The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-16 00:00:00

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even an effort being made to relieve it. An &that
on Shanghai was expected, and it was said that the
native authorities had even asked for the assistance
of British vessels of war ; but the previous tactics
of the insurgents, in carefully avoiding the seaboard
for fear of collision with the English, renders, such
an attack improbable. Owing to their puzzling re-
semblance in name and uncouth orthography, the
localities of the insurgents' successes, as chronicled
in the overland paper s, must convey rather a vague
idea to English readers, but, referring the principal
of these localities to the rivers and' great divisions
of the empire on which, or in which, they are
situated, the present state of affairs may be briefly
sketched as follows
The 1-hellion commenced at the southern ex-
tremity of China, and was for nearly two years con-
fined to the province of Kwangsee, a marshy and
notoriously unhealthy portion of the empire. The
insurgents occupied this time in extending
their .base, rather than by attempting any
forward progress to the north ward, but con-
tinued to defeat or win over all the detach-
ments of Imperial troops that were. incessantly
dispatched against them. This state of things con -
tinned so long that the European residents at Can-
ton got tired of crying ' Wolf,' and began to believe
that the rebellion was nothing more than a Chinese
edition of the United States' Florida war. This was
the prevailing impression at Hong Kong . until
about nine months ago, when the insurgents issued
a proclamation, stating that, having now destroyed
the armies sent against them, and thereby cleared
their way to the capital, they were about to make a
combined advance on Peking, and they have accord-
ingly advanced northwards, simultaneously, along a
line several hundred miles in extent, until they are
at length established on the great river Yang-tse-
Kiang, which, running generally from east to west,
divides China Proper into two nearly equal portions,
of which they now occupy the southernmost, with
the exception of a narrow strip of seaboard. As the
course of this river is rather from the south of west,
the left of the line of the insurgents came in contact
with it first, and at a point about 800 miles above
Nanking. In the Emperor's proclamation, of which
I gave an abstract in my last, it was mentioned that
Sou had been ordered, with the main body of the
Emperors army, to- advance up this river against
the rebels' army, that was advancing down it. Seu
met the enemy, was defeated, and retreated on Yo-
Tchow, a great city situated on the lake Tung-ting-
Hon, where t adjoins the Yang-tse-Kiang, about
553 miles above Nanking. Seu abandoned the town
on the enemy's approach without fighting, for
which act of cowardice lie was degraded ; but the
report that he had committed suicide in conse-
quence appears incorrect. From Yo-chow the rebels
advanced 150 miles further down the river and
took Han-yang, a city said to be " the commercial.
emporium of China." Then they advanced to
Woochung, on the same river, the capital of the
province of Hoopah, and besieged it ; this town
also has fallen into their hands after a short resist-
ance ; meanwhile the right wing of the insurgents
was advancing against Nanking, which there is
every reason for believing they are by this time in
possession of.
The left wing of the insurgents at Woochung •
(the capital of Hoopah) is about 400 miles distant
from their right wing at Nanking, and from the
proclamations in the Peking Gazette, and the mea-
sures of resistance ordered, it appears evident that
the rebels are expected to advance northwards on
the capital by two lines leading directly from these
places. Woochung is about 750 miles south of
Peking, and Nanking about 700 (measured along
the course of the great canal.) The Governor-
General of the two Kiangs (the province bisected
by the central portion of the canal) has been or-
dered to attack and oppose the right wing of the
rebels now before Nanking, and an army is being
collected at Sinyang, a town in the province of
Honan, about 120 miles immediately north of
Woochung, to attempt the recapture of the latter
town and to bar the further progress of the left
wing of the rebels to the northwards. On this
army rest the last hopes of the present dynasty.
It is said to be composed of Tartar levies from the
north, better troops than the average of the Chinese
army ; but the character given to these levies by
the inhabitants of the province of Honan, whom
they were sent to protect is by no means favour-
able. Their rapacity, it is stated in a memorial to
the Throne, is beyond all bounds. "To us," say
the Honanese, " they are as tigers—to the rebels
as rats." Seu, in his memorial deprecating the
royal anger at his failure, ascribes the rebels' suc-
cesses to their ingenuity in spring mines, and to
their great ferocity. It is said of the slaughter in
the neighbourhood of Woochung that the stench
from the unburied was so great that the inhabi-
tants °tithe city have been forced to evacuate their
dwellings, and it was feared their would be a ge-
neral pestilence. Piracies are of daily occurrence,
and the coasting trade is much interrupted. The
Chinese authorities are too weak or too cowardly
to put them down; One of their admirals has just
been degraded for alleging bad weather as a reason
for not proceeding to attack a piratical fleet in his
neighbourhood. Some of these pirates, contrary to
their general custom, having had the audacity to
meddle with some British ships, the Hermes was
sent out to give an account of them, and after a
short resistance sunk two and captured three others.
As yet, the most remarkable commercial result of

the'reCent rapid progress of the rebels is a very
large increase in the value of gold, as being more
easily carried away and concealed than silver in
such troubled times. The legalisation of the trade
in opium may possibly be attended with very seri-
ous results to India. It has been remarked that
the financial position of- the Company's Govern-
ment is so anomalous that to make its income meet
its expenditure it is dependent on two circumstances
—first, that the Chinese should persist in eating
opium, and secondly, that the Emperor should
prohibit the home production or importation of the
drug. The Canton and Shanghai correspondents
of the China merchants of Bombay appear, how-
ever, to doubt whether the Chinese Government
will be able to enforce at so distant a port as Can-
ton (2,000 miles from Peking by sea, and not much
nearer by land) an edict which would curtail so
considerably the perquisites of the mandarins of
the coast province.

