Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-11-02
Daily Tireiniau.
The English in China.

1t does not seem to 10 certain by any means
that the English Government, or ut least tho
English people, will sustain their Minister in Chi
ma in the renewal of hostilties which he has pre-
cipitated with that country. The leading London
journals, and especially the Times, have steadily
assumed that the Chinese treacherously violated
the terms ot the treaty. and refused permission to
the English and French Ministers to go to Pekin.
We have already published sundry extracts from
Chinese newspapers, directly contradicting this
assumption, which. moreover, is not Mt all borne
ont by the official correspondence which has been
published
We find in the Bishop Auckland Herald nm in
teresting article ON this point, giving the testimo-
ny OF Capt. Longley, son Of tho Bishop Durham
and one of the active purticpan in the battle Of
the Pei ho, in which he severely wounded. -
On his arrival at Bshor Auckland the citizens gave
him public welcome; and the following passage
occurs in his reply to tho address presented to
him on that occasion:
There is one expression, however. in your ad-
dress which would like to correct if YOU will al
low me, and that is as to tho 'treacherous Chi
nese.' don't think we have any right to accuse
them Of treachery, because. when MIR Bruce made
his appearance they told him to COUP by another
rag, which was open. But for certain reaso
rerhans he thought that it was not consistent with
the honor of this counry-he thought it was bet
ter To attempt to force the passage. But they
certainly did offer to III hha 90 mp the other mdy,
and. therefore, there mny perhaps be some ex-
cuse for them.
They certainly did not fire tho first shut. for it
was not until after Captain Willis, the Admirals
hag-captain, had blown up the first barrier, which
was tantamonnt to declaration Of wnr by us,
that they fired upon him, and he retired. Next
morning the gun-honts ordered to tnke mp
their positions ut o'cork, but on account of the
strong tide and the wind this could not be clfec.
ted until O'Clock in the afternoon; and during
the whole of this time The Chinese never fired
shot
Had they opened fire during this interval.
when the nboats were aground. don't think
of OF them would have escaped but they
waited until the Admiral had pulled up the first
of stakes. mud gono towards the second be.
fore they fired unon Us. Therefore, | don't HHk
IRE cdn call item hedcherous chinese. Then. rs to
the report, which stated that there was trap
laid for ns-this is entircy inco-rect-there was
no trap at NIL.
We saw it all before we went we saw the
masks before tho embrasures, aud Of course
cluded that here were guns behind them, md we
saw the mud we had to- cross. Therefore | hope
YOU will hear no more about traps or tIeacherous
Chinese. Then, ~ to our forcing civilization upon
these barbarians, as we term them it appears to
me to resemble such ease this.
a crusty old gentleman lives in Bishop An X
land. who likes to follow hi+ own crotchet4, and
~
suus meet together. 20 to him, and say. you must
come out and he civilized; You must let us into
your house. and become christian Now
think II man has tight to defend his own house
the best way he can; every mans house is his
castle, at least it is acknowledged to be in Eng
land, and don't know wayi should not be 50 in
China.
don't say that vcorc to give M our trade if
can help it, but don't think wo are right in
forcing our civilization upon China: | don't think
We show them very good examples of Christianity
or teach such good customs that they need wish
to initiate them and it is fact, as stated 10y
Lord Elsin, that the further went into the in
terror the better disposed the people were towards
US; but ut Canton and other places where we have
been established for 200 years, they have very
bad feelings towards us, because they have had
much injustice done t. them"
This is strong testimony, from qualified wit
ness on this very point.