The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBERTI29, 1860

THE PEACE WITH CHINA.

(From a Supplement to the Gazette of last night.)

FOREIGN-OFFICE, DEC. 27.

Mr. Loch, private secretary to the Earl of Elgin
and Kincardine, arrived at the Foreign-office this
evening, at 7 o'clock, with despatches from his lord-
ship, enclosing a convention putting an end to hos-
tilities with China, signed on the 24th of October
last by his lordship with the Plenipotentiary of the
Emperor of China.

We select from the very voluminous papers herein
published the following :

British Embassy, Pekin, Oct. 25, 1860.
My Lord—Prince Kung's communication to me, of which
the translation was forwarded in my despatch to your lord-
shiy on the 13th inst., and of which I furnish a duplicate
translation herewith, was by no means a satisfactory docu-
ment. Although we were receiving day by day fresh evi-
dence of the barbarous treatment which our fellow-country-
men, who had been illegally arrested, had experienced at
the hands of the Chinese authorities, and although I had
constantly stated in my letters to him that I could not en-
tertain proposals for the establishment of peace until they
should have been restored, he makes in it no allusion to
them at all; on the contrary, ho refers somewhat flippantly
to peace as already existing, coniplains of the advance of
the army to the Palace of Yuen-Ming-Yuen, and endea-
vours to make conditions respecting the cession of the gate
of the city, with the manifest intention of giving to that
act the appearance of an arrangement entered into for
mutual convenience, rather than of an absolute surrender.
To have accepted such a communication as satisfactory,
and as the basis on which an agreement for the final set-
tlement of our differences with China might be built,
would have been, in my judgment, to compromise the
most important objects for which this costly ex-
pedition was undertaken. The people of China
would have been ere long informed that we had been
baffled by the defences of Pekin. In the more secret coun-
cils of the Imperial Court it would have been argued
that the arrest of the prisoners had been a successful mea-
sure, as it had in some degree, at least, paralysed our
movements, and gratified the resentment of the Emperor,
without entailing any specific penalty. Low as is the
standard of morals which now obtains in China on such
points, we should, in my opinion, have still further lowered
it if we had not treated the act in question as a high crime
calling for severe retribution.
Such being the convictions at which I had arrived,
after a full and anxious consideration of all the circum-
stances of the case, and of the obligations which those cir-
cumstances imposed upon me, I had to determine how I
could best give effect to them ; but here I found myself
beset with difficulties of no common magnitude.
Lieutenant-General Sir Hope Grant, as your lordship
will perceive from my correspondence with him, of which
a copy is'transmitted herewith, held the opinion that his
army must commence its march towards Tien-tsin on or
before the Ist of November, and, further, that any attack
on Pekin, or on the public buildings contained therein,
unless preceded by some fresh provocation on the part of
the Chinese, would be inconsistent with the conditions on
which he had accepted the surrender of the Anting-gate
of the city. Baron Gros was, on the other hand, most
desirous that we should take no step which might prevent
us from obtaining the signature of the Convention and the
ratification of the Treaties of 1858. On this point I en-
tirely agreed with his Excellency ; but I confess that I
attached more importance to the impression which we
might leave behind us on our departure from this place
than to any formal stipulations by which the Chinese
authorities might bind themselves. It was necessary,
therefore, to discover some act of retribution and punish-
ment sufficiently severe to produce that required effect,
and yet capable of such rapid execution that it would be
possible after it had been accomplished to complete, before
the Ist of November, the treaties of peace, and such fur-
ther measures as might be immediately necessary to put
them into operation. This had to be done without
attacking Pekin, or anything within Pekin, and in such
a manner as to make the blow fall on the Emperor, who was
clearly responsible for the crimes committed, without, how-
ever, so terrifying his brother, whom he had left behind
him to represent him, as to drive him from the field.

The destruction of the Yuen-Ming-Yuen Palace, coupled
with the exaction, as a step preliminary to negotiations,
and in name of compensationto the sufferers, of such a sum
of money as could be raised on the spot by the Government,
seemed to me to be the only combination which fulfilled all
these conditions. I had also at one time resolved to require
that a monument should be erected at the expense of the
Chinese Government, stating the circumstances of the arrest
and murder of the British subj sets illegally captured who
had died from the effects of their ill •treatment in pri•
son, and the penalty which had been inflicted for the deed ;
but this proposal I finally abandoned, for reasons which I
have explained elsewhere.
As the destruction of Yuen-Ming-Yuen is, however, an
act to which exception may, with great apparent reason, be
taken, it is my duty before closing this despatch to say a
few words respecting the only modes of inflicting a specific
punishment for the crime in question which, limited as were
my means of action, for the reasons above stated, 1 could
have adopted as substitutes for that measure.
I might perhaps have demanded a large sum of money,
k not as compensation for the sufferers, but as a penalty k
in-
flicted on the Chinese Government. But, independently of
the objection in principle of making a high crime of this
nature a mere money question, I hold on this point the
opinion which is, I believe, entertained by all persons with-
out exception who have investigated the subject, that, in
the present disorganised state of the Chinese Government,
to obtain large pecuniary indemnities from it is simply im-
possible, and that all that can be done practically in the
matter is to appropriate such a portion of the Customs'
revenue as will still leave to it a sufficient interest in that
revenue to induce it to allow the natives to continuo to

