The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-21 00:00:00

STATE OF AFFAIRS AT CANTON.

The following letter has been received from an
officer serving at Canton :

"Itis on everybody's lips, How much longer is
this state of things to last ? How much longer are
our troops to be well-nigh decimated by sickness
and assassination ? Within the last five days our
casualties have amounted to 23 unfortunate victims

to the cowardice and treachery of our savage and
cowardly enemy. Two men, an European and his
servant, were kidnapped in the western suburbs,
and, of course, never seen again. The following
morning I myself had a narrow escape. I was in
command of a working party, detailed from the
military train, pulling down houses, where the
enemy, some nights previous, taking advantage of
the shelter afforded, threw in some rockets among
_ _

the landing-place guard. I had told off the party
to pull down houses on either side of the narrow
street, having an open space, formerly occupied by
houses to our rear, and a narrow canal separating
us from the landing-place. • A small Sepoy guard,
consisting of one corporal and four privates of the
65th Regiment were placed by the Deputy-Assist-
ant-Quartermaster-General at the head of this street
nearest our working party, and sentries were posted
facing either way. My European orderlies were
acting under my directions and seeing that the men
did their work well. All of a sudden, without any
apparent cause, the men at the • right (Chinese)
threw doWn their long bainboes with which they
were knocking down the thin brick walls, and ran
away with all their speed—nearly upsetting p_______,
Deputy-Assistant-Quartermaster-General, and my-
self in their headlong flight, followed immediately
by the left-hand party (European orderlies), who,
by-the-by., had only their side arms, and native
guard. We tried in vain to stop them ; their panic
was so great that they were beyond all control, and
only by dint of abuse did I succeed in stopping
three of the guard ' just—as-they were in the act of
plunging into the eafial ; I Wen began to look about
for the .cause, when I saw an European being
led along by his • comrade wounded; the latter
laid him down, an , seeing all the others had gone,
left him. The oor wounded man seemed in an
agony of despair,, and called out to them not to
desert him. P---- and I went towards him to
assist, when the other man immedifitely returned
and led him off. We looked up the' street, and saw
some Chinese armed with matchlocks and knives,
sneaking along the, side of
_the street, evidently
thinking the wounded man had been deserted, and
thinking to cut off his head, according to their
usual custom, for reward; but immediately the
cowardly villains saw us- coming round the corner
they turned to the right about, and cut away as
hard as they could. Pursuit among their streets
and by-lanes, with only three panic-stricken sepoys,
was out of the question,- so we contented ourselves
with guarding the street to prevent their escape
until a strong guard should come. In the mean-
time the other side of the canal was lined with
men, who opened a spattering fire of k t mus ery on
our side upon, I think, an imaginary enemy on the
housetops and through the windows, where they
saw numbers. Our subsequent search was not
successful, and I fear others, and not the guilty,
suffered. In the afternoon we burnt down- a large
portion of the suburbs in the neighbourhood of the
attack, and in that very street we came across three
ready-dug graves,—I imagine, to receive our head-
less bodies. One European was killed, three
wounded, and two-Sepoys. I had heard some shots
fired about immediately before the panic, but, as
the Frenchmen on the landing place side not un-
commonly fired off their pieces, I thought nothing
of the occurrence.

"The other day four Frenchmen were waylaid
in the suburbs and fired upon on their way back ;
one was left behind, his body was afterwards found
in a grave, its head cut off, and three other graves
dug for his comrades.
" A police patrol, consisting of 14, was fired upon
a few mornings ago, and nine of the number were
shot down, and last night again another patrol was
fired upon, one killed, and four wounded ; in each
case the murderers decamped ; in fact, they never
have, in any instance, made their dastardly attacks
unless perfectly safe from detection. One of our
European officers was murdered on his way
up to heal-quarters the day before yesterday, and

his body was found down a well with its head and
one arm cut off, and frightfully gashed, his musket,
bayonet, &c., of course, taken away by the mis-
creants. I was behind some houses talking to P—
itt the time of the 'firing on that morning ; had I
been standing, as I very often did, in the street, or
wandering about looking for concealed arms or
armed men, merely with P— and perhaps an
orderly, we might have been wounded, or perhaps
killed. A kind of Providence was watching over
us.

