Newspaper Page Text
CHESS COLUMN.
Solution of Problem VI.
(Published in our last number, page 149.)
■WHITE. BLACK.
1 Queen f I—f 4 f King g 4—h 5
2 Queen f 4—fs : f Pawn e 6—f 5:
3 Knight g 6—f 4 f King h s—g 5
4 Rook a6—g6 f Mate
Problem VII.
(From, De la Bourdonnais, page 83.)
POSITION.
WHITE. BLACK.
Rook on d 1 Rook on g 4
King on h 1 Queen on f 5
Pawn on g 2 Pawn on b 6
Pawn on h 2... Pawn on a 7
Queen on d 4 Bishop on b 7
Pawn on f 4 King on b 8
Knighton a 5
Whites to play and mate in four moves.
Solution to this Problem will be given next
week.
The press of other matter, has compelled us
shorten the Chess Column this week.
FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.
Paris, Sept. 13th, 1859.
We have had since my last, that great de
sideratum of all men, the especial delight of the
French, a new sensation, a “ profound emotion.”
Indeed, we are not yet over it here, and mean
time it has spread with more or less intensity
throughout Europe.
On Friday morning last there appeared in the
leading column of the Moniteur an article, signed
by Louis Napoleon, the responsible editor of the
political department of that journal. Not signed
with his initials or full name at the end, as the
law directs in the case of all other newspaper
writers in France, but “ signed all over,” as my
connoisseur friend B. says of a canvass, in
which he sees throughout the known hand.—
This fact, apparent on the instant from in
ternal and external evidence and the theme
of the article, “ the Italian Question,” were
. enough to draw the attention, which from that
Friday morning to this present writing the versa
tile mobile French have fixedly devoted to it.
The thought, or semblance of thought upon it
has driven all other thoughts out of their heads,
making therein an insatiable void, into which,
through eyes and ears, there runs an endless
stream of printed and oral commentary, out of
which there runs again through tongue and pen
another like stream into neighboring ears and
eyes—and so on ad infinitum and almost ad
nauseum. For, as has generally been the case
with commentaries, from those on the inspired
writings down through the great poets, who, as
their old name, rates, tells us, also once passed
for inspired prophets, to the last letter of a last
candidate for any last political election, they do
little toward illuminating the text. Every sen
tence, almost every phrase, many of the single
words are subject to interpretations as various
and fertile beyond measure in suggestions, in
ferences and esoteric meanings, as different from
each other as the wishes and intellectual quali
ties of those who make, find and guess them.
There is no more striking instance of this di
versity than the agreement of the Turin journals
and the Frankfort Journal, (an organ of the Aus
trian cabinet,) in expressing their satisfaction
with the Moniteur's article.
You may not make room for it entire in your
columns, which your Augustan readers might
think were better filled with pure literature.
But as they are always at liberty, which I fear
they have had too much reason to take, to
“skip” the Paris correspondence, I will insert
what in substance it amounts to: By the terms
of the Villafranca peace, all Francis Joseph’s
promises of liberal reforms in Venetia as well
as his assent to the Italian confederation—in
fact all the results of the war except the cession
of Lombardy—were made upon the sine qua non
condition of a restoration of the arch dukes;
this restoration, however, is in no case to be ac
complished by force of foreign arms; but if it
do not take place, the Austrian emperor is freed
from his VeneFian engagements, and will keep
up a large army in fighting order on the left
bank of the Po as a precaution against the hos
tile demonstration on the right bank ; and new
misfortunes, new troubles are likely to arise, in
which case the Italians are warned in advance,
that France, “the only nation in Europe that
makes war for an idea,” has already accomplish
ed its work in that kind. A European congress,
from which so much is hoped, is earnestly de
sired by the writer, who expresses, however, in
the same sentence, a strong doubt of its media
tion obtaining any better conditions for Italy
than those offered by Francis Joseph.
The first effect of this document on nearly all
readers was a blank surprise. There were not,
probably, ten Frenchmen, who had any suspi
cion of its contents, or of its being about to ap
pear in the Moniteur, until they read it then.
When that impression passed, the first interpre
tations, with all their diversity, had a general
tendency decidedly unfavorable to the policy
hitherto pursued by the central Italians; not
only were the plans of Austria recommended to
their adoption and Francis Joseph spoken of as
a most loyal, frank and “ reliable” gentleman,
but their leaders, with Victor Emmanuel at the
head, seemed to be condemned as prejudiced, in
triguing, short-sighted, petty politicians.
