The Sun. — London, England, 1858-02-15 00:00:00

Th • vas, I I eve r ,otaolo only a s on broke like that of the Isle of Dogs, without its drains. Even now, when the nights are become cold, it can not •.0 ..eat i. Three m ittthe ii se it wii h pestilence. Will Yeh yield ? is still the question in every mouth. It makes one's heart ache to think of the miseries that must fall upon this doomed city should be still hold. It is not we who shall destroy and plunder, but if we may trust the prec..dent-r tif all foreign sieges the cotninenceweLt of the Isom ard.- meet will be the signal for ail the dangerous classes of Canton to sack and fire the city and carry off their loot. We shall probably stand by, as we did at Che-kiang-foo, guarding their exit, and think ing we are doing a humane act in allowing "the poor Chinese to remove their property. For the merchants and the mandarins, especially the former, I have no sympathy. It is they who have rendered all this necessary. It is they who for their own pecuniary profit excited the populace, subscribed to hire "braves" and print lying proclamations, and prevented the carrying out of the treaty. It is they who have kidnapped and tortured our country men. It is they who have built triumphal arches in the city to commemorate the expulsion of the barbarians, who wear decorations showing the part they took in the good work, and to travel north wards to Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai, and twit the contented peeple is those parts with their cowardice in not cuffing and spitting upon the barbarians even as the brave Cantonese have done. Canton must fall. Even in the interest of the Chinese, Canton must fall. But how gladly should I close this letter by saying that it has fallen with out a shot fired or a life sacrified. CHRISTMAS-DAY. The besiegers are resting from their labours. The 59th are come up, but are not disembarked. The mortar batteries on Dutch Folly have been completed ; the works on the French Folly have been abandoned. Everyone's ingenuity is taxed, and, moreover, the fleet is most heavily taxed, to get up the materials for some Christmas festivity. The trees on Dutch Folly have been robbed of their boughs to do duty for holly—mistletoe we have no . use for—but the ration beef is not cut in barons and sirloins, and the plumpuddings, though made by stalwart marines, are mockeries, delusions, and snares. Will the mail take you the news of the fall of Canton I Not if we have to take it by force. On Monday morning the batteries open. On Monday, at 12, the mail leaves. It is not one of the co•itract mails, and it cannot be delayed without risk of missing the steamer at G.tlle, a contingency which happened to the letters to which the last Eagliah mail ought to have brought us answers. The con sequence is that the word " China" does not once o..cur in our last files of the Times—a pleasant thought for soldiers and sailors who, 15,000 miles away, look to home for sympathy and encourage ment. SATURDAY, DEC. 26. This day paeses in anxious preparations. The men of the pen are preparing copies of the plan of attack both for the fleet and the army. The boats are hurrying about transhipping munitions of war. Tile only people who look quite happy and unconcerned are the Chinese Coolies, who, exulting iu ti►e mag nificent daily ration of two pounds of rice and halt a pound of salt beef, carry huge loads about right joyously, grinning and chattering like monkeys. Captain Hall and Mr. Parks continue their dan gerous labour of distt ibuting proclamations. They land a strongly armed company suddenly in a suburb anti post up the proclamation or distribute it to the crowd which soon assembles. Iu ono of these rapid descents Captain Hall ciught a man darin in his chair, not far from tne outer gate. The captain pasted the mandarin up in his chair with the barbarian papere, pasted the chair all over with them, and started the bearers to carry this new ad vertising van into the city. The Chinese crowd, always alive to a practical joke, roared. These bel ligerent billstickers have brought off some Chinese counter proclamations. Arrogant to the last, these papers say that the rebellious English, having seduced the French to join in this rebellion, it be comes necessary to stop the trade altogether, and Utterly to annihilate these barbarians. This evening the orders were issued detailing the plan of attack. From the general orders I extract the following : " GENERAL ORDERS. " Head-quarters, Honan, Dec. 26. " Y. The troops under command of Major-General Van Straubenzee, C. 8., will be formed into brigades as follows : " IST, OR COLONEL HOLLOWAY'S BRIGADIL—Iet Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry ; 2 , 1 Battalion ditto, under oommand of Colonel Holloway, Aide-de- Cansp ; Brigade-Major, Captain Travers, Royal Marine Light Infantry, and Aide-de-Camp Capt. Ellis, ditto. "2D, OR COLONEL GRAHAM'S BRIGADE.—RoyaI Eogi seers and Volunteer Company of Sappers, Royal Artil. lery, and Royal Marine Artillery, Provisional Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry, 59th Regt., 33th Madras Native Infantry, under command of Col. Graham, 59th Regt. ; Brigade-Major, Major Laard, '77th Regt. ; aide-de-camp, Lieut. Ifacket, 59th Regiment. The whole of the Artillery will be placed under the orders of Col. Dunlop, R.A. Capt. Morrison, let Bat. Royal Marine Light Infantry, is appointed Provost-Marshal." The General Order issued by the Admiral is as follows "GENERAL ORDER. " Before Canton, Dec. 26. "The naval and military Commanders-in Chief of the allied forces before Canton have agreed to the following order of operations against the city. FirA bombard. ment to commence at daylight on Monday morning the 28th of December. "The ships and venels named in the note (ander let ter A) on the signal hereafter indicated being made will open fire on the south-west angles of the city walls, with a 'view to breach them, and impede the homnannicat ou of the Chinese troops along their parapets to the ea-t- Ward. "The ships and vessels named in the note (under let ter B), and the Dutch Folly, with a similar object, will breach the city walls opposite the Viceroy's residence ; the mortars in the Dutch Folly likewise shelling the city and Gough Heights. " The'ehips and vessels named in the note (under :et ter C), between the Dutch Folly and the French Filly, will open fire on the sou!h-ea•t angle of tie new aud old oily wal's, and the wale hawing the east ride of the city. These three several attacks commence simulta neously when a white ensign shall be hoisted at the fore of the Actaeon, and a yellow flag as a corresponding sig nal at the same time hoisted at the fore of the Ptilege then. "The Hornet and the Avalanche will repeat these signals at their fore so long as the flags shall remain flying on the before-mentioned ships. "The bombardment is to be in very slow time, and continued dayund night, not to exceed per each gun em ployed 60 rounds§ during the first 24 hours. "Immediately the bombardment opens the landing of the allied forces will take place at the creek in Kupar, (where the British and French flags will be planted) in the following order, commencing at daylight : "1. Sappers and Miners, 69th Regiment. Royal Artillery, stares, ammunition, &c. " 2. The French Naval Brigade, stores, &o. " 3. The Naval Brigade, under the orders of Com modore the Hon. C. Elliot. " 4. The Naval Brigade from Canton. " 5. Lieutenant-Colonel Lemon's battalion of Royal Marines. " 6. Col. Holloway's Brigade of Royal Marines, &o. " The disembarkation of the French forces will be superintended by Captain ReioauA, flag captain ; the British troops and Royal Marines by Major the Hon. H. Clifford. "The British Naval Brigade, by Capt. W. K. Hall, C. 8., flag-captain. The following will be the disposition of the united forces after landing : " British Naval Brigade on the right. " Centre brigade, composed of Lieutenant-Colonel Lemon's provisional battalion, 59th Regiment, Royal Artillery, and Sappere. " French brigade on the left. "Colonel Holloway's brigade in reserve, with Royal Marine Artillery. "After getting into position the allied forces will re• main in line of contiguous columns of brigade until further orders for an advance, which will be made to a position for the night, preparatory to active service in the morning. " M. SEYMOUR, Rear-Admiral Commander-in- Chief of her Britannic Majesty's naval forces. . "C. REGNAULT DE GENOUILLY, Rear- Admiral Commander-in-Chief of his Imperial Majesty's naval fore;;. " C. F. TAN STRAUBENZEE, Major-General Commanding the military forces. " M. C. Seymour, Flsg.Lieutenant." The naval brigade will be composed as follows : !' Commodore the Hon. G. J. B. Elliot, C,8., to "Pilliaild - ,the brigade. 'lSt Division—Captain the Hon. Keith Stuart, Captain G. S. Hand, Commander G, F. C. Hamilton, Commander F. A. Brooker ; the Sybille, 8 officers and 153 men ; the Nankin, 9 officers and 208 men ; the Sampson, 3 officers and 48 men ; t• e Racehorse, 3 officers and 49 men ; the Elk. 3 officers and 45 men ; the Inflexible, 3 officers and 52 men. Total, 584. The ' B ,Ybitle' s and Nankin's boats' creel; to form a company. ,„.." 