The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-01
The Smash in China.

The old adage that one side OF question IS
ALWAYS right until the other is heard, like all
old adaees has a great deal OF truth in it. The
whole truth with regard to the affair of the
Pei Ho fight has not yet come out, but it is
leaking out drop by drop. First, We have a
letter published in the Philadelphia Ledger,
dated Ut. S. ship Powhatan off the Pei-Ho
river. July 4th," which throws considerable
light upon the matter.
The Powhatan, il seems. arrived off the
mouth of the Pei-Ho on the both, and learning
that the English squadron had been refused
permission to pass the forts, communicated
with the commandants Of those forts, and
was told that the American minister could
not he allowed to pass them, but that there
WAS another route a few miles farther North,
whittier if he would proceed, he would meet
the high officers who would be sent to take
him to Picking Refusing, however, to furnish
!, pilot for the water part of the voyage, or Sc
dan chairs for that portion of ii which lay
over land, these commanders appear TO have
produced the impression upon the Ameri-
cans that they were to be trifed with.
as usual. Notwithstanding however, they
sent up a Junk TO search for the northern en-
trance spoken of. In the meantime, on the I'd
July, greatly TO the surprise Of all the Ameri-
the "'Tautai or Governor Of Tein Sing" re-
ceiyed a letter, (which, wien translated"
eays the writer, "gave us a certainty
(Chinsse certainty)--of being conducted in
state to Picking" The letter farther stated
that the Tautai had received and would for
ward the American Minister'S letter, that on
the 5th instant, Governor KING CD would meet
him at the North entrance, and conduct him
20 to fnr ha
exchanging Publications, and that pilot
would be sent TO bring him into the entrance
A present, or "eumsha,c," consisting of 20
sheep, 20 pigs, 140 chickens, GO ducks, $500 lbs.
white -four, 1900 lbs rice, $50 lbs vegetables,
and $50 lbs. fruit, accompanied this letter.
postscript, dated July 5th, says that the pilot
was to have been there the day before but had
not then arrived. Nevertheless, the general
impression was, that the Chinese meant TO act
fairly by the legation, and that the delay of
the pilots arrival is occasioned by the want OF
wind, q junk having been in sight since the
day before, evidently trying 10 beat up TO the
anchorage of the Americans.
In addition TO this intelligence, the New
York Herald says, upon the authority Of let
ters which ii has received, that the Chinese
authorities directed the attention of the Pleni-
Po'0hs'aiies W point On the river cdlleG
North Bend, nine miles from the barricade
which the British troops got so severely
mauled in attempting to force, telling them
that they would there meet persons authorized
and appointed 10 conduct them to Pekinr. Al
the same time they were told that if they at
tempted 10 force passage, they would most
certainly be fired upon. Ii does not amman
that they made any attempt whatever to AS.
certain whether there really was or not such
passage as that described. II such be the trus
state Of the case, there can be no doubt that the
English and Preach were themselves the first
10 violate the treaty. The Chinese, however.
will be made TO pay, with torrents of blood, for
the willful stupidity of the very men who are
about to shed IL.
The Americans, 1t seems from Commodore
TArsAL's statement, participated in the en-
gagenaent only SO far rs TO send boats to take
ms crews from the sinking vessels and re-
move The wounded. 1t had been feared, never
theless, that the Chinese would not under
stand the matter In that way. but the appre-
hsnsion appears to have been gronndless.