The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-30 00:00:00

the result is-Na:,powerful and almost impregnable
fortress. I hesitate to give you a description of the
fortifications, for we saw so little of them that an
error could easily be committed, but what I tell
you is, though imperfect, true. There are eight
bastions, built very strong, the outer material being
chiefly a very thick coating of mud; and for the
greater part of the line of defence there :are cur-
tains, some connecting two or three bastions,and some
presenting the appearance of an outwork. The num-
ber of heavy guns mounted is variously estimated,
some giving 70, some 90, some more than 100. The
admiral clearly underrates them when he says 50
or 60.
" The different embrasures right along the extent
Qf curtain were fitted with aprons or mantlets,'
which were pulled up when the guns were to be
fired and lowered down while they were loading.
This expedient proved of the most essential service
to them, for had there been no such provision, our
riflemen would have picked off their gunners as fast
as they shdwed at the embrasures. It reminds one of
the defence of the Malakoff. The Chinese have taken
a lesson (as of course other nations will) from the
Russian method of protecting their gunners.
" There was an incident worth recording. You
may make what you can of it ; but to us it presents
some of the elements which constitute a mystery,
though subsequent events may throw some light
on it
1,61 the evening of the 25th, before the fight be-
gan, two junks came laden with sheep, poultry,,
vegetables, &c., as a present for the English. The
junks --4/ ere Accompanied by two mandarins, who
brought a letter of respect to the English Ambas-
sador from the Governor of Tein-Sing. As we were
on the point of opening warlike communications
with the mandarins of the Peiho, it was impossible
to hold amicable communications with these envoys
of the mandarin of Tein-Sing, and consequently the
present was not accepted.
" The junk returned ~to Tein-Sing about noon,
and in about three hours:subsequently the report of
artillery shattered every vestige of our hopes and
interests in the treaty of 1858. Was the present
given in au amicable and honest spirit ? Did these
two mandarins represent a true friend or a feigned
one ? We shall see.

" Seven days afterwards the American Minister
had a friendly interview with some Chinese junks,
received a gift, consisting of sheep, poultry,,&c.,
and entered into an arrangement to hold a ' parlez'
with the governor-general of the province on the
Tuesday following. The result of the conference
is not distinctly known, but it was understood
to be only a preliminary to a journey to Pekin. We
shall see.

" One word on this diplomatic ruse' of the Ame-
rican Minister. If he is going to enter into a treaty
with the Court of Pekin, independently of England
and France, and submit to terms which they cannoc
accept (and such is the report), he is acting a double
game. Without bringing up any force that could
materially assist us in our operations against Canton,
hanging ou when we undertook our expedition to
Pekin, the American Minister now throws over all
the implied engagements which an honourable
Power would feel binding, and in the face of a disas-
trous defeat he calmly submits to accept as a favour
what was granted in our treaty of 1858. Such con-
duct deserves reprobation ; for if we were right in
our attack he ought to abide by the results, if wrong,
he ought not to have joined us ; and I hope it will
not escape condemnation even in America. ' Sharp
practice' succeeds for the moment, but it must have
its reward.' In close connexion with this doubtful
conduct of the Minister, let me record, to the honour
of the American officers and men, the- marked and
energetic sympathy displayed to us. The men of
the Powhattan told their purser that they wished
the fresh provisions which were served out to them
should be sent on board her Majesty's ship Chesa-
peake for the sick and wounded.
" The other ships received presents of sheep and
poultry from American generosity. But brother
Jonathan's diplomacy is too keen for anything—it is
double-edged, and will eventually cut his own throat.
" I have now told all the news that is worth
communicating, how we went eager and hopeful
into the fray, and returned sad and mournful; how
many a brave and gallant man returned from the
contest a mere wreck of his former self; how
many a noble spirit retired from its earthly
tenement in the quivering agonies of death. But
let me tell you further that the indomitable
spirit which animates our English soldiers and
sailors remains brave as before, and only wishes
for another opportunity for avenging their
defeat. Most of the wounded have been trans-
ferred to the Assistance, which has gone to the en-
trance of the Yangtse The Fury has gone to
Shanghai, and the Magicienne is going to the same
anchorage as the Assistance."

THE _RELIGIOUS DISSENSIONS IV ST

GEORGE'S-IN-THE-EAST.