trade with foreigners. It is calculated that it will be neces-
sary to take 40 per cent. of the gross Customs' revenue of
China for about four years in order to procure payment of
the indemnities already claimed by Baron Gros and me,
under instructions from your lordship and the French Go-
vernment.

Embarrassing questions respecting the occupation of
Chinese territory are involved in this arrangement, and I
do Rot think that it would be advisable to bind the Chinese
Government by engagements which would cause the term
of liquidation of these indemnitties to be indefinitely ex-
tended.

Or, I might have required that the persons guilty of
cruelty to our countrymen, or of the violation of a flag of
truce, should be surrendered. But if I had made this de-
mand in general terms, some miserable subordinates would
probably have been given up, whom it w,,uld have been
difficult to pardon and impossible to punish. And if I had
specified San-ko•lin-sin, of whose guilt, in violating a flag
of truce, evidence sufficient to insure his condemnation by
a court martial could be furnished, I should have made
demand which, it may be confidently affirmed, the Chinese
Government would not have conceded, and mine could not
have enforced. I must add, that throwing the responsi-
bility for the acts of Government in this way on individuals,
resembles too closely the Chinese mode of conducting war
to approve itself altogether to my judgment. Having,
therefore, to the best of my judgment, examined the ques-
tion in all its bearings, I came to the conclusion that the
destruction of Yuen-Ming-Yuen was the least objection-
able of the several courses open to me, unless I could have
reconciled it to my sense of duty to suffer the crime which
had been committed to pass practically unavenged. I had
reason, moreover, to believe that it was an act which was
calculated to produce a greater effect in China, and on the
Emperor, than persons who look on from a distance may
suppose.

It was the Emperor's favourite residence, and its destruc-
tion could not fail to bo a blow to his pride as well as to his
feelings. To this place: as appears from the depositions of
the Sall troopers, copies of which wore enclosed in my
despatch to your lordship of October 13, he brought
our hapless countrymen, in order that they might undergo
their severest tortures within its precincts. Here have been
found the horses and accoutrements of the troopers seized,
the decorations torn from the breast of a gallant French
officer, and other effects belonging to the prisoners. As
almost all the valuables had already been taken from the
palace, the army would go there, not to pillage, but to mark,
by a solemn act of retribution, the horror and indignation
with which we were inspired by the pert etration of a great
crime. The punishment was ono which would fall, not on
the people, who may be comparatively innocent, but exclu-
sively on the Emperor, whose direct personal responsibility
for the crime committed is established, not only by the
treatment of the prisoners at Yuen-Ming-Yuen, but also by
the edict, enclosed in my despatch 0f Oct, 22, in, which, he

offers a pecuniary reward for the heads of the foreigners,
adding, that he is ready to expend all his treasure in these
wages of assassination.

I have now submitted as full a statement as it is in my
power to furnish, of the motives*Which determined the
tenour of the despatch which I addressed to Prince Kung,
in replying to his communication to me of the 12th inst. I
conclude by enclosing a copy of it, and a translation of the
rejoinder which it called forth.—l have, &c.,

ELGIN AND XINCARDINE.

Lord John Russell, &c.

Received Oct. 12, 1860.

The Prince of Kung, Imperial Commissioner, makes a

communication.

