The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-18 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1851.

The intelligence received from China by the Over-
land Mail, which has just arrived, is perhaps the most
important that has arrived to us from the Celestial
Empire since the signing of the treaty of Nankin.
For some months rumours have from time to time
reached us of the ravages committed in the south-
western provinces of China by a troop of lawless
banditti, as the Imperial authorities chose to designate
them. Frequently have the mandarins, acting in the
province of Canton in the name and on behalf of the
MAntchow EMPEROR, declared that these ban-
ditti bad beea exterminated by the Imperial
Tartar troops, and as frequently, after the lapse of a
very short space of time, the exterminated banditti
have re-appeared in increased force. After a while it

was admitted that the banditti had in several encoun.

tern worsted the Imperial troops, and bad rendered
uncertain the communications between Canton and
Cupital ; still the Mandarins of Canton and the other
Imperial authorities stoutly maintained that there was
nothing political in the movement, and that the au-

dacious bandits were a band of robbers, and of robbers
merely, whose only object was plunder. The news,
however, brought by the Overland Mail on Saturday
fully confirms the suspicions of those who from the
first entertained the belief that these alleged banditti
were in fact rebels, that a civil war was raging
i❑ the interior of the flowery land, and that China,
immovable China, as it had hitherto been considered,
was on the verge of a mighty revolution. Letters
from llong-Kong of the 23d June announce that not
only are these alleged bauditti rebels, that not only
has their rebellion been hitherto successful, but that
their leader has been proclaimed Emperor in opposi-
tion to the Tartar Emperor at Pekin ; that he claims
all the attributes and exercises all the prerogatives of
Imperial sovereignty, coining money, appointing mi-
nisters, generals, and governors, and, more im-
portant still, receiving the allegiance of the in-
habitants of various provinces ; that the
insurgents were advancing in great force upon
Canton, where there was no sufficient force of Imperial
troops to resist them, and that the financial embar-
rassments of the Pekin Government were so great

N,

that the Mantchow EMPEROR was unable to send the
reinforcements which his generals demanded, or to pay
the troops which he had already in the field. This
movement appears to be a national movement on the
part of the native Chinese against the Tartar dynasty;
the cry of the rebels is " Down with the
Tartar dynasty," and to that cry the Chinese
local troops are everywhere fraternising with
them, and should this movement go on it must
end eventually in the expulsion from the
Celestial Empire of the Mantchow Tartar
dynasty, a race which has for 200 years past
tyrannised over the native Chinese. The Tartars do
not form one-thousandth part of the population of
China, but they have been for the last 200 years
enabled to rule over the naive Chinese by the prestige
of their invincibility ; that prestige, however, was
completely destroyed by the result of the war with
England. The Chinese saw the Tartar troops every-
where defeated by the English ; they had also during
the course of that war an opportunity of comparing
their own prowess with that of their masters, and
they came to the conclusion that they were in no one
respect inferior to the Tartars ; the prestige of the
Tartars was gone, and now the Tartar dynasty
trembles in the balance. The Friend of China, June
231, 1851, writes—" A few more months will as
suredly decide the fate of the empire. At enmity
with the very name Tartar dynasty'—an enmity
which every individual whose heart is in the right
place will feel, when he remembers the career of bar-
barism the blood-thirsty despots have run during the
It quarter of a century—we indulge the earnest
hope that a better fate is about to dawn on China's
relations with foreign countries—that the benighted
millions of its population will be permitted to hold
with us a freer and more social intercourse—and that
so long closed against any advance in civilization, it
is now about to be opened indeed." It is more
than probable that an appeal will be made
by oue, if not by both of the con-
tending parties, for English protection in
the not very improbable ev. nt of the rebel EM-
PEROR being in possession of the city of Canton;
indeed the members of the Pekin Cabinet seem to
expect that relations will be established between the
rebel EMPEROR and the British, for the corresponding
Secretary of the Cabinet for the Board of War at
Pekin has addressed a memorial to the Mantchow
EMraaou, in which he reminds his MAJESTY first,
that the banditti in the Twoo liwang are not yet put
down ; and secondly, that the English barbarians
are constantly on the look-out for a cause of
quarrel with him. It is satisfactory, under
these somewhat embarrassing circumstances that we
have at Hong• Kong a man of such sound judgment
and such diplomatic tact and experience as Dr.
BOWRING ; the conduct of the very delicate negotia-
tions which must be the necessary consequence of the
entry of the rebel EMPEROR into Canton could
not be confided to better hands ; but it should also
be remembered that the most astute diplomatist can
do but little in negotiating with Orientals except he is
backed up by a display of force. In treating with the
Chinese, more especially, the quarter-deck of a 74 is
par excellence the fittest of all spots on which to con-
duct the negotiation, and we hope, therefore, that our
naval force in the Chinese seas will be at once in-
creased to such an extent as to be capable of meeting
any emergency that can by possibility arise. This is
the only wise and the only dignified line of policy
that we can pursue, and it will be found that in the
long run it will be as economical as it is wise and
dignified, for the display of a large force now will
prevent any necessity arising from using a much
larger force hereafter.

