The Sun. — London, England, 1847-06-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, GRAND BALL AT THE MANSION-HOUSE.—LRSk Il ight, the Lady Mayoress gave a splendid ball, which was attended by an unus ual concourse of persons of high rank. The magnificent suite of rooms OR the floor with a Egyptian Hall were prep ared for the reception of the b— ulnerous company, who began to assemble before ten (?clock. The Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress re- Zived her ladyship's distinguished g uests in the draw [s.r•room, which presented a most brillia nt a pp earance. , - IE SHERIFFS' DINNER TO THE JUDGES.—Yes nay the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex gave their al entertainment to her Majesty's Judges at the Albion, Aldersgate-street. About 50 g .dg entlemen sat the to a splendid banquet at ha lf- p ast six o'clock. At head of the table were—Mr. Alderman and Sheriff eh • --4 - 11 3 and Mr. Sheriff Kennard, the Sheriffs of Lon don, who to ge ther constitute the Sher iff of Middlesex, an d who gave the toasts alternately ; the Vice-Presi sejlts, were Mr. Under-Sheriff Baylis and Mr. Under riff Tilleard. Among the company were—the Chief Justice Mr. Justice Patteson, Mr. Justice Coltman, Mr. l ustice Cresswell, Sergeants Manning, Lewes, Adams, s h ,°lnpson, Dowling, 13ain, C. Jones; Aldermen Sir C. ~,,."I ' •unter, Bart., Farebrother, Hooper, Farncomb, Mus- E,"e, H. Hughes, Sidney, Moon; the Chamberlain, the e-raluon-Sergeant, Mr. Commissioner Bullock, Mr. M.P., Sir W. Feilden, Bart., M.P., d• r • J. Laurie, Mr. W. CAW, Mr. D. Wad tainrgtou, Mr. S. M. Peto, Mr. Secondary Pot ) the Rev. Dr. Mortimer, the Rev. W. Web 3m.ilters 84 e. After the us ual lo y al toasts, Mr. Alder -1 and Sheriff Challis gave the h ealth of " the Chief Baron and the rest of her Majesty's Judges," and noticed ti e Confidence which all classes had in those high film -I.:4ltries. The Chief Baron acknowledged the toast, and " the Health of the Sheriffs," observing that there , q,t B uo necessity to praise them to those who knew them. e following toasts succeeded :—The Sergeants-at- Z l ° and the Bar of England" (acknowledged by Mr. Z`rgeant Manning) ; " The L ord Ma y or and Magis trates of the City" (acknowledg ed b y Mr. Alderman „, c .wilson) ; and " The Common S er g eant and Mr. Corn- Vsaioner Bullock" (acknowledged by the former). Mr. -I:arker ma d e a ver y good toastmaster , and the dinner .2 4 wines were unexc e ptionable. The mu sical depart rat was conducted by Mr. Hob bs, assisted by Messrs. Lockey, Bradbury, and J. L. Hatton. THE WEATHER. —Yesterday the metropolis was _isited by a thunder-storm, the ra in at one time falling very heavily, causing considerable d ama g e to the fruit trees around Wandsworth, Barnes, Mortlake, Battersea, and other places. Towards evening the atmos p here be came, clear, and the sun shone out w ith g reat brilliancy. and the became very lowering , the wind ceased, the night closed in with a continual drizzling rain. "ING-MATCH.—The scullers' match, between Woolwich, Connelly and John Warren, bot h watermen of _wooo n olwich, for 201. a-side, came off on Tuesd , ly after , the di s t ance b e i ng f ro m Woolwich to Barking Creek, and back. Warren took the lead, and kept it far a coosiderable distance when his opp o n ent p assed a "Z r le et ained the lead all the way up, and won by half (From the Times.) THE EXPEDITION TO CANTON. (FROM AN EYE-WITNESS ) HONG-KONG, APRIL 26. Immediately after the departure of the last mail, a rumour of an expedition being projected, the destination of which was unknown, gathered strength, and the unex pected arrival, on the night of the 31st of March, of the Honourable Company's steamer Pluto, from Canton, with dispatches from the Chinese Government, gave currency to the report. In the course of the next morn ing it transpired that the communication from Keying had been extremely unsatisfactory, and that the most important points in Sir John Davis's last dispatch had been contemptuously passed over, the Imperial Commis sioner not even deigning to notice them in his answer — a line of conduct probably induced by the character of the policy previously pursued by the Plenipotentiary, and by the knowledge of the weakness of our force, both na val and military, at presen t in China. Towards the afternoon Sir John Davis decided upon proceeding at once to Canton to demand redress, or (as he had in formed the Chinese Government), in the event of its being retused, to take it. Without present reference to the policy of this measure, it is proposed merely to give a faithful narrative of the events as they occurred — events not alone worthy of note from the immense in terests at stake, and from the boldness which charac terised them as military operations, but also from the ultimate effect they may produce upon our future rela tions with the Chinese empire. No sooner had the Governor come to a decision than General D'Aguilar ordered the entire force available, after providing for the safety of the colony, to embark that night ; and, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, being then past four o'clock, the troops, including the detachments from the outposts of Saiwan and Stan ley, respectively seven and nine miles distant, together with the guns, materiel, provisions, and stores necessary for the expedition, were all embarked with the greatest order and regularity by soon after midnight. The mi litary force under General D'Aguilar did not amount to 1,000 men of all arms, and consisted of her Majesty's 18th Royal Irish, the 42d Madras Native Infantry, and detachments of the Royal Artillery and Sappers. The naval force, under Captain Macdougall, the senior naval officer, was composed of her Majesty's ships Vulture and Espiegle, the Honourable Company's steamer Pluto, and the Corsair, a small merchant steamer running between Hong-Kong, Canton, and Macao, which having come in at ten o'clock P.M., was instantly hired for the expedition. A lorcha was also taken up by the Ordnance fur the artillery, and was speedily con verted by Colonel Brereton into a gun-boat. Several Chinese boats were engaged for the transport of com missariat stores, &c., and followed the squadron up the river. Kis Excellency the Plenipotentiary, the General and staff, embarked at the same hour on board . the Vul ture, and about two o'clock, A.M., the squadron was under way, the Vulture towing the gun-boats and two junks containing the sappers with scaling ladders, powder-bags, &c. ; the Pluto and Corsair fo llowin g as close as possible. The plan of operations arranged by General D'Aguilar and Captain Macdougall, and ap proved by Sir John Davis, was that the defences of the Canton river should be seized, aud, owing to the im possibility of occupying them, disarmed, so as to secure the safe communication of the force with Hong-Kong. This object being attained as expeditiously as possible, the troops were to land at the factories, thus placing the British Plenipotentiary in a position to enforce every demand of his Government for redress, or to carry into execution the intention be had previously intimated to Keying, of punishing the aggressions upon unoffend ing British subjects by means of a British force, the n iad also to convince the Chine se that, however small mme diate force at her command might be, England was always ready to resent insults, and punish the breach of solemn national engagements. At nine A.M., the Vulture, entering the Bocca Tigris, was anchored by Captain Macdougall, with three fathoms of water under her stern, within pistol shot of the Anunghoy Batteries, being also within range of the forts on the islands of North and South Wantong. Not an instant was lost, and the troops entered the boats as they touched the water; a few seconds more and they were landed; and the Chinese, taken completely by sur prise, offered no resistance. The General, accompanied by Sir John Davis, entered the works, and the guns in the three forts, to the number of upwards of 200, were spiked, and the magazines, with all the arms and am• munition that could be collected, destroyed. Whilst General D'Aguilar was thus employed. Col. Brereton, with the force that had been told off for that dutyf crossed over to the strongly fortified islands of North and South Wantong, mounting more than 250 heavy guns. As at Anunghoy the garrisons at once yielded, the guns were spiked, and the ammunition either blown up or thrown into the sea. Property to a considerable amount was found in each of these forts, but not an article was injured, much less taken away, by the troops; and, with the exception of the disabled guns and empty magazines, not a trace was left by which it could be known that they had been in our possession. The ap pointed work had been speedily and effectually per formed. Five formidable forts, mounting upwards of 450 large guns, had been rendered useless, and thus far the communication of the expedition with Hong-Kong secured. Continuing their course up the river the three steamers arrived late in the afternoon at Whampoa, and the Espiegle, having been obliged to beat the greater part of the distance, came up during the night. The size of the Vulture formed an insurmountable obstacle to her fur ther progress—indeed, owing to the state of the tide she had crossed the second bar below Whampoa, with only 18 inches to spare. Therefore, the next morning, the 3d of April, the troops she carried were transferred into the Pluto, Corsair, and the armed boats of the Vulture, which were to be towed by these steamers. The gene ral and staff, accompanied also by Sir John Davis, went on board the Pluto, and the tide s ervin g , the expedition moved onwards, and at half-past nine o'clock arrived at the barrier—a line of strong stakes extending nearly from bank to bank of the river, with only a single open ing for the passage of ships, and defended by four ad mirably placed and well constructed forts. As intelligence of the capture of the Bocca Tigris must have reached Canton in the course of the night, every preparation was made by General D'Aguilar and Captain Macdougall to carry the forts by storm, and .overcome the expected-resistance. In accordance:there fore, with the orders"that had been given, the works to the