The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-14
The Americans in China The Amer.
lean Minister Invited to Pelkin.
Correspondence of the Philadelphia Ledger.
U. >. .. POWHATAN,
Off the Poi. Ho River Jnlv A

had hoped to have written this letter
from Pekin, but the fortunes of war still
detains us at the mouth of the Pei-HO. We
left Shanghai on the Is ult., anchored here
on the 29th, learned that the English squad
ron, anchored around US, had been refused
permission to pass the forts, and on the
oath, took advantage of smooth day to
communicate with the latter and notify
their commanding officers that the Ameri-
can Minister was at hand and ready to
proceed to Pekin.
The result of this advance upon our part
was the information that we could not pro.
coed to Pekin by this route, but that there
was another a few miles further north,
where, if we would proceed, we would meet
the high officers, who would talk to us about
it. They, however, refused to furnish us
hint for the sea route, or sedan chairs for
the road overland, and the unavoidable
inference from the interview generally was
the conviction that we were, as usual, being
trifed with
The position of our minister was now
very simple one, and his line of action very
plainly laid out. The ratified treaty which
be came to exchange only entitled him to
approach Pekin as near as be then was,
but its Favored nation clause, "Sat the same
time, secured US whatever was granted any
other nation. If, therefore, during the next
day or two, the Chinese should be prevailed
upon either by diplomacy or the cannon, to
allow any nation to go to Pekin by the Pei.
Ho, they would be forced by the treaty to
allow us to 60 with the same freedom. 1t,
on the contrary, they successfully keep out
England and France, the United States
would be obliged to remain out. Also,
obliged to exchange the notifications at any
time and place which the Chinese should
select, and owe it to Chinese complaisance
should the time prove short, and the place
Pekin. MIR. Ward, therefore, wanted to
seehow the English would succeed in their
contemplated attack the next day, before
starting to the northern port referred to,
where everything would depend on Chinese
complaisance.
The next day came and saw desperate
battle fought between thirteen gunboats on
the one side, and eight heavy forts on the
other, which after duration of seven hours,
resulted in favor of the latter.
In the meantime, our Minister had been
pursuing course which promises to take
US to Pekin by the middle of the month.
Whether it will terminate in Chinese prom
ises" or not remains to be seen. No sooner
did he see the English beaten off than he
saw at glance that our visit to Pekin
rested entirely upon the Chinese. In fact,
he must have seen Pekin recedng very far
into the distance, our only object being to
exchange the treaties, which it was in their
power to have done at Canton as we'll as
in the northern capital. Imagine our sur
prise, therefore, when he received letter
from the Tau.tal (Governor) of Tein-Sing,
which, being translated, gave us certain
Chinese certainty-prospect of being con-
Quoted in state TO Pekin. But before giving
this translation, let me show the reader how
we came to receive it.
On the 29th ult. the writer was ordered
to the Toey-wan to act as pilot during trip
to the north in search of the other port or
entrance to the Pei.Ho, spoken of by the
Chinese at the forts. Mr.. w. w. Ward,
Secretary of Legation, and Messrs. Will
liams and Martin, interpreters, accompanied
the expedition, the object of which was to
inquire into the truth of the Chinese asser-
ton as to a second entrance, and to deliver
a letter for the Governor General of the
province, should such thing prove practi-
cable. We were very doubtful as to the
nature of the reception to be expected at
their hands. AS they were undoubtedly at
war with the English, and as they generally
make no distinction between us, extreme
caution was 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. After running six miles with
five fathoms water, we discovered the masts
of iunks over the low land to the north ward
and westward, and changed our course so as
to 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 assumed very different
appearance. We could now see what looked
like the entrance to a river or lagoon, guard
ed by heavy forts, and having great num-
Der of junks anchored inside. We should
like to have sent boat to communicate,
but were four miles off, with half gale of
wind blowing directly off, against which we
could mpke no Roadway. 1t was also at the
top of high water, and the steamer, drawing
eight feet, might ground at any moment.
We therefore contented ourselves with TAX
ing an azimuth and some angles, by means
of which we found these forts to be seven
miles to the north and east of those Of the
mouth of the Pablo.
After this we kept away along the coast
in search of more accessible landing, and at
the end of five miles arrived within one and
half miles of town, off which some junks
were anchored. Here we stopped in nine
feet of water, and the wird having moder-
ated, lowered boat into which got Messrs
Ward, (brother of the minister,) and Mar.
tin, having indian merchant to manage
her. Then after they had showed off, We
ran out into deep water with the steamer
and anchored to await their return. W.
had several good glasses on board. through
which we watched their movement will
some anxiety. Tbey first pulled toward the
iupks, and we could see them diverted be
fore they had gone half way. Then they
headed for town, and the entire population
was making 2.4O 3" time toward the bach
country. Finally they ran ashore in the
mud, and rolling up their trowers, com
menced trudging througha half mile of i
toward the landing.
Several of the least fearful of the villagers
seeing three unarmed men wading through
the mud towards them, now took courage
and advanced toward the landing, and
MIR. Martin held up the letter and tolc
L. hat