Canton, May 3, 1859. — Bruce and his suite have at last arrived and will very shortly go north and enter upon what I hope will be the last stage of the Chinese business. The new Admiral*' has also arrived.... Rumours are current that the Chinese have rebuilt and garrisoned the forts at the mouth of the Pei-ho.... In anticipation of resistance the Admiral sends up a force of gunboats and steamers of larger size but small draught of water, and the General sends up with them 500 marines and a company of engineers. These go nominally as an escort to Bruce on his way to Pekin, but are at the same time sufficient to render considerable assistance to the Admiral should he meet with any opposition at the Pei-ho. My own impression is that they, the Chinese, will do all they can to impede us in our attempt to reach Pekin for the exchange of ratification of the Treaty, and that they may therefore make some show of resistance at the mouth of the Pei-ho, but that when this is overcome and Bruce is well on his way to Tien-tsin, then the Chinese will repeat their conduct of last year, ignore the acts of their officers in resisting us, get frightened, and eventually exchange the ratification. If, however, matters should turn out differently from what I have described, and Bruce find it impossible to get to Pekin without a large force, we must then wait for reinforcements from England or India and commence another Chinese war next year. Will
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the country stand this? However, I have little fear of this alternative.... — Your affectionate brother,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To Lady Stephenson
My dear Mother, —... In another fortnight we shall hear how the Embassy will be received at Pekin. I am confident all will go right.... So we are to have war ^ in Europe — war to the knife! I don't suppose we shall long keep out of it, though I believe it would be the best and wisest course for England to keep aloof if she can. What a tremendous nuisance it is being such a long way from England! Here we are at the end of June with news only of the end of April, and still in ignorance as to whether war has in reality commenced, and by the time you read what I am writing you will probably have forgotten when the war did begin. Since I last wrote to you I have been to Macao for a week to have a look at our friends the Portuguese. Such delicious air! A breeze blowing incessantly, morning, noon, and night. You lie here in your bed like a spread eagle, with all your legs and arms as far apart as you can stretch, and when you get to a place like Macao, where an incessant breeze sends you to sleep and really refreshes you, it is too much enjoyment. — Ever your affectionate son,
Fredk. Stephenson.
To his Brother
My dear William, — This mail will bring you the news of as ugly a reverse as our navy has ever experienced.... As yet we know nothing more than what the papers will tell you.... Bruce, I know, had orders to go up to Pekin at all risks, so that probably he had no option in ordering the Pei-ho to be forced;
but I am afraid the manner in which that operation was conducted cannot be criticised so Hghtly. The attack was commenced too late in the day, namely, 2.30, and the landing of the men as late as six o'clock was more objectionable still; landing at all at such a low state of the tide was unpardonable, and the report of the officer sent to ascertain if a landing was practicable is open to very severe censure, for a landing was, in point of fact, impracticable, whereas he reported the reverse. However, we must be very cautious in expressing our opinion until we learn more particulars. One thing is pretty certain, the task imposed upon the Admiral was far beyond the means at his disposal. You have no idea how completely taken aback we all were at this sad news. We are evidently in for another war which will keep us all here for a considerable time longer. And now what is to be done? We shall want 10,000 men to get up to Pekin after this reverse. The war party will be in the ascendant, and these Mongols will fight better than they did the other day. This time the thing must be done well and systematically, for we have got Russians to deal with as well as Chinese. But where are the necessary reinforcements to come from? I doubt if India can supply the number of men we should require to make up the above strength, and we certainly can expect no help from the French. In the meantime, we must guard against hostilities at Canton, which it would be the most natural thing in the world to expect with any other people, but I should not be at all surprised if we remained perfectly quiet. There is not the slightest appearance of any forthcoming disturbance at present. I hope I shall get a good long letter from you in answer to this, telling me what is likely to be done in consequence of this unfortunate business....