A painful impression was created here last week by
a belief that the fatal rot had suddenly re-appeared
in the potato-fields of Ireland. This direful calamity,
which left such gaunt traces of its ravages in late
years throughout the extent of the island, was
stated to have revisited the scene of its former de-
velopment on the authority of a gentleman of the
highest respectability. Happily, however,
the alarming
letter of Mr. KINCAID has elicited the opinions of a
host of persons thoroughly qualified to pronounce on
the condition of that staple esculent of the Irish
people. Accounts have appeared, proceeding from
various districts, and from writers above all suspicion
of being influenced by unworthy motives, unanimously
contravening Mr. Kfiscarn's allegatior, and without
f)r a moment itnpu:lng to that worthy gentleman any
huh, save a precipitate arming a particulari ad uni
versale, we cannot but express cur delight that his
tt.rays:o has been tnund to be a mere false alarm.
On looking over the array ef his impugners we find
the confident and gratifying tone pervading all their
communications and statements. Mr. ST. LEGER,
the county surveyor of Sligo, vouches for the healthy
and luxuriant condition of the crop in the extensive
range of country which he had just had occasion to
traverse, from Belfast to Ballina. Mr. WRIGHT,
of Sherries, who is, constantly
states that, although here throughand
therese v e ar
na
t tld parts
eststalks
lofrknelp professionallyne rd
engaged in travelling ,

LONDON,

partially attacked, be can discover no apprehension of
a general failure. A currespont kuown to the

