The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 15, 1860.

THE REBELLION IN CHINA.

(From a Supplement to the Gazette of Tuesday)
OFFICIAL DESPATCHES.
WAR OFFICE, Nov. 13.
Mr. Secretary Herbert has received a despatch
with enclosures, of which the following are copies,
,addressed to him by Lieutenant-General Sir J.
Hope Grant, G.C.8., Commanding the Forces in
China:—

HEAD-QUARTERS, TIEN •TSIN, SEPTEMBER 2, 1860.
SIR,—I have the hr to - "t that ,- the 24th A:

Lionour report on Le
gust a private letter was received from Lieutenant-Colonei
March, Royal Marines, commanding at Shanghai, stating
that reliable information had arrived of the intention of the
rebels to attack that city.
The garrison of Shanghai then consisted of one company
of Marine Artillery, about 400 of Royal Marine Light in-
fantry, and the Loodianah Regiment of Sikhs. I accord-
ingly despatched the 44th Regiment forthwith to reinforce
them, and sent Brigadier Jephson to take the command.
On the 27th August, a report arrived, informing me that
the rebels had actually attacked Shanghai, and had been
repulsed.
Before leaving Shanghai, in June last, I had instructed
the officer commanding at Chusan to send reinforcements
to that place if called upon ; and accordingly a force, as per
margin,* arrived there from Chusan on the 17th August.
On the 18th, the rebels attacked the city, but were re-
pulsed; and on the 20th August, they made a demonstra-
tion against the foreign settlement, but retired on being
fired into. I enclose a copy of Colonel March's reports of
these affairs.
I have since heard that the rebels have retired altogether,
and do not Wend to molest Shanghai any further;
I am informed also that Mr. Bruce has written to Hong
Bong for the 11th Punjaub Infantry, which I had previ-
ously requested him to do, in the event of his requiring as-
sistance. There is consequently now a very large force at
Shanghai, and I purpose leaving them there until the ex-
peditionary force breaks up.
The measures taken by Colonel March, for the defence
of the city and foreign settlement, appear to have been
taken with judgment and success.
I have, &c., J. HOPE GRANT,
Lieutenant-General, Commanding her
Majesty's Forces.
The Right Honourable the Secretary
of State for War, &c.

SHANGHAI, AUGUST 21, 1860.
Sin,—l have the honour to report, for the information
of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, that at about
2 p.m. on the 18th, the rebels in some force approached the
walls of the city, threatening the south-east, south and
west gates.

L They advanced under cover until they were near
enough to be fired at with effect with canister and smooth
bore muskets. About 4 p.m. they retired to a distance of
three or four miles.

2. Captain Budd, of the Royal Marines, who commands
in the city, and is posted at the south gate, informs me that
he thinks the loss of the rebels from the fire on the walls
must have been very considerable; they left behind several
flags, &c.

3. On the morning of the 19th, they evinced an intention
to advance, but suddenly withdrew.
4. The officer in command of the forts in the city de-
scribes their numbers to be from 5,000 to 7,000.
5. Yesterday, at nine a.m., I was informed that our
pickets, on the racecourse, were firing on the rebels. I
called out all my force, and on my arrival on the race-
course, found that the rebels, formed in four columns, and
carrying black, red, white, and orange flags, were in some
force a little to the left of the settlement threatening the
King-po Joss-house ; they were sufficiently near to encou-
rage us to fire a few rockets and shell at them, with what
effect I cannot say. About 2 p.m. they retired, and took
up a position about four miles off, their right being appa-
rently a little in advance of the French convent of Sic-a-
vrei.

6. They appear to be concentrating their farces for an
attack on the city and settlement.
7. Their numbers I should estimate at 6,000 or 7,000.
8, This morning the rebels are encamped in two places,
at a distanco of about three miles from each other, and from
this city.
9. Up to this time, 10.30 a.m., they have shown no dis-
position to advance..--I have, &c.,
(Signed) W. H. MARCH,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Marines,
Commanding the Garrison.
To Capt. Biddulpb, &c., Military Secretary.

SHANGHAI, Aug. 26, 1860.

Sir,—l have the honour to report, for the information of
his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, that on the 22d
instant was sent, by Mr. Forest, the interpreter to the Le-
gation, to the rebels, the notification, a copy of which I
forwarded in my letter to you (No. 1, 18th August), and on
the following day an answer, a translation of which by Mr.
Consul Meadows herewith enclosed, was received.
1. On the morning of the 24th instant I was informed
that nothing was to be seen of the enemy, and I learnt
from Colonel Favre, commandant of the French force here,
that the missionaries who had left the convent at Sic-a-wei
on the approach of the rebels, had returned there. It has
been reported to me that placards were found on the walls
of the convent, announcing their ref urn in ten days ; they
are now, I understand, at a place called Si-pool, about 15
miles off.

