The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-16
FOR EIGN
THE MAILS OF THE WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the London Tines
PROSPECTS FOR THE FOITR POWERS
CHINA.

CHINA.
Correspondence Of the London Timesl
PROSPECTS FOR THE FOUR POWERS.
| CANTON, Feb. l5.-In a former letter suggeste,
the possibility that the early spring might see al
! the great civilized Powers in co-onerafion Thi
has happened. England, France, America and Rus
| sla are now in cordial accord
Zen days ago the American and Russian embassies
| were settled at Macao doing nothing. Soon after
the intention of raising the blockade was announced
1T became known that Mr.. Reed had made prepara
tlons for departure northwards and it was suggest
ed that his object to be out of the way while
points OF difficulty arose, and to allow them to fruc
tity during his absence. Again little while anC
they who were curious in watching SYMPTOMS
noted that the Honorable F. Bruce, Secretary
to the embassy, absent. 1t was not diff
hcut to learn that he and the French secretary tc
the embassy proceeded in gunboat to Macao had
an interview with Count Putiatin, then, finding
that Mr. Reed had left and already far on his
way as Hong Kong, started for Hong Kong, and af-
ter seeing the American Minister returned to Lord Ell
gin at Canton. Following up the chain of public
incldents-which were known, might have been
known, to every man in the feet-we saw that after
this interview Mr.. Reed Immediately returned to
Macao and set his house in order gave up all
thoughts of his immediate journey northward sent
the Minnesota up the river far as she could safely
go, and went on to Canton in the steamer Antelope
"a steamer OF light draught which he has hired }
and visited Lord Elgin on board the Furious.
About the same time special courier arrived
from Count Putiatin, and great activity was OBJ
servable in the Russian Embassy
All these little facts, patent to the eyes of all the
world except to the lazy quid nuncs of Hong Kong
who find it easier to invent some ridiculous sshaye
than to observe what is passing under their noses
showed that some unity of action had been agreed
upon, and set some of us inquiring.
have great reason to believe that the overtures
made by Lord Egn and Baron Gros were at once
frankly and cordially accepted by the representa-
tlves both of America and Russia, and that every
act yet done by the beligerent allies is now adopted
and approved by the two hitherto neutral Powers
belleve 1t has been agreed between the four Pow
ers that they shall proceed in the first instance to
Shaghai, and there, if possible, make one general
treaty. If the Court of Pekin should remain un-
impressed by the union of the four frs-class Pow
ers OF the world, reintorcements coming out
Russia will not long be represented by single ship
America is sending France has vessels on their
way; and England, if she is to keep the lead which
she has so worthily assumed, and hitherto wise
iy maintained, will also strengthen her force. 1t
Is however, to be hoped that further act of con-
quest will be required.
Each of the four Powers has, as I understand
sent to Pekin general statement of grievances and
demands Mr.. Oiphant, Lord Elgin's private sec
retary, and lie Viscomte de Contades, Baron Gros'
private secretary left Hong Kong yesterday in the
tormosa for Shanghai whether the Russian and
American dispatches went by the same steamer |
have not heard; but that they gone, or are i'm
mediatey about to go, is undoubted. think it will
be found that the four Powers, in these communca-
tions, invite the Emperor to send to Shanghai a
Minister of high rank, properly accredited to treat
Tor new treaty upon the basis of free transit
throughout China under proper protection from
Chinese authority, permanent diplomatic relations
at Pekln, unrestricted commerce, and indemnity for
losses and expenses incurred.
The result of these communications it would be
very rash to attempt to predict but it is comtorta-
pie TO Know that we are now acting, not single
State, but in concurrence with all the civilization
of the world. 1t is the end only which can crown
the work, and offer no unreserved congratulations
until see the treaty; but hitherto Lord Elgn and
Baron Gros, have certainly done velour diplo-
matists have been fully up to their work as
our sailors and soldiers.
Lord Elgin and Baron Gros will 90 north in about
three weeks. The Count Putiatin goes almost i'm
mediately-for his little steamer will have a long
struggle against the monsoon. Mr.. Reed goes to
Manila, to pass the interval between the present
date and the time when he must proceed to the
rendezvous at Shanghai.
EXECUTION GROUND AT CANTON.
Threading our way, under the guidance of some
experienced friend, we come to a carpenters shop,
fronting the entrance to small potter's field. 1t is
not rood in area, of an irregular shape, resemb-
ling most an obong. A row of cottages open into it
on side; there is wall on the other The ground
Is covered with halfbaked pottery; there are two
wooden crosses formed of Embarked wood, standing
IN an angle, with shred of rotting rope hanging
from one of them. There is nothing to fix the at.
tentiOn in this small enclosure, except that YOU
stumble against human skull now and then as you
walk along it. This is the Aceldama the field of
blood, the execution ground of Canton. The upper
part of that carpenters shop is the place where
nearly all the European residents have at the price
OF dollar each, witnessed the wholesale massacres
OF which Europe has heard with hesitating scepti-
cism.
1t was within this yard that that monster Yeh has
within two years destroyed the lives of seventy
thousand fellow beings. These crosses are the in
struments to which those victims were tied who
were condemned to the special torture of being
sliced to DEATH Upon one of these the wife of a
w CTR had md l,N Nal's Orlo
flesh was cut from her body. After the battle at
WhampOa the rebel leader escaped but his wife fell
into the hands of Ieh-that was how he treated
his prisoner. Her breasts were first cut off then
her forehead sahed and the skin torn down over the
face then the tieshy parts of the body sliced
away. There are Englishmen yet alive who saw
this done but at what period of the butchery SEN
sation ceased and death came to this poor woman
none can tell. The fragment of rope which now
hangs to of the crosses was used to bind a wo-
man who cut up for numbering her husband
The sickening details of the massacres perpetrated
on this spot have been related to me by those who
have seen them, and VINO take shame to themselves
while they confess that after witnessing one execu-
tion by cutting the cross, the rapdity and dex-
terity with which the mere beheading was DONE de-
prived the execution of one hundred of half its
horror. The criminals were brought down in gangs,
if they could walk, or brought down in chairs and
shot out into the yard.
The executioners then arranged them in rows,
giving them blow behind which forced out the
Iedu anu hech anu lald tnen convenient Tor the
blow. Then came the warrant of death. 1t is a
banner As soon as it waved in sight, without YER
bal order given, the work began. There was a ra-
pid succession of dull crunching sounds-chop,
chop, chop, chop. No second blow was ever dealt
for the dexterous man-slayers educated to their
work. Until they with their heavy swords slice
greet bulbous vegetable thin as we slice cucum-
Der they not eligible for their office. Three Sc
conds head suffice. In one minute five execution
ers clear off 100 lives 1t takes rather longer for
the assistants to the bodies into rough cofins
especially as you might see them cramming two in,
to one shell, that they might embezzle the spare
wooden box. The heads were carried off in boxes
the saturated earth was of value as manure.