.ditor of Saunders asserts, from the experience of the

last three )ears, that no one is justified, from the
present condition of the potato stalks, in pronouncing
with certainty as to the ultimate destruction of the
`ober." A correspondent of the Dublin Evening
thus reports :—" I took a circuit of 20 miles
esterday, and with the exception of a few lots in bog,
I did not see a field of potatoes which was not green
and flourishing. I have about an acre and a half, and
I can detect no symptoms of diseases, except a few
spots on some of the leaves. Similar spots appeared
last year about the middle of July, but did not affect
the stalk or check the growth of the potato. The
disease appears to be gradually diminishing. It at-
tacked the potato at an earlier period last year than
this, and the root is now not far from maturity, and
therefore not likely to be much injured." The Limerick
Reporter says its accounts respecting the potatoes are
favourable. It admits that alarming rumours are
abroad, but denies there are just grounds for them.
The Cork Examiner, an admirably informed journal,
testifies to the same effect :—" Since we last wrote
we made the most minute inquiries from persons beat
qualified to form an accurate opinion as to the real
condition and prospect of the crop in various portions
of this county, and other counties of this province ;
and the result of our inquiries comes exactly to this
—that in most places there has been apparent injury
to the plant—that is, that the leaves have been in
some instances blackened, and in others only spotted ;
but that only in a comparatively few instances has
she disease reached the tuber. Fur a moment, we do
not deny that there has been blight—perhaps serious
blight—in some few localities, especially near the
sea-coast ; but we do assert, positively, that, up to this
day on which we write, the crop is generally safe ;
and that an ample supply will be left, after all deduc-
tions, not only for human food, but fur the many use-
t'ul purposes to which that valuable esculent is ap-
plied. And from the nature of the present weather,
which is equally warm and clear, we anticipate that
we shall not have a different statement to make when
next we allude to the subject." London-
derry, Belfast, Kerry, and Tipperary newspapers say
the same for their respective localities. The Newry
Telegraph has an extremely cheering report from the
midland counties of Ulster, commencing—" The crops
generally in this neighbourhood give promise of un
unusually good, if not an abundant produce ;" and
farther on our clever contemporary says—" With
respect to the potato crop—the subject of so much
anxiety and apprehension--we have no ground as yet
to pronounce it (in the rash and imprudent auction
phrases of a writer in the Post) as going—gone.'
True, the taint has partially affected the leaves, and,
in many instances, blackened the stalks of this most
valuable esculent; but the tubers, so far as we have
had personal experience, remain, with some trifling
exceptions, es sound and as well flavoured as ever
they were within our recollection. There is, then,
we firmly trust and believe, no reason to despair of
the potato." In the Carlow Sentinel, a paper of de-
servedly high authority on agricultural matters, we
read—" With every respect for the opinions of this
gentleman (Mr. KINcAID) we have no hesitation in
stating that his alarm' is a false one—that his evi-
dence as to the county Meath is not worth in fair
value the amount of a stone of the diseased potatoes
he describes ; and what is more, we reiterate the
statement :we made last week, that the potato
crop, from the great breadth planted this year,
as well as from the variety of seeds and soils, we shall
have this year, through DIVINE PROVIDENCE, the
largest field known for many years, even granting
that one tenth of the crop shall be cut off, which we
emphatically deny. The blight—not that of former
years—has occurred during the week in some dife
tricts of this and neighbouring counties ; but
what is the fact ? In some localities it is unknown,
whereas in others it is partial, and by no means ge-
neral in even the same field. In Bigenalatown dis-
trict, for example, we have the authority of the gen-
tleman who filled the chair at the Board of Guardians
on Thursday, for stating that in his locality there was
no blight—and while it partially appears in the
neighbourhood of Ballickmoyler, Queen's County,
the same crop was safe and healthy iu the upper and
higher lands of the same barony; and we have this
tact from an extensive farmer and very intelligent
gentleman, Mr. Joni EDGE, also a guardian of the
union. Mr. NLWTON, of Mount-Leinster Lodge, a
gentleman who is well known for his agricultural
knowledge and enterprise, positively states that the
potatoes are of a superior quality—large, abundant,
and sound. Facts are' stubborn things.' "
We trust, then, that our western fellow• subjects
may not be diflicttd in the present year by this
direful visitation. Famine has left a fretful impress
on their coasts, and its recurrence after such an
awlul diminution in the numbers of the population as
appears on the face of the last census, cannot be con-
templated without a shudder. 'We shall anxiously
look to the accounts of the state of the potato crop,
an unfavourable report of which should not be given
to the public except on such full and sufficient
grounds as may it never fall to our lot to chronicle.
The leaves may be back and rotten, and the tubers
at the same time free from disease. The attack on
the former, however alarming in appearance, is of no
material consequence, pie vided the latter be unin-
jured, but it is calculated to give occasion to
superficial observers to create a panic in the public
mind.

SECTIbiGS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.-011
Satur-
day the usual annual return obtained by Mr. Brotherton,
M.P., was printed, of the number of days on which the
House of Commons sat in the late session. The House sat
120 days, from the 4th of February to the Bth of August in-
clusive. The number of hours was 921 and 2 minutes, of
which 86 mere after midnight. The number of entries in
votes was 7,947. The average time of sitting was 7 hours
40 minutes and 30 seconds.

