Having to wait the return of the Macedonian with Captain Abbott, to whom the command of the three remaining ships was to be transferred, the commodore fixed September 11th for the day of his departure by the oriental steamer. In the meantime the Susquehanna, which with the Mississippi, was to make the long stretch across the Pacific, departed for Simoda, Japan—on her first and only visit to that place—towing the Southampton, laden with coal, intended for the use of the two steamers in their run from Japan of over three thousand miles to Honolulu. The storeships Supply and Lexington were also despatched homeward by the way of the Cape of Good Hope. It is scarcely necessary to give the state of affairs in China at the time of the departure of these ships. The fighting of the Chinese—if fighting it might be called—continued, and we had reports one day how the city of _Sling-Gin_ had been captured by the insurgents, and another day, that the imperialists still held the city of _Gin-Sling_. The Chinese government insists upon its officers, saying, when required to perform anything for it, what the Frenchman told the lady: “Madam, if _possible_, it is done already; if _impossible_, it shall be done”—though placing no means at their disposal for accomplishing the desired result. The following being so very Chinese, I insert it. _T’sing-ling_ nor _Tae-yung_ could not prevent the capture of _Woo-chang_. On reading the report of its downfall, the emperor said: “It is impossible to repress my grief and indignation. That Tae-yung, though charged with two provinces, seems not to have had a single plan for their defence. Formerly we deprived him of official rank, with the hope that he would exert himself and make amends for previous errors; but lo! he follows his old habits, and has thus brought disaster on a large portion of the empire; this is most detestable and abominable. Let Tae-yung be instantly deprived of office, and handed over to the direction of Yang-pae. We also order Yang-pae to hasten to his new appointment, and place himself at the head of all the troops in those provinces, in order immediately to exterminate these rebels, and recover the provincial capital out of their hands; afterward let him sweep away this pestilence, in order to fulfil the object for which we have intrusted him with this great command. Let him also endeavor to ascertain what has become of all the officers both civil and military who were formerly stationed at Woo-chang, and report. Respect this.”