The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-15

onnosite the Little East Gate, in two separate
hastily constructed mud forts, are the great portion
of the besieging army stationed. They have quite
number OF cannon, and, like their brethren on the
opposite side OF the river and, like their enemies
within the walls, they use them night and day. but
like Them also, to no purpose.
The First appearance OF these camps to foreigner
is quite picturesque. Above the walls OF these rude
forts which not over four or five feet high may
be seen flags, strcamers, and banners, oil all shapes
and sizes, displaying, in endless variety all the
colors of the rainbow, resembling more a
Spanish bull batting ground on feast day
than the fortified encampment OF besieSng army.
Most OF the troops are armed only with spear and
shield; on the former he carries his own banner,
manufactured by no guide but his own taste, while
some few have muskes like those used in the Eliza
bethan age, which have no flint, but are discharged
by proppng them up by sticks for the purpose
and then setting them of with match No aim be-
ing taken, the ball goes know where, and they
seem to care less Thus do they all the morning as
rapidly as they can discharge their pieces and when
chow-chow (dnner) is called they all, with a. sang
fo,d most unacountably ridiculous to us foreigners,
retire, apparently well satisfied with their mornings
engagement.
Shanghae is walled city, and contained before
/ this rebellion a population varously estimated at
from three to four hundred thousand but now 1t IS
supposed it will hardly equal mel ,ht n na
y of the empire, while large number have rented
houses in the foreign settlement which adjoins the
Chinese city paying e n rents as
4 a fearful price. This practice is confined to the
rich but in consequence OF the safety IT affords
them in life and property, they pay literally This
falls hard upon foreigners who are dependent upon
their salary for support 1t has always been the mos
expensive part of China but now it is by ia
the most expensive port in the world How long
this state of affairs will exist can say for at
present it seems quite unlikely that Samqua will
ever recover the city, and in that case the two par
ties will remain as they are until Thae-ping. wang
takes Picking and establishes his throne Mnen
imagine That the rule of the Manchous is fast draw
ing to close is readily admitted; but by reierrngto
my previous letter upon the course and various
| changes which the dynasties of China have under
gone it will be seen that the destruction of dynas-
ty has, in every instance, been followed by long and
distracting wars, varying in duration from ten 10
fifty years. This is much feared and it is sincerely
i hoped that the new feature in this revolution
christianity, which distinguishes it from all pre-
yious ones, may exert such an overwhelming IN
uence as to prevent entirely the existence OF that
anarchy and confusion which all others have entail
ed upon this people, and which is so much 10 DC
deprecated.
Thae-pingwang, the leader of the rebels, was
born in 1872 Canton; he is therefore at present
i'm his foity-third year. The Rev. L. j. Roberts, q
native of Kentucky, who has been missionary here
many years, claims to know Thae-plng-wang well.
His statement, briefly, is this:
His proper name is Hung. but he assumed the title
| OF Tlae ping wang, meaning Great Prince OF Peace
after he started the revolution In 1887 some Que gave
him book religious subject printed in the Chinese
language For about eleven years nothing was heard
from him in relation to his studi S, but in 1913
1T.
was the custom with such applicants Mr. Roberts
required that he should give him statement in writing
TO who he was, where born who bis family were and
whom he had received his religious instruction. &c.
&c. which Hung did evincing SO much wonderful know
ledge of the true doctrine OF Christianity, that Mr. H.
would believe he could be sincere for lie displayed
familiarity with principles which not often taught to
the heather, and not knowing that he had ever had
book he (Mr at rejected his application as one
made by an impostor.
From this period but little is known Of him but,
from the best data we have, it appears that he re-
tired to a small town in the province of kouangsi,
situated in the southeastern part OF the empire and
there he drew around him few adherents, when, IN
1850, some of the Chinese-for what cause is not
known-persecuted him and his followers, who were
then but few hundred strong To defend them
selves they took up arms, and, after various sue
cesses over his enemies, at the close OF 1851 he
found himself at the head of large and efficient
amy, well equipped and differed, and in posses.
sion of some of the most valuable districts OF
, the empire. From thence he has steadily ad-
vanced, never having suffered single defeat,
Marking, the ancient imperial or golden city
of the Chinese. .hayiRge" body have advanced up
on Peking Three-fonrths Of the empire has fallen,
and in not one single instance have the conquered
portions revoited though in many cases he has LETT
no garrison behind to protect his retreat so uni
yersai is the satisfaction which his government has
gwen.
On his arrival at Marking and not before, he
seems to have assumed the title Of Thae-pingwang,
and his books, containing the rules and laws of all
the departments, emanate from him, as the first
EMPEROR OF lne lnaeplng dynasty lie Is q pro-
gressive of the highest order. He has declared off,
caly that he will throw the whole country open the
competition of foreign commerce.; that he will sup
press the use of tobacco and opium, and that the
last emblem Of the Tartar rule, which was imposed
upon the Chinese in 1852 by the first Manchou Tar
tar Emperor as mark of subsection, shall be Topped
on His ground is bold one as it breaks down the
customs in these particulars which have existed for
centuries; but should he live, he will most certainly
successfully carry them out
Gen. Lew and his followers, who now occupy
shanghae, claim that they are branch OF Thae-
ping-wangs army, but, for many reasons, none be-
lieye it, for, If Thae-ping countenanced him.
he could, and no doubt would, long since
have sent from Marking forces and money to
his aid 1t is clearly ascertained that thus far
he has not been noticed although he Qew) claims
in his last manifesto issued but day OF two ago.
that be is the dispenser of power in this part Of the
empire under the order Of his superior master at
Marking. The horrid atrocities which are being
perpetraed under him daily would never receive the
sanction of the Emperor at Marking His policy
throughout oil his conquests has been to alleviate the
bmthens of his countrymen, and through it has he
won the love even of those he has conquered and
not like Lew in this city after he had taken it, spread
destruction and desolation among the harmless and
unarmed populace, destroying women and children
promscuously without measure or mercy.
Gen. Lew belongs to the Triads or small sword so
cety, community having their existence first dur
ing the reign of Kea King grandfather Of the pre-
sent Manchou Emperor, Hien-F oung the prime object
OF which was the dethronement Of that prince 1t
exists chiefly in the southeastern provinces partc-
ularly at Annoy and Canton, and comprises all that
portion of the Chinese well known at both those
ports as the pirates From those ports his forces
came They have private signals and signs like the
Masons, which no one uninitiaed can possibly COM
prehend. Lew himself was sugar broker at Shang.
hae previous to the rebellion and was never known
70 have expressed the least sympathy before for
/ Christians or their creed.
Dr. Martin, formerly from Ohio, and lately
physician In good practice at Annoy is the Surgeon
General OF Lewis army, and the leading fighting
man, having performed many feats OF great personal
daring. His habits are bad and the Chinese are be-
ginning TO lose their confidence in him.
Al present it appears he is confined in the city by
order OF General Lew, on account as is alleged of
/ his having given important information TO those
outside the walls In the army there is a dis.
\ fingushed Colonel, who was known well among the
,olelgners previous TO this rebellion, the horse
boy" Of a wealthy merchant These are the ante