The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-08 00:00:00

THE AFFAIRS OF CHINA

Some further correspondence with Mr. Bruce,
her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary in China, was published yesterday.
The following are the additional despatches :
No. 1.
MR. BRUCE TO THE EARL OF MALMESBURY-RE-
• CEIVED SEPT. 27.

Shanghai, August 1, 1859.
My Lord,—l have the honour to inclose copies
of letters froth Sir Charles van Straubenzee, and of
my reply to him.
I have in consequence addressed the Earl Can.
ning, stating the necessity of reinforcing the gar-
rison of Canton, and requesting him to do so at
once, if pcsiible.
The speedy arrival of even one regiment will go
far to keep the south of China quiet, and rein-
forcement of troops will be more useful than an
augmentation of the naval force on the station,—.
have, &c.,
(Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
MAJOR-GEN. SIR C. VAN STRUBENZEE TO MR. BRUCE.
Head quarters, Hong Kong, July 22, 1859.
Sir,—Having heard through the public press
and from other sources the disastrous results of the
expedition to the north, I have the honour to re-
quest your Excellsncy will be pleased to inform
me whether we are now to consider ourselves at
war with China, or whether matters are to con-
tinue as at present in Canton, so long as the Chi-
nese remain in a passive state.
I have also to request that I may be favoured
with such information as may be in your Excel-
lency's power to afford me with regard to opera-
tions recommended, in order that I may take such
necessary steps in the way of preparation as may
tend to facilitate the movements of any future ex-
pedition to the north of China.
It is unnecessary for me to remind your Excel-
lency that, should it be intended to assemble a
large force to proceed to the north, it will be
incumbent upon me to make early preparations
on a proportionate scale, the expense of which
I should not feel myself justified in incurring on the
mere fact of our late defeat, and without any know-
ledge of intentions as to the future.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) C. T. VAN STRAUBENZ LE.
Inclosure 2 in No. 1.
MAJOR-GEN. SIR C. VAN STRAUBENZEE TO 3IR. BRUCE.
Hong Kong, July 22, 1859.
Sir,—As the late events off the Pei-ho will, in
all probability, produce a state of affairs in Canton
similar to that or last summer, I am desirous to
represent to your .i"xcellency the very small effec-
tive European garrison in that city, viz., 688 rank
and file, including artillery and engineers, but ex-
clusive of police and men otherwise employed, such
as:pioneers, commissariat, &c. • to this force, 1 pre.
sume, will shortly be added the battalion of Royal
Marine Light Infantry and Company of Sappers
lately employed under Admiral Hope, C.ll. We
have still 10 or 12 weeks of summer to go through,
which will cause a serious diminution in the num-
ber of effectives, more particularly if much harassed,
as they must be in the event of a renewal of trou-
bles. The Native Infantry effectives are about
1.300 rank and file. I would therefore beg to re-
commend to your Excellency that our two troop-
steamers be sent for such European reinforcements
as can be spared either from Ceylon or India, so
that, if necessary, we may at least be in a position
to strike a blow in the south of China, as soon as
the cold weather admits of action. As the whole
of the Marines by the first week in November will
barely form one battalion effective for service, I
would strongly urge that at least two regiments
be applied for without delay, and if happily not
required for the south of China, they will be in
readiness for any operations that may hereafter be
determined upon.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) C. 'l'. VAN STRAUBENZEE.
Inclusure 3 in No. 1.
MR. BRUCE TO MAJOR-GEN. SIR C. VAN STRAUBENZEE.
Shanghao, July 31, 1859.
Sir —I should have written to you sooner on the
failure of my attempt to reach Pekin had I not
thought it advisable to await some indications of the
course the Chinese Government intend to pursue.
As far as I can judge from a communication that
has been received by M. de Bourboulon from Ho,
the Imperial Commissioner, the Chinese Govern-
ment has no intention of disturbing us at the ports.
The letter treats the collision at the mouth of the
river as unintentional on both sides, and as pro-