The Prince haying repeatedly written to say that he had
deputed officers to treat the British secretary, Mr. Parkes,
with all honour, and that as soon as they and he had satis-
factorily settled together all questions relating to the seal-
ing and signature of the Convention (the rest of), the
British subjects to be returned (as well)—conduct towards
the British Government which was not illiberal—how
cornea it that the British troops have carried their outrages
into the garden palace of the Emperor, and have fired
his Majesty's audience halls and dwellings. Is it rea-
sonable that the nation of the British Minister, being one
acquainted with the obligations of man to man, with disci-
pline long established in its army, while its troops have
wantonly fired and plundered the garden palace, the com-
manders of the two armies and the British Minister should
affect ignorance of this ? The British Minister should by
rights state plainly in his reply what steps are taken with
regard to these proceedings (1); this day, however, to his
surprise, the Prince has received a despatch from his Ex-
cellency General Grant, the British Commander-in-Chief,
to the effect that he is about to take possession of the Ant-
g Gate, and to preface this by the erection of a battery,
and that in the event of a refusal he will assault the city on
the 22th inst. (October 13).
That the soldiers the British Minister might bring with
him, when he came to the capital to exchange the Treaties,
should be distributed without the walls, and that his escort
should accompany him into the city, were indeed considera-
tions inserted in the convention, and to which of course
effect will be given, as (the convention) has been in tote
assented to both by the former Commissioners and the
Prince. The British Minister having also stated, in a de-
spatch which the Prince has received, that there should be
no alteration whatever in the Treaty, this too can be at
once exchanged ; that a good understanding may be esta-
blished to endure for ever. But the words of the conven-
tion had reference to the British Minister's entrance into
Pekin for the purpose of exchanging the treaties ; the city
gates have ever been under the surveillance of the high offi-
cers specially charged to see them opened and elesed ; if t hey
be thrown open at this moment, before (peace be concluded)
and the duty of inspection and search recklessly neglected,
the disorderly of the place will probably seize the oppor-
tunity to commit all sorts of irregularities. It is indis-
pensable, therefore, that proper precautions should be taken.
The letter received by the British Government (Sir Hope
Grant's despatch) says that the Anting Gate will be occu-
pied by a body of troops, and the two nations being now at
peace, this is an arrangement which, of course, can bemade;
but the reply to this despatch should specify certain regula-
tions for the occupation of this gate, and when the British
Minister's reply to this effect shall have been received a day
can be named for the signature of the Convention and the
exchange of the treaties, in order that before that day all
necessary arrangements may be duly considered to the esta•
blishment of a good understanding.
The British officer (still detained) were seized by the
late commissioners, a certain number were missing after the
fight, or (have died) of their wounds or of sickness. The
Prince gave orders to the officers whose business it was to
find out where they were to make them comfortable, and
to put them under medical treatment, and he now returns
them as his former despatch promised that he would return
them, keeping his word, without any abatement or modifi-
cation.

The Prince's correspondence during the last few days
has been all carried on with the British Minister, and he
thinks it proper to continue to address himself to his
Excellency although he has received the despatch from his
Excellency the British General, as the good understanding
has been restored.

He therefore writes this despatch, a necessary communi-
cation, addressed to his Excellency the Earl of Elgin, &c.
Hien-Fung, 10th year, Bth moon, 28th day (12th of
October, 1860).

Translated by
T3/011.4.S WADE, Chinese Secretary.

(1.) What punishment inflicted on the troops, what repa-
ration made for losses, &c. T. W.

The undersigned has the honour to acknowledge receipt
of a despatch from his Serene Highness the Prince Kung,
under date the 12th inst.

As that despatch was in its principal part a reply to a
communication which has been addressed to Prince Kung
by the Commander-in-Chief of Her Britannic Majesty's
force, he transmitted a copy of it as soon as it reached him
to his Excellency, in order that he might take such notice
of it as might seem to him to be fitting. •
It is unnecessary, therefore, for the undersigned to refer
to those parts of the despatch in question which refer to the
attack on Yuen-Ming-Yuen, and other military acts conse-
quent on the advance of British and French troops to tho
neighbourhood of Pekin : he will only observe on this head
that this advance took place because the Chinese Govern-
ment refused to accept the terms of peace offered to it by the
undersigned, firstly at Tian-tsin, and agaia at Tung-Chow,
and because in the latter case that refusal was accompanied
by an act of barbarous treachery, for which it would be
difficult in the annals of the world to find a parallel.
The Commander-in-Chief has informed the undersigned
that he took no notice whatsoever of that portion of the de-
spatch of the Prince in which his Highness requires that a
letter should be written to him specifying the regulations
under which the gate shall be held when surrendered to the
allies.

The gate has, nevertheless, been surrendered uncondi

tionally ; this is well ; had the Prince adhered to the demand
implied in that clause of his despatch, the city of Pekin
would have been assaulted and taken.

The undersigned has further to inform his Serene High-
ness that the letter of the Commander-in-Chief, stating the
terms on which the city of Pekin would be spared, was
written before he knew the treatment to which the British
and French subjects, seized in violation of a flag of truce on
the 18th ult., had been subjected, and when all the evi-
dence which he possessed on this point was contained in
the despatties of the Prince to the undersigned, in which
despatches the Prince repeatedly averred that the prisoners
in question had suffered no mortal injury, were comfortably
lodged, and treated with all proper attention.
Information since received establishes the fact that at the
time when these words were written several subjects of her
Britannic Majesty, not taken in fight, but seized and bound
while relying on the security that should have been af-
forded them by a flag of truce, and offering no resistance,
had already died from the effects of the barbarous cruelty
to which they and their companions had been subjected as
prisoners. This flagrant misrepresentation of the facts
of the case, for which the Prince is himself responsible,
would fully justify tho Commander-in-Chief in setting at
nought the conditions under which the gate of the city was
surrendered into his hands ; but ho is still desirous to spare,
if possible, the lives of the common people.
The undersigned nowproceeds to advert to those portions
of the despatch of his serene highness which concern him
more immediately, and especially to that clause which
speaks of peace as already established between Great Bri-
tain and China.
The undersigned begs to remind his serene highness that
in the first communication which he had the honour to ad-