IMPORTANT VESTRY MEETING.
Last night a meeting of the Vestry of the parish
of St. George's-in-the-East was held under the pre-
sidency of Mr. Churchwarden Thompson,
The CHAIRMAN announced that the following
letter, in reply to a memorial to the Bishop of Lon-
don, had been received :
"Alva House, Stirling, Sept. 29.
" Sir,—l beg to acknowledge your letter of the 22d, which
has this day reached me, together with, first, a copy of a
resolution passed at the vestry of the parish of St. George's-
in-the-East on the 15th inst. ; second, a copy of the rector's
letter to the vestry clerk, dated the 17th inst. ; and, third,
a statement of grievances on the part of the parishioners.
I shall not fail to give these documents my imm ed late serious
attention, but I think it right to state that up to the present
time I have not received from the rector any such intima.
Lion of his readiness to refer the various questions in dis-
pute to me as will enable me to proceed to act as mediator
between the partied who are at issue. I have, in answer to
a letter which I received from the rector within the last few
days, stated to him the nature of the unreserved reference
which is requisite to enable me to undertake the case, and
I have requested him to communicate with Mr. J. B. Lee,
my legal secretary, for information as to the mode of pro.
seeding. Supposing the rector to be willing to refer the
whole case to me, and to undertake to be bound by my de-
cision' you will see that some time must necessarily elapse
(from the variety of matter which it includes) before I can
pronounce judgment.—l have the honour to be, sir, your
obedt. humble servant, " A. C. LONDON.
" W. L. Howell, Esq., Vestry Clerk."
The Vestry Clerk announced that the Church
Affairs 'Committee had assembled that morning on
receipt of his Lordship's letter, and had recom-
mended the following form of letter to the Bishop,
in reply to his communication now submitted to
the vestry :

" St. Georges's-in-the-East, London, 1859.
"My Lord,--I am 'directed by the vestry of this parish
to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's letter of the
24th inst., and to express their surprise at its contents, as
they considered the preliminaries in regard to the submis-
sion to have been fully settled, and that the matter only
remained for your Lordship's consideration and decision.
" In reference to the mention your Lordship makes of
having received some communication from the rector, the
vestry think it right to acquaint your Lordship that in a
letter written to the Rev. Bryan King, which accompanied
a copy of the statement of grievances forwarded by the vestry
to your Lordship, the rector was respectfully asked to fur-
nish the vestry with a copy of any communication he might
I have made, or intended making to your Lordship on the
subject, but to which letter, or request, no answer has been
given, nor any copy furnished, so that the vestry, up to the
present moment, are entirely in the dark as to the nature
or contents of any such communication.
" With regard to the form of the preliminary agreement
of submission, the vestry do not think it necessary that the
same formal or legal accuracy need or should be observed,
as if it were a secular matter of business, and they, there,
fore, consider it unnecessary to require the rector to enter
into any instrument of a more binding character than
what he has entered into by his letter to myself as the
vestry clerk, of the 17th inst., which in few but explicit
words conveys a plain and unqualified acceptance of
your Lordship's offer of mediation, which offer was equally
plain and specific—namely, that your Lordship would accept
the office of arbitrator or mediator, if both parties would
join (as your Lordship recommended them to do) in sub-
mitting the whole case to your Lordship's episcopal arbitra-
tion ; both parties binding themselves to act as your Lord -
ship directed. On the part of the vestry a resolution was
passed (of which your Lordship has a copy), agreeing to
submit the case wholly and unreservedly to your lordship's
decision, and engaging to abide by that decision, a copy or
which resolution was, on Friday, the 16th inst., forwarded
to the rector, with a letter from myself, requesting the favour
of his reply to the resolution previous to the following
Thursday, and to which on the following day a letter in
answer was received from the rector in these words :

" 'ln reference to the communication I received from
you last evening, I beg to inform you that I have accepted
the Bishop's offer of mediator.'
" And upon the faith of which letter the vestry proceeded
to lay before your lordship the statement of grievances on
behalf of the parishioners.

"The vestry have no right to suppose that the rector,
after having written such a letter, will refuse to abide by
your lordship's decision, or to act in conformity with it; at
all events, the vestry are willing to trust to his doing so
without requiring him to enter into any other agreement of
submission, for, however binding it might be made, if he
did not think proper to perform it, the vestry are sure that
the parishioners would never think of going to law to com-
pel him, •
"Having thus, as far as lies in their power, removed all
impediments that seemed to stand in the way, the vestry
hope and trust (from the intense interest and excitemell,!
that prevail throughout the parish) that the matter v. 71"
now be proceeded with at your lordship's convenience.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
" W. L. HOWELL, Vestry Clerk.
"To the Lord Bishop of London."
Mr. SMITH said the letter which had been pro
posed by the Church Affairs Committee completely
expressed, he thought, the views of the vestry, ally;
he moved that it be adopted, and that the vestry
clerk should be directed to forward it to the Bishop
of London. He did not know whether the rector
misgivings after having consented to allow
Bishop to mediate, but whether he had or not
the
ed any
he thought it was the duty of the vestry to proceed
and if Mr. King insisted in not obeying the Bishop'directions, the public would take it up, and perhap
would settle it .better than any one else. (Hear.)
Mr. HERBERT, in seconding the motion, referr( d
to tho proceedings at the Thames Police Court, re-
ported elsewhere. One of the witnesses was a