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

ÜBSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 29, 1860.

ster, in which he states that "he had never desired any
other than a pacific solution of the present question."
These words, which prove his Excellency is sincere in his
desire for friendly relations, are most gratifying to the
Imperial Commissioners. His Excellency proceeds to say,
" that it was only because Kweiliang showed himself unable
to sign the Convention immediately that his Excellency
had felt it his duty, in order to prevent further loss of time,
to move to some place nearer (the capital) ; and had ac-
cordingly resolved to proceed to Tung-chow."
The Prince and his colleague have had.the honour to be
appointed, by the gracious commands of his Majesty the
Emperor, Special Plenipotentiaries for the negotiations of
peace. They have reached Malan, where it had been
their intention to wait until the forces of the British Minis-
ter should be withdrawn to Tientsing, and then to proceed
to Tientsing and there sign the treaty (the convention ?) as
originally considered, and so bring the question to a pacific .
termination, that no Author time might be lost. His Ex-
cellency, fearing a farther loss of time, adheres to his inten-
tion to proceed to Tung-chow; and seeing that if the
Brince and his colleague were to return thither now that
they have reached Matan, this moving back and forward
would occasion a further postponement of the day (of sig-
nature), it would be best (they think) that there should be
a conference between the parties. If; therefore, the Bri-
tish Minister will retire his forces to Tientsing, the Prince
and his colleague will have it in their power to repair at
once to Tientsing for a conference for the consideration and
dispatch of business. But if his Excellency be apprehen-
sive that time will be wasted by these movements to and
fro, there would be no objection whatever to his
halting his force at Yung-tsun, and selecting some
place midway (between that town and Matan)
near enough to suit his convenience, at which
business might be discussed and disposed of. Let his Ex-
cellency decide whether it shall be 110-see-wao or Ngan
Ping, and inform the Prince and his colleagues which he
chores, and they, on receipt of his reply, will name a day
for a conference, and having then at whatever spot within
reach [he shall named or without travelling further, con-
cluded a itreaty [containing] the propositions originally
brought forward, seal it and sign it. Thus, assuredly, there
will be no delay, if negotiations should not run smoothly,
what difficulty would his gxeelleney, have in recoramelic;
ing.bia-mareh...uporr-TunFßlAN:L'lt—Woritd 'never be too
la,te.
His Excellency is requested to reply With all speed. The
Prince and his colleague will make a point of awaiting his
reply to shape their course.
They have to add that on receiving their special commis-
sion to come forward and negotiate peace, they set out in
such haste that it is impossible that there should be perfect
uniformity in the paper, seals, &c., which they use ; but let
this occasion no doubt orapprehension to his Excellency.
A necessary communication addressed to his Excellency
the Earl of Elgin.
Hienfung, 10th year, 7th moon, (27th day of September,
1860.)
Translated by
THOMAS WADE, Chinese Secretary.

Enclosure 3A.

Ngaurtsai-tsun, Sept: 12.

Sir,—ln my deApatch of the Bth inst. I infernied your
Excellency that I considered it to be my duty, in conse-
quence of the want bf good faith shown by the Imperial
Commissioner, Kweiliang, to intimate to him that I should
call on your Excellency to convey me to Tung-chow, and
that I should not conclude any treaty with the Chinese
Government until I had reached That place.
Since I !eft Tientsing I have beenapprised of the nomi-
nation of new Imperial Commissioners of very high rank
and official standing. These Commissioners assure me
that they hold powers from the Emperor of the most cer-
tain character, and invite me to confer with them at some
point near to this place.
Before I answer this I should bo glad to learn from your
Excellency whether there are any military difficulties in
the way of an immediate advance en Tungchow—that there
are none which would not be superable by your Excellency
and the force under your command, I confidently believe ;
but if there be any which would, in your judgment, occa-
sion delay, it would be my duty to consider them in deal-
ing with these overtures of the Chinese Plenipotentiaries.
—I have, &c., (Signed)
ELGIN AND KINCARDINE.
His Excellency Sir Hope Grant, K.C.8., &c.

