Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-09-30
From the London Globe of Sept. 14tf


servants at the mouth of the PeihO This is
which every one will have anticipated and it shows that
the Governments of England and France completely
in accord with the the national feelings of the people OF
both countries.
The fuller accounts from the Peho river and from
Hong Kong rather augment than diminish our apprecia
ton of the serious character Of the murderous attack
upon the allies The treachery of the Chinese is more
manifest than ever and all the narratives tend 10 sho"
either tue malice or the importance Of the Imperial GOV
eminent Ia either case we only hold tne Imperial
Court responsible for the atrOciy pepetated oy lis ser
wants Mr. Chisholm Anstey mag have lnoloed an
amount of Chinese philosophy while IN hong hong SUI.
fcient to make him champion OF the Government OF
Pekn but there are few other Engishmen except the
elite of the Anglo Chinese faction OF 1851 who, after
what has occurred will volunteer advocates of the
policy of PekIn.
The course taken by the Chinese Government remark
ably illustrates their character Although was known
that the European and American Penipoentlares would
surely arrive in the Peiho to execute the treaty. tire
EmperOr's Government had allowed MOngOl leader to
fix his camp on the site of the forts OF Taku rebuild
them, and throw bOOms across the stream. When the
PenpOtentaries arrived there were Mandarans TO re-
ceve them. No flags were flying the forts the
brasures covered taets and soldiers were
visible the ramparts. There the mud FORTS con-
structed with great skill there were the bOoms but
there responsible officer to explain to the Euro
pean Ministers the reason of those strange preparations
Those among the Chinese who communicated with the
messengers from the ships stated that the works and the
boOms had been constructed by the common people, with
out authority The only communication addressed Mr.
Bruce arrived at the eleventh hour 1t brought from
the mouth of another river where it was said the bar
barans might land. But when the Americans in
speced the place they found that the entrance Was too
shallow to permit OF approach OF their men 0War
and when bOat-party attempted to land, they were
opposed by horse aud foot The Imperial Government
not being represented at Faku at all events not be-
ing Ostensby represented it has been naturally assumed
WAS he
Of opposing its allies by troops whose acts it could dis
own and 10 accordance with this Interpretation, we find
a rumOr that the Taoutai OF Shanghai had been COM
manded to inform Mr. Bruce that the attack his ships
Was mistake, for which the Emperor expresses his
sincere regret, that the Mandarns who committed the
outrage had been beheaded and that the Emperor would
be happy to meet Mr. Bruce at PekD and settle matters
amicaby Ii this be true it only affords another proof
Of the dupcity and tahessness Of the Imperial Court
and n way eXonerates it from the acts OF its ser
wants and subjects at Taku. The Emperor knew that
the Pltnpotentaries coming, and that they were
coming up the PeihO and he ought to have p pared for
them reception suitable to their rank and the pacific
and sacred character of their Grand An enemy who
fights for his country is to be respected but protesting
friend who fires upon ambassadors. or, which comes
pretty much to the thing does not make it impos
sbe that they shall be fired upon, is not subject for
respect but hostility and coercion.
Some characteristics of the action worthy of notice
1t is remarked that the forts well placed and ADM
-
river. To attack exposed the assaants raking
fire from Others They were Of considerable siz built
of mud, and mounted far guns than the vessels
which attacked them. Then the Chinese fired with a
precision that astOnshed their foes and gave rise to the
suspicion that the Europeans must have had the handling
OF artillery. Such a suspicion is not unreasonable
The white men may have been Russians Americans
some of those cosmopolitan creatures of the species
Hanningsen, Walker and Rouset de BOulbOn At all
events from not accurately ascertained the
Chinese gunners showed skill not hitherto displayed
by them in any of our many encounters.
II it he true that they used the MIME bullet it will
be clear that of the of trade, either in the
Eastern or Western Hemisphere must have supplied
them with the new weapon and taught them how to use
it. But If the MIME bullet was fatal to our men the
shot from the forts equally fatal to ships.
The little gunbOats lying in contracted space were al
most point blank targets for the gunnerS Those whose
daring had led them through the opening skilully
made 10 the outer boom, were speedily disabled and
obliged to fall back The tide recedng left others hard
aground Nevertheless the small force opposed to near
Iy 100 guns, kept up fire from every available cannon
The constancy of the admiral twice wounded of the Of
fcers and OF the men, both English and French, is &C.
serving of all praise. Their dash and tortitude
peCaly conspicuous in the attempt to storm the FORT
UnhapDilY the place selected Tor landing bank
of mud The fire the Chinese had Stacked but when
the landed it renewed with vigOr that showed
how little effect had been produced by the days
nonade The men were up to their knees and waists Ill
mud yet OF them crossed two bitches full of water
and arrived under the entertainments of the tort. Had
the ladders arrived had it been possible to throw in
reinfOrcements, attempt would have been made tC
storm but the ladders smashed reserves COuC
come up and the gallant handful, carefully removing
their wounded compelled to retreat and repass The
fatal to their advance A new foe beSet them
The round shot had smashed of the boats and tie
had to wait, chin deep in water, until they cOuIC
be brought of. Under these circumstances no reader
will be at a loss to understand how it is that have
to lament the loss of 464 officers and care araiC
that sailors and their commanders forgot the
maXm-never despise enemy but they can plead II
eXtenuatOn that they bound to regard their Oppo
nens as friends until they showed their true characters
and that no one could reasonably expect that the Impe
rial Government had prepared an amoush of such mag
nude at the mouth OF the Peiho. We have been beaten
but our defeat is far more honorable to us than thei
victory is to the Chinese.
We are bound to repair an injustice committed o.
Monday. Although the Americans took part in tn
action of their ships present and did great
vice, offering to tow boats aud succOrrng the wounded
Indeed it is stated that these two ships went within h
bar and were only prevented from going up the river h
the shaowness Of the water They have earned we ar
told, the good wishes of the whole squadron. We ar
glad to find that it is so, and that they have PARTIAL
abandoned their policy of insulation.
APPEALS TO THE OLDLINE WHIGs.-The dispOs
ton manifested IN many quarters by worthy and eT
lghtened citzenS-heretOOre known as Old line wings
to cooperate with the national democracy has led
some spaSmodlc efforts by certain political manager
here and there to reconstruct the OganZa ion OF tha
party. The ST. Louis Republican, abiding to such ex
ertOns IN Missouri, has the following statement an
warning
The battle has been fought in Kentucky, Virginia
and tennessee, and the Ory OF the people OF thos
States-lncluding large portion of those who haV
heretofore acted with the whig party-have declare
their rptp IN no Ono n