The Portland daily press., 1867-01-17
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The French in C0rca.

The telegraphic intelligence respecting the
movements Of the French fleet in the Beoul
river has been quite unsatisfactory. Details
begin to arrive by mail, and as usual the Trib-
unes correspondence furnishes the first au-
thentic account of the matter. The provoca-
ton, it is known, was the execution Of French
Catholic missionaries by order OF the Corean
government. The United States government
has also grieyance-the burning alive of the
crew Of the General Sherman in their vessel.
What the American government has done or
will do, is not yet known. The French fleet in
the Chinese port of Chepoo sailed at once for
Corea, and found it very strange country.
The first expedition explored the Beoul riy-
er, ascending without difficulty to Konshoa,
forty miles from its mouth. The stream runs
about five miles an hour. Konghoa is situated
on an island, and is regarded by the natives as
one OF their strongest places, though the
French describe its Notifications as quite in
significant. 1t is mean and filthy town of
about 10000 inhabitants. Gunboats were
able to ascend the river some twenty miles
further-to within sight of the walls of the
Royal City, Sayool-but with difficulty, owing
to shoals, rocks, abrupt curves and the rapidi-
ty of the current, They found some rude
stone forts and dispersed some Coreans who
were about to obstruct the channel by sinking
a feet ofjunks. Mandarins then came on
board, with presents of provisions and request
ed the French to withdraw, which after TAX
ing drawings, soundings and plans they did,
The squadron then returned to Chepoo.
Onithe 11th October Admiral Roze again
sailed for Corea, this time prepared to inflct
punishment. His fleet consisted of seven
vessels and carried 400 riflemen. He arrived
on the coast of the Peninsula on the 18th,
and proceeded up the river, passing eleven
forts, entirely without defenders, though the
muzzles Of the guns could be seen through
the embrasures. On the 10Th, the fleet con-
tinued to ascend, and landed the rifiemen
without encounterng any resistance, at vii
lage which was found to be deserted. At
Konghoa party of Coreans was posted on
the ramparts and fred upon the Frenchmen,
but without effect, and took to fight when
their fire was returned. One of the gates
was forced with axes. The others were burn
ed. On the 10Th the Admiral entered the
city and found il deserted. A mandarin
waited on Admiral Roze and boldly vindicat-
ed the course of his government in killing
the missionaries. He was abruptly dis
missed. 9 ,sin1iliH73-tl iH41rAH io
On the second day after the capture Of the
city, dispatch was received from the viceroy
and military commandant of Corea, in behalf
of the king. The dispatch was written in
Chinese, and treated a. great length of the
punishment which had befallen the late mis-
sionaries, concluding with request to the
Admiral to come up to Sayool and enter into
negotiations. The Admiral in reply spoke of
the virtues OF the missionaries, demanded the
punishment. of the three principal ministers
who instigated their execution, and asked
that an officer invested with full powers
should be sent to treat with him. kns
4 This is, the latest definite intelligence. On
the 23d October a native convert had Just
brought intelligence that an army $1,000
strong was advancing from the capital to at
tack the French, and that stone-laden junks
had been sunk in the river to obstruct the
passage of the men-of-war. Dispatches by
the Atlantic cable have since informed us OF
the return of the French fleet which has hith-
erto been unable to obtain any redress. The
next expedition will probably lie composed of
both French and American vessels, and ought
to be more successful.