CHINA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1712, 1 April 1862, Page 6

CHINA.

(From the Argus' Correspondent ) THE TAIPING REBELS. SHANGHAI, JAN. 23. In this settlement a small but influential community of English, American, French, German, and other Western people, which I have endeavoured to describe in previous communications, the question of the moment is the threatening advauce of the Taiping rebels. While we supposed ourselves in comparative security, and free from their presence in the environs of Shanghai, they suddenly appeared in considerable force north of our locality on the i Ith of this mouth, manifesting their presence, as usual, by extensive conflagrations amongst the neighbouring towns, villages and farms. At night the horizon was streuked with the lurid glare of their incendiary work, and in the day the smoke ascended in dense columns from the burning dwellings far and near. These demons in human shape rushed upon the poor villagers and townspeople with burning brands in the one hand and weapons of destruction in

the other, spreading destruction in theii path, murderiug those who resisted, anc plundering where they could find anything of value, lii their bloodthirstiness the) were not content with attacking the uuthorities and the wealthy, but poor men auc women were mercilessly slaughtered it] their way. This devastating work continued foi two days near the outport of Woosung. advanced towards Sbaugf/ai, a distance of about ten miles, when the rebels made their appearance within a mile or so of the settlement. They were first observed by a guard of Indian troops stationed here, rushing upon a few defenceless women, whom they ohused into the Soochow creek, a stream about twice the width of the Yarra, and there cut them down. The Sepoys fired upon them, but they were out of range, and, being mounted made off to their maiu body in the rear. Their proximity to the British quarters soon brought out our gallant countrymen to face the villains, and if any had been caught they would have had no mercy at our hands. Amongst the Chinese population the excitement was very great when they heard that the dreaded Taipings wore near. They flocked in thousands into the foreign settlement, deeming it the safest place to go to. At one period of the day a panic seized these simple people, when they imagined that the insurrectionists had overcome the troops, and were attacking the residents in the Chinese part of the settlement. On they rushed, panic-stricken, looking behind them with the greatest fear and dread, while all the Chinese shopkeepers closed their premises, expecting that they would be the first to be plundered. The alarm soon subsided, and the people returned to their ordinary avocations with the greatest nonchalance, as if they were in perfect safely. Meanwhile, the authorities met to consider the best means of strengthening the defences of the settlement, when a committee of public safety was appointed to take charge of the works in construction, while the naval and military authorities mustered all their forces to defend the approaohesby land and water to Shanghai, The Taoutai, or perfect of the Chinese city, joined the conclave of Foreign Consuls and commanding officers of the British and French armies and navies. Accordingly, he sent out some thousands of his soldiers (!), save the mark — for a more disorderly, unmilitary lot of rascals I never saw. Falstaff's regiment was a splendid one compared to his ; and as for courage infinitely superior. These men are levied from all the riff-raff in the city, and armed chiefly with bamboo-rods having a teupenny nail stuck in the end, and under the mandarin's eye passes foi a spear. This mob marched out with flaunting banners some 3,000 strong, and when they came within sight of a few hundred Taipings their courage failed them after a few shots were fired on both sides, when they retreated back to Shanghai in a most disorderly manner, most of them bespattered with mud as they crossed the difches. This "playing at sodgers" would be simply amusing, were we not depending on their assistance, in consequence ol our very limited numbers, to repel the advances of the uumerous hordes approaching Shanghai from all points. From reliable authority we learn that from 40,000 to 50,000 men are coming from Soochow — a fine city, destroyed, to the westward of Shanghai. Another large body are coming from the southward, in the direction ofNingpo and Haugchow; while to the eastward und northward, they are within sight, and as I now write the booming of guns is heard, denoting an engagement betweeD some Chinese warjunks and a largo body of insurgents within five miles of us. That they intend to surround the city aud settlement at all points ia evident, and, if possible make a simultaneous attack. So far they have intimated as much to the English and French Consuls, who coutrol the Uoops in possession of the city gates. They write to the effect that if these are given up the foreign community will be free from molestatiou. But we have no faith in the promises of these blood-thirsty wretches; for if they had possession of the walled city, they could at any time destroy the (settlement, plunder the wealthy native and foreign merchants' warehouses, and massacre the inhabitants. Besides these external insurrectionists threatening the place, we have within the bounds of the settlement spies and disaffected characters, not only Chinese, but rascally Manillanien, and renegade sailors and soldiers of all nations, who would be the first to join the rebels could they overpower us aud make an entrance into the city. Even our own servants we are afraid of being in league with these spies. At night many go about armed j and ) have a revolver aud a sword by my bedside, to be ready at any emergency. Most of the young men iv the settlement are volunteers, and go out manfully to drill morning and evening. A mounted troop has been recently formed called the " Shanghai Mounted Rangers," which will prove of much sorvice in the event of attack. All the approaches to the settlement are beiug strongly barricaded j while a canal, capable of floating a gunboat, is being cut on our western bouudary were a parapet with towers will be erected,. The mail of the 26th November has not yet come to hand from Melbourne ; it is due here on the 17th.