Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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