dress to him he informed him that suspension of hostilities
and negotiation of peace would be impossible until the offi-
cers and subjects of her Britannic Majesty still missing had

returned; to that declaration he has constantly adhered.
How has this condition, which the undersigned has
throughout declared to be indispensable to the resumption
op npg,otiations for the establishment of peace, been fulfilled
by Prince Kung and the Government which ho represents?
Of the total number of 26 British subjects sciz.l in defi-
ance of honour and of the law of nations, 13 only have been
restored alive, all of whom carry on their persons evidence
more or less distinctly marked of the indignities and ill-
treatment from which they have suffered, and 13 have been
barbarously murdered, under circumstances on which the
undersigned will not dwell, lest his indignation should find
vent in welds which are not suitable to a communication of
this nature.

Until this foul deed shall have been expiated, peace be-
tween Great Britain and the existing dynasty of Chhia is

impossible.

The following, therefvre, are the conditions the ina)ge,

diate acceptance of which will alone avert from it the doom
impending on it :

What remains of the palace of Yuen-Ming-Yuen, which
appears to be the place at which several of the English cap-
tives were subjected to the grossest indignities, will be im-
mediately levelled with the ground ; this condition requires
no assent on the part of his highness, because it will be at
once carried into effect by the Commander-in-Chief.

A sum of 300,000 taels must be paid down at once to the
officers appointed by the undersigned to :receive it, which
sum will be appropriated at the discretion of her Majesty's
Government to those who have suffered, and to the fami-
lies of the murdered men.

The immediate signature of the convention drawn up at
Tiet-tsin, which will remain as it is withthe single change
that it shall be competent for the armies of England and
France to remain at Tien-tsin until the whole indemnities
spoken of in the said convention are paid, if the Govern-
ments of England and France see fit to adopt this course.
The demolition of Yuen-Ming-Yuen will take place im-
mediately.

Unless before 10 a.m. on the 20th the Prince informs
the undersigned in :writing that the sum demanded as
compensation for the British subjects who have been mal-
treated or murdered will Le ready for payment on the 22d,
and that he will be prepared to sign the convention and
to exchange the ratifications of the Treaty of mien_t,in
on the 23d, the undersigned will again call on the Com-
mander-in-Chief to seize the Imperial Palace in Pekin, and
to take such other measures to compel the Chinese Govern-
ment to accede to the demands of that of Great Britain as
may seem to him to be fitting. It is proper, however, that
he should inform the Prince that, should the contumacy of
the Chinese force him to adopt this course, he will address
himself to the Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's naval
forces, as well as to the Commander-in-Chief of hor Majes-
ty's land forces. He begs to remind the Prince that the
customs' revenue of Canton is being collected for the profit
of the Supreme Government of China, although the city is
in the military possession of the allies ; that it is the mili-
tary force of the allies which has for some time past pre-
vented Shanghai from falling into the hands of the rebels ;
and that the junks carrying rice and tribute to Pekin have
been allowed to pass and repass unmolested, although the
fleets of the allies command both the seas and the rivers.

If peace be not at once concluded this state of things will
cease, and the undersigned will concert measures with her
Majesty's naval Commander-in-Chief, with the view of ob-
taining from these and other sources indemnification for the
expense whit her Majesty's Government is compelled to
incur by the bad faith of that of China.

ELGIN „AND KINCARDINE.

(Received October 20th, 7 a.m.)

The Prince of Kung, Imperial Commissioner, makes a

communication in reply.

Upon the 4th of the 9th moon (October 17) the Prince
received the British Minister's reply of the 3d, and he now
in evidence of his desire for friendly relations makes answer
plainly and clearly that we positively agree to_everything
(therein demanded).
The despatch under acknowledgment states that of 26
persons seized but 13 have been sent back, and that to
compensate these and (the families) of the 13 who are dead,
for what they have suffered, the British Minister requires
300,000 taels.
Feeling that his Excellency's requisition for the sum to
be so appropriated is prompted by the best intentions on
his part the Prince at once approves its payment.
As regards the barbarous treatment of the officers and
men of the (French and British) nations, the Prince has
assented to the payment of the compensation money, that
in the amends it makes (or the comfort it will afford) there
might be proof (of the re-establishment) of friendly rela-

ions.

The day on which his Excellency the British Ambassador
will exchange the ratifications can be satisfactorily arranged
between whatever officers may be deputed (for this purpose)

on either side.

