The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-20 00:00:00

UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON THE CITY OF

SHANGHAI.
(Prong the North China Herald, Jan. 6.)
The renewal of An assault on the city of Shanghai
has been daily expected since Saturday last, when a
few shots were fired into it by the French, where-
by it was reported that about twenty insurgents
were killed. This morning, at about half-past six,
a cannonade was commenced from the French
battery in front of the French consulate, and
within an hour a uracticable breach was made in
the north city wall, below the Joss-house that was
destroyed by the bombardment o❑ the 9th ultimo.
At this place we hear that 1,500 Imperialists and 250
French marines and sailors ascended the breach and
scaled the walls, when a furious contest ensued—
the French frigate, La Jeanne d'Arc, and steamer,
Colbert, also firing into the city to protect the attacking
column. The insurgents maintained their ground with
great determination, and hurled the imperialists from
the walls as fast as they ascended for some time. The
French behaved with great coolness and bravery, but
Lieut. Durun was killed and Ensign Discry wounded,
on the first attack. The combat was maintained with
great spirit from half-past 7 till about 11 a.m., when the
insurgents drove the imperialists back with much
slaughter ; and the French, finding their Chinese allies
worse than useless, were compelled to retire within their
lines. A few shots were fired subsequently from the
French ships-of-war, but about noon it seemed that the
contest was concluded for the day, and the insurgents
were left masters of the city. We are informed that the
French have had 2 officers killed, 4 wounded, and 13
privates killed and 33 wounded. The officers killed are
Lieutenant Durun and Ensign Pitit ; and wounded,
Ensigns Discry, Guys, Barbarain, and Forres tiere.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

Rear-Admiral Berkeley, the senior naval Lord of the
Admiralty, accompanied by Mr. Burnley, Accountant-
General of the Navy, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday,
and went out to the fleet in the Vivid yacht, to make
arrangements for " paying down" the ships before start-
ing. The fleet was joined yesterday by the Blenheim,
60, Captain W. H. Hall ; the Olin, 16, Captain Willcox;
and the Basilisk, 6, Commander Jenner. The Edin-
burgh, 58, Captain Hewlett, commenced to swing for
the readjustment of her compasses, prior to joining yes-
terday. No day is yet fixed for the sailing of the main
body of the fleet ; upwards of 16,000 men in it are now
daily victualled at Portsnsouth aloiae, and at the Royal
Clarence-yard they are slaughtering as many as 210 bul-
locks per week ; they are also loading vessels for Malta,
Constantinople, and Balaklava daily. A number of the
new class of medical officers, styled "dressers," will
forthwith embark in the "flying squadron," which was
to leave (according to orders) at daylight this morn-
kg for the Downs.

The Amphion, screw steam-frigate, completed her
defects on Saturday evening, and her present orders are
to leave Sheerness on Thursday.
The Geyser, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Commander
R. Dew, arrived at Sheerness on Sunday 'from Hull.
She is to take as much spare ammunition, live shell, &c.,
as she can stow, and proceed to the owns to await
Admiralty orders.

APPOINTMENTS.
Commanders—G. John3ton, -to be agent for transports
F. T. Brown, to the Conflict.

Lieutenants—J. W. Newport, to the Archer ; H. G.
Payne, to the Hecate ; Thomas Borritt, to the Hawke ;
C. Stirling, to the Arrogant; J. H. Coxon, to the
Archer ; Hon. H. A. Morton, to the Cressy ; NV. L.
Wilson, to the Rosamond ; G. T. Gordon, to the Royal
George.
Second Master—W. F. Low, to the Lightning.
Masters-Assistant—J. Pender to the James Watt.
The screw steam squadron are ordered to proceed to
Kiel with all possible despatch, cruising as far up as the
ice will safely a hnit of to prevent any Russian or neutral
vessels breaking the blockade from or to ports in the
Baltic.

There are now at Sheerness, ready for immediate ser-
vice, the Pylades, Amphion, Cossack, Desperate,
Driver, Porcupine, Cuckoo, Janus, Lizard, Fearless,
and Myrtle, all screw and paddle-wheel steam-vessels ;
also the Russell and Horatio, the former in the fitting
basin, the latter in dry dock, fitting for the monster sea
service mortar guns.