THE RUSSIANS IN MANCHOURI

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 593, 16 July 1853, Page 5

THE RUSSIANS IN MANCHOURI

[From the • Alta California,' March 6.] Very few of our American readers, who catch hap-hazard the foreign intelligence of the day as it is served out to them through the English journals, or translated by our own press, are aware of the mighty changes that are constantly and almost silently transpiring in the old world. Silently, because the process of political fermentation goes on with these stern old monarchies slowly, and is effectually hidden from the eyes of the newer nations, or the mass of subjects of the despotic powers themselves. But of even the undisguised actions of some of the European powers our American public have but a faint conception. And yet they interest us deeply, and are assuming every day an important bearing upon political issues involving the plans and. destinies of our Government. It is not to be expected to be sure, that our Atlantic brethren should know all these things, with the imperfect means of knowledge at their command*; particularly where the theatre of action lies so far beyond the reach of their lines of steamers^deep in the interior of the old- world,' and buried from the passing observation that with us is simply transmitted, in these days of progress, by lines of telegraph. Of the workings of destiny—or diplomacy, we hardly know which to call it — over the broad expanse of Asia, our Atlantic readers indeed know nothing. A highly interesting and instructive report has recently been made by a French Catholic missionary, named Venault, on the present condition and prospects of North-Eastern Asia. This man has those ,wild regions, j the Steppes, and penetrated where no [European has ever been before. La Bruuiere, the French traveller, who was murdered in 1845, only began what Venault has accomplished. The Catholic missionaries of east Chinese Tartary (all of whom are French), have often heard of a kingdom to the norih-east, which the Manchourians named Sisen. Venault set out to penetrate to this kingdom. In the spring of 1850, he left his missionary post^ Altshuho, crossed the Sansari river, and arrived at Ilanhala. From this place he went on, partly by land and partly by water, to reach the sea of Japan. Now, though this enterprise [to all appearances was stimulated by religious zeal and an adventurous spirit, there is reason to believe that in the latter part of Venault's journeyings he had other purposes and desires to subserve. As we have said, the missionaries of Chinese Tartary are French Catholics. For many years, it is said, these zealots have had their eyes upon the northern Islands of Japan. Already, we are assured, Monrier Forcade, former missionary in the Loo Choo Islands, has been named Apostolic Vicar of Japan 1 Let us now take the language of the Allgemeine Zietung, a prominent German paper, printed at Augsburg, on this subject, connected with Venault's visit: "The people supposed that Venault was a Russian, and that he was soon to be followed by a large army to take possession of the whole country. The Kussians keep up a trade with these people. Venault saw iron pots, edge tools, buttons, playing cards, and new grold coin, which had found their way irom Ochotzk in trade to Man-| chouri. A revolution appears to be preparing in Russia. Russian steamers ply upon the sea of Aral, and upon the Oxus ; Russian engineers explore Mongolia, between Thibet and the Altai, and build forts along the numerous lakes of the steppes; and Russian colonists sail from Ochotzk to the shores of the

Japanese sea, and are preparing to build towns at Aynos, on the eastern shore of Mandschuland, now held by China. We learn these notable facts, foreshadowings of the future, from the report of Venault, a French Catholic Missionary."