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

like that of the Isle of Dogs, without its drains. Even now, when the nigh - Lb are become cold, it can not .be healthy. Three mouths hence ;t wili reek with pestilence. Will Yeh yield ? is still the qu=stion ;II every mouth. It makes one's heart ache to think of the miseries that must fall upon this doomed city should he still hold. It is not we who shall destroy and plunder, but if we may trust the prec3dents of all foreign sieges the commencement of the l ona',ard meat will be the signal for all the dangerous classes of Canton to sack and fire the city and carry off their loot. We bhall probably stand by, as we did at Che-kiang-foo, guarding their exit, ani 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 "lneives" 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 in 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. Bat how gla Ily should I close this letter by saying that it bay fallen with out a shot fired or a life sacrified CHRISTMAS-DAY. The besiegers are resting from their labour:. 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 ? 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 coetract mails, and it cannot be delayed without risk of missing the steamer at Gallo, a contingency which happened to the letters to which the last English mail ought to have brought us answers. The con sequence is that the word "China " does not once o.Tur 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 pames 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. The Only people who look quite happy and unconcerned are the Chinese Coolies, who, exulting in the mag nificent daily ration of two pounds of rice and half it pound of salt beef, carry huge loads about right joyously, grinning and chattering like monkeys. Captain Hall and Mr. Parkes continue their dau gerous labour of distributing proclamations. They land a strongly armed company suddenly in a suburb and post up the proclamation or distribute it to the crowd which soon assembles. In one of these rapid descents Captain Hall ciught a man darin in his chair, not far from toe outer gate. The captain pasted the mandarin up iu his chair with the barbarian papers, pasted the chair all over with them, and started the bearers to carry this new ad vertising van into the city. The Cuin,se crowd, always alive to a practical joke, roared. These bel ligerent billstiokers have brought off some Chinese counter proclamations. Arrogant lo the last, these Papers say that the rebellious English, having seduced the French to join in this rebellion, it be- Mlles 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, Ronan, Dee. 26. ," 1. Th e t roops un d er comman d o f M a j or -G enera l Van Straubeezee, C. 8., will be formed into brigades as 40110 W 8 IST, OR COLONEL H O L L OWAY'S BRIGADE.—Iit Battalion , Royal Marine Light Infa n try ; 21 Battalion Cat, Royal command of Colonel Holloway, Aide-de ..., "P Brigad e -M a j or , C apta i n T ravers, R oya l M ar i ne Light Infantry, and Aide-de-Camp Capt. Elia, ditto. 2°, OR COLONEL GRAHAM'S B RIGADE . —R oya I Eegi ;leers and Volunteer Company of Sappers, Royal Artil lery, and Royal Marine Artillery, Provisional Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry, 69th Regt., 38th Madras Native Infantry, under command of Col. Graham, 59th ; Brigade -Major, Major Laard, 77'h Regt. ; aide-de-camp, Lieut. Racket, 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 lofantry, is appointed Provost-Marshal." The General Order issued by the Admiral is as follows : "GENERAL ORDER. " Before Canton, Dec. 26. "The naval and military Commandsr—in Chief of the allied forces before Canton have agreed to the following order of operations against the city. First bombard ment to commence at daylight on Monday morning the 28th of December. "The ships and vessels named in the note (under let ter A) on the signal hereafter indicated being made will °Pen fire on the south-west angles of the city walls, with a view to breach them, and impede the communication of the Chinese troops along their parapets to the east 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 ships and vessels named in the note (under let ter C), between the Dutch Folly and the French Folly, will open fire on the south-east angle of the new and old city walls, and the walls forming the east side of the city. "These three several attacks wi:l commence simnita , teoesly 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 Pelege thou. "The Hornet and the Avalanche will repeat these signals at their fore so long as the flags shall remain flying on the beforemlentioned ships. "The bombardment is to be in very slow time, and . Continued day and 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 dayiight : "I. Sappers and Mioers, 59th Regiment. Royal Artillery, stares, ammunition, & o , " 2. The Fieoch Naval Brigade, stores, &c. " 3. The Naval Brigade, under the orders of Cora- Modore the Hon. C. Elliot. " 4. The Naval Brigade from Canton. "5. Lieutenant -Colonel Lemon's battalion of Royal Marines. " 6. Col. H o ll oway ' s Brigade of Royal Marines, &c. " The disembarkation of the French forces will be superintended by Captain ReinauJ, flag captain ; the British troops and Royal Marines by Major the Hon. H. Clifford. " The British Naval Brigade, by Capt. W. K. Hall, CB. 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 Sapper,. " 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 force,. " C. F. TAN ST RAUBENZEE, Major-General Commanding the military forces. et M. C. Seymour, Flag-Lientenant." Tile naval brigade will be composed as follows : " Command the Commodobrigade.re the Hon. G. J . B. Elliot, C. 8., to " lit Division - -Captain the Hon. Keith Stuart, Captain G. S. Hand, ommander G. CF. C. Hamilton, Commander F. A. Brooke r • the Sybille, 8 offi cera and 153 men ; the Nankin, 0 Officers and 203 men ; the Sampson, 3 officers and 43 men ; the Racehorse, 3 ()Moen and 49 men ; the Elk, 3onf. Total, 584. Theficers and 45 men ; the officerslnflexible 52 men . , 3 and B ybille's arid Nankin's boats' cre w s to form a company. e C. Key, Commander A. pt' 23 Division.