The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-23 00:00:00

'TH OF THE

REPULSE

T TH,

PE.

MO

-1-10.

(Frew the 11Lieward
" In a war which the Emperor waged in Thibet,
his army suffered greater losses than were foreseen.
Some of the Chinese officers immediately fancied
that they perceived European troops and the effect
of European discipline in opposition to them. They
discovered hate, as well as turbans among their
enemies. The former, it was concluded, could be
only English." These words of the historian of
Lord Macartney's embassy offer a curious coinci-
dence with the remarks of some of the English
journals of the present day in recording the late dis-
aster in China. The intelligence that a British force
had been repulsed by the much-ridiculed Chinese
was received at first iu Europe with an astonish-
ment almost amounting to incredulity. This feel-
ing of surprise has suggested the interposition of
European skill and courage in behalf of our ene-
mies. For our own part, although of course it is
possible, perhaps even probable, that the Russians
may have sent a few officers in disguise to direct
the efforts of the enemy, we nevertheless believe
that the successful defence of the entrance into the

Peiho is quite explicable in another way. The
Chinese have now been carrying on a war against us
for a considerable period ; and it is not to be sup-
posed a nation of so imitative as well as inventive
a turn will not improve in war as well as in other
things. It is also to be remembered that from
Pekin northwards the population is increasingly
Tatar, and that the Tatars are more warlike, more
robust, and more hostile to us than the Chinese.
But there are other circumstances which render
it a matter of great difficulty to force the entrance
of the Peiho, and call for the sustained and careful

operations of a powerful force beforce leforce it can
be reasonably expected that they will be overcome.
Although the Peiho River is one-third of a mile in
width, and three fathoms deep at low water in the
main channel within the bar, yet the bar itself is a
most formidable obstacle. At low tide there is not

more than three or four feet water upon it, and in
many places it is almost dry. The deep-water
channel within is difficult to find, the river being
full of shoals. It is, of course, easy to increase the
obstacles to the passage artificially, so as to render
the ascent of the river almost impossible. But even
were the obstructions at the mouth of the river
overcome, and the forts in that locality taken, im-

mense difficulties would still remainw to be van

quishcd.. After eighty miles of such meanderings
as render the passage by water twice that by land,
the city of Tien-Sing is reached, the port of Pekin,
and itself not much smaller than Liverpool. This
city, which has a strong garrison of Tatars, would
have to be taken and held, or burned ; another ad-
vance must then be made to Tong-ehoo, a consider-
able place twenty miles from Pekin and sixty from
Tien-Sing. Here vessels of war would have to stop,
for there is no communication by water, for yachts
even, between Tong-choo and Pekin. But sup-
posing all these difficulties surmounted, Pekin would
have to be taken, a city with three millions of in-
habitants, with walls thirty feet high, and with a
strong garrison of Tatars. Even here success
would be of no avail unless the road to Zhehol was
occupied in force by the English troops. At
this place, which is a hundred and forty miles north
of Pekin, and forty miles north of the Great Wall,
the Emperor has his summer quarters, and thither
he would be sure to retreat if danger appeared im-
minent. Zhehol is situated in a mountainous coun-
try, and there are some difficult defiles to be passed,
over the worst of which the Great Wall is carried.
It was the consideration of these difficulties which
made us so long as April of last year write as fol-
lows :—" The rights of foreigners will never be
duly respected in China, and the trade with that
country never be put on a fair footing, until the
representatives of the European States are suffered
to reside in the Imperial capital, and to confer per-
sonally with the great officers immediately about
the Emperor. Such privileges will never be ob-
tainad without an armed demonstration at Pekin
itself, which shall teach the Son of Heaven his utter
inability to resist the Western Powers. To us it
seems that it would be greater economy in the end,
real mercy to the unoffending Chinese population,
and more in accordance with the dignity of Eng-
land, to despatch a powerful armament to the Gulf
of Pe-chi-lih ; and, having a strong detachment of
light vessels up the river from Peiho, proceed to
land a division of troops still more to the north, so
as to command the great road to Mantchouria."
To the scheme of operations proposed so long ago
in the above extract we still adhere. It is pos-
sible, indeed, that the mere appearance of an
imposing force may induce the Chinese again
to pretend submission, but it does not appear to
us at all likely that there will be any satisfactory
peace until the Emperor has been convinced of his
inability to maintain the struggle against us. This
can only be done by occupying his capital, and
cutting off his retreat. Supposing, therefore, the
plan suggested above to be followed, it is evident
that the expedition to the northward of the Peiho
would be still more important than that intended
for forcing a passage up the river. Indeed, this
latter might be merely a false attack to divert the
attention of the enemy while the main force was
penetrating into the interior. And here it must be
added that it is very desirable some cavalry should
be sent. The country round Pekin can supply good
strong horses, and forage is abundant.
The great difficulty, however, remains to be men-
tioned. The Gulf of Pe-chi-lih is a bad place for a
rendezvous in winter. There is no known port
where the expedition could rssemble. Storms are
frequent from September to January, and dense
fogs not uncommon. The islands of Sha-lu-tion,
fifty miles from the mouth of the Peiho, offer but
little shelter, being little better than sandbanks.
The water shoals near them suddenly from
seventeen fathoms to six. The coast of the main-
land is so low that it cannot be seen two miles off.
Near Tung-coo "it is low and swampy, and covered
in great measure with the long and not useless reed
called arundo phragmites, generally found in
grounds liable to be inundated." On the whole,
the locality is by no means promising as a place for
a fleet to assemble. There will be ample room for
the exhibition of naval tactics; and we have no
doubt, that our officers will prove themselves fully
equal to the occasion.