" But this is the kind'of miserable war in which
we aro concerned, and these the wretched shifts of
fighting that these cowardly rascals have recourse
to. We have had several expeditions after them,
but have only once seen anything of them, and
that, unfortunately, under most unfavourable cir-
cumstances to ourselves. They tried to blow us up
the other day, house and all, by exploding a bag of
powder under our verandah, but the powder was
so bad and so injudiciously placed that it did no
further harm than to leave a very unpleasant taste
in our mouths, and wake us out of a refreshing
sleep. We searched for them, but searched in
vain. If we could only catch them ! I should so
enjoy -seeing some half-dozen of their short swords
within arm's distance. I think my good old trusty
long cavalry sabre would make good account of any
that would remain to taste the temper of its steel.
The wish and prayer of almost every soldier is to
be at them.

" But these continual Murders are very painful.
No officer has as yet been taken, except poor Dr.
T-- in that unlucky expedition, and one other at
the capture of this place. We go about more cau-
tiously ; at the same time double care is required
now ; 300 dollars is a heavy load to carry on one's
head."

THE DOWAGER MARCHIONESS OF

LONDONDERRY.

The annual entertainment of the tenantry in con-
nection with an agricultural show on the estate of
the Dowager Marchioness of Londonderry was
held in the village of Carnlough, on Thursday last
in the Town-hull.

At half-past two o'clock, the tenantry having
been previously seated, y her ladyship entered th e
room, when all parties present stood up and joined
in loud cheering. The table at which her ladyship
sat was erected on a platform in a central portion
of the room. About 300 persons sat down to dinner.
In the absence of Lord A. V. Tempest, Mr. R. Wil-
son, her ladyship's agent, occupied the chair. On
the right of the chairman were—the Dowager Mar-
chioness of Londonderry, Very Rev. Dean of Ross,
A. Montgomery., Esq., E. F. Cuppagc, Esq., J.P.,
and the Rev. Mr. Williams. To the left of the
chairman were Lady Anne Beckett, John Ttumley,
Esq., J. P., Walter T. Stannus, Esq., J. P., and
Rev. A. Pakenham, J. P.

