Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-24
From the Boston Traveller, Nov. 10.
The Chinese Revolution.

All accounts from China concur in saying
that the revolutionists are carrying all before
them. Their success has been so uniform that
the imperialists are struck with panic, and
often fee before drawing trigger. The en-
peror in his proclamations denounces the
cowardly conduct of his officers and men all
in vain; and has at length followed their con-
tagious example, and fled to place Of safety.
The Pekin Gazette, the court journal Of China,
Notwithstanding this continued success of the
revolutionists, has been publishing, from time
to time, up to August 3, glowing accounts of
victories won by the brave imperialists
We have the North China Herald of August
q and %. These papers abound in copious
translations from the Pekin Gazette, the mouth
piece of the emperor, made by DR.. Medhurst.
They are most curious and wonderful illustra-
tons Of the condition of things in the capital
Here is an account of most remarkable vic
tory which some imperial general has obtained
over the "rebellious thieves !" and next is a
scolding proclamation from the emperor, threat
ening to take off Ke-shen and Heang-yang's
heads, if they continue to misbehave them
selves. .
The last extract from the Court Journal, of
August 3, reports succession of splendid vic
tories over the rebels on the banks of the yell
low river. According to this, one day the re-
bells Aed from Khaefung, and were pursued by
cavalry, "who caught and decapited great
number" on succeeding day :" the impe-
rialists killed 800 of the enemy; !" they then
fed for their boats and were fred on and the
whole of them were killed; l3 of the enemys
vessels were burned, so prisoners made, &C., &c.
Such was the latest news sent up to Pekin; in
view of which, the emperor says: GAS the
thieves are now reduced to the last extremity,
- L. Al
them, and particularly to prevent their Selling
vessels and crossing the Yellow river" He
then proceeds to order the civil and military
officers in charge of Khaefung, "to exert them
selves Immediately to exterminate the rebels
on the south side of the river, and them" he
says, 1--WE have no doubt but that this insig-
nifcant band of robbers will, without difficulty,
be swept away from the face of the earth"
1t is hardly necessary to say that there is not
probably q substantial truth in this whole ac-
count of victories won by the imperialists. The
Mandarins, civil and military, appear to be
the most impudent and infamous liars that ever
went unhung; and of this the Emperor himself
occasionally seems to have an inkling, for he
berates some of them most soundly, accusing
them of borrowing pretexts, and throwing the
the blame Of their defeats on others, thus
smothering conscience and INDUCING deceit,
which is altogether most bitterly detestable."
Recent accounts have repeatedly intimated
that the rebels were only united on one point,
the destruction of the Tartar dynasty, and that
this being accomplished, there would be great
danger Of collisions among themselves.
Shanghai correspondent of the Daily Advertiser
alludes to this particular. He says:
at is now said that there is no such person
as fTsin Tae, who has so long been considered
the leader Of the rebellion, and that there never
has been such character. The rebels of the
Token province are said to be entirely dis
tinct from those on the banks Of the Yang
Use, and even the large and powerful body
which captured and hold Nankin are said to
be composed of two distinct bodies, and under
separate chiefs, one of whom claims to be
legitimate descendant of the old Ming emperors
and who avows his object to be determination
Of the Tartars, and to seat himself upon the
throne of his fathers, and to restore the ancient
glories of China. Another chief is certainly
the famous Hang Tsin T'suen, the pupil Of
the missionary Roberts, who calls himself the
Tsin Wang, and who makes the destruction of
idolatry and belief in the Great God as
important objects as that of the overthrow of
the Tartars."