The Allied Armies for China (June, 1860)

Source: The Polynesian. Honolulu: Saturday, June 20, 1860.

In regard to this formidable force we clip the following from one of our late exchanges. It certainly looks like work ahead for the surgeons.

An impression prevails among the merchants and mariners, who are naturally more intimate with Chinese manners and customs tan any other class of men who visit the Celestial Empire, that the Emperor and his court will do anything (on paper) to prevent war, and, then will do with characteristic deceit, break the treaty. Cunning and treachery are prominent traits in the Asiatic character-their maxim and practice in international policy being to overreach, and not to carry out even their most solemn engagements in good faith. It is clear, however, that England and France are not in a humor to be trifled with. The combined forces of the allies will be a very formidable expedition. That of England will consist of eleven regiments of infantry, each one thousand strong, that is of eleven thousand; of twi hundred European cavalry; of seventeen batteries of European artillery from India, one Armstrong battery from England, say eighteen hundred men; of three companies of European engineers, three hundred men; of three battalions of marines, three thousand men; of a like number of sailors to serve on land, three thousand; of fine battalions of native infantry of Bengal, each eight hundred strong, or four thousand men; of three battalions Madras and Bombay, each one thousand strong, or three thousand men; of three hundred native cavalry; of one battery of native artillery, one hundred men; and two hundred native sappers and miners.

The English portion of the allied army will then consist of eighteen thousand three hundred European and seven thousand six hundred natives, a total of twenty-five thousand nine hundred men, adding to this ten thousand French infantry and cavalry, and say half as many mariners and sailors as the English contribution to the allied forces, or three thousand, and the total expedition will amount to thirty-eight thousand nine hundred men, excessive of the navy. These forces will proceed to north China, and probably advance to Pekin, in which capital, it is believed, the Europeans are resolved to negotiate. It is understood that China is to be required to defray all expenses of the two expeditions, whether the Emperor submits to terms, by way of avoiding war, or not. The nearest landing place on the coast of Pekin, is at a distance of a hundred miles, and the country to be traversed is described as marshy, and difficult for the passage of armies. On fit that the combined expedition will be under the direction of two diplomatists, twi generals, and two admirals. Will they agree in their counsels? 

Later from Victoria.

By the Jenny Ford, we have dates to the 30th April. We clip the following from our exchanges:

CHINESE TRADE DIRECT WITH VICTORIA. -The Norwegian ship Hebe arrived at Victoria on the 25th April, 62 days out from Hongkong. She brought 255 Chinese passengers, and an assorted cargo of China goods, of true value of $11,669, and is consigned to the Chinese house of Quang Lee & Co. nearer than San Francisco, and having the advantage of a free port, it would be strange indeed if Victoria were to allow her powerful neighbor to monopolize all the advantages of a direct intercourse with China. Two other vessels are loading at Hingkong for this port; one of them, the American ship Red Rover, was to leave on the 17th of March.

-Colonist.