Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 17th September 1859, Edition 2 of 3, Page 8, M. KoBfjuth, who lms been passing some d...

Page 8
Page 8
8 of 24

On this page

  • Text (9)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      V The Disaster To The British In China. ...

      fifty officers and men alone remained in the first ditch , and about 150 in the second . Many had been killed -and wounded , and , with the exception of a small body 150 yards further back , no reinforcements appeared to be offering ; and the men already at the front were perfectly exhausted , and without dry ammunition or rifles fit to use . The officers in vain encouraged their men to charge to the walls , but it was ineffectual the men were few and done up , and even if they had not been they never could have carried them . against the thousands that

      lined the walls . Under these circumstances the senior officer sent orders for the force to withdraw , as no reinforcements could be sent . Directly this order was received the wounded were despatched to the rear by twos and threes , and two hours having been given them to get to the boats , the small advanced party retreated in good order from ditch to ditch , examining the ground in their retreat for any wounded that might have been overlooked . Many poor fellows , alas ! in the retreat fell to rise no more , but the wounded were saved and brought off .

      The boats of the squadron under Captain Willes employed themselves in embarking the wounded and landing party . The gunboats did their duty ably , and covered the landing party up to the latest moment it was prudent to fire , and shortly after the Lee and Kestrel sunk , and the . Haughty just managed to keep herself afloat till the morning , when she went down . At 3 a . m . the Cormbrarit , with the admiral on board and full of wounded , was so fast aground that it was considered necessary to leave her . Two night attempts were made by Captain Willes to recover Cormorant and Plover , but without success . The Cormorant ' s ship ' s company having remained till 11 a . m ' . to endeavour to float

      her ,, a most terrific fire was opened upon her from batteries both north and south , and it soon became evident that she was sinking . Orders were thercr fore down to Commander Wodehouse ordering him to abandon her . The Kestrel , sunk on the 25 th under the-batteries . was observed drifting out , and having been towed by the Janus into shoal water , ¦ was eventually recovered . Every gun boat in the squadron was temporarily disabled , and the loss vr & s immense : no less than seven officers were killed during the day , and the total amounts to 434 killed and wounded . The 1 st . battalion of Marines a lone , which landed barely 400 strong , has lost altogether 172 killed find wounded ; the Chesapeake 26

      killed or missing , and 34 wounded ; and the gunboats 90 killed and wounded . No expectation whatever is . entertained of those who are returned missing being still alive . With such enemies as the Chinese , and under the peculiar circumstances of the case , all such hope is out of the question . Cant . Vansittart was scarcely expected to live . His leg had been amputated beneath the knee , and it was thought that another amputation would be necessary , as affording the only chance for his life . The last accounts of the admiral were that he was doing well . There had been only three deaths on board the Assistance after she left the Pehio , and the great majority of the wounded were getting on wonderfully well .

      . The French , out of thoir small landing party of sixty men , had fifteen killed or wounded . The Americans assisted us considerably , by means of a small steamer with which they towc ! up several of our boats into action from the largo ships , and also after the action ^ by taking out to their respective ships a number of our men , to whom they showed every kindness . They were loud in their praises of the daring our men showed , and have sent large presents of fresh meats and vegetables' for the benefit of our wounded . A belief is prevalent that treachery exists of a yet deeper kind than the mere infraction of the treaty by the Chinese . One eye witness assorts that the fortifications bear evidence of European science in their construction , and adds : — " It was at once evident , that wo had no ordinary Chinese artillery to contend against . Their fire ,

      both in weight and precision , was such as few men , and I feel certain no Chinese campaigners , ever before experienced . Time , I am confident , will prove to us that Europeans wore our principal opponents , and that to have succeeded in our attempt wo should have had at least fire times , if not ten timos , the force we bad . The belief is universal throughout the squadron that Europeans munned the batteries as well as Chinese . Men in grey coats , with closely cropped hair , and with Russian features , wore distinctly visible in the batteries . Some of those who advanced near to the wall , And who had served in the batteries before Sevastopol , even go so far as to declare that they hoard men calling for " more powder , " in Russian ; and two doncl bodies floatod out of the river , dressed in Chinese clothes , but having ineontestably European faces .

