Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-11-08
THE STANDING ARMY OF CHINA.

FROM THE BRrTIsH ARMY DESPATCH OF sEPTHMBER 26.
BY tie Overland Friend Of China of the GATH Of July
further intelligence has been received Of the progress Of the
in that Empires which appears be makng yet
| more successful head against the Imperial Power
In the early part Of June last the Chinese Lieutenant
General WI lan-;s had left Canton with the intention Of
coaescing with the commissioners by the Tartar EN-
peror put down the rebellion. But the insurgents had
intention of allowing him to form the coalition with the
would had anticipated and giving him battles apass
called Luk-woee he wastoay routed with loss of upwards
Of thousand men, the general himself being severely
wounded that II is said be will have undergo the ampua
ton Of an arm. #
The which thus attend this outbreak in
the Celestial Empire and the continual defeat of the Imperial
troops by the undscpned rebels goes far eubvert all the
notions that were in Europe Of the
mecal military power at the disposition of the Emperor
and little surprise should be felt the ready of
the British in lS40 the Chinese forces when such
evidence furnished Of the poweessness Of the Emperor to
crush the awess bands which have thrown his realm into
confusion and peried his throne for SO long period
From called official documents have long been led
to believe that China maintains foot army of 7OO
men, But from interesting details recently published by
intelligent officer in the French navy, (Capt Juren de la
Gravere who made it his business inquire into such
matters when in China than own military or naval Off
appear to have done during hostile expedition into
that country in l840, informed, the best autho-
rites that the standing army of China amounts in reality
than 900 soldiers, wholly composed Of Msnd
schu Tartas divided into eight banners The greater part
Of these Tartar regiments remon constantly in the capital
the rest distributed throughout the Provinces and form
the garrsons in the chief towns.
They described by Capt de Ia Gravere courageous
and strongly built men, but Notwithstanding any thing
formidable for their consist only of bows and match
locks and they are void of all skill in military tactics Tho
pirates Of the Malay Archipelago infinitely superior
tesst says the captain TO these Mandschu warriors These
features far the personnel Of the Tar
soldiers cooborated by the given all
hands by those officers and who made the Chinese
paign of ls40.
Besides these CO. 900 men, which constitute the real and
only Chinese regular or standing amy China possesses
is true, militia. The profession Of arms be.
reditsry in families When the has learned from his
father the of the sword and Shield and progressed 60 far
be able give with hand the stroke while be covers
himself with the other to strike the mark with the aveln,
and load and FIRE the Matchbox be then appears be-
fore the mandarin to give proof Of his capabilities and then
purchases the right to the Emperor This privilege
which is sold for few taes (about Is 6d entities the Chi
militia certain quantity Of rice or piece Of
ground 10 his subsistence Thus bound the gebe
these militia not congregated in barracks Each militia
lives home in the circle Of his children cuivates his
morse Of the Celestial Empire, and puts the uniform
only particular and few occasions When the militia are
required for any emergency scarcely fourth the soldiers
inscribed the msndarns registers Some do not re-
port themselves a when summoned and the greater part
have existed ALL and their pay contributed only to in
the appointments Of the ipad officers When how
ever they have been assembled under the banners this
disciplined mass frequently becomes munous, and
frequently whole corps refuse TO fight the enemy unless they
paid extra to do their duty.
Before the invasion of the English war; and therefore all
exercise in the Of arms, thing scarcely dreamt
of in these peaceful regions Even the robbers whose bands
increased by want and oppression frequently Peed the in
tegriy Of the empire feared but little The Chinese soldiers,
and were more frequently dsamd by successful negotiations
than by the imperial army
is thus also with the pirates which infes the coast of
Foken and the Gulf Tokn who beat every war junk and
laugh to the Mandarin navy, fitted only Tor the navi
CATION of rivers Whenever the Chinese Government wished
dsperse tbs pirates they compelled to employ
captain Of these very pse who bad quarreed with his
comrades or been brbed desert with OF the rebel et
to the Emperor With i'll organized elements of strength
there s nothing likely than great revolution in the
Chinese empire the seeds which perhaps the
loss Of prestige the imperial power humbed in tho eyes Of
the people by the Of the European barbarisn