The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-29 00:00:00

LATEST NE WS.

BOMBARDMENT OF CANTON.
TRIESTE, DEC. 27.

The steamer America arrived hero today at 10
p.m., in 147 hours from Alexandria, which port
she left on the 20th of December.

The India mails had arrived there, with ad-
vices from Bombay to the 3d of December ; Cal-
cutta, the 22d of November ; Madras, the 27th
of November ; Ceylon, the 29th of November :
Hong Kong, the 15th of November ; Melbourne,
the 20th of October mad Sydney, the 15th of
October.

At 11 a.m. (on the 20th) neither the Ripon
nor the Valetta was in sight.
A serious collision had taken place at Canton
between the British authorities and Yeh, the Chi-
nese Governor General.

A lorcha under the British flag at anchor off
Canton was boarded on the Bth of October by a

Chinese force, and 12 of the crew seized. Consul
Parkes proceeded on board, and was insulted and
threatened with violence. The remonstrances
made to Yoh were treated with contempt.
On the 21st of October the matter was placed
in the bands of Admiral Seymour.

Hostile measures commenced on the 24th of
October. The forts of Canton were taken, and
several of them destroyed.

Yeh persisted in rejecting Admiral Seymour's
demands for satisfaction, or even an interview.
On the 27th of October fire was opened on the
city walls and on the Governor's palace.
The city walls were breached and stormed on
the 29th of October. The troops penetrated to
the Palace, but were withdrawn in the evening.

The loss was three killed. and 12 wou❑ded.

Attempts at negotiation continued fruitless,
and on the 3d and 4th of Nuvember the old city
was bombarded.

On the 6th of November 23 war junks were
attacked by the Barracouta and all destroyed.
Time was again granted to the Chinese, but no
signs were given of submission.

According to the last accounts the Bogue forts
had been captured. The factories had been

almost totally vacated by the foreign community.
Property to a large amount had been destroyed

by fire.
Caninierce was at a standstill.

INDIA.

No intelligence had been received at Bombay

of the Persian expedition.
A force of 5,000 men was marching from the

Kohat frontier towards Kabul.

The Timm) army for the Persian Gulf, con-
sisting of 8,000 men, has marched for Cabool.
Severe cowl tgrations had taken place at Ran-
goon, Kurrachee, and Bombay.
The Guicowar of Baroda died on the 19th of
October.

Disturbances had broken out in Kimedy.
Exchange at Bombay, 2s. 2 d. ; at Calcutta,

2s. lid.

Freights had advanced.
Exchange at Madras, 2s. 2ad.
At Hong Kong exchange was 4s. 7-1(1. to 4s.
Bd.; at Shanghai, 7s. scl.

HONG KONG, NOT. 16.

Exports of tea, 29,500,0001 b. ; ditto of silk,
43,800 bales. Exchange, 4s. Bd. at Canton, and
7s. sd. at Shanghai.

Silk settlements at Shanghai 53,000 bales;
prices have advanced 40 dols., yet no great sup-

plies attracted.

THE BESSARABIAN FRONTIER.
VIENNA, SUNDAY.

Count Kisseleff, the Russian Minister at Paris,
yesterday agreed to the Bessarabian frontier line
proposed by the allies.

PRUSSIA AND SWITZERLAND•
VIENNA, SUNDAY EVENING, DEC. 28.

The Austrian (Ministerial) Correspondent says
that the Austrian Minister at Berne did not give
his support to the representatives of England and
of the United States, because Austria cannot

enter into any moral engagements calculated to

influence another Power to renounce its legs:

rights.

The following telegraphic despatches were re-
ceived in Paris last night

BERNE, DEC. 27.

The Federal Assembly held its first sitting to-
day. It formed itself into a National Council.
The President made a warlike speech. The Fede-
ral Council requested permission to negotiate a
pacific settlement of the dispute on the bases
hitherto observed, asked for the approval of the
measures of defence already in course of execution,
leave to exert all necessary efforts to complete the
defence of the territory, unlimited credits, and
the permission to contract a loan of 30,000,000 f.

STUTTGARDT (WURTEMBERG), DEC. 27.
Ten members of a committee formed by the
Chambers of the States have presented an address
to the Government, tending to refuse the concen:
tration or the passage of the Prussian army
through the Southern States of Germany.

Horses are being purchased at Ulm for the

Swiss officers.

PERSIA.

CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 18.
Despatches, 'dated the 17th November, have
been received from Teheran.

A decree by the Shah of Persia invests the
Grand Vizier with unlimited powers for life.
The same decree adds that serious events aro
imminent, and calls upon the people to show
themselves energetic, and to defend their honour
to the last.

All the chiefs of tribes by whom the environs
of Herat are occupied have made their submission.
The Persian columns despatched in pursuit of
Dost Mahommed were advancing on Candahar.