left, Torts Pachow and Napier, were simul taneously attacked, the Pluto with her division of boats leading through the barrier, and landing her troops at the latter, under the immediate orders of the General, whilst the Corsair dis embarked a portion of her force under Colonel Brere ton at the former. The massive gates, plated and thickly bound with iron, were burst open with powder bags. Their garrisons, astounded' with the rapidity of our operations, which, indeed, scarcely gave them time to look round, went out by the landside as we entered ; the magazines were blown up, and the guns spiked. While this was going on it became evident that the forts of Whampoa Creek and Wookongtap were prepay ing to receive us, and, accordingly, as two divisions of boats, supported by the steamers, pulled across to at tack them, the Chinese opened a sharp and well-sus tained fire from both the forts, at first of round shot, and then, as the boats approached nearer, of grape. The steamers and gun-boat instantly replied. The first discharge of the Chinese was answered with a cheer continuingsteadi ly,an on n i from the attacking parties, and then the boats pulled i h l eaniedee sides towardsunti until th th e e t batteries , roo ps were the in landed, and formed close to the fdrts. Upon seeing our force on shore, the enemy left their guns, and retreated a by . the rear of the works to l town in the vicinity. The Chinese fired re markably is inexplicable how the force escapedi hu well, and it s evere loss ; the round shot passed on teiou3tersuffering side °f the boats—several between the masts and funnels of . the steamers and the grape-shot fell thickly around the boats of Colonel Brereton's division, both before and after a most judicious movement on the part of that distinguished artillery officer, who, when close to the Wookongtap fort, seeing that the guns were being laid for the line of the advancing boats, changed the direction of his division towards the angle of the fort; and hardly had it been done when a shower of grape tore over the surface of the water within a few feet of the boats. Had even one boat been struck, the loss of life would have been great, for the men had hardly standing room, and the paddle-box boats of the Vulture were carrying 70 men in each, besides their crew. Had been sunk, the fearful current and strong tide of the one Canton river, into which if a man falls he rarely rises again to the surface, would have rendered assistance but of little avail. The long gun of the Pluto was admirably served, every shot taking effect upon the Whampoa Creek fort, and a shell fired from it burst in,the centre of the work, just behind the enemT g 's nuns. All the guns in these four forts were spiked, in mber more than 200, and most of them or very large size; one brass gun was 24 feet in length, with an eight-inch bore. The ities of loose powder, magazines, containing large quant The steadiness ammunition, arms, &c., were blown U. and c onduct of the men throughout these operations were excellent ; not a musket was fired, although the enemy were seen at their guns through the embrasures, and not the slightest injury don e to p rivate property of any description. isarmed the ex- This portion of the river being now d pedition proceeded as rapidly as possible up the rißver. British Canton, to provide for the safety of the rats merchants and their property. burb of At the commencement of the south-eastern su Canton stands the strong fort known by the name of the French Folly—a work both from position and construc tion one of the most formidable in the river. Armed with double tiers of guns, the low er is " fieur d'eau," and the upper is mounted on the summit of a strong cen tral tower of solidly-b u ilt masonry, completely com manding the reach of this river. It was, therefore, ab solutely necessary for the safety of our communications that it should be disarmed. The troops were accord ingly landed, the gate blown in, the magazine destroyed, and the guns spiked. Here again the rapidity of our movements saved us• , every prep arat i o n was making and was nearly completed for the defence of this fort when we entered it, and even half an hour's delay would have cost us dear, for the small island upon which the fort stands, coittected only with the bank by a bridge, is so covered by the works, that only a few feet of mud is available whereon to place an attacking party, and even that is commanded by the fort itself and the houses on the bank of the river. About four, P.M., the expedition was anchored off the factories, and the four forts forming the river defen ces :suburbs the and city of Canton were taken post.es:;ion of, their gates blown open, their guns disabled, and the magazines destroyed ; forming a total of upwards of 870 large guns disabled since the preceding morning. Nothing could exceed the hospitality with which the officers and men were received by the community of Canton ; houses were placed at their disposal, and every one seemed to exceed his neighbour in making the troops comfortable. The force was immediately landed, and quartered entirely in tho new factories, the guns being piled in the garden near the English flag. The Consoo house, where a Chinese guard is usually stationed, was made the main guard, from its position entirely command ing the street of the thirteen factories, which bounds the factories to the northward, and also being at the end of Old China-street, which separates the new and old factories from the longs to the westward. Other guards were also established, and regular chains of sentries, most of them double, rendered surprise im possible. It may be here as well to remark the extraordinary improvements made by the Chinese since the late war, not only in the construction of their batteries, but more especially in their armanents. Not a gun was mounted except on a regular ship or garrison carriage, after a European model, and as capable of elevation or depres sion as our own ; many of the guns, moreover, were furnished with wooden sights for correcting the dispart, exactly, as was remarked by Colonel Brereton, upon the principle of those invented during the last war by Gen. Congreve ; numbers of shells were found (evidently not of Chinese manufacture) ; much of the ammunition was regularly made up in cartridges ; rockets were of a much larger size than those used four years ago, and many other improvements show that some foreigner must have been employed. Report (a greater liar, how • ever, in China, than elsewhere), says that all this is the work of an American, who is naturalised and resident in the city of Canton. The night of our arrival passed with vigilance on our side, and with quietness on the part of the Chinese : the whole affair had been so sudden they did not know which way to turn ; besides, trusting in our weakness, the Go vernment and people had thought themselves secure. On the following morning the guns were drawn up, and the troops under arms to receive Keying, but not to salute him, the British: Plenipotentiary having insisted that Keying should wait upon him at the English Consulate, within the factories ; or, if he did not, that he would not see him at all. To this, to him humiliating proposition, Keying at last reluctantly agreed, and the hour was fixed. Time passed, and two of the principal mandarins having arrived without there being any signs of Keying's approach, it became evident that his delay was intentional; the troops were dismissed, and when Keying did arrive he was received at the landing-place by Captains Kennedy and Sargent, who conducted him through a crowd of idle lookers-on to the Consulate. Keying felt his situation bitterly, and although he be haved with dignity and composure, his mortification at being obliged to wait upon Sir John Davis in the sight of his own populace, was beyond his powers of conceal ment. The conference lasted some hours, and in the afternoon it transpired that the Plenipotentiary had sub mitted to Keying the only conditions upon which he would consent to suspend the operations of the force, and that he had granted him until 6 P.M. the next day for consideration. During the day a slight disturbance took place in the outskirts of the factories to the west ward, but it was soon quelled, and two of the mob pub licly flogged in the streets ; an officer's guard was vsted near Mowqua-street, the scene of the disturbance. It was thought advisable, on the morning of the sth, to destroy the French Folly fort, as a few guns carried from the city to the central tower would entirely com mand the passage of the river. Accordingly, at 9 A.m., the fort was blown up by Colonel Phillpotts and the engineers, covered by a strong party in the armed boats of the Vulture. Reports were current all day of at tacks being meditated by the troops and populace, and of double-dealing on the part of the authorities, in con sequence of which every precaution was taken, the streets barricaded, and the guard-rooms rendered defen sible by Captain Bruce, the Adjutant-General. At five o'clock in the afternoon the Associate Gentlemen Vo lunteers were inspected by General D'Aguilar; 100 well armed British gentlemen appeared on parade, and the defence of the factories, aided by a detachment of troops, was assigned to them during the assault of the city the following morning. Keying now requested an extension of the time allowed for consideration till the next morn ing, and Sir John Davis granted it to him. This evening Captain Bruce's attention was drawn towards a large building at the back of the factories, and on entering it he found it occupied by a strong party of Chinese troops ; many of them escaped, but upwards of 40 were brought in prisoners with their arms. Captain Bruce had a narrow escape, for one man, drawing his sword, nade a sudden rush at him, and was seized in the act of striking. Since the previous day the most indefatigable exertions had been making by Captain Macdougall and Commander Thompson to bring the Espiegle close to the city, and they so tar succeeded that they had brought her up far beyond where any ship of the same draught ot water had ever been before ; but she was still two miles distant. Her boats were, however, armed, and, with her crew and marines, were available for the attack. At