LINCO.

IL 'TIC,

Lord R. Cecil, M.P., Sir S. Northcote,
M.P., and the Right Hon. Sir J. Trollope,
MT, were present at a grand banquet given at the
Town-hall, Stamford, on -Wednesday evening, 11.
the mayor of that town. Upwards of 200 invita
tions were issued. After the usual loyal toasts,
The MAY on., in terms of high eulogium, proposed
"The Members for the Borough." Bart.,
Lord R. CECIL, the first to respond, said he was
stating merely a historical fact when lie said t
his hon. colleage and himself were sent to Parlia-
old a
ment to support a certain cause, and to uph _
certain Ministry ; and he was again only stating a
historical fact when he said that they
and that they appeared as defeated men with br4ee
arms and standards soiled. But since that time
party warfare had fallen a good deal into abey a ii,eo;
and he must confess that he was not very sorry
it. He valued party feeling as a means of carrry:
ing on the Government of a country, and fully
..e_
cognised the benefits it had conferred upon the
State ; but he was bound to say that during the te,l_v_
had failed,
last years we had seen the worst side of its work-
last
ing, for in a period of nine years no less than sev r
had been wasted in Ministerial crises, which we.°
of leg?..
neither valuable nor useful for the purpose
lation. (Hear.) After alluding to various poll_
tical topics, and reading and replying to some
of the charges of Mr. Bright against
aristocracy, said that his belief in reference to 8.1!
former wars was that the English people .might
sometimes have been enthusiastic, 01117,
times over hasty ; but he thought the records ?L
history would show that they would spend their_
last farthing, and give up the last man, rather than
suffer a foreign enemy to pollute these shores;
rat her than suffer any one to injure an emPire. h
which they were proud to belong, or to diminis
the value of the institutions which they loved so
well. (Applause.) a said
Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE, who followed'
—I must differ with my noble friend upon sue
point. He spoke of our party
must dissent from a defeated part.y,
which no doubt it is ; bufrom
either as to our arms being broken or our banners
soiled. I deny either one or the other. (Cheers.)
I say that though we can no longer claim to exe
ve
r-
cise the privileges of government, yet that we ha
to
duties imposed upon us, and we have privileges
We
exercise as an Opposition. (Hear, hear.)
have a duty to perform to the country whilst we,
are on the Opposition benches, which I hope an
trust we shall perforni just as conscientiously as 11-
we were on the other side of the house. (Cheers.)
How is it, I would ask, that progress takes place in
England ? How is it that any measure whieh won
carried through Parliament is regarded by corarnell
consent as one which must be maintained ? It 19
because, prior to any measure being carried, it is
thoroughly well discussed and fought by both per-
ties, and having been so fought, it is adopted Per-
haps TA ith certain modifications, or after difficulties
which might have presented themselves to the
minds of its opponents had been explained away'
And if you look to the history of England for the
last 30 years, during which we have been makin f
great progress of all kinds, you will see that hmuc—
ch'
good has come out of the party struggles much
good been going on ; those who have been in opPo:
sition forming, as it were, the balance of the consti-
tution, and thus rendering great service to the collo,-
try. At the present time it is of great importance that
we should, if possible, support the Government'
(Hear, hear.) It is very true that it may become.
our duty to take strong measures to oppose tint!
Government upon matters which may be of real'
and vital importance ; but at the same time, lookini
' to the general interests of the country, to the state
which is such that there must be very
of affairs in the East, to our financial condition!
financial measures introduced ; looking to that
great question of the defence of the country, 480,
to the necessity for adopting measures for
ourselves upon an independent footing which r: h
render us free from those degrading panic. to sval.e.
we are from time to time subject, and at the sametit
command the respect of foreign nations; looking
importae
all these questicrns,l say that it is particularly imP°L-
tant that we should adopt a line of conduct whicL:,
at once firm and not factious, which should sill "e
have a policy of our own, and prepared to enforce
it; but that as long as we see those measures carve
which we consider to be for the good of the countill
we will abstain from all factious proceedings. (iinue
cheers.) That is peculiarly important, because w_
number nearly one-half of the House of Common!
and because it is in our power—there would be
no
difficulty whatever, by taking advantage of Coo
opportunities—to embarrass and defeat the Gverl
an
ment. But this ought not to be the object of
Opposition. Until you can command an absolul7
and clear majority you should not thus disturb the
Government. What the Opposition should do 100
to take care that the Government goes straight".
to take care that those feelings, which there are in
the present as in other Governments, shall hare
fair play, so that when urged on by their more „°,t
treme supporters to measures of which they did
as a body approve, they should be able to turn round
and say, "We will not do these things." (14°10
cheers.) If that is the spirit which animates oho
Opposition, I believe all will go well.