The Ottoman Government has contracted a loan
for 35,000,000 of piastres.

BERLIN, SUNDAY.

The French Government has made a new
proposition, which is said to be supported by the
other Powers. It is that the prisoners, now in
the hands of the Swiss authorities, should be
liberated, but banished the Helvetic territory by
a declaratory measure of police. If Switzerland
assents to this, an understanding, says the
despatch, is still possible.
The Berlin Correspondenz contradicts the state-

ment that the order of march to the Prussian army
is postponed to the 15th Feb. The march will
immediately follow the order for mobilisation,
which is by no means adjourned.

The Paris correspondent of the Time 3 (second
edition), in his letter dated yesterday (Sunday),
G p.m., says
" I mentioned some weeks since that, with a
view to effect an arrangement of the Russian
question to the satisfaction of all the powers who
were represented at the Paris Conferences, it had
been proposed by the French Government that
Russia should abandon her claim to the Bolgrad
situate on the lake Yalpuk, and which communicates
with the Danube, on condition of the cession of a cer-
tain portion of territory in Bessarabia, where she
might establish the centre of her Bulgarian popu-
lation ; and that this proposition was rejected by
the English Government. It is now said that,
after a good deal of negotiation, the principle'
has been accepted, not, however, as compensation
for Bolgrad, the Russian claim to which was in-
variably declared to be unfounded, but in return
for the Isle of Serpents. By this arrange-
ment Russia will be debarred from all contact
with the Danube, and the question of the ..,_
navigation of that stream satisfactorily settled.
" It is further stated that a draft of the proto-
col as agreed to by the Powers has been forwarded
to St. Petersburg, and that the Conferences will
open as soon as the answer of the Russian Govern-
ment is received. It is not anticipated, however,
that any difficulty will be raised, as Russia is
already aware of the manner in which it is pro-
posed to settle this question."

A person in Vienna, who is generally well
informed of what is passing behind the scetoo,
gives the following account of the arrangements
that have just been made at Paris. First, both
the Bo!grads are to be ceded to Moldavia ; second,
the Delta of the Danube and the Isle of Serpents are
to be ceded to Turkey, and Russia is to retain pos-
session of the piece of land between the Yalpuk
and its tributary as a compensation for Old Bol'
grad (Tabak). The area of the abovementioned
territory is said to be about 180 square miles,
with a population of between 8,000 and 10,000
souls. In order to make the foregoing informs'
tion complete, it must be added that the Russian
Ministers at Paris do not object to the terms pro-
posed.

FRANCE.
PARIS, SUNDAY.
The Plenipotentiaries will meet, preliminarillf
to-morrow, Monday, at the Ministry of Foreign,
Affairs.
Count de Morny, whose return to Paris has
been announced for the end of the present month,
will not, says the Constitutionnel, arrive until
towards the end of January.
A Vienna letter in the Debats says :—" ara
have
able to inform you that final instructions
now been despatched from the Government here
to our ambassador at Paris, relative to the con-
ferences. It is said to have been
amongst the Powers that the sittings shall
agreed
not
exceed four in number. The only two ques-
tions that will be discussed—that of Bolgrad and
of the Isle of Serpents—will be decided, as al-
ready mentioned, either for or against Russia
by the majority of plenipotentiaries present. 11'1,,e
opposition of England and Austria, in aecord wit
Turkey, against the union of the Danubian prinoi"
wrest concessions on this subject from
palities remains unshaken. Nev(er will any I)(3'l.er
Her great commercial and political interests will 11
constantly opposed to all the dreams of the union o
these two countries. This question cannot even fool
the object of deliberations in the congress, and
the eventuality of the annexation should be 199
chance raised, the Austrian plenipotentiary 113 g
been enjoined to withdraw rather than to furnish
r
by his presence any pretext for the introduction
the discussion of that question in one of the fnur
sittings of the congress." in the
A letter from the Indian Seas, published
Austria.
Moniteur de la Flotte, announces that M. de g°ll7
tigny, the French Envoy, had arrived at .Flue
the 15th of September last :
and.th!
" Hue or Hoe is the capital of Cochin China,
residence of the Emperor. The town is one othe ennead:
fortified in Asia, and most advantageously maritime
The Annamite Government is preparing there a
beone
expedition, which, to judge from appear that "'
world.
of the most formidable ever seen inpart of
sins
The expedition is, it is said, to act ago
the
China, and a descent is to be made on the coast t r°.
Tche-Le. The Cochin Chinese fleet is completely orgas
nised, and comprises 1,200 war vessels, of all sirs
!
from
class, into three classes. The ships of war of the
roc
r
class, which are the size of our frigates, and cart),
~ v,,`
50 to 60 guns ; the galleys, which are propeT
either by sail or by the oar ; and the ordiono.
transport ships. Each division of the fleet is
manded by an Admiral, under the direction of Prorge
Ghia-Khang, a relative of the Emperor, who fills
post of Grand Admiral. His flag-ship is called m_:
cl
Menak-Khong-Sih (the Commander of the Seas),
carries 62 guns. Her masts are gilt, and her sails are
bound with white satin and gold fringe. There aji,
100,000 operatives employed in fitting out the ttlle.o„
tion and preparing materials for its operations. Cocillin
the extreme East. It possesses a very respectable can,
China is jug ly regarded as the first maritime power
non foundry and a museum of artillery, in which are CO.,
lected models of all the cannon used in Europe. Tha3
likewise a naval museum, in which is to be seen am ariner
o „repass given to the Emperor Pay-Song in the Yelti
1761 by M. Poivre, the celebrated traveller, Theret,.
XVIII. in 1817. Several es
likewise a very fine map of the world givel,
which is heahriticinl great veneratio.u... Luoeu-iee
naval engagements. This
Louis X.VI.,
are likewise several outingsresents
Prince,
area
ni:stive artists represent the EipnperorGya-Long
ho regeve
rated the n
--avy, was the most distinguished sove--
ieign the country ever produced. He lived at tb• cc:
met,cernent of the presentcentury. He attached sever ,
French officers his. promoted three of
in service, and h Ceinese
them to the rank of Mandarin. The C°°-;n.
expedition will be ready to sail in April net .
company
A letter from Toulon announces that aeived
of the 4th Regiment of Marines dewieuciuted
liana
in the
orders to hold themselves ready to ern
roceed to
Imperial corvette Durance, which is to p
China. are about
Two gunboats, fully equipped for war,
to sail fur the same destination.

