The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 8, 1842.

feet between the top of the scarp and the parapet,
the latter consisting 'of sand-bags. The enemy,
by the aid of scaling-ladders, crossed the ditch,
ascended the scarp and sloping bank, and endeavoured
to get over the parapet. Here they were resolutely
met with the musket and bayonet. Thrice they came
boldly on the assault, plantin4. one of their standards
within a yard of the muzzle of one of our guns, and
thrice they were driven back ; only one man suc-
ceeded in getting into the place, and he was shot with
his foot on the axle of this gun. Two guns were in
position at this part of the works, and the attempts.
of the enemy to get within the works through their
embrasures, and over the parapets on either side,
were so determined, that the artillerymen for some
minutes were obliged to quit their guns and betake
themselves to the musket and bayonet, with which
they did good service ; the Sepoys too fought well ;
one of them was observed by the artillerymen to
bayonet four men. The principal annoyance suf-
fered by the garrison was from showers of heavy stones,
these were thrown into the works in great quantity
Ito cover the escaladers, and several of our men were
knocked down and sinartiv bruised by them. During
the height of the assault the enemy fired little; they
had apparently siting their matchlocks, and came on
sword in hand, but they were met by a fire so deadly
and well sustained that they had no chance of success.
The officers of the garrison were all surprised at the
boldness and determination of the attack, but we un-
derstood afterwards, that, trusting to their numbers,
and emboldened no doubt by their previous successes
at Caubul and Ghuznee, they reckoned so confidently
on taking the place that many of their women were
waiting in the ravine close at hand to share in the
plunder of the garrison. The assault lasted from 20
minutes to half an hour, and at daybreak they drew
at', carrying away all their wounded and many of
their dead. A party of them took refuge behind some
rocks at the north-west angle of the works, and just
under the barracks, popping their heads out occasion-
ally; tbey,fired a few shots at us, but they fired so
seldom that their numbers were supposed to be few:
Two companies" of Sepoys sallied out to un-
earth them, and, to the surprise of all, at least
300 men broke cover and bolted for the neighbour-
ing: ravines faster than we ever saw Affghans run

before. A heavy fire was poured into them, but they
ran so fast, .amt cover was so close, that few of them
fell. The greater part of the enemy retired into the
ravines, into which they had dragged their dead and
wounded, and from daylight until half-past two P.M.
they were emploved in carrying them off. From
their trenches on the north face of the works, which
were filled with men, they kept up a pretty constant
fire to cover this process. • Had we possessed a few
good cavalry, we should have inflicted a heavier loss
on them, but they were strong in horse, having about
800 in the field, while we had not a mounted man,
and so it was judged prudent, as the ground afforded
excellent cover for their mode of fighting, to rest sa-
tisfied with the threshing we had given them, and to
permit them to carry off their wounded, without in-
curring the loss of our men in moving,on to• attack:
them. They left 104 dead bodies at the.foot of the de-
fence and within a few days..after the assault, the
POitical -.Agent: ascertained that the , number of
:ancl' 'of Wounded men, .who ,died.within a
few, days after the action, considerablycxceeded
.06 ;the _dead. hodies. Avere,,found
,quaptities of 01,4
own magazine ' cartridges, supposed -to: have been
procured at Ghuznee, and which accounted

for their unusual expenditure of ammunition.
Computed by themselves the lowest number
of assailants was stated at 5,500 men, the highest at
7,000. On the body of the Nezir of Mere Allutn,
chief of the Hotuck tribe of Ghilzies, who fell in the

asFault, was found the muster-roll of his contingent,
linountinfr, to 2,000 and odd men ; he furnished
about a third part of the force, so that the number
of the assailants must have been about 6,000 men.

By sun-set on the day of attack, not an enemy was
visible? and it was a source of honest congratulation
to the garrison, that we had driven off our enemies,
,nd inflicted .a heavy loss on them by our own efforts.
Tae garrison consisted of about 900 men, about 500
of whom were actually engaged. When we took
pAssession of the place it consisted of little more than
three ranges of barracks for the troops, built on a
commanding position. By the assiduous labours of
the Sepoys and the constant supervision of the engi-
neers and officers, it had been converted into a post of
such strength, as, if well defended, would have puzzled
regular troops, unfurnished with guns, to take, and did
defy the Atighans. It must have been a source of honest
pride to our excellent Commanding-officer to find
that when position of greater strength had sub-
mitted, he had not only fortified his own post, but
maintained it,and signally defeated the enemy before it.
Troops in quarters in this country have seldom
suffered more from the severity of the climate and

