The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-26
IMPORTANT FROM CHINA.

The Allied Plenipotentiarfes go up the
Peiho for Pekin-They Find the River
Barred above the Barrier Forts-Chincsc
Masked Batteries Opened ON the English
Fleet-A Hard Battle and the Allies In
Retreat-Five English Gunboats Lost,
and Four Hundred and Sixty-Four Men
Killed and Woundcd-Fourtcen French
men Killed and Wounded-The Pleni-
potentiaries Again at shanghae-The
United States Minister Reported I'm Pc
kin-Thc English Land, and are Shot
Down as They Do-Gallant Conduct, but
OF No oAvail-Admiral Hope and Many OF
His Officers Wounded-The Americans
in Action, &C., &c.
Highly important, but meagre dispatches, in antcipa-
ton of the arrival Of the China mail reached England
The following despatch had been published by the 60
yernment -
Admiral Hope arrived Off the Pcho river on the nth of
June and found that the forhcatons had been rebuilt
but no guns or men visible The entrance into the
river was barred with booms and stakes.
The Plenpotentiares joined the squadron the 2oth
and notice having been taken Of the of
their arrival an attempt was made on the 25h to force
passage when, a sudden, batteries supported by
mongrel force of apparently 900 men, were unmasked
and opened destructive fire.
After severe action the squadron was obliged to with
draw with the loss of the gunboas Cormorant Lee and
Plover, and four hundred and sixty four killed and
wounded.
The French had fourteen killed and wounded out of
sixty.
The Plenipotentiares have returned to Shanghae.
The rest OF China was reported quiet
No fears entertained about Canton the Tartar
troops have been disarmed as matter Of precauton
further despatch mentions that seven officers
klco seventeen wounded, Admiral Hope pcug among
the latter.
Other dispatches confirm these particulars, and
via Trieste adds the following
II is stated that the American Ambassador had been ad
mitted to Pekn The hope OF the treaty being carried
out is given up, and fresh considered imminent.
The Times says" Hcnccforth negotiations mus be
carried at Pekn, where one can doubt Europeans
will soon be much at home and safe Paris" 1t
concludes the article with the following uncomplmentary
reflections on the American Ambassador-eThe Ameri-
can Ambassador without force of arms said to have
been admitted at Pekin. Of he had peculiar
claim this exceptional privilege of the assist
ance given the Chinese mandarns to deprive Of the
Just fruits of the late successful war Whether this
admissible than those who had opened the way to him
does not yet appear the Americans open China by
peaceful Methods let them do it, but thus far they
better able help themselves than to do anything for the
world at large"
CANTON July 20, 1850.
All traffic with the interior is interrupted The allies
still occupy the town.
The mails with the full details of the news were expect
ed to reach London on the morning of the North Americans
departure.
The English and French Secretaries Of Legation to
China returned home the mail steamer. The news OF
created much sensation and the violation of the
treaty such reacherous manner called forth loud de.
mands for a terrible vengeance.
The Canton markets were dull.
AT shanghae exchange was es. Nd The tea markets
were favorable In freights nothing was doing.
THE LATEST.
LONDON, Sept, IA, 1859.
The China mail has arrived, bringing complete accounts
of the Pciho affair." which resulted in the total defeat of the
British forces, nth less than five gunboa. and about
third Of the ,ohole force engaged
The mouth Of the river eectually barred by iron
stakes and booms This bar was raked by the fire Of the
newly constructed forts the other side Of the river
mounting ninety to one hundred guns.
Admiral Hopes appearance in the first instance was
Enthusiastically pacific; solitary boat carried
in his first message the Fury two gunboats being left
outside the bar while the rest Of the squadron was lying
thirty miles of.
The ambassadors finding proper officers to receive
hem decided to remove the bar and pass up the river
Six or seven hours, however, spent in vain en-
deavors to effect this and during that time not gun was
fired from the forts, although the gunboats dis
ance of 500 700 yards only and Of them had got
aground.
At13o p NJ the signal for action was run up and the
opossum and Plover pushed in close up to the first
barrier.
Suddenly about two p NJ, the guns in the forts opened
fire, and the action became general The fire Of the Chi
nese, both in weight and precision such
before experienced at their hands.
In about two hours the fire of the Chinese began to
sacken' and was afterwards almost scnced, al
though every shot of theirs told while the British guns
did comparatively little damage to the mud walls.
AT about p NJ the signal was made for tho troops to
and and there were then doubts OF speedy victory
Just as the first boat touched the shore, the forts oca
perfect hurricane Of she'll, gngau balls and ROCKETS ua,cs
mO'csd do'n the Sl as they landed Tho ships threw in