is carried into some sort of effect; but whether upon the innocent or guilty, is a secondary question. The absurd peremptoriness of authority, that a thing must be done, whether practicable or not, occasions a great deal of injustice; and sometimes the condemnation, to capital punishment, of persons completely innocent.
Decapitation. The Canton court circular of the 18th ult., announced the trial, sentence and execution of of seventeen criminals. Their heads, severed from their bodies and put in small cages, were exposed to public view in the market place, near the execution ground. Just without one of the southern gates of the city. Here we supposed was an end of the tragedy. Not so; the circular of the 22nd, four days after the decapitation, states that their heads, still in the cages, were labelled and sent off to Ying-tih;—a town some miles distant from Canton, the native place of the criminals, and the scene of their depradations,—there also to be exposed to the view of the populace.
Banditti. Of late, in the district of Heang-shan, associated banditti have been excessively troublesome to the farmers on the banks of the rivers. They levy a tax of so much per acre, to be paid every quarter of a year. An opulent farmer named Wan-ho-tseih, on the 19th of the 3rd moon, resisted this unjust levy, and was in consequence carried off by the banditti, who demanded twenty thousand dollars for his restoration.
Repudiation. A Mantchou Tartar soldier, named Chang, received his bride the other day, and for alledged infidelity, heaped upon her every possible personal insult, with public indignity, and sent her away to the house of her parents. The affair came before the Tartar Commandant, who would have dismissed both the father and the husband, being men in arms, but for their good archery; on which account, they were retained in his Majesty's service.
Suicides. A poor cottager, at the late season of sacrificial rites, performed at the tombs of ancestors, having nothing to provide the oblations to be used on the occasion, sold a favorite fowl, which constituted all his property. The purchaser gave him bad silver, or rather copper washed with silver, which he received and went his way. But when offered in payment, it was rejected. The man's vexation was so great that he went and hanged himself; which, when his wife ascertained, she also put an end to her mortal existence. But these suicides are ascribed to the pressure of deep poverty.
Mantchou Tartary, being by the reigning family always considered as the region of simplicity and honesty, his Majesty is a good deal annoyed at several recent robberies and thefts there. Besides, the local officers have not been able to catch the thieves. He says, this state of things is extremely detestible, and to mend the matter, he has plucked the knob of office from the head of Cha-hing-ah, giving him three months time to bring to justice certain offenders. In case of failure, Cha-hing-ah may expect something worse.
Postscript. By the Peking Gazettes we learn, that two Mantchou commissioners, one holding high civil as well as military office at Peking, the other Governor and General-in-chief of one of the Mantchou provinces, have been sent by the Emperor to Hoonan, to superintend the war, and endeavour to put down the rebellion. Their names are He-ngan and Hoo-sung-ih.
Two individuals at Peking, have been convicted of using opium; one of whom, an officer, has been degraded, and the other has been sent to the custody of Choo, Fooyuen of Canton. A third, awaits his trial for traffic in that drug. It is said (not in the Gazettes) that, the two commissioners, above named, after visiting Hoonan, will come to Canton, to make inquiries concerning the opium trade here.
Accounts from the highlands continue unfavourable; and, by an express from Governor Le, more troops are being despatched for Leenchow.
