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The Consulates of France, Austria, Russia, Holland, Belgium and Greece were destroyed, and their inmates took refuge in the house of Abd-el-Kader, who behaved most nobly on the occasion, and sheltered about 1500 Christians from the fury of the assailants. For this conduct he afterwards received the thanks of the British Government.

At last, on the 14th, a body of 2000 Turkish troops left Beyrout to march upon Damascus, which is distant 70 miles from that place, but before their arrival the work of devastation and murder had ceased.

In a letter from Mr. Consul Brant to Lord John Russell, dated "Damascus, July 16," he said:

"I dare not attempt to give any details of the destruction by fire and pillage of the Christian quarter of Damascus, a city of itself. Europe will be astonished to hear that a Christian community has been attacked, and possibly a third part of the male population mas sacred, with scarcely an attempt at resistance on their part, and a very feeble effort on the part of

very great exaggeration, and I should place the maximum at 4000; for, from

the best information I have been able to collect from many sources, I rate the numberof killed at Deir el-Kammar, 1100

to 1200; at Hasbeya and Rasheya, 700; at Sidon, 550: so that in the three grest massacres from 2250 to 2350 males fell.

Above 200 refugees were cut to pieces of the 30th and 31st of May, near Beyrout, ani if 1000 more Chri tians were killed in the villages, I should say that was quite the outale; so that I should not be inclined to think that more than 5500 have actually perished but 350 males; and that takes a great deal out of a popu

lation whose whole wealth and prosperity depends on its energy **

the authorities to avert or arrest so awful a calamity.

The surprise will not be diminished when it is added that this has occurred without any provocation, in a time of peace, not by an irruption of tribes inimical or exasperated against the Christians, but by a portion of their fellowcitizens, apparently stimulated only by a fanatical hatred of the Christians and by the lust of plunder.

"The Pasha should be called on to explain why he was never seen without the walls of his Serai; why the greater part of his troops were kept to defend his Excellency; why no officer of rank ever headed his detachments of troops occasionally sent out; why cannon sent to the Christian quarters to clear it of the plunderers were never used; and, during the whole course of the massacre, why the troops fired but few shots, and those mostly without effect."

The news of these events excited the profoundest sensation in Western Europe, and especially in France, where the Emperor, obeying the national impulse, at once determined to send troops to Syria. But as such a measure, to prevent misinterpretation as to French objects in the East, required the concert of the great Powers, he applied to them to sanction the expedition. The excuse was the apathy or inability of the Turkish Government to put down the outbreak and punish the authors of the massacre. and certainly the conduct of the Turkish authorities in Syria justified the interference.

A convention was accordingly agreed upon between Her Majesty, the Emperors of Austria, Russia, and France, the Prince

Regent of Prussia, and the Sultan, and a protocol was signed at Paris on the 3rd of August, whereby it was provided by Art. I., that

"A body of European troops, which may be increased to 12,000 men, shall be sent to Syria to contribute towards the re-establishment of tranquillity.

"Art. II. His Majesty the Emperor of the French agrees to furnish, immediately, the half of this body of troops. If it should become necessary to raise its effective force to the number stipulated in the preceding article, the high Powers would come to an understanding with the Porte without delay, by the ordinary course of diplomacy, upon the designation of those among them who would have to provide it.

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Art. III. The Commander-inChief of the expedition will on his arrival enter into communication with the Commissioner Extraordinary of the Porte, in order to concert all the measures required by circumstances, and to take up the positions which there may be occasion to occupy in order to fulfil the object of the present Convention.

"Art. IV. Their Majesties the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the French, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of Prussia, and His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, promise to maintain sufficient naval forces to contribute towards the success of the common efforts by the re-establishment of tranquillity on the coast of Syria.

"Art. V. The high parties, convinced that such a period will be sufficient to attain the object of pacification which they have in view, fix at six months the dura

tion of the occupation of the European troops in Syria."

