The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-01 00:00:00

CHINA AND COREA.

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
SHANGHAI, Dec. 8.

The French expedition to the Corea, undertaken
to avenge the murder of French missionaries, which
I mentioned a few weeks ago, has failed to attain
the desired object. The mistake was, I suspect,
committed by undervaluing the degree of resistance
likely to be encountered. It was, of course, quite
possible that the Coreans might be awed by the
arrival of a French squldron into conceding what
was demanded, but as Admiral Roze could only
laud 600 men in the event of its becoming necessary
to operate on shore, the risk of failure was rather
imminent.

It will, however, be intaesting to. detail the
movements of the expedition from the time it left
Uhefoo on the 11th of October till its, final depar7
ture from the Seoul.

The expedition consisted of the La Guerriere, flag-
ship, Pritnauguet sloop of w.tr, Tardif, Lo Brethon,
and Desronledes gunboats, and Laplace despatch
vessel. Apparently the Coreaus did not anticipate
an attack this year, as the batteries defending the
entrance to the river were not manned, and the
fleet ascended to Kang-hoa without firing a shot.
This, apparently the second city in the kingdom, was
also abandoned after a very trifling resistance, and
large quantities of warlike stores fell into the hands
of the invaders. Muskets, swords, daggers, cui-
rasses, bows and arrows, helmets, cannon, and, it is
alleged, no less than 250 tons of gunpowder were
taken here, confirming appareritly the _report that
Kang-hoa is one of three strongholds on which the
King relies for a safe retreat in case of insurrection
or invasion. The Royal domain here is described as
exceedingly spacious and handsOme, comprising pa-
godas, pavilions, gardens, &c., which, however, afford
a strong contrast to the wretched buildings of the
inhabitants. After they had been here a few days,
the French received a deputation from the 'Corean
authorities, requesting that the Admiral would
either go himself or depute some one to the capital
to negotiate. But this was declined, from a very.
well-founded apprehension of treachery, and an in-
timation given that a visit from a Corean Embassy
at Kang-hoa would be preferred, and that what was
required was the punishment of the Ministers who
had instigated the massacre of the missionaries.
The fact that no further overtures were made from
Seoul and tire known rejection by the Government
of the Chinese Emperor's advice to yield to the
French demands, confirm the report that prepara-
tions had been made to entrap the Admiral and
suite en route, if the invitation had been accepted.
In the meantime, the French made various recon-
naissances in the neighbourhood of Kang-hoa, which
they at first found denuded of troops. But, gra-
dually, Corean soldiers began to show themselves
in villages which had, at first, been deserted ; one
or two skirmishes took place in which the French
were uniformly successful, and bodies of troops
' attempted to interpose between Kang-hoa and the
sea, but were repelled by the ship's shell. Finding
matters look thus threatening, the Admiral deter-
mined to destroy the stores and arms which he
had found in Kang-hoa, and burnt a large fleet
of junks which were lying in the river. The events
which finally decided his retreat took place
a few days subsequently. A body of 150 men
were despatched to take a fortified post on the op-
posite side of the river. Spies had brought in word
that troops were assembling in this neighbourhood
with a design of attacking the French, and this
force was sent out as a sort of reconnaissance en
force, to ascertain their strength. In the words of a
local correspondent, " the boats advanced to within
30 yards of the landing place, when the wall became
alive with men, and a galling fire was poured down
on the assailants, wounding 25 of their number be-
fore they could get on shore." As soon as they did
so the remainder charged and drove off their adver-
saries. The next day another reconnaissance of
equal strength was ordered in the direction of a
fortified post where a number of troops were said
to be lodged ; and here again a stubborn resistance
was encountered. About 500 Coreans suddenly
manned about 100 yards of the fort, ald poured in
a volley which at once put 35 men hors de combat.
Having no field pieces, tlie French could not perse-
vere in the attack against so heavy odds, and com-
menced a retreat, which tempted the Coreans to
follow up their success by a sortie. In the open
ground, however, they were, of course, repulsed,
though they are said to have stood the French fire
with much coolness.

