The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-19

o tle uesolatloh ana misery Whlcn marx the course
of the rebel incursion; rs though some fiery finger
had touched the face of the smiling country and left
behind fostering scar which will take many years
to heal.
The finest scenery on the river is near Kechow,
not many miles beyond Kewkiang; at this point
the mighty stream forces itself between steep
mountains and mt point these approach so
close together as to form fine gorge. The ranges
do not exceed two thousand feet in height and are
of wild rocky character, reminding one strongly
of the Western Highlands of Scotland.
In consequence of the difficulties of navigation
and sundry delays the sand banks, it not
until the sixth December that we were cheercd by
the view of our long wished for destinations which
we had latterly began to suspect existed only in
the disturbed brains of some imaginative China
men.
The first view of Hankow is eminently disap-
pointing; seen from the neighboring heights it
does not seem to cover an area greater than the
western suburb of Canton, while the city of Han
yang, situated the opposite side of the Han,
which here joins the 1ang-tsze, is now mere
heap of ruins, and has at no time been city of any
extent. But the provincial city of Woochang
which occupies noble site on the southern shore
in some measure compensates, by its handsome APP
pearance and great extent, for the comparative
meanness OF its neighbors. Unfortunately, it too
has had its history of sieges and defences, and miles
of ruins attest the melancholy fact. Hankow is
however, much belied by its external aspect, and
in this instance, in many others, a first i'm
preston is apt to mislead; the streets hand
somer and broader, and the shops lofter and
better stocked than those of any city now open
to Eur Ipeans, while there an air of ac-
tivity and hustle in the streets quite refreshing,
after the torpor and apathy which had succeeded
the rebel reign elsewhere, although two years have
scarcely elapsed since every house in Hankow was
destroyed by fire by the rebels who did their work
so thoroughly that we were assured not single
house remained standing, the greater part of the
ruins have already given place to the new abodes
of perseverng and industrious population who
cannot afford to let the mercantile emporium of
this section of the empire follow the example of its
large walled cities. The Han river, a small tributa
RI about hundred yards broad, contained more
junks than we had seen during the whole course of
our voyage, while the streets were crowded with
natives of almost every province in the empire
Not however that any vast population had yet col
lected in this once popular mart million of souls
is, think, liberal allowance for the present united
population of the three cities while in their palm
lest days it did not probably exceed third of Pere
l1ucs fabulous estimate of eight millions
The appearance of four foreign ships anchored
close off the town, two of which lowered above the
| surrounding river craft like Brobdignag ships
among fleets of Lilliput attracted immense crowds
of spectators who lined the banks from morning till
night during our weeks stay, or came on voyages
| of inspection, and were never tired of padding
round the ships as though they specimens of
naval architecture just arrived from unknown
aquatic globe. The shop-keepers and persons gen
! orally with whom we conversed manifested unan-
imous desire for trade, and expressed great sastac-
ton at learning that in all probability the Port
would soon be opened for this purpose. In the
shops we observed fair proportion of Manchester
calicos shirtings, piece goods, &c. In so hurried
visit, however, it difficult to form any accu-
rate estimate of the trading capabilities Of the
place. beyond the patent fact that it the entire
pot for the productions of the adjoining provinces
and the most natural and convenient point from
which any demand which might exist in them fol
foreign manufactures should be supplied.
Among those productions, tea, cotton, indigo
coal, sugar, are the most prominent; minerals o
various descriptions, insect or vegetable wax, furs
Hoo, Anx- ii
f generally, are also important articles of inant
traffic.
I On the 10th Lord Elgin accompanied by abou
thirty diplomatic and naval officers paid visit o
5 ceremony to kwan, the Governor General of tn
provinces of Human and Hupeh, whose official resi-
e dence is in Woochang. We were much struck will
e the appearance of the town, and the reception o
: the Ambassador by the Governor-General was mos
e f1attering. His EXcellency was surrounded by al
the provincial and civil authorities in their stat
q dresses, and an elaborate entertainment PROV
ded in style far surprising in elegance and tast
the ordinary official banquet which always play
so important a part in Chinese ceremonials. Thi
e visit was returned by the Governor General on tn
s following day. The State junk lowed acros
S the Yang-tsze by half dozen smaller craft an
: propelled by crowds of rowers, the fluttering
e hundreds of gaudy Chinese flags with which the
were decorated, the crowds of minor junks b
l. which they were surrounded, the gay appearance
e OF our ships dressed out and with yards manned
It the thunder of our salutes as it mingled with tn
n small artillery of the junks, the dense crowds
n people everywhere and the bright autumn su
e shining all, combined to form spectacle
which to our eyes added to the charm of its bri
n lancy the in terest of novelty, and which, to til
Is good folks of IIan-kow, must have appeared a
g unrivaed and astounding pageant.