—Captain A. th • 14. hood, C omman d er J. A. Slight ; the C a l cu tt a , 11 Sans pareil, th e A corn , an d b mi n , a , 40, T , tep 4 e Cal cu tt a ' s and te Macao Fort, 474 Sanspareil's boats' crew to an lure, Knt., Capt. 1 Dirisi C tain Sir R. We AA. Sherrard Osborne gin.—Captain Captain the Cochrene.o.B , COmmander %V. M.Duwall i r i C u o e m . Charles Fellow' s ande Esk, 6 officers and Niger, 4 officers 65 men ; the Hi g ...y a" 64 'nen ; the Hornet , 4 officers andil 104 men Inseme n na : ncd t et h rhese e r Cruiser, 4 officers and 65 men ; the Furious, l in o e and 7 0 Me n . Total 446. " Gr an d total, 1,501." officers lera sorry I cannot oivA vim ~,,t t‘`‘' T'" oa 4 ' * (A) 4- etaa xi Pi : ------.— ; - i -- ' -- --b...-.--.—.................,..........''' and gunboats. t (B) Atitraille, FLlevrtil°ll'. Ind A valanche e, Cruizer, Hornet ; gunboats Niger - 1 (C) Nimrod, Surprise, Dragonne, Marceau gunboats. t Except the ships under letter C, which will fire 1(0 rod de. THE SON LONDON, MONDAY EVENT NG, FEBRUARY 15, 1858 ' offwers and the composition of the French lauding force. The French hive a feeling in regard to the publication of their arrangements which I of course respect. The po:sition and nuiut;er of their ships are a fact patent to all eyes, and I hare 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 Coariotie keeps the Tribune a prisoner at Canton. It is sometiirps 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 Edgeli's case ; but we are all here too much indebted to his uu wearying industry and foresight to forget him. As protector of Hongkong and general agent to the fleet he is doing more important work than he could even do here. rockets the flame was led up and down the city wall, and in an filer edibly short time the long,, thin line of fire shot high into the heavens, and then subsided into a smouldering smoke. While this was st:ll 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 Freuch troops to morroT. 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 pi!y have de stroyed only that line of old houses which leant against the inner side of the wall and afforded cover to those giugalls 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 nay impressions I hereafter. Monday, Dee. 28. • It is five o'clock in the morning , and the north wind whistles through the shroud's, and it is 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 eas'ern side have also told them that the attack will be on that side, and we know they have taken the hint, for two new einbrasures have broken out yestzday and guns mounted. B , aiore the first streak of daylight every glass 13 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 alw4s 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 seam. Al's more practisr.d 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 Actaeon, and at the same moment a yellow flag flies on the main of the Phlege - hon. I expected at that moment to hear a concussion that should have shaken the • earth. Not s). A dropping fire, gun by gun, runs along the line. I fancy that the Crudizer, 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, off gets one of the mortars upon Dutch Folly. It is fired upon Gough Fort. The whistling shell speeds high over the city—just as I have often seen them and heard their plaintive whistle over the heights of Tchernaya, or from the earthworks on the north of Sebastopol harbour. It does not reach its object. 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— 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 ro:ket practice, and by the re-opening of she mortar battery with re doubled energy. As the day broke the flames sank down and the sun rose upon a perfectly smokeless city. It is necsssary to describe the conformation of a Chinese city more accurately than I now have time to do to account for the rapidity with which the waliside houses perished. For police pur poses every city is dividsd 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 seen, 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 f,rts. One of them at daybreak burst upon an embrasure of Fort Gsugh, 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 sat fort the three divisions formed and the rush was made. For two hours nothing is visible but smoke—nothing is hoard 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 recignise the blue trousers of one 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 pass, 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 do 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 rock 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 masses arenow swarm ing along the wall. The five stoi ie , l pagoda (which is no more a pagoda, acc,rdieg to our notion of a p sgoda, than it is a bum-boat, but an old squarq red building divided into stories) is carried by the bayonet, and the Fr. nch 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 thinutes of sharp fusillade and blue-jackets emerge from the trees 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 bon 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 men 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 scaliug-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 nsessary to treat the city less tenderly than hitherto. "As tho' an angel in his upward flight " Had left his mantle floatii.g in mid air." Strange fancies seize us in these highly wrought moments—the angel of mercy has fled from the doomed city. 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, whichis 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 hill. But G nigh Fort has Dever 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 mament 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 ordinary exercise of their calling ; people are coming down to the bank, and watch the shot and 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 clown these hasty memoranda as I fly. A strong body has already lauded, 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. Here -1 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 embarkation of the laud force continues, and the bombardment goes oil. BEFORE CANTON, DEC 29, 1857. Untaught by experience, some officious person at Hongkong 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 mice. 