The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-11-20
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1860

By the mails of the Canada we have more than
graphic account of the active operations of the
combined French and English forces in China,
and of the successful storming of the lannon's Takn
forts was these same forts-as our readers
will probably recollect-that disputed the passaq
OF the allied fotilla in 1858, and which, in their
then comparatively weak state, were taken by
assault without offering any resistance of conse-
quence. As these forts constituted at that time
the only obstruction to the free navigation Of
the feiho, their capture enabled the English
ana French Plenipotentiaries-Lord EtG1x and
Baron GRosto sail up the river as far as the ,,n,
ulous city of Ten-tsin; the Ambassadors of
Russia and the United States-Count PUrI.Trv
ana MIR. aEED-following closely in their wake
Inc presence of the representatives of the Allied
and friendly Powers, almost within striking
distance OF Pekin, quickened negotia tons for
peace, that every demand which was made was
finally conceded, and the treaty of Tien-tsin being
concluded, hostities ceased, the Plenipoten taries
returned home to report their success to their re-
spective governments, and nothing remained to be
accomplished in the future but to exchange treaties
within the time appointed for that object, and to
"
ance of its engagements So far as the treaties
entered into with Russia and the UNITED STATES are
concerned, we have every reason to believe that
the Celestlals have acted in good faith We OBJ
Jected at the time, and we still object to the
undignihed manner in which Mr.. WARD was
treated at Peh-tang, and during his Journey
to Pekin, and particularly to the surveillance
to which he was subjected after reaching the
Chinese Capital. But, in all other respects our Gov
eminent has had no very serious ground of COM
plant. The ports agreed upon were thrown open
to foreign trade, and the claims which were al
lowed by the treaty to our citizens, for damages
incurred by them, have been in uninterrupted
process of payment. With the English and the
French, however, the case has been wholly different
The attempt of the English Minister, Mr.. BRucE in
1859, to penetrate to Pekin, by way of the Peiho
river, resulted most disasrously. The Taku forts
which, in the meantime, had been strengthened |
and re-occupied by Tartar troops-the best SOL |
ders in the Imperial servce-opened fire suddenly |
upon the English squadron; sunk several Of the |
vessels; successfully repulsed the heroic efforts of
Admiral HoPE' S storming parties and would have
inflicted still more serious damage had it not
been for the timely assistance which our own
commodore TATNALL rendered to the disabled |
steamers in towing them out of range of the de-
structlTe fire from the forts Being thus repulsed
the shattered remains of the squadron Withdraw
TO the Southwark, and there waited for fresh in
suuctiohs from home. This wanton violation of
the provisions of the treaty, the part of the
Onlhese, was no sooner made known in Europe,
than ali agreement was entered into between the
English and French Governments to fit out a new
expedition 1t was promptly but most Inefficient
" organized, and consequently the squadrons of
the two nations met with many delays before they
were ready to commence offensive operations.
ne olcultles encountered arose principally from
the haste with which the French contingent had
oeen organized for distant service and among s
other things, from the want of horses for 9
their artillery, which had to be purchased b
IN Japan. Several months were thus wasted: c
out at length all the preparations were completed
ana we have now intelligence OF the successful $
landing OF the troops on the delta of the
Pelho, and of the assault and re-capture of the Ia
ku forts, after sharp contest of four hours dura
ton. The loss of the Allies in killed and wounded
Is set down at four hundred and fifty men; that
Oh The Chinese at fifteen hundred. The Armstrong
guns were here put to practical test for the first
time, and Eeir destructive capacity is said to have
been most concusively demonstrated The captnre E
Of the forts left the country once more open to the
advance of the Allies as far as Tien-tsn and to.
wards that place they took up their line Of march
10 those who know anything of Chinese charac- =
Ter 1t Will occasion no surprise to learn that the
signal defeat which the Imperial troops have suf-
tered, has induced the Government TO despatch 7
Commissioners to Tien-tsin to enter anew into I
negotiations for peace. 1t is reported that Baron 1
1Ros and Lord ELGIN would proceed to Pekin.
simply by an escort of cayalrv.- d
That some such proposition may have been made fl
o them we think is quite probable; but, con- IL
cious as they must be, of the duplicity and 7
reachery which enter so largely into Chinese d. e
'lomacy, it is not at all likely that they will con-
ent to forego the advantages they have obtained
Difference to the wishes of Court which has q
lready been guilty of fragrant breach of faith.
rom the trmness displayed By Lord ELGIN two
ears ago, when pressed by the Chinese Commits
toner's to withdraw his stipulation for resident
minister at Pekin, we may conclude that what he v
men considered an essential point will not now :,
e yielded, and that the journey of the Allied o.
'lenIpotentiares to Pekin will be rendered as i'm.
oslng as possible by the presence of all the mill
airy and naval force which is at their command. ii
However this may be- it is evident that the war il ty
losed; but whether the new treaty which will he =,
,ade will be better observed than the old ,orst bo w
1T for the future TO determine. m