Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-12

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SHANGHAI, CHINA, May 20, ls54.--We have
just arrived to-day from our visit with the Uni
ted States Minister McLane and suite, to the
ports of Fuchow, the Island Of Chusan and
Ningpo. We had most satisfactory visit to
Fuchow. 1t is beautiful port---a large city,
containing 100000 people, and is situated in
the heart of the black tea country. Russell Il
Co. are the only Americans doing business
there, and they have only branched from this
port to that within the last year. Their success
has been wonderful, and Mr.. Cunningham, the
chief of the house here, deserves great credit
for his enterprise. From present appearances,
/ have no doubt that eventually, it may rival
this port is its exports tea. But it can never
equal this port in general for trade. No port
in China has geographical position to equal
this. At Fuchow we remained but two days,
not seeing the Viceroy, as the minister did not
wish for an interview, and then we steamed
down the beautiful river Min, ran about the har-
Dor of Chusan, and then went into Ningpo,
another of the ports open for trade. This is a
large and populous city, but not equal to Flu
chow. In short, the more | see of China, the
more am convinced that there is no part Of
China 80 desirable as port of trade, from which
greater access to the interior can be obtained
than this of Shanghai.
On our arrival, we found the United States
steam.frigate Susquehanna oil ready to go with
us, and we now proceed up the great Yangtze
Kiang river to Chin-Kiang, and if we can find
the viceroy there, Mr. McLane will have talk
with him, and then proceed on to Marking to
have talk with the rebels, and see how much
more we can get out of them than we at pre-
sent have from the imperialists. 1t will be the
first American vessel of war that ever assembled
tba -, 70 he ret ANA N
ambassador. This is we'll, for we all think out
here that Mr.. McLane is the best adapted to
ell this post of any man that has ever been
here, DR.. Bridgman and Rev. Mr. Cubertson,
with myself,a all who accompany Mr.. McLane
besides his own immediate suite.
On our return, think will be able to tell
you about new treaties with China of great i'm
portance to Americans. AT all events, ] will
inform you of what is done.
We are beginning to receive great news from
the rebels. They are pressing onto Picking with
three large armies, defeating the imperialists
at every point, although through the Picking
Gazette, government paper, we were in fear,
from late accounts, they were getting the worst
of it. l send you extracts in full from the
latest papers, which show that some success
reported by the imperial officers were dreadful
defeats, and the emperor has just found it out
From them you can extract what you like.
Since we left here two high mandarins have
arrived from Nankin, and joined the rebels in
the city. They have told them that they come
from "Thae-ping- wang, at Marking, to aid
them in their good fight against the impish inn
perialists at this point"
The orders from Marking are that they must
not leave the city to fight but defend them
selves behind the walls, for in short time he
will send an army down to their aid and to ex-
terminate the imperialists. This advice they
are following, and if they continue SO to do the
impossibility of .Lamqua the Taoutae," ever
retaking the city is beyond doubt. Thae-
ping-wang has also ordered that they shall de-
stroy all their idols Coshes,) and worship "the
only living and true God" This they are now
doing. What next? Just think of it. The
men who few days ago were eating, from a
feeling Of revenge, the hearts of those they van
quished, and were guilty Of many other shock
ing barbarities, have now abjured, by public
proclamations, their idolatrous faith of centu.
ries, and claim to be considered Christians,
and followers of the true God. / send you
these remarkable proclamations in full, which
l hope you will publish, as they are, without
doubt, the most remarkable specimens Of bare.
faced hypocrisy which ever emanated from an
Asiatic brain. ORIENTAL.