Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-08-29
English and French in China.

The correspondents Of the New York
Evening Post, writes from Shanghai en-
The sist Of May;
Since the date Of my last, large nun
Der Of English and French troops have
arrived There are nj the present time %
French ships in port, several OF them be
ing immense In sire and looking as though
they had been constructed in shtediluvian
times, and planned by men who were
"ancient mariners" when Capt Noah
made his memorable voyage. A large
French steamer, having ON board troops
and artillery stores FOR the use OF the
French expedition, was lost in the harbot
OF Annoy q few days age. She was upon
n rock, aud IL reported to he total loss,
toeethe, with ali her stores. The troops
aud crew we're saved. Another large fri
gate was run aground In the Yang TIE
river, and when got ahoat wss found 10
he leaking badly. The American ship
Richard Busted has been chartered by the
French TO receive the stores, DC, ftom this
higste, while che goes into dock for re
pairs. Another French vessel a stesmer)
IL now In dock undergoing repairs. Iior-
ses are arriving from Japan, and they are
IN pitiable condition when landed here.
There are said 10 be about i2, 600 French
troops now here snd at Woo Sung. The
English probably number half ne many
more. The principal English force, how
ever, IL At Uhussn. Hundreds Of these
troops are landed every day, marched
through the city out upon The race course,
where they are drilled. These marehngs
and communicating seem greatly 70
smuse the Chinese. who fcck In dfoves to
care upon the pageant. The bright red
coats and elitteting accoutteinents ~ the
English soldiers seem greatly TO interest
the natives, who spend hoH,s in looking
with curiosity upon the military svolu-
tiuns If the troops.
There il q very striking contrast be
tween the French and English troops.
The former are altogether inferior in per
sonal appearance TO their allies, physicist
" ss we'll ss In dress. There Is siso q
hrmness Of tread. an erect msnliness Of
bearinein the English soldier that seems
10 be wanting in the French.
One can hardly refrain from asking the
question. what Do these n, 900 able-bodied
Europeans here : They have been brought
these i2,es8 miles from home, at fuinous
cost 10 their respective governments. TO
brave the dangers Of q climate noted for
its insaiubfity, where NJ least fourth
will die from natural causes, should there
he no fighting, and now their occupation
seems 10 be marching up the hill and
"mstehing down again" TO smuse few
scores Of idle and curious Chinese. They
may he engaged in an anxious search a
mong the rice fields and grave yards Of
tins region after that mythical wonder,
hitherto supposed TO accompany European
intercourse with Eastern nations, general
" called Prestige, which II is believed was
"stolen or strsyed" from the month Of the
Pe-iho some time last summer, and may
he yet wandering about here. How much
good might he accomplished by these
10000 men, could their energies be expen-
ded in preparing our western forests or
prsities for mans hsbitstion and homes
Tor happy and independent free men !
This war appears to be q most wretehed
affair, viewed In any light.