The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-09-30
nirbmnnn Dispatfb.
SEPT. 80, 's5s
FRIDAY MORNING .

sham, OF the Uaited States steamship Powha-
tan dated July ith, gives some details Of the
movement of our Minister in the Chinese wa
ters-for he has not yet reached land After
describing the battle between the English and
Chinese, he says that Mr.. Ward entertained
but little hope Of going TO Pekin without OPP
position, and adds: =
Imagine our surprise, therefore. when he
received a letter fton the Tau-iai (Governor)
of Tetn-Sing, which, being translated, gave us
a certain {Chinese certainty prospect OF being
conducted in state 10 Pekin. Bur before CIV
ing this translation, let me snow the reader
how We came to receive II.
On the 2Vth ult.. the writer was ORDERED 10
the Tosy- wan to act as pilot during q Trip 10
The North in search of the other port or en-
trance 10 the Pei II o, spoken OF by the Chinese
M the forts Mr. w. w. Ward, Secretary OF
Legation, and Messrs. Williams and Marun,
Interpreters accompanied The expedition, the
object of which WAS TO inquire into the truth
of the Chinese assertion rs TO second en-
trance and to deliver a letter for the Cover
or-GeneraI OF the Province, should such
thing prove practicable We were very
doubtful rs to the nature of the reception TO
he expected at their hands, as they were un-
douh;edly at war with the English, and as
they generally make no distinction between
us. extreme caution was therefore necessary.
At noon we were under way heading due
NORTH and gradually closing with the coast,
which here makes away TO the northward and
eastward. AittE TuEUIHS sfA iHiito Win htc
fathoms water. we discovered the masts of
iunks over the low land to the northward and
westward. and changed the course so as 10
head in for them. We now began to shoal our
water rapidly, having only nine feet at the end
of four miles, but by this time things had as
sumed "a very different appearance. We could
now see what looked like the entrance to
river or lagoon guarded by three heavy forts,
and having q great number OF Junks anchored
inside. We should like 10 have sent boat in
10 communi icate, but were four miles OF, with
a half gale Of wind blowing directly off,
against which we could have made no head
way. 1t was also the top of high water, and
the steamer, drawing eight feet, might ground
at any moment. We therefore contented our
selves with taking an azimuth and some an
giles, by means of which we found these forts
to be seven miles to the north and east of those
of the mouth of the PeI-}io. After this, we
kept away along the coast in search OF a more
accessible landing, and at the end of five miles
arrived within one and "a half miles of a town,
off which some junks were anchored. Here we
stopped iB nine feet water, and, the wind hav-
ing moderated, lowered boat, into which got
3IessTs. Ward, {brother Of the MINISTRY and
Martin, having Mid II Merchant to manage her.
Then after they had showed of, we ran out
into deep water with he teamer, and anchor
ed to await their return. We had several
good glasses Oh board through which We
watched their movements with some anxiety.
They first pulled toward the iunks, and we
could see them diverted before they had gone
half way. Then they headed for the town,
and the tire population was seen making
'-2:4U'' time toward the back country. Finally
they ran her ashore in the mud and rolling
up their trowsers, commenced trudging
through n-h0lf-m Of 1t toward the landing
Several OF the least fearful of the villagers
seeing three uuarmed men wading through the
mud towards them, now took courage and
advanced TO the landing, and when Mr. Mar
tin held up the letter and told them, in the
Mandarin dialect, that it was for the Cover
uor-General, they exclaimed" He speaks
nrj and lI tn rl N ,Ilta
f1dence.
Uther villagers now Joined the party, and
most interesting conversation commenced
during which Nj. IL. tried get the head man
TO take the letter, but without success. Sud-
denly we saw them start and run for the boat
IN evident alarm, proceeding for which we
could not account, as the crowd had made no
demons stration that we could discover. They
had MOI got more than half way through the
mud however, when 4 large body of cavalry
burst over Il neignboring ridge and spurred
furiousy after them. This, OF course, ex-
plained the mystery, and readily accounted
for The enormous ''timt" which our three
friends were making through the mud. Being
Il Georgian myself, / was naturally elated at
noticing my friend Ward ahead next came
Mr.. Martin. and finally the MILDLY all doing
astonishingly WELL considering the mud
Just as they had reached the boat and showed
oil, two of the horsenen dashed into the wa
ter after them. They We're wild Tartars from
the North. who certainly did not distinguish
between us and the English, and who would
As certainly have cut off the heads, upon the
moment of any white persons falling in to
their hands. Altogether Ii was Il narrow es-
cape
Upon arriving on board our friends had not
much To say; they seemed desirous to get into
dry Clothes and TO take on board several glass
es of brandy and water, in spite of their being
auy thing but brandy drinkers. After finding
themselves "all right" once more. they rela-
ted their experience. i seems that the villa
gers were friendly, but that they knew the
character of the Tartar horsemen we'll, that
as soon as they became aware OF their approach
the head man took the letter, exclaiming at
The same time, "The horsemen are coming I!
Quick Run for your lives!" Which being
translated in hurried voice by Mr.. Martin,
rs he ran away, the others did not understand
(their backs being toward him at the time, J
and turned to each other for enlightenment.
4" What did he say - Queried one.
s. don't know what he said, was the re-
ply, " but IL Is easy to see what he is doing
Here goes - and the mud began TO fly.
"Qui! Qui! (quick quickD exclaimed the
villagers, and our friends did not stop to thank
them.
Returned TO the Powhatan, we related our
adventures, and quietly began 10 await an an
swer from the Governor-General This, as al
ready mentioned, arrived on the I'd inst. and
was to the effect " that the letter TO Governor
King had been received by the Tau tol of Tein-
| Sing. and would be forwarded-that on the
9th Gov. King would meet the American Min
lister at the northern entrance and conduct
exchanging the treaties and that pilot would
be sent to bring us into the entrance" Ac-
companying this letter was list of provisions
sent us as ''cumshaw," or present, which we
accented, more with the object OF showing thai
we were friendly than anything else. They
consisted of the following: Twenty sheep u
pigs l40 chickens, 60 ducks, :, 2,5U0 lbs. of white
flour, 1900 do rice, 25U lbs. vegetables $50 do
fruit and they were divided e1 ualIy among all
on beard.
July 5th.-We are now gradually consum.
ing This "cumshaw,'' as we await the arrival
of the pilot who should have been here YES.
terday Perhaps he conld not make us, for
want of wind. as junk has been in sight since
yesterday morning, evidently trying TO beat
up to our anchorage. Yesterday, the English
steamer Fury left for the mail, and now
in a few moments, goes also the French fri
gate. shall not be able, therefore, To give
you any later dates. The present impression
on board, is, that pilot is close at hand to
take the TosY- wan into an unknown entrance
that he has been sent by the Government
that tomorrow, we shall have aa interview
with the Governor General, and that by the
18th we shall have Travelled by boat and sed.
anchair, from the North Forts TO Peking.-
Thus, while the English and French will be
returning South with their crippled ships and
disabled crews, the American Legation will be
on its way TO Peking at the expense of the
Chinese Government and without having
surprise many greatly, but such is evidently
the present aspect of affairs.
In his dispatch TO the Navy Department, at
Washington, Commodore Tatnall, In explain
ing his having towed up the British gun boats,
saws that the commander OF them came on
board the Powhatan, and though ha did not
ask for aid. yet ahis silantappeais was power
fal indeed
the Powha,an he would look anxionsiy at his
Admiral and nj the boats. nAfter he left, -