The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-19 00:00:00

partment, and the responsible authority for all its
operations, Captain Fitzgerald rendering all his ac-
counts to him and receiving all commissariat sup-
plies from him—or in the event of his not being able
to furnish them, making purchases, or drawing
. .

supplies from India, under his direction and sub-
jest to his approval. But this scheme—the best,
perhaps, that could be devised under the circum-
stances—was open to many and grave objections.
The opportune arrival from the Cape of several offi-
cers of his department enabled Mr. Turner to assert
that the further services of the Indian officers were

not required; they were accordingly relieved from
their anomalous duties and sailed for India and the

Imperial commissariat remained masters of the
situation. It will be seen from the above statement

that there will be great difficulties in the way of the
harmonious and efficient co-operation of the two
branches of the department, but I will not concede
that these difficulties were insurmountable; and I
cannot but think it a subject for regret. that so
much valuable experience, especially .in provision-
ing native troops, and so many trained and able
officers, should have been lost to the expedition—
especially as it is going to localities of the resources
of which we may be said to know nothing. It is
no disparagement to the Imperial commissariat
to say that necessarily they know little of the many
peculiarities of native soldiers with respect to their
rations, and are but little accustomed to deal with

the inhabitants of eastern countries in making pur-
chases of supplies. I cannot but think that the
knowledge of the Indian officers would have proved
most valuable on these points, and regret that it
was found impossible to retain their services ; but I
have no doubt these considerations were duly
weighed and allowed their full value by the chief
of the Imperial Commissariat before he took upon
himself the very grave responsibility of declaring
that he could dispense with their services, and al-
lowing them to return to their legitimate duties in

India:
19th.—The whole of the French expedition is
now in China, the last ship having arrived in Hong
Kong harbour yesterday, and the greater portion.
has sailed to the north, for Chefoo, a town on the
southern coast of the Gulf of Pecheli, fifty miles
from the eastern extremity of the Shan-tung pro-
montory. We hear little here of their proceedings, •
but it is said that finding Wousung, at the entrance
to the Shanghai river, unhealthy and inconvenient,
they have retained only a small force of occupation
there, and have sent the bulk of their army on to
Chefoo, where the troops will be landed and the
expedition organised. Chefoo has the advantages
of deep water close in the shore, a fine climate,
and good anchorage ; and the province of Shan-
tung in which it is situated produces an abundance
of supplies. Horses and mules are also procurable,
and the water is good. It is probable that one of
our depots will be established there also. The
rendezvous for the English fleet is the Bay of
Tahen-hwan, to the east of the promontory of Lao-
tie-shah (a portion of the kingdom of Korea),
which runs out into the Gulf of Pecheli opposite
Chefoo, and forms the entrance of the Strait of
Mia-tao, the entrance into the gulf. Ta-lien-hwan
Bay is about 80 miles from Chefoo, and nearly due
north of the latter.
From these two places, when all is ready and the
time is ripe, the two fleets will sail and make a,
descent upon the Chinese eoast, in the neighbour-
hood of the Taku Forts. Such at least is the camp
story. I do not profess to be initiated into the
secrets of the allied commanders. Great exertions
have been made during the past fortnight, and all
the preparations are rapidly approaching comple-
tion. A crowd of transports left the harbour yes-
terday afternoon, and will go to sea to-day On
board are the following regiments :—lst _Royals,
3d Buffs, 31st and 44th Foot, 60th Rifles, Madras
Sappers, Bth and 19th Punjaub Infantry. They
are conveyed by man-of-war steamers, and will
make their way to the rendezvous under sail. The
cavalry will embark last, and will be towed up by
steamers from here. It is supposed that the Com-
mander-in-Chief and the Admiral will leave Hong
Kong immediately after the arrival of the English
mail.
I told you in my last of the orders issued regard-
ing carriages and baggage ; the latter is cut down
to the smallest possible compass, and every brain
is racked in the endeavour to solve impracticable
problems having for their object the compression
of material substances into half the space that
nature requires for them. The demand for por-
table bedsteads and multum in parvo dressing appa-
ratus, &c., is at its height. One occasionally meets
with a wonderful contrivance, which you are told
is a most luxurious bed at night, a sofa and dressing
table and chair by day, and, for aught I know, per-
haps transformable into a bathing tub and tent; but
I have no faith in these mechanical arrangements;
there is generally a screw wanting, or a peg broken,
or a hinge that persists in turning the wrong way,
bringing the whole concern and the owner along
with it to unutterable confusion. Bell tents only
are to be used at the first landing ; but a quantity
of camp equipage of a superior description has been
put on board one of the steamers, and should a
standing camp be formed it will be landed and made
use of.