Thus, in two days, Admiral Rize had lost 60 men
out of a disposable landing force of some GOO, and,
as matters were evidently getting hotter, he adopted
the wise resolution of abandoning the expedition for
the winter, and retreating southwards. After the
very unnecessary preliminary of burning the city,
the destruction of the munitions of war was a pun-
ishment on the Government, but to burn the city
was to inflict a useless injury on a number of poor
wretches who, probably, were ignorant of the very
existence of the priests whose massacre it was de-
sired to avenge. The carrying off the library of
the city, too, as a present for the Paris Library was
rather a harsh proceeding. However some allow-
ance must be made for the feeling of disappointment
at having failed to attain their object. The destruc-
tion of Kang-hoa and its valUable stores will, no
doubt, have impressed on tld Coreans that French
subjects could not be killed with impunity. But the
actual object of the expedition—to exact punish-
ment of those concerned and to place future relations
on a more satisfactory footing—is further from at-
tainment than ever. If the French return in thespring
to complete the task they have undertaken, they will
find au enemy encouraged, by the impression that
they have repelled one attack, to more
vigorous
re-
sistance ; and, what is more, they will, probably
find them prepared. The batteries defending the
passage of the Seoul will be manned, and the walls
of Kang-hoa defended. Of course, the result is cer-
tain. Corea cannot resist France; but greater loss
of life will inevitably be entailed on both sides, and
a small war become necessary when more judicious
action at first might, perhaps, have attained the de-
sired end. It cannot be held judicious to have un-
dertaken an expedition into the interior of a strange
country, through an unknown river, so very near the
cold season that little margin was left for any opera-
tions that might be necessary.
Regarding the Coreans themselves not much ap-
pears to have been gleaned except that, judging from
the arms, breast plates, helmets, &c., which were
found in Kang-hoa, they are no mean artificers in
metals. The houses of the inhabitants in this city
are said to be very poor, but the King's residence
strikingly handsome, and the grounds well laid out.
Many articles of curiosity showing very ingenious
workmanship were found ; among others an original
breech-loading cannon of the most primitive descrip-
tion. The men are spoken of as much superior in
point of courage to their neighbours the Chinese,
and even to the inhabitants of the neighbouring
kingdom, whom they much resemble.
The viceroy has returned to Nankin, after a suc-
cessful campaign against the Shangtung-Nienfei,
who, according to native accounts, are now com-
pletely crushed and dispersed. The arsenal which
Macartney had established at Soochow has been re-
moved to Nankin, where it is likely to be carried
out on a still larger scale. The preponderating in-
fluence in the ercpire exercised by Li-hung-Chang
appears to have excited the jealousy, not only of the
Court, but of his brother satraps. Whether
prompted from Pekin or of their own initiative, the
viceroys of the southern coast provinces have en-
tered into a coalition, evidently intended as a
counterpoise to the power of Li and Tsen. Cheh-
' keang and Foh-kieu, Kwangtung and Kwangsi
have combined to establish an arsenal and dockyard
at Foochow, which shall furnish them with muni-
tions of war that Li now exclusively derives from
his arsenal at Nankin. Two Frenchmen—Messrs.
Giguel and D'Aiguebelle, the former of whom has
just resigned the post of Commissioner of Customs
at Hankow, the latter late commandant of the
Franco-Chinese troops who were instrumental in
pacifying Chekiang, both lieutenants in the French
navy—are to be intrusted with the execution of the
scheme, to which about one million sterling is to be
appropriated. It is hoped to construct an arsenal
and to build several gunboats, which are at first to
be officered and worked by foreigners, but which at
the end of six years it is assumed the Chinese will

be able to manage without their aid. There are
one or two flaws in the scheme, which on the whole
merits the support rather than the jealousy of
foreigners. In the first place, the sum allotted will
not suffice for the attainment of the desired result,
and, in the second, it is improbable that the Chinese
will find themselves able to shake off their instruc-
tors when they desire. But it is to our interest that
the hands of the authorities should be strengthened,
and in no part of the empire do they reauire this
more than in the neighbourhood of Foochow, Swa-
tow, and Amoy. The popul ttion in this part of the
country have a pleasant way of going out armed
to till the fields ; villages being divided against
villages, and district against district. A man going
out to plough deposits his gun and sword in a corner
of the field, and recreates himself between whiles by
a pitched battle with the nun in the next plot, who
belongs to another family with which his own is at
feud. Naturally, the local authority amid such a
turbulent class is next to powerless. Possibly the
acquisition of sonic gm.al guns may enable the
maintenance of something more nearly approach-
ing to order than has yet been attempted. The
fear which haS sometimes been suggested lest we
should be teaching the Chinese to make and use
weapons against ourselves is very vain. Our supe-
riority lies in morale and physique, quite as much as
iu materiel. One cannot help noticing, in connec-
tion with this subject, how the history of India is
slowly and gradually being reproduced in China.
Au Englishman has charge of an arsenal at Nan-
kin, and othor Englishmen are teaching the vice-
roy's troops the rudiments of drill. An English-
man commands a small disciplined corps at Ning-
po, and now Frenchmen are about to establish an
arsenal and gunboats at Foochow, under the au-
spices of a coalition prompted by jealousy of the
power of Li-hung. elan.; and Tsen-kwo-fan. Officers
of the same two nations disciplined the troops and.
officered the guns of rival satraps in India. Is
the result to be the same ?

