Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-04

be subyerted in a civil war, but nothing more.
The relative positions Of the bsigerents sketched
at length in the correspondence which published
yesterday An ordinary map Of the Chinese empire will
show that il is irregulary bisccted by great river call
ed the Yang Kiang, towards the mouth OF which Nam
kim the southern imperial capital is situated The re-
bells masters Of the whole of this stream,
and as added Of the whole country to the south
Of it, excepting portion Of the seaboard This is q
point however, Of material Importance and on which
the reports involve contradiction 1.-THE insurgents
have only oyerrun the provinces between the southern
and the Yangse river, bat have retained them in
kind of subsection occupation, the fact would
imply not only great strength their part but con-
siderable amount of popular support For ourselves,
are inclined look upon the report with suspicion
both opposed to the general probabilities Of the case
and because we understand the Emperor to be still In
receipt Of revenue from those provinces which thus
assigned to the keeping OF his enemies De this as 1T
may the army OF the insurgents undoubtedly the
advances its right wing from Nankin, and its left from
Voutc hang or Woochungthe destination of the whole
force being Pekin the northern capital of the empire,
and the residence of the Sovereign The rebels
be opposed by two imperial armies directed against their
right and left divisions respectively, and the event Of
this collision depended the fate Of the dynasty and per-
haps the prospects Of China.
In prospects the interests Of the British Empire
most materially concerned In the first place. large
portion of Indian is derived from the sale Of
opium to the Chinese--a commerce which has hitherto
been extensive contraband and profitable The second
Of these conditions has already been touched upon by
Imperial edct legalizing the sale of opium; and
thoughh is been opposed by the local authorities in
terested in maintaining existing practices it will proba-
bly, be carried out since it is only popular measure
that it proposed Whether this any other arrange
men will permanently affect trade depending upon the
personal propenstes Of the people may be matter Of
doubt but there is such uncertainty respecting the
trade tea If the provinces producing this plant
tinue to be- they are, the of feroeious
conflict it is impossible to doubt that the cultivation and
the exports Of this staple must be greatly diminished
whereas most recent financial theories have been
based not only upon the maintenance but upon the
sbty Of this very trade The remission of the tea du-
ties presumes both that the consumption of the article
will increase in this country and that larger quantities
of exports may possibly be taken by the Chinese
IT, however, the empire at largo and the ten districts In
particular distracted by civil and revolution it
is evident that antcpaons in these respects des
tined to disappointment The supply of tea more like
ly fall off than increase and it is not probable that
demand for European goods can be created at period Of
internal disturbance.
Under these circumstances, it becomes question Of
some Importance to determine whether should be
ranted in attempting to influence results by any interior
ence Of our That there ample opportunities for
such intervention, and that application, indeed has been
already made to in this matter will have been seen by
the published reports Although moreover, the British
force upon the spot is exceedingly small yet such is the
nature of the contest and such the prestige of arms
that demonstration on our part might possibly affect
the whole of events and in fact the insurgents
have hitherto avoided the for the express pur
pose of escaping collision with In the present state,
however, of information, it becomes impossible to
form any opinion ON point ike ths while there are all
tie notorious lessons Of experience to dssuade Us from
meddling
We tell in the case before on which side our
interest duties may liewhether the instruction
is justfable unjustifable promising unprcmsing;
whether the feelings of the people involved in it
not or whether its would bring change for the
better worse, any change at ALL in relations
with the Chinese 1t may be said perhaps that have
prma facie alliance with the established Government
and undoubtedly if the rebellion of the character
assigned to it by the imperial officers in their dcts it
might be desirable that should aid in the restoration
of order. But these are points which possess
satisfactory assurance, is il probable imagine,
that any thing viii be attempted by the British force in
those parts beyond the protection Of British property
This property the rebels already well enough dispos
ed to respect has there far leam been
any complaint alleged against them by British Subjects
war steamer has been dispatched to Shanghai in aid Of
the small force already in that port and the French and
American navies also represented the spot Per-
haps concerted Intervention of these authorities might
be exercised to good purpose but the
likely toresult from state of chronic revolution in China
would be far less burdensome than the Obligations inse
paraby attaching to unnecessary interference with the
affairs Of others