Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-12-03

February they took Hank-how; on the l4th
they gained the great battle of Han-chown;
on the 18th they entered the city of Kew
keang, the great centre Of the interior
trade; and on the oath they took Gnan-kin;
the capital of the province Ngan-hoee.
In the beginning of March, the Intendant
at Shanghae reported that he had sent 610
cannon, $500 pounds of ball, and 800
pounds of powder to the Imperial troops, but
| the materials appear to have done little
good.
Previous to this time the Taoutae at
Shanghac had made application to the for
eigners and representatives of Foreign
Powers for aid. A few foreigners, princi-
pally sailors, hired themselves out to fight
against the rebels: but all the officers of
the Government refused to take part.
On the 2lst of March the insurgents took
Nanking. the second city of the Empire in
Importance. A little more than month
after, Sir George Bonham went up the Yang
tze-Kiang to the captured city, in the
steamer Hermes, and while there had some
intercourse with the rebels, and discovered
that they were religious as well as political
reformers, of which nothing satisfactory was
known before.
Their religion appears to be a compound
of the Mosaic Law, the precepts of Confu-
cius, not without resemblance in some
points to Mormonism and Mahommedanism.
They have published number of religious
books Among the authors are several Of
their military leaders; and the Emperor
himself is the ostensible author of one Of
their most liberal books. The peaceful
documents of the New Testament seem to
find little favor with him, for he declares
that he will kill all the Buddhist priests and
all those who have been Jealous In building
temples. 1t is believed that the resemblance
of some of the new doctrines to christianity
is caused by the education of one or
more of the authors by the missionaries in
China.
On the 18th of May, Annoy was taken by
the g. Small Knife" Society, rebel associa-
ton, unconnected with the rebel Emperor
but yet friendly to him.
There We're several battles about the lst
of July north of the Yang -Kiang, in
which the rebels conquered the best troops
of Tartars from the Armorer. Early in
July the important city Fur Yang had fallen
and the rebels marched thence toward
Pekin.
Inere was great uiScOhtent III tiit Pro-
vince of Shantung at the last accounts, and
the Imperialists were in dread of a general
rising of the people.
A rumor of the capture Of Pekin has
reached us, and it has an air of probability
If it be true, the Manchoo Dynasty has
fallen.
The new Emperor has court, regularly
officers, an established cere-
monial, and acts as though he were firmly
seated on the high throne of the great CEN
tral kingdom.
The rebels now appear to be IN possess
ion, partial, at least, Of the provinces of
Kwang-tun, Kwang-se, Kiangse, Hoonan,
Eou-pih, Kwei choo, Tuh-kien, Zu-chuen,
Ngan hocc Ho-nan, Shan-tung, Kiang-su
and Chekiang. These provinces form the
centre and most fertile. thickly populated
and valuable portion of the Empire, and
their aggregate population is more than
$50 100000. Such has been the progress
Of the great Chinese Revolution, which pro-
misses to effect greater changes than would
be produced by centuries of ordinary occur
Cal