True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-07-21
I -MISCELLANY.
Of Commissioner Yeh

Autobiography of Commissioner Yeh.
Late GOUernor Of Canton, and now a
prisoner IN the hands ofthe British.
The Monite,tr de la Hotte publish hes
the following report Of an examination Of
Commissioner Yeh, on board the Infex-
ible, by an English officer, before the
Mandarin in question sailed from Hong
Kong for Calcutta. It's interesting. In
answer 10 questions the Viceroy said
Il was born in the village Of Koab-Tih,
in the province Of Ho-Nan. My father
was basket,masker, and eked out his
income by trading in rice. We were
fourteen children. 1t an early age I ac-
quired- a taste for reading, and whenever
l had any money expended it in the
purchase Of books. After few years |
was considered as a man Of learning
among the boys of my age, and when the
Inspector General Of Public instruction,
who visited our province every FIVE years,
came, asked to be allowed to undergo
an examination. My request was granted,
| came into the schools with an elaborate
commentary on the Ta-Hio, the great
book of science of Confucius, and after
three days. successive examinations I was
appointed 'Iiterate" of the third class,
and attached as tutor to the College Of
hai.Fang, the chief town in the province
The Mandarin governor of Ho.Nan's
! attention was directed to me, and he chose
me as Secretary. Two years later he was
summoned to the capital, aud took me
with him. During my sojourn at Pekin
| acquired the degree of literate of the
second and Of the first class. My patron
died, but had been noticed by the head
Of the Nuyko, in whose hands rested also
the direction of the Emperor's cabinet"
and attained the Office of Vice-President
of Hing.Pou or Tribunal of Punlshments.
| won no small distinction in the dis
charge Of the duties of this Office, and in
two missions which was subsequently
entrusted with, had the honor of being
noticed by the sublime sovereign who
rules over us. Finally, in 1s47, I was
associated with the very worthy and
much regretted ang-Nyang-Toung,
who was invested with the government
of Canton. The country was then a
prey to terrible insurrection, which it
was necessary to suppress. The insur-
gents burnt town and villages, and slaugh.
tered the inhabitants by thousands. 1t
was necessary to stop them. The vi
ceroy, Sin, with whom we were, gave no
quarter to the rebels, and was thus ena.
bled to keep the insurrection within due
bounds. He died in 1853, and | sue
ceeded 10 him. | followed his example,
and the rebellion gradually gave way.
The cruelties which he practised haVing
been alluded to, he said Hear me-
One of the rebels chiefs was in The habit
Of having all the prisoners he took from
us sawn between two planks. I Informed
him that | would use reprisals--his put
10 death in the same way--but he had
previously had NOT less than six thousand
men, many Of them officers, ,sawn between
two planks.
English o6fcer.--How many prisoners
do you think you have executed!
| Keb.-About sixty thousand but the
rebels have slaughtered more than three
hundred thousand.
| English o6fcer.--You have had many
people put to death who had nothing &c
do with the insurrection
Keh.-Why, fancy. The province o.
Canton is kind Of refuge for all thieves
and murderers in the empire who escape
from justice. / saw that crimes were
frequent, and, therefore, ordered frequent
executions; but the people thus put tc
death were always thieves and murderers
who almost invariably confessed ihei
, crimes,
English o6icer.-You don't seem to
have been popular in that city.
Yeh.--I never discovered that | wal
unpopular. know the people feared me
and kept quiet The public peace 10 the
city was never disturbed, trade prospered
and people grew rich. The Emperor
my immortal master, to reward me, ha,
conferred upon me the title Want.tzio
the highest Of all, and had authorized m,
TO take the surname Of Ming-Chin. Al
to the reproach Of having availed mysel
i Of my position TO accumulate wealth,
is false. am rich in dignities and titles
but poor in money. A great part Of m.
, income send 10 my friends and relatives
In the village where I was born / hay
+ had a temple built at my own expense
and have had several dwellings erecte'
for poor families. My enemies arechiefl,
, in the upper classes. They wish for m,
downfall in order 10 take my place.
/ The Moniteur de la None adds, tha
. the arrival Of the Infexible in Signapor
) Roads, with Yeh on board, had caused
certain sensation among the Chinese pop
{ ulation. The InAexible having strucl
i on her arrival, rumor was got up tina
j / 1t was intended drown the Viceroy, bu
Q II fell naturally when the tide Aoated u
: the ship.
o The following is an extract Of privat
0 lleiter in Saunders, dated Canton River
Q February 26 -" In catching Yeh, "
have not caught Tartar; he is Of pur