2d Division.—Captain A. C. Key, Commander A. • L. Hood, Commander J. A. Slight ; the Calcutta, Sanspareil, the Acorn, and the Macao Fort, 474 11 " n• The Calcutt a 's and Sansparell's bo a t s ' crew to form a company. " 3d Division.—Captain Sir R. M'Clure, lint., Cap`. Sherrard Osborne, C 8., Captain the Hon. A. A. CoobraneC.B , Commander %V. M. Dowell, Commander Ch arles Fellows ; the Esk, 6 officers and 104 men ; the Niger, 4 officers and 65 men ; the Highfiyer, 5 officers and 6 4 men ; t h e Hornet, 4 officers and 65 men ; the Cruiser, 4 offi cers and 65 men ; the Furious, 10 officers a nd 70 men. Total 446. " Grand total, 1,5012' ani. sorry I cannot give vou out VIA 111111 "" anti((iv)).Amlacin.tiole.nife,PFhtilexetlion, and gunboats. Cruizor, Hornet •; gunboats Niger iz(Cx)cetN,sim.rhod;.Surprise, Dragonne, Marceau g u nboatv. rou nd , Q Lips ruder letter C, whi c h w ill ti ro It 0 . '" T H.E SON LONDON, MONDAY EVENT NG, FEBRUARY 15, 1858 ' officers and the composition of the French landing force. The French have a feeling in regard to the ' vi thew w a widuli I of course - respect. Toe position and number of their ships are a fact patent to all eyes, and I have therefore included them in the plan which I forward you. Perhaps you will send it, as you did my Fatshan plan, to Mr. Wylde for publication. In the list of the Naval Brigade we miss the name of Capt. Edgell. The non-a rival of the Princess Charlotte keeps the Tribune a prisoner at Canton. It is sometimes a penalty that a man pays for being a perfectly reliable officer that he is wanted for some responsible post where energy and judgment are indispensable. Such is Captain Edgell's case ; but we are all here too much indebted to his un wearying industry and foresight to forget him. As protector of Hongkon g an d genera l agen t to t h e fleet he is doing more important work than he could even do here. Monday, Dec. 28. It is five o'clock in the morning, and the north wind whistles through the shrouds, and Ms thick darkness as we climb the rigging to the maintop of Her Majesty's ship --. • Yeh knows what must happen at daybreak. It has been told throughout the fleet, it has been in tentionally allowed to be known to the bumboat men, and all who have communication with the opposite shore that the bombardment will com mence at daybreak. The frequent reconnaissances on the eastern side have also told them that the attack will be on that side, and we know they have taken the hint, for two new embrasures have broken out yesterday and guns mounted. Before the first streak of daylight every glass is directed upon the berth of the green passage boat. We call it Howqua's boat, moored on the other side of the river, and used to carry messages to and fro, and always having a white flag flying. The boat and the flag are still there, but she does not move. No, she does not move. I must use the seamen's more practised eyes to tell me so, for I cannot yet distinguish objects. Surely, surely, these men will yield while there is yet time. There seems to be no thought of such a thing. Had there been, it is now too late. A cheer tells me that, not in the dawn but in the less thick darkness, up goes the white ensign to the main deck of the Aetwon ' and at the same mo men t a y e ll ow flag flies on the main of the Phlegethon. I expected at that moment to hear a concussion that should have shaken the earth. Not so. A dropping fire, gun by gun, runs along the line. I fancy that the Cru4izer, which has the guns from the bastion in front of Yeh's yamun pointed down upon her deck, fires a broadside to anticipate them, but I may be mistaken, for I am some way off, and the puffs of smoke are already wreathing abou . . Some minutes elapse, and the light strengthens. Then, oft gots one of the mortars upon Dutch Folly. It is fired upon Gough Fort. The woistling shell speeds high over the city—just as I have often seen thew and heard their plaintive whisrle over the heights of Tchernaya, or from the earthworks ou the north of Sebastopol harbour. I t does not reach its objnt. At its highest elevation —far, far away—it puffs forth in a thin white cloud. I can now see the dark fragments falling, and in the cold, cloudless morning sky that little c!oudlet hangs— ' As tho' an angel in his upward flight " Had left his mantle floating in mid air." Strange fancies seize us in these highly wrought moments—the angel of mercy has fled from the doomed ciiy. Slow and continuous, with a sombre monotony, like the firing of minute guns, the cannonade con tinues. No broadsides, no quick firing, no excite ment. Every gun is accurately pointed after many minutes' care to strike or sweep the appointed wall, and to avoid the habitations. The shells are not so obedient as the round shot. What the opposing guns are doing we cannot see, for the smoke gathers thick below us, and the big guns seem to have brought down the wind. Vainly do the mortar shells strive to reach those hill forts, which seem to be sleeping in tranquil security against the cold gray sky. They all fall short. That red 5-storied barn, which is called the 5-storied pagoda, and which is said to be the barrack of 500 Tartars, was nearly touched. A shell burst half way up the bill. But Gough Fort has never yet been approached. Some who must have keener sight than I have say that the Chinese are endeavouring to bring their mon ster guns to bear this way. The strength of the armament of those forts was placed to bear upon the eastern face when we reconnoitred them on Wednesday last. But it is useless, even if practicable, to change the bearing of those guns. If we cannot reach them at this nearly 4,000 yards range with our mortars they will never reach us. The morning wears on and the smoke thickens, and still this dull monotonous minute-gun sound continues. Still no sign of sur render. These strange Chinese actually seem to be getting used to it. Sanpans and even cargo boats are moving down the river like London lightermen in the ordinaryexercise of their calling ; people are coming down to the bank, and watch the shot at.d shell fly over their heads. Even the great kites which hover about here all day have re turned, and are circling above the smoke. Now the gunboats leave their stations, embark the troops and hurry down the river to the landing place at Kupar Creek. I also change my position, and dot down these hasty memoranda as I fly. A strong body has already landed, and through my glass I can distinctly see the General and his Staff, protected by a party of bluejackets and redcoats— either Marines or 59th, I can't distinguish which, for they are crouched on the ground—pushing a close reconnoissance to Fort Lin. Hero I must leave off. It is now half-past 11 o'clock. The Opossum leaves with the mail exactly at 12; and I have small time to close my despatch and reach the Admiral's office. HALF-PAST 12. No sign of surrender. The em barkation of the laud force continue,, and the bombardment goes on. BEFORE CANTON, DEC 29, 1857. Untaught by experience, some officious person at Holigkoug has taken upon him to delay the mail. Whoever it may be, it was done without the know ledge of Lord Elgin or the Admiral, for their despatches went by the steamer which conveyed mine. Possibly the consequence may be that you will get no China mail at all, as happened in the case of that to which we are still without answers. However, I send you a supplementary letter on the chance of its arrival. I broke off iu my first despatch while the bom bardment was still proceeding, while the troops were landing at Kupar Creek, and while the Gene ral was prosecuting a close reconnoissance of the East (or Lin's) Fort. So near did the reconnoitring party advance without any appearance of defenders that we ima gined the fort 'mist be deserted. I suppose, how ever, the General had reason to think otherwise, for the 59th and the Artillery were ordered up, and were posted in the broken ground to the left, while some of the Naval Brigade and Marines, who had now formed upon a hill-side, were advanced into the village at the right of the fort. Immediately this movement took pldce some matting which covered a square building on the top of the round stone fort was removed, and three guns from the lower embrasures and a volley from jingalls on the top soon told that the place was occupied. Our men were well under cover, and skirmishers were pushed forward, who with the deadly Enfield made it dangerous for the gunners to appear in their large embrasures. They continued their fire, however, with great pertinacity until the 9-pounder field pieces were got into position and battered and shelled the place (from the village side and across the ravine which separates the village from the fort) at close quarters. A storming party was now formed, but the Chinaman had had enough of it, and after firing a general volley at the advancing column they absconded in some mysterious way and were seen swarming up the hill towards Gough Fort ; a moment after, and two men appeared in the embrasures waving the English and French flags. My view of this operation was