The passage, in which such severe terms
occur, it is now thought, may have been
intended for other parties; though whom we
are to fix the address upon is not so clear. This
is one of the passages, about which imaginative
and more or less ingenious commentators are
now so busy. Another, which is left for bound
less conjecture, I quote entire; after expressing
the strong doubt above mentioned, his majesty
proceeds: “ A congress will demand nothing
but what is just; and would it be just to de
mand important concessions from a great power
without offering it in exchange equitable compensa
tions V' I underscore the words that aro con
ceived by many to be peculiarly full of significance.
That famous shake of Lord Burleigh’s head was,
in comparison, no shake at all. Each one of the
words, to use those of Cap’n Ed'ard Cuttle, is a
‘ solid chunk” of meaning. For weighty pur
port, they aro to any other combination of words,
what your hydraulic pressed cotton bale is to the
light flocks, that escape from Sambo’s careless
fingers. Thus one of the “ equitable compensa
tions” for renunciation of the old Austro-Italian
policy, may be a handsome slice of dismembered
Turkey, or a new throne for the dispossessed
Tuscan arch-duke, whence he would rule over
the united Danubian Principalities. This “sys
tem of international exchanges,” so wofully dif
ferent from that of our honored and excellent
friend M. Vatteraare, is to be decided upon at the
approaching interview of the two imperial bro
kers in Switzerland. Prince Napoleon is to have
a new throno and kingdom made for him, the
kingdom of Etruria, to be composed of the
Duchies and perhaps the Roman Legations.
But you weary of this Parisian talk, perhaps,
and I offer no more specimens than the above of
wbat form its inexhaustible themes.
To escape it, I went last Sunday, with good
XKK gOUSBCK&U KIELD ABB XX&&SXSE.
Madame Busque and her shop-boy out to the
Forest of Bondy, to a famous religious fete now
holding there. The Forest Bondy has much
such a reputation in France, as Hounslow Heath
in England, and very fairly earned too at a great
sacrifice of purse and often life to honest travel
lers wending through its dark shades, to or
from the capital. When the robbers and mur
derers were driven from the forest, which only
happened of late years, they took the stage,
where in fierce melodramas at the Porte St
Martin and other places of cheerful amusement,
they flourished, in all senses, more exceedingly
than ever. Under the Empire and in the early
years at least of the Restoration, the scoundrels
had not all passed from fact to fiction. Indeed
even within ten years the Boulevards might be
considered a safer as well as pleasanter evening
promenade than the highway through the forest.
It was just the seasoning of actual likelihood,
that gave such a relish to the mimic terrors of
the stage. This reputation, which at last has
become ouly traditional under the present ex
cellent polico regime, (not to bo confounded
with the present political regime nor the political
police, which is not so excellent,) began as long
ago as when Paris began to be a resort for mer
chants and others, who brought or carried valu
ables of any kind to or from the royal town.
Now it so befell that three traders from An
jou, passing through the wood one pleasant day,
(in those good old times the gentlemen of the
road did not find it necessary to wait till night
fall,) in the year one thousand two hundred and
twelve, were set upon by robbers and bound to
the trees, where they remained all that day and
the next night, and seeing themselves in such
danger, they vowed themselves to the Holy
Virgin. Incontinently an angel delivered them
from their bonds, and in gratitude for the bene
fit received, they built a little altar and put upon
it this image of their benefactress—the very
same little wooden image which you may see
there this day, but all dressed now in rich robes
and hung about with numberless ex voto. And
then the miracles and healings became so fre
quent and so great that this chapel was built,
which was enlarged more and more by the pious
liberalities of affectionate pilgrims. Such is
nearly the literal translation of the legend, which
having escaped the ravage of the old revolu
tion, is now to be read in its old gold letters in
the little church. The church of to-day is a poor
affair, lamentably different from the magnificent
one begun in 1260 in the reign qf St. Louis, and
afterwards enlarged more and more by the pious
liberality of affectionate pilgrims, which was
razed to the ground in the great revolution, when
the French abolished God. The chapel of to
day is a humble edifice, inaugurated in 1808,
containing nothing of the past but the little
wooden image of the Virgin and the old legend in
gold letters. But a spirit of veneration in many,
a spirit of superstition in many, a spirit of curi
osity in many and the universal French love of
fetes, bring to its shrine annually at this season
an immense multitude. The scene,looked at mere
ly from the picturesque point of view—the little
chapel and the crowd in their varied costumes,
and the booths of the dealers in spiritual and
spirituous good—images of saints and bottles of
wine—and the gens d'arme to keep order—all
this framed in by the trees and lighted by a
September sun, is pleasant to the eye and worth
the seeing to American travellers. To such of
them as should chance to read this and be in
Paris next September then, I commend a visit
there. Thoy should take the Strasburg railway
and alight at Rainey. Three priests were con
stantly occupied last Sunday in touching to the
miracle-working image and returning the nu
merous articles handed to them for that purpose
by the throng. Sheets, pillow cases, handker
chiefs and the like articles having imbibed in
this way great healing virtue and being then ap
plied in their ordinary uses to the sick, will, if
faith accompany the application, work great
cures. Another characteristic trait, and I have
done with the religious fete of Notre Dame des
Anges. After her devotions, good Madame
Busque saw no harm in a glass of light wine.
