Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1859-04-23


wear a different aspect, because the
light of Christian love is on it-not
law, which does not owe its truth
and gentlcness to Christianity-not a
custom which cannot be traced in all
healthful parts to the Gospel
Correspondence of the journal Of Commerce.
LORD ELGIN,S EXPEDITION UP
THE MISSISSIPPI OF CHINA.
Us. FLAG SHIP PowuA17ASl
81 Hose Koxe, Feb.5, 1859.
One Of the grandest and most i'm
portaht feats in the interest Of com
merco and civilization has just now
been most successfully achieved, which
was ever enterprised in China, or any
other part of. the world. According
to a provision in the late treaty between
China and other powers, the great
river Yang-tse- Kiang, which has been
closed to foreign commerce and inter-
course was to be opened to foreign
trade, and points We're to be selected
along its course where commerce
should be conducted. While the
Powhattan and Minnesota were lying
at the mouth of the river below Shang-
hal, by the side of the English fleet.
Lord Elgin announced his purpose to
ascend this immense river with part
of his fleet and after actual survey Sc
lect the points which should seem the
most eligible for his object. Mr.. Reed
our Minister, / am informed, was ex-
tremcly desirous to show the stars and
stripes a thousand or two miles up
this immense volume Of water, where
they, never had been unfurled, not
however, wishing to accompany. Lord
Elgin, still less to .folloeo him, but in
an independent, but not jealous or un-
friendly movement to: anticipate him.
Commodore Tatnall, however, con-
sidering the extreme shallowness OF the
river, and the frequent sand bars rM.-
ming across it and the great draught Of
his own noble ships, did not think it
safe to make the attempt in them, and
the object was abandoned-not how
ever without deep regrets in many Of
our hearts, which beside the personal
|grati6cation of seeing the immense
terra incognita in the very heart Of
the celestial Empire glowed with patri-
otic desire, to spread the :" f1owery
|fag," as, the Chinese call the Ameri-
can, TO the gentle breeze which blows
over the interior waters Of this majes-
|tic and mysterious river. eeas,
Lord Elgin has achieved his object
and returned to Shanghai from whence
he is expected shortly here. Ample
details have been communicated Of the
progress and results of his expedition,
the most important of which l hasten
to communicate to your readers.
The expeditionary force Of Lord
|Elgin consisted of the steam frigates
Furious and Retribution, the steam
sloop Cruiser and the gun boats Lee
and Dove. The Furious carried l6
guns, the Retribution %, and the gun
boats guns each. The Retribution
now lies anchored near the Powhat-
tan and compares with it in size and
strength AZ the gunboats do with itself.
The light draught of the British ships
ensured the success Of the enterprise,
but still! did not preserve it from trou
BILE and danger, since the frigates got
aground in the. ascent and were got
afoat again only by the unexpected
rise Of the river.
! The distance from Shanghai to Nan
kin is but ls0 miles, and yet owing to
the difficulty of navi CATION, occasioned
|by the ever changing sand bars and
!, channels, twelve days were consumed
before the fleet succeeded III rcachine
lit. Here again it encountered serious
difficulty, but ofa different nature
The rebels appeared iii great numbers
land the extent of their works of dc.
tense aud offense was alarming ever,
to the brave men on board the fleet
who had seen fight in the CIilnea.-
On the left bank Of the river was see,
one long and continuous line Of fortiti
tcations, and on. the. opposite q larg,
: fort, while junks heavily armed crowd
} ed every available point on both sides
}; Lord Elgin had hoped to make pas
sage through the country occupied b!
the rebels, without giving offcnsc o
coming into hostile collision; and soc1
; approaching this old capital OF the en-
e e|pire, but which the rebels have hel,
q for some half dozen years, sent fla;
|of truce, which, however, was at ono
fired upon, the rebels disregarding
Z and opening heavy fire. The flee
% 'o|thenstcamed up, and coming With
'eI range engaged the forts, and continue
u heavy cannonade till all the for,
iwerc passed, the rebels returning tn
lire to the last. Lord Elgin an
ID h|ship, had q narrow escape, the shi p b,
nt4ing struck in her hull a dozen time
erfand Lord Elgin's barge was.complct,
IN destroyed by anotbenes shot; wi,iie sa,
other cut rope just above his lori