The Press.
London, England, 1858-08-21 00:00:00

hasproved most eatisfactorily the wisdom of
IPPlrent'9lla y the representatives of the four
the policy pursue _ . • •
which has been to conduct negotiations at a point
powe,
as flears the capita: as possible, so as to bring that pressure
to bear upon the Inipetial Government without which it
is hope) to expect its compliance with the demands of
the outer barbarians, however reasonable and moderate
those deinaude may be.
The day before yesterday two new Imperial Commis-
sioners arrived with great a
large m ount cemony
ed re from
tinue, and fol-
Pekin. They
were accompanied by
lowed by a train of mule-carts carrying their baggage.
These iunctiouaries, by name Kweiliang and Hwashana,
are mandarius of the highest rank in the empire. They
have announced themselves as specially empowered to treat
upon all the points specified by us as subjects of negotia-
nun by virtue of an Imperial decree similar to that which
was conferred upon Keying on the occasion of the last
treaty, as a further proof of which they style themselves
by our manufactured word, " Plenipotentiary," a term
unknown in their own official vocabulary. A preliminary
interview has been arranged with the British Ambassador
for to-day, in a building set apart fur the purpose. Lord
Elgin will be accompanied by a guard of 150 Marines ant
the band of the Calcutta. Meantime, it has been arranged
that the Fury shall proceed tomorrow to Hong Kong, for
the purpose of sending up by the troopships Adventure
and Assistance, the 511th Regiment, a battalion of Marines,
and some artillery, which the arrival of the native regi-
touts from India and the expected advent of the 77th
from Australia enable General Straubenzee to spare from
the garrison of Canton. The French Admiral is daily ex-
recent% s force of 600 Marines who haze just come out
from France, so that within six weeks we may calculate
upon having collected h, re a military force of 3,0i10 men,
besides a very strong naval brigade. In the event of the
negotiations now about to be commenced terminating
ensatiafactorily, there will be no difficulty whatever, with
this strong body of men, in marching to Pekin along the
excellent road which leads to that city ; and, however ob-
stinate and impracticable our previous experience may
lead us to believe the Chinese Government, we can hardly
suppose it to he so infatuated as to brave the serious con-
sequencee which must accrue if it continue to resist our
demands, with an army encamped beneath the walls of
their capitol prepared to enforce them.
From these facts it would appear that the result of the
policy pursued by the allied Governments has been to
place them in an attitude which gives them a complete
military command over the Imperial Government without
interrupting the trade at any of the ports.
Count Putistine and Mr. Reed, the Russian and Ameri-
can Ministers, are living in a yamun which they have
rented upon the banks of the river.
Unless we have a can's belli, we had nn right to touch
Take or attempt to force a way within Chinese fortifica-
tions; and if we bad one we are distinctly wrong and in-
consistent in quitting a warlike attitude until redress had
been gained. Taint is just twenty four hours per post
from Pekin (we are certain of that), and yet, although
'fake fell fourteen days ago, and we have been one week
between Taku and Pekin, it has taken the Emperor until
today to send us a Minister to treat. Does that show
they are much alarmed, or does it argue they are either in
a haste to grant re,irese or be rid of our presence at a place
supposed to be the throat of the capital ? No ; had we
pushed on a light division against Tung-chow, held
Tiensin as a base, sent despatch-vessels to beat up the
whole coast of Chile and Shangtung, worked and kneaded
these slow-thinking Tartars until they only saw one way of
escape from us and our gunboats, we should have a treaty
such as would repay Englund for all her delay and
expense, instead of now having to ask much and take
little, and the amount of that little purely dependent upon
Om ability of Lord Elgin.
He tLord Elgin) tells everybody, R 8 T hear, that he
shall wait here until doomsday rather than concede any of
his just demands, but we believe in our hearts that he
finds the admiral so fail him in granting support to his
demands that he will have to be very moderate in pressing
the Imperial Commissioner. Indeed, there is another
consideration to he kept in mind. The Frenchmen can
go no further in their vessels; they maintain it is now
alone by military operations tat Tung•chow fuel Pekin
are to be taken or threatened, and have accordingly
ordered tip the shiploads of marine infantry lately arrived
at Hong Kong; all that they say or wish is our admiral's
law, and it would he an awkward thing for us if, when
T angtehow was taken, or, may be, Pekin, the Frenchmen
played first fiddle and we the second. However, we can
only hope for the best; and I must say I have considerable
faith in Lord Elgin carrying us eventually through. all the
errors and difficulties which surround the question, and
he has risen fifty-fold in all our estimation by the per-
severance shown in b,inging the admirals to act at all in
Support of his views, against, a certain Hong Kong policy
of their own, which they are pleased to state is that of
beset Britain and France.

6ourt AuA ,fasOon.

Her Majesty and the Prince Consort are now
residing at the Chateau of Bahelsburg, with Prince
Frederick of Prussia and the Princess Royal. Not-
witlmanding the extraordinary heat of the weather
and long journey, the last of which was fifteen hours'
duration, her Majesty remains in perfect health.
Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince Consort,
With the Prince and Princess of Prussia and Prince
and Princess Frederick William, drove on Saturday the
llth through Gleniche, the beautiful seat of their
itoYal Highnesses Prince and Princess Charles of
Prassia.