It was draught wine, but brought to us in a
bottle. The boy who served it, said it was from
the fifth piece they had broached, four pieces
having been sold. Now a piece holds something
more than an English barrel, and the booth,
where we refreshed oursolves, was by no means
the only ono open to thirsty pilgrims.
FUN, FACT! AND PHILOSOPHY.
(Carefully prepared for the Southern Field and Fireside.)
An insane author, once placed in confine
ment, employed most of his time in writing.—
One night, being thus engaged, by the aid of a
bright moon, a slight cloud passed over the lu
minary, when, in an imperious manner he call
ed out:
“ Arise Jupiter, and snuff the moon.”
The cloud, however, became thicker, when he
again exclaimed:
“ The blockhead ! see, he has snuffed it en
tirely out!”
"Why is rain water soft? Because it is not
impregnated with earth and minerals.
The mind has a certain vegetative power,
which cannot be wholly idle. If it is not laid
out and cultivated into a beautiful garden, it will
of itself shoot up in weeds or flowers of a wild
growth.
Modern Schooling. —“ What are you writing
there, my boy ?” asked a fond parent the other
day of his hopeful son, a shaver of ten years.
“My eompothition, thir.” “ What is the sub
ject ?" “ International law, thir,” replied the
youthful Grotius. “But, really, I shall be una
ble to concentrate my ideas, and give them rela
tion, if I am conthantly interrupted in thith man
ner by irrelevant inquiries.”
Does a fan cool the air? No, it makes the
air hotter, by imparting to it the heat from our
face ; but it cools our faces, by transferring its
heat to the air.
There is a majesty in innocence which will
sometimes awe the most reprobate.
“ I didn’t dare to tell you, wife, before wo
were married, that my teeth are false.” “ I
ceuld get along well enough with you, husband,
if your teeth were the only false thing you car
ried in your mouth.”
Why is a room best ventillated by opening
the .upper sash ? Because the hot vitiated air,
which always ascends towards the ceiling, can
escape more easily.
Nothing makes vengeance so indiscriminate
as the consciousness of being generally hated.
Our friend Jo. Cose, speaking of a drink he
once had occasion to indulge in, says he could
not tell whether it was brandy, or a torchlight
procession that was going down his throat.
Why is there always a strong draft under the
door, and through the crevices on each side ?
Beoause cold air rushes from the hall to supply
the void in the room caused by the escape of the
warm air up the chimney, Ac.
Virtue and Happiness are true lovers, who,
although parted for awhile, are sure to be united
at last.
An old lady travelling on the Richmond and
Fredericksburg railroad, a short time since, was
startled by the conductor's usual announce
ment “ Pole Cat,” when the train arrived at that
station. She nervously requested him to close
the door, so as to exclude the animal.
Why does the wind dry damp linen ? Be
cause dry wind, like dry sponge, imbibes the par
ticles of vapor from the surface of die linen as
fast as they are formed.
ThE celebrated John Foster thus describes a
bigot : “He sees religion, not as a sphere, but
a line, and it is a line in which lie is moving.
He is like an African buffalo —sees straight for
ward but nothing on the right or left. He will
not perceive a legion of angels or devils, at the
distance of ten yards on the one side,or the
other.”