from the river side of the fort. What happened afterwards saw less distinctly. About an hour after the fort had been in our possession it blew up with a loud explosion. The occupying party and also the troops encamped on the lull side were put in motion, ascended the hill, and descended on the other side. I saw Capt. Maclure's and Capt. °Thorne's men, conspicuous by their white gaiters over their blue trousers, gather on a little summit and disappearinto the valley beyond. There we lo3t sight of them. Volleys of musketry and flights of rockets continued in that direction for several hours, and there was all the appearance of au obstinate fight, which lasted till sun down ; but whether this was occasioned by the discovery of some unknown fort commanding the east fort and reuderit g it necessary to blow up the latter, or whether some body of Chinese troops i;ad come out into the open, we shall not know until we can draw out the separate threads of this wide- spreadeutangle melt. Then came the night--and such a night ! The ships almost ceased from their firing, but the city soon became like our own Shropshire iron counties at night —a plain of fire. At first it appeared as though the besiegers were bent upon reducing the place to ashes ; but little by little, as I gained by a change of position some idea of the scene a; a whole, the destruction was not without a phu. There was a great blaze at the north-west angle of the city. The gate there is surmounted by a Chinese guardh , use, withthe usual grotesque upward pointed roof. Shells and rockets were poured in volleys upon this structure, and it soon became a sheet of flame through which the roof, the rafters, and the walls sto9d out in dark outline, By constAnt ftliowera of rockets the flame was led up and down the city wall, and in an incredibly short time the long, thin hue of tire shut 'nigh into the heavens, and then subsided into a smouldering smoke. While this was still raging those vengeful rockets described a new parabola. They came hurtling through the moonlight along the line of the eastern wall. They sought out the three spots which have been marked as the objects of the triple assault of the English and French troops to morrow. As those dreadful 24-pound rockets flew flames arose. They seemed to lead the fire about as a tame element pre cisely as they willed ; and, strange to say, it never seemed to spread inwards or to stray from the line of the city walls. I expect that when, at some more convenient season, I come to see the interior, I shall find that all the conflagrations we have been watch ing to-night with an awe-stricken pity have de stroyed only that line of old houses which leant against the inner side of the wall and afforded cover to those gingalls whence all our great losses in affairs with the Chinese have arisen. I may be wrong, for I pledge myself to nothing that I write in this confusion of showering rockets and crashing roofs—if lam wrong I can correct my impressions hereafter. _ _ TUESDAY, Dec. 29. I mark the change of days, but they are not divided by repose. All night the city was girt by a line of flame. The approach of morning was in dicated by a suspension of the rocket practice, and by the re-opening of the mortar batteiy with re doubled energy. As the day broke the flames sank down and the sun rose upon a perfectly smokeless city. It is necessary to desoribe the conformation of a Chinese city more accurately than I now have time to do to account for the rapidity with which the wallside houses perished. For police pur poses every city is divided into walled depart ments of some fifty yards square, with gates that can be closed. The houses that lean upon the inner walls are, in most cities that I have soen, divided from the rest by a mound or a ditch ; they are encroachments—hovels made by squatters—wood and thatch, that blaze and vanish. The charges of powder must have been increased in the mortar batteries, for the shells now flew high up to the hill forts. One of them at daybreak burst upon an embrasure of Fort Gough, and another went right over it. The ships that had been enfi la-ling the eastern wall now ceased firing. It was the moment for the assault. In the neighbourhood of the E tst fort the three divisions formed and the rush was made. For two hours nothing is visible but smoke—nothing is heard but the rattle of muske , ry and loud cheering. What deeds are done among this broken ground —among these trees and brushwood—on the tops and in the in terstices of these grave-coloured hillocks—how fare these forces, spread over more than a mile of attack, what divisions are first, who fall and who survive, I must tell hereafter. At eight o'clock the wall is gained and I see the bluejackets, English and French, racing along it northwards. Gough's Fort gives us its fire, let us hope without effect, but, well-served, its guns might sweep the wall. There is a check and silence for half-an hour. I can recognise the blu e t rousers o f oue of the divisions of our naval brigade. The leaders are probably teaching them how to take that five storied pagoda upon the north-western wall. Along the city wall, and protected by its battlements, they pa , s, I think, unscathed, the fire from Gough Fort away to their right, and come in front of a gleaming white battery, newly built, and full of guns erected upon a ledge of the rock upon which the wall and the five-storied pagoda here stand. If the assailants would only go to a proper distance, how these guns would riddle them. But with a rush and a cheer a de tachment strikes from the cover of the wall, which the guns de not command, and houses itself safely at the foot of the very rock which bears the battery. Not a shot can it fire. The riflemen from the walls now ply this half-moon for some minutes, and in a quarter of an hour the detach ment at the foot of the rook has gone round and taken the position from behind. Relieved from these guns, which might have swept them down by hundreds, our men in serried mass s are now swarm ing along the wall. The five storied pagoda (which is no more a pagoda, according to our notion of a pagoda, than it is a bum-boat, but an old square red building divided into stories) is carried by the bayonet, and the French and English colours are hoisted simultaneously. Now, Gough's Fort opens out sulkily upon its late ally ; but the assailants, not waiting to reply, hurry along the intervening wall westward. I can follow them for some time from my position, and I hear them cheering, when I lose them in the hollow. A few minutes of sharp fusillade and blue jackets emerge from the tress and up go the two bits of bunting which tell that this key of Canton is our own. It is now 2G minutes after 10. In four hours, therefore, the hill defences of this city have been captured. Gough's Fort yet holds out, but this is a mere question of a few hours or minutes more or less—the Magazine-hill commands it, and it is within point-blank range. The whole of the operations have been conducted with a view to occasion the smallest possible sacri fice of life, and especially of the lives of our own teen and of our allies. We may hope, therefore, that the victory will be a cheap one. I purposely refrain from repeating any of the rumours that are flying about as to deaths and wounds, but I may state it as within my own knowledge that Captain Bate was killed while superintending the placing of the scaling-ladders. Captain Hackett was also killed, and Lord Gilford is wounded in the arm. How many others are lost it is impossible to say The Chinamen are still shooting at our men from the tops of the houses, and is this goes on I fear it will be m-essary to treat the city less tenderly than hitherto. While the Algerine gunboat, Lieutenant Forbes, is witi steam up taking the supplemental despatches on board, 2.5 p.m., Gough's Fort is assaulted and taken. (From a Supplement to the Overland Register.) HONG KONG REGISTER OFFICE, DEC. 30. The French and English Naval Brigades advanced on Monday forenoon and took Fort Lin ; one French officer was killed, and several French casoaltiel ; some English wounded severely. The troops then advanced towards the south, and bivouacised for the night off the south-east angle of the city wall. We believe Lieut. Hackett was acting as aide de-camp to General Straubenzee, and while at some distance from any corps, carrying despatches, was set upon by a party of Chinese, who over powered and slew him. The advance on the Magazine or City-hill Fort, as it is variously termed, took place at 9 a.m. yes terday. Capt. B a t e was killed and Lieut. Lord Guildford wounded there. Capt. Bate, as usual, ever forward where duty called, was volunteering to place the scaling ladders, when he was shot from the wall through the stomach. He died as he had lived, a Christian hero, with the sounds of victory ringing in his ears. The expedition could not have sustained a greater loss than the death of this excellent officer, not more remark able for the sweetness of his temper, the child like purity of his life, th an f or th e ex t en t of his scientific acquirements and th e s hi n i ng s pl en