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

61401 11rieita hi,tus
Another account says :
About half-past eleven o'clock last &ght (the 15th),
Admiral Seymour, looking out of higi bedroom window,
saw some Chinese with flambeaux and fire balls setting
fire to the remains of the Chinese houses in Thirteen and
Factory-street, in rear of 'Messrs. Dent and Co's. A
light south wind was blowing at the tune, and the
flames eoon crowded to windward into New Chinese-
btreot—ths 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-
nonage-honsen in crier to keep the fire from the British
factories—the windows of the Oriental 13,nk and Mes4.s.
Holiday, Wise, and Co.'s, notwithstanding, being kepi
in a " only by the constaw, pouring on nf water
--the hose ably directed b) the Hon. 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 Two Streets
beyond Mociqua-street, say from Hog-lane to the lately
Pulled down Transit Duty lower hoa.e—exeepting only
the front parts of Mein.r.i. Russell and Co.'s house, and
of Mr. Fi,-cher'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. Odiorne T. Lane, Second Assist-
ant in the British C nisulate, 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."

oy):: q. of t.le Over-

The follouing letter describes the capture of the
French Folly Fort :
Dec. 4.—The Encounter and Barracouta having
moved down last evening below the Dutch Folly Fart,
taking advantage of high water, took up a good position
at day light this morning, within 1,000 yards of the
French Folly Fore—o eine to the shalleeness 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 Barracouta
and Encounter opened fire with shells, the Dutch Folly
at the same time assisting under the command of Corn-
Modore the Hon. C. B. Elliot. Each shell told with dan-
gerous precision, quickly replied to by the French Fort,
Which fired shot and shell, quickly and steadily fired.
one 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 w hen within 500 Yards commenced a rapid firing
Min the bow guns through the embrasures. The fort
reserved its fire till this moment, when the boats were
imitated by a thick discharge of grape, langridge, and
rockets. One of the latter, as it came hissing along,
illed a fine fellow, a marine belonging to the Sybille.
at the same time a' party of Chinese mounted the walls,
"roe waving flags, others discharging their jingale, their
Shots splintering many of the cars or striking the boats,
wounding, however, oily three of our men. Nothing
daunted onward and steadily went the well-manned
boats, pouring grape and canister through the ernbra-
aures,the marines keeping up a constant fire of musketry.
The Chinese held then position till the boats were within
a, few yards of the wall, when, with three bud cheers,
the attacking party leaped from their beats, and entersd
the embrasures as best they could. The first that entered
with Union Jack in band was the Hon. Captain Cocb- ,
retie, immediately followed by Captains Wilson and
Penrose, Lieuts. Bush and Burton.
The fort taken, and a strong b dy of Marines, posted
On the walls, a party cf Artil:ery, under Captains Rotten
and Twiss, R.A., with some blue jackets, proceeded to
rnine 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 ufficial charac-
ter, rendering them perfectly useless for some time to
come. There was a sand-bag battery on the left too, and
this the boats' guns completely demolished. A body of
Chinese soldiers amounting to about 2,000 men collected
on a rising ground about a mile's distance from the fort.
From this position they were dislodged by some shells
from_ the Barracouta, which threw sonic also into the
square fort near Gough's Fort. The Chinese attent ptsd
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 fireto some building to the right of the Viceroy's
"ratnun. The mines being ready for firing at 12 o'clock,
noon, the boats moved off to a safe distance, when soon
"Mmenced a series of terrific explosions, seventeen in
raeraber ; large masses of granite were hurled to a consi-
derable distance from the fort ; some fell through the
hou es in the rear, others struck the water, causing a
Peculiar sharp sound. The once strong fort was laid in
a heap of ruins ; the " oldest inhabitant" of Canton
Would not recognise its once " familiar face" again.. It
148 a compact and strong building, the walls of granite
12 feet thick. 27 guns were mounted. The houses
in the interior were iu ruins from the effect of the shell
and shot, and the tents torn in pieces. Some of the dead
toeu 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
vv 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 Blue 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
u kPaddle-boat Lieut. Bush, and Sybille's pinnace, under
r. H d
son, both lay off to protect the working party.
ha discharge of matchlocks from the windows 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. Barraoouta threw some shells into the city
behind the east gate. The effect could not be seen'
The guns were effectually destroyed; the entire affair.
finished to the satisfaction of the Commander-in-Chief,
and the boats returned to their respective ships. It is
gratifying to reflect that all the undertakings of Sir
Michael Seymour have been crowned with signal sue
cess, and with few casualties. Undertaken with thought
fulness and foresight, they were executed with prompt
*Ws, decision, and gallantry.
Yesterday a gloom wee cast-over the spirits of all res
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 much 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 him,
and gave that spiritual consolation to the sufferer which
good men alone can bestow. Theadmiral
hpost in
him a valuable aid And an
energetic•andbrave
fa
Dec. 6.—The Barracoutacer.
thewent
‘ri down the river this
morning and anciior,.d below
acao Fort. Captain
Fortescue with Consul Parkes and
6party of marines
and blue jackets from the steamer lea eu,dird proceeded
murderedere a marine
to burn the village of Lainelbak.kipn
yester
from Macao pa,sage Fort was cruelly
meahriin'neeßevi assotiadk. en
day—the former accompanied by a sailor, landed con-
trary to orders to procure fruit--the marine
and immediately beheaded by
who were lying in wait for some days ; the head soldiers
carried off, and the body discovered by the crew of was
Hornet's pinnace in the course of the day ; the sailor
endeavouring to escape was drowned. Every house in
the village was set on fire. The village was deserted ;
the people well knowing their guilt decamped, locking
heir doors behind them. The culprits no doubt got
the 100 dole. reward for the head of a European. But
it will take soul r hundreds to rebuild the village. Some
very plausible stories were !elated to the consul by a
Bonze to the effect that the people were perfectly inno-
c• it