daybreak on the 6th Captain Clark Kennedy, the Quar termaster. General, and Lieutenant Da Costa, of the Engineers, succeeded in mounting the city wall in two places, and ascertaining that they were of sufficient width for the proposed operations. At six o'clock all the arrangements for the assault of the city at ten A.m. were completed, and the following general order was issued, detailing the plan of the attack: — "GENERAL ORDER. " Head-quarters, British Factories, Canton, " April 6, 1847, 6 o'clock A.N. "The following general order is issued to troops under the expected contingency of their being called upon to commence the attack on the city of Canton at ten o'clock this morning. This attack is to be under the immediate direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Brereton, C.B. and K.H., commanding the Royal Artillery. Two parties, one headed by Colonel Brereton, the other by Major Aldrich, R.E., each having a detachment of Royal Sap pers and Miners, commanded by an officer of the Royal Engineers, and a flank company of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, with such additional support as will be de tailed by the Assistant-Adjutant-General, will march out for the purpose of taking possession of the Southern or Petition-gate and the Western-gate of that part called the New City. Colonel Brereton's party will attack the Western, and Major Aldrich's party the Southern-gate; and as the latter is more distant than the former, Major Aldrich's part will set off first, in order that they may arrive at their respective points about the same time, Major Aldrich's party to cross the creek which forms the eastern boundaay of the British factories at the first bridge, and to proceed along the street which runs close along the wall of the New City, taking care, on passing, to stop up the two small ritrances or sallypiarts .which enter the city from the river, in order to prevent all in gress or egress by them. He will proceed to the Southern or Petition-gate, and having taken it, will es tablish himself and make a lodgment upon the rampart above. Colonel Brereton, with his party, will set off im mediately after Major Aldrich's, and crossing the creek by a second bridge, he will proceed along Looking-glass street, close under the western wall, until he arrives at the western gate of the New City, and having taken it, he will effect a lodgment with the troops at his disposal upon the rampart above the gateway; and the two lodg ments having been thus effected above the two gates, a communication along the ramparts by the force em ployed is to be established. The guns will then be raised and placed at the guard-houses above the gates, and, by means of these guns and the 24-pounder rockets, the bombardment of the city is to be forthwith com menced. After Colonel Brereton's party shall have loft the factories, Captain Macdougall has undertaken to send a party of seamen and marines, under Commander Thompson, of her Majesty's sloop Espiegle, by the second bridge at the south end of Looking• glass-street, and, passing through the archway in the Spur-wall, they will scale that part of the southern wall ot the New City which lies between the Spur-wall and the sallyports above alluded to; they will then form on the top of the rampart, ready to assist either Major Aldrich or Colonel Brereton, as may be required. At the same time a fourth party, composed of five companies of the 42d Regiment Madras Native infantry, under Major Fitzgerald, con. ducted by Captain Clark Kennedy, Acting Assistant Quartermaster-General, will cross the creek by the first bridge, and, marching along the street that runs south of the Joss-house, they will proceed as speedily a possible to the Petition-gate, support Major Aldrich's. party, and occupy the street which leads from that gate to the river, immediately stopping all the avenues which lead to it from the eastward, and thus secure completely the eastern flank of our position. Previous to the de parture of the troops from the factories, Capt. Mac dougall, R.N., has undertaken to order the steamer Pluto to run in as close as possible to the abovementioned street, leading from the Petition-gate to the river, and which is situated near the Dutch Folly fort, and when the Major- General shall make a signal by hoisting a union jack on the top of the British factories, she will open as heavy a fire as possible on that part of the town situated to the east ward of the Petition-gate, in order to check any attempt that may be male to oppose Major Aldrich or to turn our flank from that quarter. At the same time Captain Macdougall has undertaken to have the gun-boats of the Vulture, under Lieutenants Coote and Pascoe, anchored as close as possible to Mowqua• street and Shoe-lane, and as soon as the Pluto opens her% fire, they will also open as heavy a fire as possible on that part of the suburbs which lies to the westward of the factories, particularly up Shoe-lane, &c., in order to prevent any attempt that may be made to turn our position from that quarter. It is likewise Captain Macdougall's intention to have the river entirely cleared of boats all the way from Shoe lane to the Dutch Folly, which will entirely protect the rear of our position. The Associated Gentlemen Volun- ' teers, assisted by a detachment of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, stationed in the Consoo-house, and a detach ment of the 42d Regiment of Madras Native Infantry, stationed at Mowqua-street guard-house, will maintain the stockaded posts already established for the protection of the factories. Lieutenant-Colonel Cowper, with four companies of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, will remain under arms in the factories, close to the Major-General, ready to advance as a reserve to any point where their s ervices may be required; the tops of the factories to be occupied by the Associated Gentlemen Volunteers for the purpose of putting down any attempts by Chinamen from the roofs of their houses to annoy the troops ad vancing through the streets to the attack. These arrange ments to bo completed immediately after the men have had their breakfasts, so that the flag which is to be con sidered as the signal for the Pluto and the boats of the Vulture to commence firing, as well as for the troops to march out for the attack, may be hoi s ted at ten o'clock." Between eight and nine o'clock, however, it was notified that Keying had conceded Sir John Davis's demands, and the assault was countermanded—thus averting the bombardment of the city by little more th an an h our . For the remainder of the day a portion of the troops were employed in pulling down the variou3 buildings, so often complained of, that had been erected against the garden walls, &c., and the removal of which was in con formity alike with the old treaty and the new conven tion. A house, in front of :which an officer (Captain Sargent, aide-de-camp to Sir J. Davis) had been se verely injured by a large stone thrown from the p " imum 41LIAMENTARY DIVISIONS. the TP °tes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) Etkr T T WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23. C- "*CAT AND PROSTITUTION SUPPRESSION k ot , BILL. —(IN THE COMMITTEE.) ,ktt made, and Question proposed, " That theCliair iti3/4.), rep ort the Bill, with the Amen d men t s , to t h e .t Whereupon Moticn made, and Question pu , IN lee" Ckairman do leave the chair." The Committee MINORITY—AYES, 26. ;'`awci 'E. B . Mackinnon, W. Trelawny, J. S. T. Moffatt, George Trollope , S ir J. Mundy, E. Miller Williams, W. •O'Brien, C. Wodeho use, Edmund 141(1>"' Mathe r , N Pechell, Captain Wood , Co lonel T. Plumridge, Captain Yorke , R. H. ktir 4 4 , J o h n Reid, Colonel 444, 104. k' r th. T. 'lepton, G. W. Ross, D. R. wvo rg , Thornhill, G. TELLERS. Berkeley, Craven Roebuck, J. A. L 4 lerle y.c. ~,. '. MAJORITY—NOES, 81. "w rth Fielden, John Morison , Gene ra l o 4 411; - , Peter F e ll ewes , E. O'Brien, A. S. . 14 1 Edn a Fitzroy, Henry O'Brien, J. A l vali, c.,and. Floyer, John Packe, C. W. "t it 7:.n Forbes, William Patten, 'Robert 411; , , 1 . 1 , , z tzeorge Fuller, A. E. J. W 4 ~, Earl of Gladstone, J. N. Pennant, Colonel 4 ktille,, C olonel Gore, Montague Prime, Richard i 4k isi lviulam Goulburn, Henry Rendlesham, Lord :0 ~George Grey, Sir G. Rice, ER. , flenry Grogan, E. Rolleston, Colonel i, k ilk7° , 1 1 ! Viscount Hamilton, G. A. Round, John L , am H. Hamilton, Lord C. Rutherford, A. gotta Harcourt, G. G. Sandon, Lord 1N4,4 4 , T. W Harris, Captain Seymer, Henry Ke r lie nr; Heathcoat, John Seymour, Lord w Hobhouse, Sir John Shaw, F. 1 kt', Charles' Jolliffe, Sir W G. H. Sheppard , T. Ni t es 11 1 Wes, t i , littua ~ N. Jones, Captain Smith , V ernon B B. Lefroy, A. Tancred, H. W. kik. 1 4Ga. H. Mackenzie, T. Tollemache , John 7• Manners, Lord C. Tufnell , Henr y . 1 / 4 k b kk o Z i r j . E Manners, Lord J. Turner, Edmund Marshall, William Vivian, J. H. 4 s• • 4441 . v.: -ar T. Manic, Fox Walpole, S. H. im am } to„, Miles, W. TELLES , . kklu ti i E . I E. B. Monahan, J. H. Spooner, Richard 1 Morris, David Pakington, Sir J. S. ordl'°Oß REMOVAL ACT AMENDMENT BILL. got Proposed, for Se con d R e adi ng r ead; Motion made, and Ques 4,ePosed, " That the Bill be now read a second time :" 4 t1 34141 e0-t proposed, to leave out the wor d " now," and 4. "114, 141 ' 1 4 of the Question to add the words " upon this ItYld '` months :"—Question put, " That the word ' now' ' Part of the Question." The House divided:— 4 4e MINORITY—AYES, 102. 411. -er. c 13. 