The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-09 00:00:00

CHINA.

A letter from the Chinese seas, dated the 16th of
December, and published in the Monitear de la
N'lotte, gives some new details relative to the late
affair at Canton, showing that the damage sustained
by the foreign merchants was not as great as had
been stated in the first accounts. It appears that of
13 quarters, of which Chy San-Hang, the residence
of the Europeans, is composed, five have been de-
stroyed. It was said that of the 80 foreign factories
and stores which existed at Canton, only nine, in-
cluding the British Consulate, escaped the confla-
gration—this, it states, is an error. Of the 80 esta-
blishments, 21 have been burnt down. This is a
considerable loss no doubt, but it is much less than
that reported. It appears that there existed at
Canton a floating population of from 25 to 30,000
thieves and vagabonds—refugees from all parts of
China. As soon as the English ships commenced
their fire these men, taking advantage of the gene-
ral alarm, rushed in large bodies into the Chy San-
Hang, and having first pillaged the European stores
set fire to them. The British Admiral seeing
what was going forward, brought two of his
ships to bear on the pillagers and sent some shells
among them, which caused them to fly. Unfortu-
nately the shot from the British ships increased the
fire lighted by the vagabonds. The Captain of the
French frigate Virginie sent a detachment of 150
men ou shore, with four light howitzers, to complete
the discomfiture of the pillagers, who fled in every
direction, leaving a number of their body dead in the
streets. The French seamen were labouring indefati-
gably in extinguishing the fire, which they in a great
measure accomplished. As to the Chinese town, it
suffered horribly, as well by the fire of the English
ships as by the native robbers. Of the 12 great
factories belonging to the Hong merchants, and
which were situate near the Tartar town, nine were
destroyed by the first attack. The English mer-
chants interested in those establishments suffered
considerably by that disaster. At the latest dates,
the British Admiral, having occupied the Chinese
military positions, had no more opposition to ex-
pect, but a new irruption of tile thieves and vaga-
bonds was apprehended. A great number of mer-
chants had emigrated to Shanghai, but the 500,000
inhabitants of Canton cannot so easily dispose of
themselves.

A letter from Tourane, in Cochin-China, of Nov.
Bth, states that the Catinat, French frigate, bad
been obliged to fire on the Cochin-Chinese. The
Governor of Tourane had refused to receive a letter
from the French Plenipotentiary, and had also for-
bidden the inhabitants to furnish any supplies to
the Catinat, at the same time that he sent la rein-
forcement of troops to the forts which commanded
the roadstead. The frigate opened a fire on these
forts, and afterwards landed men and took possession
of them, bringing 40 prisoners on board. This
display of force brought the governor to his senses,
as he sent word that the letter would be received
and supplies furnished, and that the Government
was ready to sign a treaty with France. Two days
after the Capricieuse frigate arrived, and the officers
and crews were allowed to land and visit Tourane,
where no European had been for years permitted to
enter. The French Plenipotentiary was expeo ei
to arrive there in a few days to negotiate the treaty

ITALY.
The Pone has addressed a brief dated the
22d ult. to the Bishop of Tripoli, condoling with
him on the murder of the Archbishop of Paris,
his relative, "who," his Holiness declares,
" was cruelly put to death by the sacrilegious
band of an abominable priest." The Holy Fa-
ther declares that he felt "extreme affliction at
the lamented event ;" that he has " the firm
hope that the deceased prelate, freed from
earthly things, has entered the heavenly king_
dom,"i and he pronounces a warm eulogium on
him for his piety, zeal, and other virtues, and for
his "special veneration" for the Pope himself and
for the Holy See.

The last accounts from the Indian Seas announce
that tae King of the
.Cores has just spontaneously
opened the ports of his States to the commerce of
all nations.