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. While the Algerine gunboat, Lieutenant Forbes, is with steam up taking the supplemental despatches on Laird, 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 caslaltiei ; some English wounded severely. The troops then advanced towards the south, and bivouacked 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. I broke off in my first despatch while the bom bardment was still proceeding, while the troops were landing at Kuper 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 roust 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 Biigade and Marines, who bad now formed upon a hill-side, were advanced into the village at the right of the fort. Immediately this movement took place 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 jinoalls 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 embrasure;. They continued their fire, however, with great pertinacity until the 9-pounder field pieces were got into position and low.tered and shelled the place (from the village side and across the ravine which separat e s th e 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. The advance on the Magazine or City-hill Fort, as it is variously termed, took place at 9 a.m. yes terday. Capt. Bate 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 be 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, than for the extent of his scientific acquirements and the shining splendour of his personal valour • this lamented officer in his life and death was a bright example of the Christian hero. His rare intrepidity, his perfect self-corn orand, his ready talent, rendered him one of the most valuable officers of the naval service. He was equally beloved by officers and men, superiors and inferiors. In the words of Southey respecting Nelson, he 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. My view of this operation was from the river side of the fort. What happened afterwards I saw less distinctly. About an hour after the t ort had been in our p ossess i on it blew up with a loud explosion. The occupying par ty and also the troops enc4mpad on the hill side were put in uaction, ascood:d the hill, arid descended on the other side. I saw Capt. Maclure's and Capt. o , =borne's men, conspicuous by their white gaiters over their blue trousers, gather on a little summit and disappear into the valley beyond. There we lost si g ht of them. Volleys of musketry and flights of rockets continued in that direction for several hours, an d t h ere was all the appearance of an obstinate fight, whi c h l asted till sun down ; but whether this was occasioned by the discovery of some unknown fort commanding the east fort and rendering it necessary to blow up the latter, or whether some body of Chinese troops had come out into the open, we shall not know until we can draw out the separate threads of this wide • spread entangle ment. Besides Bate and Hackett we hear o►►ly of the loss of Mr. Thomas, midshipman, of the Sauspareil. Gough Fort was taken between 2 and 3 p.m., but the 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 who 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 t— " The prod being nearly at baud f or commenc ing active operations against the city of C anton, the Commander in-Chief has to call the serious atten tion of the captains, officers, seamen, and marines of the squadron to the necessity of carefully protect ing the lives and property of the peaceable and un armed inhabitants—not only on the scare 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 predilections separate them from the high Man darins and the military power of Canton, against whom alone our hnstile action will be directed. 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 as a whole, the destruction was not without a plan. There was a great blaze at the north-west angle of the city. The gate there is surmounted by a Chinese gnardh , rpe, withthe usual groteique up ward 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 stood out in dark outline, By constant khowera of " The Rear-Admiral hai also to impress upon the officers and men who may soon be actively employed his determination to discountenance and pravent all looting ' or plundering, both as demoralising as well as subversive of the discipline that is k 0 ementially uecessAry to allocess ; and ho trusts that the officers by precept, and opecially by example, will carry out his views and instructions. " The Commander-in-Chief takes this opportu nity to express his warmest thanks to the commo ore, captains, and commissioned officers, seamen, and Royal Mar:nea of the squadron for the patient endurance they hav e ev i nce d d ur i ng th e l as t twelve months in the mo notonous an d f requen tly harrass ing duty of ke e pi ng open the naviga ti on o f thi s river. And he further assures them that, whatever maybe 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 aid the success of our arms. The atru:ity ltts been ascrih of to an outbr , .ali - Mthornedan fanaticism, but, it seems as likely it was merely an aggravated • case of urgla , y, and Mr. De Leon, the United States Consul, will no doubt find the Turkish authorities fully disposed to sec , rid him in his efforts to trice out the auth:rs of th 3 crime, without the necessiiy of tie throat tiia,;. would implied by the presenc , o of a ship of The place of the Coostellttion 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. Saide wheat is quoted from about 255. 3d. to 275. 4d. per quarter, free on board ; beans, 225. Bd. to 235. 2d. ; bar:ey, 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 6fd. to 71d. 