      1052 Theleader. [No. 495. Sept. 17, 1859...

      1052 THELEADER . [ No . 495 . Sept . 17 , 1859 ,

      M. Kobfjuth, Who Lms Been Passing Some D...

      M . KoBfjuth , who lms been passing some days in Parlo , haa left for England .

      The Entente Cojrdiale. Tikb Moniteur Of ...

      THE ENTENTE COJRDIALE . TikB Moniteur of Wednesday , in an article containing the details of the late treachery Of the Chinese , concludes thus : — " The Governmentof the Emperor and that of Great Britain are about to take measures together to inflict chastisement and obtain every satisfaction which so flagrant an act of treachery requires . " It is also rumoured that the Governments of Prance and England have agreed that it will be necessary to hold a congress for the settlement of the Italian question .

      News in Pxris . —The Emperor and Empress left Saint Sauveur at one one o ' clock in the afternoon of Stmday , and arrived at Tarbes at seven in the evening * having visited the Abbey of Bertharam on their way . Their Majesties alighted at the residence of M . Fould , where they passed the night . The next day at noon the Emperor again left by railway for Bayonne , and thence to Biarritz . ' The King of the Belgians has arrived at Biarritz , on a visit to Louis Napoleon . It is said that a contingent of 12 , 000 men under General Wimpffen are to be dispatched to China immediately .

      The Deb Ats On Liberty Of The Press, An ...

      THE DEB ATS ON LIBERTY OF THE PRESS , An article appeared in the Debats on Wednesday , on the subject of liberty of the press ; it is not editorial ; but signed bj r the secretary of the staff , as is usual wi th communicated matter . Taking this fact into account , the line of argument is curious . It is assumed that the general institutions of the country were not made to defend the liberty of the journals , that public opinion is rather . indifferent to the matter , and that , in fact , the Emperor is the only champion that the Press can calculate upon . The

      administration , it is said truly enough , is so accustomed to taciturnity that it does not much relish contradiction . But as the Emperor cannot be always attentive or fully informed , it is admitted there would be no difficulties , as regards the Press , in the restoration of its rights ; but the Debats would prefcr the danger of speaking : to the malady of silence . The Emperor , it argues , must feel what evil that malady may do ; it may cause society to sink into atrophy , and leave him the only actor , thinker , or speaker , amid a mass of people unaccustomed to think for themselves . The writer

      says that . such a condition of society can never exist in France ; and yet he says that the Emperor evidently sees this malady , which takes the form of paralysis . He goes on to say that he shall try the promised libertv by a few arguments by way of test , and stop if the " attempt fail . He then says that the freedom of the Press , or of the Tribune , would have been of great use in January , 1859 , and that some Conservatives even regretted parliamentary government , and said that twenty violent debates would not have done so much mischief as the few words uttered by the Emperor on New Year ' s day , and that either would have been equally beneficial when the

      peace of Villafranca was made in approving and explaining it . It is argued , that it is not sufficient that a Sovereign should give utterance to the sentiments of the people , but that he should hear responses which are not flattery ; and therefore opposition becomes necessary , for without it there can be no public opinion , and a country without it must degenerate and languish ; it may perform great military deeds , but success is necessary ; it could not support failure ! Taking another case , the writer says , had he been a

      member of the Councils , addressed by M . do Morny and M . de la Guerronicre , he should have had something to say in reply to those gentlemen , as regarded the condition of the press , for example . And he concludes with an apology for using the name of the Emperor so much more frequently than used to bo the case , accounting for it by the fact of the ministers not being in any way responsible . But this ; he is sure , will not reduce * the liberty of the Press ,, although it will impose on writers a more respectful tone . - — —

      German Federal Reform. An Address Has Be...

      GERMAN FEDERAL REFORM . An address has been presented to the Government by the principal inhabitants of Stettin , concerning the question of the Gorman Confederation . Count Schworin , to whom his Royal Highness the Prince Regent , on the proposition of the States Ministry , had referred the addross . for a reply , answered as follows : — " That his Royal Highness tho Prince Regent was rejoiced by tho feelings of fidelity and confidence expressed towards him by his subjects in the addross , and likewise by their expressions of devotion to Prussia and tho German fatherland : He then stated tho vieVs the' Prussian Government considers its duty to take in reference to tho reforms of the German Confederation . He stated £ hat tho late ovents and experiences had created a conviction in Germany , in spite of all the different

      views , that the independence and power of Germany as regards her exterior relations , and the development in the interior of their material and intellectual powers , render a strong and energetic union ' and the reform of the Federal Constitution , to oBtain this end , necessary . " The Government of Prussia acknowledges the justice of this public opinion ; but it will not allow itself to be led away by the manifestations which that national feeling causes , nor will its own conviction of that which might at first appear to it as best , cause it to deviate from the way which is pointed out . by its consideration and conscientiou s esteem of the rights of others , and by its regard for that which is at present possible and attainable .

