The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-15 00:00:00

of those who, in this country, sent out that portion of their
forces employed in China, nor on the part of those in the
Government of India, whocontributed theirpropo on very

materially towards the success of the cperat ns of the

army and navy. The operations of the force were con-
ducted with the utmost possible skill, gallantr and intre-
pidity. I may say there was not a mistake made in the
whole course of those operations. (Elear, ho I ) There was
no deficiency in any of the arrangements, either of provid-
ing the force with all those things which were necessary in
transporting it from place to placn, or in those naval and
military operations which it was called upon to perform.
(Hear, hear.) There was also, lam glad to say, the most
perfect harmony between the British and French forces.

(Hear, hear.) The difficulties were great, and they were
overcome with rapidity. The period, too, during which
they were accomplished was comparatively short, and what
they undertook they accomplished without a single check.
(Hear, hear.) It is well known that the war in China arose
in the refusal on the part of the Chinese Government to
ratify the treaty of Tien-tsin, which had been concluded be •
tween. the Earl of Elgin and that Government in the former
year. It became necessary to obtain the ratification of that
treaty, and the French and English Governments both
concurred in that necessity, and each sent their respective
forces to enforce the treaty. But both Govemmentsresorted
in the first place to persuasion through their representatives
before they had recourse to extreme measures. They pro-
posed to the Chinese Government to reconsider its decision,
and to fulfil the obligations they had contracted ; and it was
not until it was evident that every effort of negotiation had
failed, and until it was evident that nothing but force would
obtain the ratification of the engagements of the treaty that
force was resorted to. It was at the beginning of May that
the force assembled at Hong Kong, and in the beginning of
June they lett that port for their destination, which they
reached at the end of June. It was not, however, until the
26th of July that everything was ready. I believe that the
French suffered by shipwreck and tempest some loss of their
supplies, and it was necessary to wait until those losses were
made good. On the Ist of August the allied forces landed
at Peih-Tang, at the mouthof the river, an operation which
was performed with the greatest possible skill. The troops
had to wade through a great extent of mud, up to their knees,
before they could reach dry land ; and even when they got
there it was found that there was a position which might have
been fortified. There came on the next day very heavy rains,
which rendered it impossible for them to advance and
attack those forts. It was very important indeed that those
forts should be taken. On their march from Peih-Tang
they met with forts, which proved to be an entrenched
Chinese camp, and on the 14tH of August they attacked
and took the position, and captured 400 guns, overcoming
at the same time all difficulties. On the 21st of August
they performed the most brilliant operations in the capture
of Chinese forts, and it was but justice due to the Chinese
to say that they defended themselves with great bravery.
Their position was strong and furnished with a great num-
ber of guns and stockades and palisades, and it was not
taken without the loss of a great number of men to the
allies, and the loss also on the part of the Chinese was very
great. On the 20th of August the yet unsurrendered places
were attacked by storm, and the forts surrendered. On the
6th of September the allied forces reached Tien-tsin—the
place where the treaty had been concluded—and when they
arrived there there were many attempts made by the Chi-
nese to induce the allies to enter into negotiations; but it
was seen that their object was not to ratify the treaty, but
to gain time. On the 9th of September the representatives
of the allies advanced, and a place was marked out on which
the advanced portion of the allied forces was to encamp,
and arrangements were to be there made for concluding the
treaty ; but on Sept. 10, when our troops arrived there,
they found a vast force of Chinese established, and in far
greater numbers than the forces of the allies. At that time
Mr. Parkes and those associated with him went forward
for the purpose of demanding explanations on this change
of position. They were induced, evidently by treachery, to
confide in the Chinese, and were then made prisoners, and,
as is well known, those gentlemen were treated by the Chi-
nese—who should have afforded them protection, and in
whom they confided—it is well known they were treated
with the greatest injustice, and that the most barbarous
cruelties ever known were inflicted upen them by the Chi-
nese. Well, it was on that occasion that the allies advanced
and performed the most brilliant operations, taking the
Chinese position; and it would be recollected that there were
on that occasion 20,000 Chinese in arms, who were routed
by our forces, and from whom, with our allies,we then took 75
guns. On the 21st the Chinese again attacked the allied
armies and they were again defeated. The Tartar and
Chinese forces were superior in numbers, and they were
driven back with signal defeat, and lost on that occasion
43 guns. In the whole course of the operations the allied
troops took 500 or 600 pieces of cannon. (Hear, hear.) On
the 7th of October our allies advanced and occupied the
Emperor's Summer Palace, and on that occasion demands
were made to the Chinese authorities to deliver up imme-
diately the prisoners, and to surrender into the hands of
the allies one of the gates of Pekin. That demand was
enforced, and the result was that the Chinese agreed to
the treaty of Tien-Tsin, and those prisoners who were still
alive were given up to us. In the course of three days