dour of his personal valour ; this lamented officer in his life and death was a bright exa m pl e o f t h e Ch r i s tian hero. His rare intrepidity, hi s p er f ec t self-com mand, his ready talent, rendered him one of the most valuable officers of the naval service. He was equally beloved by officers and men, superiors andinferiors. In the words of Southey respecting Nelson, be has fallen in the hour of victory, and if the horses and chariots of fire had been vouchsafed, he could scarcely have departed in a brighter blaze of glory. Mr. Hackett was a young promising officer, much esteemed by his immediate commanding officer, and beloved by his regimental companions. His death is much regretted. Besides Bate and Hackett we hear only of the loss of Mr. Thomas, midshipman, of the Sanspareil. Gough Fort was taken between 2 and 3 p.m.: but th• casualties had not reached the river when the Firm left. The bombardment was to be renewed during the night with greater severity. The body of Captain Bate and that of Lieutenant Hackett are being brought down in a gunboat for interment here. The destruction of China life is not known, but, as the Admiral humanely delayed commencing ope rations until it was apparent that all 1% ho desired to leave had left, it is supposed that the loss of life has been comparatively small for such a city. The following is the Admiral's order : " The p-r.od being nearly at hand for commenc ing active operations against the city of Canton, the Commander ie-Chief has to call the serious atten tion of the captains, officers, seamen, and marin e s of the squaoron to the necessity of carefully protec:- ing the lives and property of the peaceable and un armed inhabitants—not only on the score of hu manity, but likewise on the policy which renders it so important to retain the goodwill of those classes of the Chinese population whose material interests and Fredilections separate them from the high Man darins and the military power o f CAnton, aga i ns t whom alone our hostile action will be direct e d. " The Rear-Admiral has also to impress upon the officers and men who may soon be actively employed his determination to discountenance and prevent all `looting' or plundering, both as demoralising as well as subversive of the discipline that is essentially AocesaAry to 4119C04P ; anti he trusts that the officzrs by precept, and especially by example, will carry out his views and instructions. " The Co mmPA , nder-in-Chief takes this opportu nity to express his warmest thanks to the commo dore, captains, and commissioned officers, seamen, and Royaj Marines of the squadron for the patient endurance they have evinced during the last twelve months in the monotonous and frequently harrass ing duty of keeping open the navigation of this river. And he further assures them that, whatever may be the nature of the future operations, he shall enter upon it with the strongest confidence in their ready and gallant co-operation for the maintenance of the honour of the British flag awl the success of our arms. " MICHAEL SEYMOUR, "Rear-Admiral, Commanding-in-Chief. "To the Commodore, Captains, Commanders, Officers, Seamen, and Marines and the Squa dron in China." A supplement to the Friend of China, dated the 30th of Decembe r , has the following : " The gunboat Firm, Lieutenant-Commanding Nicholas, arrived ab ou t 4 thi s m orning, b r i ng i ng despatches from th e E ar l o f El g i n . (Th e Al ger i ne, with the despatches on board, had got on shore, and was high and dry a short distance below the barrier, when the Firm passed her about 5 last evening.) The Firm reports as follows `About a dozen of the gunboats were busy all Monday forenoon landing the 59th and English and French Naval Brigades and Artillery, in all about 2,500 men, abreast Kupr's Island. On landing, possession was at once taken of the round fort, which some of our readers remember crowns a small height about 1,000 yards below the French Folly, and there they remained all Monday, and up to 10 o'clock yesterday morning. At the hour mentioned the bombardment, which commenced before daylight on Monday morning, and was con tinued throughout both day and night up to that hour, ceased, and the assault of the bill forts took place afterwards. These, it was understood (only Gough's Fort can be seen from the landing place), were in our bands, as well as the lower section of the eastern wall, at the time the Firm passed down. Particulars of the casualties have not reached us ; but may be looked for by the Kestrel, with the Admiral's despatches for the mail, directly. " ' But saddest of all is the death of Capt. Bate, and that of Lieutenant Hackett. Capt. Bate, that heroic man for whom all Hong Kong will mourn, with Lieut. Viscount Gilford and party, was en gaged in making an inspection of the ground over which the assaulting party would have to pass and the best point for escalading, when a shot from the walls struck him in the abdomen and he died almost immediately. Viscount Gilford was also shot through the arm, but not seriously. Thanks to the gallant boat's craw who were with the officers, the body was brought off. Lieu tenant Hackett was bearing a despatch from an taking a sh or t cu t, was sud- ' doeuntliyyinagssapilieckdebt,yad, a n man in amb usca d e , an d kill e d in a moment. The wr e t c h w h o d i d the deed, h ow- , ever, was caught by our Jacks, and hung on a tree with short shrift. His body still dangles to the breeze. After these painful occurrences our men became so excited that they destroyed the village near which the last mentioned death occurred, and, with large sections of the suburbs, it was in fierce blaze when the Firm left. The Chinese return-fire appears to have been confined to their small arms ; no large guns were aimed at the squadron.' ft P.S.--A letter received from a fr;end since the above was printed supplies the following additional particulars : 'Captain Bate, when killed, was choosing the spot to place the scaling-ladders at the five-storied pagoda. Lin's]Fort, Five-storied Pa goda, and Eastern wall are in our possession." The atrocity has been ascribed to an outbreak of Mahomedan fanaticism, but it seems as likely it was merely an aggravated case of burglary, and Mr. De Leon, the United States Consul, will no doubt find the Turkish authorities fully disposed to second him in his efforts to trace out the authors of the crime, without the necessity of the threat that would be implied by the presence of a ship of war. The place of the Constellation has been taken by a Swedish frigate which came into port this morning. Prices in the Alexandria grain -markets have continued depressed throughout the past fortnight, and all shipping business has been much obstructed by the weather. Saida wheat is quoted from about 255. 3d. to 275. 4d. per quarter, free on board ; beans, 225. Bd. to 235. 2d. ; barley, about 13s. Cotton, on the other hand, is very firm, and the late advices from England have caused an advance in prices of fully id. per lb. Sales are estimated at 21,000 cantars, at from 6id. to lid. per lb., free on board. Freights 4s. 6d. to ss. 3d. per quarter for beans to the United Kingdom, for orders. Exchange on London for three months' bills continues at 1011 piasters per pound sterling. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY EVENING, The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Tagus, Captain Christian, has arrived with mails in charge of Lieutenant Seaward, R.N. Her dates are Gibraltar, February 5 ; Cadiz, 6 ; Lisbon, 9 ; Vigo, 10. The Tagus brings 16 passengers, specie value 11,7321., 100 boxes of eggs, 52 boxes of tan gerines, 516 boxes of almonds, and 102 packages of sundries. Stormy weather from the e as t war d se t i n a t Gibraltar on the afternoon of the 29th ult. Heavy squalls, accompanied by rain, thunder, and light ning, occurred at intervals throughout the night. On the 30th a gale of wind blew from the eastward with a heavy sea rolling into the bay from the Me diterranean, which gradually moderated on the 31st, and terminated in copious showers during the night. followed by fine weather on the Ist inst. and a light breeze from the north-west. Numerous casualties to shipping during the gale were reported. Lisbon exchanges are quoted, this packet, at three months on London 531 to 53, with money over at the latter rate, bills continuing scarce on London, as also on the continent, at 532 for Paris ; Amster dam, 52i ; Hamburg, 471 ; Genoa, 530. Three per Cent. Stocks had been less in demand at 461 to 47 ; Coupons, 461 to ; and Deferred, 28i to 29 ; Bank of Portugal shares, 10i to 11 per cent. pre mium ; and Oporto Bank shares, 20 to 22 per cent. premium. NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. Orders were yesterday received at Chatham by Major-General W. H. Eden, commandant of the garrison, directing the officers in command of the three battalions of infantry to hold in re tdiness additional reinforcementq, to the number of nearly 1,000 men of all ranks, to embark for India, for the purpose of augmenting the service companies of those regiments now stationed in Bengal, Madras, and