/, On the following day we left Han-kow on r
e turn voyage and proceeded most prosperously IL
a the first 80 miles; soon however we discovered
is our dismay that the river rapidly falling al
/, that the sand banks we had passed with such diff
Y Guilty on our way up were now several feet near,
IS the surface. Thanks to the energy, skill and ind
e fatgable exertons of Capt. Osborn and the Mastt
e of the Furious, Mr.. Court the Furious was force
over one after another of these obstacles; tt
h Cruizer most ably handled by Capt. Bythesea al
10 drawing less water, followed more easily, while Il
e. the gun boats proved themselves invaluable pi
" neers, and were necessarily occupied in dashil
IN ranticaly about the river in vain endeavors to fl
o. deep water. Al last after aweek had been spent
ne accomplishing 100 miles, and the furious had
DO tablished her reputation as splendid goer acre
he the country, reached the bar at the Poya
I'd Lake, on which there was only eev
We feet of water and which, although her draught W
ar reduced to fifteen feet, was Il fence at which ey
G. the Furious did not feel justified in going at.
i'd During the interval which had elapsed since o
last visit. the water had fallen seven feet at Il
u point 1t was therefore decided that Lord Ell
at accompanied by the entire mission, should abs
he don the Furious and Cruzer, and proceed with t
If Dore and Lee to rcjoin the Reribution. The DE-
to started with twelve ''cabin passengers in t
NJ most literal sense of the term, for there
to On parting with the ship, which had been I.o
at Elgin's home for the last year. he addressed Cal
Osborn, the officers and men in farewell speet
NO and amid many regrets and leave-takings, and 10
d. and prolonged cheers from both Sides the t
NO little gun boats, with their closely packed freig
ed skinned away down the rapid waters of the Yal
ps tsze-kiang.
m In two days we reached Gankng, but with O
IN slender force the crcumst stances under which
* approaching it very different fir
ch those on the former occasion. AS the Channel
ed us within so yards of a of guns of which
had lively recollection, and the last thing
Mt had communicated to these rebels had been C
we non-ball, it was deemed wise to send off boat
ev discover the humor they were in; MIR. Wade the
lbt fore was dispatched to demand an apology for
nd treatment we had received on the way up, and
md inform them that recurrence of such cond
her would render it necessary for us to hand ev
ITO Rebel city the banks of the river to
yer Imperialists. The rebels expressed the utn
ed contrition for what had happened, assured
Jus Wade that the guns had been fired by subor
Or mates who had paid the penalty of their mist
ON by being beheaded and disembowelled, and t
at not only were we free to come and go we CHI
ch but that we were welcome to visit their city.
On Wade declined this offer. In few minutes M
by safely past all the batteries and next ey
100 ing reached the Ret'ibnon. On the 18th the tn
es- ships reached Nankin, and Mr.. Wade LAND
so charged with similar message and accompar
us by Messrs. Oliphant, Lay and Wye. These 9
by tlemen after long ride of or miles, reached
nd residence of Le the third rebel chief in comma
dis Ihey describe the same scene OF rum and deS0la
in to exist inside the walls of Nankin had
of messed in other cities of rebel occupation, and Fl
MA proclamatons and other sources gathered the
preston that the besieged were becoming very
of pressed They were confirmed in this suspicion
ad, the secret proposal, made by rebel of some sta
hey ing, TO take advantage of our visit to desert
hey colors under safe conduct.
is The same expressions of regret for what
:. taken place when passed Nankin
lter made OF by this Chief and the same assural
ship given that those who were not killed by
% were beheaded He stated that the numbe
this killed that occasion amounted to twenty, bes
it, three officers and good many wounded.
ng, engagements were further made for safe and u
els. terrupted communication with the ships up
the river! 1t is not too much to assert that these
and engagements could in all probability, not have
ugh made satisfactorily had not the rebels furni:
100. us with an opportunity of proving our powe
ew- punish any breach of faith.
that After leaving Chnkiang, the Lee, with the
sses sion still on board, pushed on in advance
ded reached Shanghai on new years day, having
lge, complished the voyage from the Furious in e
the days.
re- -,
tur- A great sale Of pictures took place at the
q ra- York Academy of Design on Thursday. The
was picture offered was sketch from nature by
ight TUCK small picture, which brought S22.50
,osts pictures generally brought good prices, and
enc well competed for. Mr.. Nibo bought some of
Il of finest at good prices-among others, the p
9 of after Muller, at sos each, and flower pec
unk De Ghegnier, at $3.50. A composition by Nc
ve a entitled "Coming tc the Point, brought SIS
bev ''View of the Market-place at Antwerp" by
- English PAINTER Gritter. Sl75 the sfY outh of