A young gentleman complaining a few eve
nings ago, that a shower-bath had ifen adminis
tered to him the evening before at a trial of one
of our steam-engines, elicited the remark from
Miss , that as he was so bright, perhaps
they took him for a fire, and that he ought to
thank his stars that they did not utterly extin
guish him! Whereupon the young gentleman
laughingly declared he was more put out by her
remarks than by the ducking he had received.
Why do ladies fan themselves in hot weather?
That fresh particles of air may bo brought in
contact with their face by. the action of the fan ;
and as every fresh particle of air absorbs some
heat from the skin, this constant change makes
them cool.
. There is dew in one power, and not in
another, because one opens its cup and takes it
in, while the other closes itself and the drop
runs off. God rains goodness and mercy as
wide as the dew, and if we lack them, it is be
cause we will not open out hearts to receive
them.
Mike Cari., an apprentice boy, who had not
pleased his employer, ono ; day came in for a
chastisement, during whicl his master exclaim
ed, “ how long will you seijve the devil ?” The
boy replied, “ You know best, sir ; I believe my
indenture will be out in thtee months.”
By which means is a hot room more quickly
cooled—by opening the upper or lower sash ?
A hot room is cooled morelquickly by opening
thq lower sash, because tlfe outer air can enter
more freely into the lower pert of the room where
it is colder and cause a groat graft inward ; bj.it
if the upper sash be open, the heated air of
the room rushes out, and of course, there will
be less draft inward.
A HOBEY-horse often costs more than a riding
horse.
A German prince, When introduced to an En
glishman, byway of appropriately commencing
the conversation, observed : “ It is bad weather
to-day.” The Englishman shrugged up his
shoulders and replied, “ Yes —but it is better
than none.”
Why is the gallery of all public places hotter
than the lower parts of the building? Because
the heated air of the building ascends, and all
the cold air which can enter through the doors
keep to the floor until it has become heated.
A snake that wishes to live should not crawl
on the highway.
A discussion arose in a hotel parlor as to the
citizenship of a gentleman at the other end of
the room. “ He’s an Englishman,” said one, “I
know by his head.” “ He’s a Scotchman,” said
an' ther, “ I know by his complexion." “ He’s
a German,” said another, “I know by his beard.”-
The ladies thought he looked like a Spaniard.—
Here the conversation rested, but soon one of
them spoke : “ I have it,” said he, “ he’s an
American : he's got his legs on the table /”
Why is there always a draft through the win
dow crevices ? Because the external air, being
colder than the air of the room we occupy,
rushes through the window crevices to supply
the deficiency caused by the escape of the
warm air up the chimney.
In the cup are drowned more than in the sea.
—-
NEWS SUMMARY.
Steam Communication with New York.—
We are gratified to learn that active measures
are in progress for the addition of two vessels
to the present force of the Charleston and New
York Steamship Line. We saw yesterday a
subscription list, bearing the subscriptions of
the South Carolina Road for a third ; of Messrs.
Spofford A Tileston, of New York, for a second
third; and the names of some of our leading
Charleston friends, pledging two-thirds of the
remainder. As only one-ninth of the required
subscription is now open, it will necessarily be
filled in a few days. The estimated cost of two
side-wheel steamships is from $250,000 to
$300,000. As we now look upon this increase
in the line as a fixed fact, we may regard a tri,
weekly next season as a sure thing.—[ Charles
ton Mercury.
The House of Representatives of Massachu
setts, by a vote of one hundred and forty two
to thirty-one, have expunged the word “ white ”
from the militia laws. This give colored men a
chance to train when they have a mind to, and
allows them to organize military companies as
well as their white brothers. The question has
yet to come before the Senate, which will not be
likely to concur. This matter was debated at
great length in the Massachusetts Constitutional
Convention in 1853. Tliore seemed to have
been a concurrence of opinion in that body that
there lvns no constitutional barrier in the way
of colored men becoming members of the Mas
sachusetts military companies; but it was con
tended that if the Massachusetts militia was
itself a part of the militia of the United States,
colored men could not be enrolled in it.
Our Government having sent a minister of
full grade to Vienna, that of Austria has raised
Mr. llulsemann to an equal rank, and he will
soon return to Washington.
