The Sun. — London, England, 1859-10-06 00:00:00

THE DISASTER IN CHINA• A Supplement to the Gazette of Tuesday, published last evening, contains the correspondence with the Honourable F. W. A. Bruce, C. 8., her Majesty's Envoy Extraordi nary and Minister Plenipotentiary in China. No. 1. TRB BARL OF MALMESBURY TO MR. BRUCE. (Extract.) Foreign-office, March 1, 1859. The Queen having been pleased to appoint you to be her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten tiary in China, and in that capacity to exchange, at Pekin, her Majesty's ratification of the Treaty of Tientsin with the ratification of that compact by the Emperor of China, I have now to furnish you with such general instructions as may serve for your guidance in the important mission intrusted to you by her Majesty. Her Majesty's Government had hoped that the Earl of Elgin would have returned to this country previously to your departure, that so your instructions might have been framed after personal communication with his Excellency. But. it would seem that the interesting excursion up the Yang-tze-keang river, which he so judiciously determined to undertake, has occupied more time than he anticipated, and any further delay in your departure might possibly pre vent you from exchanging the ratifications within the period specified in the treaty, namely, before the 26th of June. Arrangements have been made for providing passage for yourself and the members of your mission in the contract steam-vessels which convey the British mails of the 10th of March from Marseilles to Alexandria, and from Suez to Singapore and Hong Kong, in case you should net find at Suez her Majesty's ship Furious waiting to receive you, or at Singapore some other man-of-war appointed to convey you to China. On your arrival at Hong Kong, you will, in virtue of the Commission as chief superintendent of British trade with which you are provided, relieve Sir John Bowring of his duties in connection with this office, and you will make arrangemants for transferring the general direction of British affairs in China to Shanghae, at which port it is to be carried on until such time as circumstances shall admit of its being permanently established at Pekin. You will not remain at Hong Kong longer than is abso lutely necessary, but proceed to Shanghae on - your way to the Peiho. Her Majesty's Government were fully prepared at oncele carry out the provision of the treaty of Tien-tsin, which admits of the permanent residence of a British ambassador at Pekin, but the observations on this point which Lord Elgin has so ably laid before them, coupled with the fact that the French Government, on considering Baron Gros' reports, have arrived at the same conclusion, have deter mined her Majesty's Government, for the present at least, to fix at Sharighae the residence of the British mission, and only to require that it should be received occasionally at Pekin. But you will be careful to make the Chinese au thorities at the capital and at Sbanghae distinctly understaid that her Majesty's Government do not renounce the right of permanent residence, and, on the contrary, will instantly exercise it, if at any time difficulties are thrown in the way of communications between her Majesty's Ministers and the Central Government at Pekin, or any disposition shown to evade or defeat the objects of the treaty. Her Majesty's Government are prepared to expect that all the arts in which the Chinese are such adepts will be put in practice to dissuade you from repairing to the capital, even for the purpose of exchanging the ratifications of the treaty; but it will be your duty firmly, but temperately, to resist any proposition to that effect, and to admit of no ex cuses ; and you will say that the effect of any persistence on the part of the Chinese Government in throwing obstacles in the way of your arrival at Pekin, and of the presentation of your credentials to the Emperor in person, will be that her Majesty's Government will insist on the literal fulfil ment of the treaty, and establish the mission permanently at Pekin. You will probably find it advisable, before your departure from Shanghae, to send an intimation to Pekin of your ap proach, and to request that suitable arrangements may be made for your honourable reception at the mouth of the Peiho, and at Tien-tsin, andfor your journey from that place to Pekin. The admiral in command of her Majesty's naval forces in China has been directed to send up with you to the mouth of the Peiho a sufficient naval force, and unless any unforeseen circumstances should appear to make another arrangement more advisable, it would seem desirable that you should reach Tien-tsin in a British ship of war. It is impossible for her Majesty's Government, and, in deed it would not be wise, to lay down any definite rules to be rigidly adhered to, in regard to your approach to, and your communication with, the Chinese Court. The ac quaintance which you possess with the Chinese character will enable you to judge when you may give way and when you must stand firm, bearing in mind that your treatment on your first visit to Pekin will always be appealed to on the occasion of future visits, as establishing a precedent not to be departed from. You will, of course, refuse compliance with any ceremony or form of reception, which can in any way be construed into an admission of inferiority on the part of her Majesty in regard to the B uweror of China, and perhaps the best method of putting a stop to any attempt to impose upon you in this respect will be that you should distinctly declare that you will withdraw at once, even from the Presence Chamber of the Sovereign, on the slightest appearance of a disposition to treat you, and the office you hold, with disrespect. If any objection should be raifed on the score of yuur credentials being those of envoy and not of an ambassador, you will say that the reason of their being so is to admit of the wish of the Chinese Government, that for the present the British mission should not be permanently resident at the capital being complied with ; but that if, on that ground the Chinese Government seek to make eny distinction in your reception and treatment, new credentials as ambas sador will immediately be sent to you, and, in that case, the mission will be forthwith and permanently established at Pekin. You will, moreover. take care that the treatment awarded to you is in no degree less honourable than that awarded to the representative of any other Power whatever. That it should be consistent with the European usages, it must doubtless be more honourable than that by which embassies from countries over whose chiefs the Emperor assumes superiority are received ; but it must be in no degree inferior to that accorded to the representatives of other Christian nations. Although you will insist upon your being received at Pekin, and will refuse to exchange ratifications at any other place, and will further decline to make any compromise in regard to time of your stay in the Chinese capital, or the frequency of your visits to it, her Majesty's Government are willing to leave to your discretion the duration of your stay on the first occasion. Your primary object, after the exchange of the ratifications, will be to come to such an understanding with the Government as may ensure prompt attention being paid by proper authorities in the capital to any representations that you may see occasion to address to it ; and you will particularly insist upon your right to em ploy messengers of your own, whether European or Chi nese, for the conveyance of your communications, and upon due facilities for the performance of their journeys being secured for such messengers. Your general language will be that her Majesty's Go vernment are most anxious that the increased intercourse with the Chinese empire, under the treaty of fien-tsin, may contribute to the mutual advantage of both countries ; that it is her Majesty's firm intention, while scrupulously observing the engagements which she has herself con tracted, to require on the part of the Emperor of China a corresponding observance of his own; that her Majesty's officers in the different ports of China will be direct3d to prevent, as far as in them lies, any disturbance of the pub lic peace and any disorderly conduct on the part of British subjects ; and that, on the otherhand, her Majesty expects that the Chinese authorities, both at the ports and in the l utenor of the 'country, will be required to act up to the resty obligations contracted by their sovereign, and to treat with kindness and consideration the subjects of her Majeity who may be brought in contact with them. Without waiving or compromising in any degree the right of her Majesty's mission to reside at the capital, you may let it be understood that the frequency of its visits to Pekin, if not its permanent residence there, must in a great degree depend on the manner in which the provisions of the treaty are carried out. If no occasion is given for controversy by attempts on the part of the Chinese local authorities to evade the terms of the treaty, and more particularly if no disposition is shown by the Government at the capital to treat with disrespect any representations her Majesty's Minister may address to it from Shanghae, the necessity for such visits to the capital will be rare ; and when they are made they will be rather complimentary than for the trans action of business. But you will say that as between the Powers of Europe direct diplomatic intercourse, and the per manent residence of :Ministers at the residence of the Sove reigns to whom they are accredited, are always looked upon as an indication of friendship between States, so as her Ma jeer's'. Government hope that the day is not far distant when not only will the presence of a British Minister at Pekin be viewed with satisfaction, but a repre sentative of the Emperor of China be accredited to her Majesty' s C our t, where you will say he will be wel come d both by her Majesty and her Government, and treated with the same distinction and consideration as the representa tives of her Majesty's nearest allies. No. 2. MR., BRUCE TO THE EARL OF NIALMESIIVEY.