2. from the accounts I have received I am inclined to
think that the force they brought down to Shanghai did not
exceed 3,000 men.

3. Captain Budd, of the Royal Marines, the senior
officer within the city, speaks highly of the steadiness of
the Royal Marines and Madras Artillery, under Captain
M'lntyre, of the latter corps, and that of the company of
Royal Marines under Lieut. O'Grady, and the detachment
of the Regiment of Loodianah, under Captains Maxwell and
Cavanagh; the accuracy of the fire kept up at the various
posts is proved by the loss which the rebels, it is ascer-
tained, suffered.

4. With the zeal and activity displayed by Lieut.Glasse,
of the regimnt of Loodianah, commanding at the Ning-po
Joss-house, I have every reason to be satisfied.
5. The firing of the Royal Marine Artillery, under Lieut.
Williams, from the race-course on the 20th was also vary
good.

6. Her Majesty's ships Nimrod and Pioneer, the former
moored off the settlement, and the latter above the city, did
good service with their long-range guns.
7. I wish to bring to the notice of his Excellency the
spirited conduct of Mr. (Interpreter) Forest, in volunteer-
ing to take the notification sent by the Commanding Offi-
cers of the Allied Forces to the camp of the rebels on the
22d inst. ; he was attended in his somewhat dangerous un-
dertaking by Private Phillips, of the Royal Marines, like-
wise a volunteer, who carried a flag of truce.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) W. H. MARCH,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Marines,
Commanding the Garrison.
To Capt. Biddulph, &c., Military Secretary.

PROCLAMATION SENT TO REBEL CAMP AT SIIANGRAI.

Report having reached us of an armed force having been
collected at Shanghai, we, the Commanders of the Military
and Naval Forces of her Britannic Majesty at Shanghai,
hereby give notice that the city of Shanghai and the foreign
settlement are militarily occupied by the forces of her tri.
tannic Majesty and of her Ally the Emperor of_
and they warn all persons that if French,
'armed bodies of men
attack or approach the positions held by them, they will be
considered as commenctlig hostilities against the Allied
Forces, and will be de-,,it with accordingly.
Shanghai, Aro ast 16, 1860.
To the Commander of the Forces in occupation of
Soochow, and other places.
Translation of Reply.
Le, Imperial Commissioner of the Sovereign reigning in
virtue of the True Decree of Heaven, &c., hereby issues a
Notification :

Whereas the appointed period of the Tsing (Manchoo)
dynasty having expired, the true sacred Lord was sent into
the world to save it. And I, having been honoured with
his command to perform the work of Heaven by punishing
the crimes (of the rejected dynasty), have, from the time I
rose in the cause of right in Kwang-se, never fought a battle
without conquering, and never attacked a city without tak-
ing it.

A short time back, on our armies occupying Soochow,
your countries once and again pressed us to come to Shanghai
to discuss personally the various matters connected with
foreign trade. Hence it was that after retaking Sing aeang
I came hither, not to seek a quarrel and to fight withforeign
nations, but to offer them a treaty of open commerce.
And, on now perusing the communications of your coun-
tries, I am in the highest degree surprised at the extrava-
gant perversity of its language.

I would submit to you that I, under the loyal Prince,
have the general command of a large body of officers and of
an innumerable army, and could have no difficulty in causing
the instantaneous destruction of an insignificantly small
city such as Shanghai. When I, therefore, come to the
place, and station my troops motionless before it, it is really
in a spirit of pure regard and of consideration for our common
faith. Had lat once ordered a hostile advance, the mem-
bers of the same house would have been turning against each
other, and we could not have failed to incur the ridicule of
the Tsing dynasty.
With the Tsing dynasty your nations have now a quarrel
—you cannot have forgotten the battle at Tien-tsin. But
our State, in at present carrying on a war, has no other

One hundred of the 90th Regiment ; one hundred 19th
Punjaub Infantry; three Madras Artillery guns.

object than to regain our own country. We are at enmity
with the Tsing dynasty, but with foreign nations we have
no quarrel.