The foreign export of ice from the port of
Boston, during the month of August, was 10,511
tons. New Orleans took of thi5,2,760 tons;
Havana 897; Baltimore 895; Australia 786;
the remainder divided in small quantities between
the West Indies, Aspinwall, Mobile, Charleston,
Galveston and Savannah. The total export from
Boston, for eight months, the period embracing
the trade, was 95,339 tons.
The Hog Census in Kentucky. —The asses
sor’s returns of hogs from all the counties in
Kentucky, but fonr, have been received. They
aggregate 1,391,875, against 1,057,721 last year.
Passengers at New York, from Nicaragua,
state that M. Belly’s grand scheme has com
pletely collapsed.
Another Fillibuster Expedition,—Phila
delphia, Oct 3.—A special dispatch from Wash
ington says that a formidable expedition to Ni
caragua is preparing. Some have left Charleston
and New York, but there will be no demonstra
tion until it is fully matured. Gen. Wheat has
been assigned an important position in the cru
sade.
Washington, Oct. 4. —The administration are
fully aware of the movements of the Filibusters,
and the matter was the subject for Cabinet con
sideration to-day. The Administration aro de
termined to enforce respect for the neutrality
law, even to the evtent of employing the mili
tary and naval forces. Orders have been trans
mitted to Baton Rouge for the Federal military
to hold themselves in readiness to act as a posse
in a eommitatus if necessary.
New Orleans, Oct 4.— Collector Hatch yes
terday refused a clearance to the steamship
Philudelphia for Aspinwall on the ground that
he suspected she intended taking Walker and
his men to Nicaragua. Walker has between
two and three hundred men from Texas, Alabama
and elsewhere here ready to start ostensibly for
Chiriqni diggings. The men encamped at Ber
mick’s Bay. intending to leave on the sth, but it
is suspected that another steamer will take them
to Nicaragua and that the attempted clearance
of the Philadelphia was a ruse.
Gen. W. Walker and men left here last night,
and sailed from Bermick’s Bay this morning in
their own steamer without clearance. It is sup
posed that their destination is Nicaragua.
narry Maury commands Walker’s steamer.
New Orleans, Oct. s.—The filibusters did
not leave from Bermick’s Bay; they went down
the river in the tow boat Panther and put to sea
without any provisions. The men have since
been landed at the Southwest Pass. Collector
Hatch still refuses a clearance for the steamer
Philadelphia, he being satisfied that she intends
taking the filibusters to Nicaragua. The great
precaution that was used by Collector Hatch,
has doubtless frustrated the expedition.
The Troubles in Utah Territory. —Advices
from Utah to the 2d inst., announce that the ex
ecution of the laws is entirely defeated by the
boldest acts* of outrage and criminal violence,
which the judicial authorities cannot repress.—
The United States Circuit Court, in its August
term, had endeavored to bring the leaders of
these outrages to justice, but the miscreants had
not only derided the process of the tribunal, but
had selected persons in attendance upon it for
vengeance, and had murdered them within gun
shot of the court house. Judge Sinclair was
about to come on to Washington to lay the facts
before the government. Mr. Wilson, the United
States Attorney, was also coming to Washington
to defend himself, it is said, against certain
charges preferred by the federal judges. Mr.
Dotson, the United States Marshal, has sent in
his resignation, on aceouut of the onerous duties
and inadequate salary. Mr. D. says, the govern
ment will have to change its entire policy
towards the Mormons. They must be dealt
with more sternly.
The Indians about the Northern boundary of
the Territory are reported as being bold and
troublesome.
Captain Walling and his command had arrived
at Camp Floyd. Tho Indian agent neighbors
had been killed by McKnett. The Camanche
agent, Leissere, had been killed by the Indians.
From Arizona —Dates from Arizona to the
15th inst. have been received. The presentation
of the articles purchased for the Pimosand Ma
ricopas Indians, underr the act of Congress of
July 10tli, 1858, was made by Lieutenant Mow
ry recently. Between four and five thousand
Indians were present. About two thousand
farming implements, several thousand pounds of
barley and other grain for seed, axes, Ac., be
sides several thousand yards of cloth, calico
shirts, tobacco and beads were distributed. The
reason of these large presents was explained to
the Indians in a speech by Lieutenant Mowry;
and in reply, the chiefs expressed great surprise
at the kindness of their Great Father, the Pre
sident of the United States, and promised to
continue in the good conduct which had brought
them so great a reward. The Pimos aud Mari
posas cultivate this year fifteen thousand acres
of land, and have supplied the overland mail
with large quantities of grain. It is expected
that next year their csops will be greatly in
creased through the facilities given to them by
the government.
