The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-01
|HE MGLO-FISNCH DIFFICULTY WITH CHINA.

FILE MGL0-R REENCH DIFFICULTY WITH CHINA.
Important Letter from Com. Tatnall.
UMnD STATES 6rEAn FRIaAn PowHArAS,1
NJ. FLAG SsuP, EAST india SQUADRON,
Las . y Orr Pnno RIVER, July =, 1859. /.
swsIhe Asf despatch which had the honor TO send
sssr TUsy.wan, at sea, of tie Yang Use, on her way
ths Peiho with our minister 70 China, Mr. Ward, and
hss gentleman has reported 70 the the
t o hts interviews and correspondence with the Chinese
mmaaiOners at Shanghae. shall only refer, therefore,
that subject far Is necessary 70 your UNDERSTAND
the circumstances which placed US in very unex-
lied position arrival at the Pciho and produced
TSo Chinese commissioners were those with whom our
We Nnister, Mr. Reed, concluded the treaty last year
Ten -tsin, and with whom he subsequently arranged
~ tariff at Shanghae, where they have remained ever
In the interchange OF visits between these commission
|sf oSacers aa ~ marines Of our squadron; this being
not only sutS thc dignity Of Mr.. Ward, but intended
compliment = the Chinese ss % whom
~. Ward informed them that be was his way to
lin TO exchange the treaties, which twas obligatory
both parties 70 do ON or before the 18Th June now
hey replied that having signed the treaties they must
sevss sScna1ss them $ mat they could % no, reach
eement with Lord Egin, the late British Ambassador,
expected TO remain at shanghae until the ar
a Of the present British Minister, Mr. Bruce.
". Ward then offered TO exchange our treaty at
anghae, which they evaded on the ground that the
ay was at Pekn and they proposed TO Mr.. Ward that
shoc!d remain a. shanghae until the arrival Of tho
Mr. Ward, although doubling their sincerity, in spirit
consideration and forbearance accepted tho PROPOSE
., thus waiving the specified time Of exchange.
The British Minister his arrival q day two after
fusod 70 held official intercourse with the commission
r on the ground (as understood it that Pekn was the
specified in the British treaty for the exchange and
'at he was on bis way there for that purpose.
Unsuccessful in their endeavor 70 dctain the British
f0Do nj Ehanu <ho
rs apparently yielded, and despatched couriers (who
ey asserted would arrive in weekly Pekin prepare
they said) the authorities for the arrival reception
all the Ministers and their conveyance to Pekin where
treaties would be exchanged BY special commission
Hn the 18th june the day specasd i the British treaty
ent, and requested him TO accompany the British and
snch TO the Peiho. To this he consented thereby to
certain extent assuming the same platform with the
Iwi here remark that the sincerity Of the Chinese
enantssoners was much doubted at the time, Of
khe6r en- nuymen At Shanghae declaring that delay was
her object s they were foryg the Peiho very strong
y and 6ad placed - command Aongol Prince of high
nlary reputation, who was known to be very hostile to
|ss q. "trsssss.'s, .ss
|.ane, where found the British and French Ministers
On my frst interview with the British Admiral James
Hope Ilearned that the Ministers English and French
lad announced TO the authorities on shore the object Of
Sher VISIT and that they should proceed by the river TO
en-tsn, ON their way TO Pekin conformably with their
The Chinese had positively refused them the ascent of
river the entrance to which they found very strongly
Fortified and across which several lines Of barrcades had
The Chinese declared that this river which had all
aygated as the Peiho year ago, was only one mouth OF
ien sin river, and that there was another entrance
miles TO the north, which entrance was called the
10, and was the point referred to in the treaties.
hey insisted that the Ministers should remain of this
rhern entrance until the arrival Of the commissioners
Shanghae (Which could be short Of two moaths),
EN- arrangements would be made TO convey them TO
The British and French Minister'S, considering this an
SiGh with view TO gaining time TO strengthen their
had referred the matter TO their respective ma
tmn,anders who notified the Chinese that if the OBJ
~ ions in the channel Of the river were not removed
e 26th June, the day for the exchange Of treaties,
would themselves proceed to remove them.
Niu here remark that in the Chinese charts there Is
hl river emptyng into the sea ten miles to the north
this, and which, dvergng gradually from the course
The Peiho as you ascend has its source far in the in
With the river know the Peiho by creek,
d TO be dry at low, and having but five feet at high
After due dehberaton Mr. Ward and decided to enter
river had known as the Peiho in the steamer Toey
an as far as the barricades Ss though ignorant Of ac
rts should fire across bows to- bring us to would
hchor and communicate into US, having guns, we
Twelve British and one French steamer all small, had
revousIy concentrated within the bar at the mouth of
Ss Iu rysr u 81 o on1 pap at II
H. the oath umo, and passing through the British
squadron, without communicating, pushed up towards
the barriers.
Al this time not man was be the forts nor
gun in embrasure, nor, although aagsas werc on
the parapets a flag displayed. There was nothing
70 indicate that the forts were armed or manned.
Subsequent events show this to have been deception
|Gpd ambuscade intended, do not doubt Tin the CON OF
gsh) to invite conflict in order TO annul the treaties
last year.
first barrier, at which point, should not be fired
had proposed aachoring, when we grounded, aud
ed in all our efforts to back o The tide was falling
g. and situation critical, not only from the ia
y with which the batteries might demolsh rs, but,
the edge of steep bank, from the probability
the steamer FILLING over and filling.
AT this moment received from Admiral James Hope
q attention and kindness which must place under
hsting obligations to him.
Although he had reason to think that she would be fired
pom by the forts he sent gunboat TO my aid, with tine
message that had he known OF my intention to pass uI
10 see me fred on.
The gunboat failed efforts to extricate me- and
here bcif have said, probability OF the Toey
ivan f. * over and filling, the Admiral despatched
second nboat TO me, placing her entirely at my dispo
ion, with the handsome and generous offer that should
aost on board of her the American ensign and my own
personal flag
declined the ofer with just appreciation, however
m the personal kindness to myself and the delicate com
The Toey wan was more fortunate than l expected
nd favorable wind having sprung up We got her OF Al
About two hours after grounding sent boat the
fort with my flag lieutenant, Mr. Trenchard
he American Minister board the Toey- wan, his
10 entsin and Pekn, in accordance with treaty
and understanding with the Chinese commissioners al
s;hanghae.
They were met at the landing by officer PROCESSING
10 be Of low rank who said that his orders
permit the removal Of the barriers, and fire tsose
attempting it; that he believed that high officer
had been appointed to meet the ministers at thu
no3h >He also asserted most falsely, subsequent
IL shown hat there were troops and only few
try militia inNhe forts.
Although the Interpreters allowed to get out OF the
boat for greater fasty Of conversation, they
permitted to approachHbe forts
The Toey wan Hoated ls,c in the evening, when | OBJ
served that the British arranging themselves ap
parently for action therefore dropped down To tn,
mouth OF the harbor and boow them, so that my lights
might not interfere with thor signals my position will
their operations
The British in the night removed with their boats
portion Of the lower barrier but the Chinese restored
IN the morning.
Al 2A5 p. N. the 25th the day specified for thu
exchange of treaties the British stood up the rivy fo
the barriers. Admiral Hope leading in OF the gun
: lpats
This whole force consisted of ten gun boats ncudn;