The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-20 00:00:00

(Stamped, id. Additional.)

detached bulidimp, with large courtyards, artificial
mounds of earth planted with trees, fish ponds with
rustic bridges, artificial rocks, and all those varie-
ties of ornamentation you may see depicted on
Chinese rockery and drawings. The buildings
have small pretension to architectural beauty ex-
ternally, and are more grotesque than handsome.
Within they are more striking. The audience hall
is a well-proportioned lofty room, the floor of mar-
ble, the roof richly painted, supported on wooden
pillars ; the throne is a magnificent piece of wood
carving. The whole suite or suites of apartments
were furnished in the most costly style, and yester-
day, when the French troops had been sacking them
for two days, presented a most singular appearance.
The whole place had been ransacked. The French
camp was like Vanity Fair. The rooms were in
utter confusion, and crowds of soldiers were turn-
ing everything upside down or hurrying forth from
the doors laden with spoil. It is impossible even
to enumerate a tithe of the various articles found
in the palace. Fine bronzes, costly ornaments of
jade stone ; the copper enamel vases for which
Pekin is famous, of marvellous beauty and fabu-
lous value ; old chine, French watches, and articles
of English and French jewellery, amongst them
the presents mat to the Chinese Emperor by Lad
Macsztney ; silks, satins, and embroidery, fans and
bracelets, all in enormous quantities, and most of
them of the most costly description. The courts
were strewed, the rooms were knee-deep in each a
variety of articles, such a strange combination of
stains and oolours, such a heterogeneous collection
of all things imaginable and many unimaginable,
se probably no human eye ever rested on before.
Hendee all these, a quantity of treasure in gold
and silver was found. This latter was not allowed
to be plundered, but was divided between the
forces, to •be distributed as prize. A number of
articles also, of more or less value, have been
secured for the English army, and will be sold by
auction, and the proceeds added to the treasure and
divided. The palace and extensive grounds and
detached buildings are surrounded by a high stone
wall. The country round is very pretty. There
is a range of low hills immediately behind, and on
the summits of some of these are ornamental pago-
das. Evidently very great care and taste, and
enormous sums of money, have been expended on
the place. A few hours sufficed to destroy the
work of years, and to scatter the millions
that have been lavished with an unsparing hand
to the winds. It is no exaggeration to say that the
total amount of spoil contained in these buildings
was considerably more than the whole army could
lave carried away, bad every man been marched in
and allowed to bring out as much as he could
stagger under. The quantity of silks and satins
was something quite incredible ; and after plunder
had been 'going on wholesale for two days, the
quantity remaining seemed hardly diminished. The
Chinese vagabonds in the neighbouring villages,
seeing what was going on, entered into the spirit
of the scene, broke into many of the more remote
buildings which had not been visited by the French,
and carried on the work with much relish. Plunder-
ing is always demoralising to an army, and it is
subject of congratulation that the English soldiers
I ware not exposed to the same temptation as their
rusighbotin--the more so, as they will still have a
share in the booty.
I don't think there is anything more to communi-
cate at present. The general opinion is that the
war is over ; and by next mail you may expect to
hear that peace is proclaimed. How long it may
last, or what the value of any treaty made with the
Chinese may be, who can say 1

JAPAN.

The following letter from Yeddo, dated the 7th
September, appears in the Munireur
. . .

- - .
M. Ducheene de Bellsoourt yesterday presented, in solemn
audience, to the Tycoon of Jape the letters which accredit
him as French ohm* &affair's at the court of Yeddo. At
8 in the morning one of the Governors of Foreign Affairs
presented himself at the French representative's residence
to accompany him to the paleoe, the Amite they were to
take Wag guarded by the police. The governor marched
first, then came • person carrying the French flag,
and protected by • guard on horseback • next
were If . Duchene de Bellecourt and M. Louisiro,a
consular agent, in • norimon (palanguia), anti then
came the former's suite, several Japanese officers
wearing the arms of the French legation on their uniforms,
and a number of men bearing pikes, parasol, &c. M. de
Belle:mon alighted from his palanquin at the entrance of
the palace, and, preceded by the Governor, wended a
staircase, at the top of which he was received by the high
functionaries of the department of foreign affairs, and their
onsetalds, or cootrollers, There, accorato the custom of
the country, be and the others cha their shoes ; he
was then taken into an apartment in w cakes and tea
ware served, and afterwards was led through several rooms,
in which a number of officers were kneeling, until he
reached the audience chamber. But before he was admitted,
the Governor of Foreign Affairs, who had preceded
robes him,
waited until a rustling of silk inside—caused
probably br the Tycoon end his attendants taking their
I>i ors oaa When at last the Cho* d'Affaires
enteral he found himself in • vest room, richly decorated
in the nations! style, without say furniture, and with no
works of sit, except some paintings. The Boor wee covered
with white mats, on which were in grlupe a number of per.
sous, prostrate and silent. lc a room beyond, somewhat
higher, was the Tycoon on an estrade covered with block
velvet. He wore an ample tube of blue silk, ornamented
with various designs, and with vast sleeves, which
covered his hands ; on his head was • cap
simi-
lar to that worn by the courtiers. Hie Majesty
was seated on an arm chair, but his robe was so
arranged as to prevent it from being seen, and he was ow-
-1 rounded by ors el his guard, kneeling ou one knee. The
Tycoon is only 16 years of age, but so robust as to appear
older. At the foot of the astnide and on the aides of the
apartment ware the inerobers of the Omsk, or the Great
Council of State, all kneeling. The Charge d'Affaires ail-
,' yawed to the middle of the apartment, and remained stand-
ing, whilst • chamberlain, in • loud voice, announced him,
MI the Minister of Foreign Affairs placed himself by his
side. M. Duchene de liellecourt, who was not required
to make any other salutations than are employed in
European courts, explained iu • few words the object of his
mission. The Tycoou returned • courteous reply. The
French representative then took from • velvet tag, which
was borne by the Abbe Girard, one of his suite, • letter
from the Emperor Napoleon, an handed it to the rust
Minister, who advanced to receive it. This minister then
&panted it on • small table at • few steps from the throne,
sod the Tycoon having made • slight inclination with the
bead, the audience terminated. M. Decimate de Bellecourt
was thee taken into a saloon, where the members of the
Bret and second councils, and a somber of officers, were
waiting to compliment him ; and he afterwards returned to
his residence attended by the same cortege as on his arrival.

Chien °ORM TO CniClC-
warm" Kr. Fred. Lillywhile hu jun issued the fourteen It
edition of his criciceting work, which contains a vast amount
of statistical facts and valuable information, both to the
cricketer and the admirers of this noble pme. For st shil-
lines worth, it is about the cheapest that it fall, to the lot
of a journal to often notice ; and it must, therefore, com-
mand a large one. The Orford and (Jambridge Univeni-
ties, as wello salritydic schools, do., are fully commented
upon, and I interesting.
USICAL FiteTlFAL.—This triennial
festival is fixed nest year for the 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th
of August. The Earl of Shrewsbury sad Talbot has ac-
ceted the office of president.
KYTICT OF TIM RE/M:ID Winn DUTY.—A peti-
tion from the African wine farmer has been sent to ?salami for
presentation to the Queen complaining of the new tariff. The
redaction of duty os Apaniatewines having enabled the ituropean
and Colonial Wise Onempany, of in Pallenall. to reduce the
price of their faeces " loyal Victia Sherry" tolls. per amen
Cottle and mess Inolude0), has prodecad inch an extraordinary
clemead for that wins as to greatly deepens the coneumpUon of
Cape or South African wines, and hence the tears of the Cape
fannen --(advertise:send