In another protocol, signed the same day, the Plenipotentiaries declared "in the most formal mauner, that the contracting Powers do not intend to seek for, and will not seek for, in the execution of their engagements, any territorial advantages, any exclusive influence, or any concession with regard to the commerce of their subjects, such as could not be granted to the subjects of all other nations."

General Beaufort d'Hautpoul was appointed to command the French expeditionary force, which left Marseilles at the beginning of August. Before the troops quitted Paris, the Emperor addressed them, and said,

"Soldiers,-You leave for Syria. France hails with joy an expedition the sole aim of which is to cause the rights of justice and humanity to triumph. You do not go to make war against any foreign Power, but to assist the Sultan in bringing back the obedience of his subjects, who are blinded by the fanaticism of a former century. In that distant land, rich in great reminiscences, fulfil your duty,-show yourselves the worthy children of those who once gloriously carried into that country the banner of Christ. You do not leave in great numbers, but your courage and your prestige will supply the deficiency, because, wherever the French flag is seen to pass, nations know that a great cause precedes it, and a great people follows it."

In the meantime, the Sultan had invested Fuad Pasha, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with full powers to proceed to Syria, at the head of a strong force, to execute summary justice upon the

guilty participators in the outrage. He left Constantinople early in July, and whatever doubts may have been entertained as to the complicity beforehand, of the Turkish Government in the attack upon the Christians, there can be none as to the zeal and sincerity with which Fuad Pasha accomplished his mission. At Beyrout he hanged and shot a great number of Moslems, and the following despatch, transmitted by him to Coustantinople from Damascus, dated August 4th, will show the vigour with which he executed his task. "Yesterday I arrested 330 persons guilty of having taken part in the massacres. To-day the number of arrests exceeds 400. By the day after to-morrow, at the latest, the principal persons who are seriously compromised will have been apprehended.

Those who are found guilty, and condemned by the extraordinary commission I have already named, will be immediately executed."

The arrival of the French was viewed, as might be expected, with the utmost aversion by the Mahometans, but with a general feeling of relief and sense of security by the Christian population, both European and native. By a later convention between the Great Powers, the stay of the French troops was agreed to be prolonged until the 5th of June, 1861, to enable a plan to be formed for the organization of a Government of the Lebanon, and to secure the tranquillity of Syria. At the end of July, Lord Dufferin was appointed to act as British Commissioner in Syria, in conjunction with commissioners on the part of France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. The object of the commission was to inquire into the origin of the disturbances and outbreak-to alleviate the sufferings and losses of the Christians, and make arrangements for the future adminis tration of Syria, so as to prevent as far as possible a recurrence of similar calamities.

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CHAPTER XI.

WAR WITH CHINA.-Expedition fitted out by England and France to proceed to China-Lord Elgin and Baron Gros appointed Plenipotentiaries-British Ultimatum addressed to the Chinese Government

Its Reply Lord Elgin and Baron Gros wrecked at CeylonRendezvous in the Bay of Tah-tien-kwan-Peh-tang-Chinese Rebels repelled by the British at Shanghai-March from Peh-tang to Tangku -Capture of the Taku Forts-Abortive attempts at negotiation-Occupation of Tien-tsin-Duplicity of the Chinese Commissioners-The Allied Forces advance from Tien-tsin-Treacherous conduct of the Tartar General-Engagement with the enemy at Tangchow-Seizure of Messrs. Parkes, Loch, Brabazon, and others, by the Chinese-Fate of the Prisoners-Narrative of the Captivity and Release of Messrs. Parkes and Loch-Advance upon Pekin-Capture and Plunder of the Emperor's Summer Palace-Surrender of Pekin to the Allies-Destruction of the Summer Palace-Convention with the Chinese Government, and Ratification of the Treaty of Tien-tsin. UNITED STATES.-Danger to the Union from the Question of Slavery— The Missouri Compromise-The Nebraska Bill-Question of Election of a President in 1856-Mr. Buchanan's conduct―The Kansas Bill— Resolutions of the House of Representatives hostile to Mr. Buchanan— His Protest-Contest for the Election of a new President-The Candidates-Mr. Abraham Lincoln becomes President elect―His previous history-Meeting of Congress-Message of the President. TOPICS.-Questions of Slavery and Secession-Relations with Great Britain-Kansas-African Slave Trade-Filibustering.

