Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-10-21
Cause 81 the china IA war. = !.

The circumstances attending the late rup-
ture between the Chinese and the English
and French forces are substantially these {:
England, France and the United States,
after several years spent in the attempt,
had finally concluded treaties with China ;
and accordingly they sent on Ministers to
carry out the stipulations. Sometime last
June, these ministers, NJ. De Bourbalon,
French, Mr.. Bruce, British, and Mr.. Ward,
American, met at Shanghai. Each was pro-
vided with an escort of vessels; for it is
the fashion of modern governments, even
unsophisticated Republics like the United
States, to lavish heavy and useless sums in
rigging out foreign ministers with beftt'ng
pomp. Commodore Tatnall with the steam
er Powhattan and another small vessel con-
veyed the American minister The French
mini ster also had steamer and another
small vessel and the British minister had
quite fleet of vessels and gun boats-no
less than fifteen in all, manned by about
l4UU Iu6u. OuluCo0 CUuiuiooAOhOAo oooN' SS
them of cordial reception from the Empe-
ror: but at the same time told them that he
would not permit an armed fleet to pene-
trate into the Empire. It is said that but
little attention was paid to the commissio on
ers. The feet proceeded to the mouth OF
the Peiho river, on the way to Pekin, the
American Minister with his two steamers
hanging on to the coat tails of the French and
English: On arriving at one of the mouths
of this river, they discovered that there was
fort commanding it, the entrance also be-
ing obstructed by chains. On repairing
to the fort for information, the English were
told that they would not be allowed to pro-
ceed up the channal-that the river Peiho
emptied into the ocean by several channels
that at one of these, about twelve miles
north, they would be received by proper
officers and conducted to Pekin: The Eng
]ish and French affected to consider this as
a method of obstructing their passage to
the capital. Without even going up to
the other channel to ascertain the truth Of
what was told them, they replied that they
should proceed to Pekin up that branch OF
the river. The Chinese rejoned that if
they attempted it they would be fred upon.
They did try it-were fired upon and terri
bly, beaten, losing about 500 men. Commo-
dore Tatnall evidently sided with the allies.
He sent steamer to tow two of the British
vessels into action, and during TIE difficulty,
one American was killed.
After the battle. M. Ward, the Ameri
can minister, sent up to the other channel to
how things stood, and found them
just as the Chinese at the fort, before the
battle, told him they were. A cordial re-
cepton awaited him as had been promised.
A present of large quantity of provisions
was also in readiness. Whether or not the
good will of the Chinese will be withdrawn
when they ascertain what part he took in
the battle, remains to be seen. 1t is proba
BILE that by his extreme folly he has forfeited
the great advantage which he held.
That the English and French will prose-
cute the war, right or wrong, cannot be very
They will be hardly willing to
rest under so bad an example to the Chinese
as defeat. And their superior equipments,
big guns and rifled cannon, will of course
in the end tell upon the inferior prepara-
tions of the Celestials.