SHIPPING- INTELLIGENCE—Ths Day.

GRAVESEND, Friday Morning.
Arrived, Jan. 31. Hannah, from Guernsey; Nelly, from
Shanghai.

Arrived, Feb. I.—Rhine, steamer, from Boulogne ; Lord
J. Russell, steamer, from Dunkirk; Florenoe, steamer,
from Rotterdam; Belgium, steamer, from Ostend; Nor-
mandie. steamer, from Dunkirk.

DEAL, Sunday Morning.

Passed, Jan. 31st.—Pride of Canada, from Calcutta, for
London ; Adria, screw steamer, for Genoa; United Service,
screw steamer, for Cape Town ; Jamaica Packet, screw
steamer, for Glasgow—all from London.
Anchored, Feb. 1. —America, from London, for Bombay;
Verona, from Sunderland, for Cape of Good Hope (has been
supplied with an anchor and 103 fathoms of chain, in lieu
of others lost); Brothers, from London, for St. Thomas.
Passed.—Eastern Empire, from Calcutta, for London.

LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET.
(This Day.)
The market opens quiet. Sales probably 6,000
or 8,000 bales.

COURSE OF EXCHANGE.--This Evening.

Amsterdam S port. 11 15 11 17
Ditto 8 Months. 11 181 11 19
11 18 11 19

Rotterdam
Antwerp — 25 33- 25 421
Brussels
Hamburg — 13 8} 13 9
Paris Short 25 10 25 17/
Ditto 3 Months. 25 32} 25 371
Marseilles
Frankfort on the Maine 1191 120
Vienna
Trieste, — 13 32} 13 40
Petersburgh - 311:
63116
Berlin
Madrid — 47/ 481
Cadiz -48k 48 i
' F

Leghorn
Milan
Genoa
Naples — 26 70 26 85
Palermo
Messina
Lisbon . —51 f, 52
Oporto —51 t

