The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-16 00:00:00

THE WAR IN CHINA.

MARSEILLES, OCT. 15.
The allied troops reached the Peiho on the Ist
August. They are established at Pehtang, having
found the northern and southern forts there eva-
cuated. On the 12th they attacked the Tartar
camp. The Chinese fled in disorder. At the de

Parture of the mail the troops were in front of th:i
Taku Forts, wliere the Chinese were prepared tO
rt 5 .
resist.
The
rand attack would take place on the 15th.
(Signed) EDWARD MARK.

'ROGRESS OF THE TBIRD CHINA
WAR:.

(From Special Correspondent of
• the London and Cht
.Telegraph.)
OFF THY.S PR/HO
Aug.
12, 1860.
My last was dated from Tah-lien-Whan, and we
were thri in expectation. Our hopes had indeed
been cheered by the advent of Lord Elgin, and we
le,oked forward to some definite movement, which
has at last been taken. It is now too late to speak
about the time wasted during this summer season,
as we have at last a chance given us, and, like
honest Sancho Panza, we must not look too closely
at our gift horse. If neglect has been the prelude,
energy must now compensate for it, unless all con-
cerned with the direction of this undertaking are
willing to accept the odium which must attach to
those who lose great opportunities and trifle with
their nation's interests. They seem now willing
enough to work, and therefore let us give some little
commendation when it is desenred. On the 26th of
last month we started from. Tah-lien-Whan, the
day when the steam fleet moved to Odin Bay, to be
ready to render assistance to the numerous sailing
vessels which were employed by the Government.
We left en masse for the Peiho ; and if the Chinese
were on the watch, it was a sight sufficient to
awaken their gravest apprehensions. Not less than
250 sail of English vessels left, in such admirable
order that nothing was to be desired ; and we had
a fair opportunity, at last, for giving credit to our
admiral for something done. Could he always
be sure of conducting other matters as well as he
conducted that, then would we say that we had at
last the right man in the right place, and some
confidence would be exhibited by those under him.
As far as I can gather, he now is followed with that
heroic devotion which is part of our countrymen's
pride—when they will sooner support mental in-
competence, and perish for want of a better leader,
than raise a cry against one whose personal cou-
rage cannot for a moment be disputed.
The command of the military is in Sir Hope
Grant's hands, and if report speaks truly, we need
no better soldier. The landing of the troops ne-
cessarily occupied some time ; this has been effected.
most satisfaetorily. I should here mention that the
main body of the fleet is at anchor about five miles
from the shore. The land is so low that it is hardly
perceptible, and although every top was filled with
men and officers, it was two days before any reliable
information could be obtained. The following,
however, may be quoted as authentic :--
THE RECONNOITRE.

On reaching the shore to the north of the Peh-
tangforts, a large body of Tartar cavalry was disco-
vered, which had been despatched from an entrenched
camp some few miles inland. It was at first thought
that they would render the undertaking one of some
difficulty; but upon firing some three or four rounds
of shell and shot, they very quietly rode back again,
leaving the coast undefended. The French, whose
force on this occasion was larger than the English,
rapidly effected their purpose, and the Ehglish
were not long in following their example ; some
slight skirmishing took place with a portion of the
enemy, in which we had some fourteen wounded;
these all amongst the military, one, Capt. Great-
head, being, I regret, seriously so. On the next
day, or the following, they proceeded to advance
against the forts, the gun-boats, from their light
draught of water, being able to go up the shallow
river which forms the false mouth of the Peiho
here. These forts were, to all appearance, well
supplied with guns, and a considerable resistance
was expected. You may judge, then, of the sur-
prise of the forces to find them utterly undefended.
The English then proceeded to occupy them, but
did so cautiously, thinking it not unlikely, from
the known character of the Chinese, that some trap
was laid, and it was fortunate that it was so,for before
entering the first fort, the man who was reconnoi-
tring found the bridge across the dry ditch which
surrounds it trembling with his weight, and, upon
a careful examination being made, it was shown to
be so constructed with levers, &c., as to form a
large hammer, which, on the rush of any body of
men, would have exploded some detonating powder
in communication with a large quantity of gun-
powder, effectually destroying fort and all within it.
Of the guns found some were only wooden dum-
mies, but a large supply of Chinese rockets was
there, and the soldiers amused themselves by ex-
pending these harmlessly in the air.
With the exception of the occupation of three
such forts, we have hitherto done nothing but
make preparations for the march inland,
and the
first attack of real consequence will be begun tomor-
row.feint
on
The first will, I am informed, be a
the part of the military, and
if this draws
entrenched camp I spoke a before;
an attack upon the
and
off their attention from the forts the gunboats will
from their number and
begin a bombardment,
the weight of the guns they carry, will, I fancy,
rather astonish John Chinaman. AR easy victory
is not expected, for it seems pretty well known that
many of the
engineers are Russians and not

