The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-29 00:00:00

Wed a..iov. , also appears iii an extra of the Over-
land Friend of Plana.
Another account says :
About half-past eleven a'ciock last night (the 15th),
Admiral Seymour, looking out of his bedroom window,
saw some Chinese with flambeaux and fire balls setting
fire to the remains of the Chinese houses iu Thirteen and
Factory-street, in rear of Messrs. Dent and Co's. A
light south wind was blowing at the time, and the
flames soon crowded to windward into New Chinese-
street—the want of water, tide being low, rendering it
quite impossible to put a stop to them. By daylight the
fire was at its height, approaching the ruins of Hog-lane.
At ten o'clock it was determined to blow up the Par-
sonage-honse,, in order to keep the fire from the British
factories—the windows of the Oriental Bank and Messrs.
Holiday, Wise, and Co.'s, notwithstanding, being kept
in a "char," only by the constant pouring on of water
—the hose ably directed b 3 the H in. Captain Cochrane
and Captain Hall. The Lilly leaves at three, and will
report the fire as having consumed everything west of
the British Factories, as far as One or Tw, Streets
beyond Mos'qua.street, say from Hog-lane to the lately
Pulled down Transit Duty lower house—excepting only
the front parts of Messrs. Russell and Co.'s house, and
of Mr. Fischer's, together with the Club House, and the
house in Teh-hing kie lately occupied by Messrs. Angier
and Allanson.
To the above we have to add that—When the Postal
Steamer Thistle left, every factory was more or less in
flames, and sadly, Mr. 0 liorne T. Lane, Second Assist-
ant in the British C insulate, had just met his death by
the fall of a house on him- _

.......
The Strait Times and Singapore Journal, of
December 23, states that its latest advices from
Canton mention that " the British were pouring
shot and shell into the city, which place, it was
expected, would be completely destroyed in a few
days,"
The following letter deFcribes the capture of the
French Folly Fart : •

Dec. 4.—The Encounter and Barracouta having
moved down last evening below the Dutch Folly Fort,
taking advantage of high water, took up a good position
at daylight this morning, within 1,000 yatds of the
French Folly Fort,—owini, to the shall-woess of the
water they could not get nearer. They were anchored
head and stern, so as to engage the starboard broadsides.
The armed boats accompanying the ships were placed on
the port sides, ready to shove off at a moment's notice,
under the orders of Captain T. Wilson, Winches'er.
The Fort showed signs of active life,—the Braves plant-
ing their flags on the parapets, and removing the mat-
ting which before hid from our view the muzz'es of their
well laid guns. A little after 6 o'clock the Barr:.couta
and Encounter opened fire with shells, the Dutch Folly
at the same time assistinu, under the command of Com-
_

modore the Hon. C. B. Elliot. Each shell old with dan-
gerous precision, quickly replied to by the French Fort,
which fired shot and shell, quickly and steadily fired.
Sue of the former struck the Barracouta's paddle-
wheel, carrying away an iron beam a considerable
distance, and a shell passed into the cabin of Lieut. Gib-
son in the Encounter, through the dressing-room of
Captain O'Callaghan, and finally rested amongst the
crockery ware in his pantry. The missile which took
such an eccentric course was a shell seven inches in dia-

meter, of European or American casting. The firing was
maintained on both sides for a considerable period, the
heavy shot from the Barracouta's 84 and Encounter's 68
knocking down a considerable portion of the western
end- The fort to all appearance being silenced, the boats
Pushed off, and on nearing the fort formed a line abreast,
and when within 500 yards commenced a rapid firing
front the bow guns through the embrasures. The fort
reserved its fire till this moment, when the boats were
saluted by a thick discharge of grape, laogridge, and
rockets. One of the latter, as it came hissing along,
killed a fine 'fellow, a marine belonging to the Sybille.
At the same time a party of Chinese mounted the wall-,
some waving flags, others discharging their jingals, their
shots splintering many of the oars or striking the boats,
Wounding, however, only three of our men. Nothing
daunted, . onward and steadily went the well-manned
boats, pouring grape and canister through the etubra-
sures,the marines keeping up a cow-taut fire of musketry.
The Chinese held their position till the boats were within
a few yards of the wall, when, with three loud cheers,
the attacking party leaped from their boats, and entered
the embrasures as best they could. The first that entered
with Union Jack in band was the Hon. Captain Coch-
rane, immediately followed .by Captains Wilson and
Penrose, Lieuts. Bush and Burton.
The fort taken, and a strong body of Marines, posted
On the walls, a party of Artillery, under Captains Rotten
and Twigs, R.A., with some blue jackets, proceeded to
mine the fort, whilst another party of Marines took pos-
session of the Six-gun battery to the right of it, and
turned the guns on some buildings of an official charac-
ter, rendering them perfectly useless for some time to
come. There was a sand-bag ba!tery on the left too, anti
this the boats' guns completely demolished. A body of
Chinese soldiers amounting to about 2,000 men collected
;ma rising ground about a mile's distance from the tort.
1:4 this position they were dislodged by some shells
from the Barracouta, which threw some also into the
square fort near Gough's Fort. The Chinese attempted
a diversion by appearing in large numbers in the breach
opposite the Dutch Folly. Lieut. Dent, with two 10-
inch mortars caused them to retire, and he was lucky
enough to blow up their magazines within the city walls,
and set fire to some building to the right of the Viceroy's
lracoun- The mines being ready for firing at 12 o'clock,
noon, the boats moved off to a safe distance, when soon
commenced a series of terrific explosions, seventeen in
number ' • large masses of granite were hurled to a coned-
derabls distance from the fort ; some fell through the
`sou-es in the rear, others struck the water, causing a
peculiar sharp sound. The once strong fort was laid iu
a heap of ruins ; the " oldest inhabitant" of Cant.n
would not recognise its once " familiar face" again. It
was a compact and strong building, the walls of granite
12 feet thick. 27 guns were mounted. The houses
in the interior were in ruins from the effect of the shell
and shot, and the tents torn in pieces. Some of the dead
men found lying near the guns had lighted matches near
them. I saw but three dead and four wounded within the
walls ; these the Chinese had not time to remove. A
few were lying without the walls, and some had secreted
themselves in a corner within. _ _ _

