The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-09
INTERESTING FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
nc Gossip Of London, Paris, and Hong Kong,
oUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
&C., &c, &c.
our Chinese Correspondence.

ure of tie american Mission.
As the NEW YORK HERALD enjoys world wide
reputation, it may not be undressing to you to
occasionally.hear few words 6om this quarter Of
the earth-the more SO rs the giant strides of CON-
merce are opening passage to the hitherto closed
Celestial Empire, and daily making the Middle King
dom of more importance to the civilized world
All eyes will shortly be turned upon Japan and
China, and various speculatons are already rife as
to the results of the new American policy in the East
Asregards China, the first steps have already been
taken. The topic of the last week has been the
mission of the Hon. H. Marshall, and various affairs
growing out of it, the naval squadron by the mis-
management OF its commander being mixed up with
them, court martals, arguments, &C., being the or
der of the day. The case stands thus-Mr Marshall
In the latter part of January proceeded to Whampoa
in the Saratoga, and thence to Canton, where he
opened correspondence with the Celestial Commits
sioner Sue, preparatory to his delivering the auto
graph letter from the President of the United States
to the Emperor of China of which he ia the bearer
Some days after, ard before an answer had been re
ceived from Sue, Commodore Aulick returned from
Manila, and upon finding the Saratoga absent from
this anchorage Immediately ordered her to join him.
and at the same time severely took her commander
to task for having unauthorized carried the minister
TO Canton. The Saratoga at once returned to Hong
Kong, where court martial was held upon th
captain for disobedience Of orders &c., the principal
question mooted was, "Did Captain Walker perform
an important public duty in escorting the United
States Commissioner to the exercise Of his iastruc
hOnsi" In the meanwhile, the authorities at Cam
ton as soon as they had heard Of the withdrawal Of
~, i
be received at Cantonthat Sue was absent in the in
terror and that no officer Of the Kuang Tuang pro
yinces was Of grade high enough t. receive him, &c
and other excuses OF that nature evidently intending
to those who understand the tricks and diplomacy of
the Chinese to shuttle the matter and evade direct
answer MI. Marshall was thus reduced to the neces
sity OF leaving Canton this he was obliged to do
under less imposing circumstances than those with
which he had entered. Mr.. Marshall made his reuui
sition upon the Saratoga to convey him to the near
est port where Celestial Commissioner was to be
FOUND for the purpose Of carrying out his instruc
TONS and to add importance to his embassy, and to
assist him in retiring with dignity if unsuccessful
This very contingency occurred; the sudden removal
of the Saratoga left Mr.. Marshall at Canton alone
and unprotected-he was obliged to depend upon
private assistance to enable him to leave at ALL He
is now at Macoa, lying on his oars but intends,
understand, to go to the North when he can get q
conveyance. Captain Walker, Of the Saratoga in
the meantime las been tried and honorably acquitted
by courtmartial, which has recorded solemn re-
bake to Com. Auck; indeed this officer seems to DO
peculiarly unfit to be entrusted with important inte
rests, as from the very first he has been in difficulty
He was most unfortunate in his intercourse with
AHo ifa1 <ofa ;uie
new Commissioner to China" upon his worry irss
effort to open negotiations with the Chinese, nnds
himself frustrated by the very officer who, from
his high position, and the powers entrusted to him.
should have had the common sense to know what
action on his part the interest Of his country requred
but such conduct only supports the assertion made
elsewhere that the rapid progress u our country in
every art and knowledge has left the " old school
men" too far behind to warran their employment in
the execution Of important national trusts, and il
will always be the result where men imbued entirely
with sense Of their own importance, and governed
by pque and temper, and not by the dictates of
sound Judgment and correct knowledge, are placed
in positions where the exercise Of such feelings may
at any time, in remote station, bring them into col
ksion with the best interests Of their country.
As this matter has become the subject Of common
gossip ia the English colony of Hong Kong there is no
reason why the American people should not be put
In possession Of facts which interest them SO deeply
The weakness and imbecilty of the navy depart
ment as conducted by the late administration, is
glaringly evident in the way in which the affairs Of
the United States squadron in these seas have been
conducted. Fifteen months ago, upon representation
made to by the United States minister to
kho ~
ostensiby from his command, but in reality left in
quiet enjoyment of the honOrs and emouments Of his
high dignity. Last fall commander was sent out
"a the Susquehanna, and, to show the triling aud
plumbers Of the navy department OF that time, the
said commander was the bearer Of an order to the
commodore for him to give up his command and re-
turn to the United states but, by the same mail
another order came, dated few days later than
that borne by the commander aforesaid ordering the
commodore to remain where he was until he was re-
kcved by another order. The two orders reached
him within an hour Of each ether. In the mean
while, about the same date--during the fishery ex-
eitement-Mr. Marshall, the then appointed Com.
missioner to China, was directed by the President TO
communicate with Commodore Perry for iniorms-
zion and assistance in carrying out his mission He
did So and Mr.. Marshall arrived In China the bearer
Of letter from Commander Perry to captain in the
squadron, rs senior officer in command ordering him
70 assist Mr.. Marshall with ship ships in fulfill
ing the views Of the government but Mr.. Marshall
ends higher ofioeri actual command, or, in fact,
the anomaly Of two eommodsres and one captain in
command Of one squadron, and hence scene Of con
fusion, modification and difficulty occurred. when
all should have been harmouy-all owing to the
laundering and want Of energy on the part of the
navy department at Washington; and thus the China
mission, 80 important, and looked to with so much
interest, has received blow it will not easily re-
cover from.
] understand Mr.. Marshall attributes his fail.
c 30 far entirely to the diseourtesy with which he
has been treated by the commanderin-chief Of the
squadron, which was so reported to Washington.
The Japan expedition, IL no better organized and
carefully instructed, is likely to fall through, and
cause merrment and ridiculc. The above facts have