-(RECEIVED JUL'? 5). Victoria, Hong Kong, May 4. My Lord,—There is little reliable information to be ob tained here as to the reception her Majesty's mission is likely to meet with at Pekin, and the fact of the Commis sioners Kweilang and Hwashana remaining at Soochow, near Shanghae, though Mr. Lay has urged them to re turn to Pekin, to be on the spot when the foreign mis sions arrive there, would seem to indicate a hope on their Parethat some incident may enable th em t o avert the visit to Pekin; and this view is strengthened by the ru monis, more or less true, of the repair of the old forts at the pouth of the Peiho, and the construction of fresh de fences along its course. At the same time it is reported, and, in the main, no doubt truly, that a . Russian mission of some pretensions IBS arrived at Pekin; that its members walk about the *reels, in European costume, unmolested; and that dis 7 cussions have taken place between its chief an a the Chi nese Covernment on matters of etiquette, in whit h it is re ported that the Russian has receded from his first ; demand. The reports from Pekin are sent by native Roraa a Catholic catechists to their bishop, and embody probably the gos sip which circulates in the streets of Pekin on these sub jects. Your lordship is likely to be better info rmed from St. Petersburg than we are on the coast of Cb ina, of the route and character of this Russian agent. It became necessary for me to decide, in this str Ito of uncer tainty as to the intentions of the Chinese Gov( mument, on the force which should accompany me to the P(aiho, it being desirable that it should proceed without delay to :the north. By a note received from M. Bourboulon, my Fr ench col league, I see he does not expect that Admiral Ril ;Ault will spare from the operations in Annam more than is o vessels, of which one, I hope, will be able to ascend the river as far as Tien-tsin. I therefore requested Admiral Hope and Sir Charles van Straubenzee to confer with him on th is point. As your lordship will see by the enclosed minute I stated to them that the objects of my mission were—the excht mge of the ratifications at Pekin, the delivery of my credent, ials to the Emperor of China in person, and my arrival, as tar as Tein-tsin, in a British ship of war. They agreed in the opinion that it would not be safe to assume that the Chit ese would concede these points, and enter seriously on the co n sideration of the measures required to bring the treaty irtto full operation, unless I were aceompanied with an imposing force, and they agreed that it should be as nearly as pos sible of the same strength as that which formed the expedi tion of last year. I hope by the demonstration to render the ective employment of the force unnecessary. In the meantime I have requested Mr. Wade to inform Mr. Lay confidentially at Shanghae of the objects and scope of the mission, leaving it to his discretion, in which I have full reliance, to communicate it, as from himself, to tho Chi nese commissioners. We may thus obtain some knowledge of their intentions on our arrival at Shanghae, which would be important as a guide in our future proceedings. I have not decided on the terms of my communications to the Chinese Government en the point from which it is to be sent. I propose discussing these points with M. Bourboulon, and with the American Minister. I proceed to Canton as soon as the mail leaves for Eng land ; and on my return I shall visit Macao, where I hope to find my colleagues.—l have, &c., (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. [lnclosure in No. 2.] MINUTE OF A CONVENTION HELD AT THE GOVERNMENT OFFICES AT HONG LONG, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1859. Mr. Bruce stated that the instructions of her Majesty's Government were to the effect that he was to proceed, if possible, to Tein-twin in a British man-of-war, and thence to Pekin, where the exchange of the ratifications was to be effected, and where he was to present his letters of credence to the Emperor of China, in person, insisting on such a re ception as was befitting his character as the representative of a nation on an equality with that of China. He further stated that we were not in possession of any reliable infirmation as to the spirit in which the Chinese Government were prepared to receive this first attempt to establish direct relations on a footing of equality with the Court of Pekin. That we must be guided, therefore, by the general experience we had acquired of the Chinese cha racter, and that we might infer as the result of our past ex perience that the objects of this mission were most likely to be satisfactorily and peacefully attained if the British Mi nister were supported by a powerful demonstration of force at the mouth of the Peiho river. Sir Charles van Straubenzee and Rear-Admiral Hope concurred in this view, the latter stating that his instruc tions contemplated the Minister being escorted with an im posing force. It was unanimously agreed that the expedition should, if possible, be as strong as that which accompanied the ambassadors of England and France to the Peiho last year, and with that view Sir Charles van Straubenzee intimated his being prepared, consistently with the security of his position at Canton, to place a battalion of marines and a company of engineers at the disposal of Rear-Admiral Hope. This addition to the naval force would compensate for the absence of the French in Cochin China. No. 3. LORD J. RUSSELL TO MR. BRUCE. ForEign-office. July 6. Sir,—Her Majesty's Government approve the arrange ments, as reported in your despatch of the 4th of May, which you have adopted, in concert with Sir Charles van Straubenzee and Rear-Admiral Hope, for the purpose of proceeding up the Peiho on your way to Pekin, backed by an adequate naval and military force.—l am, &c., (Signed) J. RtiSSNLL. No. 4. MR. BRUCE TO THE EARL OF MALMESBURY.-RECEIVED JULY 16. Victoria, Hong Hong, May 21, 1859. My Lord,—l have the honour to enclose copy of the note I have addressed to the Chinese Chief Secretary, of State, Kweiliang, informing him of my arrival in China, of the diplomatic character I bear, and of the course I intend to pursue. M. Bourbonlon has also sent a note to him couched in identical terms. In my previous despatches I have informed your lordship that we can ascertain nothing as to the intentions of this Government with respect to the visit of foreign envoys to Pekin ; but the Imperial Commissioners, on hearing of my arrival in China, have proceeded from Soo-chow to Shang hae, a fact of some significance, and which gives colour to the opinion that they hope to raise questions or begin nego tiations at that point, otherwise they would have returned ere this to Pekin, for the purpose of making preparations for our reception. It seems to me important that I should, from the com mencement, assume the new political status which I bear as a Minister accredited to the Emperor of China. With this view I have put forward, in a prominent and intelligible shape, the character I bear, and the necessity of my proceeding direct to Pekin, to present to the Emperor my credentials, in accordance with established usage, and thereby qualify myself for the discharge of my functions as Envoy to the Court of Pekin. For the same reason I have addressed Kweiliang, as Chief Secretary of State—not as Imperial Commissioner—as I wish to avoid any act that may be construed into an acceptance of an Imperial Com missioner at Shanghae. My language on that point will be that the acceptance of such a functionary is made contin gent on a proper reception at Pekin, and on arrangements being made which will secure free access and unreserved communication with the Imperial Ministers at the capital, on all matters on which I think they ought to be informed. I hope, in this way, to compel the Chinese Government to declare itself upon those points which we know are the most unpalatable to it ; and if there exist on its part a disposition to evade its obligations, to thrust us back, as before, on the seaboard, and refuse the reception which I cannot waive without lowering our national dignity, I trust we shall be in possession of their views when we arrive at She mouth of the Peiho, and not be left to discover them gradually at Pekin. If, as is most probable, the Court of Pekin is wavering, anxious to evade, but unwilling to risk a rupture, I trust that identity of views among the foreign re presentatives, firm language, and an imposing demonstra tion of force, will secure the observance by it of the recent treaties, and incline it to listen to moderate and pacific ad visers. In closing this despatch, I beg to draw your lordship's attention to a letter I addressed to Admiral Hope on a pro posal by the Lords of the Admiralty to reduce further the force on this station—a measure much to be regretted should it be carried into operation before the visit to Pekin is successfully accomplished.