Your countries attach much importance to open com-
merce and trade. Now, the advantages to be obtained from
us would be greater than those given by the Tsing dynasty,
for, after the establishment of peaceful relations with us,
unrestricted commerce might be carried on at all places
without exception.
But the wild and fallacious nature of the communication
which has reached us is such as renders it quite inexplica-
ble. I must conclude that there is no consideration for the
feeling that should make us of one mind, in virtue of our
common religion, and that there .is, it may be, an intention
of seeking a quarrel.
For these reasons, I hereby issue a notification for the
common information of the foreign nations (at Shanghai).
If you desire to carry on open commerce, in accordance
with an agreement, you can at once come and consult on
the terms of an agreement. If, however, it is your wish to
make difficulties and to engage in hostilities, then my
troops move as a flood, my commands go forth unchange-
able as the hills, and we can only await the time when
victory and defeat declare themselves. I trust that you wil
not bring sorrow on yourselves.
An earnest notification.

The 14th day of the seventh month of the tenth year of
the heavenly kingdom of Taeping.
True Translation,
(Signed) THOMAS TAYLOR MEADOWS, Consul.
True Copies,
ROBERT BIDDULPH, Captain, R.A.,
Military Secretary.

LORD PALI{IERSTOIV AND THE
LONDON SALTERS' COMPANY.

Last night the Master and Wardens of the Wor-
shipful Company of Salters entertained Lord Pal-
merston, the Duke of Somerset, Lurd Sohn Russell,
and other distinguished guests, in their magnificent

hall, St. S vvithen's-lane, City. Sir Charles Wood

and other members of the Government were also
invited, but were prevented from attending by

other engagements. Besides the Ministers above

named, there were among the company, which was
upwards of 200 in number, Baron Rothschild, M.P.,
Sir J. Duke, M.P., Mr. W. R. Crawford, M.P.
(the Parliamentary representative of the city), Colo•
nel M'Alurdo, C. 8., Commodore Drummond, the
Master of the Merchant Tailors' Company, and the
Master of the Skinners' Company. Mr. John Cur-
teis, the Master of the Company of Salters, pre-
sided. After dinner, which was of a very sumptu-
ous character.

The CHAIRMAN proposed " The health of her
Majesty," which was received with loyal enthusiasm.
In giving the next toast, " The healths of the Prince
Consort, the Prince of Wales, and the rest of the
Royal Family," the Master observed that they
must all have read with deep interest the stirring
accounts which had been published of the Prince
of Wales' recent tour. The cordial welcome which
his Royal Highness had received from our friends
on the other side of the Atlantic must have been
most gratifying, not only to his illustrious parents,
but also to every person in the United Kingdom.
(Cheers.) He was sure that all present earnestly
prayed for the safe return of the Prince. (Hear,
hear.)

The CHAIRMAN, in introducing " The Navy, the
Army, and the Volunteer Corps," eulogized the
merits of the sister services, as displayed in their
latest achievements in China. With regard to
the noble body of Volunteers, he must say that
if there was any young member of the Salters'
Company who had not yet joined that force it
was his bounden duty to do so immediately.
(Hear, hear.) He begged to associate with the
toast the name of his Grace the Duke of Somerset
for the navy, and that of Colonel M'Murdo for
the army, that distinguished officer, who held the
position of Inspector-General of the Volunteer
Corps, being entitled to represent the gallant ser-
vice to which he belonged in a two-fold capacity.
_ _

_
The toast was duly honoured.
The Duke of SOMERSET.—My lords and gentle-
men, I rise to thank you on behalf of the navy.
The British navy has at all times commanded the
respect and attachment of Englishmen ; hut of late
years more than usual attention has been directed to
the progress of that service. I believe I may say
that the navy has advanced, and has answered the
expectations of the country. lam not one of those
who feel there is any danger that peace will be
violated, but at the same time I think it right that
our navy should be maintained in a position in
which it may be able to uphold our interests and
vindicate our honour. That, I believe, is the opinion
of every man, of every profession and every party.
In endeavouring, therefore, to keep up the effi-
ciency of the navy we are only doing what every
Englishman regards as a common duty, and to the
discharge of that duty the Admiralty will of course
earnestly devote themselves. I, gentlemen, may
say this for the navy, that if ever they should be
called upon to defend their country in the serious
battles that might have to be fought if a naval war
were again to arise in Europe, whether those
battles took place between ships of one kind or
another, I believe you will find the English sailor
to be of the same stuff as in former days—(cheers)
—that he would be able and ready to face every
danger, and far more eager to approach near to
his enemy than to fight him at those long distances
of which you hear so much in connexion with some
descriptions of naval artillery. I think the Eng-
lish sailor would like immediately to close with his
enemy, and would be likely to make that enemy
regret that he had ever encountered him. (Hear.)
But whatever may be the future course of events,
we onght to be prepared to meet it ; and, therefore,
although such preparations are attended with con-
siderable expense, I am sure no Englishman will
grudge the outlay when he knows that it is neces-
sary for his country's safety and his country's
honour. (Cheers.)