the privation of accustomed necessaries than those at
Khelati-Ghllzie. During the more severe days in
winter, the Hindoo Sepovs did not cook for two days
together, and even the Europeans, so bitter was the
cold,:were glad ‘to keep their barracks, and even their
beds, to keep themselves warm. Our bazaar was
tatterly destitute of everything excepting the usual
Commissariat rations issued from the godown, and fOr
some months these were served to the Sepoys on a
reduced, scale. As for the officers, they laughed at
their own privations, but they will not soon forget the
dreary winter days, their shivering meetings at mess-
table, their tiffins on bread and water, and their
nights at mess to discuss their scanty fare, to which
hunger was an excellent sauce, and the only season-
ing. Two days after the defeat of the enemy we
heard of the advance of Colonel Wymer's brigade to
relieve us, which arrived on the 25th of May. We
moved into camp, the barracks and defences of Khelat-
i-Ghilzie were destroyed, and the 7th of June saw us
safe at Candahar."—Delhi Gazette, Aug. 10.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Bengal Hurkarx, Aug. 12.)
STATE OF THE MARKETS.
We give our usual notice of the state of commer-
cial affairs here ; which have not, however, assumed
that active condition we had expected to have found
when we last wrote.: one reason of which may, we
think, be found in the corresponding action produced
by the dull state of the home market shown in the last
mail that reached us, arising from the delay that has
taken place in the final decision on the Tariff, and the
next mail is, therefore, looked to with some degree of
anxiety by our • merchants here. Freights continue
also at a very low ebb, 355. being taken for dead
weight, ~and we have even heard of one transaction
below that sum. This has given encouragement to
shipments, which haVe, however, been chiefly under
drafts against the consignments, not above half having

been taken up in the Market.
MONEY MARKET.—The demand mad 6 by the Court
of Directors of 2s. id. for their bills having had, as
was to be expected, its full effect on remittances to
:his place, prevented our markets from being much
affected by the arrival of the mail, and it must be
Some time yet before the arrival of the specie which
had been shipped can give its due effect of liveliness to
our market, which, however, continues in a healthy
state. The rates of exchange have, for some little
time past, been rather favourable to the buyer; and
as it is well known that a considerable amount of bills
s now in the market, the prices nuw quoted of ls.
:o ls. 111 d. may be expected to exceed 2s. by the time
the Express leaves.
Imports of European goods have experienced rather
more activity than when the last overland left us ;
but they have been considerable during the month,
And much exceeding those of the same period in last
year. There still Qxists; however, among the mer-
chants in the upper provinces, a want of confidence
in bills on Calcutta houses, and this has a considerable
effect on the market for such goods as are usually
taken by them in large quantities at this time of year.
COUNTRY. PRODUCE.—Indigo having arrived at that
period of the season when an estimate may be formed
with some degree of accuracy excites much interest,
and we regret that the close of the season at most of
the Bengal factories, which has, by this time, taken
place, shows a very bad prospect for the planters,
most of whom will think themselves fortunate
if they cover their outlay. We last month de-
tailed the bad state of many districts, and in
these we have to note that the continuance of
a heavy fall of rain has put an end to the small
hopes that then remained of a recovery of the later
sown plant. Poorneah, which we then noticed as
less reduced from the season than most other districts,
has since suffered severely to the north and west.
Some parts of Shahabad still promise well, as does
also what plant there is in Bhagulpore. In the upper
provinces they have commenced manufacturing, but
their dependence is confined even there, where a long
continuance of fine weather raised good hope ~(A. the
out-turn, to the koontee, as the very .heavy
falls of rain that have visited them in the latter
end of July must have done much injury to
fil,e Calcutta
inches,
whilstts neighbourhoodih
some
of t
he
Ushulah sowings. The quantity of' rain fallen in the
haslast
exceeded
twomontthhis in r
Bengal districts full ten inches more has appeared by
the rain-gueges to be the quantity; it will, therefore,
be readily believed that but little colour can remain in
the plant under such a drenching. We have seen a
memorandum of estimate made by a gentleman of
several factories which he has lately visited, some of
them holding marks that secure good prices in the
market ; this shows that at certain concerns that last
year turned out 26,500 maunds, there will not this
year be more than 8,500 maunds. Information too,
from all quarters, on which we can place reliance,
induces our estimating the probable crop at less than
85,000 maunds, which will doubtless have its due
influence ,on the home market to the benefit of those
who have been able to hold. Little now remains of
our last year's crop in Calcutta, the past month's de-
parture having taken away 4,050 maunds to Great
Britain, and 18 maunds elsewhere, 140,289 maunds
being the quantity that has left Calcutta up to the
present period.
SUGAR.7--The last mcnth began with an extensive

