Peking, July 18th. A memorial has been received from Halangah, on the western frontier, saying, that Maemaetelee, the Beg of Aoukhun, had sent an envoy, with a letter (or rather a statement, as from an inferior) to the Emperor; delivering up eighty Cashgar Mohammedans. The bearers of the letter, having brought with them merchandize, horses, and sheep, Halangah had proclaimed the gracious will of the Emperor, that they should trade therein, without the levying of any duties.
His Majesty handed the letter over to Esak, or Isaac, the Cashgar prince, (whom, since the last Cashgar campaign, he appears to have retained at Peking); and was very well satisfied with the translation which Prince Isaac gave him. "These Aoukhaners, says he, "awed by the majesty, and penetrated by the virtue of China, have, in this proceeding, evinced sincerest gratitude. It is an omen of permanent tranquillity on that frontier."
From this occurrence, and perhaps in consequence of a request from the Aoukhan Beg, his Majesty has taken an opportunity of restoring to rank and office, the venerable Sung Tajin, who has been, for some months back, in disgrace. Sung was formerly commissioner in Turkestan; when he made himself loved and adored by the people; and advised measures such as those which have now been adopted; hence his merit, which has recommended him to mercy. The Emperor, moreover, was desirous of showing kindness to an aged minister, who has served under three successive monarchs, viz: Keen-lung, Kea-king, and Taou-kwang.
Fire, originated by opium smoking. On the 9th inst., one of the inferior examiners of the graduates' themes, in the Keujin's examination hall, was, in the evening, sitting in his own apartment, looking over the themes which had been written. Tired of his day's work, he laid down the papers, took up an opium pipe, and fell asleep. He was shortly awakened by fire near him, which he was enabled to extinguish before much injury had been done to any thing except the candidates' papers. Several of these, however, having been burnt, he was unable to screen from his superiors, the fact, that he had been partaking of the forbidden, and hence more valued, drug.
Remarkable birth. It is pretty well known that, in China, parents having three children at a birth (as well as persons of remarkably advanced age), are presented by the government, with small sums of money; whether as rewards for circumstances over which they can have no control, or as trivial offerings in aid of their support, we are not prepared to say. On the 31st of last month, a woman named Chang, the wife of a man whose name is Wang-a-kwei; living at Whampoa, was delivered of three sons; in consequence of which the parents have received ten taels from the district magistrate; who sent the father back, desiring him to nurture his sons, and bring them up. It is expected, however, that he will destroy one, if not all of them,—in blind belief of the Chinese saying, that "a triple birth is the harbinger of evil." Who that is acquainted with this fact, can conscientiously think, with anti-christian soi-disant philosophers, or professing-christian governments, that pagans can be "happy enough without Christianity"?
Postscript.—A paper has just come in from Leen-chow, too late for more particular notice. It is a memorial from He-ngan and Hoo-sung-ih, the Imperial commissioners; and contains an account of all the successful skirmishes with the rebels that have occurred, from the 15th of August, the time of their arrival at Leen-chow, till the 20th inst., the date of the despatch.
Some advance has been made;—they have penetrated farther into the mountainous districts, than at any previous period of the war; and are only waiting for the arrival of a reinforcement, when they hope to end the rebellion, by the entire reduction of the mountaineers; many having already offered submission, but without being willing to resign their arms.
