New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-08-17

FROM the latest intelligence Cup to May 22} from
Chinat We extract the following
AZ Az s9e pc expiration Of the period (ApF 30) granted
y I W. glli.ess authorities to appoint Commissioner
itE ~ s ~ eae ambassadors and such officer
W. lsh powers having presented himself further
extension OF time was accorded Tar tbs Viearovy
" esheIee, taen appeared but Id tie 3pinion 6f
ss AlioissaaoTs, ne was not daily accredited ana
Lhey accordingly requested him To- rafar n pai-i ~
fa!ler powers, which he declined II df T5istI .t
lasted I'll about the 20tn ult when tbe Arabsses,o
hnding tHat there was no inclination tf tTsaf iti
mated tnat taey should take other raaasurss ~ {s,
compliance with their demands ThisSsas ss5I -
to on the part Of the Yceroy that Fbe fSrsie
ers had been long enough ii the river ard II fbs NJ
not move away they Woald be fired On. Thus there
was no alternative but TO commence hostilitiea Tbs
Admirals we're then called upon to reduce the sarfg
In dispatch from Admiral Sir Michael Seymour
to his Ezcellency Sir John Bowstring, he informs
him that the gunb0as Of the force attacked tie forts
and captured them with small Ioss. The position
! was strong one, the various forts mounting Ig8
/ guns, and being backed by the presence Of a large
body OF troops We learn the number Of casualties
among the force amounted to about sS killed and
wounded the greater number, however among the
French. arising from explosions. The forces were to
advance up the river to Tien.tain on NAV o. to en-
able the Ambassadors TO eudeaVoF to re0pe uer0tia-
+ tions nearer the capital.
The success that attended the attack on the forts
and the determination evinced to proceed toward the
capital may be the means Of changing the obstinate
attitude OF the Court OF Pekn but should the con
trary prove the case, the existing difficulties NAV
/ thus not be settled for an indefinite period.
Itts doubtful il any material advance can be made
/ with the small force at present available iii the
North more particularly when the obstacles to the
navigation Of the river have to be considered and the
approach Of the unhealthy season, July and August.
| The Russian and American Ministers were received
courteOusy by the Chinese authorities. They con-
tn1e neutFas and accompany the allied forces in
their progress Later their intervention may be Of
service but their adyices hitherto to the Chinese
have been Of no avail.
| letter from the President Of the United States
was received by Tan, the High Commissioner, with
due ceremony; and he promised that it should be
forwarded to Pekin, and answer returned to it.
There appears to be question as to the power 81
Commissioner Tan to treat. The Russian and Amert
can Ministers were apparently satisfied this point
but the British and French Ministers declined enter
ing negotiations until credentials either side
had been exchanged. This, the Commissioner said
was contrary to custom and when the powers pre-
| sented by Keying on a former occasion were shown
him he stated them TO be forgery.
The following incidents are related as occurring at
the capture Of Peiho forts by the combined French
and English forces
Among the killed are four lieuteuants. One, the
first of the Fusee, cut in two by shot another
had his cap knocked off by shot, on which he ex-
claimed 3" am lucky to-day" but Immediately fell
down dead, without the mark Of any wound on his
I person.
The Chinese stuck to their guns manfully, and
there were the usual acts of zelfsacree. One blue
button mandarin found by the French in the fort
which they had captured dead, beside gun, having
cut his throat and in the assault the highest fort
of 81 guns, mandarin jumped ont and charged the
| party single handed The officers did all they could
to prevent him being killed. but one Of the men on
the tianks, at some distance shot him through the
neck and killed him. to the regret Of those near who
admired his brave action. About 98 guns were cap.
| tured IS Of which were brass or composition metal
Some were eight inch guns, but We believe they had
of the usual appliances of sights. The loss of
the Chinese is supposed to have been very heavy
the firing was very accurate the shells bursting with
great precision in the embrasures. The Chinese fred
grape and even attempted shells, but as their fuse
was only piece of common slow match the shell
generally burst close to the gun.