      Central Italy And Victor Emmanuel. The D...

      CENTRAL ITALY AND VICTOR EMMANUEL . The deputations from the people of Modena and Parma , charged to convey the vote of annexation to the Piedmontese kingdom , arrived at Turin on Thursday . The members of the Municipality and the Parliament went to meet them at the railway terminus , and they met with an enthusiastic recep - tion from , the population . " The following is a summary of the answer given by his Maiesty to the joint deputations from Modena and Parma : — v

      The King expressed his thanks to the people of Modena and Parma for the unanimity of their votes recorded for . the annexation of their provinces to Piedmont ,. by which they had confirmed the wishes expressed by them eleven years ago to the King his father . His Majesty continued thus : — 'I agree with the desires you have the mission to communicate to me ; they are fresh manifestations of the national will , to save the country from the disastrous consequences of a foreign rule , and to erect a barrier which will insure to our countrymen the possession of Italy for the Italians . The deputation will understand in what manner the King , must proceed towards the accomplishment of the wishes ri

      of the Assemblies . Armed with the ghts which I have acquired , I will support your cause before the great Powers , arid especially before the French Emperor , ' , while leading the victorious legions of France , was fighting , for the independence of Italy . Europe has recognised the right Of other nations to provide for their security by constituting a " Government capable of de & n-. lin ^ tilthliberties and their independence . She will' be neither less just nor less generous towards the Italian , provinces . The votes which your Assemblies have recorded , and the numerous volunteers who have fought under the flags of Piedmont during the . days of the late struggle , have proved that firmness is a tried virtue with the people of

      Modena and Parma . The speech of His Majesty concluded thus : — " Therefore , I need not say to you persevere ; I will only congratulate you upon the order and the moderation of which you have given such brilliant ; examples , in order to prove to Kurope thut the Italians know how to govern themselves and that they are worthy to be citizens of a tree nation . "

      Annexation Of Parma. On Monday The Natio...

      ANNEXATION OF PARMA . On Monday the National Assembly voted unanimously the annexation of the provinces of Pnrnia to the kingdom of Sardinia , under the sceptre of the glorious dynasty of Savoy . The Assembly then chose five deputies to convey the wishes of the population to the King of Sardlnin . The following motions have been taken into consideration : —Tho confirmation of SIgnor . i """ as Dictator ; the promulgation of the statutes ot bardinia , and the formation of a fund for the assistance of the Vonetian volunteers .

      The Romagna. On Saturday The National As...

      THE ROMAGNA . On Saturday the National Assembly decreed ; That all those who have governed in the Romngna from tho 12 th of June till tho present timo have deserved well of their country . Tho ratification ot tho title and authority of M . Cipriani as Govoroo ' General , with responsible Ministers . Hint : uu powers be conferred on M . Cipriani for tho prwwvation of ordor in tho interior and for the defenceioi tho country . That M . Cipriani bo charged to cooperate energetically for tho accomplishment ot uro wishes of tho Assembly to procure a moro in I Jinaro union with tho other provinces of Contml Itaij , anu that to M . Cipriani is giyen tho faculty of P ° ' < f "'" * and re-convoking the National Assembly . O ' ' ^ afterwards tho Minister of Grace mid Justico icua ft decree for the prorogation of the Assembly . <*¦ ' Ji

      _ * Aooipknt To The Sultan.~By A Su Ppos...

      _ * AOOIPKNT TO THE SuLTAN . ~ By a SU ppOSOd « 0 Cident , on the 3 rd inst ., the Sultan nearly lost 1 " » !»«• An Ionian captain commanding an JinaUah »* o »™ tug drove his vessel twice against tho Imp " « caique , and the Sultan was saved with grout aim

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 17, 1859, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17091859/page/8/