A. necessary reply, addressed to his Excellency the
Eaxl of Elgin, Hien-Fong, 10th year, 9th moon, 6th
dki„y (19th October, 18G0).
Translated by
TROMAS WADE, Chinese Secretary.

THE RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY.
British Embassy, Pekin, Oct. 26.

My Lord,—ln my despatch of the 231 inst. I enclosed
the copy of a letter from myself to the Prince of Kung, fix-
ing the 24th inst. for the signature of the convention of
Pekin, and for the exchange of the ratifications of the
Treaty of Tien-twin.
I have now the honour to report that, on the day ap-
pointed, I went to the Hall of Ceremonies, which is near
the southern wall of the Tartar city, accompanied by Sir

Hope Grant and several officers of rank, and attended by an
escort, furnished by order of the Commander-in-Chief, I
found the Prince of Kung already there, surrounded by a
large number of mandarins of distinction. •
After the exhibition of our respective full powers, we pro-
ceeded to the signature of the convention, which does not
materially differ from the draught transmitted to your lord-
ship from Tien-tsin in my despatch of the Bth Sept. Two
Articles have, however, teen added to those contained in
that draught, the one legalising emigration and the other
ceding to her Majesty that portion of the township of
Cowloon which is included in the lease granted to Harry
Smith Parkes, Esq., C. 8., on behalf of the British Govern-
ment, by the Governor-General of the Two Kwang.
The signature of the Convention was followed by the ex-
change of the ratifications of the Treaty of Tien-tsin, and, as
the Chinese form of ratification is different from ours, I
thought it proper to require that the Prince of Kung should
certify on the face of the document, under his signature and
seal, that the form adopted was binding on the Emperor.
A minute, recording the proceedings which had taken
place in connexion with the exchange of the ratifications,
was then drawn up in duplicate, and signed and sealed by
the Plenipotentiaries, of which duplicates one was delivered
to the Prince of Kung, and the other to me.
I enclose herewith the Convention of Pekin, duly signed
and sealed by myself and the Prince of Knng, the Treaty of
Tien-tsin ratified by the Emperor of China, and the minute
certifying the act of ratification, signed and sealed by the
Plenipotentiaries, and I have committed these important
documents to the care of Mr. Loch, my private secretary, in
order that he may in person deliver them to your lordship.
I commend Mr. Loch to your lordship's favourable con-
sideration. He was illegally seized and cast into prison by
the Chinese authorities on the 18th ult., while engaged in
the discharge of his official duties, and his conduct under
very trying circumstances was in the highest degree credit-
able to him. I have, &c.,
ELGIN AND KINCARDINE,
The Lord John Russell.

THE PRISONERS.
British Embassy, Pekin, Oct. 2G.

My Lord,—When I addressed to your lordship my de-
spatch of the 13th inst., of the total number of 26 British
subjects seized by the Chinese authorities on the 18th ult.,
while under the protection of a flag of truce, 10 only—
namely, Mr. Parkes, Mr. Loch, and eight Sikh troopers,
had been returned. Since that date two Sikh troopers have
been restored to us alive, though suffering severely from the
effects of ill-treatment ; and 12 corpses have been given up,
among which have been recognised the remains of Lieut.
Anderson, Mr. De Norman, and Mr. Bowlby.
_ • .

Of the regrets inspired by the sad fate of Lieutenant
Anderson and Mr. De Norman I have already written.
Mr. Bowlby was the correspondent of the Times. He made
the passage from England in the same steamer as myself,
and I became acquainted with him during the voyage. I
deplore his loss not only because he was a highly accom-
plished and well-informed gentleman, but also because from
the conscientious and liberal spirit in which he addressed
himself to the investigation of the singularly complicated
problems presented by the moral, social, political, and com-
mercial condition of China, I had conceived the hope that
he would be the means of diffusing sound information on
many points on which it is most important for the national
interests that the British public should be correctly in-
formed. The other corpses sent in are those of eight Sikh
troopers and of one English dragoon.
Of the British subjects captured, therefore, Captain Bra-
baron, of the Royal Artillery, is alone unaccounted for.
The silence of the Chinese authorities, who always plead
ignorance of his fate when questioned on the subject, and
rumours which reach us from various quarters, lead us to
fear that he must have met a violent death. It is reported
that, together with a French gentleman (a priest, acting as
interpreter to General do Montauban), he was beheaded
after the action of the 21st ult., by direction of a Chinese
General who was wounded on that occasion, and who in his
exasperation is said to have ordered that those two pri-
soners, who chanced to be in his power, should be exe-
cuted. I am inclined to credit this report, although I have
no positive evidence of its accuracy. Celltain Brabazon

was an officer of much promise, and held the appointment
of Deputy-losistant-Quartermaster-Q-eneral of Artillery.
I have, &c.,
ELGIN AND KINCARDINE,
The Lord John Russell, &c.

