The Northern Star, And Farmers' And Mechanics' Advocate

Insurrection in Formosa.—From Canton Register of December 20th, we derive the following particulars of the insurrection in the Island of Formosa. It appears to be of a formidable character. N. Y. Jour. Com.

The insurrection commenced near Chang-loo-been, about 40 le from Tae-wan-foo, the capital of the Island, where 26 mandarins, great and small, together with 2000 men were killed.

The inhabitants of the western side of Formosa are natives of the Island, Chin-chew men, and Canton men; and the affray originated about five piculs of yams, which some of the resident Chinchew vagabonds took away from some of the resident Canton people, who immediately applied to the heads of the village, where the plunderers lived, and received redress; but thinking that by applying to the Chang-hwa-heen they might prevent a recurrence of similar outrages, they did so, and the Chang-hwa-heen directly called upon five of the heads of families, and demanded money to the amount of $1000 each, the payment of which they resisted, alleging that the affair was already settled. To this he lent a deaf ear, keeping them in prison till the money should be paid.—When they had been thus 7 or 8 days in confinement, finding them untractable, he raked up a stronger charge against them, calling upon them to produce a Ladrone, who had escaped some time before, and who could not be found. The head men concerned, exasperated at this unexpected demand, sent to the village privately and offered a reward of a $1000 to any one who would kill Chang-hwa-heen.—The villagers listened to the proposal, and in open day attacked the house of the officer, killed him and all his attendants. The Tae-wan-foo, hearing of the affair, went in person, attended by about five hundred soldiers, when he was attacked, killed, and all his force destroyed. Several other bodies of troops advanced, under various officers, and were also beat off with great slaughter.

When the last accounts left, the Chiag-tsung-ping-kwan was missing; the city of Tae-wan-foo in the possession of Tae-wan-tae-yay, and about 30,000 men hired for the occasion The villagers, under the five head men, were advancing against it, more than 50,000 strong. From Amoy, 5000 troops had embarked for the island, under the land and water Te-tuhs. So the affair rests at the present.