Encouraged by the success obtained at Arcachon
and Boulogne, the Dutch Society for the Encouragement
of Industry is going to hold an exhibition of implements
for and produce of fishery at the Hague. The objects to
be exhibited must be forwarded before May 15.
A 'A lATuIMONIALSPECULATION. --A charge brought
by a railway inspector named Garroux against a matrimo-
nial agent named Angot, for detaining a security of the
value of 300 francs, was heard on Tuesday at the Paris
Tribunal of Correctional Police. The plaintiff had applied
to the defendant for professional assistance, and the latter
bad in consequence introduced him to a young lady possess-
ing a fortune of 33,000 to 40,000 francs, besides expecta-
tions from a rich uncle disposed to apoplexy. Garroux had
lodged with Angot a railway bond of 300 f. as an earnest
of the fee to be paid him for his services, but the match
having fallen through in consequence of some indiscreet
questions put by Garroux respecting the past history of his
intended, he applied to Angot to return the property; this
the latter declined to do, alleging that the marriage had
only failed in consequence of the unusual susceptibility of
the suitor. The Tribunal, considering the charge not
sufficiently established, acquitted the accused, and con-
demned the plaintiff to pay costs.
CONFESSION OF INC ENDIARISM. —At the Manches-
ter City Police-court, on Wednesday, a man named Michael
MiGeo was charged, on his own confession, with having
broken into, and set fire to, the premises of his employer,
Mr. J. Snowden, cut-nail maker, Kenyon-street, Rochdale-
road, on Tuesday morning. The premises in Kenyon-
street, which is not a thoroughfare, consists of a range of
shed buildings, two or three storeys in height, and form
three sides of a square. They are in the occupation of five
tenants, four of whom aro workers in metal. Tho entrance
to Mr. Snowden's premises is on the 'ground floor. Mr. G.
Snowden had locked up his premises a few minutes before
6 o'clock on the preceding evening, at which time there
was no fire, and there had been no fires lighted in the pre-
mises during the day. The prisoner, who is in Mr. Snow-
den's employ, went to the Swan-street station, which is
about 200 yards from the prosecutor's premises, about five
minutes to 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning, and reported
to Hudson, the inspector on duty, that there was a fire in
a hay-cutting shop in Kenyon-street. Hudson sent two
men to the place, but they returned to the station and
said there was no fire. The prisoner, who had remained
at the station, was asked by Hudson why he had brought
the message which he had delivered, and he replied,
" They told me it was on fire," and then left the office.
He had scarcely gone when a policeman arrived with the
information that Mr. Snowden's shop was on fire. A tele-
gram was therefore sent to the chief fire-station, and
the engines were despatched thence. The prosecutor's pre-
mises are shut off from the street by a pair of large gates,
in which there is a small wicket. The firemen, on arriving,
found that wicket open; and, on going further, they found
that the entrance to the workshops had also been forced
open. It took more than two hours to put out the fire ; and
the premises were considerably damaged. After the fire
Mr. Geo. Snowden went to the premises, which he found
had b:en partly burned down. On the previous night ho
had left beneath a wooden staircase a quantity of canvas
bags and paper, the whole of which was consumed. There
was no suggestion of any threat by the prisoner, of abny
ill-feeling on his part towards his employer. Shorty
1000
fore the fire was discovered, he had been seen within
yards of the premises ;wahne
Swan-street.
tarmeoetin
about
and went towards direction
v()
from
o'clock them,o
Tuesday evening the prisoner went
he cons Albtableert-street on duty,police a
station. He handed to Rhodes, t
to
warks, in Kenelf into custody for
on-
pbarepaekriwnghiciahtosa3idi,r."slallovlou
ivsdhto give my
don's
cut-nail
Hav
street, Rochdale-road, and setting fire
place.
a ~ bundleiof paperng read
with the intention of destroying the p
that statement, Rhodes took the prisoner to Mr. Superin-
tendent Gee, who asked the prisoner whether he was aware
of the serious charge which he was making against him-
self. The prisoner replied that he was. The superintendent
asked for his name, and theyrisouer immediately stated it.
Ile was thou asked if the statement on the paper which
he had given to Rhodes was true, and whether it was in
his own writing, to both of which questions the prisoner
replied in the affirmative. At the superintendent's sug-
gestion, the prisoner consented to go rind point out the
place which he set on fire: Mr. Geo and Mr. Tozer (the
superintendent of the fire brigade) wont with the prisoner,
who took them to the prosecutor's works, and pointed to a
door which he said he had broken Open. He also took them
to a place where ho said he had set fire to some paper. The
prisoner, who was perfectly sober, was then taken back to
Albert-street station, where he was locked up, and the
charge entered against him. While the prisoner was in
the dock, it was discovered that he was wearing an old
overcoat which was the property of Mr. Snowden, and
which had been stolen from the works, where it had been
left on Monday night. The prisoner, who did not question
any of the witnesses, was committed to take his trial at
the spring assizes.
TIIE OPENING OF THE PARIS EXHIBITION.—The
exhibitors at the building in the Champ de Mars are begin-
ning to arrive in Paris, and aro flocking to the offices to
claim the space allotted to them ; the distribution of sur-
face is not, however, yet terminated. An opinion is con-
seqUently prevalent that the date for opening, fixed for
April 1, will have to be postponed, but the contrary affir-
, mation is firmly made by the Imperial Commission.

THIRD EDITIOV.

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocI.

SPORTING INTEL LIGENCE.—This Day.
MANCHESTER RACES—Tuts DAY.
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
HURDLE RACE.

Tumult
Grapeshot
Equinox

A rlescott..

. 1

. .......... 3

Three rau
STEEPLECHASE

suo

Crusade fell. Three ran.
TRIAL ILINDICSP.

Diana
Gcntillo ,
Wallett
vlcliffo
Merryboy

s