The Express.
London, England, 1860-11-29 00:00:00

THE CHINESE WAR.

Lord Elgin's despatches and their enclosures, if
they do not add many important facts to our pre-
vious information, throw much useful light on
those previously known. It will be sew that our
Plenipotentiary does not adopt in its extreme form
the imputation of treachery made by Sir Hope
Grant with reference to the interruption of his
march by Sankolinsin. With much discrimination
he writes of the renewal of hostilities on the 18th
of September :

To hawed conjectures rte the motives by which Chinese
funstionazies are actuated is not a very safe undertak-
ing end it le vary possible that further information
may modify the views which I now entertain on this
point. I am, however, disposed at present to doubt then
having been a deliberate intention of treachery on the
pert of Prime Tsai and his colleague, but I apprehend thee
the General-in-Chief, Sang•ko-lin•itt, thought that they had
compromised his military position by allowing our army tO
establish itself so near his lines at Chantkialwan. He sought
to counteract the evil effect of this by teak* a pest
swegger of parade and preparation to resist, when the amid
armies approached the camping ground allotted to Ursa
Several of our people, Colonel Walker, with his escort, ray
private secretary, ltr. Loch, Baron ros' Secretary of Em.
Comes de &stud, and claw, mined throve' the
Teener army daring the course of the morning on their way
from Tug-how without enceentring any rude:sem or ill-
treatment whatsoever. At about a quarter to ten, how-
ever a French conualmariat caner was maaulted by some
Tart'ar soldier under circumetthoes which are not very
dearly ascertained, and this incident gave rim to an armee-
ment. which soon became general. On the whole, I come
to the conclusion that in the proceedings of the Chinese ple•
nipotentiaries and Coennandee•in-Chid in this instance,
there was that mixture of stupidity, want of straightfor-
wardness, suspicion, and bluster which characterises so p-
lurally the conduct of affairs in this country ; but I onset
believe that after the experience which Sang•ko-lin-sin bad
already had of our superiority in the field, either he or his
civil collieries amid have intended to bring on a conflict
in which, as the event has proved, he was so sure to be
wonted. At the same time, the facts that ho covered by
his guns, and with a portion of his troops, the ground
amigned to us, and that a French officer. returning from
Tong-chow with the knowledge sod consent of the Chinese
plenipotentiaries, was smutted and killed oe his lima,
entirely justify both the charge of bad faith which has
been brought spinet the Chimes authorities for their con.
duct in this instance, cad the proceedings of the allied
. . . . .

comenanclenie-chiet which have e;erued theiehom.
It will be observed that when the mail left Lord
Elgin was in communication with the brother of
the Emperor, the Prince Bung—the former cote-
mimioner, Prince Ai, I, or Tsai, under whose mis-
management the preparations for negotiation had
been interrupted, having been deprived of hie com-
mission. This fact should make the friends of the pri-
soners, English and French, at Pekin, perfectly easy
as to their safety. it is evident the Chinese desire
to make peace, and equally certain that they know
that their interest lies in behaving well to their in-
voluntary guests.

THE LATE EM CHARLES NAPIER.

The following ie a copy of a letter received from
the Portuguese Ambassador, expressing the .deem in
whisk Sir Charles Napier was held by his Majesty the King
of Portugal:

" LooLloo, Nov._ 23.

"Modem,—Ehe Majesty the King of Paeturei, my
august sorer*" has ordered me to express to you, in
his royal name, the profound rid which his Majesty felt
at the news of the decries of the illuatrione and brave
Admiral Sir Charles Napier, Count of Cape ht. Vinoset
His Most Fsithful Majesty, wishing, mower, to give
a rube and extraordinary testimony of the high °maiden.
tics in which he held the important se AIM rendered to
the cause of the legitimate throne and of the osentitntional
imiltetions of Yortagel by the mid brave sehnimil. Count of
Clap M. Vibrant, had ordered the Parteguena royal wry
to p tale remuitier for three days. I request you will
please to easinianimai these determinations of Hie Most
raithfal Majesty to the whole of your family, sod you may
she publish them if you think wpm. Havingfailllled the
orders et my royal sovereign, permit me, madam, to avail
Myself of this opportunity to repeat die erprendon of my
Fist, sod the assurance of the respectful consideration with
which I have the honour to he, malalli your MOO uhorlout
humble servant, " LAT 1,41010."