Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-07
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
ras susoUEHANNA,s VISIT TO NANKING.

We End in our files of the Hong Kong Overlan
Essiassr an account COPIED from the North Chin
Huaid Of june 24) of the visit Of the Unite
xiAtss steam-friYass Susquehanna to Marking
TMuaeh little as to Che communications between tn
Inmrgent authorities and Capt. BUCHANAN ha
Essn made public, there is something in the Anne
IE.u's impression of them, differing from the Eng
Eh view, which may aid us in forming judg
Ams rs to the prospects of this revolutionary
nsumanent The following liberal statement as to
dss reserve shown towards Christian foreigners is
much more satisfactory than the severe anmadver-
snx passed the insurgents by the officers Of the
HtitSsh ship-of-war Hermes:
@@Tsae Susouehanna and her consort reached Marking
O. asHarday afternoon, the 9th Of May. On Tuesday
suzg communication was received from the city in
to from Capt. Buchanan Its contents have
INC been made public but it is generally understood that
N uas similar in its tone the communication addressed
fdir George Bonham during the visit of the Hermes.
Msgcx forth the same claims to universal supremacy
suh II states those claims, it is believed in stronger
Euage and with more preposterous tone of sefcon-
rzn appears in the letter the English Plenipoten-
drY- The feeling manifested, however, is the same.
1src Is evidence Of any change Of policy of feel
thu cssards foreigners since the visit of the Hermes On
c sgst If the people and subordinate officials the same
fAEonaiy feeling was manifested that was observed
yerr ago.
Tess claims to superiority inconsistent with
xtH sxisrence OF purpose to encourage foreign
suas they the result ignorance and pride They
- hAwever, be bar to the formation Of treaties; and
arvre it becomes the treaty Powers to set them right
Eais point soon possible. The reception given
eiguers at Marking does not prove the existence Of
8faGug of hostility the part Of the insurgent chiefs
Ehsy naturally to such visits because they
understand their object and it is not strange that
sy sGould be suspicious of those whom they know
1e01 Friendly terms with their enemies How are they
IL 2s~ that their visitors not spies seeking to gain
aGrntion for the benefit of the imperial generals The
az she Susquehanna has put in possession of facts
ie4 grove that the insurgents have undisturbed con-
E sf large extent Of country, large to furnish
guarantee to their ultimate 1t is certain that
ey rssH have command of the Yang river far at
Dsse IN the Poyang lake, and probably much further
H seems to be nothing that prevent their triumph
cn.srnal dssensions of which at present no symptoms
zppexr. IL, therefore, question Of some importance
VI tt sreaty Powers whether they will insist upon
Understanding with the rising party wait until
tz5eY SHALL have gained the empire"
Tho picture given of the Marking populace dur
ing ase investment of their city by the insurgent
nxny csntains much that is peculiar in general life
znnDs; the Chinese:
-rn The immediate vicinity Of Marking, however the
nssry is not in the power Of the insurgents. An inn
Fisst force is encamped near the east gate and this
the exercise Of authority by the insurgents over
In aFantry people. daily market is held at point
xrk mile distant from the city wall for the sale Of
uiEry vegetables meat and other produce. The
tr people who attend it still shave their heads and
E,sxnitted to approach any to the city than
s1aea ate Of the market
.. Eae city itself is under strict martial law and in
1ke2 Us at present military camp. The most rigid
xfsurine and perfect order maintained None are
aa1ted pass in out at the gates without special
uurgzsion. When the city taken the victors seem
have regarded the place and all within it their own
EkSa fnhabitsnts became members Of the army. The
and young children separated from the men,
sn reside in separated quarter Of the city, all being
anDt and fed from the public stores. All property was
sGurse turned to the public treasury The people
a1 well clothed, and doubtless have abundance of
sG eat though the supply Of other articles Of diet
zs be very abundant. The of tobacco is not
zniY Fsohbited but the prohibition is made efectual
Cha prohibon Of opium is of course still more carefully
safrxed. Betel nut, however, is freely used Grain
u bring constant supplies of rice from the country
1szEring the Yang tsze, and were seen which
I'D Ixst arrived from the province Of Hupeh. Large
sxasxs of women carrying the rice into the
SrH IL was packed into small bags, and each woman
surria,a her shoulder Men entirely ex-
xesA during the day at least, from the womens qusr
sniisf we're occasionally met with horseback
Hsukss, riding asride like the men, and like them hav
pG eir heels instead of their toes in the stirrups
Where every thing iscommon property there can of
be trade No ships seen, any articles
Faed sale; could boats sedan chairs, horses
In afeaaned for hire. Boats we're abundant and their
cheerful!y granted occasionally when needed,
i&sacat pay The boats propelled by sculling,
uuk axll as are seen At Shanghai"
Tire writer for the North China Herald seems to
Ii... seen charmed with the elevated and pictur-
iupze situation of the city:
saKsx the palaces Of the kings and the capital of
zrsar eEzpire there be magnificent situation
aIu slaat of Marking. 1t is enclosed by q complete
zrc. Il hills Of various height, which give
NM Of grandeur and beauty the scenery and furnish
zpsz facities for military defence The walls which
r forty fifty feet high built around the
. az this mountain CIRCLE the front of the hill in many
rSheas seing away that the wall forms facing to
az nsxare constitutes the wall. II is in that cut
suoa correspond with the face Of the portion built
1GASsk The tops Of the hills may be seen at most /
2solnt6 rising above the parapet sometimes only few
us aud sometimes twice the height of the wall itself
y ee best accounts the circumference Of the wall is
assa1r twenty miles. party mounted very high bill
Inss within the northern Efung gate, expecting to get
gpoa view Of the city from elevated point; but, in
tsa e. seeing before them crowded city, they looked
Ian upon whole expanse Of forest not dense indeed
% tn a appearance almost unbroken and covered with
- ezaberant foliage. The was one of great |
nezEky- Nothing to be Of the city, but i'm
rnss gateway monumental erection, apparently Of
- lowered above the trees at the distance Of five or
xusacs while on the opposite side of the circle
tSs Gar famed porcelain tower The grasscovered hills
suanded all sides this agnifcent park and high
suk appeared in the centre Of the BASIN surmounted by
= The city proper lies on the southern side
a the enclosure and completely hid behind the for
ewSasrden by which it is surrounded.
Ea passing through the city little was seen to dstin
,ah IL from other Chinese cities, except that some Of
- ssects are very wide, and appear TO be kept in
re at cleanliness not often in China The houses
- r,uerally low and many Of them at present unn-