The usual loyal toasts having been given,
Mr. P. O'LOANE rose and said—Mr. Chairman,
ladies, and gentlemen, as one of her ladyship's
tenants, I have the high honour to propose a toast,
and it is one that requires very little eloquence
upon my part to ensure an enthusiastic reception
from those assembled here. Gentlemen, the toast I
ask you to drink is, " Health, long life, and happi-
ness to our noble hostess, the Marchioness of Lon-
donderry."
Her LADYSHIP then rose to reply amid prolonged
cheering. She said—My friends, the sympathy and
feeling you have shown towards me on these occa-
sions claim my gratitude, as partaking more of the
affectionate nature of relationship than that of the
formal tie of landlordund tenant—and justly proud
must Ibe to witness these sentiments. (Loud ap-
plause.) I do not attribute them entirely to my own
merits, but principally to our mutual aKociations
with ancestral recollections, and I hope I may add,
in part to your conviction that the motive of my
action is the desire to do my duty towards you.
(Applause.) I confess I feel great satisfaction in
knowing that since ten years ago, when I first came
to reside among you, a great and visible improve-
ment has taken place—that you, in conjunction
with the people of this country generally, have
made vast strides in progress and amelioration of
your condition ; but though much has been done,
much more remains to be accomplished. You may
think at such a time as this, when I am glad to
meet you on a festive occasion, that lecturing is
out of place—(no, no)--or you may. say,—" As
long as you receive your rents punctually you have
no right to complain. In answer, I would say, our
meeting would be productive of little beneficial re-
sult if I did not tell you frankly my views for your
welfare—(applause)—and that my selfishness would
preclude my usefulness, if I satisfied myself with a
punctual discharge of rent, to the neglect of your
improvement and advancement in social comforts.
I fully admit the regularity in the discharge of
your rents, and wish on this occasion to testify, my
acknowledgments to our friend Mr. Wilson. (Ap-
plause.) I say our, because I say he is no less be-
loved by you than regarded and valued by me. I
have, however, another mission to fulfil towards
you besides seeing you do your duty towards me.
I have to try to assist you to do your duty to your-
selves. (Applause.) And I ask you, is this per •
formed nearly to the extent it might be ? Your
farms are not high set; prices have been good; help
and assistance have been given to many. I ask you
is your social condition what it ought to be ? Might
you not, by adopting a more beneficial and enlight-
ened system of agriculture, immensely increase your
produce? Might you not, by thrifty and frugal
habits, improve your houses and domiciles, still
greatly capable of it? and might you not, by super-
vision, promote, what is more important than all,
the education of your children, rather than, from a
false desire of gain, take them from school at a
period when every hour is of advantage for their wel-
fare? Now, I ask you to ponder over these questions,
and if I am right I ask further, for your own sakes
to apply a remedy. (Enthusiastic applause.) I
confess I have been discouraged in some of my en-
deavours. The agriculturist I got to give you ex-
tended notions you declined making friends with,
and he left from discouragement. The premiums
I offered for gardens did not seem to be properly
received, and I was obliged to give up the flower
show. It is, however, a great consolation to find
that the entries this. year for agricultural prizes
are greatly on the increase, and evidently prove
that there is a spirit of emulation arising amongst
you which will, I am convinced, if persevered in,
tend to your improvement and future prosperity.
[Her ladyship then read the prize list.] New, I
hope you will not think I have lectured you too
much. (No, no.) It is because I sec how you dis-
charge your duty towards me that I wish to im-
press on you to do more justice to yourselves.
Discard prejudice, determine to progress, be thrifty
and careful, and, with God's blessing, you will ad-
vance in that path of improvement in which you
have already made such progress. I believe you
will agree that you have a good friend in my agent,
Mr. Wilson. (Applause.) I only wish you to fol-
low his advice. For myself, I like you to know my
wishes are for your improvement. (Cheers.) With
these few words, and the expression of my happi-
ness in finding myself another year amongst you,
and my cordial thanks to the kind friends who
have been good enough to attend, I beg you to
accept the heartfelt assurance of my appreciation
of your affectionate welcome. Her ladyship then
remra:l her seat amid great applause.
WAITER TREVOR STANNITS, Esq., J .P., proposed
k" Prosperity to Agriculture"—(applause)—and
said, I rejoice at being present on this occasion,
and while I congratulate the tenantry on this fine
estate with being presided over by a lady whose
heart and soul seems to be to advance the interests
a her tenants—(cheers)—l must, at the same time.
congratulate Lady Londonderry on being suited
with an excellent agent, who is ready to carry out
her wishes for the welfare of the tenants—(cheers)
—and also with having such good tenants on her
estate. (Applause.) lam aware the tenantry on this
estate have advantages—great advantages—that the
tenantry in other parts of Ireland are deprived of—
(hear, hear)—but I am also aware that, however,
indefatigable the agents may be unless the tenantry
co-operate with them heart and hand, their exer-
tions are unavailing. (Hear.) My friends, I have
the honour of being entrusted with the management
of a very large and extensive estate in this country,
and I have had opportunities of witnessing many
improved systems of agriculture, and my conviction
is, that all these are thrown away unless you go in
the right way of adopting them. Lady London-
:it inpssible for anyderry has asked you a question which I should very
answered. much like to hear
is O " Have you,
by an improved system o, f agriculture, increased the
produce of your farm ? ' It
system of agriculture to avail you unless you begin
with the fundamental system —(h ear hear
, )___
that is thorough draining—(loud applause)—
without which, on an extensive
scale,
.you
cannot hope that any impro d
ve method of agricul-
ture will be of avail. Aire were all shuck with the
nice arrangement of the • loom, and the beautiful
mottoes which are hung round it. I was asked by
a party what was the
meaning of "Live and let
live." I answered that it
olden times, when the 1 was a reminiscence of
that
tion would not only live themselves but
allow others to live also.L ( aughter.) Now, how-
ever, times are changed, and the tenants on this
estate are determined to show that they are now in
a position to live themselves, and, by their punctu-
ality in paying their
rents, their determination to
oor
let the
p proprietors live also. (Laughter.)
"The health of Mr.
Richard Wilson, the agent
on these estates," "Lord
A. V. Tempest," " The
Ladies," " Our next merry meeting," followed, and
the 4§§enably Aquae/

THE STORE AND CLOTHING DEPOTS

AT WEEDON.

INQUIRY-(THIS DAY.)

The Royal Commissioners appointed to inquire into the
state of the stores and clothing depots at Weedon, Wool-
wich, and the Tower, resumed their investigations this day,
in No. 11 Committee Room of the House of Commons.

Mr. Selfe, the magistrate of the Thames Police, occupied
the chair ; the Commissioners present were Mr. Turner,
M.P. for Manchester, and Col. French, of the War-office.
Mr. Selfe said the Royal Commissioners wished that
comments on the evidence given before them might as far
as possible be avoided. They did not wish to prevent pub-
licity of the inquiry, but comment was calculated to throw
great difficulty in the way of getting the fullest informa-
tion possible on this point.

