The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-26
AN ENGLISH ACCOUNT.
(From the Friend of China, April 22.)

SHANGuAE, April S, 1854
Mr.. EDTTOR-The fight to-day was sublime, when
tiosary Of China were at the same Instant cannon
eGing the imperial forces of China. Every gu
seemed to be sounding the knell Of the present dy.
nasty. And taking all the circumstances into con-
sidsIatiOn, suppose few that heard them except
Ing the inperialists themselves, regretted the anti
cipated overthrow. When the American guns
~ ened the fire, the revoudonists waved their flags
and began the shout of victory; and when the Bril-
mpleted the conquest, at that point they ,untel
The ramparts. and one OF their party in good En
ksh cried Hurrah for Tae ping Wang" which
doubtless will be responded to most heartily in the
sche-"H urrahl" throughout England and America
n veil as among the revolutionists Of China.
This Is just what should have been doae long ago,
andi would have saved Shanghai from much misery,
loes Of property and boodshed. The writer ven
tned to suggest in the local paper last October, in
reference to the evacuation and abandonment of the
place by the imperialists-"M Might it not without
much inpropriety, under existing circumstances,
be brought about by coercion2' While not one be-
Nevss they will ever succeed in doing any good for
King or country by fighting it is perfectly ridiculous
Tor these foreign powers to permit them u carry
the farce by fighting over their heads, as they were
htarally doing the other morning-dring at the
rebel battery from among the foreign men!of-war
and over one Of them.
This crisis has been brewing some time. Toe i'm
peralists in the river have not hestated, when it
suited their convenience to fire either the British
or the American flag, when carried by small boats.
AZ these boats were permitted to carry the flag by
the .foers OF government, they felt bound 70 pro-
tect the flag and those who carried It. And hence
they have lately called them account twice
sbeut firing on the flag. The other day the i'm
peialists vessel Compton, had to hoist the Ameri-
can flag and salute it or be sunk. And not long
since they fogged one Of the British subjects and
when the Vice Consul went to demonstrate with
The m the subject, they threatened to thrash him.
They sometime since came in among the foreign
ce@munity with an armed force and several Of
HhAAo Ra Gh Int AnnAnv ttn Il mat
patty OF them came on pilfering expedition, and
Wien the foreigners tried to drive them of they
presented their arms. Two of them were shot. In
the evening, gentleman and lady were taking
their evening exercise III the suburbs, and were At
tackled; the gentleman was severely wounded and
TIE ladys Dir hacked considerably, and she great
ky alarmed. This was reported, signal given, the
volunteers turned out, the marines landed; they
went out towards the encampment and were fred
on; but they returned 1t; more came to their
DOR, ano they overcame and sbelled the encamp-
ment. But night came on before they made dnish
Ills morning april ~ the imperial farce began
70 sssume the aspect Of tragedy, with other
Parties taking part in the action. rhe frst thing
that came under our observation British man
efwar taking under its special regard the imperial
war junks; tut, two or three attempting 70 run
away, they were fired on. They however made their
escape up the 500 chow creek. But am sorry to
say that one Of the balls from the man-ofwar, after
passing through two houses, accidentally struck
Chinese woman in her breast while eating her morn
ing rice, and killed her.
The British and American officers, civil and naval
neld council al war this morning, and determined
10 unite their forces and expel the mperiAists by
eselon, shonld they not Of their accord
beyond the foreign residences.
At two o'clock p. M the officers and men OF the
men-of war-British and American were m ,stere a
ON skore, and about three o'clock rendezvouscd ia
front Of the church. where the volunteers of the ciy
also mustered. The Americans took tw, brass
pieces, the British one, with which to shell the
camp. Soon the music struck mp and the march
commenced in high gleejust as in the perfb snce
Of farce; not one OF all the company (from 200 to
( 3Ce) dreaming, presume, that he was ~ BE- In
eternity before sunset! general interest was
unaffected by Chinese. ministers Of religion, aud
even ladies', to the performance of this grand
mar Guvie. Some mounted the church steeple
kfone On house tops, and others kept pace with the
troops, mounting the sngarloaf grave hllocks sat
ktercd about In the vicinity OF the battle near
2rfaetiesble to snproach without too much nnnecey
Iccks about two hundred yards from where the for
Esien guns commenced the fire, and like distance
<trom the Chimes encampment.
4 There were five encampments In the same vicinity
5veD ensl, std by canals and mud walls and DOUBT
WHITTIER they apprehended any serious danger near.
&9he Spectators preceded the troops and crowded
livery elevation When the imperialsts saw this
thcy hegan to and look about to what was
~ pay, but mode little move. The Briti.h took one
<p6sition ard the Americans another aud commenced
Ehellng the encampments at different points. This
kxas beautiful II reminded me- however, OF the fa-
PIE OF the roPe, who said t. the boys" that IL fnn
30 you. but death u u.s." Whether they cid much
xtc,ton cond not discover but thought MT.
Hsfer about dozen fra from each marty. the Eng.
h soldiers ooiamenced the fire With their musketry.