Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-09-30
WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


Ing the United states squadron in the East indies,
to the Secretary of the Navy, giving an Official
re port Of the circumstances which led to the en-
o apement ON the Peiho between the allied squad
Ions of France and England and the Chinese, and
explaining to what extent the Americans were
mixed up in the affair: - ~
L. & STEAM FRIeATE PowHArAN
Flagship, East India Squadron
- OF Psrho Rirsr, July 4. 1859.
SIR: The last dispatch which had the honor to
send You reported this ship, In company with the
chartered steamer Toey-wau. at sea- off the Yang
tse, on her way to the Peiho with our Minister to
China, Mr.. Ward, and suite on board. That
gentleman has reported to the Government the re-
salt of the interview and correspondence with the
Chinese Commissioners at Shangbae shall only
refer. therefore, to that subject Ear is neces
ssry to your understanding the circumstances
which placed us in very unexpected position on
our arrival at the Peiho, and produced unex-
pected results. The Chinese Com ssioners were
those with whom our late Minister, Mr.. Reed,
concluded the treaty last year at Tient-sin. and
with whom he subsequently, arranged the tariff at
Shanghae. where they have remained ever since.
In the Interchange Of visits between these Com
missioners and Mr.. Ward, the latter was escorted
by number of the officers and marines of our
squadron; this being not only suited to the dignity
Of Mr. Ward, but Intended a compliment to
the Chinese Commissioners. to whom Mr.. Ward
wished to extend the greatest consideration. Mr..
Ward Informed them that he was on his way to
Pekin to exchange the treaties, which 1t was OBJ
ligatory on both parties to do, on or before the
18th June, now near at hand.
. They replied that, having signed the treaties.
they must themselves exchange them; that they
could not reach Pekin from Shanghae in less than
sixty DAYS, and that. by agreement with Lord
Elgin, the late British ambassador they were ex-
pected to remain at Shanghae until the arrival of
the present British Minister Mr.. Bruce.
Mr.. Ward then offered to exchange our treaty at
Shanghai, which they evaded on the ground that
the treaty was at Pekin and they proposed to Mr.
Ward that he should remain at Shanghai until
the arrival of the British minister. Mr.. Ward
although doubling their sincerity, in a spirit Of
osition, tuus waving the specified time Of ex-
change. The British Minister his arrival a
day two after, refused to hold official inter-
course with the Commissioners, on the ground (as
] understood it) that Pekin was the place speci
fled in the British treaty for the exchanre. and
that he was on his way there for that W. rpose
Unsuccessful in their endeavors to d. tain the
British, and to reopen the negotiations at Shang-
hae the Commissioners apparently Welded. and
despatched cOuriers (who they asserted would ar
rive In week. to Pekin to prepare las they said)
the authorities for the arrival and reception of all
the Ministers and their conveyance to Pekin
where the treaties would be exchanged by spe-
cial Commissioner on the 25th of June. the day
specified in the British treaty; The Commission
ers notified Mr. Ward of this arrangement and
requested him to accompany the British and
French to the Peiho. To this he consented there
b" to a certain extent assuming the same platform
with the latter will here remark that the sim
cerity of the Chinese Commis sioners was much
doubted at the time, some of their countrymen at
Shanghae declaring that delay their object,
and had placed in command Mongul Prince Of
high military reputation, who was known to he
verv hostile To the treaties
We reached the anchorage off the Peiho Oh the
2'st June. where We found the British and French
Ministers and their feet. On my first interview
with the British Admiral, James Hope. ! learned
that the Ministers English and Frenehl had an
nounced to the authorities on shore the object of
shOuld hv fta
river to Ttent-sin. their way TO Pekin con-
formally With their sHtreaties - The Chinese had
positively refused them the ascent Of tine river
entrance to which they found very strongly forth
fed and across which several lines of barricades
had been constructed. The Chinese declared tbat
this river. which we had all navigated as the
Pelho year ago, was only one mouth Of the
Tlent-sfn river, and that there was another ell
trance ten miles to the north. which entrance was
called the Peiho, and was the point referred d in
the treaties They insisted that the Ministers
should remain OFF this northern entrance until
the arrival of the Commissioners from Shanphae
(Which could not be short of two months when
arrangements would be made to convey them to
Pekin by this route.
The British and French Ministers considering
this an evasion with view To gaining time 10
strengthen their defences had referred the matter
To their respective naval commanders who notified
the Chinese that if the Instructions i'm the channel
of the river were not removed by the 25th of June
the day for the exchange of treaties. they would
themselves proceed to remove them | will he,e
remark that IN the Chinese charts there isa small
river emptying into the ten miles to the north
Of this, and which. diverging gradually from the
course OF the Peho as you ascend it, has its source
far In the interior; some twenty miles from its
mouth IL Is connected with the river we know as
the Peiho by narrow creek, said to be dry at
low. and having but five feet at high water. After
due deli be.aton. Mr.. Ward and decided to en-
ter the ri .er we had known as the Peiho in the
81 tanner TOey-wau far the barricades as
though ignorant Of access having been refused thu
English and French. If the forts should Ire across
ne IN nnphn and
communicate if into US, having no guns. We
would retire and act accordingly. Twelve British
and one frd)h steamer, all small had previously
concentrated within the bar, at the mouth of the
river. Just out Of gun-shot Of the batteries
We entered the river in execution of our plan at
II a. M, on the oath uitimo, and passing through
the British squadron, without communicating,
pushed up towards the barriers At this time not
u man was TO be seen at the forts nor a gun in an
embrasure. nor, although tiag-staffs We're on the
parapets, was flag displayed. There was nothing
TO indicate that the forts Were armed or manned
Subsequently events show this to have been de-
ceptiOn and ambuscade, intended. | do not doubt
lin the confidence " their own strength and the
small force of the English. to invite conflict in
order To annul the treaties Of last ar We had
aPproac he'd to within three hundred wards of the
first barrier, at which point, should we not be
hred on, had proposed anchOring, when we
grounded and failed In all our efforts to back Off
Fbe tide was falling fast and our situation was
critical not only from the facility with which the
batteries might demolIsh us. but. We Were on
the steamer falling over and filling. At this mo-
ulent received from Admiral James Hope AN
attention and kindness which must place ME
under lasting obligations to him. Although he
had reason to think that she would he fired upon
by the forts, he sent gun-boat to my aid, with
the message that had he known Of my intention
to pass up he would have furnished me pilot,
and that he expected to see me fred on The
gun-bOat failed in her efforts to extricate me- and
there being. as l have said, probability of the
Toey-wau falling over and ii Ing, the Admiral
despatched a second gun-boat 10 me, placing her
entirely at my disposition, with the handsome
and generous offer that should hoist on board of
her the American ensign and my own personal
flag. declined the offer, with just apprecia-
ton, however, Of the personal kindness to myself
and the delicate compliment to our service The
Toey-wcI was more fortunate than expected |
aud, favora BILE wind having sprung up, we got |
her off at high water
About two hours after grounding We sent boat |
TO the nearest fort with my flag lieutenant, Mr. |
Trenchard, and the interpreters. to inform the |
commanding officer that the American Minister
was on board the TOey-wau on his way to Tient- |
SIN and Pekin in accordance with our treaty and |
an understanding with the Chinese Commission |
ers al Shanghae. They were met at the landing
by an Officer protesting to be Of low rank, who |
said that his orders Were not to permit the reno
val OF the barriers, and to fire on those attempting