The mail of the 24th of January arrived on the
11 inst., and that of the Bth of January on the
16th inst. Advices from England of the Bth of
February are hourly expected.
We regret to have to report several cases of death
among the detachment of her Majesty's 69th Regi-
ment, lately arrived. The patients now in hospi-
tal, are gradually improving. The illness—dysen-
try—is supposed to have been caused by the water
taken in at Timor. The garrison otherwise has
been healthy.
The intelligence we communicated last mail, the
11th inst., regarding the rebellion in the north,
was fully confirmed on the receipt of advices of the
3d from Shanghai on the 12th inst., and, as we
expected, her Majesty's plenipotentiary—Sir Geo.
Bonham—left this for Shanghai on the 13th inst.
in her Majesty's steamer Hermes, then under or-
ders to proceed to the Straits, but detained for
this special service. It appears that application
had been made by the Viceroy of Soochau to the
English Consul at Shanghai to co-operate against
the rebel force for the protection of Nanking. The
rapid advance of the rebels had spread consterna-
tion and alarm through that capital and other
wealthy cities, and the imperial officials seemed en-
tirely paralysed and powerless. Our latest advices
of the 20th, from Shanghai, report the rebel force
investing Nanking, which it was expected would
fall, and it is further stated that delegates had been
sent from Soochau to the rebel leaders, offering a
large sum to secure that wealthy city from molesta-
tion and plunder. There are reports that a portion
of the rebel force had proceeded north. The nativo
bankers and wealthy people were removing their
families and treasure into the country, and goods
had been sent from Soochau to Shanghai for safety.
At Shanghai there was a general panic ; bankers
and merchants' houses were shut up, and an entire
stoppage to trade. Money was so scarce that the
duties of exports had to be arranged by giving
security in bills and other property to the Consul.
The naval force that must now be off Shanghai is
calculated to restore confidence in that vicinity ,
and if the rebels proceed north, and do not delay
round Nanking and the neighbouring country,
internal trade may be resumed sooner than the
present state of affairs would lead one to expect.
Her Majesty's steamer Salamander has left Amoy
for Shanghai. Her Majesty's steamer Rattler was
detained at Amoy, having struck a
sunken rock,
mbuitnhisastersuisiatasipnroedeneeodseedrionuosrtdhaminathee. The American
smetriacantes,
steamer Susquehannah. The French steamer Cas-
sinkilasi 3 also
quiet goneat Canton,north.
All
but there is an uneasy
feeling in the city, which probably, may be attri-
buted
had rather
dtothesuccr
noofvteland rebels the res
rench Minister sending north. We
ep
extraordinary scene
acted at Canton the F
the French corvette Capricieuse to Whampoa and
landing a body of marines in the small garden at
Canton to erect a flagstaff there, against the wishes
and protest of the community. The demand for im-
ports in Canton was improved, but operations are
checked in the present uncertainty of affairs north.
Rice is becoming dearer. The transactions hav
been small in tea and silk. Exchange has advanced
to 4s. lid.
At Shanghai, by advices of the 20th, prices o
tea and silk remained without alteration. In im-
ports and exchanges nothing doing.
The total export of tea to Great Britain shows
an increase of about 3,000,0001 b. over that of last
year to the same time.
In Harbour-.aer Majesty's ship Spartan, her