ceeding from our ignorance of the fact that prepa-
rations had been made at another place to receive
us, and he even goes so far as to suggest that we
had better return to the north, as we shall be re-
ceived with due courtesy. Ihave no doubt that
Mr. Ward, the American Minister, will bring down
some proposals for accommodation.
I do not think, therefore, that orders will be sent
from Pekin to commence at Canton the hostile pro-
ceedings of last year, unless we were to assume the
offensive, and in that case a large force would be
required; for the blow, if struck at all, must be
struck in the north, and we know that during the
last year a large force has been accumulated, con-
sisting in part of men who show considerable skill
in the management of artillery, whatever may be
their value as soldiers is the field. As my object
is not to fetter the action of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, my language to the Chinese authorities will
continue to be that I consider my mission to Pekin
at an end for the present, and that I have referred
home for fresh instructions.
But I shall avoid as much as possible doing or
saying anything from which the Chinese may in-
fer that I consider what has passed in the north as
an aot of war, or as necessarily leading to a rupture
of friendly relations ; and, moreover, if they were
to make a proper apology, and consent to receive
me on becoming terms at Pekin, I should not de-
cline the overture ; though I do not anticipate,
after what has taken place, that they will make
any proposal which I could accept as satisfactory.
I do not think, therefore, that it would be de-
sirable to make preparations in the south with a
view to a campaign in the north, before knowing
what her Majesty's Government will deter-
mine on that point ; but it is obvious that we
ought to be prepared for any contingency,
that may happen in Canton or its neighbour-
hood ; and as Tour Excellency seems to think
that your garrison requires to be reinforced I
will address his Excellency the Governor-General of
India on the subject, and forward copies of your
letters to Admiral Hope, with whom it rests to dis-
pose of the transports alluded to. One contains the
wounded, and is not, I suppose, available for India.
It will be advisable that your Excellency should
write your views on the amount of reinforcement
required to the Commander-in-Chief in India, cal-
culating it with a view to Canton and the position
of affairs in the south.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) FREDERICK W. A. BRUCE.
Inclosure 4 in No. 1.
MR. BRUCE TO EARL CANNING..
Shanghae, July 31, 1859.
My Lord,—Your Excellency will have heard ere
this of the untoward issue of -he attempt made by
the French Minister and myself to reach Pekin,
with a view of exchanging the ratifications of the
treaty, and establishing direct diplomatic relations
with the Government. I will cause copies of my
despatches giving an account of what took place to
be sent to your Excellency by the first opportunity.
In the meantime I beg to call your Excellency's
attention to two letters received from Sir Chas. van
Straubenzee on his position at Canton.
Hitherto I do not see any symptoms of an inten-
tion on the part of the Chinese Government to push
matters further. They seem satisfied with having
kept us out of the Pei-ho river, and the-eby got rid
of a visit, the conditions of which would have
asserted effectually the principle of international
equality, and laid the foundation of future diplo-
matic intercourse on a proper footing.
I have resolved, in concert with my French col-
league, to take no further step in this mission until
we receive instructions. We are not in a position
to bring any effectual pressure to bear in the north,
and I pe by a reserved attitude to avoid further
complications until we are better prepared. But I
think it advisable to bring before your Excel-
lency's notice the position of Canton, as events
in the north might encourage fresh troubles
there should the garrison be reduced by sick-
ness, or not be strong enough to act in the
neighbourhood against any hostile bodies that
might collect for the purpose of annoying us. I
have requested Sir Charles van Straubenzee to write
to the Commander-in-Chief in India as to the
amount of reinforcements he may think necessary.
In the meantime, I cannot too strongly urge the