Bombay. The above detachments are in addition to the officers and men at present under orders for India, which will make nearly 2,000 men of all ranks in readines at Chatham Garrison to embark for India as soon as tonnage has been taken up for their conveyance. The volunteering for the line, from the 3d Royal Lt.nark Militia, in Kilkenny, closed on Wednesday evening, exactly the number of men asked fur, 112, having volunteered, although ong subsequently " paid the smart." Admiral of the White John Sykes died at his re sidence, Wilton-terrace, on Friday last. By his death the following promotions take place : Admiral of the Blue Sir George Francis Seymour, K. C. 8., G. C. Fl., Commander-in-Chief at Ports mouth, to be Admiral of the White. Vice-Admiral of the Red the lion. Sir Fleet wood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, C. 8., K.C.H., to be Admiral of the Blue. Vice-Admiral of the White Sir John Gordon Sin clair to be Vice-Admiral of the Red. Vice-Admiral of the Blue Provo William Parry Wallis, Commander.in-Chief on the south-east coast of America station, to be Vice-Admiral of the White. Rear-Admiral - of the Red William Fansba - we Martin, Superintendent of Portsmouth Dockyard, to be Vice-Admiral of the Blue. Rear-Admiral of the White Henry Smith, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the Red. Rear-Admiral of the Blue Henry John Codring ton, C. 8., to be Rear-Admiral of the White. Captain Richard Henry King (1839) to be Rear- Admiral on the reserved half-pay EA. Captain Richard Laird Warren (1839) to be Rear-Admiral of the Blue. By these promotions the appointment of Super intendent of Portsmouth Dockyard and the gift of a good-service pension fall to the patronage of the Admiralty. The sailing frigate Cambrian, 40, Captain James J. M'Cleverty, bent sails on Tuesday, and was towed on Thursday from Hamoaze into Plymouth sound. The steam frigate Valorous, 16, Captain W. C. Aldharo, from SO, head, which arrived in Plymouth Sound on Thursday, went up Hamoaze on Friday evening to make good defeots. She is to convey to Sheerness Captain Storey, and the officers and crew of the Eagle, who are appointed to the screw block ship Russell, 60, fitting to replace the Eagle at Falmouth. The screw steam frigate Euryalus, 51, was planed alongside the sheer hulk at Devonport Dockyard Friday, preparatory to her being put in commission. It is reported that she will be sent to the Pacific. The screw steam sloop Encounter, 14, Captain O'Callaghan, which returned from the China and East India station on Sunday, the 7th inst., was inspected by Port-Admiral Sir Barrington Rey nolds, K.C.8., on Tuesday, and is ordered to be paid off at Plymouth. The screw steam ship Royal Albert, 131, flag of Admiral Lord Lyons, on returning from the Medi terranean, is ordered to be paid off at Plymouth. The Southampton, 50, guardship, is to be re moved from Elarwich harbour. The Pembroke, 60, is expected to succeed the Southampton on the station. On Friday courts-martial assembled on board the flag ship Waterloo, Captain Henry Harvey, at Sheerness, to try Commander Armin° Wodehouse, Henry D. Sarratt, master, and Mr. John John ston, the last being in pilot charge of the screw steam gun vessel Alacrity, to inquire into the cir cumstances under which her Majesty's ship Alacrity was run aground (while under charge of the said John Johnston) on the Shingles Spit, at about 1 4.20 a.m. of the 3d of February. After hearing the evidence for the prosecution and the defence the Court fully acquitted Commander Wodehouse and Mr. Sarratt, the master, from any blame whatever, highly eulogised them for the exertions they made, and for the judioious management and sound judg ment exercised by them in getting the Alacrity off the Shingles Spit and into Sheerness. The court was then dissolved, and immediately sworn in to try Mr John Johnston, the pilot. The prisoner, on the case closing for the prosecution, was asked if ho was prepared with his defence and if he wished to call any witnesses. He replied that he was pre pared with his defence, but did not wish to call any witnesses. His defence was then read by the Deputy Judge-Advocate, wherein he informed the Court he had held his warrant for nearly 12 years ; that during that period he had never had the misfortune to gob any ship on where under his charge ; that had he been on board a merchant ship he should not have got under weigh during a dark night such as it was, but knowing he was in charge of one of her Majesty's ships, and in company with the Royal yacht squadron, he considered, when he was ordered to get under weigh, he was bound to do so. He attributed the accident to the very thick wea ther and darkness of the night, having repeatedly to alter his course in a narrow channel to avoid col lisions with the other vessels in the Alacrity's course, and to the strong current setting her over to the northward and running direct across the Shingles Spit. He produced certificates from a great number of naval command , rs. The sentence of the Court was to the following effect :-- "That they were of opinion the result was owing to the thick weather, and having to repeatedly alter her course for other vessels, and from not making a sufficient allowance for the current running across the Shingles Spit ; bet in consideration of the high character given the prisoner by Commander Wodehonse and Mr Sarrat t ,i. the master, also the high testimonials produced by ill-) from other naval commanders, the Court do adjudge him to be admonished to be more careful for the future, and that he is hereby admonished accordingly. The new =crew steam corvette Racoon, 22, of 400 horse-power, Capt. J. A. Payne r, at Sheerness, commenced on Saturday last to have her compasses adjusted. The Russell, 60, Lieut. Robinson, is ordered to be ready on the Ist March. Mr. J. Martin, assist ant surgeon, took up his commission on Saturday last and joined. The Royal George, 102, screw steam ship, has had her fitment completed at Sheerness. She was put out of the basin on Saturday last and berthed at harbour moorings next the Formidable, guard ship of ordinary. On Saturday last her Majesty's ship Challenger was launched from the building -slip at Woolwich. Herb ittery will consist of 20 8-inch guns of 65 cwt., and one pivot GB-pounder of 95 cwt., carried for ward or aft as may be convenient. The propeller is designed so as to be lifted by the spanker-boom. Arrangements aro ordered to bo made I for l aying down the 50-gun frigate Barossa, intended to be built under the same shed. Captain G. Goldsmith, C. 8., has received the good service pension at the disposal of the First Lord of the Admiralty by the promotion of Lord Clarence Paget to flag rank. The following appointments were made on Satur day at the Admiralty : R. Grigor, surgeon, to the Waterloo ; J. G. Buchanan, surgeon, to the Ajax ; G. F. Adams, acting assistant-surgeon, to the Impregnable ; J. R. Bertrand, assistant-clerk, to the Cumberland ; and F. Seeter, assistant-clerk, to the Excellent. LITERATURE. Fifty Years' Recollections. By Cyrus Redding. C. J. Skeet, King William-street. Any man with a tolerable amount of ability, who has measured his "three score years and ten" in an active and desultory literary life, must needs have much that is interesting to record in his career ; but Mr. Cyrus Redding possesses talent of superior order, and perception of acute degree ; and has, therefore, succeeded in producing iree volumes of more than average merit in the autobiographical style of publication. For our own part, we entertain a degree of moral and mental objection to this class of writing ; con sidering and perceiving too generally that the recollections embodied are tinged with pri vate prejudice and loquacious inaccuracy-- thereby at once invalidating the, integrity of the author, the acquirement of the reader, and the , characters of those w h o are treated of in the work. Autobiographies are doubtless intended to plea santly amuse and truthfully enlighten ; but there is seldom sufficient delicacy or care displayed in the revelations of past circumstances and connec tions ; and the relater is apt to degenerate into gossipping vacuity or injudicious betrayal of confidential association. Mr. Cyrus Redding has not neatly so much to answer for in this respect as many who have issued similar books ; yet he is not exempt from the prevalent habit, and not a few instances of incorrectness and exaggeration mark his pages, but the large amount of faithful intelli gence and intellectual interest pervading the volumes would prevent a more captious spirit than , ours from wishing to break a lance with him. Mr. Cyrus Redding was well-born, well-bred, and well-connected, having the advantages of highly-educated and classical friends in early life, and numerous excellent positions for the exercise of his talent throughout his career— having been responsibly established on seve ral first class papers and periodicals ; in cluding Gafignani's Messenger, The New Monthly, aad Metropolitan ; which latter serial he founded in conjunction with the poet Campbell ; but he does not appear to have