The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-30 00:00:00

CHINA.

By last mail it was stated that the Chinese autho-
rities at Shanghai were reported to have asked as-
sistance of the English ships of war in the harbour,
but that the rumour was disbelieved at Bombay
by those best acquainted with the Chinese charac-
ter. The Ganges, which left Shanghai on the 21st,
and Hongkong on the 28th of March, has, how-
ever, brought the important intelligence that such
request was actually made, and that the English,
French, and American ships of war present have
consented to interfere for the protection of Shang-
hai and Nankin.

On the 16th of March most urgent dispatches
from the Governor of Nankin were received by
the Chinese Governor of Shanghai, requiring
him to implore the foreign Consuls to send im-
mediate assistance to Nankin, and stating that
unless foreign aid were afforded, and that im-
mediate, the city must fall into the hands of
the rebels, by whom it was closely invested
both by laud and water. A fleet of Imperial
junks, assisted by hired Portuguese armed lorchas,
which had been sent up the river to oppose
the progress of the insurgents, had been over-
powered by the rebel flotilla ; and the latter, sail-
ing down the Yangtsekiang, had anchored without
opposition immediateiy opposite Nankin. The
division of the " revolutionary army " investing
the place by land is stated to be 30,000 strong, and
increasing. Several days before this the Chinese
Government had also applied for assistance to Sir
C. Bonham, the British Commissioner at Hong-
kong. Sir Charles accordingly departed in her Ma-
jesty's steamship Hermes on the 13th of March for
Shanghai, but had not arrived there when the
mail left. Her Majesty's steamship Salamander
had also gone to Shanghai, and her Majesty's ship
Lily was already there. The French wartsteamer
Cassini and the United States leviathan Susque-
hanna have both proceeded up the Yangtsekiang,
and Colonel Marshall, the American Commissioner,
has determined to place the latter before Nankin.
The immediate effect of this interference on the
relative position of the insurgents and imperialists
is most momentous. It is acknowledged by the
Chinese themselves that the loss of Nankin would
have been the loss of the empire. A recent Impe-
rialist proclamation contains the following :
" The provincial city of Nankin, together with Chang
Kiang and Yaug Tchou (situated on the right and left
banks of the Yangtsekiang, at its junction with the
grand canal) are important posts, on which depends the
fate of both the northern and southern divisions of the
empire ; they must not, therefore, be allowed to fall
into the hands of the rebels. But it is necessary now
that all the forces should be concentrated, in order that
measures should be taken in conjunction for the defence
of these points."

The occupation of Nankin by the "revolutionary
army" would have given the command of the grand
canal, and cut off all communications between
Pekin and the coast provinces between Nankin and
Canton. The insurgents avoided these provinces
in their advance northwards (desiring, it is supposed,
to prevent the possibility of a collision with Euro-
peans), but they are the most productive of those
at present remaining faithful to the Tartar dynasty.
The course of the grand canal offered, moreover, to
the insurgent forces by far the most eligible route
for an advance on Pekin. The physical and moral
effect of the check given to the revolution by the
act of foreign interference might yet (if
properly
improved by themselves) be the salvation of the
Tartar dynasty.

The policy of foreigners interfering in the inter-
nal affairs of the Chinese Empire can scarcely be
defended. The insurrection is considered by many
to be what it professes itself--a great national
movement to get rid of an alien dynasty—on far
too extended a scale to be crushed by the occupa-
tion of the mouth of a single river by European
vessels of war. But, even were those vessels sent
400 or 500 miles up the river, so as to check the
northern progress of the revolutionary forces along
the whole of their present base line of operations,
and were the revolution truly altogether stopped
for the present, the bolstering up of the Tartar
dynasty would be anything but conducive to the
progress of enlightenment and the extension of
foreign intercourse and commerce in the Chinese
Empire.
The translations of the rebel proclamations
which the Chinese papers are now filled) convey a
very favourable idea of the organization and cha-
racter of the movement in progress. (with
The revolutionary army is divided into five corps
or divisions, each complete in itself.
Each division
is subdivided into brigades of 6,400 men, com-
manded by a brigadier, and containing four regi-
ments of 16 companies each. A subaltern's com-
mand is 25 men, a captain's 100 men, a major's
400, and a colonel's 1,600. The names of all the
generals are' given, and also a description of their.
persons. There is a corps of Guards" "Imperial
"Masters of the Horse," "Paymasters,"_ a corps
and a strong Staff, " Inspectors of Troops,"
thoseirhe pa
department." All these are dignified„
with yellow
a redl and
of " Surveyors," " Officers in charge of the signal
scarfs and the title of 4 , Excellency.
in-
ferior grades are numerous.
b
ticularized are "officers distinguished they
black scarf, whose duty it is to urge _
.p9op e to
administer the
enter into their confederacy and to
oaths of adherence."
But by far the larger proportion of those
pro-
clamations refer to the civil organization of the
conquered provinces, andthe establishment or order
in the neighbourhood of the
tarnq There are
military officers
stringent proclamations against
and against allowing their troops to plunder,
proclamations for the cor-
rupt civil functionaries ;
establishments,
pro-
tection and extension of educational cienerally. The
and the encouragement of literatureeducation of women is one of
the objects of the
of the female
insurgents, and over the. _ doorsedthere is a
notice
posted, " on red paper,'
schools they have estab, hsh
to the effect that they are
sacred to the sex, and thatpresuming men to
enter them " in a disorderly
any manner will be be-
headed." The enlightened
tone of their proclama-
tions is attributed—partly
......
to the circumstance of
1e rebel leaders many members
of the " Chinese U
there being among_t i.lliei,
literary society inst-
tuted by the late
knowledge Dr. Guzlabb for the purpose of
disseminating a of the results of Euro-
pean civilization among
the Chinese, but it is
doubtless principally due to the high mental cul-
ture of a people among whom education in general
and literary acquirements are the only passports
to public d. t. ctio'n
employment or is in ,
There is acomplete
north of China.
At Shanghai the British Consul
has been compelled
respon-
sibility of dispatching vessels
without the usual
permit
from the Chinese Superintendent of Cus-
toms ; this measure
was necessary by reason of the
want of money to pay the duties and port dues;