A squadron of rebel junks now lies in Wharnpoa
Reach. The Governor Yeh is so hard pressed by rebels
r,
that no
tua one aide, and by barbarians on the oth e doubt he will soon be glad to come on terms with the
gallant Commander-in-Chief of the Navy.
The bats performing this vrell.ordered attack were
Calcutta—Launch, Lieut. Winyatt ; Pinnace, Mr.
sennedy.
lew ;
Winchester—Launch, Lieut. Nelson and Lieut. Pel-
ig, Captain Wilson.
Cutter
SybGille—Pirinace, Messrs. Hudson and Price ; Ist
Asst . ur S,M r. McDougal ; Launch, Lieut. A. Alston and
geon Newton.
Niger—Pinnace, Lieut. Madden and Dr. Patrick ;
Gig; Ron. Capt. Clehratie.
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 Ciaiaparaibn Wil,;on of that ship is
held by Admiral Seymour
Judged of by his being
assigned the post of honour iyn lee the late gallant
attack and capture of the Prencl7Vg
and dash displayed on the occasion feilly—the coolnessthe
accord of "the parting favour." At teheYjustifYing
, R.3,l'eqll,lest of the
Commander-in-Chief, Lieut. Burton
hind to fill the office of Adjutant to the co;psemaiee be.
L', The following Circular had been issued by Consul
Varkes :

(CIRCULAR.)
Briti,h Consulate, Canton,
dOth Nov., 1.
in order to guard against or correct an 856 y
er
"hpressions that may be entertained as to th responsi-
roneous
bility of her Majesty's Naval authorities or
te he Under-
geed, for tor the safety of furniture, or other moveable
P,roparty lefi; by members of this ccmmunity, that
tthougn it will he the first ear, of his Excellenc the
Naval Corrmander-in-a)iel to do all in his rower fr the
general protection of the factories, neither his Excel-
ney nor the undersigned can in any way undertake
Toney
the safety or goods, furniture, or private effects,
121 the absence of the owners of their servants, who have