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. "MICHAEL SEYMOUR, "Rear-Admiral, Commanding-in-Chief," To the Commodore , C a pt a ins, Commanders, Officers, Seamen, and Marines and tha Squa- dron in China." A supplement to the Friend of China, dated the 30th of December. has the following : "The gunboat Firm, Lieutenant-Commanding Nicholas, arrived about 4 this morning, bringing despatches fron the Earl of Elgin. (The Algerine, with the despatches on board, had got on shore, and was high and dry a short distance below the barrier, when t'ao Firm passed her about 5 last evening.) The Firm reports as follows : " 'About a dozen of the eunboats 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 w,is at once taken of the round fort, which some of our readers remember crowns a small height about 1,000 yards below the French Fol!y, and there they remained all Monday, and up to 10 o'clock yesterday morning. At the hour mentioned the bonabardme-it, which commenced before dayli g ht on M onday morning, and was con tinned throu g ho u t b oth day and night up to that hour, ceased, and th e assault of the b i l l forts too k place afterwards. Th ese, i t was un d ers t oo d ( on l y Gough's Fort can be seen from the landing place), were in our hands, 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 dta'h 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. Vinount Gilford was also shot through the arm, but not seriou s ly. Thanks to the gallant boat's crew who were with the officers, the body was brought off. Lieu tenant Hackett was bearing a despatch from an outlying picket, and, taking a short cut, was sud denly assailed by a man in ambuscade, and killed in a moment. The wretch wh o did the deed, how ever, was caught by our Jacks, and hung on a tree with short shrift. His body still dangles to the breeze. After those 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.' tc P.S.--A letter received from a friend since the above was printed supplies the following additional particulars 'Captain Bate, when killed, was choosing the spot to pace the scaling-ladders at the five-storied pagoda. Lin's Wort, Five-storied Pa goda, and Eastern wall are in our possession." . . . • down tLe 59-gni frigate Barosse„ intended to be in tiv, , nieeber of.mni . tin' •rs , and linked built under the same shed. li n t,,' h , ...c. re no resemblance to the unsoia cmberiona9 , Csptain G. Goldsmith, C. 8., has received the Anti - - .loasrsiic estai:ll,,hris..-pt.i of the present day. A. good service pr , nsion at the disposal of the First i n seat:eel kind peculiar mark of the tiroe k t', - - pu-11:ng fo ,wows Lord of the Admiralty by the peomotiten of 'Lord everything that 'snits fee te,i:ie.,, trete it bees its oli , ipal &- ' ' - Clarence Paeee to flag rank. . e . aracter in 61 , ,comfort or extravagance. The The folk) Wing eppoaltmente were made on Sato r- friendly ititelcomme of - the old'.r.ittbs does not exist iii, day at the Admirelty : the steer. . Nitiing can be more vapid than the con,- vena,lon ru modern ►cl ly h . o - ouses. Nut that men of. R. Geiger, surgeon, to the Wakrloo ; J. G. ability are not . Buchanan, 'surgeon, to the AjaeC; G. F. Adams, ber able to stl t a members oon o v f er the T , but that for one .mem acting assistant-surgeon, to the Impregnable •; J. R. an idea of anything but the:stair' there are ten f wit . boul : s tir ' or their . pro en lona Bertrand, assistant-clerk, to the Cumberland ; and , avocations. All must be lowered to their tone.TEL F. Seater, assistant-clerk, to the Eioellent. I old clubs consisted of a few - i. persons, wpo were more equal in regard to talents, or nearer upcm an equality i n mind, and attached to the end of the institution, if it were of any peculiar character. Th us mutual! in; r .. mai n was imparted, and men draw n more towards Pifty Years' Recoll e cti ons . By Cy rus Redding, eac'i other by congenial pursuits, formed friendships C. J. Skeet, King William-street. that lasted through life. Even as 'to eiclasiveness Any man with a tolerable amount of ability, who little .is now gained, notwithstanding the black-balL:. has measured his "three score years and ten" i -n an system. The truth is, the ballot goes much by iotereei. active and desultory literary life, must needs have ' In a well-known club which has many candideet and' much that is interesting to record in his i few vacancies, it is quite common to black-ball all down career ; but Mr. Cyrus Redding possesses to a particular name, which the members feel desirous . talent of supe r i or or d er , an d percept i on of , should be among them ; and interestis made for the acute degree ; and has, therefore, succesded!! P 3 rticular catoiidate accordi n gly. They have no teruple in producing throe volumes of more , than average ' about rejecting men of high honour and unimpeachable merit in the autobiographical style of publication. i character, to whom they have no objection except that For our omu part, we entertain a degree of moral ! they prefer or are pressed to admit another, Who stands and mental of to this class of writing ; con- I perhaps forty down upon the lit in order of applicatioo. -- sidering end i erceiving teo goner .11y that - the Ju. tics ani the principle of lio lour have no hold'here... Nor is th'> ballot i at a'y time a secu r ity aga i ns t °baud ; reoolle.ctions embodied are t'neeit with pri- Vate prejudice an d l equecious - inaccuracy— `k “ u p 4 0 w P n Br to 0 -"1.' 