Hung (Fung), captain-general of the army, having
entire superintendence of military affairs, and aiding in
the advancement of the T'hae-ping, or great pacificating
dynasty, in obedience to the will of Heaven, issues this
important and triumphant proclamation, to announce
that he has punished the oppressor and saved the people.
It appears that throughout the empire rapacious offi-
cers 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, selling offices and dis-
posing of preferments, while he represses men of vir-
tuous talent, so that the spirit of avarice is daily in-
flamed, 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 exasperate one's
feelings, and makes one's hair stand on end. To refer
to the case of the land revenue in particular, it appears
that of late the exactions have been increased manifold,
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 tho people 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 plun-
dering officers and wolfish mandarins of each prefecture
and district, in order to save the people from 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
Kwang-se (qurey, Kiang-si), we deem it necessary to
announce to the people that they need not be alarmed ;
while agriculturists, mechanics, merchants, and
traders, may each peacefully pursue 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
money 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 pro-
moted and rewarded according to their merit. All the
officers of prefectures 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 vil-
lages ; with regard to the rabble of wolfish policemen, we
shall, as soon as we succeed, hang up their heads as a
warning to all. Being now apprehensive lest local ban-
ditti should take occasion from our movements to breed
disturbances, we wish you people clearly to report the
same, and we will immediately exterminate them. If
any of the citizens or villagers dare to assist the maraud-
ing mandarins in their tyranny, and resist our troops
and adherents, no matter whether they reside in great
or small places, we will sweep them from the face of the
earth. Be careful. Do not oppose. A special procla-
mation.

Given in the second year of Theen-tih (on such a)
month and (such a) day.
The following couplet is appended to the above pro-
clamation :

" Our valiant armies by thousands are preparing to
advance on the region of Peking ; and our august
monarch once seated in the deep recesses of his palace,
will revive the days of Yaou and Shun."
LOCAL BANDITTI—AGAINST IDOLATERS.

Yang-seu-ts'hing, especially appointed general of the
grand army, engaged in sweeping away the Tartars and
establishing the now dynasty, issues this second procla-
mation :

