The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-09-07
The Insurrection in China.
AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE.

The following letter, written on board
the Hermcs, the vessel which carried Sir
George Bonham on his visit to the Chi
ncse insurgents at Marking, "tells very
quietly n tale of wonder" as is remarked
by Tie Lonolon Times, from which we
copy the interesting communication
II. NJ. s. HEpMEs, SHANGHAI, May !, 1853.
| have just returned from Marking.
having taken Sir George Donham there.
The Governor of this place. and other
Chinese authorities, having proclaimed
that We were going to assist them with
10 steamers, and it also appearing that
the movement was religious, Sir George
thought right to show that we were neu-
tral, and, by going up, to ascertain their
intentions relative to foreigners.
On going up to Chin-kiang-foo, which
was in the possession of the insurgents.
they, taking for granted the truth of
these proclamations, fred on us and we,
supposing this was the cause, and being
anxious to come to an understanding but
the imperial fotilla coming up they re-
opened fire, so we passed on but the in
surgenis higher up, and on the opposite
SIDE. at kIon Chow, not knowing the
state of affairs, also fired. but we passed
this also without firing However, to
prevent the recurrence. We seized two
Chinese, aud promised them some do,-
ars to take Il letter to the insurgents at
Marking; the result justified the pre-
caution, for on our approach they open
ed fire, without any injury to US, us we
remained out of gunshot.
On understanding from our messenger
that we were neutral, they hockcd Oh
board with the greatest confidence, and
continued to do SO all the time we were
there, evlucing a curiosity quite unusual
with Chinese. Some of the first that
came at once suggested our coming near
er to the town, and actually fcll into
the capstan and clapped on the catfall to
assist in the operations.
After inquiry | was going to write,
but the fact is they let US know immedi-
atcly that they professed Christianity
Protestant Chrstianity--and ! believe
sincerely, and many Of them intelligcntly
so nor can there be a doubt of their
Professionalism, for their expression is
characteristic they always said-as al
SO the lnperialists in speaking of them
that they were worshippcrs of Jesu, in
contradistinction to that of worshippers
or Tien. chu.
They circulate tracts, not copied from
Missionary tracts, but drawn from the
Scriptures by themselves, and written in
a far superior style of Chinese than that
current, or, perhaps, possible to foreign
ers
They are iconoelasts, and destroy cv
cry vestige of idol worship.
They adopt the Ten Commandments
translated by themselves, to which they
have appended nnnotations thus. they
state under the seventh Commandment
that smoking opium is always associated
with the sin mentioned there. and must
be discontinued.
They behead for smoking opium and
bamboo for smoking tobacco.
They said they had the whole of oul
scriptures, but we only saw Genesis.
gave them two New Testaments in Chi
nese and naval and military Bible
This was, Of course, English. On th,
occasion of my giving the New Testa
ment the first time, there was no one
present who could interpret, but tn,
chief opened it, and, after reading two
or three passages, showed by his manner
that he understood what it was and val
ued it and, Gu the interpreter return
ing to my cabin, 1 told him he was t.
present it to his prince. lie rose anC
made several bows, and otherwise ex
pressed his thanks for the present.
They are very severe for any infrac
tion OF morals, and separate the sexe.
to prevent improprieties of any kind
They hold an open court, confronting
litigants not SO in the old Chimes,
courts, where they nearly always hav,
recourse to torture. They style the ar
my the Holy Army" aud the name o
Marking they have changed to that o
the Holy City" They style each 9th
er "brethren," and they invariably call
cd us foreign brethren"
l rode with an interpreter about twelv,
miles and must have passed about 20,
QUO people, carrying rice, furniture, &c
and the interpreter assured me that b,
only heard one expression, that could OF
fend the incest ear, whereas one cal
hardly move as many PAGES elsewhere
without hearing many-indeed, am tol,
the very children use the arosscst OK
pressions in their ordinary play.
1t was obvious to the commonest oh
server that they were practically dii
fereDt race. They had Gutzlafi's edition
of Genesis, and the person they spok
most Of was DR. Loboson. This. W,