, 1853-11-05
The Chinese Rebellion.

The Chinese Rebellion is by all acknowl-
edged the most important event of the nine
teenth century. We are accustomed to note
with intense interest the uprising of a Eu-
ropcan nation of FIVE or ten millions Of In
habitants, but what is that compared with
the giant struggles of people numbering
three hundred and fifty millions, intent on
overturning the political, religious and inter
national dogmas to which they have adhered
for centuries. We cannot attach too much
consequence 10 the results which are TO
flow from the success ofths revolution, and
we have, therefore, kept our readers fully
advised Of It's character and progress. Hecn-
flung, the present Tatiar Emperor, asccnded
the. throne little upwards Of three years ago.
Scarcely had he assumed the reins of gov
ernmeut, when disturbances broke out in
Kwang-se, q maTalime province lying in the
extreme south, to the west Of Canton, which
subsequently ripened into the revolution
which has proved so successful. The Thae-
ping or rebel dynasty dates from the origin
Of these disturbances. To understand the
operations Of the rebels. il must be borne in
mind that the whole Empire is divided into
eighteen provinces, each province into pro-
vi1cial districts, and each district into cities
and towns Of the first, second and third
classes. The two provinces Of Kwang-se
and KYang.tung, Of which last Canton is
the capital, front upon the China Sea in the
south. The rebels first obtained control of
the former Instead Of turning their arms
eastward against the rich and powerful prov
ince Of Kwang- -tDng adjoining, which in the
infancy Of their organization could have
easily repalled them, they directed their
march northward, passed the.great chain Of
mountains which, running east and west
across the Empire, bounded their province
on the north, and burst into Hounan. AZ
ter a protTacted contest here, they gradual
ly obtained accessions TO their ranks, forced
the imperialists before them, and rapidly
overran Houpe, the next province to the
north and the very centre Of the Empire
This brought them 10 the banks the Yang.
tsze -kiang, he great artery Of the country,
which, pursuing a course a little north of
east, passes by Nanking aud emptics into
the Pacific Ocean in the vicinity Of Shang-
hao. Their position upon this river enabled
them to cut of the trade OF both these cities.
After delaying here a sufficient Time to col
ect feet Of boats, they turned their faces
eastward, descended the river, entered the
province Of Nganhocc, attacked and carried
lis capital, the great city Of Marking, by
storm, aud Immediately pushed on 10 gain
possession Of Chin keang, an important city
situated on the Yang-tsze- kiang, just where
the Imperial canal empties into il. They
carried this by storm, and were thus enabled
to command the entrance to that important
highway Of trade. At last accounts they
were still on the Yang -tze- kiang, preparing
TO continue their march 10 the north But
two provinces interlrred between them and
Peking, which is situated very near the
Great Wall that separates China from Tar
tary. IN their progress north, the rebels
passed on their right the three eastern PROV
inccs of Kwang-tung, whose capital is Can
ton Fukicn, in which is Annoy and Che
kilng, in which is Nincpo. By this subse-
,,ucnl movement to the east, these three
provinces were brought directly south Of
Them. They have not yet been attacked, |
but they a,e completely cut of from Com
municlli3n with Ptking, and III, poorlo |