TWENTY-SIX YEARS AMONG

INDIANS.

One of the most extraordinary narratives that
coin
he
we have had the fortune to relate has justhero
hi
under our notice. It was told us by the w
mself, and the most searching investiFat
fails to shake the truth of the story, astonishl
as it may seem to be. If there is any decepttuut
in the case, we fail to see its object. About
in the case, we fail to see its object. wer°
twenty-six years ago some Canada Indians Wtehe
in Cleveland, and did Acne trading With,..,is
people. In the course of the trade the 1110-w—e.
fancied they had been cheated, and in order to rot
venge themselves stole a three year old hoiefri.°9,o
the city, and carried him off to Canada. As '-a^sis
can be learned, the child was stolen from a °o
brown house, but in what part of the city, or aI•
further particulars of the theft, cannot be learn°
The captors kept the boy in Canada for a few dal,
and then, fearing his recovery by the whitest sblita
him to a party of Pottawotamies, who kept the
about a month. By these he was again sold to th,
Rawpaws, in which tribe he remained a We ea
but as there were some fears that he would be tree,
u
and taken by the whites, he was traded off to ta
Winnebagoes of Illinois and Wisconsin. Hew I°n%
he remained in the keeping of this tribe has .4,1
been ascertained, but he was eventually transfer ho
again sold him to the Sioux Indians of Min
from them to the Chippewas of Wisconsin,
eesota.
Twenty-five years ago he was sold by the Cht
pewas to the Snakes and Copperheads of loW
When this tribe removed to Missouri he see°ll.ll;
panied them, and afterwards went with thein 10.
their migrations through California and Orer a
That portion of the tribe with which he remaine,,..
finally proceeded as far north as the Russian Rol
sessions near Behring's Straits, and there,
portions of the Creeks, Utahs, and other large ha.11,,j,.
of Indians, they at present remain. Their prlll`,e
pal point of settlement is about 300 miles from ti_
North Pacific Ocean, and about 2,200 miles to th:
north-west of St. Paul. One of the points in visits
Russian territory where the tribe occasionally theval
is " Russian Fort," which is laid down on o
map as near the Colville River. The hero of t.'t
strange adventure says the fort is in the vicini
of a small river, the name of which, other than tile
given by this tribe, he does not know. The Sna
and Copperhead Indians trade with St. Paul, bacilli
a semi-annual train to that place. The train hst.
about 2,000 Indians. One party starts from
Paul about the same time that the other starts fr°,l
7:
their hunting grounds, thus meeting about hala
way. The furs are packed on ponies, elks, aeof
dogs. On their last semi-annual trip the
these adventures received a pass from one of the
chiefs (Ma-00-chewa-wa) to seek out his relatife4
and, if found, to remain with them awhile. 111:t
pass requires his presence in St. Paul at their ii..e7o ,
trip in 1860. Seven of the tribe accompanied
Of
kos-e-que,qua"—for that is the Indian name ca 9
young man—eo Chicago. From that place he oil
footed it most of the way, and arrived here yesitebri;
day. At Freomont his features were recognised
a man as bearing a strong resemblance to ono Josep t
Todd, who is said to have resided in Cleveland aheatia
30 years since. For some time past the young her
has been diligently engaged in tracing up his
of
tory, and what we have given above is the result'
_,,
his inquiries. He says he has no desire to leavirv:
his Indian associates, as lie has a wife and tll,
children among them. He speaks English west,
having learnt it, he says, in his trading ait thee
Paul. He says that his hair was cut, and h
ue
is ee foss
narai± changed, to conform to white usages ~,o,
.leaving St. Paul. We have given his x
s_
as lie told it us this morning. It seenni,
ordinary, but a close and rigid cross-exanuna As
tl:
r
failed to shako his story in the least.
1,2 ,
far as we can learn, his account of numerous
°vie_
details of the country and manners of the
-feat
see at pre
motive there is for deception we cannot
to his pip.
sent, as he only desires information as.al and if'
West regions do not differ from the facts.
rents, He is slightly made, speaks r
oaePelaSeed' 110
at present suffermg:from ophthalmtia
blankets.
'mary
says, by sleeping without his ous wood.
to search for roots, he can cure hunseciwrie
light O
some of our older settlers c throwbs
the Indianl
He says that as soon as he can gqoint.o_ th°perhape
the subject of the alleged stealing
is
Aug. 30.
one Joseph Todd.—Cleveland .He 7 and whether this " white Indian is not the eon 0