The boats then repaired to the Coromandel for an
hour, and returned with artillery and Bite Jackets to
destroy the guns. A. rocket party from H,M.S. Niger,
in charge of the first lieutenant, was stationed on shore,
and soon commanded good practice. The Barracouta's
paddle-boat, Lieut. Bush, and Sybille's pinnace, under
Mr. Hudson, both lay off to protect the working party.
A discharge of matchlocks from the window; of houses
stretching away to the eastward was fired on the boats,
and was returned with shells which set fire to a thick
row of houses. A good stiff breeze from the N,E. fanned
the flames, which stopped not till they reached a broad
creek. Barracouta threw some shells into the city
behind the east gate. The effect could not be seen.
The guns were effectually destroyed; the entre affair
finished to the satisfaction of the Commanderen-Chief,
and the boats returned to their respective ships. It is
gratifying to reflect that all the undertaking; of Sir
Michael Seymour have been crowned with sigeal sue
cess, and with few casualties. Undertaken with taougbt
fulness and foresight, they were executed with prompt
less, decision, and gallant.
Yesterday a gloom was cast over the spirits of all re-
siding at Canton by the distressing and fatal accident
which befel poor Captain Cowper, R.E. A large beam
fell across his back whilst superintending the removal
of some houses, injuring his spine so ranch that he
lingered but two hours. His intellectual faculties were
perfectly clear to the last moment. He knew he was
dying. The Rev. Mr. Gray was some time with uim,
and gave that spiritual consolation to the sufferer which
good men alone can bestow. The admiral has lost; in
him a valuable aid and an energetic and brave officer.
Dec. 6.—The Barracouta went down the river this
morning and anchored below the Macao Fort. Captain
Fortescue with Consul Parkes and a party of marines
and blue jackets from the steamer landed and proceeded
to burn the village of Lam-steak-kip, where a marine
from Macao passage Fort was cruelly murdered yester-
day—the former accompanied by a sailor, landed con-
trary to orders to procure fruit—the marine was taken
and immediately beheaded by some Chinese soldiers
who were lying in wait for some days ; the head was
carried off, and the body discovered by the crew of the
Hornet's pinnace in the course of the dEayve;r theh sailcr
endeavouring to escape was drowned.
the village was set on fire. The village wasydesoeursteedin
the people well knowing their guilt decamped, locking;
their doors behind them. The culprits no doubt got
the 100 dols. reward for the head of a European. tat
it will take some hundreds to rebuild the village. Some
very plausible stories were related to the consul by a
Bonze to the effect that the people were perfectly info-
ant
A squadron of rebel junks now lies in Wharnpoa
Reach. The Governor Yeb is so hard pressed by rebels
on one side, and by barbarians on the other, that no
doubt he will soon be glad to come on terms with the
gallant Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.
The beats performing this well.orderedattaek were—,
Calcutta—Launch, Lieut. Winyatt ; Pinnace, Mr.
Kennedy.
Winchester—Launch, Lieut. Nelson and Lieut. Pel-
lew ; Gig, Captain Wilson.
Sybille Pinnace, Messrs. Hudson and Price ; Ist
Cutter, Mr. McDougal ; Launch, Lieut. A. Alston and
Asst. Surgeon Newton.
Niger—Pinnace, Lieut. Madden and Dr. Patrick ;
Gig, Hon. Capt. Cochrane.
Barracouta—Paddle-boat, Lieut. W. Bush and Asst.
Surgeon Tronson.
Coromandel—With rocket party.
Royal Marines—Capts. Penrose and Boyle, Lieuts.
Burton and Blake.
H. M. S. Winchester left for England on Saturday.
The estimation in which Captain Wilson of that ship is
held by Admiral Seymour may be judged of by his being
assigned the post of honour in leading the late gallant
attack and capture of the French Folly—the coolness
and dash displayed on the occasion fully justifying the
accord of "the parting favour." At the request of the
Commander-in-Chief, Lieut. Burton, R.M , remains be-
hind to fill the office of Adjutant to the corps.
The following Circular bad been issued by Consul
Parkes :