The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-18
From las Hong Kong Orsr's~d Mai Of MsreA IL
The Rebellion fu China

Our chief information about the rebellion since
last Mail is comprised in the following imperial
edict Of late date:
$40 day (29tb january q memorial was re-
ceived from Commissioner Sill stating that the re-
bells had captured the provincial city Wu-chang.
(the capital OF ho- pin Province.) We cannot ex-
press our indignation. Hssng-yung, the genera /,
fought with the rebels the eastward Of the city,
and was victorious; but the westward of the city
- level with the lake, and the Waog-chang and
other gates are near the mighty river, {Yang tsx
kiangO The rebels took advantage of this and
dug mine, and on the 4th day Of this moon (l2th
January some under ground explosion took place;
and thus the garrison was scattered, and the pro-
vincial city W. chang was taken by the rebels
ACCORDING a former memorial of Sill, il was
stated that WI chang was able TO withstand
siege; and only a few days afterwards ne has TO
report that WI chang has been taken BY the re-
bells. Does he not know that in military affairs
there is a difference between matters that may be
postponed and those which demand instant &C
tionS His memorial Is as the thoughts OF man
in dream. Between Chang shs and Hoo pm,
Sill tarried on his way. Hiang-yung. who is the
comma nder in chief, though he arrived in time to
obtain victory, yet he could not at the same time
attack the strong position OF the rebels, and ut
terly rout them. He aso is allow in the busins ~,
and there is no excuse for Ell her of them. This is
the time TO exlrpaie the rebels, and if the Com
missioner Sii and General Hang yung we're hea-
Willy punished, il would only deliver them out Of
their difficulties therefore the Governor General
ship of the Two kwang and the honor of the dou-
Die eyed peacock fea Their to be taken away
from Sit, but he ia to retain the title of High Com
missioner and of Acting Governor General of Hoo
K~ang. General Hang yung is degraded, but
ne 10 to continue in the performance of his duties
until his future merits are manifested
"rhe provincial city Wu-chang is the residence
of toe governor and other high officers; how
suddenly il taken by the rebels. and how
great ia sympathy for the distress it endures.
We repeat that we did not employ the right per
sons, and that our people have not been delivered
from A Mo araakp
gives Us no rest by night, and depriyes Us of appe'
Ute. We have already Appointed La KEN ying
governor general of the Two Kianx) and ke-
shen to be high commissioners, each to lead
strong army for the eKtirpation Of the rebels and
also commanded Shuhigsh, the governor gen.
eral Of Snen-s 81 and khn-suh, and Yu sui, the
general of So chuen, to proceed TO Ho-pih and HUI
nan and exurpate the rebels with their united
forces We rely their acting with one heart,
and allowing no territory to be destroyed by the
rebels, and SO restore peace to the country. Let
them not be SLOW in what they do, SO to bring
themselves into trouble.
GAS to the officers Of the provincial city of WI
chang, We direct Sill to present true account Of
them. Obey this"
The loss of life at Wa chang fl is said to have
been very great, and the captors were especially
bent on demoshing official residences. Temples
with their idols also said to have been generally
destroyed, from which circumstance it may be in
ferrsd that the rebels may have been led by Stu
lars were given In our OoUIand of August last
But large sea port city so crowded As Wa. chang
is described to be,* ladrones and the government
troops may have destroyed more life and property
than the enemy.
The people Of Canton full of the tidings re-.
specting the family and property of Governor Gen
eral feb, whose relatives were the especial objects
Of the ire Of the insurgents at Wu-chsng IA, in
revenge for the indgnities offered one of their
Canton leaders, Fung Yum shan, whose family
tomb was desecrated and erased by Yeh, about two
years anu a half ago. Yeh's father is at present
in Canton, but his house has been ruin' and bis
family killed or scattered. The governor general,
it ia said, wishes to vacate bis office and head 8
body Of volunteers to destroy the perpetrators of
the outrage, and this show of bravado are told,
| rather amuses the Cantonese. Yeh is now In Kau.
chau fu, and 1t is uncertain when hs is to return.
1T is rumored that the yictors intend to continue
northward by the safest route into Ho- nau rather
than proceed down the Yang-tsE- kiang, and
leaving their conquests to the government, press
onward to Chin ii, (the province in which Picking
il situated.)