—l have, &c., (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. (Inclosure 1 in No. 4.) MR. BRUCE TO COMMISSIONER KWEILIANG The undersigned, &c., &c., has the honour to inform his Excellency, liweiliang, Senior Secretary of State, that her Majesty the Queen, &c., &c., has been pleased in further ance of the intimate and friendly relations happily esta blished between the two empires by the treaty of Tien-tsin to appoint the undersigned to the honourable post of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to his Majesty the Emperor of China. In that capacity he is the bearer of an autograph letter from her Majesty the Queen to his Majesty the Emperor of China, which it will be his pleasing duty to present to his Majesty in person, according "to the established usage among friendly nations, and in order that he may be thereby properly qualified to tmdertake the duties of his office as her Majesty's Representative to the Court of Pekin. The undersigned has further to add that he is charged with the counterpart of the treaty of Tien-tsin, duly rati fied by her most Gracious Majesty, and that he will be pre pared to exchange it at Pekin, as agreed on in the treaty, against one equally ratified by his Majesty the Emperor of China, that relations of peace and of good-will may be thus mutually confirmed and placed on a sure and permanent basis. The undersigned takes this opportunity of informing his Excellency Kvreiliang, that in compliance with the above instructions of his Sovereign, he is about to proceed without delay, by ship, to Tien-tan. He trusts that the necessary orders will be given for the conveyance of himself and Suite from thence to Pekin, and for the provision of suitable accom modation for him during his residence in the capital itself in a manner undersignedbe befitting t , t a he c d „ ignity of the nation he represents. The (Signed) FUEDERICIE W. A. BRUCE. Vittoria, Hong Kong, May 16., 1859, (Inclosure 2 in No. 4.) MR. BRUCE TO REAR-ADMIRAL HOPE. Victoria, Hong Kong, May 21, 1859. (Extract.) With reference to the despatch from the Lords of the Ad miralty proposing a reduction of the force on this station, I beg to observe that tho facts whi c h h ave come to my knowledge since my arrival in Chi na confirm me as to the propriety of the conclusion come to, in concert with your self and Sir Charles van Straubenzee, viz., " That the force which is to accompany me to the. North ought to be as strong as that which accompanied the allied high commis sioners last year to Tien-tsin." The task of supplying the deficiency caused by the diver sion of the French force to Cochin Cliina, devolves exclu sively on the commander-in-chief of her Majesty's naval forcekhere, at a time when the squadron at his disposal is SUN, LONDON' THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 6, 1859, considerably less than that under the command of Sir Michael Seymour last year. No person can pretend to speak positively as to the inten tions of the Chinese ; but we know they urged the modi fication of one clause in the treaty, on the ground that it was extorted by force, and that there was no opportunity for discussion afforded at Tien-tsin. The same argument would held good for the elimination of every other article which may be disagreeable to them ; and as I see that the Imperial commissioners, instead of going to Pekin to pre pare for the reception of the foreign envoys, have returned to Shanghae, I do not doubt that they are prepared to pro pose further modifications in the treaty, and to raise diffi • culties as to my proper reception at Pekin, unless they find us determined and able to carry our point. No. 5, LORD J. RU ELL TO MR. BRUCE. Re.q.93, Office, July 12, 1859. . . Sir,—l have to acquaint you that her Majesty's govern ment approve the note which you addressed to the Chief Secretary of State, Kweiliang, of which a copy is enclosed in your dispatch of the 21st of May, and in which you an nounced to him your arrival in China as her Majesty's envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to tlie Emperor of China.—l am, &c., (Signed) J. RUSSELL. No. 6. MR. BRUCE TO THE EARL OF MALNIESBURY. (Received July 31.) Victoria, llong-Kong, May 30, 1859. My Lord,—l have the honour to enclose a report of a conversation between the interpreter, Mr. Hart, at Canton, and a Chinese who has just returned from Pekin, represent ing the disposition of the Emperor as most hostile. A rumour is also current here that the Russiansestablished at the capital have been massacred. On the other hand, it appears that a certain Ta-ki, a Chinese merchant at Shanghae, who deals largely with foreigners, and who, from his intimacy, wich the intendant at that place and his connection with the north, is generally well informed, states that the Chinese Government will not offer any opposition to our visit to Pekin. I do not consider that my plans ought to be influenced in any degree by these reports. If any inference is to be drawn from them it is this, that there is a strong party op posed to the concessions to foreigners, and a party resigned to them as inevitable ; that the triumph of the one or of the other is possible, and will depend on the moral effect pro duced by the cordial union of foreign powers, and on the fear of a fresh collision inspired by the demonstration of an imposing force in support of our demands.—l have, &c. (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. heads of the war party as commissioners, as he would not undertake the task of bringing matters to a peaceful conclu sion on such terms. To this unusual act of independence the Emperor appended the remark, "his (Ho's) obstinacy will involve him in calamity." The paper to which I refer was obtained by Mr. Parkes, and a precis of it forwarded to the Foreign-office in the month of January. It is clear, therefore, that a war party exists, and that the probability of resistance is a contingency not to be lost sight of; and Admiral Hope, before leaving, addressed a letter to Sir Charles Van Straubenzee, requesting him to send up a second battalion of marines to be at hand should active operations become necessary. These steps seem to have alarmed the commissioners, for on the 13th I received the enclosed reply from them, which, in its explicit and clear style contrasts favourably with the vague and puerile tone of their former letters. As this correspondence has been forwarded to Pekin, I hope that there, as well as here ; it will produce a conviction that we are not to be trifled with, Your lordship will observe, that though their reply is sa tisfactory as to the disposition of the Chinese Government, and its readiness to exchange ratifications, it makes no allusion to the interview with the Emperos, and to the pre sentation of the letter of credence to him. I gather from this omiction that the Emperor has not instructed them on this material point ; and as the question of ceremonial ought, in my opinion, to be settled before we leave Tien. tsin for Pekin, it is clear that it could not have been dis cussed here, involving as it does the necessity of taking the pleasure of the Emperor upon It, without the risk of losing the season altogether for the visit to Pekin. I must observe, my lord, that in order to effect the presentation in person of my credentials to the Emperor, and to deter the Chinese from their hitherto invariable practice of subjecting foreign envoys to petty slights and insults, which lower them and tho governments they represent in the eyes of the people, I must suceeed in in spiring the Emperor and his counsellors with a conviction that what I have once demanded I will exact, and with a wholesome dread of my readiness and power to resort to force, if my demands are not complied with. The notes I have addressed to the commissioners, as well as my general bearing, are, I feel certain, faithfully reported to the Em peror, and with this conviction I have purposely assumed the attitude and tone best calculated to induce him to sub mit quietly to very unpalateable proposals, by impressing upon him that these concessions are inevitable unless he is prepared to draw the sword. The considerable force collected by the admiral will tend to strengthen this impression, and it is the more necessary at this timo as the Chinese are aware of the absence of any French force from China. Wlroughout many generations of our intercourse with China we postponed considerations of national dignity to our commercial interests, and the statement "that the bar barians care for nothing but trade," appears again and again in their official papers, as the key to our character, and the principle by acting on which we are " soothed and con trolled." It is essential in dealing on this occasion with those questions of force and ceremony so important to the Chinese mind, that we should disabuse them of this notion, and I believe that tenacity and firmness on these points will, by elevating our national character in the estimation of the people and of the go'-ernment, and by gaining their respect, if not their goodwill, facilitate greatly hereafter our relations with China. For this reason, when the commissioners the other day conveyed directly to me that they were ready to arrange to my satisfaction the question of the Canton indemnity, I took no notice of the overture. ought to add that Mr. Ward, the Minister of the United States, has insisted on exchanging the ratifications of his treaty at Pekin, and that ho is prepared to accom pany us to the north ; he has, moreover, advanced the same ciaim to an interview with the Emperor. Of the in tentions of the Russian envoy I have learned nothing as 3 et. It only remains for me to add that I purpose leaving this to-morrow morning for the Peiho, my French and Ameri can colleagues following the next day.