4i . ...) . .. p. Gore, Montague . Pennant, Colonel 14 41 .'"1 t Goring, Charles Pinney , William l it, G Granby, Marquis of Prime , Rich ard ro. 14 1 ,4f 0 , er i t Grimsditch, Thomas Repton, G. W. J. I„,n. Viscount Hall, Sir Benjamin Rice , E . R. '." Lord G. Heathcoat, John Richards, Richard nlil 'ne, PT. S. Heneage, G. H. W. Rollesto n, Colonel h_ °r°' H. G. Henley, J. W. Round , C . obly Wt . ck, P. Il erve y, Lord A. Round , J. Wo4t,, `°ll t y , R. , T. W 4t Hildyard, T. B. T. Seynser, H. K. Hodgson, F. Seymour , Lord Li i . L i r Hodgson, Richard Sheppard, T. illtey Q Hotham, Lord Shirley, E. J. 1,.. s . , S ir R. B. Houldsworth, T. ; Smith, A. " 4 11.0'` Ir J. Y. Hudson, G. Smith, R. V. t ife:it l es, - 11. Hussey, T. Spooner, Richard .4 .014, " . p . til'isto' R'. J. Ingestre, Visct. Stanley, W. 0. Jolliefe, Sir W. H. Stuart, J. kre s ‘, 1) , 11,1 ", R. A. Kerrison, Sir E. Tancred, IL W. 6 t 1.44 1 , 1 ,.unt Lennox, Lord G. IL Taylor, E. )I) . A Liddell, Hon. H. T. Thornhill, G. 1 444 0 , J. E. Lowther Colonel Tollemache, J. il't 11, E . B. Manners, Lord C. Trelawny, J. S. nn, C. T. Manners, Lord J. Trollope, Sir J. utt Sir H 4k,,,,, 0 . . Miles, William Trotter, John Lp., LLn, Sir J. Morris, David Vyse, H. tr,. -- -tabe 0 Pftl ba nlA • Mundy, E.. M. Waddington, H. S. • t i l ' o leb, .7,,, tin Muntz G. F. Neeld, Joseph Welby, G. E. Williams, W. °Yer ts ' E . Newdegate, N. Wodehouse, E. oi „, _, John O'Brien, A. Stafford Worcester, Marquis Pp" Mr . Yorke, H. R. chi l lr, A. E. Packe, C. W. Paget, Colonel TRS 41Z 1 . 1 , J. m. Palmer, R. Bankes, G . E . G — `une, Captain Pechell, Captain Palmer, R. 411 4 MAJORITY—NOES, 10 5 . iford°rtll i Peter Gore, W. 0. Palm erston, Vis. ' , Viscount Graham, Sir James Parker, John Colonel Greene Thomas Patt ison, J. b as, Ed mund Grey, Sir G. Perfect, Robert ItiZtal• Earl of Grosvenor, Lord It. Plumridge, Captain ~ Waiter Hallyburton, Lord Pillsford, Robert I..ktqalan ,A. Hanmer, Sir J. Reid, Colonel os ) ~ •T. Hastie, Archibald Rich, Henry q etiti' R. M. Hatton, Captain Romilly, John Nk t :Y, Captain Hawes, Benjamin Ross, David R. Holland, Robert Russell, Lord John 8&.1 1., Charles Howard, C . W. Russell,;Lord E. ih.„_ - ", T J . Howard, P. H. Russell, Lord C. Ci''`g , G . s' .6411. :a. Howard, Sir R. Rutherfurd, A. h H. Jermyn, Earl Sheil, R. L. ,'154 G• W• D. Johnstone, Sir J. Shelburne, Earl:of eb " G ' Kelly, Sir Fitzroy Somerville, Sir W. rook .e, Sir T. Labouchere, Henry Strickland, Sir G. c.„_. W. F. Lawless, Cecil Stintt , Ed ward e,, ,:nr G. Lindsay, Colonel Thornely, T. bunrdi W. S. Macaulay, T. B. Towneley , John bit;t a Ple,:Captain Maule, Fox Tufnell, H. n, T. V. Mitchell, T. A. Turner, Edmund A)t faun, J . Moffatt, George Vane, Lord H. e k blaon tom. H. Monahan, J. H. Villiers, Charles Morpeth, Viscount "Vvian, J. H. b 4 4,2 Admiral Morison, General Walker, Richard tbri,72. Sir David Mostyn, E. M. Walpole, S. H. 'Atli, ~,a‘a.2l . Viscount Neville R a lph Ward, H. G. Cltt,3 3 Edward Nicholl, J. W ellesle y , Lord C tv de, Sir T. O'Brien, C. Wood, :•ir Charles a. F Wini e rlttuso a m O'Brien, John Wortley,'J. S. ) p eh, a•.,.. Colenel O'Connell, M. J. Wyse , T homas 4 '0.'2. Matthew O'Conor, Don Tzw.xas. .:14 3 k 4 R, Ogle, S. C. Hill, Lord Marcus no, Thomas M. Owen, Sir J. Pakington, Sir J. COURT CIRCULAR. vlt te lli ju' Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians, de l ed Ly the Lady in Waiting on her Majesty, Major b oo _°erkerke, and Dr. Carswell, landed at Woolwich itt ,slard from the Garland steam-packet, from Ostend, tvelnyvi.,enty-five minutes before eight o'clock yesterday W'g , and were received by Lord Byron, Lord in w i ll. to the Queen, and Lord George Lennox, Lord iti The to Prince lbert. ,„ ; _ - Lue augu s t party entered three of the Queen's car -nes and four which were in readiness in the dockyard 4441 proceeded to town. Their Majesties and suite arrived at Buckingham valu e a t twenty minutes before nine o'clock. The Queen and Prince Albert received their august visitors ?1 . 1 arriving at the Garden ent ranc e. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness were att en d e d by the Marchioness of Douro, Lady Caroline Cocks, Hon. Miss Paget, Baroness de Speth, the Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the Household, Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, lord Alfred Paget, and Colonel Bouverie. The Queen and Prince Albert rode out on horseback A „. 4 `oterday, a ttended by the Hon. Miss St anle y , Lord `mired Paget, and Colonel Bouverie. . 64 deputation, consisting of the Right Hon. the Lord 1,,. Ch • of the Gresham Committee ; R ichard j 4., -airman James Jones, Mg., Chairman of the Bu ildin g Committee ; ines Watney, Esq., Master of the Mercers Company; - _, n ies Sutton, Esq., Prime Wa rden of the CoMpany ; mi Mr. H. E. Barnet, Clerk to the Gresham Com -Ittee, had an audience of his Royal Highness Prince Albert yesterday, at Buckingham Pa lace, to p resent si lver medals to his Royal Highness. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, and the trineesa Royal walked and rode on ponies yesterday in e royal gardens. A Their Royal Highnesses Prince A lfred, the Princess ce, and the Princess Helena, accompanied by the ... --(l4 v ager Lady Lyttelton, took an airin g y esterday in - `",,,Open carriage and four. 21 - 1 5 Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke of '" the W e i ma r, attended by the Count de Beust, visited "le Plate Manufactory of Messrs. Hunt and Roskell Yesterday, and inspected the models, and many exten sive services of plate in the course of completion. The Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a dinner to the Cabinet Ministers yesterday evening, at his official residence in Downing -street. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Macgregor Laird and Mr. J. T. Clay , fr o m the Birkenhead Dock Company ; Mr. John Davis and Mr. Hassal from other Frontages to Wallasey Pool ; Mr. Radcliffe from the Cheshire r Jun ct ion and Chester and Birkenhead Railway, had an intvrview with the Earl o f Clarendon yesterday, at the ice of the Board of Trade. CHINA. LONDON, THURSDAY _EVENING, JUNE 24, 184:73, window, was razed to the ground, and the heap of ruins remained at once a memorial and a warning to the people of Canton of the punishment inflicted and due for cowardly attacks upon individuals. The following day (the 7th of April) the barriers were removed, and the Corsair sailed with the 42d Regiment Madras Native In fantry for Hong-Kong; but towards the evening some delay on the part of the Chinese authorities, or an at tempted evasion of their engagements, put Sir John Davis's firmness to the proof, and, determined to show that he was equally prepared now as yesterday to enforce his demands, General D'Aguilar ordered the barricades to be instantly re-erected, and the troops to be held in readiness during the night. This method of negotia tion was crowned with complete success, and the point in question—the punishment of the Fuhshan rioters within the factories—was at once yielded. Early this morning (the Bth) three of the Fuhshan rioters were brought to the factories and punished at the Consoo house, in presence of the British as well as of the Chinese authorities; and every demand of Sir J. Davis having been acceed to, General D'Aguilar made immediate preparations for withdrawing the troops, with the ex ception of a company of the 18th Regiment, under Captain Graves, and a few sappers, who are to remain until the improvements are carried out, as well as to guard against any sudden outbreak of the mob upon the departure of the expedition. Shortly after noon the force re-embarked, and arrived at Hong-Kong the following day. Meantime the position of the town of Victoria (Hong- Kong), left almost defenceless during the absence of the forces, was becoming perilous, and the danger was not the less imminent or unpleasant from its indefinite r K o o u n s g e d of f n t t o h e activity e this i b g y n dev o i I p s r , r a t n u d n i %, t, y e r e e f o r r i g d d e n i z g i i g nature. It was ascertained that the Triad societies *e re ong the Chinese population of the place. The neighbouring islands and mainland are the resort of the most deter mined thieves and pirates in China, who frequently ex tend their attacks into the very harbour of Hong-Kong itself. The handful of troops and police left on the island were unequal to any prolonged defence or guard of a straggling town, stretching four miles along the water side, and commanded in every direction from the hills behind, which afford the means both of unseen approach and secure retreat to the desperadoes. happily, the provisional government and military command of the island were left in the hands of the Hon. Major Carne, a host in himself, and equal to every emergency. had the return of the troops from Canton been deferred but one day more, the European inhabitants would have been called upon to watch and guard, relieving the fatigued troops, and the ladies and treasure removed to the European barracks—a defensible position where the troops would have been concentrated. Such are the details of an expedition of which the naval and military operations were as boldly planned as they were promptly and vigorously executed. The policy and prudence of the expedition can be but briefly alluded to. Those involved in its responsibility of course applaud their own measure ; while the un certainty of its effect upon their position in Canton fills the European residents there (personally exposed to it) with much anxiety and uneasiness. Time can alone justify the measure, or otherwise, by proving whether it has produced a salutary effect upon the turbulent po pulace of Canton. Meanwhile these few plain facts present themselves forcibly to view. The force employed on the occasion, while just suffi cient to inflict frightful destruction by its distant mis siles, was totally inadequate to the maintenance of its position after the destruction of the city and factories by fire, and thereafter the retreat of the troops and whole foreign community (Americans included) to Hong-Kong and Macao was inevitable. The providential preservation, while unprotected, of the foreign residents in Canton during that critical in terval after the capture of the Bogus Forts was known to the Chinese Government and before the British force had arrived off the factories, must ever be a source of unmingled thankfulness. No community were ever pro bably exposed, unconsciously to themselves, to such im minent danger, for no other Government probably would have hesitated to seize, decapitate, or hold as hostage every British subject, after such an open and unan nounced act of hostility. The chief object of the expedition, as publicly stated, was to obtain redress for an outrage committed upon two British seamen six months ago; and for which outrage, be it observed, the two seamen and their cap tain were punished and fined at the time by the Bri tish authorities, and satisfaction then given to