1;(1 ' sno. .Ft,v:uy e are pu n hlic h ly and no " d tor dn ionsly t . thereby at once involith of n ting th e integrity: manners are, not guaranteed it. In and decent thereby at once IflV3lid.etimsg the integrity of mainers are not guarantee(! by it. In on e clubee decent a the au hor, the acquirement of the reader, and the ' inetnin-r may be discovered" walking away with a chsra,ltere o: th - :.se who are treated, of in the w irk. . purl lined quire of paper, and a stick of sealing-wax in Autobiographies are doubtless intended' to ple , his pocket ; in another, acts happen which rigid ci3m santly amuse and truthfully enlighten ; but there mittsss endeavour to prevent, that would hardly have is seldom sufficient delicacy or- care displayed in occurred in' the most uneducated and vulgar clareies of . the revelations of past circumstances and connec- . tocie'y C o mpar e d to the old club, th e resem b lance, lions ; and the relater is apt to dege ne : a t e i nto . CL)ereforo, is but small, The multitudinous, sullen, ' gossipping vacuity or injedicious betrayal of: ostentatious, modern establishments, without friendly oonfidential associa ion.' Mr. Cyrus Redding has intercourse, are but reflect'ona . of the fashion of the lay—aimless, heartless, inbnt superficially.imposing. many ..mposing. not nearly so much to answer for in this respect al , There is nothing gained these social bodies by the many who have issnel similaehooks ; yet he is not lapse of half a century. exempt from the prevalent habit, and not a.. few ' instances of incorrectness arid exaggeration mark --_ his pages, but the large amount of iaithtul 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— havina been re'ponsibly established on seve ral first class papers and periodicals ; in :chiding Galignani's Messenger, , The New Monthly, aid Metropolitan ; which latter serial he founded in conjunction with the poet Campbell ; but he does not appear to hive benefitted much by his opportunities, and we fear that his love of excite ment and change . tended somewhat* to hinder his solid well-doing-•=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 world 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 hop!, that Mr. Red ding may receive some bounty- at the hands of Government before long ; for though not among the original geniuses or most prominent minds of the age, he bas laboured well and unceasingly in the service of the re iding public. We shall present a few specimens of his work, beginning with the following, relative to a famed and favourite poet : " It took time to know Campbell in his better days. He had most estimable qualities, with some peculiarities; 1 these made - many mistake his real character. He was I often thoughtless, disliked labour. and was forgetful. He required a hint to make him do what to people in general was the most obvious thing in the world. • He i was way ward at times, now particular,and then careless. By fits and marts he was grave, and then frolicksoms, both upon slight excitements, and sometimes ready to push things to excess, at others to evade them. He wag amused of being wanting in his friendships, I never saw it, but it be-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 use 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 th oug ht h e was gu ilty o f an omiesiun on an indifferent matter. Though he early f 1:, that without me he should not be able to remainlong as editor of the Nero Monthly, from his want of forecast ited little regard to the effects that wouli fellow, acting on the impulse of the moment, 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 Czlrtorisky, then ru!er of Poland under Alaixaoder of Russia, placed at his di,:posl to fill up by an Englishman. I declined it, forturia , itly for myself, on acomint of the difficulty of the language. not lonx 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 Whia , , They esteem it a duty in any of the natives of the north, who become possessed of inftaenee 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 have." LITERATURE. SPORTING NOTES. THE START FOR THE SEASON; There did not appear much probability, at the corn. mencement of last week, that the Lincoln meeting would be celebrated. It seemed somewhat outrageous to imagine, while ono'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 Liucolnshire. However, as it turned out, the frost was Co preventative to the inauguration of the Isthmian Games of OS, and the season was commenced to the day under most auspicious circumstances. The running groun I was in beautiful con claim], and the trainers did not evince the least solicitude fer . the safety of the tendons of their tenderest youngsters. London taifites mustered in force in the ring, plying their avocation with their customary earnestness ani obstropei onsness. The patrons of the turf, too, congregated in tolerable strength, and gave unmistakeable Eigns 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 perpete nally being interrupted with all sorts of inquiries after their health by bookmakers, trainers, and jockeys who have not had an opportunity of exibiting their friendliness since the curtain fell at Shr:wsbury. The sport was extra ordinarily good for Lincoln, and the largest " fields" ever beheld in that locality assembled at the post for the events on the flat. Johnny Osborne, on Commotion, won the first " legitimate" race of the pi esent year, after a fine set to with Nat on the Cernbridgeshire hero, Old Trick. Both Commotion an 101 d Trick, however, bed to succumb to the prowess of Honeytree (the recently named colt by Honeywood, out of Incense) in the race for her Mejesty'a Plate. The Lincoln Handicap was a great success, and. , Judge Johnson must have experienced no little gratifica tion when the2l animals Cal terad down to the startingpost. The northern handicapper is undeniably the most accurate. and able official wo have, and owners of horses and trainers place implicit confidence in his wisdom and impartiality. Vandermulin, the winner of the handicap, is the property of the well-known and eccentric Mr. Edward Rawson Clarke. Not the most 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 scare excels Mr. Clarke in his professed affection for Vandermulin, and I have reeeetedly heard him avow that he absolutely " loves the turf the horse impresses with its hoof." Vandermulin 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 peer " D'Oreey" wild with vexation. Tee Derby betting is pursued with the 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-deodle-doo, is improving his position in the betting, and report states that he is wonderfully improved. To convert the clumsy offspring of Chanticleer and the 14 1 upper into a De, by horse of formidable preten sions will, I think, require greater potency than even " the wiz ird" is endowed with. We have 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. 