The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-21

AFFAIRS IN CHNA--FauIrI.EssN NEGOTIATIONS
SToE@Isa AND CAPTURE or rasrTA- KEI FoRrs-
In tie excitement caused by the great events
that ere taking place amongst ourselves, and
particularly by the es.ahii-hmsnt CT teiegraptic
communication between the continents of Eu-
rope and America, the important events chat
are Transporting 10 the Flowsry Kingdom, and
within few hours travel Of tie great impe-
rial capita! Of PeSin, fail to receive that notice
and attention which the magnitude Of the sub
ject deservss; s1d although we have had very
solumincus and interesting correspondence
fstm that portion Of the world, we we're com
PEELED to omit its publication and devote our
columns to that In which our readers had a
moro immediate interest The main points Of
the pews-wbich were that negotiations had
been broken OF and hostilities recommended
we Of course Published eeversl days since.
The Pei-Ho or White river. is the principal
artery by which the capital Of China finds its
supplies, and by which the trade in salt and
ether produce is mAiatainsd. Some seventy
miles south OF Pekin-which stands twelve
miles hack from the river--the Pei-Ho de-
bouebes into The Gulf Of Pecheeii, or yellow
Sea. At this point the hostile fleets of France
and Ecsiand rcnGs sroused early in May; AID
here, also, leg our own magnificent vessels-the
Mississippi, The Minnesota and Powhatan- with
the chartered steamer Antelope and the Russian
steamer America. The representatives Of the
four natlons-LoId E!gin, Baron Gros, Hon.
Wm. B. Reed and Count Putistin--were with
the feet. They had met there to press the
united demand that they should be received a:
tie Imperial city, and allowed to negotiate
treaties with or in presence Of his Celestial Ma
iesty in ptrson, inasmuch as it appeared that
the former treaties had never been communi-
Gated to the Emperor, although it was repre-
sented that be had approved and ratified them.
The chief points of the proposed treaties wcra
tina. nine ports instead OF five, should be opened
to foreign commerce; that foreign Ministers
Should be allowed to reside in the capital, and
that foreign residents should be respected in all
their rights of person end property.
1t seems that high Imperial commissioner
the Governor Of Pecheei- representing him
self ss fully authorized to treat with the En-.
voys, was sent to the mouth Of the Pei-Ho, and
had two or three interviews with the Russian
and American Ministers, in which the prelimi.
nsries Of the proposed treaties were discussed
But although Mr.. Reed and Count Putiatin
were disposed 10 recognise in this commissioner
the possession Of plenipotentiary powers, Lord
Elgin and Baron Gros were of different mind
and held that the object of the conference on
the part of the Chinese was merely to gain
time. They therefore notified our Minister that
they would proceed to lombard the forts erected
at the mouth Of the river. The conferences
were therefore necessarily broken of, and on
on the goth Of May the Ta-Kei forts were cap
tured and destroyed.
The question is, what is next to be done? The
Pei Ho is navigable only for boats Of the smallest
description. Even If the hostile forces could
be transported up the river as high as Pekin,
they would still have to march twelve miles to
the walls Of the city. Their land force is en-
tirely too small to render such movement at
all practicable; and yet it seems that nothing
short of the bombardment of Pelin will bring
the obstinate Emperor TO his senses. The de-
struction of the TaKei forts will rather have the
effect Of embittering his hostility to foreigners
than bringing him TO reaxon. The Chinese ques.
tion is u difficult one; but, with the determine
ton of the foreign ENJOYS, aided by the strong
force of their disposal. we may have confidence
in its speedy and definite settlement on terms
that will open China to the trade of the world.
THE EVENT IN EuRorE.-As the sun roee on
the fifth day of August, 1865, the chivalry
ard courtiers Of France and England poured
forth TO celebrate the completion Of the