The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-20


year lsl2.
The rebel chief now advanced boldly, took posses
SION Of two provinces and killed all the msndarns;
whilst he granted to the people full exemption
from taxes. This gained him the affection OF the
populace the imperial soldiers len their standards,
and ranged under his hammer. lie longer scrupled
10 proclaim himself Emperor, and marched towards
Pekin. The lat OF the Ming sovereigns, Tsung-
ching, had grown sullen after 10 many ealamities
Lad beiallen the empire. His soldiers were without
pay, and had scarcely the neeesaries OF life; misery
piPred throughout the court Hearing Of the ap-
proach Of the rebels 10 the capital the Emperor was
thrown into the utmost CONSERVATION. lie had laid
the country waste with fire and sword on his march;
and regardless Of the hives OF his soldiers, be had
sacrificed Thousands before the fortress on his way
10 Pekin. The army stationed 10 protect the capital
threw down their arms; the unhappy Emperor ii.
lently awaited his fate. traitoroas eunuch opened
the gates Of the city, and tie rehes made triumph
ant entrance.
When TsLng ching, the Emperor, saw that he
could no longer depend upon any man, he called the
grandees Of bis court and family together. IAN Is
lost = he exclaimed; tears stood 10 his eyes; he could
speak further The empress was In the deepest dis
iress she left the ararment embraced Lerthree young
children, Kissed them fervcnty and then strangled
herself in o retired part 81 the palace. The En-
peIor then called his daughter, girl Of fifteen years
of age. why said he, "are you bern Of such un-
happy parents T. and aiming blow at her with his
sword, lac levelled her TO the ground Her wounds.
however. were not fatal Ater this, he gave
orders TO al bis wives and concubines 10 Kill
themselves; and dressed IN the imperial robes has
tened t. one Of the city gates but found IL in posses
sion oftle enemy Returning to the palace, and find
inc IL deserted he was AZ the point Of despair. For
saken BY the whole weird, he went to retired spo.
near the palace where he wrote paper accusing
himself Of having been the cause Of 50 musR misery
charging tie erardoes his accomplices, and con-
cluded spying, take my corpse. cut Il In pieces,
am content with this; but spare my people and do
them no wrong" He then took bis own girdle and
stranfled himself as did also solitary attendant On
this tragic scene.
Thus died the last monarch OF the Mag Irnpe.
rial family. Unforeen evils brought on the des-
tructlon of this dynasty. China was on the whole,
during the entire period Of its continuance, in
fourishng state. Few Of the princes were vicious
some Of them were excellent rulers and men OF
high order Of talent But the extent Of their terri.
tory was FIR less than 1t had been under their prcie
cesso..s the Yuen dynasty the descendants Of
Gengis Khan
The Tartar troops, under Tsung-tic, the Mantchco
chief, were drawn up along the frontiers, where q
brave Chinese commander kept them In check, when
the tragical end OF Tsung ching was made known.
The Chinese general concluded an annistice, and
called in the aid Of the Tartars, TO annihilate the
robber lie and his rebel troops. The allied Chinese
apl To tha from, tha nd a
stipulated tribute was paid to the Tartar, but they
refused TO return home. While negotiations between
the Chinese general and the Tartars were still pend
ing Tsung tih the Tartar chief. who had been de-
clared Emperor in less, died but his adheren;s
in Pekin proclaimed his nephew, shun-ehe,
and appointed a regency during his minority,
in l644. He was the first emperor Of the
present Tartar or Ta-Tsing dynasty.
In the meanwhile. the Chinese maadarns at the city
Of Nankin, the ancient imperial capital, proclaimed
Choo yewsung, the grandson of VIVIAN leih or Ching
tsung, Of the Ming 6ynasiy-Emperor. The empire
might still have been delivered from the Tartars for
their numbers were few; theirpriuce declared empe
ror was minor, and the hatred Of the Chinese
against barbaIians very keen; but the young
Chinese prince was an eifemiLate being, who spent
most of his time amongst ennuchs and women. The
Tartar army very soon oyercame the Chinese troops
sent against them, and took Nalkn, whilst Prince
Choo-yew-sung, a wretched exile, aud forsaken b.
his own people, drowned himself in the Yangtse-
keang river Loogan another descendant OF the
Ming family, awaited the victorious Tartlrs al Hang
cLoo, which city he surrendered to them, after
feeble resistance and was himself taken and killed.
OF the family Of Tsung Ching, the last Emperor OF
the Ming dynasty, his daughter, at whom he had
aimed deadly blow, survived, and was, after her
recovery, married to Chinese grandee. There still
remained at Pekn after the fall OF the city into the
hands Of tie Chinese rebels, brave imperial general
Lee-kwo-c ching, who disputed the victory with lie,
the rebel chief; but when the latter promised TO
spare the princes Of the blood, and to give the En-
peror and Empress an appropriate funeral, Le-kwo-
ching submitted lie was present at the burial OF
the royal family, and as faithful servant believed
their touhs with his tears Having at first promised
TO serve under the banners Of lie, the rebel chief he
repented because heirs to the crown were still alive.
To save himself the disgrace of fighting against the
family Of his former sovereign he committed suicide.
When the rebels under lie, their leader, were
driven iron Pekn by the allied forces Of Imperalss
and Tartars, as we have mentioned, they left that
capital during the night, after setting fire to the i'm
perial palace. The flames were exhnguished, and
the rebo- being pursued by the Imperialists, were
defeated with great slaughter, and dispersed. lie,
the Iobber chief vigorously pursued was reduced to
great straits His troops deserted him, and he was
compelled 10 fec to mountain for concealment.
Hunger forced MIN from his retreat; heiwas taken
prisoner by some peasants, who cut of his head
without knowing VINO he was, and sent it to the Chi
uese general. Thus this rebellion was quelled bat,
have seen, the Tartars took possession Of the
empire and placed one Of their own princes on the
throne.
After the death Of Choo-yew-sung, Of the Ming
dynasty, who Rad been proclaimed Emperor at Nan
kin, and the capture of that city by the Tartars
had drowned himself in the river Yang-tse, the Chi
nese offered the crown to Prince Loo-gan, of the
Ming family, but he declined the honor, whilst the
Tartars were advancing and carrying all before
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