The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-11 00:00:00

.THE RUSSIAN TREATY TVI2II Cli/

The following curious letter from Kiachta
appears in the Abeille du Nord of St. Peterburg :
" You cannot form an idea of the enthusiasm
with which our merchants have received the news
of the conclusion of the treaty of commerce with
China. It opens a new and brilliant perspective for
Russian trade, and it realizes our most sanguine
expectations. Our merchants are about to travel
into Mongolia, and to establish a factory in the
capital of that province. Thence they will pene-
trate into Kalagan, the principal centre when tea
is sent to Kiachta. A great number ,of our mer-
chants have already given orders to,purchase houses
and stores to deposit their merchan.dise. General
Tgnatieff, who concluded this advantaigeous treaty,
is on his return to St. Petersburg. He was received
here with withusiasm. He was only 15 days in
travelling from Pekin to Kiachta. This was the
quickest journey ever accomplished, but it must not
be forgotten that the Chinese Government, saved.
in a great measure by the Russian Envoy, did all
in their power to gratify his slightest wishes.
General Ignatieff arrived at Kiachta on the 7th
of December. Immediately after the evacuation
of Pekin by the allies, General Seu.Wan, who
was encamped at 30 wersts to the south of the
city, made his appearance and commanded numer-
ous discharges of musketry. This was explained to
the Europeans as the usual manceuvre practised
every autumn, but I have no doubt that it was done
to induce the Chinese to believe that it was the
firing which forced the enemy to withdraw. The
Emperor of China is still at Ge-he, whither he fled
after the battle lost under the walls of Pekin. It
is said that on his journey he was glad to be able to
procure some ground rice to eat—his arrival not
being expected. His wife refused to quit the capital.
Besid: s the Palace of Yuen-Ming Yuen other Im-
perial residences were pillaged by the allied armies.
Even private property was not spared. The Emperor
of China's brother apologised to the Russian commis-
sioners, saying that there was nothing left in his
palace which he could offer them as presents. It
is to be remarked that during the negotiations with
the English and French Ambassadors this Prince
did not inhabit his usual residence, but took up his
abode in a temple of idols (Koumirnia) at Pekin.
The reason was that, having been commanded by
the Emperor to open negotiations with the allies, he
was not permitted to visit his palace until the treaty
was concluded, and the Emperor informed of it.
It is difficult to imagine anything like the cowardice
of the Chinese. A Russian observed on the field of
battle objects like a number of crows On approach-
ing them he found to his amazement, that they
were thousands of soldiers' helmets thrown away.
Every time the braves thought it more prudent to
fly than to fight they divested themselves of every
mark of their rank, and disguised themselves as
soon as possible as peasants. Their constant de-
feat is explained by the fact that as soon as they
perceive the enemy they begin to fire, without
waiting to ascertain whether their fire produces
any effect. After 20 shots the guns become too hot
for service just at the moment that the enemy ap-
proaches and opens fire on his side. They then run
as fast as their legs can carry them. The Chinese
attribute their defeat to the fact that the English
and French soldiers are preceded by witches who
are invulnerable themselves, and who fire the guns
for the men. Notwithstanding the horrible bar-
barity which the Chinese generals practised towards
the English and French prisoners, the European
Governments should unanimously support the Em-
peror of China id his struggle with the insurgents,
because it is only after the reestablishment of
peace in tire country that they will be able to de-
rive all the advantages promised by the treaty of
peace."