty of Tien-te, and all who refused were
either cruelly mutilated or killed on the spot. Many suf-
fered death rather than betray their allegiance; but the
inhabitants themselves, according to the principles laid
down by the rebel chiefs, were uninjured both in property
and person. Seu, the Viceroy of the Two Kouangs, of
whose admirable prudence mention has already been made,
disgusted with the successes of the rebels, once more
craved leave to withdraw to Canton, and invented a lie in
order to accomplish his object. But he was not allowed
to budge. Other Mandarins, and among them Sai-chang-
ha, the Prime Minister, were degraded—some for having
been suddenly taken ill upon the eve of an engagement,
others for downright disobedience. The Celestial Empe-
ror, it should be known, seldom punishes his generals for
anything but disobedience. He bids them win a battle ;
they don't, and for that criminal act of non-compliance
with orders they lose their buttons.
The progress of the insurgent army would seem to have
been marked by one invariable course of procedure. They
have attacked and made themselves masters of many cities
and towns, but have abandoned their possessions almost
as soon as won, not caring to hold them an hour after they
have levied a contribution sufficiently large to supply the
troops with provisions and pay. They press resolutely
forward, seizing to-day some new point of advantage,
which they will abandon altogether to-morrow. Their
intent, unquestionably, is to fight their way direct to
the Imperial capital. In a country centralised like that
of China a conqueror may be owner of everything
but
Pekin, yet, wanting that, is absolutely master of no-
thing. That day that shall see the rebels triumphant
at the capital will find them also rulers of the em-
pire. Their true policy, therefore, is to hew their way
through every town that opposes their advance, but to
leave every conquest behind until the greatest and crown-
ing victory is achieved.
Various methods of cutting short the civil war were tried
by the Celestials, but in vain. The Emperor himself, it
would appear, occupiedobie,tfttpreme intelligence in the
composition of an epic poem intended to counteract the
enemy's warlike proclamations. But, if we are to believe
the critics, when the Imperial minstrel was singing the
praises of Tartar heroes he was also pilfering by wholesale
from the Homers and Ariostos of his disturbed and much
distracted empire. The Mandarins helped their master's
cause by circulating pamphlets full of the most monstrous
perversions of fact, by applying the screw again and again
to the merchant city of Canton, and by fearful executions
as often as a sufficient number of prisoners could be col-
lected to present a memorable example and a bloody sacri-
fice to the Imperial vengeance. But, in spite of poems,
pamphlets, and general slaughter, the rebels stood their
ground. Before long the whole of Kouang-Si was in their
hands, with the exception of the capital city. It was after
one of the latest conquests in Kouang-Si--viz., at Yung-
gan-Tcheou, that an important proclamation was issued by
the insurgents—one, indeed, that throws more light upon
the intentions of the rebel chiefs than any that preceded
it. As a specimen of statecraft, also, it is unequalled by
any former production put forward by the same hands :
"Know, people !" said the clever manifesto, "that
China belongs to the descendants of the ancient dynasty.
Students, farmers, artisans, and merchants, do not be
alarmed, but continue peacefully at your several callings.
The fortunes of the dynasty of Han are about to flourish
once more, and the foreign dynasty of the Mantchoos is on
the eve of expiring. The decree is from Heaven and admits
of no mistake. Division succeeds to a long union. In
order that when publishing the laws all things may be
safely re-established, our Sovereigns have manifested
their benevolence, and, before prostrating themselves
in presence of the Supreme Being, have always admi-
nistered to the necessities of the unfortunate. After
having learnt to know God, they have striven to save the
people from calamity ; they have sustained the weak,
resisted the powerful, and preserved the villages from
robbers and brigands. . . . . When our Princes by
the grace of God entered into Yung-gan they scattered
their benevolence on every side, and, regarding the people
as their children, enjoined the army to abstain from
slaughter and to take nothing without leave. They are
as just and impartial as the balance; but if obedience is
denied, they who disobey will be handed over to the offi-
cers of the army. Our Prince invite the inhabitants of
every district to surrender, in order that they may merit
the reward which will be accorded to their voluntary sub-
mission. They wait now to be rejoined by the chiefs of
other provinces, in order to unite their forces for an attack
upon the capital of Pekin, which being secured, the
Princes will proceed to the division of the empire."
Three points are worthy of note in this production. The
future division of the spoil among the insurgent chiefs is
announced without disguise, the ultimate intentions with
respect to Pekin are clearly made known, and the Chris-
tian element is as plainly and unmistakably revealed.
" The authors of the proclamation of Yung-gan," writes
Messrs. Callery and Yvan, " speak of decrees of Heaven
They have prostrated themselves before the Supreme
Being after having learnt to adore God. They have
striven to save the people from the calamity. These are
formulae unknown to Chinese idolaters, and foreign to the
language of Roman Catholics. To Protestantism alone
belongs the honour of having introduced them into China ;
and their appearance in the proclamation argues strongly
for the truth of the widely-circulated rumour that in the
heart of the insurgent army a native Protestant occupies
an important post and exercises a great authority. This
Protestant, according to general report, is a friend and
disciple of Gutzlaff."
An imperial force of 13,000 men was now dispatched to
Kouang-Si to make mincemeat of the rebels, and to break
up the conspiracy for ever. But the attempt as usual,
failed. Half the army was slain, and the other half pru-
dently went over to the enemy. Seu, the discreet Gover-
nor-General of the two Kouangs, always shut up behind
the thick walls of Kao-tcheou, and never disheartened so
long as his own person was secure, swore by his slender
moustache that he would be revenged for this last auda-
cious act of the insurgents, and proceeded to make good
his terrible oath. He had recourse to stratagem. By his
orders 4,000 buffaloes were got together, and twice as
many torches attached to their long horns. The herd
was placed under the charge of 4,000 soldiers, and the
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