The Express.
London, England, 1859-09-16 00:00:00

CHINA.

Mums ymbedefellswilser.)
OPT THE MOUTHS Or THi PIIHO.
Jots I, SIMS.
1 Mikan to end yes a lbw details el the gnu
mists that have jut talura plow at the math of
the Peiho. Yea know that the =ideation' of the
isenties concluded at Ties-Tein by the envoys extra-
ordinary of Pronto sad Great Britain were to be
=changed at Pekin. The uneasiness that had been
felt respecting the eimelset of the Chinese govern-
ment, when the time should arrive for effecting this
exchange, had been latterly dissipated by the pacific
sorarucce of the Chinese authorities; the most
explicit declarations of the imperial commis-
sioners authorised us in fact to believe that
as obstacle would be opposed to the journey
at the French and English envoys to I'ekin. In op-
position to this expectation, Messrs. de Boarboulon
and Bruce found the entrance of the Psiho barred
by strong stockades. After uselessly demanding the
passage to be opened to them, Admiral Hope, who
commanded the forces placed at the disposal of Mr.
Bruce by the English government, as likewise thou
with which the French minister was accompanied,
undertook to force it, bat has failed is this attempt,
and been repulsed with very sumiderable loss.
It was on the 2011 of Jane that Mr. Brace found
Meisel at the mouth of the Peiho, where he woe
joined on the evening of the mane day by M. de
Bourboalon, who arrived is the corvette of the Im-
perial navy, the Duchayla, folloWid by the
Noritgaray. Admiral Hope. who had preceded,
them for some days, had been already able
to convince himself, from the inspection of the de-
fensive works recently constructed and from the
evasive replies given by the subordinate authorities
to the notes in which he announced the arrival of
the plenipotentiaries, that it was the intention of
the Chinese government to oppose the possibility
of their proceeding to the capital. The day of the
list was spent by the plenipotentiaries in concert-
bog what measures they should adopt; and es
Admiral Hope considered the forces he disposed of
sail:lent for overcoming the obstacles he had before
him. it was resolved that an attempt should be
made to fora the passage. On the 22ad, the
Admiral sent on shore a summons, that remained
unanswered, in which he cited the load
authorities to remove without delay the
obstacles that barred the river; in neglect of
which he should proceed to remove them -himself.
He employed the days of the 23rd and 21th in
making all his arrangements for a conflict that
everyone considered to be inevitable.

According to the intentions of the French plenipo-
tentiary, the despatch boat of the imperial navy, the
Noreagaray, and the landing party of the Duchayle,
were to film* themselves in case of attack under the
orders of the English admiral.
The Noir Igaray cleared the bar on the 23rd with.
out accident. During these preparations the Chinese
hose of defence, consisting on the two banks of &s-
-teely:el forts of considerable height, connected
together and covered by a clatianous end very ex-
tensive line of earthen parapets garnished with
raking batteries, presented a desolate and silent
front ; their embreenres wore completely concealed
by matting to such • degree that it might be asked
whether there was anyone behind those works to
defend them. This calm and silent attitude, so dif-
ferent mono the noisy demonstration habitual to the
Chinese of the South, appeared an awkward symp-
tom, and in feat revealed among theme with whom
we had to deal a resolution and discipline that boded
so good; bot it was too late to recede.
In the night between the 24th and 25th Admiral
Hope attempted by his boats to blow up with fire-
worka the barriers placed across the river. These
obstacles eensisted of three linos of stockades, the
first of which was formed of iron rheraux de fru*,
solidly fixed in the bed of the stream, and so near to
each other as to prevent all vessels save boats from
panics through the intervals. The second line was
farmed by booms resting on the water, lashed to-
gether by strong chains, and fastened to piles r
Wetly, the tb:rd line stretched across the stream
lake an immense raft, from 120 to 130 feet deep,
surained and Neared by innumerable piles. The
boats, having parsed through the intervals between
the enikes of the first line, succeeded in blowing op
some of the booms of the second stockade, but the
operation was only partially successful.
After the 23t 4 of June everyone expected anxiously
the issue of the contest, which eoald not much longer
be delayed. Stationed nearly six miles off, we could
distinctly see the entrance of the river, and accu-
rately note the position. We saw the outlines of
the principal forts, and a little lower down the masts
of the guaboata cieaving the horizon, and through
the spy-glasses we soon descried the position of the
Norzegaray. Nevertheless, the supposed hoof for
the attack_paszed away without any apparent move-
ment. We only law a junk approach the frigate
Chmapeake,and having remained stationary for some
time make for the )iagielenne. We have since heard
that it brought to Mr. Bruce a letter from the
Governor-General, Pe-ache-li, which was merely a
fresh feint for obtaining delay from the English
minister, and eluding the ratilioations of the treatise.
At half-pest 2 o'clock the grins boomed all at once
from the river aide with extreme violence ; the com-
bat had commenced.

From half-past 2 till 6 o'clock the cannonade
lasted without itterruption at diminution ; and
almost from the commencement it was evident, by
the manner in which the Chinese replied to our fire,
that if victory were capable of being hoped for, it
would at lent ha dearly bought. About 6 o'clock,
the fire of the forte sensibly diminished, then ceased
altogether, and we were able to believs for a moment
that the Admiral had succeeded in silencing it. Bat
shortly after 7 o'clock It recommenced on both sides
with fresh violence, and continued to a very late hour
of the evening, especially on the enemy's side, whose
shots, which could be distinguished by the
position of the forts and the vibrating deto-
=flans of the great bronze guns, were often pre-
ceded by bright firer, intended, of course, to light up
the scene. It then became nearly certain that the
admiral most here sustained a reverse.

It was not ligure the following day at rather a
late hour in the morning that we learned all the sad
truth, by the return of the despatch boat, the Coro-
mandel, which brought back the admiral wounded is
the hip by a spent ball. The following lea summary
ter the wholeaffsir.

About two o'clock, the admiral having drawn up
hie vowels in frort of tLe forty, gave orders to the
Opossum and the Plover, another gunboat which he
was on board of himself, to moor close to one of the
lron stakes and endeavour to tear them up. This
attempt succeeded, and at the end of some time a sof.
Se;eat opening was mode to enable the nover and
Opossum to pose through. The instant the gunboats
cleared the first stockade, the Chinese began to fire
from their forts and low batteries, which hitherto
had been kept masked. The firing began along the
whole line; that of the Chinese was priecipslly
aimed at the two gunboats ahead, and with such
precision that at the first round 17 men of the
Plover were shot diwa. The two gunboat, had
their chain eab!es soon broken by the balls and
began to drift. Admiral Hops had been removed to
the what..huot of Centel' Tto tilt, of the Dochayle,
who had remained constantly at his side on board
of the Cormorant.

Towards the end of the day, the English admiral,
seeing that the enr.tn'e fire gradually slackened,
bad almost entiroly ceased, thought that he
had succeeded in partly silencing it, and
wished to employ the last resource, the
landing part', who RIM to endeavour to carry the
forts of the left book. The landing, according to
the testimony of Carotids Telmalt, who desired
to take part io it at the head of his men, and was
vouodea in the limo, was accented in admirable
order. At live minutes past *even the signs! was
given, and at twenty minutes part 7 the boats had
already gained the hank. At the moment of their
touching the land, the Chinese, who had been reserv-
ing their firs for an hour, received the troops with
Wente eo:lec•. To reach the fortifications it was
***rosary to trailer, a space of some 600 mews of
sad, :o which the m:n sank to their waists, and
then to got serous three ditches, the lost of which