The Express.
London, England, 1860-10-02 00:00:00

(Stamped, id. Additional.)

THE CHINESE EXPEDITION.

..)
TALIFS BAY, JULY 20.
In my last, despatched on the 11th instant, I told
you of an accident that had just occurred. lam
now able to give you a detailed account of it. A
boat belonging to the ImparaUiz steamer, lying in
Mend Bay, mule over to this side on the forenoon
oof the 11th, with two officers, who had some duty
to Perform here. One of them was Captain Loins-
den, the deputy aashdant quartermaster-general of
Napier's division • the other, Lieutenant Harry
Gordon of the Madras Engineers. The boat was
moaned by two sailors of the luiperstria, and in
charge of the third mate of that ship. They all
left Victoria Harbour at 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
to return to Hand Bay, and when almost half way
acmes the harbour a squall struck the boat. One
of the sailors called out to the mate to let go
the sheet, but there was a hitch or a knot, or some-
thing, that prevented his doing so quick enough
and the boat was capsized, and all in her throw;
into the water. At the same time the ballast in
the bottom of the boat shifted to one aide, and pro-
routed her being subsequently righted. However,
as she wan a lifeboat she didu not
gii,ovra,_and lay
with the sail oa The two_,
maim, and editors dm. iilailaS'
supported themselves by standing on the sad and
holding ou to the side. By this means they were
able to keep their heads above the water level, but
as it was blowing fresh every wave went over them,
and they soon began to feel that a continuation
of this would produce great exhaustion. They
made signals, and tried to attract the attention
of a gun-boat moored at a distance of half
a mile from them, but without effect. They
were three miles from shore, it was a thick
evening, and night coming on. In this state they
remained till dark, when Captain Lumsden, being a
good swimmer and seeing no prospect of relief, left
the boat and made for the shore. After being five
hours in the water he happily reached the land,
some ten miles from camp, greatly exhausted, but
otherwise not much the worse. Some time after he
quitted the boat the mate and one of the sailors
also left her, the former swimming and the latter
supporting himself on an oar. They were both
picked up by a ship's boat during the night, com-
pletely done up, and have been very ill in
hospital ever since. When they had left
there remained in the boat only Lieutenant
Gordon and one of the sailors. The latter was
taken off the boat about nine o'clock by the cap-
tain of a ship, who was crossing the harbour in his
gig, but poor Gordon had disappeared. He had
not been well for some days, and had been sick in
crossing over in the morning, as the sea was rough.
The or said he had held on for some time to the
boat, and then let go his hold, being quite ex-
hausted, and sank. He appears to have been very
much beloved in his regiment, and his melancholy
death is lamented by all who knew him. Lums-
den, who appears to have kept his presence of
mind in a remarkable degree throughout the trying
circumstances in which he was placed, lay down
and took a sleep when he got to land. When he
awoke he found he had ten miles to walk, in a hot
sun, with only his shirt to cover him.
But this was not much to a man who
had swam four or five miles in a rough sea, and he
got to his tent without further mishap at three
o'clock in the afternoon, and in two days was as
well as ever. In consequence of this sad accident,
the commander-in-chief has prohibited officers
from sailing about the harbours in boats, and when-
ever an officer is required to go across the bay on
duty he is to be furnished with a passage by the
senior naval officer at his station.
General Montauban and Admiral Charner arrived

