The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-12-14
ADVERTISING RATES:
PEKIN AND THE AMERICAN
MISSION.

PERlN AND TIE AAEhiCAN
MISSION. d.
J. A gentleman attached to the late mis-
sion to. China furnishes to the Journal Of
Commerce an account Of the journey from
Shanghai to Pekin, Of the country passed
through, of the capital citysand of the en-
tevtainment of Minister WARD and his d.
plomatie companions We give one of
these interesting letters !: 81
PEns, China August lo,ls5a,
NY last communication left us at Go
yernment house, q sort Of caravanscral, as
was told, for travellers and pilgrims,
quite neat, though not large in size or
commanding inzappearance, and the more
agreeable from its being set back some
distance from the road, and having a spa
clous court in front, all carpeted insliving
green 1T is about two miles outside of
the walls, which as yet had not risen be-
!. =
fore our eyes, SO thick were the trees and
groves between them and US on this great
plain, extending from the Gulfto the city,
which nowhere has either elevation OF
depression. Here those dismounted who
had been favored with horses, and others
crawled out of their dens who had been
Gagged in them; and all, having rested one
hour and taken a cup Of tea, which is. uni
formly offered instead of wine and other
liquors, returned to tbeir carriages, for
getting aches and bruises in the thought
Of the sl,ortpess Of the distance which re-
manned, and the wonders which were so
soon TO startle our vision. Onward we
moved, every one solemn, silent, his heart
beating quicker, till at last it throbbed
with big emotion, when, there there f!
rose the walls aud there the immense
bastion lowered over the gate, armed with
tier above tier of cannon, and we had fairly
reached Pekin +ts 'te@ s-zs ,.'ss%l
Long before reaching the walls, how
ever, we were surrounded by crowds
whom no man could number. They did
not come there; they seemed to have
grown there; they didnotmove, they only
kstood--acres and acres, and field aftef
field Of human flesh and bones, compacted
Iintoi one solid body, out of which grew in
Vulnerable heads, arms, and shoulders. It
| added TO the impfessiveness of the scene,
that noisone wore aihattor cap; not ioac
covered his back and shoulders with shirt
or coat; not one wore a vest to protect
his bosom. A single article constituted
| the whole Of their dress and wardrobe
La piece of blue cotton made into an
Oriental pettieoat, and tied about the
Eloins and reaching below the knee All
that met the eye, therefore, was naked
fAcsb,, glistening with the sweat which
oiled it as tie sun. shone down bis burn
ling rays; while those thousands and
thousands of piercing, prying, steady eyes
and upturned faces, alhWith a smile, and
solemn. in their wonder, indicated that all
was not mass Of flesh there mind was
L y y . { T. \. . .
there humanity was there /; our brothe.
we're there almost the population t,,a
common city was seen outside ae 49,,
walls !; nor can any estim.,
amount of the populatiqss !, ~ .a
and stagger me, when ono snbrrh on1,
wa vas ' around one Shout was raised: not
without, Not heard not one foot or
one 6oved. Tue last Europe N
manu- was that Of Lord Amherst in .
emo forty-three years ago, more than
e period of a generation most Of
he living population Of Pekia had never
zen white man. We passed under two
portals something like triumphal i
rchways, about half a mile from the CITY, 4
Which, however with the walls, the gates,
he bastions, the towers, and other objects
+ interest within, and without the city,
austbe the subject ofanother5 letter. se
Passing through the Russian wall BY