—l have, &c. (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BDUCR. * This is a free translation of the Chinese, representing the English of Lord Elgin's dispatch, of which there is not a copy at hand. 1 - And consequently here. t This is, I think, a feeler regarding the extent to which our former relations are modified. The Chir.ese would pre fer continually to regard them as merely commercial; the Chinese Superintendent of Trade as Foreign Minister.— T.W. Enclosure 3 in No. 8. COMNIISSIONERS KWEILLIANG, IiWASIINA 7 TO MR. . , BRUCE. (Translation.) Kwei, &c., Hwa, &c., Ho o 81 7 e., Twau, &c., Imperial commissioners, make a conunTanication in reply. On the 25th instant, 27th May) the commissioners re ceived Mr. Bruce's despatch of the 14th instant (16th May), apprising them that her Britannic Majesty had done him the honour to appoint him her envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the Court of Pekin. The commissioners were greatly gratified at this intelli gence. They are of opinion, however, that an affair of so grave importance to both nations as an exchange of treaties cannot with propriety be hurried over. The commissioners, having the fullest confidence in his predecessor, Lord Elgin, when he engaged them to remain at Shanghae to consider all matters not disposed of, were unable to return to Pekin, and if Mr. Bruce now proceeds direct to Tien-tsin, the corn - missioners, having to travel by land, cannot reckon upon arriving there so soon, Indeed, taking into consideration the hindrance to be expected from the weather on their land journey, this will certainly occupy two months and more, as Mr. Bruce, they imaginr, must be well aware. As to thepreparation of vessels, vehicles, &c., atTien-tsin*, to which the letter under acknowledgment refers, and the selection of a building in proper order (for Mr. Bruce) to reside in with the good understanding now subsisting be tween the two nations, the arrangements will be, of course, as libaral as it is suggested they should be.t But the com missioners cannot arrive in so short a time, nor can any of these things be done at a moment's notice. There is another consideration : not only will there be no one to receive Mr. Bruce at Tien-tsin, as it is impossible for the commissioners to be there against his arrival, but (there will be no one either to exchange the ratifications) : the exchange of the treaties must be effected by the hand of the commissioners, and by their hand alone—no one can act as their substitutes ; and believing, consequently, that it would be better for Mr. Bruce to defer his departure from Shanghae for a while, than to be kept waiting at the other place, where, after midsummer, the heat is excessive, they feel bound to request him, in the first place, on his arrival at Shanghae, to name a day for their interview with them, and, in the second, to appoint some other time for proceed ing. This, it seems to them, would be a more satisfactory arrangement. The commissioners are induced to put for ward this proposition by the importance they attach to the question before them, and (their desire for) the establishment of friendly relations to endure for evermore. Mr. Bruce's thorough acquaintance with the ways of the world (or the motives of men) is such that they feel sure he w;11 appre ciate their feelings, and they hope that he will at once reply to them. A necessary communication addressed to the Hon. F. Bruce, &c. Wien-fang, 9th year, 4th moon, 26th day (May 28, 1859) (Received June 6, 1859.) (Enclosure 4 in No. 8.) MR. BRUCE TO COMMISSIONER KIVEILIANG. The undersigned, &c., begs to acknowledge the receipt of the letter addressed to him by their Excellencies the Im perial Commissioners Kweiliang, Hwashana, Ho Kwei tsing, and Twau Ching-shih, in reply to that sent by him to his Excellency Kweiliang, Chief Secretary of State. The undersigned must remind his Excellency Kweiliang that the treaty of Tien-tsin, signed on the 26th of June last, provides that the ratifications shall be exchanged at the capital within a year of that date ; and the Imperial commissioners themselves admit that on the 30th of March last they were apprised by the Earl of Elgin that the undersigned was on his . way to China for the pur pose of fulfilling his engagement. The commissioners were, at the same time, made aware that the Earl of Elgi a was returning home, consequently that he would not revisit Shanghae. Notwithstanding this intelligence, they have thought proper to remain at Shanghae till within a month of the time appointel for the exchange of ratifica tions, alleging, as a reason for so doing, that various details connected with the execution of the treaty had been only in part discussed by the Earl of Elgin, while they de clare that they are the only authorities by whom the ex change of the ratified treaties at Pekin could be effected. They now write to inform the undersigned that their jour ney to Pekin will occupy above two months—that is to say, that they cannot reach the capital for upwards of a month after the day by treaty appointed, that there will be no ono to receive the undersigned at Tien -tsin, and no one to ex change the ratifications at Pekin. They accordingly re quest the undersigned to delay his departure from Shanghae. The undersigned is determined, that, so far as it rests with him, no stipulation of the treaty shall be violated. The exchange of the ratifications is a ceremony which re cords in the most solemn form that the new treaty is the rule henceforth to be observed in conducting the intercourse of the two nations. And as the treaty admits of no altera tion or modification, the undersigned cannot allow that the period fixed for the exchange be made at all dependent on arrangements necessary to carry certain of its details into execution. It is with regret that the undersigned finds at the very outset of a mission sent by her Britannic Majesty as evi dence of her desire for peaceful relations, that he is met, not as he had a right to expect—with a cordial and frank invi tation to the capital—but with delays and hesitations, ill calculated to cement a good understanding. The under signed will not, however, swerve in the least from the course he has laid down in his letter of the 13th ult. He is re solved to proceed forthwith to Pekin, there to exchange the ratifications of the treaty, and to deliver in person the letter entrusted to his charge by his gracious Sovereign to his Im perial Majesty, to whom it is addressed, nor will he quit the capital until satisfied that effect will be given, without reserve, to every provision of the treaty of Tien-tsin. The undersigned intends no discourtesy to the Imperial commissioners, but he must, under these circumstances, positively decline any interview with them at this place. His resolution to proceed to Pekin without delay is in flexible. It is at the same time his duty to warn his excellency K weiliang that he is prepared to insist on a reception befitting the dignity of the nation he represents, and that any failure in this respect will be attended with the most serious conse quences to the Imperial governmeat.—The undersigned, &c. (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Shanghae, June 8, 1859. Enclosure 5 in No. 8. MR. BRUCE TO COMMISSIONER KWEILIANG. The undersigned, &c., had the honour to address a letter to the Chief Secretary of State, Kweiliang, upon the Bth inst. He has received no reply to this, and he observes that neither his excellency nor his colleagues the Imperial commissioners, who have informed him that it is through their hands alone that the ratifications of the treaty can -pass, are, to all appearance, making any effort to reach Pekin by the day on which it is by treaty agreed the ratifications shall be exchanged. He begs, therefore, to point out to them that there are lying in this harbour several steamers, one or two of them flying the Chinese flag, by the employ ment of which it is perfectly within their power to accom plish their journey within the appointed time. Admiral Hope, the naval commander in chief, has started for the mouth of the Peiho with his squadron, charged to advise the local authorities of the immediate approach of the undersigned and his colleague, M. de Bourboulon, the Minister of France. The undersigned, before leaving Shanghae, begs again to impress upon his excellency Kweiliang that his proceed ing is in strict accordance with the treaty provision, and he throws upon the Chinese government the entire re sponsibility of any consequences that may arise from its vielation.