(now ous owx

the forenoon they were carried by oar commander-
in-chief, accompanied by Lord Elgin, screen the
harbour, to see a review of the cavalry and artillery
at Odin Bay. When they steamed into the little bay
they found the force drawn up along the semi-cir-
cular beach to receive them, and landed under the
thunder of its (impossible to say how many) guns.
Horses were ready, sod the chiefs and their staffs
did what is usual on these occasions—rode up and
down the lines, receiving and making salutes, and
then took up a commending position on the slope
of a hill, and saw the troops march past. And a
noble sight it was—one of those spectacles that,
seen thousands of miles from home, in a remote out
of the way corner of the world like this, sends the
blood tingling through the veins, and makes one
feel proud of being an Englishman. The ground
was well chosen, close to the beach, and surrounded
by rocky, picturesque-looking hills, except on the
aide of the sea, where tho blue waves came rippling
up almost to the horses' feet A fair and tolerably
fertile landscape spread over the lower slopes and
along the foot of the mountains, the white bell
tent shining among the green fields, the warm sun-
shine, and the cool fresh breeze, all fed the senile
of beauty, and contributed their exhilarating
influences. And then the troops ! The artillery,
with their perfect equipment ; the Dragoon Guards,
in scarlet and gold ; the swarthy Sikhs, in their
picturesque uniforms, their lance, glittering in the
sunbeams and gay pennons fluttering in the wind.
You might hope to see such a sight on the Espla-
nade in Calcutta ; you might expect to see some-
thing like it in Hyde-park ; but who ever dreamt
of witnessing anything approaching to it on the
shores of the terra incognita of Telma Bay, and
what other nation in the world could have furnished
it ? Our French friends said it was magnifique and
swperbe. The review ended, there was some prac-
tice with Armstrong guns at very undefined if not
altogether imaginary targets, some tent-pegging
with the Sikh horsemen, and some quickly impro-
vised, in the rough and ready style, but not at
all to be despised, tiffins at the quarters of General
Crofton, commanding at Odin Bay. The French
admiral and commander-in-chief, who are old and
rather worn-looking men, returned to Chefoo the
next morning.
While this was going on at Odin Bay
another and very different scene was being
enacted in Victoria Harbour. The wretched
marine who attempted the life of Lieutenant
Hudson, his commanding officer, was hanged at
the yard-arm of the Leven gunboat, on board of
which the crime had been perpetrated. The exe-
cution was conducted with much solemnity. A
boat from every man-of-war in the fleet was pre-
sent, drawn up alongside the gunboat. The officers
and men of every ship were mustered in full dress
on their own quarter-decks. At a quarter-past one
o'clock the sentence of the court-martial was read
on board every ship, and at half-past one the signal
was given, and the unhappy criminal was seen !im-
pended from the yard. He was tried the previous
forenoon. His shrift was short, and Ins doom
quick and terrible, for it was only at six o'clock in
the morning that he was told be was to be hanged
at half-past one. Such speedy retribution is far
more salutary as an example than when long
delayed. The only defence he made was that he
was excited from having been accused of theft by
his muter. He was very penitent at the last, and
sent a message to Hudson and to the second master,
whom he had also wounded, begging their forgive-
ness. Hudson, whose wound was dangerous, is
doing well and in • fair way of recovery.

(ISOM •

'July 22, 1860.

Sinoe I wrote last, Lord Elgin and his staff have
arrived from Cho-row-Thou, when he had been to see the
French, who were not nearly ready, but who gave the 26th
as the day for starting. They still continue to make a noise
about the numbers of our force--they only having some
4,000 men.

On the 15th, Sir H. Grant, Lord Elgin, Admiral Hops,
and the French Commaador-in-Chief, General Montantia,
went over to Odin Be, to review the cavalry brigade sad
Arnestroag isles, sad I was lanky enough to sea s pansy
' over with them. On oar approaching the dam tans a-

[TWOPENC.

late. were fired Miter the other, and we then pnwepiiitel
to tho madly aim were drawn up in line, with
. .

