The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-14 00:00:00

may be had in abundance at 3d. per lb. ; the largest
peaches at id. each. Water melons—most refresh-
ing of fruits and large enough for a dozen—cost
sd. each. Ice in large blocks of 251 b., pure and
clear as the finest Wenham Lake, is sold for 61 a
block. There is any quantity of forage of every
description—hay, millet stalk, green grass, paddy,
peas, beans, and Indian corn. Coal costs id. and
charcoal id. a pound. Coolies receive ls. per day
per man. Supplies of every description are abundant
and excellent. The mutton is fat and well flavoured,
and no finer grapes or peaches are grown than those
which now come to Tien-tsin market. A favourite
fruit with the Chinaman is the classic lotos, in shape
like a small melon ; it is full of stoneless kernels,
sweet and pleasant to the palate. Often and often
have I eaten them without experiencing the dreamy
sensations they are said to produce, and most cer-
tainly no man in this expedition has exclaimed—
" We will return no more ; our island home
Is far beyond the wave, we will no longer roam."

On the 7th a dozen of us went up the Grand Canal
n the gig and cutter of the Granada. For the first

two miles our progress was but slow, against a
strong current and through two bridges of boats,
which were opened for our passage. All the latrines
of the town seemed scattered along the banks of the
canal, and "the nymphs who reign o'er sewers and
stinks" must take special delight in disporting on
its margin. At length we clear the city, and
find a plain covered, as usual, as far as the eye
can reach, with a sea of gigantic millet. Large
villages are built on the border of the canal. Tne
population seems miserably poor; the men thin and
haggard, the women small and filthily dirty. The
canal, for the 15 miles we ascended it, is a canalised
river, winding and tortuous. Its depth in the centre
is not less than 14 feet, and close to the bank there
are five or six feet of water. The' current is -very
rapid, always setting into the Peiho. The tide rises
and falls four or five feet, but so great is the body of
water rushing down from the west that even when

_ .
the tide is rising it only checks the strength of the
current, and does not alter its direction. It is more
than probable that some portion of the Yellow
River, which ten years ago broke into the canal and
destroyed the sluices, now finds its way down this
course. There is a great local traffic on the canal.
We saw fully 200 passenger junks, and half as many
laden with goods. The banks of the canal are fringed
with very large willows, weeping and upright.
Ascending ten miles the aspect of the country
changes. First come topes of large trees, and then
what may really be dignified by the name of a wood.
We jump on shore and enjoy our tiffin sub tegnzine.
The timber is large and fine—walnut, willow, locust
trees, and immense pear trees. Some 300 or 400 of
" the enemy" came from the villages to gaze at the
barbarians feeding. They eyed the empty bottles
with covetous glances, so we gale them a scramble.
Entering at once into the fun with great spirit,
they hustled and struggled for the coveted prizes
with all their might, and amid shouts of laughter.
It is sad to think that this great work is now used
solely for the local traffic of the towns and villages
on its banks. By means of its connection with the
river which flow into it an almost entire water com-
munication was completed across the country from
Pekin to Canton—nearly two thousand miles. No
work of the kind in Asia could compare with it,
and when first put into full operation in the 14th
century there was none in the world to equal it.
The Grand Canal passes through the alluvial soil
in every part of its course of 650 miles. The junc-
tion of the Tun-ho was probably taken as the sum.
mit level. Thence northward the trench was dug
through to Lintsing, to join the Yu-hq,
and embankments were thrown up southward
to the Yellow River. In some places the bed
is cut down 40, 50, and up to 70 feet, but it passes
through no material obstacle. The banks are some-
times 20 feet above the surrounding country, and
are of enormous thickness. The sluices which kept
the necessary level were of rude construction, and
thick planks sliding in grooves of stone buttresses
formed the only locks. Still the objects intended
were fully gained, and for centuries the Grand
Canal formed the high road between the capital and
the southern and middle provinces. To what extent
it has been damaged or what is required for repairs
is quite unknown. The scientific mission attached
to the French Embassy will endeavour to return
south by that route. Should they succeed we shall
have reliable information on a most interesting sub-
ject.