—The undersigned, &C. (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Shanghae, June 11, 1859. Enclosure 6 in No. 8. MR. MID CE TO REAR-ADMIRAL ROPE. Shanghae, June 11, 1859. Sir,—The communications I have received from the Im perial commissioners do not, I regret to say, justify me in assuming that the Chinese Government has resolved to re ceive my visit to Pekin in a conciliatory spirit. There is manifestly a desire to treat this visit, not as the exercise of Our undoubted privilege under treaty, but as an exceptional case, the various steps of which are to be minutely arranged at this place before we are to be permitted to proceed to the north ; and not satisfied with the interminable discussions to which such a course would necessarily lead, the commis sioners propose further to enter upon the details necessary for carrying into effect the provisions of the treaty. Their letters breathe throughout the old spirit of jealousy and isolation. It is not consistent with my instructions, nor with . the express stipulations of the treaty that I should agree to such proposals, nor do I see how it would be possible, within any reasonable time, to settle, at this distance from Pekin, ques- Hong of ceremonial which affect the Emperor personally, and on which his pleasure will have to be taken. I am satisfied, on looking over the correspondence, and particularly by a reference to the Earl of Elgin's last letter to the commissioners on leaving China, that they cannot allege, with any show of reason, that they have prolonged their stay here at his request ; and however much I regret the difficulties that may arise out of their absence from the capital at this conjuncture, I do not think that I could de part from the programme contained in sny first letter to them, without involving myself later in more serious com plications, and without reviving hopes in the mind of the Chinese Government that by procrastination and discussions they may succeed ultimately in giving to this visit to Pekin a character, in the eyes of the Chinese people, at variance w th t hose principles of equality and unrestricted intercourse which it was one of the main objects of the treaty to ensure. I have therefore informed them that I cannot accede to their request to remain here, and that I shall take my de parture for the north without delay, in order to effect the exchange of the ratifications and the p resen t at i on of my letter.and credentials to the Emperor. At the same time I am anxious to give to the Imperial Government the opportunity, if it b e so di sposed, of repair ing the neglect of the commission ers, an d of receiving me in a friendly manner. You will precede my arrival at the * The suitable means of transmission spoken of in Mr. Bruce's letter of the 16th May. t Lit. It is certainly proper that, according to this, or after this fashion (China should be) liberal. There is a cer tain amount of patronage in the expression, Peiho, and I beg that you will have the goodness to in form the officer in charge of the forts of the approach of the ministers of England and France on a friendly mission, and inquire whether orders have been given to facilitate their progress to Tien- tsin. Should the reply be in the negative, I would suggest that they should be called upon to transmit the intelligence to Pekin, warning them at the same time that if a reply is not received within a certain fixed period the Imperial Government will be held respon sible for the consequences. By the time your message reaches Pekin the government will be in possession of the correspondence between his Excellency Kweiliang and the foreign plenipotentiaries, and will be informed accurately of the objects and scope of the visit to the capital. M. de Bourboulon agrees with me as to the course to be adopted, and I am authorised by him lo request that you will make the above communication in his name as well as in mine. I intend leming Shanghae on or about the 15th of this month.—l have, &e., (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE. Enclosure 7 in No. 8. COMMISSIONERS KWEILIANG, HWASHNA., &C., TO MR. BRUCE. (Translation.) Kwei, &c., Hwa. &c., Ho, &c., Twau, &c., Imperial Commissioners, make a communication in reply. On receipt of Mr. Bruce's letter of the Bth instant, acquainting the commissioners that his determination to pro ceed forthwith to Pekin to exchange the ratifications of the treaty was unalterable, the commissioners feeling that it would not be correct that the day appointed for that pur pose, which was near at hand, should be passed, after due deliberation decided that the only course open to them was to represent the matter fully to his Majesty the Emperor, and to request him to be pleased specially to select some high officer who might proceed to Tien. tsin to make ar rangements for Mr. Bruce's reception. Their memorial was sent forward at the rate of 6001 i (200 miles) a day* and would arrive at the latest in some eight or nine days at Pekin, so that it might be assumed that when Mr. Bruce and the ministers of France and America reached Tien-tsin, the Imperial commissioners could not fail to have arrived as well, and so the exchange of treaties in Pekin would be effected by the time fixed for the purpose. The commissioners were in the act of addressing Mr. Bruce to the above effect, when they received his second letter dated the 11th inst., expressing a wish that they should proceed by steamer. They were not unaware that a steamer would be a most expeditious (means of conveyance), but they have not received his Majesty's commands (to avail themselves of it), and they could on no account pre sume so to proceed on their own motion. Were they now to make the proposition the subject of a memorial (so far from any advantageous result from such a course), there would be, on the contrary, time lost in the marching and countermarching. It behoves them, therefore, in obe dience to his Majesty's commands, to return post-haste to the capital. As they had prayed his Majesty to detach a high officer to act as agent in the matter, Mr. Bruce will be certainly enabled to arrive at his destination by the time appointed. With the peaceful relations now established between the two nations nothing certainly will be done that is not in conformity with the provisions of the treaty, and the commissioners accordingly pray Mr. Bruce at once to put away all misgiving on the subject. There is no need for him to feel auy anxiety. They would wish that on his arrival at the mouth of the Tien-tsin river (the Peiho), he should anchor his vessels of war outside the bar, and then, without much baggage and with a moderate retinue, proceed to the capitol for the exchange of the treaties. His mission being a pacific one (or, as he comes speaking peace), his treatment by the Government of China will not fail to be in every way courteous ; and it is the sincere wish 'cf the commissioners that relations of friendship may be from this time forth consolidated, and that on each side confidence may be felt in the good faith and justice of the other. A necessary communication, addressed to the Hon. F. Bruce, C. 8., &c. Hien-fung, 9th year, sth moon, 12th day. (12th of June, 1859.) (Received June 13, 8 a.m.) No. 9. MR. BRUCE TO THE EARL OF MALMESBURY. (Received Sept. 13.) Off the Peiho River, July 5, 1859. My Lord,—l have the honour to state that four days after the receipt of his excellency Kweiliang's letter, I left Woosung for the north, taking the :Coromandel in tow, in order to have an unarmed vessel in which to ascend the river. On arriving at the islands of Sha-100-tien, the rendez vous agreed on with the admiral, I found the squadron no longer there, and proceeded to the mouth of the Peiho on the 20th June, where the ships were assembled, the admiral having sent the gunboats over the bar, on account of the heavy sea running outside. Admiral Hope reached the islands of Sha-100-tien on the 16th, and on the 17th he left the anchorage in the Fury, attended by two gunboats, to announce the coming of the ministers of England and France to the authorities at the mouth of tho river. The Fury and gunboats anchored out side the bar, and Commander Commerell, with Mr. Mor gan, the interpreter, went over the bar in the Fury's gig, to deliver the message. They were not allowed to land by the armed rabble on the bank, and when Captain Corn merell asked for an interview with the authorities, they de clared that there was no authority, civil or military, on the spot; that the barriers in the river had been made by the people at their own expense, not against us but against the rebels ; and that the garrison consisted of militia only. The chief spokesman, who called himself an engineer or clerk of the works, howeuer, offered to take any message to Tien tsin and bring back an answer. On receiving the report of what had passed, Admiral Hope sent Capt. Commerell in again to inform them of the arrival of the ministers, and to request that a passage should be opened within three days to allow of their proceeding by the river to Tien,tsin. To this they replied that they had despatched a mes senger to Tien-tsin to notify our arrival, and that a passage should be opened within the required time. Admiral Hope then returned to Sha-100-tien. Gn the 18th the squadron left for Peiho, and the gun boats anchored inside the bar on account of the heavy sea running outside ; and on the 20th, the day of my arrival, Admiral Hope proceeded to the forts to see whether steps had been taken to obtain a passage for us, and to deliver a letter he had addressed to the intendant of Tien-tsin, stating that the squadron would remain at the anchorage during our visit to Pekin, and requesting that a market should be opened for the sale of fresh provisions, and arrangements made for landing of officers and men in such numbers as might not be inconvenient to the inhabitants of Takoo. The same rabble came down to the bank, and opposing the landing, one of them threatened Mr. Morgan with a drawn sword when he jumped on shore. They again denied the presence of any authority, and asserted that they were militia, acting on their own responsibility. Instead of re moving the obstales :they had further closed the passages, and when taxed with this breach of their promise denied that they had ever offered to remove the barriers. To give more colour to their assertions of the absence of any authority they hoisted no flags on the forts, and no sol dier was visible during the time tho squadron was lying there. It is not difficult to understand