The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-22 00:00:00

wing of the battalion of Royal Marine Light In-
fantry and the toodianah Regiment of Native In-
fantry, with three British men-of-war and a
French force some 600 strong. Most of the wealthy
shopkeepers living within the walls have deserted
the place, leaving behind only those who have

nothing to lose. Guards of the allied forces occupy
the gates of the city, and strong outposts have
been established beyond the European settlements,
to guard against surprise.

The great and wealthy city of Soo-chow, the pro-
vincial capital of Kiang-Su, is in the hands of the
insurgents ; and in all directions the wavering im-
perial troops are going over by thousands to the
" pestilent vermin," as the long-haired revivalists
of the Ming dynasty are styled in official edicts. Ho,
the Governor-General of the Two Kiang, and an
Imperial Commissioner of the first class, empowered
to adjust " barbarian affairs," on visiting Shanghai
a short time since, tried to stir up a loyal feeling
amongst the populace, and to enrol volunteers from
amongst them to serve under his master's standards
500 rapscallions and ragamuffins, the scum of the
streets, accepted the proffered bounty of two taels
(about 135.) ; the least disreputable of these tatter-
demalions received the rank of sergeants and sub-
officers, and this notable rabble-rout was dubbed
with the imposing title of Body Guard of bis Ex
cellency the Governor-General of the Two Kiang.
The business which had brought Commissioner Ho
to Shanghai being terminated, he proceeded to re-
turn in state, escorted by this honourable posse of
gentlemen-at-arms. The work of Messrs. Gallery
and Yvan, translated into our own language by
Oxenford, gives a long detailed account of the
rise and progress of this great struggle for liberty
by the Chinese race, who have smarted under the
yoke of their Tartar conquerors for 260 years.
The facts related by these gentlemen appear to be
confirmed by the observations of our own ambas-
sador during his enterprising ascent of the Yang-
tse to Han-kow, an amusing and instructive descrip-
tion of which adventurous expedition is to be found
in Mr. Oliphant's work, to which I have before
alluded. With the great provincial capitals of the
central distracts in the hands of the insurgents, the
revenues exhausted, the troops disaffected, and the
populace sympathising with the rebel lineal de-
scendant of the old Ming dynasty, it is evident
that the Imperial Government cannot long contend
with the allied forces of England and France.
A great force has been assembled here, at a cost
that will make the hair of our economists stand on
end when the " little bill" is produced for payment.
£BOO,OOO was the sum originally voted for the ex-
penses of this expedition, and the commissariat
alone disbursed in the last month £485,000 or more
than one-half of the entire sum voted. A calcula-
tion has been made here by pretty competent
judges that, supposing the whole affair to be settled
and the force dispersed by the first of January,
1861, the expenditure would not amount to less
than £7,000,000 sterling.
We have been waiting now for fully a fort-
night for our gallant allies, and the Forbin came
in on the Bth to inform us that the 25th of the
month would be the earliest day on which they
the reduction of the Peiho defences will
can possibly move onward. We fear that
be followed by immediate submission to our dicta-
tion—the yielding of the Court of Pekin, by the
withdrawal of our force—and the withdrawal of
the force, by the instant refusal to fulfil their fair
and false promises. It is indeed to be hoped that
we shall not make this the third occasion on which
we have been similarly gulled by this treacherous
and faithless nation. We are slow to benefit by
experience, but it will indeed be an unsatisfactory
expenditure of our time and treasure if an insecure
peace is hastily patched up, only to fall through as
soon as our backs are turned.
The 23d of July is named as the day for the
departure of the British force for the Gulf of
Pecheli.