Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-03
THE CAPTURE OF SHANGHAI.

The following interesting narrative Of the capture
of the city Of Shanghai was written by an intelli-
gent American, long resident there to his friend IN
New York. who furnished it to the Commercial Ad-
yertiser for publication
SHANGHAI SEPTEMBER 49, 1853.
We awoke on the morning of the 7th and heard that
there had been great disturbance in the city started
with companion at about o'clock A. M. to satisfy my
self to what had taken place. and found that rsvo-
luton had very quietly been effected during the night
The Taouta prisoner and the place in the unds
puted possession OF band who only dstnguishabe
from coolies and such people by their crimson badges
The district magistrate, who personally unpopular,
the only man killed. far learn, by The in
surgens The guard at the gate and some Of the Taou
tails received few scratches but otherwise strange
it may appear, city having 100000 inhabitants was
imperial at night and ''reber' the following
ing anticipating the coup d'efa, and only
hurt in its execution. Truly, the Chinese
wonderful people
l walked through the place within few hours Of
the overthrow of its authorities Armed pa
rading and keeping guard, looking rascals
enough if dangerous but the people looked calm
B and though the change interested them
only by its novelty The revolution complete rapid
ly but etfectually wrought
week has elapsed since the affair. The insurgents
still in possession of the city great many coolies
and the lower ranks OF the people constantly joining
them and there appears to be chance OF the imperial
lists reganng the place The Taouta Sumqua that was
is under the wing Of the American Consul living in
the house of American merchant shorn Of all his
to have nothing to do with the Emperor's cause.
The affair to have arisen in the Triad Society,
and to have been brought about by Canton Chnchoo and
Foken 1t is almost Impossible believe, for any
thing to leak out from such association, and nothing
could have been done quietly and much by SURPRISE
except by the members of the Triad and similar societies
There are various opinions about the connexon
Outstanding between these Shanghai nsurectonsts and
| the actual rebel forces at Nankn.
The Shanghai men declare that their object is to
sis in establishing dynasty and they say they
in correspondence with Tae Ping Wang, and intend to
put themselves under his direction Two days after the
overturn went into the city and had interview with
the leader of the Canton men, the most influential chief
of the party at present He told positively that he
had twice written to Nankn and hourly expecting
messenger back lie professed to be anxious receive
the commands Of Tae PingWang, and said that he had
no intention Of doing business large scale himself
His army hard set The Chinchoo men have also q
chief, and the Foen and the Northern men one or
two. All these within the city and appear to have
equal authority The noble leader whom had the honor
meeting has been broker for foreigners and shr and
is almost used up with opium-smoking. Another in
thory was horse-boy to friend Of mine very recently
Nearly influential among them speaks English,
and Singapore Cinnamon speak it huently
do. No Chnaman Of any responsibility yet admits "
ing connexion with these rebels and foreign
have been able to learn the chiefs and authorities
among them of no character and of very mean
abilities. The missionaries particularly speak of them
with unqualified severity They deny that they have any
connexon with the Nankn men, and say that they
rabbe of the lowest Sort and that any hour
the city given up to riot and plumber We shall see.
Meanwhile many foreigners in considerable alright,
guards of sailors and marines have been landed and NIL
the necessary made repe any attack
the foreign houses Half dozen towns in the neigh
borhood have broken into revolt others give symptoms Of
similar purpose, and there is nothing to hinder them
they choose to do so. i,
1t seems pretty clear that his Imperial Majesty
will speedily easily retake Shanghai. Beyond this
| really find it difficult form decided opinion upon
the nature and result of the movement a ta