THE STATEMENT OF MR. PARKES.
Pekin, Oct. 30, 1860.

My Lord,—l have the honour to enclose for your
lordship's perusual a very interesting and detailed
narrative by Mr. Parkes, of the occurrences which
took place while he was detained as a prisoner by
the Chinese authorities.

Painful as is the process by which this experi-
ence is acquired, such an incident as the capture of
Mr. Parkes affords us an insight into the working,
of the Chinese system which we should never other-
wise, probably, have obtained.

Mr. Parkes' consistent refusal to purchase his
own safety by making any pledges, or even by ad-
dressing to me any representations which might
have embarrassed me in the discharge of my duty,
is a rare example of courage and devotion to the
public interest, and the course which he followed in
this respect, by leaving my hands free, enabled me
to work out the policy which was best calculated to
secure his own release, as well as the attainment of
the national objects intrusted to my care.

I am, &c.,
ELGIN AND KINCARDINE.
To Lord John Russell, &c.

British Head-quarters, Pekin, Oct. 20, 1860.
My Lord,—_l have the honour to lay before your
Excellency the following statement of the circum-
stances which attended my capture and subsequent
imprisonment :

I left Ho-se-woo at 4 a.m. on the morning of Mon-
day, the 17th of September, accompanied by Mr.
Loch, private secretary to your Excellency ; Mr.
De Norman, First Attache to her Britannic Ma-
jesty's Legation ; Cmlonpl Welker, Deputy Quarter-
master-General ; Mr. Thompson, Deputy Commis-
sary-General; and Mr. T. W. Bowlby. The escort
consisted of five men of the King's Dragoon Guards,
and 20 sowars of Fane's Horse, under Lieutenant
Anderson.

Shortly after passing Matow we were met by a
colonel and three other Chinese officers, who had
been sent out, as they stated, by the Imperial Com-
missioners to escort us into Tung-chow. On ap-
proaching Chang-kea-wau I pointed out to Colonel
Walker the point, five le south of that place, pro-
posed by the Imperial Commissioners, and agreed
to by your Excellency, as the advanced position of
our army, and as we rode over a part of the ground
we could see no indications of there being any
Chinese force in that vicinity. After pas'sing Chang-
kea-wan, however, we observed bodies of Tartar
horse between that place and Tung-chow, and were
informed by their commander, (the
Lieutenant-General commanding at Sin-ho when
that place was taken on Aug. 12), who rode forward
to meet us in a most friendly and courteous manner,
that these were some of the troops which had lately
bold the country between Tung-Chow and Ho-se-
woo, and had just been called in by order of the
Imperial Commissioners. He congratulated us,
with much apparent warmth, on " the conclusion of
peace ;" and in a soldierly way made the voluntary
observation—" Let us forget that we have been
enemies, and henceforward know each other as
friends."

Writing after the event, I now see a serious sig-
nificance in the removal of several small bridges,
placed across the small canal or streamlet that runs
past Chang•kea-wan, at a point which' afterwards
knew, by sad experience, to be the spot whence
Sang-ko-lin-sin directed, in person, the movements
of the following day. I had observed these bridges
on the occasion of my previous visit to Tung-chow,
but,in the absence of any other cause for suspicion,
we naturally did not now attach an important
meaning to the circumstance of their removal.
On reaching Tongchow, at about 10.30 a.m., we
we went at once to the Temple pointed out by the
Chinese officers as the place selected. both for own
accommodation and for the meeting with the Im-
perial Commissioners. All our personal wants were
readily supplied, and at about 1 o'clock I was ad-
mitted to an interview with the Commissioners—
Tsai, Prince of I, and lluh-yin, who were assisted
on this occasion by Bang-ki, late Assistant-Corn•
missioner at Tien-tsin, and well known to me when
he formerly occupied the position of Superintendent
of Customs at Canton.

