or start."
As I close this letter the Chinese are apparently trying to flood us out; we this afternoon see water advancing across the Western plain. This can do us no harm whatever, but may very much contribute to our safety as it will preclude guns of position being placed there. It may be attempt to stop our advance, i.e, a defensive rather than an offensive. measure. It has clearly been done by damming up the Grand Canal; it will have one consequence, but that is of no_consequence in the present paralysis of trade, viz; the further lowering of the very low water in the Peiho, Our water supply is intact.
30th June.
Nothing of import occurred yesterday after I posted my last dispatch, The Admiral sent down the Alacrity's men and 8 few others to rejoin their ships. We have an impression that we have now entered on 8 transition phase of the local situation, viz.
seeing the military element, pure and simple, supersede the naval or mixed. have no authority for saying ao, but I am disposed to think that during the next few days we shall see the naval men embark more and moreand the military men disembark, The former as usual filled n gap in fie protracted operations of a punitory ex-rear emergency and filled it well; but for pedition they feel that the military should manage it in the normal military way. A! dusk fell we heard the merry blare of a bugle band crossing the new pontoon bridge at the military echo), and Yo! a sight fo,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.