The Press.
London, England, 1857-02-28 00:00:00

curred in the opinion of Commissioner Yeh that
Sir J. Bowring and Consul Parkes had deter.
mined beforehand that they would not consent to
anything proposed, but would tack to the lorcha
grievance Sir J. Bowring's monomania for obtaining
admission to the city. He proved by extracts from
the reports that the operations were advised and
planned by Consul Parkes within twelve days of the
cause of quarrel; that every overture for peace by the
Chinese was evaded, and that at a very early period
after hostilities commenced the desire to settle
the long-vexed question of access was avowed :
The two subjects (observed Lord Derby) may np•
pear dissimilar, but I will show that in the mind
of Sir J. Bowring they were connected together. On
the 20th Mr. Consul Parkes attends at Hong Kong,
where there is a conference, and Mr. Consul Parkes
then lays down very broadly and very distinctly the whole
plan of the campaign as it was to be conducted in case of
the continued refusal of the Chinese Government; and
hire is that plan:—

I advise, therefore, and I do so with ell the deference due to
the superior judgment of your Excellency and the naval com-
mander-in-chief, and with a deep sense of the responsibility
which I, as the officer charged with the care of British interests
at Canton, in offering this advice incur, that, as we hare
searched the river and found no war junks (and anything less
than the seizure of a fleet would. I am now convinced, have had
no effect on the Imperial Commissioner), our operations should
now be directed against the forts between Whatupoa and Canton.
The Imperial Commissioner, I submit, should again be sum-
moned to grant the satisfaction already demanded within twenty•
four hours, failing which we should then take possession of the
four Barrier Forts. I cannot conceive it possible that his Ex-
cellency will then withhold compliance with our demands ; but,
should he still continue contuur pious, a similar course should
then be pursued with the forts at Canton, and it would be ex-
ceedingly advisable, I think, that the residence of his Excel-
lency, which is not far rota the wnter•sido, should also in that
case feel the effects of the bombardment.

( Hear, hear.) Now, listen !
I advocate attack on the Barrier Forts In the Bret instance,
because they stand by themselves. and are not surrounded, as
are those at Canton, by the dwellings of the people.
In the first instance he recommends the destruction of the
Barrier Forts, but in the next of the town forts. Although
he knows the latter are surrounded by the dwellings of the
people, lie coolly and deliberately advises that those forts
should be attacked and captured, and, if that should fail to
produce any effect, that the next step should be to bom
bard the private residence of the Commissioner him.
self. We find the plan of operations laid down by
Mr. Consul Parkes as early as the 20th of October
—only twelve days after the first cause of quarrel.
I said T could connect these two apparently very various
subjects, the seizure of the twelve men and the entrance of
foreigners into the city. As early as the 15th of October
Sir John Bowring says, " I await the development of
events "—I beg your lordships to observe that expression
—" I await the development of events, in order to decide
on our future mode of proceeding." The campaign pro•
ceeds according to the plan laid down by Mr. Consul
Parkes. The Barrier Forts are taken without casualties,
and the town forts without resistance. The Barrier Forts
are taken on the 24th, and on that day Sir John Bowring
writes:—

I have conveyed to Sir Michael Seymour an opinion that, if
his Excellency and yourself agree on :he fitness of the opportu•
nity, it would be well if the ee.rakt quastio of our entrance into
the city should now be settled—

As soon as he has picked a quarrel, nominally about the
affair of the lorclia. he takes advantage of the quarrel as he
wished to take advantage of peace and tranquillity. (A
laugh.)

It would be well if the vexata <literati° of our entrance into the
city should now be settled, at least es fur as to secure us an
official reception there. This would be a crowning result to the
successful operations of her Majesty's naval forces.

The vexes& querstio was initiated, but able diplomatist as Sir
J. Bowring was, and ably seconded as he was by the con.
sul, he found himself detected in the delicate initiation of
the question of entrance into the city. Commissioner Yeh
says :

But 1, the Minister, also know full well what you, the said
consul, have in view. (A laugh.) For a certainty, it is nothing
less than a desire on your part to imitate the course taken by
the Envoy Davis in the spring of 1(347.
The mine was sprung Wher sooner than was intended, and
consequently, I must say, Sir J. Bowring rather lust his
temper, for this was the answer he gave to the notification
that the Chinese Commissioner had some idea of what he
was driving at :
I notice in the declaration of his Excellency, dated the 2Gth
inst., that a reference is mode to the proceedings of Sir John
Davis in 1847. You may find a proper opportunity of reminding
the Imperial Commissioner that if, instead of being shamefully
violated, the premises end engagements then entered into by
the Chinese authorities had been faithfully and honourably kept
all the existing calamities would have been avoided.

" If the promises and engagements then entered into by
the Chinese authorities had been faithfully and honourabl3
kept,"—

The Earl of ll•nr.ownv: Well, what then?
The Earl of DERHT : The noble earl the Lord Privy
Seal says, " Well, what then ?" Why, then, all these digi•
culties did not arise out of this affair of the lorcha.
( Cheers.) "If the promises and engagements then
entered into by the Chinese authorities had been faith-
fully and honourably kept instead of being shamefulh•
violated, all these calamities would have been avoided:"
►hen we hear of shameful violations of promises and
engagements, I would remind the noble earl that the
violation took place with the full concurrence of her
Majesty's Government, on representations deemed aatis•
factory—that it was no shameful mlation, but a violation
on reasons assigned, in which the Government acquiesced.
( Hear, hear,) Therefore, in spite of the noble earl's
"Well, what then ?" I say this language of Sir J. Bowriug