141 r. Redding says— Jiogg was a much quieter man than Wilson made him out, and was reported to say things he wat too well. informed to utter. His writings are eminently Scotch, and were not adapted to make a sensation in this coon• 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, wo found that the whole had been clandestinely done. The tickets were 224. One of the stewardv, who went with rue, was equally surprised at this intelligence, and we neither of us attended. Sir John Malcolm was in the chair. I had a note of excuse from Campbell, which, as I did not attend, 'sent to the ' chairman for the purpose of its being read. S:r John declined doing B.), saying he was in the hands of the stewards, but what stewards were his instructora we could never learn. I wrote to Sir John, who ex )nerated himself by a note, explaining the matter as far as he was concerned. Two or three out of the eight or ten stewards nominated, had secretly settled all, binding Sir John to their toasts, not having communicat 3d with any others. Nor was this all, the dinner was paltry—the affair looked like a job—there was not enough food for the guests present, four shillings a head would have amply covered it. I sent an account of the whole dis graceful affair to the" Athenteam," which had shrewdly inquired what was the reason myself and others were ar,sent from the Lenten affair. It had goof ground lot the question, but surmise would not prove the facts of a liagraceful character connected with that affair. ll•igg was never in London afterwards. Admuts has been advanced to the premiership for the Chester Cup, but in my opinion there are many animals engaged in the race that negrtive his chance, notwithstand ing the big talk about the "little horse'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 selutary measures at his inetigatien. By the bye, I learn that it is proposed to rescind General Peel's rale, which excluded the Shrewsbury Selli ng R ace delinquents' from all hancli. 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. lie infers that Prioress must be an " al mighty wonder," because, carrying rather more weight she ignominiously defeated the British bred horses Sluggard, Poacher, and Illuminator. Ignorance in this case may be productive of blissful sensations to Brother Jonathan ; but iu England it is well known that the three specified horses are about the worst brutes at present in trainine. To judge by advertisements in this week's Bell's Life, D hir. ltsrey, " 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 p Asession of a secret which they will impart to others for a trifling sum, and by which the moat 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 imm( rteliseethimself in ; men of imagi native minds • thought that "the squire" might, at this very banquet, announce benignantly that he had resolved, after much consideration, to pocket his affronts, to let bygones be bygones, Sic., &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 b 3 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 spurt are promised at Nottingham, and the lergenese 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 spa. culat ion. Honeytree will meet'Vandertnulin on 16 lbs. better terms than he (lid 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 watch between Arminius and Joyeuse, and tho former's 5 lbs. extra may enable the filly to pull through. For the Forest Plate, Vanderrnulin and Yeller Gal shall represent my interest. The "jumpers" shall not refor to. A. FRESH MAN. 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 ho denied that the projector of a new scheme for poetical wriiing. not to be challenged, iteirits especial notice, for with Wordsworth ell was ex cathedra. Hie lyrical balLtds I reed 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 dogrel ballad - inger ell chemise through the world. Dcgmatie, hau4hty, sod sell-sufficient, there was nothing of soul.kindlinesi in Wordsworth, and a pelt without a heart is a non descript creature. He had no relish for Shakveare, and affected an abstractedness, which he imagined, or his friends for him, was a communing with the Week or grey spirits of the Cumberland mountains. When the Excursion' appeared, a friend who admire l the poem lent it to use. Is WAS with difficulty I waded through it. That there were fine lines here and there is admitte I, but it is too much to have to grope through a bushel of ceaff to find a grain or two of wheat. Wordsworth w as a man who, I hope, only affected a sort of asceti.m iu order to cultivate soliteryne , e, and obtain credit for t pro fundity or rather obscurity. He would fain b e oracular and austere as well , i n order to be taken f or a s econd, and no doubt in his own opinion an unproved he i cotapari- Milton. Yet eo far from being worthy of son, he endeavoured to frame a new f ooetical q i t em b w u lt t ich wh h ih e c ilO s t o O m ri e oll i cl i y en violated i e n d neatly the face of his e r c o t t e e, violations. All phrases and forms were r y all he tobered _ that were not includ e d i n the language of c ommon lif e. He would degrade a ll to tie wouldhumblestgive nothing of th e 1 tn g n sge o f th e reality, that was hi s l aw. gratification whi c h fancy -cff the language of poetry should T e. thatllc AoSi eprose, Tted too, t that at feet or imagination were the same. feinted his own language • own example prosaic. Ti 0 1 gh convinced by hi s it of as the impracticability as of his theory, he a d vocate d All the poetry o f E ng l an d , w i th one or strenuou slyt reluctant exceptions, w ere b eneat h h i s lofty endurance. He affected an equal regard and interest for the meanest as for the grandest object, an error self-evident. Vain and et,o tistical, destitute of genial feeling, intellectual in his own way, he moves no passion, rases no heart-warmth, excites no bympathy, works upon nature, and nature -lone, but does not depict nature in her glories. We conclude our notice with a few words on modern clubs—cordially recommending Mr, Ile I ding's " Recollections " as a highly interesting and entertaining work. Social clubs won) a past institution. They were few I ARRIVALS AT NOTTINIGHANI—MONDAY. D Y u li t i c e h r ua G a a n% Daughter, Plumstone, 08irliVtrals.r:dn,13rinileihnuitIllln'e;I:YaLiliskssAhlliiiallerit:krjaaewn:ay, Whaley, Foxhunter, Queen Lily, Lady Rohallion, Esperance, Honeytree, Border Chief, Arminius, Thermopylae, Joyense, Toosey, Glautius, Westhorp, and some for plates, POWERARDFl'lltrlTglasecor.p]; Steno:Eß.lz Rl-I:xotaiN-----A.; 8 s G t GLASSES.