Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-28
THE WAR IN CHINA.
THE CAPTURE OF PEKIN AND THE SACKING
OF THE EMPERoR'S PALACE.


menced its advance on Pekin. On the 9th an
earthwork near Pekin was taken. On the
same day the summer palace of the emperor
was taken, and the soldiers secured i'm
mense spoil. On the 18th everything was
prepared for the assault, or the occupation of
Pekm. The siege guns and other artillery
were i'll position to lombard the town unless
1t should be surrendered by noon of the 18th.
| The whole OF the troops were to be furnished
on the 18th with two days cooked rations.
In the event of an attack upon Pekin being
ordered, all property collected by officers on
this occasion, to be sold for the just benefit of
all ranks. The commander-in chief informed
the army that he has taken upon himself a
serious responsibility in appropriating to their
benefit the treasure which was found in the
emperor's palace, and which, by right, belongs
to the crown.
Just Immediately before the period given
for surrender would expire, Hangchun came
out and said our demands were acceded to- no
resistance would be made, and the gate was at
our disposal Thereon the outer and inner
gates were Immediately taken possession of,
and portion Of the allied force was quartered
on the wall Of Pekin. The Earl OF Elgin and
Baron eros are at the military headquarters
but, as Mr.. Bruce has been sent for it is pos
sible that his lordship does not propose to
spend the winter in the north. 1t is said to
be the intention OF the commanderin-chief to
withdraw from Pekin, and make Tien- Tsn his
winter quarters. Lady Grant has left Hong
Kong to join him. The commissariat even in
its most trifling details, is unexceptionable
The general health OF the troops mas been
excellent. The Tartar army was still in the
field.
Letters were found in the palace from San.
ko-in-sin to the emperor, assuring him of his
confidence in being able to annihilate us
The garrison of Pekiu is reported to be &C, 900
to 10000 men. The pressure of the people is
said to have had great weight in inducing the
authorities to yield. The generals and staff,
with the Punjaubees, and 9th regiment en-
tered the outer and inner gates of Pekin and
assembled to the rampartS and took possession
OF the gate and number of brass guns, and
mounted our guns in their place. The Eng
lsh and French flags were then hoisted i'll to-
ken Of our military occupation. The wall is
60 feet wide and paved, and the troops inside
have their tents pitched on it. The only
thing the Chinese asked was, that the Chinese
coolies should not be allowed to enter the city.
This was conceded.
The emperOrs summer palace was only oc-
cupied by 800 eunuchs, and so or 40 men in
charge of the gardens. They made a slight
Va
two French officers wounded. The next day
the palace was given up to indiscriminate loot
after the French had made the first selection
lndlscriminate loot was allowed for two days
The public reception hail. the state and private
bed rooms, ante rooms, boudoirs, and every
other apartment, has been ransacked. Arti-
Giles of vertu of native and foreign workman.
ship were taken, or broken if too large to be
carried away. Ornamental lattice work,
screens, jade stone ornaments, jars, clocks,
watches, and other pieces of mechanism, cur
taIns, and turniture-none have escaped from
destruction. There We're extensive wardrobes
Of every article of dress coats richly embro-
dered in silk and gold thread, in the imperial
dragon pattern, boots, head dresses, fans, &C.,
in fact, rooms all but filled with them
There must have been 10000 or $4,000 pieces
OF silks in rolls. which at Canton cost $50 or
$50 each. Hundreds wore thrown down and
trampled on, and the floor covered thickly
with them. Men were throwing them at each
other, and all taking as many as they could
carry They were used instead of rope to
secure the loading of carts filled with them.
A treasury containing large quantity of gold
ingots and Sycee silver is under charge of a
guard and is to be divided between the Eng.
lish and French. The total value of property
destroyed would amount to a large instalment
of the indemnity claimed. a party of the
French went through the apartments, break.
ing every thing that remained-mirrors,
screens, panels, &c.-in revenge for the treat
ment the released prisoners, their countrymen,
had received. Much dissatisfaction has been
expressed at the decision of the commander
ln-chlet, that only those of the troops who
marched at the last hating place are to par
tlcipate i'll the prize money, all the rest, those
at the depot at Tung Chow, and elsewhere,
hpipu aYplu1aI Tho MD il, al; ,f,
general officers have waived their right to
share. A gold jug Of great value was pre-.
scented 10 the commandment chief by the ar
my. A general order from the British conl-
mander-n chief desired that ali articles taken
by all officers and men were TO be sent in for
sale by public auction for the benefit OF the
army, which was done. All were permitted
to have the articles brought away by them.
selves valued, and have the option OF taking
or rejecting them. Many beautiful and curl
Gus souvenirs were thus obtained at nominal
price The sale realized $4,000 which, with
the value OF the treasure, estimated at Sol.
600, is TO be divided as prize money on the
spot"
The following is a separate account of the
affair at the palace -
The French column, together with Col Pat.
ties brigade OF cavalry, advanced on Yuen.
min Yuen, the English column rather nearer
Pekin, large body of the enemy having been
observed (near the village now occupied by
us) The French entered with only two casu-
alitles, two officers being wounded by the
eunuchs OF the palace. The following day, no
signs of the French being visible, the English
fired Il guns to attract attention, and later in
the morning the commander in.chief learned
where they were. Lord Elgin Mr. Wade Sir
H. Grant, Sir r. Napier, and their respective
STATS proceeded to the palace, and found the
French had been comfortably established
there, and that great proportion of the prin.
clpal valuables had been already taken away
leaving the heavy, but less valuable articles
for the English, or at least what things the
French could not carry they left for us. No
description can give an idea Of the splendor of
this residence. The entrance or reception
hall is paved with MARBLE and painted with
gold, azure and scarlet in the most gorgeous
style. The throne Of the emperor is of beau
tilul carved dark wood, and the cushions en-
broidered with gold dragons, attracted general
admiration; every inner chamber and saloon
was very handsomely fitted up and the
rolls OF splendid wormaukship, splendidly
furnished cummerbunds and puggarees for
the French soldiers, who appear to have adopt.
our custom in this respect. The Jade stone
and china were of great value, and some Sc
vres china of Louise Quatorze wauld have de.
lSnteu tne ages Oh many euro fancler; and
presentation sword, with the English coat of
arms, studded with gems, and evidently of an.
tiquity, gave rise to some speculation. The
last treaty of Tensin was also found and
the immense quantity of loot of all kinds made
it almost impossible to know what to take
away. Some idea OF the quantity Of silk may
be given by the fact that fowls, old pots, etc.
were wrapped in the most costly silks and sat
ms. All the ladies had disappeared, but their
little japanese dogs, something resembling
King Charles spaniel, were running about in