Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-23
The Chinese and Anelo-rrench War.

The Overland China Mail, publishes let
ter describing Mr.. Wards journey, in which
the writer says:
Twice the American Minister dincd with
the Imperial Commissioners, and once they
with him and his suite The entertainments
by the Commissioners were on both occa-
sions most sumptuous. and when the Commits
sioners were cumplimcnted tor their liberal
ity. courtesy and good taste. they replied
that Il more magnificent and delicate dinner
could not be got up for the highest State dig
nitaries. or even for the Emperor himself
On one of these occasions kwellaug ndverted
to the late unhappy occurrences III the mouth
of the Peho, when lie remarked with an
emotion which was truly touching, and with
all the marks OF sincerity, that If ms age did
not eniite him 10 common marks OF respect
from Mr.. Bruce, certainly his position did.
the Emperor alone being the only individual
above him in the Empire.
He asserted that the Government was al
together sincere in its pro!essed intentions to
observe all the stpulationS of the treaty with
England and both expected and wished the
English minister to visit Pekin, Tor whose
reception and safe conduct imperial orders
had been sent to the Governor-'ieneral OF the
Province, as i'll the case OF the American
Minister: that he respected. and the Empe-
ror and Government respected, the English
nation, whose Intelligence and energy he
commended, and with whom commerce was
mutually advantageous. The Chinese Coy
eminent desired IL live on amirable relations
with the English, and hoped the present
troubles might be adjustcd happily. without
any more buodshcd They had not dreamed
Of any act Of violence or initiation OF war TILL
they heard the roar OF cannon IN the attack
on the forts III the mouth ol the Ptiho.-
That when he and his associate had remain
ed six months at Shanghai 1T the earnest re-
quest Of Lord El.lu, and had done 50 with
much sacrifice and difficulty from the de-
mand for their services at the capital, MIR.
Bruce refused the common and cheap evil
ty Of seeing them, and even doubled the III
suit by sending them the most discourteouS,
rude and insulting letters. lie did not blame
the English or the French for the unpr"voked
attack upon the forts he blamed only Mr..
Bruce who ordered. and was alone RESPONSE
BILE for the consequences.
For my part. am fully persuaded the
Chinese intended 10 fulfil the late treaties
All the arrangements were found I" nave
been made for Mr. Wards visit Ia Pekln uu-
der the imperial order. When the ratliica-
tions of the American treaty We're exchanged
at Pei-tsang. Mr.. Ward remarked, ut the
close Of the ceremony. that he hoped the
treaty would be bond Of perpetual peace
between two nations. upon which the Gov
ernurGcneral, u man Of active intellect anu
marked ability, replied with great emphasis
that the observance of the conditions by each
party would be still better. 10 the same et'
feet were the incidental remarks Of the Com
missioncrs in tree and honest conversation.
1t does not belong "a me Ia comment upon
the Pcho affair, though ! cannot but ex-
press my admiration Of the bravery 81 the
Euslshmell who fell in it. and equally Of
those who survived. Errors may have been
committed on both sides aud blame Justly
attach to both. But need more blood be
shed. Must thousands Of ignorant men
and women perish for the indiscretlonS Of
two or three individuals? Aud that, too,
when satisfactory adj ustment could 50
easily be made, Heaven forbid Human
ity forbid.
can only add that all the difficulty cXpe-
rienced by Mr. Ward III fulfilling his mission
" the capital, arose from his persistent refusal
10 perform the ko-tow, or headknockins, 80
degrading in the eyes Of the western Nations,
and L. none more So than to Americans. The
Commissioners proposed II compromise, con
sentins to his falling upon one knee, and
emitting altogether the head The
Emperor expressed his desire to see the
American Minister and every effort was made
to induce him TO conform to the modified
form Of the rite. But all in vain; and hence
the failure of an audience from the Emperor.
Still, Mr.. Wards refusal, when he was with
in the walls of the Imperial City, attended
by a suite composed OF twenty individuals.
without the least military force or protection,
nav induce the Court to make the cereno-
mes upon presentation to the Emperor more
in accordance with Western uSages and ideas,
and thus Il real service may be rendered, both
To the Chinese and to future ambassadors.