Majesty's surveying ship Royalist, and the United
States's sloop Plymouth. At Whampoa—Her.Ma-
jesty's brig Rapid and. the French corvette Capri-
cieuse.
At Macao.—The United States' sloop
Saratoga and the store-ship Supply. At Shanghai.
—Her Majesty's brig Lily. The Hermes was seen
close to Woosiing.
Our latest dates are from England, Feb. Bth ;
Calcutta, Feb. 27th ; Bombay, March 4th ; Singa-
pore, March 19th ; Sydney, Jan. 6th ; Manilla,
March 13th ; Shanghai, March 20th.
By advices from Galle, of the 11th, we learn the
arrival there of the United States' steamer Missis-
sippi, Commodore Perry, which would come on
here immediately.
The following is a translation of the petition for
assistance which has been addressed to the foreign
Consuls at Shanghai
Woo, imperially appointed Provincial Judge, Inten-
dan of Circuit for Soochau, King, and Za-Chang, &c.,
send this notification :--
"I, the Intendant, have just received a communica-
tion from the Governor in reply to a former statement
of mine sent up to him. In my letter I had said that
the war steamers of your honourable nation had not yet
arrived at Shanghai, but it was arranged that within the
first decade of the present moon they should be here. I
also stated, that only one ship of war belongine, to the
great English nation was keeping guard at Shanghai,
which was not sufficient to repress and exterminate the
rebels, to all which the Governor replied as follows
'lt appears that the rebels, having already arrived
at Kenkran,g and Ghankking, have dispersed themselves
in various directions, causing disturbances. All the
trading vessels anchored at the towns and markets along
the banks of the Yang-tse-Kiang have been taken pos-
session of by the rebels, and, although there force has
been attacked and routed by our grand army from
Ilonan and Keangse, yet the main body of the
rebels having embarked on board of these vessels
have pushed on in an easterly direction, and, though
our troops have arrested their progress at successive
stages, yet, on account of the breadth of the river, they
could not be effectually stopped. Our grand , army,
from various quarters, coming along by land, could not
be instantly assembled, and our vessels of war could not
closely follow and prevent the progress of the enemy, so
that the rebel force have become more and more daring
and irrepressible. The lorchar' sent up by the Intend-
ant of Shanghai, although successful in various encount-
ers, after all were found to be unequal to the exigency
of the occasion, and, being few in number, could not
resist the many, so that at present the rebel vessels have
arrived before Nanking, and the city is in the greatest
danger. If we do not attack them on the first moment
of their arrival, we shall find it difficult to prevent their
spreading themselves in all directions. Let the said In-
tendant of Circuit again consult with the Consuls of the
different nations, and request immediately to implore the
ship of war now keeping guard at Shanghai to come
forward and attack the rebels, and, further, to request
the war steamers which are expected to arrive, succes-
sively to come on and unite in attacking and extermi-
nating these banditti—thus extirpating these vile ene-
mies of the Chinese empire. Should they do this, not
only will his Majesty the Emperor be sensible of the
obligation, but the officers and pedple will be exces-
sively grateful for the favour ; and, when all parties to-
gether enjoy peace and tranquillity, they will be mutu-
ally beneficial to each other, following their various occu-
pations without disturbance ; but, if we have to wait
till the grand army advances eastward to unite in exter-
minating the rebels, the relief will be too slow for the
emergency. Let the said Intendant, therefore, use the
utmost dispatch in making his arrangements, and I, the
Governor, look and hope for the result with the most
intense anxiety. I shall also in conjunction with the
Viceroy of the province, address the English Plenipo-
tiary on this subject.' . _

"The above communication having reached me, the
Intendant of Circuit, I have considered that the
various provinces of Honan, Hooput, Keangse,
Guamtrung, Keangnan, are al places with which
Shanghai has commercial transactions, and that
from the time that the rebels have spread them-
selves from Keangse to Honan, a year has elapsed, after
which they invaded Hoopit, Hankhow, and some other
marts of commerce have also been disturbed by them, or
that merchants are arrested in their course, and dare
not move, Now the rebels presume to move eastward
down the stream of the Kiang, and disturb Nanking.
If they be not speedily intercepted trade will be stopped,
and the commercial intercourse between China and
foreign nations will be at an end. Having just received
the above communication from the Governor, it is en-
cumbent on me to inform you, the honourable Consul,
begging you to make inquiry into the case, and beg the
ships of war which have already arrived at Shanghai,
with the one stationed here for the defence of the port,
to go forward immediately to Nanking, and act in con-
junction with the " lorchas" already there, exerting
their united strength in attacking the rebels, swearing
to exterminate these villainous banditti, to gratify the
feelings of the people, and promote commercial inter-
course. I also request, that you, the honourable Con-
sul, will write to expedite the arrival of these vessels of
war that are expected, that they may go up successively
to Nanking, and sweep away the remains of these vaga-
bonds from the face of the earth, and thereby give tran-
quillity to the whole region. The officers and the peo-
ple of China will be under great obligations to you, and
I, the Intendant, will be exceedingly obliged. We there-
fore beg and pray of you to expedite the matter. A
necessary communication:

" Iloenfung, 2 year, 2d moon, 7th day.
"March IG, 1853.

(From the Overland China Mail of March 28.)

THE TROOPS.

In our last Overland we mentioned the arrival of
the India, with a detachment of 3 officers, 4 ser-
jeants and 120 rank and file of the 59th Regiment,
and are sorry to have to report seven deaths already
among the new arrivals from dysentry apparently
caused by the water taken in at Sopang, in Timor,
where the vessel touched for supplies of fresh pro-
visions and fruit. Previous to their arrival at
Timor the soldiers were suffering from scurvy. Of
the dysentric patients still in hospital the majority
are said to be gradually recovering.
Besides the seven men above mentioned, the
mortality in the garrison during the past fortnight
has been two—one a bombardier of the Royal Ar-
tillery, of bronchitis ; the other a gun Lascar, of
remittent fever.

The Sappers and Miners, from Captain Brough-
ton downwards, seem especially to enjoy excellent
health—probably from their being kept in constant
work.

The number of sick in hospital, on Saturday, the
25th, was 67—viz., Royal Artillery, 4 ; Sappers
and Miners, 1 ; Gun Lascars, 4 ; 59th Regiment,
40 ; Ceylon Rifles, 18.