Having delivered to the Commissioners, who re-
ceived me courteously, your Excellency's despatch
of the 16th September, they raised discussion on
three points—namely, the escort, the immediate
withdrawal of the forces, and the presentation of
her Majesty's autograph letter to the Emperor.
They objected to the escort being taken by your Ex-
cellency beyond Tun gchosv ; urged that the forces
should commence to retire the moment the convention
was signed ; and called the delivery of the letter a
new demand which they had then heard of for the
first time. To these objections I replied that it had
already been settled at Tien-tsin teat your Excel-
lency should take the escort to Pekin; that it could
not be expected that the forces would retire before
your Excellency had concluded all matters con-
nected with the exchange of the ratifications of the
Treaty of 1858 ; and also that this was not the
first time that the delivery of the Queen's letter
had been mentioned, your Excellency having
already been in written communication on this
subject with the Commissioners at Tien-tsin.
As the discussion proceeded, the Commissioners
withdrew their objections to the first two points,
but continued to oppose the presentation of the let-
ter by your Excellency in person with great
earnestness. It could be received, they said, in a
manner which denoted, in their opinion, high
respect, and an autograph reply could be returned ;
but the whole ceremonial should be conducted by
a Prince or Imperial Commissioner appointed for
the purpose, and there could be no occasion for
your Excellency to have an audience with the
Emperor on this account. I explained the object
of the letter—that it was a mark of the respect and
friendship entertained by the Queen folethe Em-
peror, but that the honour due to the former would
not allow of the letter being presented in any
other way than by her own Ambassador ; and that,
seeing that your Excellency had come from a great
distance for the purpose of establishing friendly
relations with the Chinese Government, it would
be unfortunate if the latter were to prove them-
selves still opposed to closer intimacy, and unwil-
ling to reciprocate the cordiality and good feeling
shown by her Majesty. Finding, however, that
these arguments had little weight with the Com•
missioners, I tried to avoid the question, which, I
said, might be considered by themselves and your
Excellency on another occasion, and endeavoured
to draw their attention to the other business I had
on hand; but, as they insisted on recurring to it, I
distinctly declined further discussion, on the ground
that I was not authorised to speak on the subject,
but that I would not fail to report all that they
had urged to your Excellency.
The meeting was interrupted at 4 o'clock by the
arrival of the French Secretary of Embassy, who
was then received by the Commissioners according
to appointment. I was at one time invited bothl;
the French officers and the Commissioners to assist
at that interview, and at about 6 o'clock I was 01100
more left alone with the Commissioners, who again
brought up the question of audience, and unreason-
ably insisted that I should decide this without any
previous reference to your Excellency. Having at
last satisfied them, as I thought, that this was im-
possible, I prevailed on them to proceed with the
consideration of other matters. llh
proclamation in which your Excellency termsne of theyproposed
that the Imperial Commissioners should make
known to the people the circumstances under which
the allies desisted from further hostilities were dis-
cussed, aud tlicy with
accepted. apparently
com-
plete approval, the draught supplied ino tY
Wade. I begged, therefore, that it should he put
in the hands of the type-cutters that night, and
directions to
while they gave, or affected to give,
that effect, their Secretaries arranged with me cer-
tain particulars as to the form of the document.
The Commissioners next named the officers who
were to accompany Col. Walker and myself at day-
, light the next morning to mark out the position of

the British camp at the five-le point south of
Chang-kea-wan ; other officers were also appointed
to act with me in forming a depot of supplies at
the latter town, and the same persons were directed.
to furnish the carts required by Mr. Loch for the
transport of your Excellency's baggage to Tung-
chow. I parted from the Commissioners at about
8 p.m., and such was their tone during the latter
part of the interview that I had no reason to sup-
pose that the gratification they expressed when I
congratulated them on the conclusion of the preli-
minaries of peace was wholly insincere ; and I was
subsequently engaged with Hang-ki until a late
hour in the evening in arranging the details neces-
sary to give effect to the measures they had agreed
to.

At daybreak the next morning, Tuesday, the 18th
of Sept., the Chinese officer appointed to act with
Col. Walker and myself in marking out the position
of the camp, was in attendance, arid we rode out
together to Chang-keg-wan. As we passed the
latter plaee, and reached the five-/e-point, we were
surprised to find that the ground on both sides of
the road "%vas occupied by considerable bodies of
infantry and cavalry; that the long embankment
which formed, as I had understood, the leading
mark of the five-/e-point was lined with matchlock
men, while cavalry were thrown out in skirmishing
order far beyond it; that guns were being rapidly
brought into position, we ourselves having unin-
tentionally entered a masked battery of 12 guns,
upon the construction of which men :were still
engaged, and in short, that a very considerable
force was in active movement all aro and us. It was
in vain that I asked to be directed to some com-
manding officer who could give me an explanation
of this movement; the officers to whom I spoke
returned only vague answers, such as that their
General might be 10 or 20 le off, or that they did
not know where he was.
Having my suspicions fully awaliened.Vy what I
saw, I determined to hasten back to Tungchow
qistlet about five miles) for the purpose, first, of
learning if the Imperial Commissioners would avert
a collision by directing the withdrawal of the force,
and then of bringing away the remainder of my
party (20 of whom remained in the town) if they
refused to do so. lat the same time requested Mr.
Loch to ride on and report to Gen. Grant the state
of affairs, together with my intention of returning
with further information as soon 25 possible; while
Col. Walker, with the small portion of the escort
we had brought out, remained on our encamping
ground, making such observations as he thought
proper.

On my way to Tungchow I met Hang-hi, who
iold me that he was going by direction of the Im-
perial Commissioners to see your Excellency—an
instruction which, if given, he did not carry out,
and he expressed surprise at the movement of force
then going on, which he said he did not understand.

