The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-02 00:00:00

THE BOMDARIMENT OF CANTON.

The following letter has been addressed by " A
Merchant" t 3 the Editor of the Times

Sir,—During the late debates on the China ques-
tion no argument in opposition to the cuurse
adopted by our authorities was found more effec-
tual,-or used more'freely, than that contained is
eloquent and pathetic descriptions of the destruc-
tion of life caused by the wanton bombardment of
the most populous city of the East, and the murder
of thousands and tens of thousands of innocent
men, women, and children entailed by that un-
heard-of act of barbarity, in revenge for, at the
most, a trivial insult-.
It so happens that I have received by the mail
that has just arrived a private letter from Hong
Kong, dated March 6, and written by a person irt
every way qualified to speak on the subject, in
which this very point is alluded to. I subjoin a
short extract for the information of your readers,
merely premising that the date of the letter proves
that it is not " got up" in reply to the charges in.
question, as the report of the debates would w-it
reach Canton till nearly two mouths afterwards :

" The loss of life at Canton has been very small, the
Admiral having also spared the people. The Chinese
say that only 23 persons were killed within the city by
the lipmbardment. This is probably too small a num-
ber, but the Americans killed a far greater number than
the English in their attacks, with reference to the forced
engaged."

On how rotten a foundation has a vast superstruc•
tare of declamation and invective been raised I

THE LEGION OF HONOUR.

From the Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday )

WHITEHALL, APRIL 30.

The Queen has been pleased to give and grant unto
the undermentioned officers and men in her Majesty's
service her Majesty's Royal licence and permission that
they may accept and wear the insignia of the several
classes of the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour,
astached to their respective names, which his Maj ,sty
the Emperor of the French hash been- pleased to confer
upon them as a mark of his Imperial Majesty's approba-
tion of their distinguished services before the enemy
during the late war, and that they may enjoy all the
rights and privileges thereunto belonging.
[here follows a list of the names of tho officers and
men on whom the insignia have been conferred, as pub-
lished in our columns on Friday, April 24.)
MEMORANDUM.—The tame of Colonel John William
Gordon, C.B. of the Royal Engin,ers, is inserted in
substitution for that of Colonel Alexander Gordon, of
the same corps, who was included by mistake in the list
of British officers and men appointed to the order of the
Legion of Honour, published in the Supplement to the
London Gazette of the Ist of August, 1856. Lieut.-Col.
Gearge Steevens, who died on the 4th of February,
1857, was named to the sth class of the said order, and
would have received her Majesty's permission to accept
and wear it, had he survived.

[Advertisement.]
TO THE
SHAREHOLDERS :OF Tif,E OTTOMAN BANK
GENTLEMEN,—The profit of the first half-year of the
Ottoman Bank was nearly 181; percent., although it had
to contend against great prejudices, and the unitsd
efforts of the native bankers to thwart its establishment.
Ten per cent, given as dividend to the shareholders.
Seven and a-halt per cent. carried on to the next half-
year.
One per cent. nearly, put aside towards preliminary
expenses.
These results have been attained because all the ar-
rangements and appoietrueuts are good.
Mr. Layard, the chairman, is the right man in the
right place, and has the personal acquaintance of the
Ministers and of the influential and trading community
of Turkey.
The directors are all connected with other undertakings
which are succeslully managed, two of them being
directors of the Union Bank of Australia, which pays
42 per cent., and two others being partners in two
of the oldest established banks in the city. Mr.
Falconnet ( he manager), is acknowledged to be a
person of the greatest experience in the mode of
banking in the East ; whilst Mr. Coleman (the pub-
lic accountant), guarantees the correctness of the ac-
counts, and vouches that no advances are made of au
illegitimate character.
---e-...._
- The scrip certificates having been called in for regie-
The following letter has been addressed by the tration, shareholders who had borrowed on them have
India House to th© chairman of this company :—. been obliged
to sell in order to pay off their
olefatrise, and
" East India-House, April 30. these simultaneous sales have been the cause oft
tabr-
" Sir,--With reference to the correspoadence that has ket value of the shares being depreosse
a;veb has,.
tile
passed en the EUbjed of the establishment of telegraphic shares of several other banks
Bank, which
hate
y
communication between this countr and India by way half the dividend of the Ottoman B
advantage of
of Asiatic Turkey and the Persian Gulf, lam com- no public accountant as auditor, nor the :
mended to state that the Court of Directors of the East limited liability) are selling at a. high premium,. it in
India Company that when the public are satisfied, and it
have resolved to meet the wishes of the quite certain
that the Ottoman Bank is
E.uropean and Indian Telegraph Company, by allowing becomes generally known,
Sir W ''
suiting' ° Shau
"ihneag
engineer to that company
to accept, the appointment of con- daily adding to its sources of profit, that it will not
" The Court only continue its dividend of 10 per cent,* but aug-
-1 and that the shareholders are protected by
etnnle- tave likewise Tr:solved to sanction the rnent i ,
---,went by the Telegraph Company in the construc-. royal charter
.w.ith
into),limited liability (and these facts
will bear inquiring this property will be eagerly
tion of the line through Asiatic Turkey of Captain Chas.
\ ASH ARELIOLDEI
Douglev, of the Bengal Artillery, and Lieutenant Arthur sought after, and will rise 50 per cent. in value. I an',
Hawes, 38th Regiment Bengal Native Infantry, it being &c.
understood that the salary andareatiloowances of these o
in-
ters during such employment
graph Counpar.y, am, sir, you,
servant,
"W. P. At.drevv, Esq." r
most obedient humble ,
C M Jen.
r JAMEE; ELY
. . int:tont:7 April 29, 1857.
---
* It will be well to observe that there is no other
vestment we
which can be bought to pay this rate a

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COMPANY.