Foreign. —The Independence Beige says, Lord
Cowley and Count Walewski have been commis
sioned to arrange a basis of co-operation between
England and France in the prosecution of the
Chinese war. Three ninety-one gun ships were
under order for foreign service at Portsmouth,
and four gun boats were prepared with all haste
for China. The utmost activity prevailed at
Woolwich and elsewhere, in getting off ammu
nition, 4c.
France. —The Paris papers, almost without
an exception, express satisfaction at the an
nouncement of an Anglo-French expedition
against China.
The vintage accounts were generally satisfac
tory.
The forts were being armed in the bays of St
Malo and of Cancale, and a plan has been pre
pared for arming the coast from Antibes to Port
Kendres.
The French outposts on the frontiers of Mo
rocco had been several times fiercely attacked
by native tribes, but they had been repulsed.
The government of Morocco was not implicated
in these attacks.
Madlle. Ernestine Drocet. a pupil of Beran
ger, who, at the age of eighteen, obtained the
prize for “superior instruction,” has recently
carried away from one hundred and forty com
petitors the premium given by the French Acad
emy for poetry. She is now 25 years of age, and
is described as “ a child of the people, “ and a
teacher living upon her earnings in the midst
of her family of artisans.” Her poem is said
to possess great merit.
A letter by the Arabia announces the death
of Chari.es B. Fairbanks, in Paris. Mr. F. was
a writer of merit, and widely known as “ Ague
cheek.”
Russia. —The Invalide Russe publishes a tel
egram confirming the reported capture of
Schamyl, during a victorious assault by the Rus
sians on Gunit. Schamyl’s sons and family were
captured or killed. The Russians took five can
nhn, and their loss did not exceed 100 men.
Turkey. —The Times publishes the following
special telegram from its correspondent:
Constantinople, Sept. 18.—A conspiracy to as
sassinate the Sultan has been discovered- Two
hundred persons have been arrested here, among
them the Pasha of Albania, who was apparently
the chief. Some troops are suspected of partici
pation. The affair originated with a fanatical
party.
Itaiy.— The latest news from Italy leaves
little doubt of the determination of the Italians
to rely on themselves- Garibaldi was preparing
a general concentration of troops on any given
part. General /anti, comroander-in-chief of the
Italian league, had fixed his head-quarters at
Bologna. The soldiers disbanded by Victor
Emmanuel were flocking around him.
Letters from Romo state that the health of the
Pope was almost entirely restored.
The Austrian party is represented as trium
pbant in Naples, and no reforms are to be ex
pected.
The Government of Tuscany had notified the
plenipotentiaries of the Grand Duke to evacuate
the palace within three days. In case of their
non-compliance, the property of the Grand Duke
was to be sequestered.
From the Marquesas Group op Islands.—
The French have withdrawn all their forces and
officers from the Marquesas, leaving only a flag
flying on one of the islands. One or two priests
also remain there; but otherwise no sign of
French authority remains.
No communication had been had between the
Society and Marquesas groups for some six
months, though they only lie four days’ sail
apart.
Long as it is, we cannot refrain from con
cluding our “ News’ Summary” with the follow
ing letter from China, taken from the Savannah
Republican. The writer is an attache of the
American Legation. His letter gives a very in
teresting account of the arrival of our minister,
Mr. Ward and suite, ip China, with his first pro
ceedings in execution of his mission. The inci
dental description of the late defeat of the
British at the mouth of the Peiho, of which the
writer, with Mr. Ward himself, was a close eye
witness, will be read with much interest The
letter, it will be seen, left Mr. Ward still on
board the Poichatan, though in daily expectation
of his departure for Pekin. Later accounts by
the Circassian announce his safe arrival at the
city of his destination, unmolested, a fact which
seems to have created some ill-feeling on the
part of English papers and their correspondents.
U. S. Frigate Poichatan, off Peiho River, )
July 3d, 1859. f
Editor Savannah Republican:
At Hong Kong, wo remained but ten days,
during which time we chartered for the naviga
tion of the Peiho a small steamer, the Toeywan.
