The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-10 00:00:00

k; • if N
: .'''' ''''''.
EVENING EDI 4 ' ,- . '
-':-.-1* Of
awe, me- ' •. te4.4"se
ture of the bowl for the a 'rnissitin'of the'op e i •_, 7 r,;,than a pin's head. The drug is prepared •,ee'esio ele.l,;id , ,tee efess 4,
conserve,and a very small portion is. suffici 'el k ..isgterie.
one or two whiffs being the utmost that can b i
eFttric
elleilesilloroisa
single pipe; and the smoke is taken into the , es'
the hookah in India. On a beginner one or t. 44). PO ,ss4 tk ".4):
have an effect, but an old stager will continue smoknag for
hours. At the head of each couch is placed a small lamp, as
fire must be hold to the drug during the process of inhaling T
and from the difficulty of filling and properly lighting the pipe,
there is generally a person whowaiti upon elle smoker, tceper-
form the office. A few days of this fearful luxury, when taken
to excess, will give a pallid and haggard look to the face ;;and a
few months, or even weeks, will change the strong and healthy
man into little better than an idiot skeleton. The pain they
suffer when deprived of the drug, after long habit, no language
can explain ; and it is only when to a certain degree under its
influence, that their faculties are alive. In the house's devoted
to their ruin, these infatuated people may be seen at nine
o'clock in the evening in all the different stages. Some enter-
ing half distracted, to feed the craving appetite they had been
obliged to subdue during the day; others laughing and talking
wildly, under the effects of a feast pipe ; while the couches
round are filled willa their different occupants, who lie languid,
with an idiot smile on their countenance, too much under the
influence of the drug to care for passing events, and fast verg-
ing towards the wished-for consummation. The last scene in
this tragic play is generally a room in the rear of the building,
a si ecies of dead-house, where lie sretched those who have
passed into that state of bliss the opium-eater madly. seeks—an
emblem of the long sleep to Ojai he is madly hurryirig."•
The above spirited sketch Will xetrund the
reader of similar scenes described m " Anas-
tasius," and the " Autobiography of an English
Opium-eater," and also of Dr. Madden's account
of the opium-smokers at Constantinople. Of
Singapore, where Lord Jocelyn made a short
halt, he tells us, that though the town has not
existed above twenty years, yet already the trade
i.... nearly equal to that of Bombay; and that a
chief feature, which shows its late origin from
the wilds, is the number of tigers that still roam
about the purlieus of the town, entering even
the gardens and compounds of the inhabitants,
as if loth to leave then' ancient domains. Not
far from Singapore there exists, it seems, ; a
curious tribe, named Bennas, who infest the
jungles, and are supposed to be the aborigines of
the country. They seldom come dawn into the
more civilised parts of the continent, unless
caught and forcibly detained. Their stature as
rarely above four feet four ; and when the chil-
dren reach the age of manhood, they destroy
their parents to make way for their own gener4-
tion ; and the skulls of their deceased parents
are the only tokens that they keep to remind
them of the authors of their being, and their
unnatural fate. We close our hasty notice with
an account of the capture of Chusan, shortly
' after which event Lord Jocelyn quitted the ex-
pedition, and returned home :---
During the:whole of that night the shore presented a most
beautiful spectacle, the hils around and suburbs appearing a
moving mass of variegated light. In China no individual ever
moves out at night without these painted lanterns, carrying
them in their hands, or on short bamboos. By their help we
could perceive that crowds were busy throwing up some+ more
of their wretched embankments, and placing gingails and fresh
guns in position. The merchant-junks were faintly seen,
through the shades of darkness, heaving up their heavy anchors,
and stealing silently through the fleet, laden half-way up -their
masts with goods and merchandise, and crowded with womb
and children : these were allowed to pass without molests.
Lion, although in their cargoes many a captain might have
made his fortune. None can deny that every leniency was
shown, and every endeavour made, compatible with his posi-
tion, by the Commodore commanding, to save an effusion of
the b'ood of these infatuated people. In the first place, as they
most justly observed, it seemed hard that they should be made
to sufferfor the sins of the Canton Government, and we had no
injuries to revenge personally upon them ; in the second place,
our force was numerically so muck superior, that they would
lose nothing in their own eyes by being defeated, when victory
on their part was impossible ; thirdly, more was likely to .be
gained at a spot which it was then hoped might prove at a fu-
ture day an eligible seat for our commerce, by conciliation, and
gentle endeavours, leaving no rankling reminiscences en the
minds of the people. if a blow became necessary, it mould
have far more effect, if struck at some point where the Chi-
nese considered themselves most invulnerable, and where, there-