the ILD.G. on illeielglkt, Priyit's horse in time emir, and
Pane's Isere, es the le& the right of all the cavalry
wag ligggy.g battery of gropronea, and to the left Stirling's
of Royal Artillery. The apparatus of the irregular horse
was very fine, especially Peebyn's bore, who in their dark
blue uniform and blue pugrke looked as dashing a body of
mat as 1 have seen anywhere. I ane's bone seemed better
mounted, but the men were not so good as those of Pro-
byn's. The ring's Dragoon Grids looked 'as English ca'
vaby always do—i. e., very grand and imposing—but there
was a diatom about them which did not tell favourably on
me. After a gallop np end down the line (which, by the
way, must have amused the cavalry not a little, so much
mane-cluteldng was there), the troops ranked past, and then
the Anosisrang briery was drawn up, to show their prac-
tice to the Preach pereraL He disnicautted, and seemed to
lake a per rarer in them, examining everything about
them, sod remarking that the practice was capital, but that ‘.
the guns were not so light as the French rifled gnus. When
he was informed that the Armstrong earned a 12-pounder
shot, he was meek surprised. After the artillery practice,
the prey adjourned to a grass lawn in front of the mane of
Govan's battery to wirer the rear and sword practice of
the irregulars. As 1 dare say you have never seen it before
I shall daseribe it. The firs/ pectin consisted of pllopiag
*AIM lb* bito the
gravid, anti peat of the spear. Pane's
horse seemed most successful at this. The next was placing
a line on a walking-stick, and at full gallop cutting it into
two with the sword without touching the stick. Major
Probyn excelled in this, and General Montaubin, calling
him up, complimented him. After this there was a variety
of exercises gone through, aU tending to prepare the trooper
and his hone for the work before him.To a novice like myself
they seemed very difficult, but I was assured by one of the
officers that with a little practice they were very soy. The
correspondent of the illustrated took a picture of the ca.
ruby brigade drawn up in line, and I em told it is capital ;
however you will be able to judge for yourself when it ap.
pears at home. Lord Elgin expressed himself much pirated
with the riding of the irregulars.
So far from this being the barren spot we imagined on
oar first arrival, now that the villagers have gained con.
Silence in us, supplier' pour into all the camps ; and as
the royal court have declared themselves unable to furnish
officers with carriage, an order has been issued allowing
officers to go into the country to make their own purchases.
The consequence is that, in both Odin Bay and Hand
Bay, a great many capital baggage ponies and mules have
been procured. At first they were got very cheap, bat
now that the people see that we are so eager to buy they
have raised their prices. The villagers are, I am told, in-
clined to be very civil and good-natured if treated properly,
but any infringement on our pert is sure to being down ven•
geanos with it ; though naturally not inclined to be rough
they will not stand any bullying. The principal grain seems
to be the oord, Indian oorn, and wheat ; and beech, pine,
and oak trees are plentiful. All sorts of fruit tress are
grown in the little gardens which are attached to every
house; while at Bustard Creek (an inlet of Hand Bay),
some days ago, I was agreeably surprised with a present of
a basket of the most delicious peaches I have seas.
A weak ago a melancholy accident occurred in the upset.
ting of a boat. It appears that Captain Lamed's, deputy.
assietant-quartermastergeneral, and Lieutenant Gordon,
of the Madras Engineers, were returning from Victoria Bay
to Hand Bay, just after dark ; when about half over, a
squall came on, and the boat was upset ; and, to make a
painful story short, Gordon was drowned ; Lateran, after
swimming about for six hours, reached the shore ; the crew
were all saved, but a great loss has been sustained in the
death of Lieutenant Gordon, who was thought one of the
most promising young officers in his corps. It will be
comforting to his friends to know that the Chief, in ex-
pressing his regret at the circumstance, said a most valuable
officer had been lost to the service. Since the accident all
officers have been prohibited from using sailing beats in
crossing the bay. A steamer now comic every other day
each of the bays and takes up officers who wish to go on
duty to Victoria Bay.
A force is to be left behind at Odin Bay, consisting of
a battery of artillery, some companies of the 99th, and the
19th P.I. ; the whole to be under the command of Cap-
tain Doric, commanding the 19th P. I. I see little good
in establishing a depot at this place ; but I believe the
reason is to bring our force more on a par with that
of the French. This is giving way too mush to our gallant
allies ; at one time in the Crimea they had • much larger
force than we had ; and, besides, I consider this to be our
quarrel, not theirs.
I em happy to be able to tell you that the lieutenant of
the gunboat who was shot by the marine is in a fair way to
recover, and that the master of the same is nearly well ;
the wretch who shot them was tried by a court-martial the
next morning, and the morning after, at daybreak, he was
hung ; this seems rather quick work, but it is the only way
to uphold discipline in the navy.
The Naval Brigade controversy goes on as furious as ever
—the navy declare the army are afraid they will cut them out;
and the army retort that sailors should be kept to sailors
work, and that if they were to propose to put soldiers on
board each man-of-war, there would be no end to the outcry.
Without entering into the contention (by which, by the
way, bitter feelings are apt to arise), my opinion is, that
whenever it is absolutely necessary that the navy or the
army should help each other, then let them do so. Here
there is no need of help, therefore there should be no naval
brigade. The French general has been to see all the camps,
and has expressed himself delighted with the soldierly ap-
pearance of the Sikh infantry ; he rya they are better than
the Terre ; and he is no doubt right. I never saw men I
should are to meet lees in action than some of Majors
Shebbaare and Brownlow's regiments. I think it is a great
pity leaving such tine regiments as the 11th and 19th P.I. be
hind. The sails all volunteered to a man, and it is very
bard that they should be put to garrison duty, as they say,
"We volunteered for nothing but the fighting." They
could get as much garrison duty in their own country if they
liked. Besides, it must be remembered that the climate out
hers, though a boon to Europeans, is not at also to natives.
Getting a year's duty at Shanghai would revive a European
corps, but would play the deuce with a native—they suffer
as much from the cold out here as we do from the heat in
India. This is the summer, and yet in the 15th P. I.
they will be obliged to leave some 30 men behind with
rheumatism. _ .

