The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-25

INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE PROG REiSS OF
NEGOTIATE IONS BETWEEN THE AMERICANS AND
THE CHINESE.
The New York Times correspondent furnishes that
paper with full and detailed account OF the negotiations
between Mr. Reed, the American commissioner China,
and the Chinese commissioners appointed to meet him.
From this correspondence make the suboned extracts
The place of negotiation at the mouth of the Peho
river, distant ninety miles from Pekin the capital
MAY 8, ls5s.--This morning party of which was
one, sent ashore TO convey despatch for the high
commissioner and to arrange the prelimnarics for the
interview o. to ascertain whether the place of meet
ing would be decent and commodous, and the landing
safe and convenient. Nor this by any sl-
periuous precaon; for here 1t that our late
missioner, Dr. Parker then secretary OF legation,
plains of having to founder through appalling
pase of mi mud when sent ashore with dispatches by
Mr.. McIane in 1854.
BY dint of climbing and leaping succeeded, with
out fractures though not without bruises in making
way succession Of junks that lay on the strand
and, after sinking through stratum Of mud glad
to find ourselves on soundings. We were beset by n
swarm of redcappcd soldiers, who sought to stay
progress, but still advanced until surrounded
bya phalanx of blue aud whitc-buttoned mandarins
who insisted that should stand still until Chin laonza
should appear to receive despatch. We protested
loudly against the dcoutesy OF compelling the
gers of friendly nation to stand out of DOORS and in
the mud This hint supplied them with stratagem
Chairs and table placed on the soft mud tea
brought and invited TO seat ourselves until the
lieutenant-colonel should make his appearance. We
aware, however that to take seats there would be
to fix the meeting Of committee of arrangements in
that unseey spot and thus subject ourselves to the de-
rision of the sodiery. We accordingly took tea
sta,aiing, and then continued march. Tho man
darins, seeing not to be deferred from our
purpose, Withdrew their opposition the long lines of in
antry drawn up the margin Of the sss parted to give
us ingress, and ushered into spacious tent
hung with blue Soon the soldiers about the tent began
tp into and tha MT
between their files. He shook hands cordially,
caused tea and sweotmeas to be set before u assured
that nothing should be lacking for the proper reception
Of the distinguished visitor received the despatch for the
commissioner, and accompanied us to our boat.
1t was not long until maj sent off with verbal
message from the high commissioner, that at the hour
named in the despatch he would be in waiting
At o'clock, p m. minister, with his cortfge,
landed in front of the batteries and preceded by the
United States flag advanced to the centre fort As he
approached military band struck up oriental salute
He received by the high commissioner and his assist
ants at tho door of large tent erected for the OCCASION
The tent hung with crimson, and the ground car.
peted with the color, which is that used by the
Chinese all festive occasions The interior
pied by long table and two side tables all neatly fur
nshed with fruits and confectionery
Mr. Reed was placed in the seat Of honor the left
Of the high commissioner with Mr. Martin, who acted
interpreter between and little in the of the
high functionaries The two assistant commissioners,
DIR. Williams Secretary of Legation, Captain Dupont of
the United States steamer Minnesota treasurer of tho
Province the Manchu General in command of the gar
ris0n, and Tontai Circuit Judge completed the com
pany at the long table The other members Of the Lega
tlon and several officers OF the navy seated at the
side tables while numbers of blue and white butoned
mandains who would have been great men in stu
atons compelled to stand in the presence of their
superiors. may remark here that the rank of
DARN is Indicated by precious stone, of globular
shape, commonly called BUTTON attached to the top of
his cap. The highest the red and the blue and white
next in ORDER and each of these is subdvided into two
three classes All who sat at the long table with the
commissioner wore red buttons except circuit judge,
who though he blue one also decorated with
the plume of extraordinary merit.
The assistant commissioners, both Manchus, appear
to be men of a very ordinary stamp and of them
gives evidence of being under the influence of opium
The person of the high commissioner short and rather
corpulcnt is in all points uninterestng. With
tenance Opaque that scarcely ray Of intellect beams
through it, dull eye, and bullet head, he would be
ranked, according to his physiognomy, below the med
ocrity of mandarins, it not that his high position
gives evidence that he is of tried abilities He is
native of Shaon-hing, near Ningpo-a place which,
owing is believed, to the virtues of its wind and
water is celebrated for the legal acumcn of its inhab
tants In fact the most distinguished counsellos at
law throughout the empire are natives of Shaon-hing
Fanta-n's voice has disagreeable twang, but the
speaker of mandarin forgets this blcmsh In adm
ration OF his language which is fluent elegant, and
pure, without any trace Of provncalism.
The Shdoahing lawyer by singular coincidence, has
for his antagonist philadelphia lawyer and "when
UTccE meets ptceK tneu Cplncb INC Jug Oh Wa IN
the discussion, Mr. Reeds dioon concise and per-
spcuous, and well chosen for accurate translation into
foreign language Ho exhibited too, such skill in avail
ing himself of any incidental Developments parying the
thrusts of his adversary and guarding American inter
ests at every point to prove that whatever his past
experience may have bcen he Is unquestionaby master
of diplomatic fencing
For moment the representatives of the two sovereign
powers surveyed each other in dgnifed silence 1t
the first time the opposite shores the Pacific had shaken
hands for fourteen years. Nor the present mere
display of international comfy Great interests
suspended the pending negotiations and their good
III to be auurcd from tho tone of the open
ing interview The question Mt issue, to all in one
sentence was nothing less than to decide whether the
tide of western influence which aves the shores of
this empire shall be permitted to duse Its fcrtilizing
streams through the vast regions OF the interior or
whether mpsablc barrier shall be erected against it,
and the voice of both nations unite in saying us far
shalt thou come and no further 1t surprising
therefore, that the concourse Of distinguished auditors
listened with breathless expectation for the first words
that 10 sound the march of progress or to beat tho
retreat Of civilization
Mr. Reed opened the conference by assuring the mpc-
rial commissioners Of the friendly disposition of the Uni
ted States and tho dosre of government to perpctu
the relations of amity existing between two coun
tries In reply the high commissioner who also spoke
for his colleagues expressed in strong terms his recpro
cation OF the sentiment and begged to the United
States envoy of tho distinguished estimation in which
our country held by his imperial master particularly
on account Of the neutral policy maintained by gov
crnmcnt In regard to the at Canton This last was
n sore point, to which the high commissioner per
petuay recurring. He often launched into high flown
eulooy on the United States, and failed to intro
ucc as foil the pcrious and disordcry conduct Of the
British and French Indeed frequently did he aude
to this subject and with such acrimony that Mr. Reed
frorE