With her we then proceeded to Shanghai, where,
it was understood, the Chinese commissioners
were awaiting us. Here, as at Hong Kong, we
were the guests of Messrs. Heard A Co. It
would be impossible for me to give you an ade
quate idea of the style, magnificence and luxury
by which these merchant princes of the east are
surrounded. Their establishments at Hong
Kong, Shanghai and Fuhchau are maintained at
an almost fabulous cost.
Immediately after our arrival at Shanghai, w«
notified their Imperial Highnesses of our pres
ence, and by request, made them an official visit
in grand state under an escort of fifty marines,
and preceded by a full band of music. The en
tire Chinese population turned out to gaze ad
miringly upon our brilliant cortege.
After the customary chin-chin (salutations) had
been exchanged and a private interview satis
facto ily terminated, we all adjourned to the
dining hall, where we were regaled with the
choicest Chinese delicacies. Behind each chair
stood two attendants, who snatched away ardish
as soon as tasted, and replaced it with another.
The number of courses was certainly not less
thau forty. Among the numerous luxuries, I
may mention shark fins, bird's-nest soup (worth
its weight in gold) eggs fifteen years old and
rather strong, dog-meat, rat-pie, and whisky
made of rice.
Two days after, they returned our visit and
were greatly surprised at the regal entertain
ment of our generous host. Their appreciation
of his good cheer was manifested by sundry
leud eructations (said to be the highest compli
ment they can bestow on such occasions) an un
certain twinkling of the eye and unsteadiness of
gait.
The result of our interviews and negotiations
with the Commissioners amounted to this, viz:
that they, and they only, conld exchange the
ratifications of the treaty; that it would be im
possible for them to reach Pekin in time to effect
that exchange by the date specified in our
Treaty, but that such delay would not invali
date the same, nor affect in any way our right
to exchange; that upon the arrival of the Eng
lish and French Ministers, we could proceed
with them to the mouth of the Peiho, whence
means of communication would be provided to
Pekin, and then, at the same time and place,
with them, make our exchange.
We left Shanghai on the ICth ult., (two days
after the departure of the representatives of the
other Treaty Powers,) and in our good ship, the
Powhatan, reached this anchorage on the 21st.
There wo found at anchor the English fleet,
numbering seven large men-of-war, three dis
patch and nine gun-boats—all steamers. One
large steam frigate and one gun-boat, also steam,
comprised the French force.
For two days succeeding our arrival, the wea
ther prevented our holding communication ei
ther with the ships or shore. On the third, we
were informed by the Admiral that barriers had
been placed across the river, which would pre
vent further progress; that he had communicat
ed with the shore, and had been told there was
no officer of rank to receive him ; that the ob
structions had teen placed as a defence against the
rebels; that this was not the Peiho riven that the
Governor General would be down in a few days
and meet the Minister at the Northern entrance;
and that any attempt to pass the barriers would
be resisted. Cheering news this, for passengers
with “first class” tickets to Pekin 1 The Ad
miral further stated that he had given them un
til Saturday, the 25th, when, if the obstructions
were not removed, he would proceed to clear
them away himself.
Wishing to be beforehand, «ve left this an
chorage on the 24th and crossed the bar with
the determination to proceed until arrested by
force, or fired upon, she channel is a very nar
row one, imperfeody surveyed, and with but a
few feet of at high tide. While gaily
steaming the guns of the forts, and with
in a quarter of a mile of the first barrier, we
ran aground hard and fast. All the ships of 1 5
Engish squadron, which could cross the bar—
tie "three dispatch and nine gun-boats, together
with the French tender—had, in the mean
time, anchored just beyond range of the guns.—
The Admiral immediately sent to our assistance
a gun-boat, and attempted, but failed to get us
off. He then notified us that he expected to
see us fired upon ever}’ minute, and placed the
gun boat at our disposal, with the permission to
hoist tho American flag at the main, and the
Commodore’s at the mizen mast. This offer,
Commodore Tatnall declined to accept. We
then sent ashore a small boot with the interpre
ters, bearing an official letter, announcing our
arrival and readiness to proceed in accordance
with the terms of our Treaty. They replied to
our messengers in substance as above reported
by the Admiral, positively refusing to receive the
letter or even a card. As was proved by the
events of the next day, we should certainly have
been fired upon, had wo notgrounded.
This letter will be concluded next week.
157