The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-03

ing place there, says the New York
Journal of Commerce, are the throes OF
an empire of great antiquity, now in
process of dissolution, as the direct con-
sequence of the advance of Western CIV
ilization and commercial enterprise. The
reigning dynasty congratulated itself
few months ago, when the rebel strong
hold at Honkong was evacuated (the
English General Gordon cooperating
with the imperialists and preaching the
walls with artillery, but they attached
too much Importance to that event. In
stead of being dispersed, the Taipings
are now as threatening as ever, and per-
haps even more formidable. They seem
to have lost nothing by the retreat to
Changchow, in the province of Fuhkien,
where some of the most productive tea
districts are located. Though we hear
little of active hostilities, there is reason
to believe that within the last three
months theinsurgents have gained large
ly in numerical strength and in re-
sources. Intelligence lately received of
the capture of city called Chauan,
tends to corroborate the impression
that confederation of marauding chiefs
has been formed, ofsSwhom the oc-
cupant of Chanchow is only one,
and, perhaps, not first in impor-
lance. Furthermore, evidence is con-
elusive that the Taipings once more en-
Joy the favor of a considerable number
of foreign adventures acting in the ca
pacity of officers, engineers, or manu-
facttlrers of arms and munitions. The
latter are mainly disaffected nlercenarles
formerly in the Mandarin service, but
are now animated by much warmth of
hostility on account of old grievances
still unredressed Burgevine, for exam
pie, who succeeded the late American
General Ward, as commander of the
disciplined Chinese contingent of the
Imperial army, lately arrived from his
seclusion in Japan, and immediately re-
paired to Changchow. Having once
before joined the rebel cause, and after
wards forsaken it, his course is some |
what vermicular, to say the least. Still
more noticeable is the fact that General |
Rhode, who served with much distinc-
ton as Gordon's Acknowledgement, and
was also under Ward, is the leading |
mercenary at Changchow. Another de-
tachment of foreign co-operators from |
Annoy are sending forward supplies of |
arms. One of the latter named Butler,
owner of the American schooner Gar
land, recently met with serious mis-
hap. Having successfully landed a car
go of arms at the Taipingstronghold, he
was intercepted on his return by the Ba.
ron de Meritens "a French Imperialist,
commissioner of customs and self-ap-
pointed military commander-in-chief)
and put in irons, with directions that he
should be sent to the American Consul
General at Shanghai; but, while en- route
on an English steamer, was treache-
rously shot by the guard. The offender
was taken into custody by the British
Consul at Ningpo, and kept in prisonre-
gardless of the demands of the French
authorities that he should be delivered
up. A reason for this renewed manifes-
tation of sympathy for the rebel cause,
and cooperation of English and Ameri-
can advent urers in their behalf, may be
the extraordinary zeal displayed by the
French in regulating the affairs Of the
Chinese government. Another, beyond
any question, is the stubborn refusal of
the imperialists to recognize the valueof
their services and of the European sys-
tenn of warfare, compared with gingalls,
stink-pots, and match-locks. An exam
pie of this folly is afforded by the present
rebel invasion of Fuhkien. The factwas
generally understood that the insurgents
at Hangchow could not be dislodged ex-
cept by the use of artillery, being strong-
ly intrenched within three lines ofstock-
AIDES, besides the walls and minor de-
fences. Notwithstanding this, force
was recently sentfrom Shanghai to COM
mence the siege, supported by nothing
except three or four guns, though two
excellent corps of native artillery We're
available at Soochow. AS an inevitable
no material advantage has
been gained thus far, and the insurgents
have derived fresh confidence.
In the Hong Kong Trade Report, of
Goth April we find a letter from Annoy,
signed Tapping" protesting to give a
full and impartial account of what the
insurgents are doing. The following is
anextract:
The insurgents are strengthening
themselves in every way they can at
Changchow by raising stockades around
the city and at the most important points.
They drain the ground as much as they
can, by opening canals, and small chan
nels which are always closed at this sea-
son of the year to dam the water back
for the paddy fields /; so that as the rain
falls, 1t will now be carried off into the
main river, and the ground generally a
swamp will be much firmer, and better
adapted for the movement OF their artil-
lery, principally mortars of large .calibre
the handiest ordnance they could adopt
for campaigning in such country the
most easily manufactured, and most des-
tructive in service. These they are