Mr. Bontem, examiner of ledgers at the War-office, in
answer to Mr. Selfe, said the ledger at Weedon had been
examined since the commission last sat, and several
vouchers were found wanting, but they would be supplied
by the Commissary-General. ' When the vouchers were
supplied we shall be able to see whether the stores charged
have been properly paid for. The ledger which I have
examined is in such a state that it could be submitted to the
accountant on Friday next. That ledger goes up to March,
1857. There are about 5,400 entries, and the number of
vouchers wanting amounted to about 50 or 60 items, but
they were for trifling amounts.
Mr. Turner—You were here six weeks ago, and then you
stated that fifty or sixty vouchers were then wanting; why
has not the examination of that ledger been completed ?

Witness—l have been waiting for a statement from the
Commissary-General of the sums paid for stores supplied
to Weedon.

Mr. Turner—Your difficulty is to check the amount with
the sums actually paid ?
Witness—l expect the ledger will be ready for the ac-
countant of the Royal Commission by Friday next.
Mr. Warthman, manager to the firm of Pollard and Co.,
of Halifax, army cloth merchant, was next examined. He
said—Our house has for some time had contracts from
Government, under the old and new system. We furnished
cloth both to the Government and clothiers under the old
system. Our contracts have been quite as extensive under
the new system as formerly. We have delivered large
quantities of cloth to the establishment at Weedon. It was
inspected on delivery by Mr. Hoyle and other persons.
Mr. Turner—Did you ever complain of the inspection
being too severe under the new system ?
Witness—We have thought the inspection too rigid.
Ifr. Turner—You have had some rejections. What is
the amount of those rejections ?
Witness—Here is a memorandum of the amount.

Mr. Selfe—l see a contract for 60,000 yards of cloth, and
the words, " allowed 484 yards." What is the meaning of
that ?

Witness—The Government received 484 yards in addi-
tion to the 60,000 yards.

Mr. Turner—Have you ever had the extra quantity
returned by Government ?

Witness—li has not been returned.

Mr. Turner—Then, although you supply 60,484 yards o
cloth, you only get paid for 60,000 yards ?

Witness—Yes.

Mr. Selfe--Do you, in supplying the clothier, make the
same allowance ?
Witness—Yes.

Mr. Turner—You don't know what becomes of 484 extra
yards of cloth.

Witness—No.
Mr. Selfe—That will be a question for us to put at Wee-
don—what has become of the 484 yards.
Mr. Turner—Have you ever been fined for non-delivery ?
Witness—Yes.

Mr. Selfe—Do you think the inspection, during the last
six months, has been too rigid ?

Witness—Yes.
Mr. Turner—Where a great deal of trouble is given, ill
it not usual to put on an increased price ?

Witness—Yes.

Mr. Selfe—l don't wish the question to be considered
offensive, but was there any shoddy in the cloth you
supplied?
Witness—The cloth supplied by us was free from shoddy.
It was one of the specifications of the contract that goods
should be so.

Mr. Selfe—Do you think a better system of receiving and
inspecting goods could be adopted ?

Witness—l think, in cases of difference, if an arbitrator
were appointed, as in other commercial transactions, much
good would result.
Mr. Selfe—Haviyon have any reason to believe there is
any bribing at Weedon ?
Witness—l have no reason to believe so.

Mr. Ellis, of the firm of Joshua Ellis and Co., Dewsbury,
examined by Mr. Selfe—We are cloth manufacturers. We
have not had much to do with Government. We have had
three contracts with the Government—one for 15,000 yards
infantry red, 15,000 rifle cloth, and 24,000 yards
blue cloth. We have had reason to complain of
the regidity of the inspector of the blue cloth-15,000
yards were rejected. The inspector said the goods
were not so strong as the pattern. The cloth was tested by
the machine, butit wasfoundtobe strongerthan thepattern.
The objection was withdrawn, and the matter was referred
to arbitration. We had no compensation for the loss of
time. We paid our part of. the expenses of the arbitration.
The arbitrator inspected the cloth and compared it with
the pattern, and decided in our favour.
Mr. Turner—That proved that the inspectors at Weedon
were incompetent.
Witness—l don't say that. It proved that our cloth was
equal to the pattern.
Mr. Selfe—You have not contracted with Government
Since

Witness—We have not been successful. We have sent
the prices, but received no orders.
•Mr. Turner—You never have suffered from returns?
Witness—No ; our goods have always been placed.

Mr. Turner—Your name is still on the list, and yoti
receive intimations of contracts required ?

Witness—Yes.

Mr. Turner—But you have never succeeded in getting au

order ?

