The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-16 00:00:00

CHINA.

The advices from Hong Kong are fifteen days
later.

Trade was at a standstill, the attention of the
European inhabitants of Hong Kong being chiefly
directed to means for their protection against the
Chinese. One Allum, the alleged bread poisoner,
and his associates were to be tried immediately.
Public expectation was directed to the arrival of
anticipated Naval and military reinforcements, and
the recommencement of offensive operations.
Her Majesty's steamer Samson arrived at Hong
Kong on the morning of the 23d, having on board
H. E. Admiral Sir M. Seymour, and H. E. is re-
ported to have forwarded to Indiaurgent despatches
for a large military force.
A letter from Canton, dated the 22d of January,
states that the city is nearly all destroyed.
The Samson, on her way down to Hong Kong,
fell in with a fleet of 150 Mandarin junks and de-
stroyed several of them. These junks had
threatened an attack on Hong Kong.
With the exception of retaining Tee-to-turn fort,
it appears that Admiral Seymour has been forced
to abandon Canton, even the entrenched gardens
could no longer be retained as all the available
force is required to keep open the passage of the
river, in consequence of the wilful sinking of junks
to prevent any vessels of war or steamers passing
up with troops. Whampoa has been completely
abandoned, H.M.S. Sybille having been removed
—all the valuable property, as dockyards, &c., had
been abandoned to the Chinese who were destroy-
ing everything of value. "These events," says
the Straits Times, "prove that our position in the
Canton river is unsafe and unsatisfactory, and that
an overpowering force—naval and military—will
be needed to place matters on a sound footing."
The Overland Friend of China, of Jan. 30, says :
—"Since the despatch of the clipper steamer Lance-
field on the 21st instant, the only military move-
ment of importance has been the abandonment of
Canton and the Dutch Folly—the highest position
in the river now held by the squadron being Tee-
to-turn fort in the Macao passage, about two miles
below the factory ruins. Naturally, after having
contended against such odds—a thousand to a
million—so long, the retirement from the position
has given rise to expressions of regret. But no one
can deny the prudence—the necessity—of the step,
for in a short time the river will be so thick, often
during the whole day, with fog, that it would be
impossible to keep up the chain of communication
with such scanty means. The excitement conse-
quent on the great event of the month—the poison-
ings—is abating ; though nothing is being done by
Government to assure confidence against a similar
or worse catastrophe. The inability of Sir John
Bowring to hold a Colonial Government was never
so evident as at present.
" The deportation of some hundred and thirty
larceners under sentence of imprisonment, because
we were afraid to keep them in the gaol, is the
most extraordinary imbecile act ever performed by
the governor of a British colony. Why, the very
guard taken from our small garrison at such a junc-
ture to take care of them on the way to their desti-
nation, could keep treble such a posse in check
here if properly ordered 1"
On the 20th of January, when Admiral Seymour
blew up the church and club-house, the last rem-
nant of British property, previous to leaving his
station off Canton, the fleet, after the Dutch Folly
and Bird's Nest forts had been abandoned, dropped
down the Macao passage, and took up their stations
as follows :—The Eacounter and Niger just below
Macao Fort ; the Conics three miles below them ;
the Acorn at the Barrier Fort ; the Sybille in
Blenheim Reach, the Barracouta at High Island,
and the Nankin et the Bogue ; thLw keeping open
the entire channel and line of communication,
which it was supposed will be continued until some
of the reinforcements arrive.
A fact mentioned to show that great caution is
necessary on board the river steamers occurred on
the 23d. " The steamer Queen (says the Friend of
China), with a valuable cargo on board, and a lorcha
in tow, started at 1 p.m. from her anchorage off the
P. and 0. Co.'s Wharf, and just as she had cleared
the shipping a message was sent that she had seve•
ral bad men on board, who meditated an attack.
Upon hearing this Capt. Wynn at once cast off the
lorcha, and after seeing her anchored in a safe place
proceeded on his way to Macao, keeping a sharp
watch on the reputed robbers. When off Cap-
sing-moon the Williamette was descried in full
chase, and shortly afterwards fired two guns as a
signal for the Queen to bring to, when a boat was
Williamette, and Messrs. May,
with four policemen, pro-
lcoawl
de rweedllfr oamn the
uff,
ceeded in her to the Queen. After consulting
together the Queen returned with her passen-
gersand on their arrival the
majorityo
ilwenrge Kong,
at once conducted to the police
station. Some of the peaceable and well disposed
of the passengers informed Capt. Wynn that the
rascals, who had concealed their plans of attack,
had furnished themselves with sand and gunpowder
to throw into the eyes of the crew and blind them,
while two piratical boats were awaiting them at a
certainok.
pointr, outside, to aid in the completion of
their w

The same journal says :
But little time was lost by the " Braves" in sig-
nalising the flitting of Sybille from
Whampoa by a glorious burn of everything foreign-
owned burnable ; the destruction, including the
dock-yard buildings of Hunt and Co., an American
firm, and a very large quantity of other American
though nomina►ly English property: That Commo-
dore Armstrong, Commander-in-Chief of the United
States naval forces in this quarter, had most .ex-
cellent reason for leaving Whampoa when he did,
and taking up a position off the United Stites
Naval Stores in Hong Kong at the present junc-
ture, we do not entertain a doubt ; but to us, un-
initiated as we are in the mysteries of American
statesmanship, there also appears some justice in the
complaints heard from "citizens" on all hands

—that commercial interests are not properly cared
for in these waters, and American property has
been unjustifiably sacrificed. This, however, is
subject for comment by American rather than by
English journalists; but it may be that they, too,
may think, as we do, that it would have been wiser,
as it would have been more generous in Commodore
Armstrong, to have joined the English throughout
in the demonstration they are making, and not
have remained contentedly on his arms after the
simple destruction of the Barrier Forts.
_ _

•
The following account of the poisonings is from
the Hong Kong Register
In an extra which we published on Thursday
last we had just time to call attention to the fact
that an attempt had been made to poison all the
consumers of bread supplied by a Chinese baker.
This has naturally caused great stir and excitement
dui iug the week, and been the fertile cause of many
rumours, true or false. The following is, as nearly
as we can collect, a statement of facts. We believe
it is the custom of the Parsees and other
natives of India to eat an early first breakfast.
Early ou the morning of Thursday a medical
gentleman resident with us was called upon to pre-
scribe fur several Parsees and Moorrueu labouring
under the effects of what appeared to ba poison.
were from different houses,
aAnsdtihwavpieorgsosnes yilirvaapnptlsofgtheir own country, the only
suspicious article was, naturally, the bread, supplied
to tliem from the Esing shop, a Chinese bakery. As
the morning advanced numerous cases of sickness
occurred, and our attention was so much occupied
in giving what assistance we could render that we
were unusually late in breakfasting, owing to which
the cause of the sickness being apparent,
we escaped
it. by not eating any bread. Attr being tolerably
satisfied of the nature of the case, our first course
was to go to the police and report it, and advise that
every man in the Ling shop should be arrested.
The arrest was effected after some time, the per-
sons taken into custody amounting to 49 ; but Al-
lum, the principal partner, and his fancily, consisting
of himself, his father, son, two women and children
were missing, and on inquiry it was discovered that
the family had started for Macao in the Shamrock
at 8 a.m. From various sourcei we learned that Al.
lulu had Devu iJutJily eagage4 tlia previous day in