bmefitted much by his opportunities, and wo fear that his love of excite ment and change tended somewhat to hinder big solid well-doice—the case with many clever men—thereby causing Dame For tune to incur an odium which might be more justly assigned to want of steadiness of pur pose and directness of application. After long ser vice in the worLi of letters, with ardent zeal for liberal politics, and enthusiasm for literary pursuits, it is painful to find a gentleman of upwards of seventy obliged to have recourse to his autobio graphy for the means of respectable existence, and working harder than he probably did in manhood's prime ; however, we can only hope that Mr. Red ding may receive some bounty at the hands of Government borore long ; for though not among the original geniuses or most prominent minds of the age, he has laboured well and unceasinly in the service of the reading pub:lc, We shall present a few specimens of his work, beginning with the following, relative to a famed and favourite poet : " It to:)k time to know Campbell in his better days. He had most estimable qualities, with some peculiariTies; these made many mistake his real character. He was oftea thoughtless, disliked labour, and was forgetful. Ile required a hint to make him do what to people in general was the most obvious thing in the world, lle was way ward at times, cow particular, and then careles., By fits and starts be was grave, and then frolicksome, both upon slight excitements, and sometimes ready to push things to exces', at others to evade them. He was accused of being wanting in his friendships, I never saw it, but it he were judged by his omissions, his conduct often bore that appearance. No man possessed a more kindly temper or wished more to do good to others, but he was not forward to do so because of his abstractions. He was perpetually occupied by some subject from which nothing came. Political economy, Hebrew, Eastern history employed his thoughts in turn, and were dropped. I never found him wanting towards myself, it I had I should have openly told him of it, as I once did when I thought ho was guilty of an omission on an indifferent matter. Though ha early flc that without rue he should not he able to remainlangas editor of the Nov Monthly, from his want of forecast and little regard to the effects that woull fellow, acting on the impulse of the mei:sent, and that this would have pro duced a much earlier break up, yet he did not hesitate to offer me the professorship of English at the Univer sity of Warsaw, which Prince Csartorisky, then ruler of Poland under Alexander of Russia, placed at his disposal to fill up by an Englishman. I declined it, fortunatisly for myself, on account of the difficulty of the language, not long before the revolution that was provoked by the Grand Duke Constantine. His countrymen accused him of not laying himself out to procure profitable places for them from the Whigs. They esteem it a duty in any of the natives of the north, who become . possessed of influence of any kind, to work for thorn in this way, but Campbell was too independent to job for any body. He would scarcely solicit the most trivial thing for himself, which almost anyone might ask and haTe." We hare often proved that complimentary dinners to popular individuals are questionable affairs on some ground or other, and the one given to Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, does not impeach our expe rience. Mr. Redding says— Hogg was a much quieter man than Wilson made him out, and was reported to say things he was too well informed to utter. His writings are eminently Scotch, and were not adapted to make a sensation in this coun try. I confess in all I ever saw of Hogg, which was not much, I was greatly prepossessed in favour of his abilities. While he was in town, it was proposed to give him a dinner on the anniversary of the birthday of Burns. I was named a steward with Lockhart and several friends. Campbell was nominated ales, but he was in the country. On repairing to the Freemasons' Tavern to make preparatory arrangements for a meeting of the stewards to provide the dinner, we found that the whole had been clandestinely done. The tickets were 225. One et the stewards, who want with me, was equally surprised at this intelligence, and we neither of us attended. Sir John Malcolm was in the chair. I had a note of °roue from Campbell, which, as I did not attend, I sent to the chairman for the purpose of its being read. Sir John declined doing so, saying be was in the hands of the stewards, but what stewards were his instructors we could never learn. I wrote to Sir John, who exonerated himself by a note, explaining the matter as far as he was concerned. Two or three out of the eight or ten stewards nominated, bad secretly settled all, b inding Sir John to heir toasts, not having communicated with any others. Nor was this all, the dinner was paltry—the affair looked like a job—there was not enoegh food fur the guests present, four shillings a head would have amply covered it. I sent au account of th e w h o l e di a . graceful affair to the" A.therteum," which had shrewdly inquired what was the reason myself and others were absent from the lenten affair. It had good ground for the question, but surmise would not prove the facts of a disgraceful character connected with that affair. Hogg was never in London afterwards. What will the idolaters of "Betty Foy" and 'The Excursion" think of this iconoclastic heresy ? When Wordsworth died there was a contest about his merits as a poet. I got into a contention on the subject. It cannot be denied that the projector of a new scheme for poetical writing, not to be challenged, merits especial notice, for with Wordsworth all was ex cathedra. His lyrical ballads I read on their first ap pearance, with a perfect ignorance of what end their author could have in view, except to strip poetry of all that is attractive, and send her a doggrel ballad singer en chemise through the world. Dogmatic, haughty, and self-sufficient, there was nothing of sonl.kindliness in Wordsworth, and a poet without a heart is a non descript creature. He bad no relish for Shakapeare, r and s affected an abstractedness, which he imagined, or friends for him, was a communing wit h the black or with grey spirits of the Cumberland mounta ins. When the friend who admired the poem Ecursion' appeared, a difficultyere and t l h waded ere is a d tu it throughteii, t e . n t it toThat bat it is too much to ha ve to g ro p e throu g h a bushel of there e were It was fine w li t n h e e it chaff to find a grain or two of wheat. Wordsworth was a man who, I hope, only affected a sort of ascetism in order to cultivate solitaryness, and obtain credit for profundity or rather obscurity. He would fain be oracu lar and austere as well, in order to be taken for a s econd, and no doubt in his own opinion an improved Milton. Yet so far from being worthy of the compari son, he endeavoured to frame a n ewnea rly eoetical system n yienvdisolaetxetdollied in the face of his but tiehwhich n notoriously all he wrote, violations. All phrases and forms were to be rejected that were not included in the language of common life. He would degrade all to the humblest I inguege of the gratification reality, th a t was whichhiey f fancy n e law. He the languag e o f _would give nothing of the proffers. He as,erted, too, that poetry should be that of prose, and th a t fact • or frnagleation were the same. It must be con• leased his own language is sufficiently prosaic. Tt o convinced by hi s own example of the i of his theory, b e advocated it as strenuously as ever. All the poetry of E ng l an d, w ith one or t wo re l uctant exceptions, were beneath his lofty endurance. He affected an equal regard and interest for the meanest as for the grandest object, an error self-evident. Vain and ego tistical, destitute of genial feeling, intellectual in his own way, he moves no passion, raises no heart-warmth, excites no sympathy, works upon nature, and nature clone, but does not depict nature in her glories. We conclude our notice with a few words on modern clubs—cordially recommending Mr. Bed ding's "Recollections" as a highly interesting and entertaining work. Social clubs wore a past inetitursn. They were fowl in the number of members, and linked in mutual kind. bore no resemblance to the unsocial, cumbersome anti-d omestic establishments of the present day. A peculiar. mark of the tim e i s th e pus hi ng t o sloes* everything that suits the fashion, until it loses US f o r r i l e g a l l a y l h a intercourseract e r i n discomfort z o le r u bvesaxpta does g n a o n t o e. The exist in the new. Nothing ' Can t h an the con versation in modern club-houses. Not that men of ability are not members of them, but that for one MGM* berable to support a conversation, there are ten without anidea of anything but themselves or their p rofessional avocations. ill must b e l owered to theirtone. The old clubs consisted of a few persons, who were more equal in regard to talents, or nearer upon an equality in mind, and attached to the e n d of the institution, if it