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

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

By the arrival of the Overland Mail we (Times,
second edition) have received our private corre-
spondence and papers from Hong Kong to Nov. 15;
Bombay, Dec. 3 ; and Calcutta, Nov. 22.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF CANTON.
HONG KONG, Nov. 15.
The London mail of Sept. 10 arrived here on the
2d inst., per steamer Singapore, and we yesterday
received, via Calcutta, telegraphic news from Lon-
don to Sept. 26.
The Singapore leaves at 2 p.m. to-day, with the
outward mail, which'is of more-than usual political
importance. _

Unexpected events have occurred at Canton,
which has been partially bombarded by the British
fleet, and trade is entirely suspended, most of the
foreign residents having retired to Hong. Kong and
Macao, with their books and treasure.
The supercilious and insolent bearing of the
Chinese officials towards the British Government
and people has long required a elic3k, which,
being long delayed, at last emboldened the Vice-
roy to insult our flag and refuse all apology for the
outrage.

The more immediate cause of offence is as fol-
lows :—A. lorcha, possessing a colonial register, and
entitled, therefore, to bear the British flag and
claim its protection was anchored off Canton on the
Bth of October, when a party of Imperial soldiers
boarded the vessel, seized 12 Chinese of the crew,
whom they sent on shore, and, hauling down the
Union Jack, retained possession of the lorcha.
The master, an Englishman, applied to her Britan-
nic Majesty's Consul, who forthwith went on board.
On remonstrating with the Mandarin officer, he was
insulted and even threatened with violence. The
Consul then addle- --ed the Viceroy, detailing the
fact and requiring immediate redress, which so far
from being granted was distinctly refused, the Vice-
roy appearing determined to defend the act. Mr.
Consul Parkes then communicated with her Ma-
j est's Plenipotentiary here,and 24 hours were granted
to the Viceroy Yeh to apologise for the insult to
our flag and Consul. Such an apology not being
forthcoming, Mr. Parkes on the 22d October pub-
licly notified that the task of exacting satisfaction
had devolved on her Majesty's naval officers.
Meantime his Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir Michael
Seymour had proceeded to Canton, taking with
him all the fleet (except her Majesty's ship Win-
chester) ; the boats and spare force from the ves-
sel, however, joined the expedition.
The Admiral demanded redress and apology, and
a salute of 21 guns to the British flag, and gave
the Viceroy 24 hours further to consider the course
he was pursuing, ample warning being given that
should he still refuse compliance coercive measures
would be adopted.
Yeh, however, made no satisfactory overtures,
and the tone of his commnnications was anything
but apologetic.
But one course, therefore, remained for Sir Mi-
chael Seymour, and on the 24th October all save
one of the river forts at and about Canton were
taken by our seamen and marines without loss, the
,Chinese offering but a poor resistance. The guns
were spiked to the number of 170, and some of the
forts were burnt, while others were held by our
marines and a detachment of the Royal Artillery,
sent up from this, under the command of Captain
Rotton,
Some days were then allowed to elapse, and every
opportunity was given to Yeh to arrange matters, if
so inclined. The Viceroy, however, remained ob-
stinate, and the usual Chinese policy was resorted
to. 12 men, with chains round their necks, were
sent to the Consulate (not on board the lorcha as
had been demanded), purporting to be the same as
were taken from the vessel. They were, however,
wretches of the lowest class, evidently dragged from
prison, and were, of course, sent back at once, and
all attempts at negotiation having failed, on the27th
of October the Encounter steamer, Captain O'Calla-
ghan, opened fire on the city wall and the Viceroy's
palace, the Royal Artillery co-operating from one of
the captured forts. Her Majesty's steanierßarracou-
ta, captain Fortescuo, steamed up a branch of the
river, and from a distance of 3,200 yards threw shot
and shell into the forts on the heights. A breach
having been effected in the city wall, it was storm-
ed on the 29th of October by the marines and
sailors, led by Commodore Elliot. The breach was
carried after some resistance, and the Viceroy's
palace was also taken possession of and visited by
Sir. M. Seymour. Our troops were withdrawn
before dark, our loss for the day
amounting to only
three killed and 11. wounded.
Further attempts at negotiation were then made,
but all proved fruitless. On the 3d and 4th Nov.
the old city was shelled, and on the 6th her
Majesty's steamer Barriscouta, engaged and &-
Amerce' a fleet of 23 war junks, anchored in line
off the small fort not previously taken. The Bar-
racouta had hot work, end received n 0 less than
80 shut in her hull and rigging. The
~ Chinese
stood to their guns better than usual. 'Tie fort
was also taken by the boats of the Calcut a. Our
loss amounted to three killed and two wounded.
His Excellency having previously reconnoitred
the Boguo Forts at the entrance of the Canton
river, they were taken on the 12th inst., after
some fighting, by which we lost two killed and four
wounded, one of the latter a midshipman.
The ships of war in the Canton river are :—Sail-
ing vessels—Calcutta, flag, 80 ; Sybille, broad
pendant, 44 ; Nankin, 50 ; Coraus, 14. Steamers

—Niger, 14 ; Encounter, 14 ; Barracouta, 6 ;
Sampson, 6 - Hornet, 17 ; Coromandel, 3:
His Excellency Sir M. Seymour, in whose hands
the whole affair rested, has gained the respect and
admiration of all the British subjects here. 'the
patience and humanity he has displayed, and the
unflinching determination with which he acts, have
inspired the greatest confidence. Throughout the
-whole matter the community have been kept fully
informed on all points needful for them to know.
The factories have been strongly and efficiently
;uarded, and no precautions which care and fore-
sight could suggest have been wanting to assure the
ninds of those most interested.

The accompanying circular, addressed to the
:oreign community, has just reached us. From it
you will observe there is no immediate prospect of
peace or resumption of trade, and it is for the pre-
sent useless to speculate on the ultimate results.
Such an opportunity has not before offered for re-
vising our treaty with China and establishing rela-
tions on a footing which may guard against the
recurrence of such acts as those which have now
brought us into hostile collision with the Chinese.

It is needless to point out the position of vast
importance to the revenues of Great Britain and
India which the commerce of China holds, or the
great extension of which it is capable were our
ineans of intercourse extended as they are with
other nations. Now is the time for an Embassy to
Pekin, having at its head some one of that high
character and standing fitted to represent her
Majesty in such a mission ; but for this we must
look at home.

The views of our home Government will be
Anxiously expected here, and we trust that the high
Influence of the press, as well as of all connected
with Chinese affairs, will be exerted in pressing
the matter on the attention of her Majesty's Go-
vernment.

P.S.-11 a.m., Nov. 15.—The Peninsular and.
Oriental Company's steamer Canton has just ar-
rived from Canton, having left at midnight last
night. The Chinese have re-manned the Barrier
Forts, which fired into the Canton on her way
down.