fore, it vvou'd become more awakening to their vanity and self-
oi inion. However, it happened otherwise ; and the morning
of the sth of July, 1840. was the day fated for her Majesty's
flag to wave over the most beautiful island apepertain:ng to the
Celestial Empire, the first European banner that has floated re
conqueror over the " Flowery Land." The dawn of day
brought much the same spectacle as the preceding, excepting
that a few guns were mounted en the Jos-heuse hill, and the
mandarins were seen actively employed running about along
the wharfs. Soon afiereards they were remarked to take
their different stends with the troops, one among them with
his party in the marte.lo tower being particularly conspi-
cuous. The war-junks were drawn up and crowded with Men.
The British men-of-war were lying in line, with their larboard
broad-sides towards the town, at the distance of two hundred
Wellesley,
from the wharf and foot of the hill. They consisted of the
Wellesley, 74 ; Conway and Alligator, 28 ; Cruiser and Al-
gerine, 18; and ten gun-brigs. At eight o'clock the deal
was hoisted to prepare for action; still, however, time was given
by the Commodore, hoping to the last they wculd repent, and
it was not until two o'clock that the troops left the transports
in the boats of the squadron. and took up their position in two
lines in rear of the men-of-war, to land under cover of the
fire. At half-past two the Wellesley fired a gun at thc mar-
tello tower : this was immediately returned by the .whole line
of junks, and the guns on the causeway and the hill ; then
the shipping opened their broalsidee uNn the town, and 'ho
crashing of timber, falling houses, and groans of men, re-
sounded from the shote. The firing lasted on our side for
nine minutes, but even alter it had ceased a few shots were
still heard from the mews:lied junks. When the smoke cleared
away a mass of ruin presented itself to the eye, and on tha
place lately alive with nun, none but a few wounded wase to
be seen; but crowds were vi-ible in the distance, flying in all
directions. A few were distinguished carrying the wounded
from the junks into the town, and cur friend the Chumpin
was seen borne from his vessel by a faithful few, having lost
his leg in the action by a round shot. It is as well here to
mention that he was taken to Ningpo, a teen en the opposie
isl end, and although honours were heaped upon him for his
gallant, but unavasling defence, he survived but a few days bo
wear them. Before the last shot was fired tha General and
his staff left the Welles!ey, the boats with the troops following
in their wake, cheering the men.of-war as, they passed
through, the sailors returning the hurrahs through the }orb.
We landed on a deserted beach; a few dead bodies, bows amtisl
arrows, broken spears and guns, remaining the sole occupants
of the field. The men arriving from the boats fbrmed along
the causeway in line, and the 18th advanced up the steps lead•
ing to the temple on the hilt On reaching the summit we
distinguished the inner town, which had not been visible from
the shipping : it was situated in a hollow in rear of the mount,
and the bird's-eye view was very picturesque. On the walla-
were seen the banners of the Chinese soldiery, whilst the mete
crowded along the ramparts, heating their tomtoms and gongs,
beckoning us with their hands to the attack as the troops be-
came visible to them on the hill. They opened their wretched
wall-pieces, which, from their constructicn, can neither tra-
verse nor be depressed, and which, being cherged with a bad
description of powder, did no damage to the force.
In the course of two bouts from the time ofleaving the ships,
the Madras artillery had four gun+ in position, and fired a few
shells into the town; the advanced pecquets were posted, and
the Chinese fired upon the reconnoitring parties kern the walls
wherever they became visible. The evening began to close in,
and the commanding officers were desired to seek covering for
the men, as Brig. -Gen. Burrell had determined not to attack
the town before the following morning.. Until ten o'clock that
night the Chinese kept up a dropping fire, under cover at
which they afterwards appeared to have deserted the town.
During the evening the civil magistrate and some of hie officers
were killed by our shells, and the Governor drowned himself
in a tank when accused of cowardice by his people. On the
following morning the desertion of the place became visible
from the heights ; and through the long vistas of the valleys
thousand: were seen flying. carrying their goods and chattels
along with them. The bridge across the outer-ditch having
been demolished the previous evening, the troopit were brought
to a momentary halt ; the great gate of the town, too, was
found to be barricadoed, and the wall which surrounded the
c;ty to be of great strength. It was, however, soon scaled,
and in a few minutes the banner of England was floating over
the Chinese city of Tinghai ; the ramparts were found strewed
with pikes, matchlocks, and a species of fire-rocket, arrow-
headed ; and on the parapets, Fackbets of quick-lime were
packed up, to blind the eyes of the barbarians, had they endea-
voured to meunt the walls.