the motives of the Chinese Government in thus holding aloof, contrary to their usual custom, from all communication with the squadron and foreign ministers. We know from the Pekin gazettes that during the last eight months they have been studiously ad ding to their defences along this coast, and that Sunko-lin sin, a Mongol Prince, the head of the war-party, and dis tinguished by his successful defence of Tien- tsin against the rebels in 1853, has been appointed commander-in-chief of this district. It is evident that the Government were pre paring for our arrival, and had instructed the garrison to represent themselvee as a militia post, and to deny the pre sence of any constituted authority, by which arrangement they hoped to ilreserve anattitude whiCh would enable them to take advantage of his success if he were able to keep us out of the river, or to - disavow his proceedings if he failed in his efforts to do so. After a long and anxious consultation M. de Bourboulon and I decided that we ought to adhere strictly to the course laid down in our letters to liweiliang at Shanghae, and that we should insist, as much for the sake of our future commu nications with Pekin as for the successful accomplishment of the missionnow confided to us, on the right of using the river as the natural highway to the capital. If, in accordance with Kweilianes memorial,ahigh officer had been deputed to meet us at this place, bearing a friendly invitation from the Empe ror, and satisfactory assurances as to our personal reception by him, we were quite prepared to have proceeded as far as Tein-tsin with only such vessels as were required for the ac commodation of ourselves and suite,, for I do not think that in any case we ought to have allowed our right to choose the only expeditious and commodious route to the capital to be questioned. But on considering the late proceedings of the Chinese Government, the persistency of Kweiliang and his colleagues in remaining in the south instead of returning to Pekin, the proposal to effect the ratifications at Shanghae,the attempts to delay our progress to the north by raising fresh discussions on the treaty, and finally, the hostile and discour teous reception we have met with here, we were forced to con clude that the difficult task lay before us of carrying the trea ties into full operation, and of ensuring a reception at Pekin on terms to the last deg,Tee mortifying to Chinese arrogance while the Eu•peror is in the hands of a party averse to con cession and relying on their preparations to resist us. Every incident corroborated the information we obtained at Shanghae from a Chinese authority, reported to yourlord ship in my despatch of the 11th ult., that the Emperor would not accede to what we were instructed to demand, except under the pressure of fear, -The question then for consideration was, how were we to work sufficiently on the fears of the Emperor to induce him to give way ? The experience of last year showed that the presence of a squadron in the gulf was not enough to effect that object, while it equally showed that the opening of Pekin would follow on the accessibility of Tien-tsin to our ships being established, We could hardly be mistaken in inferring from the studied manner in which the Chinese officials held aloof from all communication with us, and from the repeated assertion of no authority being present * This is the form of words for the fastest rate of mail dispatch but one, Enclosure No. 6.—Memorandum. Yesterday evening a Cantonese, Sen-seen-sang, who has for several years been in the habit of lending money to ex pectant officials, whom he accompanied when appointed to any post, called on me. He had just returned from Pekin, via Shanghae, having left the former place on the 22d of March. He informed me that at the time of his departure from Pekin, the expected return of the British Ambassador to Tien-tsin, and the possibility of his visiting the capital were subjects freely canvassed in every quarter; that the Emperor was known to be highly displeased with some of the stipulations contained in' the Tien-tsin treaty ; that he was entirely averse to the ambassador's taking up his quar ters in.the capital, and that he had resolved not to grant him an audience on any pretext ; that military preparations were going on at Pekin and Tien-tsin ; that the Russians had offered the Emperor 10,000 muskets, but that his Ma jesty had declined to accept the present, fearing that the muskets in question might be brought to the palace by an equal number of Russians ; that the arrangement of all matters connected with the reception of the British at Tien sin, and the preventing of any visit to Pekin, had been con fided to Sung-wang yay, a Ta-tsze-wang, son-in-law of the last Emperor; that Sung-wang-yay was at Tien-tsin with 50,000 troops, Manchoos and Mongols ; that the batteries at Tien-tsin had been rebuilt, and the river staked in such a way as to render it impossible for foreign vessels to reach that city ; that 30,000 " so-lo" troops, men never called out except in cases of the greatest emergency, were under orders to hold them selves in readiness to joing Sung-wang-yay if called for; that Sung-wang-yay's orders were to receive the British at Tien-tsin with all civility, but at all hazards to prevent any nearer approach to Pekin ; that Sung-wang-yay was very desirous of gaining military renown, and that the ambas sador would be unable to reach Pekin without having re course to arms ; that, according to the opinion of some, the ambassador, accompanied by a few people, might possibly reach Pekin without bloodshed, but that a fight would cer tainly ensue if more than 100 men were landed ; that the country between Tien-tsin and Pekin being flat, and the Chinese troops being so much more numerous than any number of men the British could land, it was the general belief that the British could be surrounded and cut to pieces before the completion of one-half the journey. Sen-seen-sang further informed me that a Russian am bassador had visited Pekin on the 2d March ; that the Rus sians in the capital, more than a hundred in number, roamed about just as they pleased, much to the grief of the Emperor and the anti-foreign party ; and that it was feared the British, if they once effected an entrance, would take an ell for every inch theßussians had arrogated to themselves —that at Yung-chow large quantities of grain had been bought up by the Russians. but that the Emperor having become alarmed, had forbidden the traffic. (Signed) ROBERT HART, Interpreter. British Consulate, Canton, May 22, 1859. No. 7. MR. BRUCE TO THE EARL OF MALMESBURY. (Received July 31.) (E xtrac t . ) Victoria, Hong Kong, Juno 1, 1859. I have the honour to inform your lordship that M. de Bourboulon arrived at Hong Bong on the 26th ultimo, from Macao, where he had been delayed by the non-arrival of the corvette and small steamer destined to convey him to Tien-tsin. Admiral Rigault had taken all the stoxes, &c., out of the corvette when at Turon, and she has not yet completed her provisions, but I trust she will be ready to morrow, on which day I likewise proceed to Shanghae direct. I have waited for M. de Bourboulon, as I thought it advisable that every step we take in the Pekin expedition should be taken by uc in concert ; and as I do not wish to have any communication with the Imperial commissioners, should they be still at Shanghae, until my Freneh colleague arrives. No. 8. MR. BRUCE TO THE EARL OF MALMESEURY. (Received August 11.) Shanghae, June 14, 1859. My Lord,—l took my departure from Hong Kong as soon as the French corvette Duchayla was reported ready to pro ceed. Foreseeing that I should find on my arrival here questions of considerable importance, which it would be de sirable to decide in concert with M. de Bourbolon, I did not think it advisable to precede him, and thereby put myself in the position either, of acting in his absence, or of giving as a reason for delay that I was waiting- for him. I reached Shanghae on the evening of June 6, and M. de Bourbolon arrived on the following morning. I found three letters from the Imperial commissioners, proposing that, instead of proceeding to the north to effect the exchange of the ratifications, I should remain here and commence discussions on various details connected with carrying the treaty into operation, alleging as their reason for waiting at Shanghae that the Earl of Elgin, on proceq ing to the south, had left some of these details unfinished. On reading, however, Lord Elgin's letter of March 3, 1859, addressed to them on his leaving China, I saw that there was nothing to justify their delay that they were informed therein of my being the bearer of important documents to be delivered at Pekin, and that they were warned that a strict adherence to the treaty was the only method by which peaceful relations could be preserved. One of the articles prescribes the exchange of the ratifications at Pekin within a year, and I know, from what passed last year. that it is not, in the eyes of the Chinese, one of the least important of its stipulations. I am unable to state whether the commissioners were acting under instructions from their go;ernment to use every effort to prevent our proceeding to the north, or whether they adopted this expedient for the purpose of being out of the way when the visit to the capital, so unpala table to the pride of the Chinese Government, is to take place. But that their object was to gain time, the favourite policy of this Government, in the hope that something, they know not what, might turn up and relieve them from this