- I have only to add that it is not the intention of
her Majesty's Government that you should consider
yourself to be bound by your instructions to insist
on a personal interview with the Emperor. It is
essential that you should correspond on terms of
equality with the chief officers of the empire, and
that you should refuse to submit to any degrading
ceremonial, either on the occasion of an audience
with the Emperor, or on any other ; but you will
be guided by your own discretion, and in some de-
gree by the practice of the representatives of other
great Western Powers, in determining whether or
not you will press the demand that the Emperor of
China shall receive you in the onl♦ manner in
which you could consent to be received, namely,
with the forms which on such occasions are custo-
mary in the west.
Her Majesty's Government are in communication
with the Government of the Emperor of the French,
in reference to the subject of this despatch.

No. 3.
LORD J. RUSSELL TO MR. BRUCE.

Foreign-office, Nov. 10, 1859.
Sir,—Since my despatch of the 29th ultimo was
written, I have received and laid before the Queen
your despatch of the 3d September.f
It appears by this despatch and its enclosures,
that the Emperor of China now fully sanctions the
resistance made by the forts at Takoo to the pas-
sage of her Majesty's ships up the rivet Peiho.
He states that Takoo was fortified by his com-
mand, and that the envoys of the different nations
were told by Kweiliang and Hwasana at Shanghae
that Takeo was so fortified, and that they must go
round by Peh-tang.
Now, although the denial of a passage to the ca-
pital by the usual and most convenient route would
have been evidence of an unfriendly disposition, yet
it was a matter upon which you might have remon-
strated and negotiated, without having recourse to
force to clear the passage.
You say, however, with regard to these alleged
warnings :—"These assertions are directly contrary
to the truth, though I think it not improbable the
commissioners may have represented the matter in
this light to the Emperor. Neither in the letters
that passed between the commissioners and the en-
voys, nor during the interviews Mr. Ward had with
them, was a word said of defences at Takeo, nor was
any allusion made to Peh-tang."
Thus it appears that neither you nor M. Bourbou-
lon received any warning—nay, when the Admiral
arrived at the mouth of the Peiho, so far from hav-
ing an intimation, from authority, that the passage
of the envoys up the Peiho was to be resisted, he
was assured that the fortifications were made by the
militia of the country a 3 a defence against pirates,
and that a passage should be opened to allow of
vessels proceeding by the river.
The soldiers at the forts had no doubt ascertained
the correct range of the palisades and stakes where
the French and British vessels were certain to be
stopped, and thus they had all the benefit of a pre-
pared ambuscade.
Whether the Emperor was cognisant of this act,
or whether it was directed by his officers, it is an
outrage for which the Chinese Government must be
accounted responsible.
Unless, therefore, the most ample apology should
.
be promptly made, and the other demands specified
in my previous despatch shall be compliedwith,
you are instructed to state that a large pecuniary
indemnity will be demanded by _
her Majestys
,
Go-
vernment from that of China.-1 am, &c.
(Signed) J. RUSSELL.

* See " Correspondence with Mr. Bruce," presented to
Parliament, Jan. 24, 1860. No. 15.
t See " Correspondence with Mr. Bruce," presented to
Parliament, January 24, 1860, No. 18.

[AnvEnThiotscl.ton having insrr.3—Notice.—ln consequence of Messrs.
3 Lawes and
just commenced IKO with opposi-
tion similar to that which they previously advanced, and wist
lug to do those gentlemen every justice, Mr. Thorley is induc d
to enlarge Lis coining pamphlet, making it 64 pages instead
of 3' showing beyond doubt that their observations on the
so-called " Concentrated Cattle Food," and so-called "feeding
statistics," are without foundation ; that the Itothamsted
experiment was not made with his food, and consequently
that this complete failure must either be through mismanage—
ment or from buying the Condiment at the wrong shop. The
first impression of One Hundred Thousand Copies will be
ready about the first day of March, and may be had post free
on receipt of Three Stamps, on application, to Joseph Thorley,
the Inventor and sole Proprietor of " Thorley's Food for
Cattle," 77, Newgate-street London ; 21, Broadway, New
J
York, United States ; Mr. J. W. Thorley, Melbourne; Vic-
toria ; Mr. Alfred Burt. Sydney, New South Wales ; and of
All his agents throughout the I.Tuf. ed Kingdom.—Feb. 2,1800.