The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-02
LATE NEWS FROM CHINA.
TERMINATION or TIE WAR
Or .he journal q commerce.
u. s. SrsAN- -FRIGArE PowHArAN,
Mouth of the Pei-Ho, June %, Is


United States, England France, and Russia had assem-
bled In sort of Congress To decide upon the fate Of the
Chinese empire It is gratifying though not unexpected
for everything indicated both the weakness and the tmid
y of Chinese government which, however 1t may have
sneered at the s.ouer barbarians western devils
when they were distant trembled and covered with
truy-ptabe abjectness when il above seventy men
ofwar sailing the Chinese seas, armed with more
than thousand guns all lowering upon Chinese towns
and cities like pentup thunder storm long brewing In
the heavens They carried about 10 900 men, prepared
for any deadly fracas by land or by and though
large vessels cannot ascend to Nankn or Pekin yet
the steam gun boats were adapted to the river nav
CATION and could almost throw their shells and shot
into the Emperor's own palaces. The imperial com.
missioner, therefore, the exponent OF the Imperial
mind and WILL when he saw with his own eyes the
outer barbarans in strong force within forty miles
only Of the capital of the Flowey Kingdom, with fleet
covering all the Chinese waters and knew that orders
had given for the immediate despatch OF 900 adj
ditiona troops from Hong Kong who then on
their way understood full well there triiiing on
the part of the allies would they tolerate any on the
part of the Chinese From Tein- lsin to Pekin there is
good hard road though understood from gentleman
who has seen it within few weeks the water in the inn
peal canal is only four feet deep, and the canal therefore
could afford aid in the transportation OF troops and
military munitions in few days, the Emperor knew
the British and French cannon would be heard thunder
ing away at the gates of Pekn unless good sop should
be thrown into the teeth of those who sent them For
If Brother Jonathan loves " the almighty dollar when
he has earned it, John Bull snaches on the right and the
left and far away from the civilized and the savage
from the weak and the strong, and from the niggers
whatever he preends well from the yelows and the
whites The Emperor, therefore, but too happy to
get rid of these vultues cost whatever concessions
money and humations it might.
The Russian treaty signed the 18th inst, the
American the l9th and the French and English either
day before yesterday the 2lst this morning the 23d
as We are very directly informed steamer leaves here
in few days for Shanghai which it Is supposed takes all
the treaties the respective governments with which
they are made Diplomacy, from what can learn, is
and yet lets everything out. In way or another
everything ansprcs bcforepehap 1t has been put upon
paper and while the wise diplomats are but too happy
and seapplauding, thinking that they have locked u
up in their bosoms and set their seal upon the door
which opens their oubs. Is there anything honest,
moral and truly Christian in diplomacy generally con-
Quoted Is it not system OF fraud trckery and dis
honorable and often phuman management, enforced by
threats of violence and chuckng successful vlany
There doubtless exceptional cases but how few and
far between The sword and the have done their
work when the diplomats gather around the yet pant
ing and bleeding corpse and gravely debate how they
shall divide it, rejoice in the fact that minister has
concluded treaty without shedding one drop of human
blood wettng cheek with tear thus giving 70
the American among the Chinese an attraction and
prestige which many years will not be able to do away
understand that all the conditions proposed by the
French and English have been conceded, excepting the
reimbursement for the expenses of the war and the lib
erty to navigate the great river Kang its whole
! navigable distance. Payment, however, will be made
for the losses sustained by the English residents In Can
ton the river Yang Kiang will be open to Nankn
which in fact the advantages of the navigation
of the whole river; eight ports will be opened to
commerce. and minister may have free access to Pekn
whenever it is necessary 1t is also said that the navi
CATION of Yang Kiang is conceded to Americans In
the treaty Mr.. Reed has negotiated But this is mat
ter of doubt before the conclusion of the treaty 1T
stated that the Chinese Commissioner was ready to
grant all the privileges of the most favored nations
| The Russians have for long time been allowed to
| have church in Pekin and bishop and his clergy
who have rendered important service to the Chinese in
correcting their calendar and imparng general astro
nomical information. The bishop recently came down
the river with the Russian minister, and being open
hearted man. quite communicative upon the state OF
things in Pekin He stated that the Emperor in the
greatest CONSERVATION and terror and was even an object
Of pity in his misery and detection For while the French
and English were close the gates of the Imperial City,
with force which he knew he could not resist the
rebels spreading their conqness in all directions
and getting accessions to their forces 1t needed all
his resources epel them, without attending to the
calls of the barbarans and, unless he repel them,
fears that they will occupy the very position of the
allies, and send him the compliments. In this di-
lema placed between two such fires what could he do
but what he has DONE If he would proong his reign
preserve his throne to his children He is he sick old
man, whose consumptive and asthmetc state has wa
kened such lively sympathy in the Emperor Nicholas and
it is remarkable coincidence that he has fallen into the
hands of the same doctors Their skill is undoubtcd
but it is said they still hold to the exploded practice Of
acu pu,e sending the needle to the vitas when moth
ing was needed but purge.
Mr. Reed our minister, is expected to down day
after tomorrow and take possession of the Minnesota
once his home and the other ministers will
soon follow. These will cease to be whitcned with
the sail of begerent ships and the clumsy old junks
resume not their acmty for they never had any, but
their dismal movements these waters. With the
opening of the eight ports and the Yang tse kang,
doubtless foreign will receive vast and sud
den expansion and and stripes minge in large
proportion with the flags of other nations
We expect to leave in few days for Nagasak Japan,
and it is said Mr. Reed may accompany us in the Mnne-
sota after which he will return to the United States.
Our commodore will afterwards it is supposed, visit all
the ports opened to commerce, which shall care
fully describe to you successively call at them
This the rainy here and it comes in torrents
The temperature is exceedingly variable, the mercury
degrees Generally however it is cool and comfortable
There has been an outbreak at Canton the part OF
the Chinese in which English lives were lost, but
all is quiet again
4 u s. STEAM FRrGATE PowHArAN
i Mouth of the Pei-Ho, july g. 1858.
! This is grand gala-day for Americans anchored in
these waters and the great wall and the grand
canal and great capital Of China As the 4th OF july
came on Sunday it agreed TO postpone 1t till Monday
when all the forty war-ships of all descriptions and all
nations were decked out in their best - and the flags
and signals Haunted in the fine breeze every mast
exhibited the podryof oors Then came the national sa
lutes booming and booming these quiet waters but
without any adjacent hills and valleys to repeat the sound
4 Our minister, Hon. Mr.. Reed, having accomplished
honorably and successfully his mission came down from
Tent saturday evening, and honorcd our Commo-
dore and his officers with call at II o'clock, when he
- L. q ue.at lI.