visit, I could have no doubt ; neither could I doubt, independently of the precise nature of my instructions, that anything which looked like hesitation pc irresolution on my part, would encourage the Chinese in putting obstacles in my way, and render the objects. of illy mission more difficult to attain without a fresh appeal to forge. I accordingly addressed to the Secrethry of State Kweili ang the enclosed note, declaring that my resolution to pro ceed was inflexible ; refusing to enter into any discussion of details until after the exchange of ratifications ; declining to grant them an interview at this place, and holding them responsible for any consequences that might ensue from the want of due preparation at Pekin for my reception. M. de Bourboulon, who shares my opinion on the sub ject, transmitted a note to the same effect. I further sent a short note, pointing out that, by em ploying one of the steamers lying here, they might still, if they liked, reach Tien-tsin in time. In the meantime the squadron sailed to rendezvous at some islands a short distance off the Polo, and Admiral Hope left on the 11th, having agreed to inform the officers in charge of the forts at Peiho that the Ministers of Eng land and France were coming, and to direct them, if they had received no instructions on the subject, to communicate the intelligence to Pekin, and to obtain a reply within a fixed number of days. On the occasion of the Admiral's departure I addressed•to him the letter (a copy of which is herewith enclosed.) At this time the reports that reached us were not encon raging, and I learned from the best authority that a high Chinese official had declared that he would not go to the north, as there would be trouble, and that we should be obliged to give the Chinese government another lesson at Tien•-tsin before the Emperor would be brought to reason and before pacific counsels would obtain the ascendancy. This tallied with other accounts, and with the fact that the war party acquired so much influence at Pekin last winter, and sent such extravagant instructions to the commissioners, that Ho wrote back that if affairs were to be managed in that spirit, the Emperor had better name his uncle and the other Enclosure 1 in No. 8. COMMISSIONERS KWEILIANG, &C. TO MR. BRUCE. (Translation.) Kweiliang, &c., Hwashana, &c., Ho, &c., Imperial corn missioners, &c., make a communication. It appears from the records, that on the 22d day of the 12th moon of last year (January 25, 1859), a despatch was received by the commissioners from the late British minis ter, Lord Elgin, in which there are the following words : " The undersigned has determined on proceeding to Canton to take certain steps (or to act) ; his business accomplished in the course of some five or six weeks, he will name a time for his arrival at Shanghae, there to settle with the com missioners such questions as still remain to be discussed." In due course of time, on the 26th day of the 2d moon of the present year (March 30, 1859), the commissioners re ceived a second letter, dated the 29th of the Ist moon (March 3), to the effect that (her Britannic Majesty) had appointed the Hon. Mr. Bruce to be her representative, &c. ; and that he would arrive in China shortly; further stating that " the undersigned, now on the point of leaving China, must take leave, on this his last opportunity of ad dressing them, earnestly to impress (upon the commis sioners) that the one essential tea continuance of friendly relations is the faithful observance of the treaty," &c. The commissioners, in consequence of Lord Elgin's earlier letter, in which he engaged to return to Shanghae for a con ference with them, have been waiting for him without moving (lit., obstinately, persistently). Lord Elgin has returned home, but Mr. Bruce, having received the commands of her Majesty to succeed him in the administration of all things essential, and now occupy ing, to the great satisfaction of the commissioners, a posi tion identified with that of Lord Elgin, his predecessor, the proper course to be pursued is, doubtless, to appoint a day for a conference. In faithful compliance with the engagement already en tered into, and as the period appointed for the exchange of the treaties is very near at hand, it is of course most expe dient that all business which has to be considered should become the subject of consultation, and be proceeded with as early as possible. A necessary communication, addressed to Mr. Bruce, envoy extraordinary, &c. Lien -fang, 9th year, 4th moon, 25th day (May 27, 1859). (Received June 6, 1859.) Enclosure 2 in No. 8. COMMISSIONERS KWEILIANG, lIWASHANA, &C., TO MR. BRUCE. (Translation.) Kwei, &c., llwa, &c., Ho, &c., Twau, &c., Imperial com missioners, make a communication. It appears from the records that on the 13th day of the 12th moon of last year (16th January, 1859), the commis sioners received from the late British minister, Lord Elgin, a communication to the effect that he was proceeding to Canton upon business, and would return to Shanghae in five or six weeks, to consider and dispose of all matters on which discussion was still pending. Firmly persuaded of the good faith of Lord Elgin's words the commissioners have been waiting for him several months. His lordship has now returned home, but as Mr. Bruce has been commanded by her (Britannic) Majesty to replace him there with plenipotentiary powers, his position is identical with that of his predecessor, Lord Elgin. With Mr. Bruce's permission the commissioners will state the questions which have been discussed with Lord Elgin and decided, as well as those which still remain to be dis cussed. As regards admission into Pekin, the visit to Pekin on this occasion to exchange courtesies and treaties is excep tional : when it is over there is to be no permanent residence in the capital ; some other place is to be chosen (for the minister) to reside at. These are the words of Lord Elgin's despatch, the approval of which by her Britannic Majesty when Lord Elgin had the honour to 'receive it was duly re ported to his Imperial Majesty by the commissioners. As regards the navigation of the , iver (Yang-tze), Lord Elgin has been himself to Hankow to see the place for once. For the time t) come, it will be safe and satisfactory that all arrangements be made, as of course they must be, in accordance with the treaty.f As regards circulation in the interior, this, without '.oubt, on the principle laid down by Lord Elgin—viz., that any British subject of respectability and good conduct should receive a passport from the local authorities under which he may travel, this is perfectly fair. But inasmuch as China has no means of knowing what British subjects are respect able, it is still necessary that some good adequate means be devised (t 4, this end) that there may be no misgivings on either side. As regards the city of Canton Lord Elgin engaged to go further into this question when he should return to Shang hae; but as his lordship has returned to England, it has not been possiule to consider it with him. The time for the ex change of the treaties draws near—the treaties once ex changed the relations between the two countries will be re friendly than ever. Added to this, as Imporial com missioner for the management 'of the five ports, his Majesty the Emperor has already substituted the Governor General Ho, one of the commissioners, for'his predecessor (Hwang), by which appointment it is felt consultations on business between China and foreign nations will be much facilitated.: Everything is thus ou a satisfactory footing. But as Canton is not yet restored, it would seem that no time should be lost in an iving at a satisfactory decision regard ing it. conimissioners will be greatly obliged by his ex cellency replying specifically to them upon the above sub *is ; those which have been disposed of in discussion, and Ili 0,0 which remain to be discussed. A neccisary communication addressed to the Hon. F. I 3: tic e. Hein-rung, 9th year, 4th moon, 26th day (28th May) 1859). (Received Juno 6, 1859.) at the forts, that the Government was prepared to dis avow these hostile proceedings, if we succeeded in clear ing a passage up the river. We were equally justified by our past experience, and by the reluctance of the Chinese Government to allow us to proceed up the river, in assuming that they considered they would gain a great advantage by keeping the vessels out side, and by reducing us to negotiating in the gulf or in the interior, deprived of the moral support we should have ac quired from the presence of our flags at Tien-tsin. Our desisting from claiming the right to go up in our ships would have been attributed to inability to force their de fences, and the ascendancy would thus have been secured to the war party in the Emperor's councils. My conviction is that in that case we must have abandoned all hope of a pro p,er reception at Pekin on this occasion, and that we should have found it impossible to establish unrestricted access to the central government in future, or work eut in practice the clauses of the treaty provided for circulation in the in terior, and the imposition of regular duties instead-of-arbi trary exactions, provisions which can always be evaded, and for which we can have no other guarantee than the Emperor's dread of giving us offence. On the 21st of June I accordingly addressed a letter to Admiral Hope (copy enclosed), requesting him in the joint names of M. Bourboulon and myself to take such steps as he might deem expedient to clear away the obstacles in the river, so as to admit of our proceeding at once