24th.—The whole of the cavalry brigade were embarked by
three p.m., and the day before the artillery division was
embarked.

25th.—The whole of the force, including stores of all
sorts, will be on board by this evening, and we are to sail
for the Peiho to-morrow. Numerous reports are flying about.
there is one party in camp who are convinced that there
will be no fighting. and there is another who think that
there will be hard fighting. It is very bard to form an opinion
on the subject, so I wait to see what is written in the
•' garden of our fate." Anyhow, you may be sure that the
army will pay oR the Ulm scores with interest.
. .

The 99th an also left behioct, with two
Uses and Ponayesiclet.

ANATIDE TuILTRI(AI AT I.4IIICIDITN6 IN AID
OP Till GAVIAL= Form.—Great interest in behalf of
Garibaldi has been felt in Leicester, and much mew has
been displayed in raising a fund in hie aid. The subscrip-
tion bas been larger and more general than any other
which has been raised in the town for many years, the
treasurer having already remitted Mi. to the central Lon-
don committee. The movement was initiated about • month
ago by a crowded and enthusiastic public meet* (the
mayor in the chair), from which an address was sent to
Garibaldi, then in Sicily. The most reroaricable and, we
believe, unique feature of the movement in Leicester has
been the arrangement of an amateur performance in aid of
the fund. The actors were members of the het fun-
lies of the town and neighbourhood, and played at
the Theatre Royal to • crowded house with great
success. The proceedings were under the patronage of the
Mayor, and were commenced by the performance of "God
Save the Quoen " on the stage, by the bead of the Lanca-
shire Volunteer Rites. The pieces performed were Used Up.
and Retained for the Defence, and although both difficult for
amateurs) pawed off in a manner which reflected great Cr..
die on the gentlemen and ladies concerned. Au appropriate
althea endemic song were also introduced. The per-
forename concluded amid the universal applause of the
Muse by the a of OW Italian national air, " Evens
Garibaldi ela lAb eta," in full chorus. It is much to be
hoped that other towns and localities may appreciate, and
in their own way imitate, the seal, the efforts, sad the sec-
NM of for Leiceister amateurs, and friends of Italian
liberty.