The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-09-25 00:00:00

THE WAR IN ASIA.

A letter from Kars of the 27th ult. says :—" We are invested
almost exclusively by about 7,000 or 8,000 Russian cavalry ;
the infantry is still in camp near Commasoun and Zaim.
Generals Vassif Pasha and Williams have issued an order of
the day, couched in concise and very clear terms, and an-
nouncing that every spy will be hung and every deserter shot.
The shooting is meant for the Bashi-Bazouks, who have shown
some inclination to pass over to the enemy. As to the spies
the measure was absolutely necessary, for the slightest move-
ment on our part was at once made known to the Russians.
On the 21st a spy was taken, tried and condemned by court-
martial, and hung the next day. On the 22nd, four others
were taken and served in the same manner, and had we to
hang all the Persians and Georgians who are here, and who
are suspected by us, we should do so without compassion. If
on one side we have to mistrust certain people, on the other
we are greatly encouraged by the admirable conduct of our
chiefs, Vassif Pasha, General Williams, Colonel Lake, and
other officers. They display zeal, activity, and energy beyond
all praise, and if they succeed in saving Kars there can be no
reward too great for them. We have news for some days
past of the reinforcements that are to join us from Constanti-
nople and from the Crimea. We are greatly pleased at it,
but it must not be lost sight of that these reinforcements
must come furnished with supplies. Kars does not want an
increase of garrison, and if reinforcements are necessary it is
not to defend us, but to assume the offensive, and enable us
to attack the enemy in our turn."

AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE CANADA.

BY the British and North American royal mail steam-ship
Canada, Commodore Judkins, which arrived on Sunday, we
have intelligence from Boston to the 12th, and from New York
to the 13th instant. She brought 106 passengers, and $511,518
in specie.

The Canada was detained in the Channel about ten hours
larough fog.
The Africa arrived at Boston on the 12th instant.
The Washington correspondent of the New York Herald
states that Mr. Buchanan, the United States Minister to Lon-
don, would not return home on the Ist October, certain com-
plications with reference to Central American affairs rendering
it necessary for him to prolong his term of service.
In the Navy Yard at Philadelphia, at present, there are em-
ployed over 1,100 men, which is the largest number known for
many years.
We have shocking news from Norfolk. In addition to the
yellow fever, which continued without abatement, the small-
pox had made its appearance, and on the Bth ten persons were
taken down with it. It is stated aLso that the fever is spread-
ing throughout the country adjoining Norfolk. The epidemic
in New Orleans is on the decline. Funds to the amount of
$86,000 had been received for the sufferers, and the children
left parentless were being removed to asylums. The noblest
heroism was being evinced by nurses, doctors, and clergymen,
many of whom had fallen victims to their humanity. In some
instances, however, robberies had been committed by persons
volunteering to nurse the afflicted.
A letter from Portsmouth, of the 7th, says :—" The fever is
still raging here with all the virulence and fatality of an
Eastern plague. Yesterday Dr. Kennedy went to the hospital.
Last night Dr. Walter, of Baltimore, sent for me. He has the
fever. You may say to his friends that he is doing well. This
day one week ago I breakfasted with nine physicians belonging
to our mess. We muster now but two. Some have left for
home, and others are in the agonies of death. Should I take
the fever do me the favour not to permit any member of your
family to come here. I will be well cared for. At present I
am in good health, and think I shall weather the storm." At
The Portsmouth Transcript, of the Bth, has the following :
" Few men are left. Every house is shut up. There is a crying
in the streets. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is
gone. In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smit-
ten with destruction. Such is not an inapt description
of Norfolk and Portsmouth. Since the last issue of this
paper on Friday, the 31st ult., the doings of death have
been ceaseless. Eight, yea ! nine of the physicians, who nobly
came from abroad and entered the very jaws of death, have
had the fever, and seven of them are now at the naval hospital.
The fever continues as bad as ever. Indeed, the number of
deaths during the last week has exceeded that of any previous
week. More physicians have been written for to supply the
place of those sick, and to divide the labour, which is and has
been too arduous for the few engaged in the charitable work."
To give an idea of the extraordinary expenses now being in-
curred by the remaining citizens of Norfolk, a correspondent
mentions that a gentleman was compelled to pay $l5O for a
metallic coffin for his deceased daughter. A common spectacle
in the streets was a cart laden with coffins, which are deposited
at some convenient street corner, and removed thence by the
undertakers as occasion demands. Three or four of these
coffins often stand togetner. The dead a. e iamiediately taken
out of the houses and placed upon the sidewalks ; a strip of
parchment inscribed with the name, age, and date of decease
of the victim, being nailed upon the lid of each coffin. A
duplicate of this parchment record is preserved. The bodies
of the dead are conveyed away by carts which traverse the
streets at stated intervals. There are three places of burial.
The houses of the citizens who have fled, are, it is believed,
pretty generally respected. Few cases of theft and burglaries
are reported. Individual cases are recorded, in which the
circumstances of the victims were peculiarly harrowing. In
one instance, two young ladies died in the same house, within
a short time of each other. Both were thrust into one coffin
and buried. One family, consisting of a father, mother,
children, and servant, all died ; the servant (a negro) clinging
to her mistress to the last. This fidelity of the negroes is not
the least noticeable feature. It is difficult—nearly impos-
sible—to separate servants and mistresses. Forbidden to
enter the sick chamber, the blacks will creep into concealed
places, hide beneath the beds, crouch in corners, employ
every artifice, to remain in attendance upon the mistress.
Left to themselves, the negroes are abject, refuse to take
remedies, and die rapidly. Their last wish often is that they
may be buried near their mistresses. A considerable amount
of valuable property is frequently left in the hands of the
physicians. This is always confided to the care of the Sani-
tary Committee."
CALIFORNIA.—The Empire City and Northern Light had
arrived at New York with a total amount of $1,983,961. The
Panama Railway was in excellent condition. The mining
reports were satisfactory.
A terrible massacre of some of the inhabitants of Ranche-
ria, Amador county, had been perpetrated by a party of
Mexicans and Chilenos. Five persons were murdered. Three
Mexicans, who gave their names respectively as. Petervine,
Trancoline, and Jose, were found guilty of murder in the above
case, and after half an hour's time being allowed to prepare
themselves, were hanged on one tree. While the trial was
being conducted, the outraged community turned out en masse
and burned every Spanish house in the place. After the three
were hanged, the citizens of Rancheria passed a resolution
that no Mexican should hereafter reside at the above place.
Several other Mexicans were "lynched " in other counties.
In one instance the condemned said he was in the power of
the Americans, and knew he had to die, and wished to have
his face washed and his hair combed, which was granted. He
then said he would like to have a priest to confess himself;
gthivisenbteoinhgimr.efuTsedhe hcerowcadllebdecfoomr aingb r a
impatient,n brandy-punch, y un c 1
calledi,
hanging, which was immediately done, The Mexican was
ffwe rs ee dd
" run up" and held there for a short time, then lowered, when
In for his
leagatihmeerhoepesul
from
mat
I,disiffinecucklt.y wliaswaesnficonuannt;
excruciating pain, rolling his eyes about, throwing his head
and body about at random, and making a loud gurgling noise
encountered
cut liono sgee;tnt
with his throat. When the rope was taken from his neck he
revived and asked for brandy and water, and said he would
like to talk, but it was of no use, as the people would not be-
lieve anything he said, and he wished they would kill him
outright, or bring some of his friends. He then proceeded to
make a statement, denying his guilt. The crowd, who could
not hear half that was said, again became impatient, and
cried out, "run him up," which was immediately done. It
was very doubtful whether he was really guilty. Collisions
had occurred between the Mexicans and Americans, in one of
which a sheriff was killed and several Mexicans. The British
fleet had sailed for Valparaiso and the China Seas. Before they
left, a meeting of the members of the Pacific Club was called
for the purpose of taking a vote on the question whether they
would or would not give the officers of the Allied fleet a ball.
The debate was a stormy one, and the meeting finally broke
up in a very excited state at two o'clock in the morning, and
the ball was not given. A public ball was, however, got up,
but the French Admiral declined to attend.
Her Majesty's screw-steamer Brisk had arrived at San
Francisco from Vancouver's Island. It will be remembered
that after the evacuation of Petropaulowski, in April last,
the Brisk and several others of the Allied fleet were ordered
to cruise in that vicinity and in the neighbourhood of the
Aleutian Islands, to watch the movements of the enemy, and
to pick up every Russian vessel that might chance to be
cruising in those waters. The Brisk visited Petropaulowski,
and found there a Russian merchant vessel which had been
abandoned by the crew. The vessel was fired and destroyed.
On several occasions the Brisk was close to the Russian
settlements on the Aleutian Islands, but was unable to effect
a landing in consequence of the thick fogs which prevail at
this season in that vicinity.
The Aspinwall Courier, speaking of the New Grenada
Canal, says :—" Mr. D. H. Gillett, the superintendent of the
work recently commenced for the re-opening and rebuilding
the New Grenada Canal, from the Bay of Carthagena
to Calamar, is progressing admirably. Mr. G. found the
grass so overgrown and matted across the canal, _ for miles