I, the general, in obedience to the Royal commands,
have put in motion the troops for the punishment
of the oppressor, and in every place to which I have
come, the enemy at the first report have dispersed
like scattered rubbish ; as soon as a city has been
captured I have put to death the rapacious man-
darins and corrupt magistrates therein, but have
not injured a single individual of the people,
so that all of you may take care of your fa-
milies, and attend to your business, without alarm
and trepidation. I have already issued proclamations
to this effect, with which I presume you are acquainted.
I have heard, however, that throughout the villages
there are numbers of lawless vagabonds, who, previous
to the arrival of our troops, take advantage of the dis-
turbed state of the country to defile men's wives and
daughters, and plunder or burn the property of holiest
people. I, the general, have already apprehended some
of these, and decapitated about a score of them. Now,
because their localities are somewhat removed from the
provincial capital (Ngan-hwuy), + these persons flatter
themselves that I, the general, am not aware of their
proceedings, which is very much to be detested ; I have,
therefore, sent a great officer named Yuen, as a special
messenger, with some hundreds of soldiers, to go through
the villages, and as soon as he finds any of these vaga-
bonds, he is commissioned forthwith to decapitate them ;
while the honest inhabitants have nothing more to do
than to stick up the word " shun " (obedient) over their
doors, and then they have nothing to fear.
I would wish to ask those of you who have given of
your money, and aided with your provisions (the former
Government) in order to purchase titles and official dig-
nities, what is the glory of such distinctions ? And even
those literary honours which the Manchow robbers have
conferred at the literary examinations, of what use are
they ? I and my followers are all subjects of the Great
Chinese Empire, and students of the books handed down
by the great sages of antiquity, how then could we stoop
to receive rank and emolument from these Mwan-e
Manchow barbarians.: Do you, therefore, each one
throw away the diplomas which you have received, and
deceive yourselves no longer with them. As soon as I
have taken Nankin, I will consult about arrangements
for the literary examinations, and after having weighed
the merits of the respective candidates, I will select the
most worthy scholars, and settle the degrees of literary
rank to which they are entitled. With regard to the
temples and monasteries which belong to the priests
of Buddha and Taou, together with the property pos-
sessed by the brothels and gambling-houses ; it is
much better that it should be distributed among the
poor people of the villages. At present we are seizing
the priests of Buddha and Taou throughout the country
and putting them to death, and we are inquiring into
those who have been foremost in the building and repair
of the Buddhist temples, that we may have them appre-
hended likewise. When I, the general, have led forward
my troops to the destruction of the Manchows, I will
deliberate further about the examinations, in which
everything shall be re-arranged according to the original
customs of the Chinese. Should any disobey our in-
junctions, as soon as our grand army arrives we will not
leave them a dog or a fowl remaining. A special
proclamation.

- Copied at Ning-kwo-foo (lat. 31 deg. 2 min. N. , long.
118 deg. 40 min. E), about 180 miles of Shanghai, and
100 miles south of Nankin.

BY THE IMPERIALISTS.
MEANS OF DEFENCE.-GOSSIPS.

Woo, provincial judge, intendant of circuit, &c., issues
this proclamation for the purpose of conveying clear
information.

I received, on a previous occasion, an official commu-
nication from the high officers, stating that " the rebels
had disturbed the province of Hoonan ; having been
driven from which, they fled into Hoo-pih, and in conse-

* From the allusion to the capture of Chang-sha in the
body of the proclamation, we may conclude the date to be
about the end of January.
From the circumstance of Ngan-hwuy being mentioned
as the head-quarters of the general at the time when the
proclamation was issued, the date must be somewhere
about the end of February.

4.+ It is worthy of remark that tho term B, barbarian,
which has been so industriously applied to Europeans by
the mandarins, is now given back to their own rulers. It
cannot be meant as a compliment in the present instance.
[Probably it never is so, and hero it is appropriately ap-
plied to the Manchus, by those who denounce them as
usurpers and intruders iu China,—Ed. C.111.]

quence of due precaution not having been taken, the
capital city of that province (Woo-gang) was lost : but
subsequently an attack had been made on the rebels,
when they gave up possession of the city,
seized some,
boats, andescaped. It is now to be feared that, pro-
ceeding in the direction of the stream, they will move
eastward, down the Yang-tsz-keang. 'lt is necessary,
therefore, that for several miles along the northern and
southern banks of that river, measures should be taken
to stop their progress ; also that the lorchas and guns,
with the military force sent from Shanghai, should ge, forward to meet and exterminate the rebels."
I have also received another official communication
from the high officers, stating their apprehension lest
local banditti, hearing this news, should create disturb-
ances, and commanding that the village braves should
be collected and trained, in order to assist in the defence
of their various localities. I, the Taoutae, have at-
tended to this, and have directed the superintendent of
the maritime defences, together with the district magis-
trate of Shanghai, to issue proclamations to that effect
as is on record. But it must be observed, that this
sending up of the lorchas, with this calling out and train-
ing of the village braves, are merely measures of pre-
caution, taken before the evil is really upon us ; and do
not show that the rebels have really arrived at the bor-
ders of Ketng-nan. On the 28th day of the first moon
(March 7, 1853), I received a document from the Im-
perial commissioner and great minister, Luh, governor
of Keang-nan, stating that he had already led forth
a large army to attack and exterminate the rebels, in
conjunction with the troops from the various provinces
of Kean-se, Hoo-nan, Hoo-pih, Ho-nan, Shan-tung, and
Szechuen, to surround and attack the foe, swearing that
he would utterly exterminate the rebel force. Both the
land and naval forces belonging to the region of the
Yang-tsz-keang are on the alert in every direction ;
Chin-Keang and Kwa-chow are also guarded by a large
force,. so that we need not be under any apprehension
lest the rebels Should run in this direction. Moreover,
according to a letter received from the provincial trea-
surer of Nanking, it appears that "Heang-yung, the
general in command in Hoo-pih province, has already,
arrived at Kew-keang, to intercept any easterly move-
ment of the rebels ; while the local banditti in that
direction are all dispersed, and we may look for the
report of their complete defeat every day." Thus it
appears that the rebels are still in the western re-
gions, and it is not to be supposed that either Kew-
keang or Ngan k'hing have fallen into their hands.
Some mischievous person, fond of making trouble, has
invented this story, in order to disturb people's minds.
Really such an offence as this could not be atoned for by
his death. I have already directed the magistrate of the
district to inquire whence the report originated, and now
hastily issue this proclamation, informing you merchants
and scholars, and requiring the four classes of the people
to follow your various occupations, and pursue your com-
mercial speculations as usual. Do not allow yourselves
to be incited by these mischief-makers, to grasp at sha-
dows and catch the wind ; nor permit your minds to be
disturbed, and disorderly remove from place to place,
thus bringing yourselves into trouble. If any of you
engaged in mercantile speculations, take advantage of
these disturbances to get up the price of rice and wood,
or shut up your shops, so as to make it difficult for me
to keep the place in order, I, the Taoutae, will assuredly
punish you according to law, and do not say afterwards
that you were not duly warned. Let every one care-
fully observe this injunction. A special proclamation.
Heen-fung, third year, first moon, 29th day (March
18, 1853).

