New-York daily tribune., 1858-07-10

1t is now some eight or nine weeks since large
naval force made its appearance in the Gulf OF Pe-
chee-lee, for the purpose Of sustaining the new
attempt to force the Chimes to treat and We may,
therefore, expect shortly to receive from this quar-
ter news Of interest and Importance. 1t appears
that all the dipomatists and all the fleets on the
coast have participated in this movement. Lord
Egin led the way, having sailed from Shanghae on
the 10th of April in the steamer Furious attended
by the Pique calling frigate the steamer Nimrod,
the screw steam dispatch boat Cormorant, and the
gunboat Slaney. Count Putiatin, the Russian En-
bu.ador sailed about the same time in the frg.te
American. The Baron Gros the French Minister,
had strong squadron with him-the Nemesis, the
Audacieuse, the Durance, beside two steam gun
boats. Mr.. Reed too our Minister had, it seems,
followed in the wake of the others, the Minnesota,
whose rudder had been damaged, having succeeded
in repairing hersef The Mississippi had been
sent on before, and the little steamer Antelope,
which Mr.. Reed had chartered to bring him to
Shapghae, .ailed also on this new service on the
18th of April. Sir Michael Seymour, the English
Admiral, was at the last accounts expected at
ShaDghse, where the Coromandel and the Sam
son were waiting to take him to join the English
feet, and many other English and French ships
were on their way north.
The authorities are not agreed as to the exact
depth of water on the bar Of the Pekin River.
Capt. Elliott, in the Madagascar in 1o4O, found
twelve feet at spring tide. Ifthere is as much now,
the smaller vessels of the squadron can get across
and take the boats of the larger vessels in tow.
Tien.tsin, which for any expedition proceeding up
the river would be the first point of serious At
tack is distant from the coast in straight line only
about 80 miles. The windines of the river would
increase the diitance to 90 miles. From Tien-tsln
to Tupe chang, a city higher up the river and only
,e miles from Pekin, the distance is 80 miles. The
great plain Of Pekin is not Like the deltas Of
the Canton River and the Yang tse KaDg, inter-
sected by q network OF rocks and canals. From
Tung chang to Pelin there is broad paved road.
The inability of the Chinese to defend themselves,
and the ease with which Canton was entered after
all the boast Of its strength, have inspired the Eu
ropean commanders on the Chinese coast with
great spirit of audacity, and it is BY
no means impossible that the experiment
tried at Canton on Yek may be attempted at Pekin
upon the imperial court lIseI. NheIner sne
Gordan knot is to be cut in this way, or whether
the negotiatons is to be proracted for another year.
we shall probably learn BY the next mail. If any.
thing by way Of force was to be attempted it would
be necessary to act at once, the exceeding heat
of the Summer in that neighborhood would hardly
admit of active operations. The London Times
even goes 80 far as to insist that Pekin might easily
be taken or at least a lodgmsnt effected upon its
walls, by FIVE hundred British sailors, without wait
ing the arrival of the French, of whose superior
strength in those seas il seems to feel some Jealousy.
Lord Elgin, however, will hardly attempt anything
of that sort. Indeed, obstructions in the river, of
which at least the Chinese would be capable might
oppose obstacles to the ascent even to Tien-tsin
of the strongest force which the combined fleets
could detail for that service.