upon miles, that the natives were in the habit of crossing
the river upon it—in some instances over a depth of thirty
feet of water. For a considerable number of miles Mr. G. has

cleared this grass out entirely. The diplomatic preliminaries
of the company have been fully completed, and they are now
in unrestricted possession of the work and the trade it yields,
or can be made to yield, during the time of their contract."
Advices from San Juan state that Colonel Kinney had com-
pleted the purchase, for $500,000, of Messrs. Shepherd and
Haley's rights in the lands granted them by the Mosquito
Government in 1839, so that he possessed this fertile tract, as
reported, in addition to his 1,700,000 acres in Chontales.
Advices from Nicaragua state that, on the 28th ult.,
Colonel Walker landed at San Juan del Sud, with a small
party, whereupon the natives, with the exception of the cap-
tain of the port and a few others, immediately evacuated the
place, taking their mules with them. They were, however,
induced to return, and assist the 'California passengers in
their transit across the Isthmus. A bloody battle was fought
on the 19th, between the Castillon party, under Munos and
Alvarez, and a body of Charmorro's adherents, under Guar-
diola. As regards numberf.3the armies were 'nearly equally
matched, the former comprising 900 and the latter .800 men.
The battle lasted seven hours, and about 500 were killed on
both sides. Gnardiola was badly beaten, and `fled, to the
inountaiwo, Munos was reported :among the slain.

Colonel Walker was menaced by a strong force of the Char-
morro party, posted at Rivas, only fifteen miles from San
Juan. His position was liable to attack as soon as the know-
ledge of his landing reached Boska, the commander at Rivas.
Colonel Kinney's affairs appeared to be in a highly prosperous
condition. He was very popular at Greytown, and his com-
missioner to the supreme government had received marked
attentions from the President.

The advices from Havana are to the Ist September. The
first steamer of the new line from Liverpool arrived on the
28th.

A letter from Havana, in a New York paper, says :—" The
old Cunard steamer Europa has been purchased by a Spanish
company to form one of a line which is to run between Mar-
seilles, Genoa, and other ports in the Mediteranean and this
port, and hence to New York. As some especial privileges
(such as the remission of tonnage dues) will probably be ex-
tended to this line, it will prove a formidable competitor to
the steamships now running between New York and this
port."