those results were accomplished without any defeat, and
the result is that the treaty, with all its conditions and
promised advantages, is now likely to be carried out.
(Hear, hear.) But there was one event which occurred,
and which nothing but the barbarous cruelties and atro-
cities that had been committed by the Chinese on the
prisoners could justify—l mean the destruction of the
Emperor's palace. It is well known—and I am not new
going to put the house to the pain of the relation—that the
most enormous cruelties that were ever inflicted upon men
were inflicted, as I stated, by the Chinese upon the unfor-
tunate men whom they so treacherously made prisoners.
I will not dwell upon those inhuman cruelties—cruelties
the most barbarous that ever were perpetrated by man. I
will not dwell upon the treachery—treachery in which was
exhibited much skill—by which the Chinese hoped to take
a much larger portion of the allied army, and also our
ambassadors—treachery unsurpassed, because there were
negotiations going on at the time for the ambassadors to
go to negotiate in Pekin. When those negotiations were
going on they demanded a right of escort of 1,000 men as
a means of safety, and the Chinese seemed to comply, but
their proceedings were only part of a much larger plan
by which the Chinese Government might defeat the ob-
jects of the expedition. I will not dwell upon the state-
ment which the Chinese made when we asked them how
they had treated the prisoners, and what those of them who
survived stated when we asked them how they had been
treated by the Chinese. The first statement of the Chinese
was that they had been well treated. Nothing could be
snore untrue—nothing more treacherous and barbarous than
the conduct of the Chinese, and the atrocities committed by
them; but the conduct of the allied forces was such as
showed that such atrocities could not be committed on our
people with impunity. (Hear, hear.) It was necessary
that the Chinese should be made to suffer for such atrocities;
but at the same time, not in a similar spirit. Had Pekin
been stormed, every one might have reason to lament the
bloodshed that would ensue ; and it was therefore thought
by General Grant—and I think justly thought—that the
atrocities committed by the Chinese authorities were not
inflicted by the will and desire of the Chinese people. An
hon. friend asked me if the French General agreed to the
course which we proposed to pursue on that occasion.
Well, then, I may say that the French General did not
agree; but the French forces advanced, and the General's
troops, as I have stated, took possession of and occupied the
Emperor's palace. But Lord Elgin stated that notwith-
standing that, the French General did not decline to take
any part in the operations in conjunction with our forces.
(Hear, hear.) On the contrary, he said it was his duty, and
I am happy to say that the allied forces operated together
successfully. (Hear, hear.) In the first place, then, lam
happy to say that our joint operations were successful; and
in the next place, the lesson which we have taught the
Emperor of China and his people will not, I hope, be lost
upon them. In, a commercial point of view, nothing can be
of greater importance than oar success in opening up that
great•country not only in its ports, but in its rivers and inte-
rior, to the enterprise of the people of this country—(hear,
hear)—and in such a manner as will compensate for what
has occurred. Their great river, Yang-Tis-Kyang, is now
opened up to our shipping. (Hear, hear.) I have also
great satisfaction in finding that there were in the expedi-
tion officers of our army and navy who proved themselves,
by their great bravery and brilliant achievements worthy of
those who had gone before them, and who had left them
such glorious examples for imitation—(hear, hear, and
cheers)—and that they proved themselves in every way
worthy of the country that sent them out. (Cheers and
hear, hear.) Many gallant menhav
have
been
nlnestt in h
ex-
pedition. We find among t
officerse
the the many g
name of Hope, who had already distinguished himself in
the Peninsular war. (Hear, hear.) We find also a name
which is so associated with those officers who bore the name
of Napier—(hear, hear)—a name which is distinguished in
our military and naval annals. I know not whether the
gallant officer to whom I allude is allied to those great men
whose names are distinguished in the history of our coun-
try, but I trust that the mention of his name, associated
with his valour, will be sufficient to entitlehhu to the thanks
of this house. (Hear, hear.) It would be trespassing too
long on the house were I to recount all the names of the
cs on that ocea-
sgiaolnl a;ntthoefirl Cseerrsvwi c he
so
aredistinguished
nththeemasnelnvals of their coun-
try's greatness. (Hear, hear.) We have also the satisfac-
tion of knowing that in an expedition in a remote part of
the globe, accompanied by great difficulties, we have had
two great nations working side by side, fighting together
in one common cause, and carrying out those operations in
the most perfect harmony and accord, and without any of
those dissensions too frequently found prevailing in the
operations of forces, whether naval or military, belonging to
different nations. (Hear, hear.) I trust it may be long
before the forces of England and Franco will go info action
in any other way than side by side, for the common interest
and for the common glory of the two countries, and for ob-
jects honourable alike to the one and the other. (Hear, hear.)
I will not trespass longer on the attention of the house, but
move the resolutions which I have to propose, viz. :
" That the thanks of this house be given to Lieutenant-
General Sir Hope Grant, K.C.8., Vice-Admiral Sir James
K.C.8., Major-General Sir John Michell, K.C.8.,
Major-General Sir Robert Napier, K.C.8., Rear-Admiral
Lewilaobiae Jones, C. 8., for the distinguished skill, zeal,
and intrepidity with which they conducted the combined
J •