I also met the Sccretary of the French Embassy
and two other parties of French officers, and advised
them to lose no time in returning to their own
head-quarters.

On arriving at Tungehow I sent after the gen-

tlemen of my own party who were out in the town,
and then proceeded in quest of the Commissioners.
As no one in the temple would tell me where they
were staying, I went to the chief magistrate of the
city, who, after some hesitation, guided me to them
in a temple nearly three miles distant from the one
in which we had been put up. They did not ap-
pear until after some delay, and I at once observed
a marked change both in their manner and in that
of the crowd of officers around them. I informed
them in a guardedly respectful tone of what I had
that morning seen, and asked them whether they
were aware that a large force of Chinese troops had
occupied the very ground which they themselves
had named as the situation of the allied camp. The
following conversation then ensued :
Commissioners—We are not military authorities,
and have no control over the troops.
Mr. Parkes—But your Excellencies, as Imperial
Commissioners, have certainly power to instruct
your Generals to desist from hostilities, and a col-
lision is now imminent between the force I speak
of and the allied column which must shortly reach

the same spot. Will you, therefore, direct the im-
mediate withdrawal of the Chinese troops ?
Commissioners—We can only direct our troops
to retire when peace shall have been determined on.
Mr. Parkes—l thought that peace had been de-
termined on both by yourselves as well as by the
allies. Have not all the preliminaries been dis-
cussed and concluded at our several interviews ?
Commissioners—We do not think so. You have
left one very essential point unsettled—that of the

audience.
Mr. Parkes—l informed your Excellencies that
I had no instruction on that point; but at the same
time assured you that it could be settled ut another
time, and the very fact of my not being authorised
to discuss it proved that it was not a question upon
which peace or war depended.
Commissioners—We take a different view, and
hold that there can be no peace until this point is
finally arranged. Until peace is settled our troops
cannot retire.
Mr. Parkes—l am sorry to hear your Excellen-
cies speak in this tone. You should at least have
stated as much to me yesterday. I can only return
and report what you now say to Lord Elgin.
Commissioners—You can do much more if you
like. You can settle the point at once yourself
but you will not do this.
Mr. Parkes—l can only repeat that I have no
power to do anything of the kind, and all that I
can now do is to return to Lord Elgin. •
While this conversation was going on, I was re-
peatedly interrupted by the Mandarins standing
around the Commissioners, who thought it right to
attempt to drown my voice by repeating in a loud
tone, with various additions of their own, the
remarks of their superiors, and the Commissioners
made no attempt to check this rudeness. I made
brief notes of the replies of the latter in my pocket-
book, explaining to them that I did so to enable
me to report accurately to your lordship all that
they had said ; and then, taking a respectful leave
of them, I lost no time in returning to my party.
I found them all collected, and that they had been
waiting for me about 20 minutes. Mr. Loch,
companied by Major Brabazon, had come in ;ro;il
General Grant to say that we must Lose no time
returning, and we gave our best heed to the injunc-
tion.

10Chmaninu
1-tes of the Chineseparasisned
Chang—ea—wan, and were
holpNi-neghatdo ljvusctle
lines, when a fire of Chinese
artillery
opened along
their front, and showed that
the engagement had
begun. As soon as we were b o served a *umber of
Tartar Horse moved into the road to intercept us,
and halting the
party I informed an officer whom we
were, and asked him to allow us to pass on. He
desired us not to proceed until orders arrived from
a superior officer upon which I close at hand,
sug-
gested timethat'saved if I visited
officer myself, Ire assented,
and I therefore rode
towards the spot, accompanied by Mr. Loch and
one Sowar, carrying a white flag. The remainder
of the party, namely, Major Brabazon, Lieutenant
Anderson, Messrs. De Norman and Bowlby, one
Dragoon, and, I believe, 18 Solvers, remained in
the road, and were also provided with a white flag.
On „losing a field of tall cane, which hid us from
our party we suddenly came upon a body of in-
fantry, who were with difficulty prevented from
firing upon us, and we were directed to a mounted
Mandarin, evidently one of rank, and wearing a
red button, who was standing on the opposite side
of the canal referred to in the early part of this
report, and near to the spot where one of the
bridges had been removed. The crowd of soldiers
called on us to dismount and cross the canal in a
boat. I tried to avoid this, but as the Mandarin
referred to would not speak to me unless I did so,
and seeing that we were surrounded by rude and
excited soldiers, who clearly looked upon us as their
-,,iisnrers, I Id vised Mr. Loch and the Sowar to

comply. By this time another Mandarin had rid-
den up to the former one, and hearing, as he ap-
proached, the cry raised of " The Prince !
.the
Prince !" I inquired from an officer what Prince it
was. He told me Prince Sang (Sang 10-lin-sin),
and I therefcre hoped that the use which this per-
sonage had himself made in the late hostilities of
flags of truce would induce him to respect the one