Colonel M‘Mußpo, in responding for the army,
said it was always gratifying to a British officer to
hear his comrades in arms well spoken of, especially
when the service to which they belonged had, from
its earliest history down to the capture of the Taku
Forts, invariably done its duty. (Hear, hear.) To
one. who, like himself, was not unacquainted Ns ith
the pernicious features of our recruiting system, it
had often been matter of wonder how such acts of
true heroism had been performed in the ranks of
the British army. From what class, for instance,
was that man Moyse, of the Buffs, drawn—that
obstinate but intemperate hero who, when com-
manded to " kotow" to the Mandarin before whom
he was taken captive, preferred to have his
brains knocked out rather than " prostrate him-
self before any Chinaman alive ?" He hoped that
the system of the recruiting sergeant would soon
pass away, and that employment in the army would
be eagerly sought by the respectable youth of the
country as an honourable service. (Hear, hear.)
His connexion with the Volunteer force had been
referred to. He was bound up heart and soul in
that movement, seeing in it a great security for the
safety of the country. It had been his duty, with
the co-operation of the staff, to test the value of
these noble corps, and he could state that we had
78 solid battalions, comprising about 42,000 men,
who, he could declare, would be fit in a very short
time to take their place with the line. (Cheers,)
Besides these there were upwards of 36,000 other
Volunteers, who, although composing scattered
corps, had already been brought into 68 different
administrative battalions, which were also ready
to take the field, if need were. True these corps
had not often the means of coming together for
drill ; still when they did muster for that purpose
the manner in which they had moved had asto-
nished all who had witnessed the reviews at Hyde
Park, Edinburgh, Knowsley, York, Glocester, and
many other places. These 68 administrative bat-
talions, consisting of 36,000, could move almost as
well as the 42,000 men constituting the 78 solid
battalions which he had mentioned. Thus we had
between 70,000 and 80,000 volunteers equal to the
conditions of the line of battle—(cheers)—and it
was expected that in the course of next ye er the

remainder of this large force would be brought into
the same organisation of administrative battalions.
Even now they were capable of 40ing their work
in a campaign. Considering this mo
Irenient,then,
in all its bearings, and remembering' the facilitie
offered by our extended railway
systeo—a most
important element in all our future stral l egica,
com-
binations, he saw no cause to fear for the safety e_
this country as long as this magnificent body was
kept up steadily and efficiently. (Cheers.)
The CITAIR3IAN regretted that he was not gifted
with the eloquence requisite to do justice to the
next toast. They were honoured that evening with
the presence of several of her Majesty's Ministers.
Among them was Lord Palmerston—(cheers)— a
statesman whose brilliant and lengthened career
had shown him to be, earnestly desirous of peace
and yet determined at all times, under all circum-
stances, and, if need were, at all costs to uphold the
honour and dignity of his country. (Cheers,) He
had thus helped to place England in the proud
position she now happily occupied among the great
Powers of Europe, by which she was enabled by
her moral influence, if not by her material strength,
to assist other nations in their efforts to win some
portion at least of that glorious heritage of liberty
with which we ourselves were so highly blessed.
(Hear, hear.) There was no man now living in
whose hands the interests and the honour of the
nation could be more safely entrusted than they
could be to Lord Palmerston. (Cheers.) But it
was not to affairs of State alone that the noble
lord's public services were confined. Whether he
presided at an agricultural meeting, at a mechanics
institute, or a ragged school, or whether he advo-
cated the claims of a shoeblack brigade, to all he
gave the benefit of his valuable aid and counsel,
showing how they could achieve the greatest
amount of public good. (Hear, hear.) In the
name, therefore, of that ancient corporation he
begged to give the noble lord, together with his
distinguished colleagues, a cordial welcome, and to
express a fervent hope that he might long be
blessed with health and strength to guide the
councils of this great and powerful empire. (Loud
cheers,)