the Chinese. None of the terms of the convention have up to this moment been carried into effect; not a workman can be procured for love or money to erect the walls or build ings agreed upon. The river boats have returned, if possible, in greater crowds than ever to their former stations, causing the same obstruction as before. A party of five gentlemen walking in the most respectable street in the immediate neighbourhood of the factories, were ten days ago insulted, saluted with stones, and but for a timely retreat the fracas might have had a more serious result. Mr, Consul Macgregor a few days after was also attacked and kicked, his companion in defence being obliged to knock one of his assailants down, they themselves retreating hastily. It is manifestly absurd, however, to suppose that the points named in the convention, to which therefore little attention is paid, were the true objects of the expedition The lives of the whole foreign community would never have been so imminently endangered, the sacrifice of thousands upon thousands of peaceable or rebellious Chinese, with the frightful sequel of misery and rapine attending the destruction of a huge city, could never seriously have been contemplated, for such comparatively insignificant objects; and it is therefore the general con viction that some concession of importance worthy of such sacrifices and risks has been gained, and which it may not at present be discreet to divulge. Till this is known, judgment upon the expedition cannot be passed. The unqualified approval of the whole expedi tion is, however, somewhat unreasonably claimed from the British residents in Canton by Sir John Davis, upon the plea that they have obtained all they demanded. This plea is unfairly urged ; the residents were taken completely by surprise by the presence (against all pro bability) of an armed British force in their dwellings, by the sight of preparation for the immediate burning of the city, and inevitably also of their factories and pro perty. During the brief three days of the Plenipoten tiary's stay, the preservation of their own lives and of their property, in an emergency when the consideration of insignificant details of streets, and lanes, and boats, could scarcely with calmness be entered upon, occupied all the time and attention they could spare from their entertainment and reception of the force, and from the attendance as an armed volunteer association to assist the troops in the attack. The policy that will not truckle to the Chinese cannot be too strongly recom mended or approved of, but whether this expedition wor thily carried out that policy has still to be decided. Itis the universal belief of the Chinese populace that our sole object by these and previous demonstrations, is to obtain entrance to the city. Our peaceable and hasty retreat without palpable accomplishment of this object (which our small force was quite unable to attempt) is now attributed by them to fear and not forbearance on our part. Hence the uneasiness felt by the British residents in Canton, from the probably exasperated feelings of the populace dangerously betraying themselves after the re moval of the troops. In one month more, the Admiral and fleet, with two additional regiments, will be here, forming a force so mposing as to have carried every point, that of entrance to the city included, and to have selected the guilty for unishment, without recourse to violence. We take tho following additional particulars from the Chinese Repository for Apt il, 1847 : APRIL I.—This evening a party of troops of the 18th Royal Irish and 42d Madras Native Infantry embarked at Hong-Kong on board her Majesty's steamer Vulture, the Honourable Company's steamer Pluto, and the chartered steamer Corsair. His Excellency Sir John Francis Davis is known to have been engaged till a late e u r . i t n ; c h i o p u a r l that a e r v t e m n e i n n t g s i o n f c t o h u e n c a i I with rrun the e nt head ed hwandichonhiy just ü b s e t en re ly tu in rd gne for fr s o o m me c w a e n e t k o s n, o ff br t i h n e gin fa g cto d r o t w es n Major Aldrich and Colonel Phillpotts, w ho had been u p , to the city reconnoitring. In Canton it was onl y whis pered that they would shortly return. ove;as9 f th th e Pluto ste A am Pß er l s i , w24—thß h e e fo r re m d a j a e w st n y,s th b i r s ig 7E O :At the and three boats, were under way. On passing the forts at the Bogue troops were landed, and most of the guns spiked, little or no resistance having been made, for the Chinese had been taken wholly by surprise. On Saturday morning, the 3d, rumours reached Can ton of what bad been done at the Bogue, and an official report is said to have been made to Keying by some 01 his own officers. By nine o'clock, with the aid of glasses, from the tops of the factories the steamers were seen moving up the river towards the provincial city. All the guns in the forts along the banks of the river shared the same treatment as those at the Bogue—not excepting those in the French Folly fort off the south-east corner of the city, and those in the little red round fort opposite the factories. Every one seemed to be taken by surprise. It was said that even the British Consul had no certain (official) information of what was about to transpire. About noon his Excellency Sir John Francis Davis, her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c., landed from the Pluto, with which the Corsair had been anchored off the British Consulate, while the Vulture and the Espiegle were left at Whampoa. In the course of the afternoon the troops were landed in front of the new factories, in which they were to have their quar ters. A small detachment was stationed in the Con soo-house, at the head of Old China-street, and guards elsewhere, so as to command all the avenues to the factories. As yet nothing transpired to inform the public what was the end and aim of all the extr aor di nary move ments then in progress, while all ma nner o f rumo urs and reports were flying in every direction. Tho excitement and the anxiety were con s id era ble in certain quarters, but night came on, and all was quiet. The Chinese Governmental guards at several posts had disappeared, and the heavy tread and challenge, " Who comes there ?'' were heard during the night watches. The common watchmen, however, were not disturbed, but told off with the beat of their bamboos and drums the hours of the night in the usual manner. [Here follows a Government Notification (No. 2), signed " George D'Aguilar, Major General commanding the troops in China," which appeared in The Sun of yesterday.] " No. 3. "GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION. " Yeh, territorial commissioner, &c., and Hwang, chief superintendent of the commissariat, &c., with Yen, judicial commissioner, &c., of Canton, jointly issue these tions quieting the hearts of the people " To-day, it having been reported that steamers had instructions . for the purpose of entered the river and come up to the city, we immedi- ately made careful inquiry, and took the proper action thereon. As all nations have been in the enjoyment of free commercial intercourse, all enjoy quiet repose, and we conceive that there can be no cause for solicitude. " Moreover, there are near the city tens of thou sands of militia connected with the colleges, who are banded together, and have in times of peace been trained and disciplined. " They have strength, are acquainted with the military art,..and arc prepared alike for peace or war. Never have they given rise to troubles. This we have known ever since we first came tojJanton. You, soldiers and people, ought to abide in your own places, and, as you have always done, mutually protect and defend each other. If lawless vagabonds take advantage of the occa sion to create trouble, and you are unable to remain in the quiet possession of your property, we will seize the disturbers, and instantly punish them without mercy or lenity. Let each tremblingly obey. These are our pressing commands. April 3, 1847. " To be posted up at the thirteen factories." SABBATH, APRIL 4.—Early in the morning it was generally understood that there would be a conference at the British Consulate between the two Commissioners, Keying and Sir J. F. Davis. At eleven o'clock, A.m., the appointed hour for the meeting, the troops, with artillery, &c., were drawn up for his reception, when only two of his subalterns, Chan Changling and Pwan Sz'shing, arrived; and as it was supposed that they came only in Keying's stead and not to announce his ap proach, the troops were removed, so that on his Ex cellency's arrival there was only the guard at the Con sulate to receive him. He was accompanied by Hwang Ngantnng and others, and the conference lasted about three hours. During the day great crowds of people assembled in the streets adjacent to the factories, and were exceedingly noisy and clamorous. The following memorandum was furnished (we know not from whom) to Sir J. F. Davis, before Keying's arrival at the Consulate ;we borrow it from the China Mail : " No. 4. " WISHES AND VIEW OF THE BRITISH RESIDENTS AT CANTON. " Ist. A distinct recognition of their right to go such distance into the surrounding country as may be tra versed either by land or by water in one day out and home, and full protection on their perambulations from insults and attacks by the populace. " 2. A. space of ground of about 50 acres at Honan, or in some other convenient part of the suburbs, for the erection of warehouses and dwelling-houses. " 3. A site for a church and a churchyard for British residents. m u ` . t .. y A ,Au s ib i t t rh e i ed f rg o eu r t a burial-ground oDabnee Danes, or rowp thrown e French ce hr f or across sl t a h nt e dh, Parsee eo f an c passage are o a m oo if 40,000 square feet. • Hog• lane, to connect the two factory gardens. " 6. A cookhouse for Lascars in Hog-lane. "7. The railing-in of Lower China-street ' and the lower part of Hog-lane, and the garden walls to be kept free from Chinese buildings, excepting the military and police stations already erected. " 8. Removal of the stationary boats which at present encumber the avenue to the Factory gardens from the river side. " British Consulate, Canton, April 3,1847." Divine service was held at eleven o'clock, A.M., as usual, but the attendance was small. About two o'clock a party of the military were called out to repress the mob, and to drive them back from the space in front of Old and New China-streets, through the avenue leading from the south end of Tehhing-kii (or Danish Hong) into Lwanhing-street, where Captain Sergeant received a blow on his temple from a stone thrown by one of the mob. These proceedings created no small excitement. Major Aldrich and Major-General D'Aguilar were both upon the spot. The stone or brickbat was said to have been thrown from a house in Lwanhing-street, which was forced open ; and, as all the inmates " pro fesssed total ignorance, an ill•looking fellaw was dragged out and flogged at the door ; and another, who had been seized by Major Aldrich's party for a similar offence, was taken to the gate of the British Consulate, and there received a dozen lashes. The excitement during the remainder of the afternoon was great; and as the numbers of the mob constantly increased they became more and more vociferous. At length orders were given to the sentinels, if they could not seize them, to fire on any and all who were seen in the act of throwing stones or brickbats. As the dark ness of evening came on the clamour and noise died away, and we are not aware that any shot was fired, or any Chinese or foreigner injured, except in the cases above named. MONDAY, APRIL 5.