1860 (9 Oct) an important letter sent from Clifton, Bristol,
England to Lieutenant Geoffrey at the Expeditionary Force in North
China An
1860 (9 Oct) an important letter sent from Clifton, Bristol,
England to Lieutenant Geoffrey at the Expeditionary Force in North
China An important letter dated shortly after July 1860, written
during the final phase of the Second Opium War. falls at a critical
moment in the final phase of the Second Opium War, just days before
the climax of the entire campaign. The timing of the letter being
dispatched closely precedes the Anglo-French occupation of Peking
on 6 Oct., and the infamous burning of the Old Summer Palace on
18-19 October 1860. The letter references chaotic scenes around
Peking and Tientsin, with civilians fleeing, peace uncertain, and
trade suspended. It captures Allied views on Chinese internal
instability — citing 10,000 troops tied down by rebellion — while
highlighting logistical and command updates within the British
expeditionary force. Mentions of Lord Elgin, Captain Lushington,
and others place this within the decisive period just before the
fall of Peking and the looting of the Summer Palace on 18-19
October 1860 ... the 29th May too late for the mail that month —
the half of the 25th consequently the one but gets it to the
investors. The letter content mentioned: “We are in daily
expectation now of hearing from China of the expedition, having
received your last of the 24 & 25 duly from Taku or Talién Whan Bay
on the 5th last ……That the peace also uncertain, and that trade is
suspended. The people there are very discontented; that they have
but only 9000 against us and 10,000 against the Rebels who are
cutting up the Empire. I also expect Lord Elgin will be able to
anticipate the address of your actual dispatch of speech — if your
actual detachment is split up to 3 companies, Col. L. ought to
allow your portion of this to your position & salary …… Captain
Lushington is promoted by General Rosecrans, and Walton is put up
for promotion ……
1860年9月24日 法國南特寄往中國法軍遠征隊第102步兵團之信封 寄至中國參與八里橋戰役及攻入北京的法軍主力部隊軍官 Canel
上尉。此信於1860年9月24日由法國南特（Nantes）寄出，收件人為Canel
上尉，隸屬於法國遠征軍第102步兵團第一野戰營（Voltigeurs）。該部隊為第二次鴉片戰爭期間法軍核心作戰單位，參與了1860年8月的第三次大沽口戰役與9月21日的八里橋戰役（Battle
of Palikao），兩役皆為聯軍攻佔北京的關鍵戰事。
此信寄出時正值八里橋戰役爆發之際，當信件於11月抵達中國時，清廷已於聯軍壓境下簽署《北京條約》，結束第二次鴉片戰爭。歷史與郵政意義在於（1）此件郵品與第二次鴉片戰爭最關鍵戰役時點同步，直接對應聯軍取勝與清廷議和之重要歷史節點。（2）寄往駐中法軍的實戰部隊軍官（Canel上尉），反映戰時郵政網絡與法軍戰地通訊真實情境。（3）為研究法軍在華軍事部署、作戰節奏與戰地郵件運作的稀有郵品。本封信寄達正值中法英三方重新劃定外交與通商條件之歷史時刻，具高度象徵意義。