PRUSSIA AND SWITZERLAND. ives
The Frankfort Journal of Saturday SWITZERLAND
the pre-
the following news from Berne, dated on
vio,u s day (Friday) ;
is continually
The popular enthusiasm ill'
,
creasing.
cc The Swiss Confederation is organising for the
defence of the national soil.
" Military preparations are actively going U.
An appeal has been made to Swiss women to pro
vide for the service of the ambulances."
A private letter from Berne of the" 24th
states
that on that day 15,000 troops were placed en
echelon. from Basle to Rheinfelden Liestal, and as
many from Rheinfelden to Schaffhausen.
The Commercial Gazette of Berlin of the 24th says
It is rumoured here in well informed circles that the
question of Neuchatel will be arranged by a conference,
question of that of Paris, and meetiog at Vienna or
London, and that Switzer:an widely e admitted to it.
We may add that this rumours s disseminated at
Vienna. It is alleged that General Dufour has written
another le .ter to the Emperor Napoleon, proposing to
submit to the decision of Europe on the question. The
general, it is said, asserts that it is not yet too late for
negotiations, and that the Federal Council could nut
cede before, because it wa,4 not treated with what it con-
sidered proper respect. He further says that Prue,ia
has not given po•itive assurances as to what she would
do with respect to Neuchatel even if the prisoners were
set at liberty. Lastly, he says that Switzerland is quite
ready to abide by an European decision. of Berlin
On the same subject, the Bourse Gazette
which
quotes a letter from Vienna of
the 22d,
states that the Federal Council of Switzerland has
confidentially informed the Austrian envoy at
Berne that it would willingly yield to the demands
of Prussia if recotninended to do so by a collective
note of the great powers, provided the latter would,
in return, support the interests of Switzerland ill
the negotiations to be opened on the subject of the
future relations of Switzerland with Neuchatel.
e letter states, has been favour-
This overture, thably received by Austria.
We have already mentioned that the canton of
Vaud had offered 16 battalions over and aboveits
ordinary contingent. Similar offers have been
made to the Federal Government from all the other
cantons. Permissions and passports to leave tile
country havo been everywhere refused to those wile
are liable to be called under arms, and the greatest
activity is everywhere displayed in order to coin'
pieta the war material in the arsenals.
—...—•---...
• A CO

- -_-- -----
The London General Omnibus Company have ae.
their establishment a detective department, under the
direction of Mr. C. F. Field, late chief inspector of
the
metropolitan detective police. The peculations of the
conductors are stated to amount to upwards of 30,
000/.
per annum, a sum almost incredible.
THE REv. DR. LIVINGSTON, THE MISSIONARY TOY
*TELLER IN SOUTH AFRICA,—.The Lord Mayor 11
kindly consented to grant the use of the Egyptian-he
on Monday, the sth of January, and toe preside at
meeting, for the purpose of offering a tstimonial F,
admiration and respect to Dr. Liviugiton, the intreptc'
explorer of South Africa.