--Soo after daylight an armed party was sent down the river to demolish the principal parts of French Folly, which was blown up, and the guns in the Dutch Folly spiked. After the troops had breakfasted, they were served with ammunition, pistols were loaded, the artillery, &c., were all put in readiness for action. The Corsair arrived from Whampoa with additional troops; the Pluto got up her steam, and most people were expecting an immediate attack on the city. At this juncture, between the hours of eleven and twelve o'clock, A.m., the following circular came out: — "No. 5. " British Consulate, April 5. " I have been directed by his Excellency her Majesty's Plenipotentiary to inform you, that as a considerable portion of the troops may be employed to-morrow in coercive measures against the city, it becomes necessary for you to be prepared for defence, in the event of an attack being made on the foreign factories by the popu lace.—l have the honour to be, &c., " FRANCIS C. MACGREGOR." Fast boats and lorchas, and everything of the sort, were now in great demand. Books, treasure, &c., were put on board. All the streets and avenues leading to the factories were barricaded. Guns, swords, and all sorts of ammunition were in requisition. Still some, who could speak very confidently, declared that " every thing would most assuredly be amicably settled." Great numbers of the Chinese, perhaps all who had it in their power, removed from the vicinity of the factories; and a few of the foreigners, including most of the ladies, went on board ship at Whampoa. In the evening the gentlemen volunteers, comprising nearly the whole of the British community, were in spected by Major-General D'Aguilar, " who explained to them that, in the event of operations being commenced against the city next day, he confidently relied on their , protecting the factories from any attack on the part of the mob, and that he would leave with them 25 men of the Royal Irish and an equal number of the 42d." During the evening a small party of armed Chinese was found secreted in one of the buildings in the rear of the factories, and not far from Conseo-house, nearly 40 of whom were taken prisoners and seat to one of the guard stations ; the rest escaped, leaving their arms be hind them. These proved to be a part of the " impe rial forces" who on the evening of the 3d got jostled out of their place in the Consoo ; and for the night they were safely housed in one of the upper rooms in Minque's Hong. In the course of this day and evening several placards appeared on the walls of the city and streets, three of which we subjoin. No. 6, denouncing Keying, we borrow from the China Mail; Nos. 7 and 8 have been translated or us by a friend:— " No. 6. " DENTJNCIITION OF KEYING. " The English have rebelled against us, disobeying our laws and bringing disorder and injury on the ' Flowery Nation.' Keying's heart is inwardly inclined towards them; he disregards our families, and, trampling on the people, he thereby degrades the nation. His crime deserves to be punished with death: it is therefore desirable that every one of us should exert himself, that all uniting together we may set fire to his palace, and then cast his dead body into the street. To do this is not exceeding the law. " Twankang, 27th year, 2d moon, 20th day. (April 5, 1847.) TON. 0 " M A : R a m p pmena MILITIA r I o A., m isTA N t o h whole p. e GENTRY N T n p y r o o F r i n c " It has been represented that the foreigners have long boasted of their intention to enter the city, contriving means to levy and collect duties on the vessels of all na tions. In consequence of a late controversy about pass ing affairs, they have at length ventured to collect from Hiangshan and Singau a thousand or more outlaws, speak ing the native tongue, but clothed in a foreign dress, who proceeding directly up the river of Canton, have burned and destroyed the forts. They have taken possession of the foreign factories, and congregated in the offices. They then constrained the authorities to allow them money, and extorted from them to the amount of some tens of thousands of dollars. Those truly foreigners were no more than about a hundred. By these pro ceedings the citizens became greatly alarmed. Lawless vagacity.bondssieett otasghfnroetetfrshat great body the ebe o s sopi o rddd r eyi t eonrpoglarefte both ohe and ohnff people een enforce eut within h oia name u s compliance tsadhlplottingnyecwe soldiers without otag with rheuirt a vts against ns taehtri to requisitions. They therefore commit their ravages upon not able to restrain their indignation at such proceedings. On the night of the 18th instant (April 3d) the gentry were all engaged in notifying the country militia at the places of assembling to be in readiness against the time appointed. The citizens from all parts of the city were also to be on the alert and prepared to exert their strength, proclaiming to the people to come from' all quarters to exterminat e and kill the villains. Let them take these false traitors, dressed in foreign clothes,, and cut them off completely, and not allow theni to 'proceed, a step into the city. This is the decree of tie grea t ; b o dy of the citizens. L et it be observed withouf tardi ness or reluctance. It is thus urgently enjoined. • The, gentry of the city generally unite with the militia: in.this representation." are v vi llin gto undertake it, the people of our two trades w ill make it their business to seareh out every workman . o f th is sor tby name and kill him, and t& notify the inha 131;tan is of the district to burn , - ti? the dwelling of every ms o 'who v entures to assume suet: a responsibility, which will i ll* don e without the least delay. This among the citiz( ttiss of the capital it is considered the reasonable duty of eN vry fe ,ithful and obedient person to seek:v• to have oarr i tat ,o effect. The Emperor, hearing and k - nowing o f it ;, will also certainly afford some additional com men latiolt and encouragement. It behoves us to rt:gu late our minds and to chastise those who refuse to coin ply. It will by no , means answer to be inconstant in our Purpi 'se, coveting t he wealth of these rebels and aggres sors. The citizens of Canton have issued this notifica tion. If any persons venture to tear it down, that is, any vile ti aitors, the citizens will have them seized and sent to the office of the Kwangchau fu. Let such citizens assem t 'le at the pubic office and they will each receive a reward of two dollars, certificate money. !rims, DAY, APRIL 6.—General orders had been issued to the trc bps ; a movement was to be made on the " city of Rams" daylight, unless the assent to certain "rea sonable demX Ws' were gained by that hour ; the recoil \ noitring had L seen completed ; the attack was to be made at three I Joints simultaneously ; one party was to mount the walls at the south-west and soath-ealit corner of tl to city, whil e the Pluto was to take her station mid way between, wl len, at the given signal, to be run Op at the British Consulate, the work was to begin. At ci.V brea k some of the officers were on the walls; and ha d the signal been given, and had the bombardment been driv4 on for a few hours—but—but the assent came, and 'the following was proclaimed by circular in the course of the forenoonk " No. 9. " GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. " Diplomatic Department. " His Excellency her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c., has the satisfaction to announce that at the last moment, and when actually awaiting the assault on their 'city, the Canon authorities have assented to his reasonable de mand's, and the impending ruin of this populous place has bees' happily averted. " The following are briefly the heads of the new agree men At ti`te fixed period of two years from this day, the 6th of April, the city of Canton shall be opened to British subject's. " 2. Her Majosty's subjects shall be at liberty to roam for exercise or amusement in the neighbouring country without molestation, returning in the same day, as at Shanghai, and any person molesting them shall be se verely punished. " 3. The aggressors on the two seamen in October last, and on Colonel Chesney and others at Fuhshan on the 12th of March, shall be made examples of. The latter being already apprehended will be brought to Canton, and punished in the presence of persons de puted by her Majesty's Plenipotentiary. " 4. An adequate space on the Ronan side of the river shall be granted on lease to British merchants and others, for the erection of dwellings and warehouses; and his Excellency will ascertain the site and extent before be quits Canton. "5. A site for the erection of a cbrach shall be granted on lease in the neighbourhood of the space now occupied by the foreign factories; and spaces for burial grounds shall also be allotted at