Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-18
THE CHINESE WAR.

A commercial letter from Canton of April Goth
shadows forth the opinion of foreign residents of
China with regard to the struggle in that country,
as follows
In regard 10 the struggle, which have had occa-
sion 70 notice incidentally for months past may
that i be considered have assumed the
form Of civil war although it may be already doubted
whether any Of the Chinese, besides the officers and de-
pendents Of Government sympathize with their Tartar
rulers thus giving il rather the character of an effort on
their part TO free themselves from foreign yoke than
that OF purely domestic difficulty Considering the many
indications of Reorganization in the country, and the
prestige now fayorag the Of the revolutoniss they
may be viewed as the party Of order and such enti
tied to the good wishes which seem SO general amongst
foreigners in the couetry."
The London Shipping List of the 31st has the
following;
With respect to the Of affairs in China the let
tiers both from Canton and Shanghai throw doubt
upon the interference Of tire combined foreign sauadrons
in support of the Emperor least to any active extent
AT Canton 1t understood that although up to the
18th of March Nankin had not been taken the outer
walls had been preached and there was prospect of an
early captuation, after which Pekn the capital would
be in imminent danger the insurgents would be able
TO stop all supplies of grain from the south AT Shang
hail on the 18th of March, general belief prevailed that
the assault had been attended with partial not entire
success The force consisting Of several foreign vessels
which the imperial authorities Shanghai had been col
Letting to convey stores and ammunition the besieged
city, had not yet been sent off and it now thought
unlikely that any assistance would arrive there in time
Meanwhile, business affairs Shanghai were less dis
turbei than might have been anticipated The presence
or the various British and American ships and
produced feeling of security among the natives of the
vicinity calculated to induce them carry such trad
ing operations as could be conducted by barter.
with regard to tea, opinions less settled. On
the subject OF the popular feeling with regard the issue
of the struggle the present letters tend strongly
that the ruling dynasty has real hold upon the nation
An impression consequently prevailed that when the
ture of Nankn should have been effected the country
the south would pass under the sway of the rebels with
other disturbance than would be caused by the dis
placement of unpopular local officers The presence of
foreigners among the insurgents appears be confirmed
IN letter received by English house from young
man who left this country few years back, and who
now writes that he is engaged with them artillery
othcer and that he knows Of six others who likewise
active in the service"
The China Mail, Hong Kong April IL, says:
'.Its extremely difficult learn the truth concerning
the state of affairs among the imperass and the mani
fesoes obtained from the people, as having emanated
from the leaders Of the Insurgents unsatisfactory
to their intentions numbers, and successes Their plan
appears be press UPWARDS towards Pekn with their
whole force leaving their orUc
cupy their conquest consequently all the districts they
pass revert TO the Emperor whose officers
their usual functions
The defeats experienced by the troops have excited
his Majesty's indignation and among others who have
suffered punishment is the quondam Governor General Su
kwangsin who has been sentenced to execution and his
property contscated That portion of it in Canton
taken possession Of few days ago. valued according
the reports most credible at about thousand dollars
Several other included in the sentence
some for deceiyng the Emperor others for notorious in
efficiency and others again for permitting themselves to
be defeated by the insurgents
9 The general superintendent Of matters has been
meanwhile entrusted Hang Yung the officer degraded
by Su about year ago.
Yeh is expected 10 return to Canton to take
for the safety and of the city, which still
remains in quiet Large numbers of the people however
joining the Triad Society many of its members being
men Of influence among the insurgents"