One ship in each division has been told. off as a
baggage ship, to which all the impedimenta not
landed with the troops will be transferred, and re-
main till wanted. Two coolies and 150 lbs. of bag-
gage for each officer is but a small allowance, but
the necessities of the case will not admit of more.
The commissariat have succeeded in collecting a
large number of ponies, and some very fine bullocks
have arrived from India. I saw the other day a
large number of the Manilla ponies; they are small,
mangy, and miserable looking, but have some good
points and look of a good breed. Plenty of food and
a liberal allowance of sulphur will restore many of
them, but some will never be of any use to society
except in the shape of cat's meat. If they cost, as it
is said, 60 dols. each in Manilla, the owner must be
rejoicing in the liberality of the British government.
Each has a huge V. R. branded on its rump, but I
cannot congratulate her Majesty on this valuable
addition to her possessions. In no country, under
no circumstances, is it credible that such animals
could ever be worth such a sum. The arrivals since
I wrote last have been Gowan's battery, Royal
Artillery, from Bombay ; head-quarters of 2d
Queen's, from the Cape ; head-quarters of the 78th,
from Calcutta; and head-quarters of 15th Punjaub
Infantry, and of Lane's Horse. Part of the King's
Dragoon Guards have also arrived from Madras,
and have landed at Deep Bay, on the other side of
the island.
22d.—The steamer •arrived on Sunday evening:
the 20th, bringing English papers to 10th April,
and a telegram to 13th idem. We are again dis-
appointed by the non-arrival of our great plenipo-
tentiaries. Lord Elgin's delay is accounted for,
naturally enough, by his mother's death; people
are asking whether Baron Gros' mother is dead
also. Lord John Russell's speech on the French
annexation of Savoy and Nice, and the damage
caused by this act to " the alliance," has been
received with intense approbation by apparently
all classes in this colony. I am afraid the entente
cordiale is not of a very cordial or permanent cha-
racter. Orders from the Waroffice have been re-
ceived, causing some important changes in the
construction of the staff of the force. The appoint-
ment of chief of the staff is disallowed as unneces-
sary, and it is understood that Colonel Heytborne,
who has had the appointment up to the present
time, will return to Calcutta as adjutant-general
of her Majesty's troops. The appointment also of
deputy-adjutant-general of native troops is dis-
allowed. Hitherto we have had two deputy ad-
jutant•generals, one for the European, the other
for the native troops. The Secretary of State
for War considers that a duality in any de-
partment cannot work efficiently, and therefore
abolishes it. The depqty-assistant-adjutant-general
of native troops remains, but is amalgamated with
the imperial branch of the department. The prin•
ciple is a sound one, and no one seems disposed to
find fault with the arrangement, but all regret that
it causes the loss to the expedition of the services
oofuCdeo,Laßnd certainly one of the ablst oiiicers in theruce„ well known as the chief of police ill
Indian army
The mail from Shanghai brings no news of ior
portance. Matters are quiet in Japan. The troops
at Chusan are remarkably healthy, which is a
cheerful circumstance as agreeable as unexpected:
tbrw he firstn
Golgotha.
r
occupied
fhe latestintnef warumorrmerouris that it was
tasi;
perfect
untepheorwo r, hada las r
gs eencti
ttyw
no
eraer - Dutton
Shanghai,rn awn di
with
ripsC h in
teos e
sEO
proposals for peace. The French have lost one of
their srore-ships on the rocks near the entrance to
Amoy harbour, It contained all the saddlery and
harness for their artillery and some ammunition'
No particulars have been received yet, and it IS
possible the cargo, or part of it, may be saved. Th°
French Admiral Page arrived in the harbour frool
Shanghai on Sunday. He is accompanied by the
chief of the French staff.
The English general and staff are expected. to
take their departure on the 30th inst. The Gen°'
rid will probably go first to Shanghai en route to
the rendezvous.
The weather continues moderately cool and plell-
- with an occasional heavy fall of rain. IWO
to be sceptical about there being any hot seas°ll
here at all. People are still wearing woollen clothes,
and walking out in the sun, iu the forenoon, with
perfect impunity. The old.st inhabitants of 11.°131
Kong tell us it is an extraordinary season, sue 3 N
was never known before; but as I have been tole'
the same thing in respect to the season at ever.le
new place I have ever gone to in any part,of I."
world, I ~in unable to believe it.
The Imperatriz, with the second. battery of Arra'
strong guns, arrived yesterday.