Whampoa. " 6. The flying bridge and another building between the two gardens shall be erected as desired, and sheds shall not be permitted against the Walls. " 7. For the better preservation of order, and for the general convenience, the river front before the factories shall be kept clear of boats. " By order. " A. R. JOHNSTON. " British Consulate, Canton, April 6, 1847." In the afternoon of this day Sir John and Captain Macdougall, along with two Chinese officers, proceeded across the river for the purpose of fixing on " an ade quate space" for the erection of dwellings, &c., on the Honan side of the river. This site, as fixed upon, will extend from the front of the foreign factories to the Macao-passage, and from that corner of Ronan to the creek near the fort on the east bank of the passage. How far it will extend back from the river we do not know ; but, if we mistake not, a large part of its surface is already covered with dwellings, warehouses, &c. The prisoners taken on Monday were released to-day, and the house in Lwanhing-street, from which the stone was thrown on the Sabbath-day, was razed to the ground; also one in Shoe-lane (?), where the sailors were mauled in October last. In the meantime the two Chinese custon-houses, foreign boat houses, &c., near the gardens before the factories, were removed. The excitement among the Chinese people and militia was now very great, and it was rumoured that the latter were about to make an attack on the barbarians. Sand and sand-bags were pouring into the city, designed for blocking up the gates. Cannon were also to be brought into the city. However, the day and the night passed, and " all things continued to go on as usual." Barricades were now removed; parties who had left their houses or shops began to return with their effects, and the British troops prepared for embarkation; and in the afternoon the Corsair, having on board a detachment of the 42d, moved down the river to Whampoa, where the Vulture had remained, while the Espiagle had been brought up within the barrier above Napier's Fort, al most within cannon shot of the city. The four follow ing documents appeared during the day:— " No. 10. " Keying, member of the Imperial House, guardian of the heir apparent, an assistant member of the Cabinet, a president of the Board of War, and Governor-General of the provinces of Kwantung and Kwangs, issues this proclamation:— " As all the affairs of the provincial city at present are being conducted in their usual manner, there is as suredly no cause for anxiety. Ye people, whether abid ing in your houses or your shops, you ought all to re main quiet and joyful in your respective pursuits. And if there be lawless vagrants, who spread abroad exciting rumours, create troubles, and deceive the multitude, it being clearly ascertained who they are, they shall be seized and severely punished. Give heed to this special proclamation and oppose it not. " Canton, April 7. No. 11. • very serious questions, involving vested rights, priv a to and public, and it may be questioned whether (as far as the thoroughfare is concerned) the Government of China has pDvver to remove a right of way contrary to the public wish, for more than a limited time at least. "This circumstance may render your objects difficult of attainment, and his Excellency regrets it the more, as he is fully alive to the evils attending the existence of the lane in question, and the advantages which would. accrue from its removal. He will, however, use his best endeavours to persuade the Chinese Minister of these respective evils and advantages, and if the British com munity can raise funds which will induce the owners of the shops to give them up, the other obstacles might probably be surmounted. " It is altogether a mistake to suppose that the Chi nese autboxities are to be at the expense of the proposed site for the church, and it would be hardly worthy of the British Government that they should. "I have, &c. " A. R. JOHNSTON." The above (No. 10) was the first expression given to the public of Keying's sentiments ; he is known to have been greatly perplexed and distressed, unable to eat by day or sleep by night. It is generally believed by those who have the best means of knowing the truth of this matter, that he has been left to stand quite alone—and even opposed by some of the high officers of the province. THURSEAY, THE BTH.—The following correspondence &c., we borrow from the Hong-Kong Register. " No. 14. " Head-quarters, British Factories, April 8,1847. Gentlemen,—l am directed by Major-Gen. D'Agui lar, coromanding the troops in China, to acquaint you t h a t h e iznends to leave Captain Graves, and one ser geant of the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, and Lieut. Da Costa of the Royal Engineers, with one corporal and three privates of the Royal Sappers and Miners, behind in the factories, until further orders, for the pur pose of rendering you every assistance in their power, as regards the completion of your organization and other defensive arrangements. " I have the honour• to be, &c., " J. BRUCE "Assistant Adjutant-General.- " To the Associated Gentlemen Volunteers, Canton Factories." _ _ As this note left an impression that the whole of the troops were to be withdrawn, a meeting was held to re monstrate against such proceeding, and the following address was adopted and had been signed by seventy-six persons, when Captain Bruce arrived, and stated that the Light Company of the 18th were to be left with Cap taira Graves:— " No. 15. "No. 8. " FROM THE GENTRY, &C., OF CANTON. " Whereas we have heard of opposition to the autho rities, and not permitting them and the aggressors to dwell under the same Heavens, it is not possible that both should subsist together. The English barbarians take occasion to excite trouble and make a great display of arms. By public consent they have taken possession of and occupy the river side of a tract of ground as a place for trade—in all, thirteen separate hongs. They wish to build a temple for public worship, and also across the river in Henan, to take possession of a tract of ground, and to build a fort. There have lately been foreign soldiers measuring off the ground for a site. Our citizens having met to take the matter into conside ration, immediately they opened a thundering fire of artillery upon them, by which many persons were in. jured. In such as this there is no law nor principle of justice. The whole body of the people can only gnash their teeth with rage and indignation. Now the great body of masons and carpenters in the two cities (the old and new) of Canton, have held a public consultation, and have agreed together that if the English undertake the prosecution of their works as aforesaid, the men employed in these trades shall none of them be permitted to engage to complete their w orks on their own responsibility. And if at Hong • gong, Macao, or Wharapoo, there should be men who " Rules agreed upon, at a public meeting of the gentry of Canton, for the defence against the entrance of bar barians into the city. " Rule 1. The inhabitants of all the shops and houses must hire militia, who will keep a constant pa trol, and who, if a barbarian enters a street, will not be frightened, but sound the alarm, so that it may spread and be communicated from street to street, and all with united strength be ready to beat back and destroy the intruder. " Rule 2. Throughout the whole city all the people must remove the boards and planks from the roofs of their houses, and place instead many jars of water, ready to act against incendiaries ; and must have ready pre pared pots of lime, brickbats, stone, &c. ; and if they see a barbarian enter the city they must throw these down with thundering force, and not allow a single one to escape from their net. " Rule 3. There must be no fear nor removing to other places, lest they give rise to plundering, and lest in the absence of our people the barbarians get possession of the country. Let all the people attend to their respective avocations, mutually protect and defend each other, and for ever guard their own possessions. " Rule 4. If any spread the report through the streets that the barbarians are entering the city, they must be traitors, designing by such reports to ascertain the actual condition of the city, and perhaps are seek ing:opportunities to plunder and rob. Let the inhabi tants at once seize upon such and deliver them over for examination to the chiefs of the gentry, and if they are truly traitors they must be sent to the proper authorities for trial ; and if found to be good people they must obtain from their neighbours and elders bonds for their good conduct, and then they may be liberated. .. The above rules must be put in practice by the in habitants of all the streets and lanes, however small, and all must watch and guard with care, in order to protect themselves and families, and to show a readiness to ful fil the gracious designs of our august Sover, ign in his love to all the people. Although the foreigners may enter the provincial cities of the other maritime pro vinces, yet great is the strength of this province; and it behoves us to quit ourselves like men, and continue watchful to the end. Then all will be well." " No. 12. "Canton, April 7, 1847. " Sir,—The undersigned British residents in Canton beg respectfully to call your Excellency's attention to the following matters, in connexion with the arrange ments you may at present be concluding with the Chi nese authorities : " The shops in Hog-lane, and the thoroughfare there, are the occasion of great inconvenience, annoyance, and danger to the foreign community. The shopkeepers there are always ready to tempt the seamen to drunk enness, and it would no doubt be remembered by your Excellency that most of the disturbances which have occurred in Canton have originated in that neighbour hood, while on all occasions of riot or fire our danger is greatly increased by the assembling of low characters in the place alluded to. We, therefore, request that your Excellency will obtain for us the removal of the houses in llog-lane, and the stoppage of this offensive thoroughfare. " We further suggest to your Excellency that the space thus cleared will afford the best site which can be found for