—S. A e e S S t : . S. and .6. Solomons, opticians, 39, 39, Piccadilly. ObserveSPrxEccastasorigs—'ivs Telescopes, By her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent Albemarle street, it e th e for TY:lrukl,bl6l Hote l ,a ex - traorilinaq improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Camp, Race-course, Opera, an d Perspective Glasses, to kno w th e 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 au object from It; to 20 miles. For the waist coat-pocket, and are of larger, and all sizes, with increasing powers accordingly. The Royal Exhibition, ISSI. —A valu able, newly-invented, very small, powerful, Waistcoat-pocket Glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen ant 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 aro 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 enable' to employ their sight at the most minute occupation—ean PI with those lenses of a much less magnifying power —and . they do not require the frequent changes to th.._7„; prong effects of further powerful assistance., b ;: oes ""Zi can he suited at the moll remote part of thei a vmaletter, mid. ins one of the glasses out of their spectae n leo roo u d small 'rind stating the distinct) from the eye they " e of , r ,,, e t ac i es by with it, and those who have not zna.El _ ry _ The 05 genie New D i Ecove • . stating their ago.' Deafness.— r fui, small, newly-invented Vibrator, an extraorclit arVy re 1 different from all of here, instrument for deafness, e clir: I' i d that has been, or prot ably - surpassing anything of..th of the same colour as the skin, iii can be, produced. Bo na l bles deaf persons to hear distinctly all not I)oreeptible. ..t enables Heil; the unpleasant sensation at pub le . h church and at 1 • ' rr noises in the cars is entirely removed, lit 0 di ant a or singing a ll the a ss is tance that possibly could be desired.-39, Am. marlo-street, Piccadilly —Opposite the York Hotel. W, FRENCH ACCOUNT. The Moniteur of yesterday publishes the sub stance of a deipatch from Rear -Admiral Rigault de Gen ;uilly, in command of the French squadron in Canton river : " The landing of the allied forces took place on ;be 28th of December. "In consequence of the small numl er of men which Rear-Artmiral Iligault, de Genouilly had at disposal (*bout 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 Palheres, Sergoant-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 theaapriciense, wits first in the bre-tch and planted our colours on a watchhouse on thy walls. He was closely and bravely supported by a gunner of the same cor ♦ette named Laurier. "Every man, adds Rear• Admiral Rigault de Genouilly, rivalled the zeal of our intrepid allies, and did his duty to maintain the honour of the arms of the Emperor, which was maintained in all its brightness. The Admiral speaks favourably of Captain Collier and of Lieutenants Vautre and Veriot. " The despatch concludes as follows : `" Canton is at the mercy of the allied forces. The north forts seem to havebeen abandoned. The flag* of F rance and England are hoisted on the five story p agoda. Our loss is small for an attack ing force. lam ac ti ng i n concer t with Admiral Seymour an d General Straubenzee to ma k e sure the results o f th o victory obtained by t h e arms of England an d of France. The fire from t h e all i ed fleet was excellent, and contributed in no small degree to the success.' " TEIE T. I RANSIT THROUGH EGYPT. ALEXANDRIA, FEB. 5. Her Majesty's trsop-ship Urgent, with the 92 d Hi gh l anders, en, ronte for B om b a y, a rrived here on the 30th u l t. The original intention of Govern ment appe ars to have b e en that the regiment should b e conveyed from Suez by the Adjdatio, but the steamer, as mentioned in a former letter was , taken up t o carry forward the London mails of Dec. 10, t ogether with a detachment of the 69,h, thus replaci ng the regular mail boat, the Alma, which wa s di sa b led by an accident to ber machinery in her homeward passage from Calcutta and Ceylon. .thfs'ocinderrp occurr e d to indep e ndently of the mischance that after wards cu having put back to the Adjdaha herself, the boat Aden leaky after having pro ceeded some 300 port, might have led d iles on her journey from that to rather en, barrassing results ; but, fortunately, the Peninsular and Oriental Com pany's steamer ' from Kurralhee Oriental is on her way back to Suez her Majesty's b w uh til . her she has already conveyed Regiment, and instructions have been received from the home government for th* embarkation of the 92d by the Oriental. She is expected at Sue z al), ut the 12th inst., and it may be hoped that th e r delay in Egypt. I.zirnents will not undergo much will tend to show e't'e several accidents however, that as long as this route is used for the conveyanc e o f _troops it will be absolutely necessary to hav e a se on the Red Sea to provid e number of transports e against contingencies. The actual tr vid transit thro ugh Egypt can at all times be effected with perfect connected with the moving; and all arrangements of the trolps across the Isthmus are superintended by colonel Pocklington, who, with two other oflicers Major Collingwood and Captain the Queen's army, been deputed to Egypt by the Mayeock, have British Government for that express purpose, W hi e l India Company's a‘rent likewise e the consul and East Cons en the subject from