-
SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
DUNCHURCH STEEPLE CHASE.—YusTutnAs.
Sweepstakes of 25 sovs. each, and 100 added, 12 each—four
miles. 7 subs. •
Mr. Anderson's gr. g. Cigar A. Al•Donogh).„ 1
Mr. Tibury's Goblin 2
Mr. Elmore's The Weaver
Mr. A. M'Donogh's Prince.
Mr. Higgins's Boy Blue .. . . .................................................. .............. Pl°
Match for ICOi
nogh) beat Mr.:Aladdock's Creole (Air. Almon)
rg)tar aAnidr.BoilyoßbelurtesocnarsriLe.,el;clb4.
(fr.

_ .
P A RLIAMENTAR Y - BUSINESS.
rzOTICF,S GIVEN AT THE riavArn BILL OFFICA
Moxnav, MARCO 8.
"—presented
Chard Canai—Seconcl Reading,
TuaaLs*, MARCH 9.
Friday, March 12.
d, Thursday, March 11.
I. Exeter Small Debts—Committee an Petition, postponed front
:::_refTenpoert, Thursday. March 11.
for enabling
Tuesday, March 16, till Monday, April 426.
furtherng a Ras
nil 0 f tn 0 •
2. Portishead Picr—Com. on Petition, adjourned till Marcia 12.
Railway Bill—l_fore, maaki
3.4.
sCooulltehleis:lnnlcnioscl
RAILWAYS, &c.
and
(ulginlyu,g,t)vYith a Branch. therefrom
,—presented and read a first time, to“be read a seconda-tiildfdrom
amend the several Acts
tfiaSritfeatrffotiirtdo
to be read a second time.
Manchester:t and Leeds Railway 11 . Man.
cheater and Leeds Railway Company to raise th..
Northern and Eastern Railway Bill—
and Eastern Railway Company to make cto Citable the
re-
latinglineof
to
obetihr
ellsaaii
dlway , aiiil Northern
t o alter certain Deviations in the
be read a second time. Railway"—presented and read a first time,
Northern and Eastern Railway (Hertford and Ware
—" to enable the Northern Company ranch) Bill
Branch Line of Railway, and Eastern
y, and toto make a
relating to the said railwa alter and amend the several Acts
be read a second time. Y"—presented and read a first time, to

Glasgow and Dundyvan Junction Railway—Petitipn for Bill re.
ported, and Bill ordered to be brought in by xi% Lockhart.
Mr. Oswald, and Mr. Dennistoun. , ,

THE WEATHER.'),
ROYAL GALLERY 01 bCIt:NCE► ADELAIDE-

STREET.
NOON, MARCH 10.
Barometer .......................... 30 53 In.
Thermometer ......... . ........... 60 Deg.
Highest .................... •••• . 62•5
Lowest ......................... 36'5
Wind W.—Freezing Point 32 Deg.

t a Mr. Wray, the Receiver.
d theer 18A
ict r 0 1-1)-1----ro lit an Police Force, has entered
iGnteoWna:caolunontfract with Messrs. Baker and Son for building
a police court and station-house upon a piece of ground
iu Bagnigge Well-road, belonging to the New River
Company. The buildings will be erected at opposite ends
cit the ground, with a gateway between them for the prison
van to drive into the area behind. The pri;oncrs, by this
arrangement, will he brought into the police court without
being seen by the public. The court is intended as I sub-
aftute for Hatton-garden Police Court.