The health of the troops continues good, not-
withstanding the fierce sun. Yesterday the ther-
mometer stood at 102 in the bell tents and under
the, awnings of the Granada. The fruit has pro-
duced a few cases of diarrhoea, but they are of no im-
portance, and, including the wounded on board the
hospital ships, the sick do not exceed 4 per cent. of
the whole force. Prom Hongkong and Canton the
accounts are very different. No less than 50 men
and two officers were buried last month, and the
soldiers are dying like flies. The Commander-in-
Chief has directed a month's extra pay to be given
to all the coolies, a reward they well earned during
our ten days' campaign. The army would have
done badly without them, for the Military Train
fairly broke down for a time. Three years ago a
detachment of the Military Train was sent to
China, whence they were at once forwarded to
India, in consequence of the demand for troops
during the mutiny. There they acted as cavalry,
and did excellent service. The present detachment
joined this expedition with the full expectation of
seeing similar service, and were much disgusted at
being placed under the orders of the Commissariat
to perform the duties for which they were created.
In fact, they were above their work. With all the
trappings and accoutrements of dragoons they did
not relish the necessary but by no means exciting
work of bringing up supplies from Pehtang, and
gaarding sheep and bullocks along the cause-
way. At length the matter reached a climax.
Mr. Turner, the head of the Commissariat, had
frequently complained of Major Cooper acting
independently of his orders. I-Ie now officially
reported that the baggage animals were not pro.
perly looked after,'that a sufficient exertion was
not made in keeping them together on the road or
in giving assistance to the weak and disabled, that
an opinion prevailed among the Military Train
that ther`were employed on a duty derogatory to
them, and that this was in a great respect due to
the example of Major Cooper, The Commander-
4n-Chief at once relieved Major Cooper of his
command, and he returned to Rngland by the last
mail. The military Train Is now commanded by
Captain Gray, and works much better, as it acts in
unison with Mr. Turner instead of against him.
Some complaints have been made about the Corn
missariat, and Sir lohn Michel commented strongly
on the Commissariat officers of his division during
the march from Tang-kow. The fact is that the
Commissariat officers are so tied down by red tape
that they dare hot purchase anything for which
they cannot produce a receipt. The villages con-
tained ample supplies ; the villagers were anxious
to sell, but, not being acquainted with the mode of
writing practised by Europeans, they could not
supply a receipt for the money they received. This
pi-educed some delay, but the men eventually got
their rations, and orders have been given with a
view of obviating such difficulties in future.
Sir Robert Napier remains at Tientsin in com-
mand of the sthali garrison left behind. lie had a
much narrower escape at the North Fort than I
imagined, Wearing:a white mackintosh, in eonse.
•
queue° of a feverish attack from which he suffered,-
he formed a dotispituons mark or the *hole Chinese
garrison. Not only was his glass knocked oUt
his hand, but a billiet broke the hilt of his sword,
another cut open his boot, and three pierced his
clothes. There is but one opinion in this army as
to the skill and energy with which Sir R. Napier
executed the task assigned to him. Should an
European war break out, it will be a subject for
congratulation that the fusion of the armies enables
England to avail herself of Sir Robert Napier's ser-
vices on a larger field then is afforded in the East.
Let one draw the attention of the proper autho-
rities—whoever they may be—to the means pro-
vided for enabling a storming party to cross a ditch
under fire. The pontoons' used in action for the
first time against the north fort, answer admirably
for crossing the Medway at Chatham, but amid the
hurry and confusion of a siege.they are everything
they should not be—heavy, lumbering, unwieldy,
and useless if hit by a single shot. No man crossed
by the pontoonsuntil the place was taken, and the
Marines and Sappers who carried them suffered
frightfully. The English scaling ladders—models
of strength and durability—were so heavy that
they could not be carried from the first ditch, over
which they were placed, to the second, which they
never reached. The French have all these things
in their books, but they are too wise to use them
in action. Their ladders were light and not over
strong, but they answered the purpose, and carried
both English and French over the second ditch. I
must close my letter, for the column is marching.
YUNG-TSUN, WITHIN 45 MILES OF PEKIN.