their possess instruc rer respective Govern ments. There is moreover, ason to hope that the journey to Suez will soon be by rail. A large increase h t:rforated throughout been made in the number of men engaged on th e works at the ex tremity of the line near Suez, and I am informed that the Viceroy promises that in a few weeks the rails will b© laid down to the shores of the Red Sea. The telegraphic announcement of the arrival at the Calcutta and China Se z of the mails, njustd an, been withreceived attributed cinal to the violent She arrived yesterday afternoon, but there has again been a telegraphic unications, which, storms of wind and rain experienced through the past week. The winter . up to the present has been of extraordinary F evexity--- suc h , s a t : 3 0 1 ' ll e n f s o i r o in n former occas ions, indeed, as sadly to belie the otherwise .well-merited reputation of the Egyptian .winter climate. The mild and genial weather which, as a rule, generally prevails during the present season has, in fact, this year given place to a continued succession of gales and storms, with the thermometer on more than 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 de parture for Messma. It was at one time thought that she would first steer for the coast of Syria, in order to give the support of her presence to the American Consul-General, who left for Jaffa a few days ago for the purpose of making an investigation into the circumstances attending an outrage of a root ruffianly nature, of which an A mer ican mis sionary stationed at Jaffa and his family have lately been the victims. This gentleman's house was broken into during the night, he 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 assassins. Till? P eIs7INSULAR .11 , 1 AI GS. SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY EVENING. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Tagus, Captain Christian, has arrivoi with mails in charge of Lieutenant Seaward, R.N. Her thtes are Gibraltar February 5 ; Cadi z , 6 ; Lisbon, 9 ; Vigo, 10. The Tagus brings 16 paslengers, suecir• value 11,7321., 100 boxes of eg2s, 52 boxes of tan gerines, 516 boxes of almonds, and 102 packages Of sundries. Stormy weather from the eastward set in at 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 b'ew from the eastward with a heavy sea rolling into the bay fri.tia the Me diterranean, which gradually moderated on the 315 , , and terminated in copi ~ u s showers during the night. followed by fine weatbe-r on the Ist inst. and a light breeze from the north-west. Num-rous casualties to shipping during the gale were r: ported. Lisbon exthange,i are quoted, t his packet, at three months on London 53j 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 451 to 47 ; Coupons, 461 to ; and Deferred, 28i to 29 ; Bank of Portugal shares, 10/ 1 to 11 per cent. pre mium ; and Oporto Bank shares, 20 to 2214 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 boll in re uliness additional reinforcements, 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, ,Msdras, and Bombay. The above detachments are in addition to the officers and men at present under ordtrs for India, which will make nearly 2,000 men of all ranks in readiness 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 ',mark Militia, in Kilkenny, closed on Wednesday evening, exactly the number of men asked for, 112, having volunteered, although onl 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. H., Commander-in-Chief at Ports mouth, to be Admiral of the White. Vice-Admiral of the Red the Hon. Sir Fleet wood Broughton Reynolds Pollew, C. 8., K.C.H., to he 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 Rue Provo William Parry Wallis, Commander-in-Chief ou the south-east coast of America station, to be Vice-Admiral of the White. Rear-Admiral of the Red William Fanshawe 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. C.:iptain Richard Henry King (1839) to be Rear- Admiral on the reserved half-pay Captain Richard Laird Warren (1839) to be Rear-Admiral of the Blue. By these promotions the appointment of Sup3r 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 tome i on Thursday from liarnoaze into Plymouth Sound. Tt.e steam frigate Valorous, 16, Captain W. C. Aldharn, from Spithead, which arrived in Plymouth Sound ou Thursday, went up Hamoaze on Friday evening to make good defects. 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 placed alon g side the sheer h u lk a t D evonport D ockyard 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 Poit-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 fi-om the Medi terranean, is ordered to be paid off at Plymouth. The Southampton, 50, guardship, is to be re moved from Harwich harbour. The Pembroke, 60, is expected to succeed the Southampton on the station. Ou Friday courts-martial assembled on board the flag skip 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 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 judicious 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 Johnsten, the pilot. The pr Boner, on the case closing for the prosecution, was asked if he was prepared with his defence and if he wished to call any witnesses. He replied that lie 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 misfor.une to get any ship on shere 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 hound 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 sufficiet t allowanoe'for the current running across the Shingles Spit ; but in consideration of the high character given Sarratt, the pi isoner by Commander Wodehouse and Mr iu by b the master, also the high testimonials produced d from other naval commanders, the Court do ad j u 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. Paynter, 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 Chall enger was launched from the building -slip at Woolwich. Her b ittery will consist of 20 8-inch guns of 65 cwt., and one pivot 68-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. Arrangement* are ordered to be made for laying •11 0 I