WA

WAR WITH CHINA.-In our last volume we related the disastrous repulse we met with in attempting to ascend the Peiho river, when Mr. Bruce, the British Minister, appointed to obtain the ratification of the Treaty of Tientsin, was compelled to return, and our forces suffered severely from the fire which the Chinese or Tartar garrison treacherously opened from the forts at the mouth of the river. The French also were involved in the same failure, and both countries lost no time in avenging the insult offered to an

Embassy on its way to Pekin with a mission of peace.

Lord Elgin, who had already acted with such distinction as British Plenipotentiary in China, was again invested with that office, and a powerful expedition was fitted out to proceed without delay to the Chinese seas, for the purpose of forcing upon the Emperor the execution of the Treaty of Tientsin, and obtaining reparation for the outrage of the preceding year. General Sir Hope Grant, then in India, was appointed to the chief command, and several Sikh

regiments volunteered to serve, and proved to be most efficient soldiers. The French Emperor also zealously co-operated, and dispatched a strong body of troops, under General Montauban, to China with the same object. Baron Gros was appointed the French Plenipotentiary to accompany Lord Elgin, and they proceeded on board an English frigate, the Malabar, to China, but, stopping on their way out at Point de Galle, in Ceylon, the ship ran upon a reef of sunken rocks in the harbour, and became a total wreck. So sudden and unexpected was the catastrophe, that the lives of the Ambassadors were in imminent danger, and many important papers, besides much valuable property, were lost.

In the meantime an ultimatum, on the part of the British Government, had been addressed, on the Sth of March, from Shanghai, by Mr. Bruce, to the Chinese Government, requiring the immediate and unconditional acceptance of the following terms :--

1. That an ample and satisfactory apology be made for the act of the troops who fired on the ships of Her Britannic Majesty from the forts of Taku in June last, and that all guns and material, as well as the ships abandoned on that occasion, be restored.

2. That the ratifications of the Treaty of Tien-tsin be exchanged without delay at Pekin; that when the Minister of Her Britannic Majesty proceeds to Pekin for that purpose, he be permitted to proceed up the river by Taku to the city Tien-tsin in a British vessel; and that provision be made by the Chinese authorities for the conveyance of himself and of his suite with due honour from that city to Pekin.

"3. That full effect be given to the provisions of the said Treaty, including a satisfactory arrangement to be made for prompt pay. ment of the indemnity of 4,000 b taels, as stipulated in the Treaty, for losses and military expenses entailed on the British Government, by the misconduct of the Canton authorities."

It was also added, that in conse quence of the attempt made to obstruct the passage of the British Embassy to Pekin last year, the understanding entered into between the Earl of Elgin and the Imperial Commissioners in Oetober, 1×5×, with respect to the residence of the British Minister in China, was at an end, and that it rested, henceforward, exclusive y with Her Britannic Majesty, in accordance with the terms of Article II. of the Treaty of Tien-tsin, to decide whether or not she should instruct her Minister to take up his abode permanently at Pekin.

The French Government joined in similar demands.

To this despatch an answer was returned by the Chinese "Great Council," stating that its contents had occasioned them the greatest astonishment. They said that the defences at Taku could not possibly be removed, and that the demand for indemnity and restitution was "yet more against decorum." The war expenses of China had been enormous, and "were she to demand repayment of England, Eng. land would find that her expenses did not amount to the half of those of China."

The proposition with regard to the possible residence of a l' Minister at Pekin was pr to be even more unreas any of the other dem. effect the ultimatum v

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