to Tien-tsin. Nothing was done until the 24th, the admiral boing mean while engaged in notifying that as a passage up the river had not been opened, he should proceed to open it himself, and Mr. Ward, the American Minister, having signified his intention of proceeding on the 24th in his small steamer to the forts, and requiring a free passage up the river, in which application he was, like ourselves, unsuccessful. During that night, however, Admiral Hope caused part of the obstacles to be blown up withput loss, and the at tempt to pass the barriers and proceed up the river was fixed for the morning of the following day. About 9 a.m. on the 25th a junk came alongside her Ma jesty's ship Magicienne, anchored about nine miles from the forts, and a petty mandarin came on board with a letter ad • dressed to me by the Governor General of Peellelee, transla tion of which I herewith enclose. I announced that the Go vernor General had been ordered to proceed to Peh-tang.ho, an inlet or small month of the river about 10 miles to the northward of this anchorage, and thence to offer his services to her Majesty's minister. That Kweiliang and Hwashana had been summoned back to Pekin, as the persons autho rised to exchange ratifications, and convey the minister to the capital. I was requested, therefore, to wait their arrival, and to allow time for the withdrawal of the troops quartered at Peh-tang-ho, after which the Governor General would sJme in a vessel to convey me to the landing -place, whence I should proceed to Pekin by land. This letter was dated the 23d, and only reached me on the 25th—a delay which is inexplicable, if it had been intended to reach me in time. As, in thebody of the letter, the name of her Majesty was not put on the same level with that of the Emperor of China thereby violating the principle of equality established by the treaty, it was returned by Mr. Wade for correction, with sn intimation that I was about to pvoceed to Tien-tsin. As the attempt to pass up the river was to be made at ten a.m., it woutd have been difficult for me at that late hour, to have communicated with the admiral, who was at adistance of nine miles, and already engaged in his operations; but I should not have been deterred by the informality alluded to above, had the contents of the letter been satisfactory. It will bo seen, however, on comparing it with Kweiliang's last letter to me at Shanghae, that the proposal. differs so widely from thecourse recommended by the commissioners, as to confirm the impressisn in my mind that the pacific party had lost their influence with the Emperor. Kweiliang had acknowledged the propriety of exchanging the ratifica tions within the stipulated period, and had proposed that a person should be named to meet me at this place, and con duct me at onco to Pekin ; thus admitting that the treaty was to be accepted as it stood, without further discussion. The Governor-General of Pechelee proposes a course which is substantially a repetition of the attempts made to detain me at Shahghae, and postpone indefinitely the ex change of ratifications, thereby giving room for re-opening discussions on those points which are particularly obnoxious to the Chinese Government. In both letters it is to be re marked that a demand for a personal interview is passed over in silence; and in neither am I informed that the Im perial Government objects to our making use of the river route to Tien-tsin. Apart, therefore, from the considerations I have speci fied above, for believing that the abandonment of the right to go up the river would be fatal to the success of the mis sion, and would establish a precedent which would put it in the power of the Chinese Government to throw difficul ties in the way of our future intercourse with Pekin, I could only see in this overture a further attempt at evasion and delay, and evidence that the influence at court of liweili ang and his colleagues was at a low ebb. It is, moreover, a significant proof of how idle it is to expect to carry out our policy by appealing to any other motive than fear, that nil communication was addressed to M. de Beurboulon, and no notice taken of Mr. Ward, though he came to the Gulf of Pechelee at the express invitation of the Imperial Com missioners. Answers are received at Takoo within 48 hours from Pekin, and had the Government wished to treat foreign ministers with courtesy, it would not have allowed eight days to elapse without taking any notice of them, and then contented itself with addressing the only minister who hap pens to be supported by a considerable force. Her Majesty's government will be informed by Admiral Hope's despatches that on proceeding to remove the barriers on the 25th, the batteries which had up to that time re mained apparently deserted, and some of them masked, were suddenly manned, and opened with so heavy and well directed a fire, as to render the operation of removing the barriers impossible. Towards the close of the day a force was landed to storm the batteries, but failed in the at tempt, owing to the nature of the ground and the deep ditches which had to be crossed before reaching the forts. Nothing could exceed the heroism of those engaged in the attack, and, judging from our past experience of Chinese warfare, there was every reason to expect success. But the Chinese fired on this occasion with a skill and precision of which there is no previous example in the history of our contests with them, and which would seem to show that they must have received foreign instruction, even if they have not foreigners in their ranks. Admiral Hope having notified to me that the force under his command was unable to clear the passage up the river, M. de Bourbolon and myself agreed that we must consider the mission to Pekin at an end for the present, and that we should retire to Shanghae. I accordingly addressed the en closed letter to the admiral, requesting him to dispose et the force in the manner best calculated to preserve tranquillity at the ports open to trade. I thought it expedient not to address any communication to the Chinese 'gayernment upon these events, in order not to interfere in any way with the decision of her Majesty's Government, and to keep the Chinese Government as long as possible in suspense as to its ulterior intentions.—l have, &o.; (Signed) FREDERICK W. A. Rnucx. U Enclosure 1 in No. 9. BEAR-ADMIRAL HOPE TO THE TAOUTAE OP TIEN-TSIN. Off the Peiho, June 20, 1859. Having arrived here with a considerable squadron in company with the Hon-Frederick-Bruce, the Minister em powered by her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain to ex change the ratifications of the treaty concluded last year with his Majesty the Emperor of China, and it being my intention that the squadron shall remain here during Mr. Bruce's absence at Pekin, I request that proper directions may be given that I may be permited to purchase such supplies of fresh provisions and other articles as I require; and that the officers and mon may have free communication with and access to the shore in such numbers as may not be inconvenient to the inhabitants of Takoo.—Accept, &c. (Signed) JAMES HOPE. Enclosure 2 in No. 8. MR. BRUCE TO REAR-ADMIRAL HOPE. Magicienne, off the Peiho, June 21, 1859. Sir,—M. de Bourboulon and myself havingmaturely con sidered the position of affairs, we have come to the conclu sion that it would not be consistent with the course hitherto adopted by us to delay further our attempt to reach Pekin within the time specified by the treaty for the ex change of ratifications. The Chinese Government, besides the article of the treaty itself, is before this in possession of the correspondence that passed at Shanghae with the com missioners, and, had it wished to do so, could have sent orders to facilitate our progress up the river. As you are aware, the course their officers at Takoo are pursuing, bears every mark of a fixed determinaiton to prevent us pro ceeding to Tien-tsin. The superior officers in charge of the forts keep out of the way to avoid making any specific de claration of their intentions until their preparations for our exclusion are completed, and their subordinates have not hesitated at positive falsehood for the same purpose. There is considerable reason to believe that on the Mon gol Prince in charge of the works.the hopes of the war p a rty repose, and that if he is defeated in his attempts to keep us out of the river, pacific counsels will prevail with the Emperor, but there is little chance of any satisfactOry result while their confidence in him is unabated, or that the visit to the capital will be effected in such a manner as to impress the Chinese with a just idea of our national power and equality. We have therefore resolved to place the matter in your hands, and to request you to take any measures you may deem expedient for clearing away the obstructions in the river, so as to allow us to proceed at once to Tien-tsin. I have'also to beg that you will act in M. de Bourboulon's name as well as in mine.--I have, &c., (Signed) F. W. A. BRUCE. Enclosure 3 in No. 9. GOVERNOR HANG TO MR. BRUCE. (Translation.) Hang, Governor-General of Chili, &c., makes a commu nication. In obedience to the commands of his Imperial Majesty, the Governor-General has come to Peh-tang-Ho, a port (br 'I harbour) to the northward of Takoo, to be of any service (or to do the honours to) ber Britannic Majesty's Envoy. As to the negotiations of the treaty made last year, his Majesty the Emperor has issued a decree commanding the Chief Secretary of State, liweiliang, and the President I ace ma: tat ca ' ors caj ce tre