were of any peculiar character. Thus mutual infer maticn was imparted, .and men drawn more towards each o th er by congenial pursu its, formed f r i en d s hi ps that lasted through life, Even as to exclusi veness little is now gained, notwithstanding the black-ball system, The truth is, the ballot goes much by interest. In a well-known club which has many candidates and few vacancies, it is quite common to black-ball all down to a particular n a me , which the members feel desirous should he among them, and interest is made for the particular candidate accordingly. They have no scruple about rejecting me n o f hi g h h ono u r and unimpeachable character, to whom they have no objection except that they prefer or are pressed to admit another, who sta nds perhaps forty d own upon th e li s t i n or d er o f applioatiou. Justice and the principle of honour have no hold here. Nor is the ballot a t any t i me a secur i ty aga i nst obnoxi ous persons, unless they are publicly and notoriously known to be so. Even common honesty and decent manners are not guaranteed by it. In one club a member may be discovered walking away with a purloined quire of paper, and a stink of sealing-wax in his pocket ; in another, acts happen which rigid cons. mittees endeavour to prevent, that would hardly have occurred in the most uneducated and vulgar classes of society. Compared to the old club, the resemblance, therefore, is but small. The multitudinous, tulle% ostentatious, modern establishments, without friendly intercourse, are but reflections of the fashion of the day—aimless, heartless, but superficially imposing. There is nothing gained in these social bodies by the lapse of half a century. ° FRENCH ACCOUNT. The Moniteur of yesterday publishes the sub stance of a despatch from Rear-Admiral Rigault de Gernuilly, in command of the French squadron in Canton river : " The landing of the allied forces took place on ;he 281 k of December. "In consequence of the small number of men which Rear-Admiral Rigault de Genouilly had at disposal (about 900 men) a post of honour—that is to say, the head of one of the columns of attack— was allotted to the French troops by Rear-Admiral Seymour, commander of the English forces. " This mark of sympathy greatly pleased our sailors and soldiers. " English and French marched with equal order against the walls of Canton. " On the 28th, after some skirmishes with the Chinese troops, Fort Lin was captured. " M. Martin des Pallieres, Sergesnt-Major of the Marines, had the honour of being the first to plant the French flag on the walls. " On the 29th the attacking columns advanced against the walls of the town. " The second mate of the Capricieuse, Pelizsier, was first in the breach and planted our colours on a watchhouse on th• walls. He was closely and bravely supported by a gunner of the same cor vette named Laurier. "Every man, adds Rear-Admiral Rigault de Geaouilly, rivalled the zeal of our intrepid allies, aid did his duty to maintain the honour of the . arms of the E mperor, wh i ch was ma i n t a i ne d i n a ll its brightness. " The Admiral speaks favourably of Captain Collier and o f Lieutenants Vautre and Veriot. " The despatch concludes as follows : " ' Canton is at the mercy of the allied forces. The north forts seem to hare been abandoned. The flags of F rance and England are h o i s t e d on the five story p ago d a. Our loss i s sma ll f or an attack ing force. lam acting in concert with Admiral Seymour and General Str a ubenzoe to make sure the re iu lt s of the victory obtained b y the arms of England and of France. The fire from the allied fleet was excellent and contributed in no small , degree t o the success."' TH —.ajesty'stroop-shipE TRANSIT THROUGH EGYPT. X the 92d [for xr DRIA, FEB. 5. Highlander s , en route for Bombay, arrived here on the 30th ult. The original intention of Govern- A :rgent, with Govern ment app ears to have been th a t the regiment should b e convoyed from Suez by the Adjdatia, but the stea mer, as mentioned in a former letter, i was , taken u p to carry forward the London mails of Dec. 10, t ogether with a detachment of the 69th, thus repl ac i ng the regular mail boat, the Alma, which w as d isabled by an accident to her machinery in her homew ar d passage from Calcutta and Ceylon. This, in dependently of the mischance that after wards. occurr e d to the Adjdaha h erse lf, th e b oa t having put back to Aden leaky after having pro ceeded some 300 mil es on h er j o urney from that port, might have led to rather embarrassing results ; but, fortunately, the Peninsular and Oriental Com pany's steamer Oriental is on her way bank to Suez from Ku.rrachee, whither she has already convoyed her Majesty's 94th R eg iment, and instructions have been received from the home government for the emba r k a ti on of the 92d by the Oriental. She is expected at S uez about the 12th inst., and it may be hoped th a t the regiments will not undergo much delay in Egypt . These several accidents however, will tend t o s h ow that as long as this route is used for the convey ance of troops it will be absolutely necessary to h ave a sufficient number of transports on the Red Sea to provide against contingencies. The actual transit through Egypt can at all times be effected with perfect ease, and all arrangements connected with the movin g of the troops across the Isthmus are superintended by Colonel Pocklington, who, with two other o ffi cers of the Queen's army, Major Collingwood a n d Captain Maycock, have been - i . ~3 ' the British Government for that express purpose, while the consul and East India deputed Company's .Egaygpe:t likewise possess instruc tions en the subject from th e i r respective Govern ments. There is moreove r , reason to hope t h a t th e journey to Suez will soon b e performed throughout by rail. A large increase has been made in the number of men engaged o n th e works at the ex tremity of the line near Suez, an d I am i n formed that the Viceroy promises that i n a f ew weeks the rails will be laid down to the shores of the Red Sea. _ . The telegraphic announcement of the arrival at Suez of the Ilindost an, With the Calcutta and China mails, has just been received. She arrived yes t er day afternoon, but there has again been a suspension in telegraphic communications, which, as on former occasions , is attributed to the viole n t s t o rms of wind and rain experi ence d th roug h th e past week. The winter up to the present has been of extraordinary severity— see h , indeed, as sadly to belie the otherwise well-merit e d repu t a ti on o f the Egyptian winter cli mate. The mild and g as a rul e , genera ll y preva il s d succession of gales and storms, t e uo n rri i mn a 1 gspA:Pl withei G e a e t l t l eo a o which, r the presentc ason has, i n f ac t, thi s y ear given co ntinue o n more th an one occasion at a most unusal proximity to the freezing point. The United States' corvette Constellation, after a sojourn here of about ten days, has taken her - i . f de parture for Messina. was at one time thought that she would that steer for th e coas t o f S yr i a , in order to give the support of her p resence to the A m erican Consul-General, wh o l e f t f or Jaffa a few days ago for the purpose of making a n investigation into the circumstances attending an outrage of a most ruffianly nature, of which an American mis sionary stationed at Jaffa and his family have lately been the victims. This gentleman's house was broken into during the night, h e himself stunned by a blow on the head, his son-in-law killed out right, and his wife and daughter subjected to the grossest indignities at the hands of the a 505,51104 SPORTING NOTES. THE START FOR THE SEASON. Thera did not appear much probability, at the cone. mencement of last week, that the Lincoln meeting would be celebrated. It seemed somewhat outrageous to imagine, while one's finger ends were smarting with the biting, bitter cold, and the ground in Rotten Row was " as hard as bricks," that the " terrible high-bred cattle " would be really racing the same week as far north as Lincolnshire. However, as it turned out, the frost was no preventative to the inauguration of the Isthmian Games of '.58, and the season was commenced to the day under most auspicious circumstances. The running ground was in beautiful con' dition, and the trainers did not evince the least solicitude for the safety of the te n d ons o f th e i r t en d eres t youngs t ers . Lon Con taifites mustered in force in the ring, plying their avocation with their customary earnestness and obstreper ousness. The patrons of the turf, too, congregated in tolerable strength, and gave unmistakeable signs of how uncongenial to their tastes is any prolonged inactivity, welcoming with sportsmanlike heartiness the termination of the reign of dulness. In the weighing-room everybody was shaking hands with everybody else, and chatting cheerily over the racing prospects of the ensuing campaign. The reporters of the accredited sporting organs were perpet• rally being interrupted with all sorts of inquiries after their healths by bookmakers, trainers, and jockeys who have