the erection of a church, and as the Chinese authorities have agreed to give space for one, and must be put to a considerable expense in removing buildings on a suitable locality, we think it but reasonable, that as they will be saved this expense, they should be called upon, instead, to compensate the owners of the miserable habitations in Hog-lane ; but to obtain such a desirable object as that in view, we would be willing ourselves to pay the owners the reasonable value of the buildings, if the matter can be arranged in no other way. We have the honour to be, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servants, [Signed by 49 British Residents.] " To his Excellency Sir John F. Davis, Baronet, &c." "No. 13. " British Consulate, Canton, April 7, 1847. " Gentlemen,—l am directed by his Excellency her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c., to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this day's date, and to make the following reply : " On the 3d inst., on reaching Canton, his Excellenc) professing to from Mr. Consul Macgregor a p a p er to embody all the principal wishes and views of tie British residents, and these were therefore shortly in cluded in the list of demands made on the Chinese Government, and since assented to. It is plain that his Excellency at that time negotiated under circumstance s peculiarly calculated to obtain successful results, and he therefore much regrets that the subject of your present letter has been postponed until the negotiations are con cluded. "At the same time he must observe, that the objectsnow sought could never be urged as treaty insist on rights, since none of our conventions with Ch ina entitle us to on the stoppage of thoroughf ares a nd the obliteration of whole lines of houses. These, in every country, are " Canton, April 8, 1847. "Sir,—The undersigned British subjects hear with alarm that it is the intention of your Excellency to re mo►e immediately the whole of the military and naval forces from Canton. _ --- "We respectfully represent to your Excellency that, in our opinion, the recent proceedings cannot fail to have created such feelings in the Chinese population as to reader• the temporary presence of a portion of the troops absolutely essential to our safety, and we therefore ear nestly solicit your Excellency to afford us that protection which we cannot hope for from the Chinese authorities, avowedly unable to control the populace. " We have the honour to be, &c., (Signed by 76 persons.) " To his Excellency Sir John Francis Davis, Bart, &c." The following is the answer which was received to the foregoing address to his Excellency Sir John Francis " No. 16. " British Consulate, Canton, .April 8, 1847. "Gentlemen, -- I am directed by his Excellency her Majesty's Plenipotentia r y, i n rep l y to your l etter o f th i s day's date, to inform you that the very nsitural alarm which you therein express is formed on a mistake, as i 0 has been arranged that the light company of the lathe Royal Irish, under Captain Graves, shall not quit Can ton until relieved by the armed steamer; and that, in ad dition to this, her Majesty's sloop Espiagle is also anchored within reach. " Captain Bruce, the Assistant Adjutant-General, states that he informed the meeting of British merchants of the above arrangement before your letter was sent to his Excellency. Both that letter and the reply are, therefore, almost superfluous.—l have the honour to be, &c., " A. R. JOHNSTON." _ _ _ . . About midday all the guards were brought in, ex cepting two or three sentries, and their Excellencies the Governor and the Major-General, with the main body of the troops, embarked and retired from before the pro vincial city, leaving a small detachment , as abov e inti mated, and proceeded on their return to Hong-Kong. FRIDAY, THE 9 TH.-A placard, purportin g t o b e f rom Sir John Francis Davis, appeared on the walls of one of the streets near the factories, and a friend has furnished us with the following translation:— " No. 17. " I, the Envoy and Minister Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, make known for your full information, ye resi dents and shopkeepers, that in consequence of a breach of faith on the part of your Chinese officers, I have, with a naval and military force in large and small vessels, quickly entered the river and come up to the provincial city to inquire into the wretched principles and perverse reasonings of your Chinese officers, who knocking head have acknowledged their crime ; it is (therefore) 1 awful and right to remit their offences. " We regard you, ye people, as little children, and have a heart constantly to guard and protect you, and certainly have no reason to involve and injure you. If, however, there be any lawless vagabonds who, following the multitude, combine to throw stones, we nglishmen will be in the highest degree indignant. And it was for this cause that we demolished the two shops in Lwan hing-street, as a caution to others. Henceforth let each. one mind his own business, and you must not again create disturbance if ye would avoid inconvenience. I especially issue this general edict to inform you. Let each, as is becoming, tremblingly obey. (Articles of convention appended to the above.) " 1. It is settled that we enter the city after two years. " 2. On entering the city there shall be no disturb ance. " 3. There shall be a place for the anchoring of foreign boats. " 4. Four shops in Hog-lane shall be taken down. " 5. The custom-house, &c., in front of the factories shall be removed. " 6. The people of Fuhshan shall be arrested a n d punished. " 7. The cross streets on the east and west of the factories shall be removed. " 8. Forty mow (or Chinese acres) of land on Honan shall be ceded. " 9. A long bridge shall be thrown across the flower gardens." About three o'clock this afternoon the prefect, or some of his subalterns, came with a native guard to re occupy the Consoo-house. A row ensued ; stones were hurled at the magistrate, and the presence of Captain Graves and some of his men was required before order was restored. SATURDAY,THE lOTlL—Several new placards appeared this morning, one of them on the walls of Minqua's Hong, opposite the western gate of the garden, of which we have made the following version:— " No. 18. " FROM THE SCHOLARS AND MERCHANTS Or THE EN TIRE PROVINCE OF KWINGTUNG. "It is universally known that danger awaits those who are in high stations, and ruins those who are proud in spirit, as surely as the meridian sun must decline and the full moon wane. " Now, English barbarians, hitherto always . accus tomed to acts of violence and outrage, you have insulted the province of Canton. When formerly (a few years ago) your ships of war came to the provincial city, their !Excellencies, our high officers, extended to you their condescending regard; and as you had traversed the wide ocean from the regions of uncivilised barbarians which royal laws had never reached, they bestowed on you extraordinary favour, and though you were rebel lious they did not lay judgment to the line. Still you would not repent and reform; but, continuing to cherish the disposition of the wolf and the tiger, you have taken it upon yourselves to raise puny troops, and in wild dis order have carried to the utmost extreme your acts of cruelty and violence. In bold daring you wish forcibly , to occupy the whole of the river side, measuring off streets, disturbing and plundering the inhabitants, not knowing that our city is such a mart for all nations that marketable goods of every kind and to any amount can readily be disposed of, and that in like manner there can be obtained any cargo which may be wished. Thus the French, the Americans, the Dutch, and the people of Bombay and Bengal, have all peaceably and orderly carried on their business—just in their dealings, and po lite in their intercourse—the guest mild and the host agreeable. " At the present time imports were beginning to be in rood demand, when suddenly came this troublesome and injurious outbreak, putting an entire stop to all commer cial business, and depressing the whole market, causing damage to all nations. This is truly worthy of detesta tion. Last year Mr. Parker, an American, who had established an hospital, dispensed medicines, practised the healing art, and universally relieved the poor people, and whose virtue has been praised by all the scholars and people of Canada, wished to erect a hospital at the entrance of Old China-street; tut the people, consider ing that it was an important site, and fearing it might lead to some unforeseen difficulty, were unwilling to grant the request; now then (now grant it) to you Eng lish barbarians, who, while hitherto you have conferred no favours, have been solely bent on acts of violence and wrong, and by a hundred fiendish tricks have robbed the people of their possessions and wasted their valuable effects. " Do you suppose there are no men among the thou sands of officers and the hundreds of thousands of militia who have been collected and disciplined in connexion with all the colleges of our province? If our militia are once put in requisition, you will find yourselves mistaken if you imagine they are like those vagrants who stand gazing with their hands in th eir sleeves and flee at the first display of arms. " You English barba rians of your artillery ; and though you may - maytalk of the strength of efficiency your ships and of the have t h e means for making an attack, we too have the means of making destruction; more not eonsider that your provisions are in a ov er, you do precarious being s tate, the rations supplied by contribu tions, and tha t 300 or 400 mercenary sepoys, living at the rate of seven dollars each per month, together with the English barbarian troops, do not exceed 1,000 in number ; with soldiers so few and provisions so small, how can you long hold out ? " If, English barbarians, you will not awake from your delusions, but will still persist in your former evil courses, we, the entire province of Canton, will first cut off your trade and provisions, and at the same time withdraw all who are employed in your service, and leave you like an infant on the breast which, deprived of its milk, dies in the hands of its nurse. It bemuse You,