Lord PALMERSTON—Master Warden and Gentle-
men,—l can assure you it would require more than

that eloquence which your excellent chairman has
disclaimed, but which I think he has proved himself
to possess, adequately to express the feelings of

gratitude inspired in us by the too flattering man-
ner in which you have been pleased, as far as I am
personally concerned, to propose this toast, and by
the cordial manner in which this distinguished
company has been good enough to receive it. But
I beg for myself and my colleagues to return you
our most sincere thanks for the kindness you
have shown to us this evening. It is needless, I
am sure, to say that there can be nothing more
gratifying to men who are engaged in the public
service than to meet on occasions like this assem-
blages of their fellow-countrymen, who thus testify
towards them their goodwill and their approval of
their public conduct. It is one of the greatest re-
wards for labours past, and one of the most welcome
incentives to further exertions. You are, therefore,
gentlemen performing a good public act when you
thus encourage public servants to persevere in the
discharge of their duties to the State. (Hear, hear.)
To a Government daily occupied in watching the
progress and prosperity of the country it must be
gratifying to see that they possess the goodwill of
those who carry on that commercial system which
is so important an element of the greatness, power,
and dignity of a nation. Descending from that high
topic, and turning to another subject suggested by
this assemblage, I may be permitted to, say that,
having an interest in the prosperity of Ireland, I
attach a value also to the good opinion of this Com-
pany who are known to be among the best land-
lords in that country, who devote their ample means
not only to the improvement of their own estates,
and to setting an example to the rest of the king-
dom, but in caring for their tenants, providing for
their comfort, for the education of their children,

and everything that concerns the welfare and hap-
piness of those who depend upon them. I regret,

gentlemen, that some of my colleagues whom you
honoured with invitations were prevented by un-
avoidable engagements from enjoying your hospi-
tality, but I am happily accompanied by two dis-
tinguished members of the present Government,
who hold some of the most important departments
of the State. (Hear, hear.) There is my noble
friend the Duke of Somerset, who conducts the
business of the navy, and my noble friend Lord
John Russell, one of your members—(cheers)—who
is charged with the management of the foreign
affairs of this country. You may rest assured that,
while my noble friend the noble duke devotes to
the duties of his important department the untiring
energies of his manly mind, your navy, as far as
human exertions can make it, will be fully
adequate to every exigency which the course of
events may create. (Hear, hear.) You may also
rely that while my noble friend Lord J. Russell has
the conduct of our foreign relations they will be
carried on in a manner consistent with the interests,
the dignity, and the honour of Great Britain.
(Cheers.) My noble friend, all through life the
friend and champion of the principles of freedom,
has lately had to perform duties connected with the
development of freedom in one of the most interest-
ing countries of Europe. (Hear, hear.) You have
seen him watching the progress of events in Italy,
a country to which he has not only directed the
energies of his mind but of which he has a know-
ledge acquired by personal visits. You have seen
him at one time endeavouring to check those rash
impulses which threatened to renew wars which if
renewed might have blighted all the best hopes of
Italian freedom. (Hear.) You have seen him on
the other hand using the great power and influence
of England to exhort other countries to follow her
example by abstaining from all interference with
the events passing in the Peninsula, and by leaving
the Italians to settle their own affairs according to
their own views of their own interests. (Hear,
hear.) I trust, gentlemen, that before long my
noble friend will see the accomplishment of his
earnest wishes, and will be able to witness the
triumphant success of the principles of which he
has been so steady, so persevering, and so consistent
an advocate. (Cheers.) You have alluded, Mr.
Warden, to an event which has awakened the
deepest interest in the mind of every English-
man. I mean the visit of the Prince of Wales
to the North American continent. It was to
be expected that when the future hope of Eng-
land visited the subjects of her Majesty in our
North American provinces he would be received
with that enthusiastic affection which becomes
a loyal and attached people. Our anticipations
have not been disappointed. The reception of the
Prince has been worthy of the people who gave it,
and honourable to the family of which he is so
distinguished a member ; and we may hope that
that visit will cement more closely those ties which
I trust are long destined to bind together that
portion of the Queen's dominions and the mother
country. (Hear, hear.) But we had not an equal
right to expect that when his Royal Highness visited
the United States he would be received with any-
thing more than the courtesy which civilised
e
nations accord to distinguished members of
reigning family of another country. But
tlhe mustsay, it has been most gratifying to witness
the heartfelt kindness,tlieg endeerloiugshthowsiptih-
tality, and I may say the enthusiastic
which the illustrious Prince was welcomed by our
cousins in the United States. (Cheers.) They have
shown themsolves, indeed, to be a noble and gene-
rous people—they have shown that they have not
forgotten the common stock from which they and
we have sprung ; and in spite of events which, if
not buried in oblivion, might have produced some
slight alienation between us, they received our
future Sovereign, not as if he were a stranger be-