Chinese.
rrh
ph
e safeet
.landing
forts,o atnh a the
e troops,i their occupation
0 f
the skirmish with some
Tartar cavalry is the sum total of the news. Specu-
lation is rife as to the probable issue of the next with which the Taku
vi
steps, as upon the rapidity
forts are overcome dependsrtually the length of
the campaign. If we occupy them after an attack
lasting but a day or two, we may hope to date from
Pekin this pear;
if
tude are siege operations of any magni-
necessary,
we shall have to wait another
season.
every Nearly one is heartily sick of the
inactive life they have been leading since the com-
mencement of the expedition.

IBISDAY'S SHIPPING.

LONDON, Oct. 16.—Wind this day at soon—South-
Westerly ; moderato breeze, and dull cloudy weather, with
heavy rain.

FLEETWOOD, Oct, 15,—Wind S.—Arrivecl—Furnors
Mina, from Quebec.

DEAL, Oct 14.—Wind N.W.—Arrived--Orwell, from
Melbourne ; Beverley, from Woosimg; Weska, from Kur-
rachee. Oct. 15.—Wind S. W.—Arrived—African, from
Colombo.

PORTSMOUTH, Oct. 15.—Wind S .—Arriv ed—
Witch of the Wave, from London for Melbourne, With
sails split ; Bride, from Southampton, and sailed for
Algoa Bay. Sailed—Wellfteet, for Mobile.
PLYMOUTH; Oct. 15.—Wind W.—Arrived--Milo, from
Cuba.

BRISTOL, Oct. 15.—Wind W.—Arrived—Fan/1Y Chap"'
man, from Africa ; Sarah Park, from New York; rleador,
from St. John's, Newfoundland.

(BY SUBMARINE AND MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESEND, Tuesday Morning.
Wind W. ; weather cloudy, with rain.
Arrived—Rhine, steamer, from Boulogne.
DEAL, Tuesday Morning.
Wind W,S.W. strong, and thick, with rain.
Ancherod—Mu'tlaii, for Algoa Bay, and African, for
Colombo—both from London.

of the 12th
21 other
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from
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Golden
taken fire. During the fire it blew ac°paerilf'ec hurricaue.
Several casualties are reported as having occurred in the
Dardanelles, but no lives lost.
A dreadful accident occur
Lake of Garda. The boiler of a
occurred last week on the
runnin'' regularly, with perraissg-iliotrniboofatihwohGichovehmaBmbeenetn,
from Salo to Limone on the o
precipitated SO persons into
Count Guerrieri, of Veorfona,thcoemlapkries'in
opposite shore, exploded, and
lost; and the family gTehieghwthpoetresefanimi,
were
yeroef
Count Avright, of Salo, auliorcd
44 4" fate. UN 441491. v victims is ptimit Tv.

FOREIGN OFFICE, Oar. 15, IS6O.
The following telegram was received at the
Foreign-office this afternoon from her Majesty's
Consul at Marseilles