HONG KONG, APRIL 11.
The mail of the 24th of February from London
arrived late last evening, but has not yet been de-
livered.

Since the 28th ult. we have little to report.
We have but meagre accounts of the rebellion
from the North. The latest date from Shanghai is
of the 28th ult., which gives no intelligence that
can be depended upon relating to the position of
matters at Nankin. All communication with that
place seemed cut off. There appeared no doubt of
the rebel force investing the city, and a report was
current that one of the outer gateshad been forced.
Among the various reports circulated there was a
prevailing one that Keshen, the former Viceroy of
Canton, had made a very successful attack on the
rebel force with the Imperial troops, about 150
miles from Nankin, in which many thousands of
the rebels are said to have suffered. Nearer Nan-
kin, at Taeping, the Imperial force is also said to
have defeated 7the rebels with great loss of life.
This news requires confirmation. The high Man-
darin at Shanghai engaged four vessels fully
equipped to proceed up the Yanktsekiang to rein-
force Chekiangfoo.
At Shanghai there had been fresh alarm among
the brokers and natives from the difficulty of ar-
riving at the truth as to the state of affairs. The
present force off Shanghai is—two British steamers
and one brig of war, one French, and one Ameri-
can steamer.

There has been a fair demand for imports at
Canton, but the price of goods is lower. Metals
are maintained. Rice has advanced in value, and
prices are reported high in the north. The business
done in tea has been small, and prices show no
change. Exchange on England for six months'
bills ss. to ss. ld. ; Company's accepted bills, 237 r.
to 238 r. per 100. Freights to England 3/. 15s.
Two vessels loading, sufficient for wants.
Shanghai dates of the 28th ult. mention that
business continued almost suspended. Money was
scarce, and a large amount is being sent up from
this place. Exchange on England nominally ss.
5d per dollar.

The United States' steamer Mississippi, Commo-
dore Perry, arrived here on the 7th inst., and on
the 9th inst. the United States' sloop Plymouth
was despatched to Shanghai.
The sickness in the detachment of the 59th Regi-
ment is disappearing, and the health of the troops
generally is favourable.
Her Majesty's brig Royalist, Captain Bate, left
this on the 3d inst. on a surveying cruize.
In harbour—Her Majesty's ship Spartan, United
States' steamer Mississippi, sloop Saratoga, store
ship Supply, and French corvette Capricieuse.
At Whampoa.—Her Majesty's brig Rapid.
At Amoy.—Her Majesty's steamer Battler.
At Shanghai.—Her Majesty's steamers Hermes
and Salamander, brig Lily, United States' steamer
Susquehanna, and French steamer Cassini.
Our latest dates are, from England to the 24th
of February; Calcutta, 26th of February ; Bom-
bay, 17th of March ; Sydney, 20th of January ;
Melbourne, sth of February ; Manilla, 16th of
March ; Singapore, 2d of April ; Shanghai, 28th
of March.

CHINA SHIP NEWS.
Arrivals from Great Britain.—At Honkong, March
30, Planet, from London ; April 8, steamer Lorreston,
from London, via Bombay.
Departures to Great Britain.—From Hongkong,
March 31, Flora Macdonald and Artimisia, to London ;
April 7, Thetis, to London. From Shanghai, March
19, Leopard, to Liverpool ; March 20, Erie (American),
to London ; March 21, Cornelia (Dutch), to London.