not had an opportunity of exibiting their friendliness since the curtain fell at Shrewsbury. The sport was extra ordinarily good for Lincoln, and the largest " fields" ever beheld in that locality assembled at the post for the events ou the flat. Johnny Osborne, on Commotion, won the first " legitimate" race of the present year, after a fine set to with Nat on the Cambridgeshire hero, Old Trick. Both Commotion and Odd Trick, however, had to succumb to the prowess of Honeytree (the recently named colt by Honeywood, out of Incense) in the race for her Majesty's Plate. The Lincoln Handicap was a great success, and Judge Johnson must have experienced no little gratifies. tian when the2l animals cantered down to the startingpoet. The northern handicapper is undeniably the most accurate and able official we have, and owners of horses and trainers place implicit confidence in his wisdom and impartiality. Vanderinulin, the winner of the handicap, 13 the property of the well-known and eccentric Mr. Edward Rawson Clarke. Not the meet trifling of " D'Orsay'e" many pecu liarities, is his extravagant admiration of the Lincoln champion. An Arab in his fondest adoration of his steed scarcely excels Mr. Clarke in his professed affection for Irauderinulin, and I have repeatedly heard him avow that he absolutely " loves the turf the horse impresses with ita hoof." Vaudermulin was for a certain period a great favourite for the Derby in " Ellington's year," but he figured most ingloriously in that encounter, a circumstance which almost drove poor " D'Oraay" wild with vexation. The Derby betting is pursued with tke utmost reserve, for Clydesdale is so wonderfully firm in the market that the " fielders" aro a bit dispirited and dismayed. John Scott's grey, Cock-a-doodle-doo, is improving his position iu the betting, and report states that he is wonderfully improved. To convert the clumsy offspring of Chanticleer and the T upper into a Derby horse of formidable preten sions will, I think, require greater potency than even " the wizard" is endowed with. Adamas has been advanced to the premiership for the Chester Cup, but in my opinion there are many animals engaged in tho race that negrtive his chance, notwithstand ing the big talk about the " hor3e's" improved form and his last year's performances. Turfites are looking hopefully towards Lord Derby for some needed reforms, and doubtless, when his Parliamen tary labours are mitigated, we may hear of some salutary measures at his instigation. By the bye, I learn that it is proposed to rescind General Peel's rule, which excluded the Shrewsbury Selling Race delinquents from all handi caps under the Jockey Club authority. Edward Day has removed from Codford to Amesbury, at which famous coursing quarters he has obtained permission to school his select string of youngsters. American turfites, I find, by " Porter's Spirit of the Times," keep up a con tinuous crow at Prioress' hollow victory over the English horses in the Cesarewitch, endeavouring by every inge nious contrivance to magnify the importance of the mare's achievement. A writer to the transatlantic paper mentioned, draws an inference from the Cesarewitch running that will amuse English racing men enor mously. He infers that Prioress must be an "al - wonder," because, carrying rather more weight she ignominiously defeated the British bred horses Sluggard, Poacher, and Illuminator. Ignorance in this case nasty be productive of blissful sensations to Brother Jonathan ; but in England it is well known that the three specified horses are about the worst brutes at present in training. To judge by advertisements in this week's Bell's Life, Mr. Rarey, " the horse tamer, " will have to contend against some active competition in his novel line of business. Two individuals announced that they are in the possession of a secret which they will impart to others for a trifling sum, and by which the most intract able steed may be converted into the gentlest of crea tures. I trust that we may not find the public ready to exemplify the adage which avers that a fool and his money are soon parted. There was a great scene at the Town hall, Dorset, on Wednesday evening, when the brave old Farquharson was presented with his magnificent testimo nial. Some sanguine people deluded themselves with an idea that " the squire" would relent of his avowed deter mination of giving up the country which for 50 years he has hunted and imnscrtalisedrEhimself in ; mon of imagi native minds thought that "the squire" might, at this very banquet, announce benignantly that he had resolved, after much consideration, to pock e t his affronts, to lot bygones be bygones, &c., &c,, and that he would not secede from his mastership. When, therefore, the honoured old fox-hunter announced in a voice full of emotion that it was impossible for him to alter his determination, the company seemed absolutely spirit-broken and irretrievably dejected. It must be con fessed that the severance of such a connection may well be painful to thorough sportsmen, and at the same time it will be affirmed that " the squire" has acted with consis tency and courage. Racing men will enjoy little leisure this week. Two days' capital sport are promised at Nottingham, and the largeness of the entries shows how shrewd a turf tactician is the experienced clerk of the course. The fields are likely to be as numerically strong as those at Lincoln last week, and the races will not only be interesting, but productive of some brisk spe culation. Honeytree will meet Vandermnlin on 16 lbs. better terms than he did at Lincoln, and this advantage will not only make " Vander " safe, but ought to give the race to Honeytree. Of the top weights I prefer Tame Deer. Like the Two Year Old race at Lincoln, the Little John Stakes seems likely to be to all intents and purposes a match between Arminius and Joyeuse, and the former's 5 lbs. extra may enable the filly to pull through. For the Forest Plato, Vandermulin and Yaller Gal shall represent my interest. The "jumpers " I shall not refer to. A FRESH MAN. ARRIVALS AT NOTTINGHA.M—MONDAT. Vandermenlin, Yorkshireman, Yeller Gal, Plnmstone, Silica, Bexhill, Lady Aintree, Dutchman's Daughter, Ortolan, Hindley, him Harkaway, - Whaley, Foxhunter, Queen Lily, Lady Rohellion, Esperance, Honeytree, Border Chief, Arminius, Thermopylae, Joyeuse, Toosey, Glautius, Westhurp, and some for plates. rADVERTISEEEET,I— GLABBES.—S._ —a) ...RARING SPECTACLES—. POWERFUL TELESCOPES SIGHT A, Dr E. Solomon, Race, AND PitesexorMi and opticians, 39, Albemarle- Street, Piccadilly, Observe—opposite the York Hotel, W. By her s Majest ' yßoyal Letters Patent for valuable and ex traordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Telescope s , Camp, Race-course, Opera, and Perspective Glasses, to know the distances, These Telescopes possess such extraordinary power that some, three and a-half inches, with an extra eye-piece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope can be seen a person's countenance three-and-a-half miles distant and an object from 16 to 20 miles. For the waist coat-pocket, and are of larger, and all sizes, with increasing accordingly. Tho Royal Exhibition, powers ISSI, —A valu able, newly-invented, very small, powerful, Waistcoat-pocket Glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen and known one and a-half mile distant. They answer every pur. pose on the Race-course and at the Opera-houses. Country scenery and ships are clearly seen at 12 to 14 miles. They are invaluable for shorting, deer-stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera, Camp, Perspective, and Race-course Glasses, with wonderful powers. - Invaluable preserving Spectacle Lenses of the greatest transparent power. The great advantage derived from this invention is, that vision impaired becomes pre served and strengthened and very aged persons are enabled to employ their sight at the most minute occupation—een lel with those lenses of a much less magnifying poive!"—an— they do not require the frequent changes to thy; rd " genets effects of further powerful assistonc e i d b . son & can be suited at the most remote part of the i lvor a e e letter, and ing one of the glasses out of their spootge_l es 2 . o ;d sma ll fr i n e stating the distance from the eye ther e cau of spectacles by with it, and those who have net ort soc ,„ ry ......Th e O rgan i c stating their age. Deafness- - N°:Li, small, newly-invented Vibrator, an extraordinarilyr. o 7 - ii different from all others, instrument for deafness, en f th e kind that has been, or probably surpassing anything o can e, pro dneed. Being o f the same colour as the skin, is b It enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at perceptible, . not porcep assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation of church and at publio . . c • 131 the ears is entirely removed, and it aflortla singing noises i all tho assistance that possibly could be desired.-39, Albs. marie•streot, Piccadilly —Opposite the York liotol, W, 3ols o t ele" , the were r ro 23. 1 0 0 ° n T, Ye a . oral o iip l °.' beliP e ra' Loa for 0 or tills o% • ; 'As el ,ii