THE LATE FIRE IN RICHMOND.-.-Mr. Braid wood's
official report describes the damage done as follows
Saturday, Aug. 16, 1851.—A fire broke out at half-past
I in the premises belonging to Mr. Andrew, a
baker, in Upper Hill-street, Richmond. Building burned
down and contents consumed. Stock in trade and furniture
insured in the Sun Fire-office. Mr. Webster, cabinetmaker,
in the same street, the whole of the workshops burned down,
their contents destroyed, and front buildings very seriously
damaged by fire, &C.; buildings and contents insured in the
Imperial Fire-office. Mr. Kirby, private, in the same street,
serious damage to furniture by hasty removal, &c.; not in-
sured. Mr. Luckett, carver and gilder, in the same street,
workshops burned down, and furniture seriously damaged by
removal ; uninsured. Mr. Cole; private, York-house, side
front scorched, and some windows broken; supposed to be
insured in the Phoenix Fire-office. The Vineyard Indepen-
dent Chapel, vestry, &c., burned down ; building insured in
the General Fire-office; the organ and fixtures were insured
in the Atlas Fire-office"

THE RECENT FLOGGING BT WEALE, THE SCHOOL
MASTEIL.•-lt is rumoured that the friends of the above de-
fendant are anxious to remove the trial from the Middlesex
Sessions to the Court of Queen's Bench, in the hope of ha-
rassing the prosecutors, to make them abandon so expensive
a proceeding. In that expectation, however, they will be
disapp inteo' as Mr. Wakehig, the solicitor of Mr. Hinchley
who,-it will be remembered, kindly instituted the proceed-
ing, is fully prepared to meet any attempted opposition, and
will be aided in the expenses attending it by many benevo-
lent ladies and gentlemen, and also by the Islington Reform
Association.

LONDON CHESS CLus —The hundred guinea cup
so handsomely presented by this society for competition to
the foreign visitors of chefs eminence brought here by the
Exhibition, has been honourably gaMed by M. Anderssen.
Among the competitors were MM. Ehrman, Kling, Deacon
of Bruges, Harwitz, Horwitz, tic. Some beautiful play was
elicited. M. Anderssen re urns to Germany uhiversally ad-
mitted to be a stronger chess player than any English player
in the kingdom.

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CLIPPERS.—The Ipswich
Express says :—"During the past twelve months the public
journals have inserted several paragraphs regarding the
sailing qualities of Arnerican.built vessels. The great pride
of a Yankee is that be belongs to a fast' race, and the dis-
position of his countrymen to ' go ahead' has, so far at least
as shipping is concerned, resulted in the building of some
fast-sailing American craft. But competent judges alto-
gether deny that in the quality of speed the English builders
have been excelled ; and they state, if a comparison be
made of the catrying and sailing capacities of ships, that the
old country has• a very marked superiority over the new.
Leaving this question to be decided by those who just now
take such a lively interest in the discussion, we may allude
to a trial of sailing strength which has recently occurred
bet were an American clipper arid the English schooner Aeis.
The American ails a schooner oftl7 tons N. M., named the
Charles A. Stetson, and ciimmanded by Captain Miller. The
Acis, 1 3 tons, N. M., was launched from Mr. W Bas ley's
building-yard, Ipswich, and is the property of F. B. Ede.
Esq , London. The American schooner was built on oannpivuerdpoien
Loudon on July purpose
to compete with English fruit vesselt.. On the sth of June
this vessel
sailed
8. a' t " halt p
1 ( Eleuthera,i•a Bahamas,
ten rad. The Aeia sailed
from the same piece on the 7th of June, two day s later, and
arrived in Loudon Is hours before the American, thus beat-
ing her Yar kee rival by nearly three days. These facts are
Remitted by Captain Miller ; and, after the statements that
have been made regarding the Oriental and other American
gvievsseeplsu,bilticiistybuttoctohmemm.o"B justice to the English builders to
- -

AN AMERICAN MUSICAL CRITIC.—An editor in
Western New York has heard Madame Anna Bishop sing,
and in his enlightened criticism he exclaims, referring to
the lady's tender throat, " What a curious web is woven by
this double threaded shuttle, which carries down pork and
V,atoest 41;(1 brings up 'Casts Diva' and 'Conga thre the
es, ,P