Witness—No, our prices have been said to be too high.
Mr. Selfe—Have you any reason to believe that there le
any bribery or corruption at Weedon ?
Witness—No, I have never had any reason to believe so.
Mr. Turner—Nothing on the part of viewers or in-
spectors ?
Witness—No, nothing.
_ _ _

Mr. Thomas Cook, of Hagues, Cook, and Co., Dewsbury,
said—Our house has had a great many small con-
tracts from Government. I don't think we have
any reason to complain of over-strictness at Weedon.
We have been Government contractors for 40 years,
principally blankets. The cloth supplied has been
very small. The GovernMent inspection of cloth
is strict, but we have never had reason to complain of re-
jections, they have been very small, scarcely worth speaking
of. They have always been remedied and returned to Weedon.
I have no reason to be dissatisfied with the system at
Weedon. If you contract under certain conditions and get
your goods received, I don't think you have any reason to
be dissatisfied with the system. I don't know any of the
officers at IVeedon, but I do at the Tower.

Mr. Selfe—Then you don't think there is any corruption
at Weedon.

Witness—As far as I am concerned, certainly not.
A few more questions having been put to this witness,
the committee adjourned.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—Notwithstanding the damp
and foggy appearance presented by the metropolis yester-
day, nearly 8,000 persons visited the Crystal Palace during
the day. It rarely happens that the London fogs reach the
level on which the Crystal Palace stands, and on a dark
dreary day in town the air at Sydenham is often clear and
fine. In the afternoon of yesterday such was the case, the
stillness 'of the day showing the great fountains to unusual
advantage. Taking advantage of the harvest moon being
nearly at the full, the novel experiment is to be tried of
playing the terrace fountains by moonlight this evening, at
7 o'clock.

EARLY-CLOSING FETE.—The programme issued
for to-morrow's concludin,s, fete in aid of the funds of the
Early-Closing Association, includes a display of all the
Great Fountains, with numerous athletic games and pas-
times, in which the boys of the Duke of York's School, and
a large body of the military, will take part. Mr. Harrison
--is-also engaged to exhibit those prodigious feats of muscular
power on the Indian clubs, which always so much astonish
those who witness them. To this is to be added the band
of the Royal Military Asylum, so that the entertainment
pFovided is of a character to meet every taste ; and is espe-
cially adapted to afford enjoyment to the young—to schools,
for instance, whose proprietors might be tempted to devote
another day to a visit to the Palace before dreary winter
sets in. The playing of the Great Fountains on the occa-
sion will afford an opportunity to that portion of the public
to witness them, to whom it is either not convenient, or
who object to make holidays on, the days that those match-
less waterworks are ordinarily displayed—Saturday and
Monday. With one or two exceptions only, the various
pastimes specially provided for the day, in case the weather
should move inauspicious, will take place in the interior of
the building. The flowers at the palace are in a state of
great luxuriance at the present time.
THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE IN LIVERPOOL.—
The venerable Marquis of Lansdowne arrived in Liverpool
on Thursday, taking up his abode at the Adelphi Hotel.
His lordship appeared to be in good health, and, as regards
dress, was precisely the same man we remember him forty
years ago—blue coat of ample dimensions, with brass but-
tons,, yellow waistcoat, over which an eyeglass is suspeneded
by a black ribbon, fawn-coloured trousers, and a once white
beaver, browned by many a summer's sun. In the evening
the noble marquis went to St. George's-hall, to hear Mr.
Best's performance on the organ. After the music, Mr.
Mackenzie conducted his lordship to the small concert-room,
which was lighted up for the occasion, and with which he
was much pleased, declaring it to be the most beautiful
room of the kind he had ever seen. On Friday Lord Lans-
downe paid a visit to Mr. Wm. Earle, in Abercromby-
square, from whence he proceeded to the Brown Free
Library and Reading-room, where he was fortunate enough
to meet Mr. Brown himself, with whom he entered into
conversation. Subsequently his lordship was driven to the
landing-stage in front of the docks, and went on board the
Australian packet steamer Royal Charter. The noble mar-
quis took his departure in the evening for Shrewsbury.—
Liverpool Journal.
FRACAS BETWEEN THE MILITIA AND THE
POLICE AT LivEnrooL.—The militia at present stationed
in Liverpool and its neighbourhood includes many rough
and violent characters, who have frequently come into col-
-1 sign the police, and a good deal of irritation and ill
feeling has been caused in consequence. An outbreak of
the more unruly members of the militia force was antici-
pated on Saturday night, but prompt measures being taken
with respect to extra pickets and patrols, the rencontre was
prevented,