The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-05
THE AMERICAN SQUADRON IN c4LNA--LNT,ER-
ESTLIyG LETTER.

EgSIING LEIIEH.
letter from on board the t. s. steamship Mississippi
of Pei-Ho river China April 23 gives interesting
count Of the landing of party from that vessel to convey
letter to be sent the Emperor The party consisted
Of three midshipmen three engineers and some petty
onicers--all under command Of George b. Bacon, and
were embarked in small junk schooner called the Pei
Ho, to go up the Pei-Ho river The letter says
AS the Pei-o entered the river the Chinese some ten
thousand mem manned all their guns, numbering from
one hundred and fifty to two hundred, and OF calibre
ranging from six To fortytwo FOUNDERS, and crowded
their batlements with armed The muskets match
locks spears and swords bstled, glstened and flashed
all sides presenting formidable an array az China
man could we'll conceive of whilst the thousands Of flags
and streames Of all coos and descriptions the fancful
dresses Of the sodiery the long tails peacock feathers
gilt white and crystal balls the mandarins caps of
gauy red tops and the queer cut Of their garments OF
many shades and varieties gave fary-like and but
tcy variety the scene which it is next TO impossible
descrbe In defiance OF all these exhibitions Of force aud
ncry and also the training of their whole artillery upon
the little schooner, dunk the party quietly waited
anchor in expectation that Chinese boat would visit
them and receive the letter which Mr. Bacon had to DO
delivered the Emperor Finding that no one came
sna two-osfed boat attached to the Junk hauled
alongside, and Mr.. Bacon, DIR. Phillips Lieut. Reed and
Assistant Surgeon Wales got in and pulled for the shore
Dr. Phillips and Mr. Bacon had sword and pistol be-
tween them, and the other two gentlemen Sharpe rife
and revolver AS they approached the shore several
Chinese down to the beach, gesticalang in the most
violent manner, and warning the party OF Fortunately
there Chnaman in the boat who could speak lit
tie English, and who able to interpret tho demon
STATIONS Instead Of obeyng the signal Mr. Bacon hero
like held up in his hand the yermion coored letter,
and called out for to come and take 1t to the
Emperor assuring them at tho same time they were
friends and Americans AS the Chinese refused to do
this Doctor Phillips proposed to Mr. Bacon either to
make mandarin for the letter, else to
land and go up to the forts with it; and although
the rest of this small division of small party were
opposed to this being too much of bravado, yet
Mr. Bacon determined to adopt the plan and land with
the document, and this determination made known
to the Chinese by the interpreter Although this threat
Of marching upon four forts mounted with two hundred
guns, and manned by almost ten thousand men, with a
party of only two officers and two armed with
sword revolver and pistol must appear sublmey ridc-
nous yet it was sooner made known than gilt ball
mandarin lowest class) rudgng down to the beach,
through mud and mire and received the communication
Having succeeded well thus far it concluded to
demand from the authorities before leaving
them and In reply to the demand the party as
surcd that would be sent practical
bic Tho small boat pulled back TO the little schooner
Pci-Ho and the party waited the promised epste for
moro than an hour. At last signal was made from
the shore that they wished to communicate with the
schooner, and Mr. Bacon again started Off accompanied
us before by Drs Phillips, Wales and Lieut.. Reed.
When the little boat reached the beach, they found
white ball mandarin Zone higher than the gilt ba ready
to meet and hold ''pow wow with them. This Off
informed party that answer to the American let
ter would be sent board the big ship, the Mississippi
next day As this altogether satisfactory
Mr. Bacon and DIR. Phillips declared their intention to
land and go up to the forts at all hazards whilst the
remainder of the party concluded to remain by the boat
az they thought they had right to land under the
cunstances As soon as the threat to land was made
known to white ball. he begged the party to stop for
few moments, until he could higher officer than
himself as he might be able to get favorable
swcr to the demand. His request granted and he
ed off and in n few
among the Cinnamon, and the interpreter became much
frightened and pointing to the forts showed the fact
that the braves had lighted their matches and double
shotted their guns, ready at moments warning to fire
into the little American party who had the hardwood
thus to brave the lions in their den.'
After waiting while longer crystal ball mandarin
(hgher than white BALI approaching the boat
he to that part Of the beach which the tide
Gibbs and flows twice in twenty -four hours and where the
mud of deep blue color and of sofncss DEPTH and
tenacty which had effect in deterrng the adven
turers from landing than all the four forts combined
Here the mandarin came to dead halt and in most
majestic directed the little party to and
talk with him there. But he much mistaken in his
calculation and told that unless he approached with
in convenient distance the boat would pull higher up
the river to better landing and the party would go
shore. You conceive of nothing ptifuy ludi
than the appearance his countenancc assumed
his whole look of bravery left him. and expression Of
utter despair seized upon his features he made his first
efforts to reach the boat he wei hing proba-
him his boot-tops in the soft mud, which received
his legs with facility, but evidently inclined to hold
FIST to that which it had received Mr. Mandarin had made
but few steps when he stopped short and ordering
half dozen attendants to approach him, be made them
pick him up and bring him through this slough Of
dcspond." While twas painful to the poor fellows
laborng beneath the weight Of the fat Mandarin the
party could scarcely contain their laughter at his evident
fear of being pitched their heads and imbeded in
the mud and miro through which his supporters
heavily trudging Having at length arrived sufficiently
to hold parey he told the party that provided
they would leave the river would be sent to
the Mississippi at eight m. the next day. He
piled to that his satisfactory but that the lit
tie Pei Ho would remain where she until the tide
favored her return to the steamer The boat pulled
back to the little schooner and the party went board
again. where they remained at anchor all night with two
hundred heavy guns loaded manned and brought to bear
upon their little craft and the next morning returned to
their ship 1t not until they had left tho river that
this little party learnt through tho interpreter that the
Chinese who had flag believed the whole
party to be English Spies and had been several times
the point Of firing into them and thus efectually pre-
venting them from conveying back any information
corning their Notifications.
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