' posed of that difficulty. The greatest opposition was now
offered by the Prince to our proposal to encamp near
Chang-kia..wan. Indeed, more than once he seemed de-
termined to run all risks rather than concede this point.
A distance of five li,Juty a mile and a half, he at last ad-
mitted would suffice, and I withdrew to another room to
prepare a draft of the lettek to be written by the Commis-
sioners to your Excellency.
The difficulty in this was the guarantee for the future.
The Prince again appealed to his position in the Empire,
repeating that what he signed was as though the Emperor
signed it, &c. ; and after a little discussion as to how he
should state this, the declaration as it now stands was
agreed to.

During my absence the Prince had been in conversation
with Mr. Parkes, who, in answer to one of the general ex-
pressions of 'a hope that henceforth friendly relations
would continue uninterrupted, had remarked that an in-
crease of intercourse would doubtless 'peke rs better
friends, and that he rejoiced in the prospect of an ac-
quaintance between the representatives of foreign Go-
vernments and the three Princes. Your Excellency will
bear in mind that from all we have ever been given to un-
derstand the actual Government o 4: the country is in the
hands of Prince Hwui, the Prince of Ching, and the
Prince of I, to whom Mr. Parkes was speaking. He
started at the words the three Princes; by whom, added
Mr. Parkes, we have been much misunderstood ; and he
immedia,ely rejoined :—Not by them alone, but also by
(writing the character with his forefinger in the air, a la
Chinoise), the Han (Chinese). He then rose, went round
the table, and again whispered the word Han. They then
became very friendly, and in answer to Mr. Parkes's as-
eseurrvianecee,
tthheatporurinereeattlt wish
had everges
once g
them much in supplying the capital with grain ; hinting
at the same time that we should not, ho hoped, attempt to
eut
suggested
been
thatto wd o e themi ght country
help
make too great a profit upon it. He then tried to sound
Mr. Parkes upon the question of co-operation against the
rebels, but finding him avoid this question-, returned to the
grain supply.
My return with the draft put an end to the conversation,
and as soon as it had received its final correction, it was sent
to be copied. We did not wait for it, as the Commissioners'
seal WAS at their r,isideniie in the city; and as it was now
well past midnight, we took our leave, very weary of an
interview which had lasted upwa-ds of eight hours.
The earnestness, and even vehemence with which the
Prince had discussed, first the question of powers, and
lastly the position of the force, induced us both to believe
that his surrender at last was bona fide for the purpose of
preventing further hostilities. I think so still; the deep
sighs with which Mu.h-yin perused the despatch we were to
carry away, may have had other causes, but they appeared to
me at the time not unfavourable symptoms.
The expected letter arrived shortly after us, at our lodg-
ings, and at five o'clock'we started for Ho-see-wao. South
of Clising-kia-wan we observed numerous cavalry videttes,
but no large body, and none of the works upon which our
force came two days later. In the neighbourhood of Matan
long lines.of a very wretched cavalry presented themselves
in parade order. The officers to whom we spoke inquired
eagerly if there was a prospect of peace, and the next day,
they were withdrawn throughout the country in question.
Mr. Parkes, who had occasion to accompany a civil Man-
darin who had been waiting our return beyond our lines is
my authority for this statement. I think it worth mention
that a prisoner, taken on the 21st, in the course of conver-
sation volunteered the remark that the fighting was all the
doing of San-ko-lin-sin, who was as anxious for it as the
Prince Tsai was opposed to. it. This accords with other
reports.
In the absence of Mr. Parkes, I may be permitted to state
that, as on all similar occasions, the greater part of the
work of discussion and persuasion fell to his share. His
name was evidently well known to the Commissioners, and
they treated what fell from him with particular attention.
I have, &c..
(Signed) THOMAS WADE, Chinese Secretary.