The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-22 00:00:00

THE WAR IN CHINA.

The .Moniteur publishes the following :
" A despatch from Baron Gros to the Govern-
ment of the Emperor, transmitted from Pekin by
way of St. Petersburg, and dated the 7th of Novem-
ber, confirms the news of the signing of peace be-
tween the brother of the Emperor and the Plenipo-
tentiaries of France and of England. The ultima-
tum of Shanghai has been accepted. The exchange
of the ratifications of the treaty of Tien-tsin has
taken place. Sixty millions of francs are to be paid
as an indemnity to France ; 3,750,000 f. were to be
paid down on the 30th of November. The emigra-
tion of Coolies is permitted by the Chinese Govern-
ment. The churches, cemeteries, and their depen-
dencies, which formerly belonged to the Christians
throughout the Empire will be restored to them
through the medium of the Minister of France.
, "A' Te Deum' and the Domine Salvum' were
sung on the 29th of October in the Cathedral of
Pekin, after the restoration on the summit of that
edifice of the cross which was formerly there."
The Moniteur also publishes the following :
" Certain organs of the English press persist with
the most inexplicable obstinacy in entertaining
their readers with accounts of fabulous spoil with
which every French soldier will return after the
pretended sack of the Imperial Palace of Pekin.
The only reply we can give is to publish textually
a letter written by General de Montauban to his
Excellency the Marshal, Minister of War, dated
the Bth of October. It will be remembered that
the Ambassadors of France and of England entered
Pekin on the 22d of October, and that peace was
signed on the 26th :
" HEAD-QUARTERS BEFORE PEKIN,
OCT. 8.

"' Monsieur le Marechal,—lt was agreed be-
tween General Grant and myself to proceed to
Yuen-ming-Yuen, the summer residence which the
Emperor always occupies, four leagues north of
Pekin.

" This country is so cut up by roads, thickets,
&c., that General Grant and his army lost their
way, and I arrived alone, in the evening, in front
of the Palace, which was in charge of a Tartar
guard.
" Despite a long and fatiguing march I ordered
the Palace to be occupied at seven o'clock in the
evening, and forcing an entrance I had two officers
and two soldiers wounded. The Tartars evacuated
the Palace entrusted to their care and lost some
men, one inferior mandarin being killed in the
courtyard. I ordered the Palace to be occupied,
and went there myself early next morning. It is
impossible, M. le Marechal, for me to describe to
you the wonders of this Imperial habitation. No-
thing in Europe can convey an idea of such luxury.
I shall not attempt to describe its splendours in

these hasty lines. I shall have the honour to
Write to your Excellency at great length by next

mail to give you a full description.
" ' I placed strong posts at all the outlets of the
Palace, so that nothing might be disturbed until

our allies arrived, to whom I immediately sent in

formation. A few hours afterwards they arrived,
and a portion of their cavalry having joined my
column I appointed two English and two French

officers to see that nothing was touched, and that

the two armies should conjointly exercise a strict

control.

" ' General Grant and Lord Elgin having arrived
we appointed three commissioners of each nation

to make a division of the most precious objects. In
this division I recommended our commissioners to

select only objects of value for the sake of art or
antiquity ; I hope to send to your Excellency, for
his Majesty the Emperor, and for the great collec-
tions of the Government, or for the Museum of

Artillery, some rare curiosities for France.

" ' I am at present awaiting the arrival of Baron
Gros, who is to join me here, Lord Elgin being here
already. A sort of convention has taken place be-
tween Prince Hung, Regent of the Empire, and the
English General, in the name of the two Generals-
in-Chief.

" 'I had consented to an armistice that Prince
Hung might come to Pekin to treat; he has gone
some eight leagues off, and the Emperor is in
Tartary.
" ' I beg of you, M. le Marechal, to excuse the
style of this letter, which.l write hastily ; I shall
remain here to-morrow, and even until Pekin is
occupied by force or otherwise, and I shall then

have the honour of sending you a full official report.

" ' I remain, &c.,
" ' MONTAUBAN. "