The Express.
London, England, 1857-09-09 00:00:00

MOLDAVIA.

M. Basil Gbika, the Minister of the Interior of
Moldavia, and seven prefects, have been dismiss-3
for abuses of administration.

THE LATE PROCEEDINGS IN CANTON

RIVER.

The following is an extract from a private letter
of Commodore Kcppel in the Times of this day,
giving a description of the action of the let of
Jane in Canton river:

The first division of the Chinese fleet were simultaneously
attacked by about 1,900 men, spread over a large surface,
and soon gave way; bat I did not take up more than a quar-
ter of that number to attack their second dis Won, which was
three miles higher up the river, in a well-selected place, and
evidently the ;414 of their fleet. They numbered exactly 20
in one compact row; they mounted from 19 to 14 guns each,
two of them in stern and bow being heavy 32-pounders. 1
saw that I had all the Iteleigh's boats well up, and deter-
mined to push en. They tired occasional shots, as if to as-
certain our exact distance, but did not open their heaviest fire
until we were within 600 yards, and then I soon saw how im-
possible it would be to fora our way until I bad reinforce-
ments. Nearly the first poor fellow whose head was knocked
of was an amateur—Major Kearney. I had known him
many geom. We cheered, and I tried to get on, when
a shot struck my boat right amidships, cut one
man in two, and took of the arm of another.
Prince Victor, who was with me, jumped forward to bind
the man's situ up with his neekcloth. While he was doing
so, another round shot paned through both sides of the
beat, wounding two others of the crew. The boat was
filling with water, and I got on one of the seats to
keep my logs out of the water, end just as I stepped up
a third round shot went through both sides of the boat,
not mom than one inch below the seat on which I was
mending. Many of our boate had now got huddled to-
gether, the oars of moat being shot away. A best of the
Calcutta being nearest, we got in, pulling our wounded
men with us. My dog "Mike" refusing to leave the
dead body of the man who had been his favourite, we
were obliged to leave bim. I then gave the order to
retire on the Hong Kong, and re-form abreast of bee.
While we were going down a shot cut away all the
oars on one Bide. I called to Lieutenant Graham to get his
boat ready, as I would hoist my broad pendant and lead the
neat attack in his boat. I had no sooner spoken than a
shot disabled his best, wounding him and killing and
wounding four others. I saw Graham one roam of blood,
but it was from a merino who stood neat to him, and part
of whose skull was forced three Melia into another man's

shoulder. When I reached the Hong Kong the whole of the
enemy's fire appeared to be centered upon her. Sher wee
hutted twelve times in a few minutes; her deck was covered
with the wounded who bad been brought on board from the
Wats. I was looking at them when a round shot cut down
• marine, and be fell among them. From the paddle-box I
raw that our heavy firing was now bringing up a aping
teinforcement. The account of my having been obliged to
' retire had reached them, sod they were pulling up like med.
The Hong Kong had floated end greunded again. I ordered a
bit of blue bunting to be got reedy to represent my broad
pendant; I celled out, "Let us try the row-boats once
more, boys," and went over the side into our cutter (the
Raleigh's), in which was Tumour, the faithful Spurrier
be login the bit of blue flag. At this moment there arose from
the boats, as if every man took it up at the same instant,
one of thoee British cheers so full of meaning that I knew at
once that it was all up with John Chineman. They might
sink 20 boats, but there were 30 others who would go
ahead all the faster. On we went,. It was indeed a lovely
and exciting eight. I saw the move among the junks.
They were breaking ground and moving off, the outermost
first. This monouvre they performed In beautiful order.
They never ceased to tire. Three more cheers, and then
commenced an exciting chaos for levee miles. As our
slot told on them they ran on shore, and their
crews forsook them. Seventeen were come up with end
captured this way ; three only escaped. It wee in this last
chase that my poor Spurrier was shot &nu by my aide.
I taw his bowels protrude as he lay in the bottom of the
boat holding my hand. He asked me if I thought there
was any hope. I could only say, " Where there's ilk there
ie hope;" but I had none. &mega to say, the good Craw-
ford sewed him up, and the admiral's lust letter from Hong-
Kong states that Spurrier hoped to return to his duty in a
few dam What • long yarn I have spun you; but as I
began the little of eir came fresh to my memory, and I hare
filled no end of paper all about welt My own prospects for
the future I cannot gum at, but going on with Pelf, I may
be allowed to say to you, whom it is so sure to gratify, that
the admiral speaks highly of my tervices in the late boat
affair. Whether he overrates them or not L not my bust-
nem, but I do think that they ought to insure my continued
employment out here, eves should I be on the flag list.
There is a fleet out and coming sufficiently large for two
admirals. I see the French have rewarded my services in
the Crimea higher than our own government has done.

A painful incident marked the reception of the
Emperor of Austria on the borders of the district of Ku-
chau. While the burgomaster of that place was haranguing
his blaissty, Lieutenant-Colonel Count &trusty, an oftker

of great merit, who was dose to his Majesty, wee suddenly
struck with apoplexy, and dropped down dead from his
horse. The Emperor wee much effected by the event, and
immediately sent, pen of his aides-de-camp to Deeenyo to
announoe the melancholy intelligence to the family of the
deceased.

--- -
NAVIGATION OF rnz BLACK SEA.—The Directing
Senate of Russia published, on the 2nd of July, a decision,
of which the following is a translation A wovertiga re-
solution authorised, in 1819, foreign vessels gauging ten 1u
at most to carry on a coasting trade between the ports of du
eutern count in the Black Sea from Amapa ea far u Fort
St. Nicholas. Thin revolution became inoperative by Um
19th of Mar*, 1863. His Majesty the Emperor has now
ordained that foreign vessels of the tonnage above mentioned
shall be admitted, as before, to carry on a coasting trade be•
twoen the ports of the Black Sea from Amapa to Fort Bt.
Nicholas, but that this authorisation shall be limited to the
navigation of tho years 1861 and 1868."