demand for Benares sugars of first and second qua-
lities, at exorbitantly high rates, which only 'lasted
until the arrival of the_ overland:brought us accounts
of the decline (:)' price for this species of sugar in
the London market, which, though only small, yet
. brought the article below a remunerative rate, and
satisfactorily proved that the prices holding in our
market would barely yield a remittance, set aside
all profit. A stagnation took place in the market,
consequent on this news, and when it re-opened
it was at a decline of from 4 to 6 annas, since
when but feW lots have been taken up, even
on the-reductions, and no business done in this article
to any extent. As was before statei, we still con-
sider that middling descriptions continue to offer the
best prospect to the speculator, to whom the extraor-
dinary low rates of freight offer yet stronger induce-
ments. The shipments of July were 208,893 mds.
against 117,435 rods, in the same month of last year,
the prices ranging even higher than at that time, and
the average rates of good Merchantable and fine sugars
of all descriptions being about 10 per cent. in all July
more than when our last mail left this; though at the
present time rates are at about the same standard.
SALTPETRE at the commencement of last month
was in free request, but the arrival of the mail threw
a temporary damp on the market, and combining with
failure in supply of the best descriptions created great
dullness; this, however, is now somewhat allayed,
and a steady demand is gOing on at from 5 rupees.to
6-3 rupees. The shipments to Great Britain have
been in all July 52,037 maunds, and being chiefly of
good quality, the average price has stood at 5-15-9
rupee.:.
RAW SILK finds no sale, except for fine descriptions,
which are, and have been for sometime past, very
scarce indeed. We still continue under the impres-
sion that we before expressed, that this trade is fast
slipping away from us, and, that unless some enter-
prising Europeans he found to take an active interest
in its production we shall lose the market altogether,
notwithstanding that the country is capable of pro-
ducing, both in quantity and quality, silk that might
successfully compete with that of any part of the
world, the exports of July have been Mds. 1,080,
nearly 33 per cent. less than those of the same month
in last year, when Mds. J;472 left this port, the whole
of which was shipped for Great Britain, whilst of that
leaving in the past month only Mds. 890 went to that
country.
SILK PIECE GOODS.—The market for coral's has
been more active even than when we made our last
report. The exports of July have doubled those in
the same mouth in 1841, the prices ranging from
Rs. 120 to R.s. 142 per corge; the small portion, how-
ever, that has been parted with in the market at the
lower rate, makes the average of all sales of the
month nearly Rs. 140. Coloured goods have little .
demand, although during the month 4,790 pieces have
been taken for the home market, and above 20,000 for
Bombay and Rangoon at low prices.
LAC AND Lac DYE continue in little demand, as
must be expected for many months ; the sales since
our last have been extremely limited, the latter chang-
ing hands at Rs. 712 in a late sale of inferior quality,
and the fornier going at from Rs. 6-4 to Rs. 9-4; the
shipments to Great Britain in July were 3,775 rn.ds.,
and a- feW ,chests were .taken, for 13ornhay and- the
American. trade. _
. RICE still CtiEtlEgeSP be, shipped to Great Britain;
notwithstanding the threatening appearance of the
market there, from the certain effect that must be
produced' by the new tariff; 38,928 mds. have gone
to the Mauritius, some vessels having made that trip
rather than remain idle in this port, waiting for
cargO; 13,194 mds. have -gone to Bombay, and some
17,810 maunds to China; in all 98,600 mds. of all
descriptions have left this port, at rates ranging
from Its. 1-4 to 1-6 for Moonghy rice, and from its. 2
to 2-8 for fine table kinds. The market is just now
very dull.
COTTON.—Some little excitement was expected
from the public sales of some of the cotton grown at
.Bundlekund under the American growers, and sent
down as a sample. There were altogether 64 bales,
two of which were native cotton, submitted to the
process of giving, which sold at from Rs. 11-12 to
12-4, the lest ping Off at from Rs. 13-8 to 14-4.
Our market otherwise is free, though prices are rather,
looking. down. The exports to China, in July, were
bales 7,290, amounting to 26,481 mds.

• Rum is m no demand.
limEs nave been taken. freely on the low rates of
freights, and the fair promise of the lateSt reports from
home.
HORNS AND ;I'll's are in request at present prices.

lENIP AND JUTE continue at the saine price as noted

our last, but are in good demand at market rates.
LINSEED has lately been in request, but chiefly for
the American trade, which has taken from 13,000 to
14,000 maunds last month, and still seeks more at
favourable dates from Rs. 3-4 to Rs. 3-8 per maund
for clean seed.
Our trade, since last has been favourable in its ex-
tent, and prices have'been generally improved since
last year; nevertheless, it is clear to every one, that
the delay in the tariff has had its effect here, and that
there is an evident holding off until the result of this
question, so important to the mercantile interest, is
decisively known.
INDIGO PROSPECTS (LATEST NEWS). —The latest
accounts we have received from the factories make us
doubt if even 90,000 maunds of the dye will be ob-
tained this season. Many factories that were relied
upon for a supply of indigo, in consequence of their
exerting themselves to get the plant into the vats as
fast as possible, have had their labours frustrated by
the sudden rise and pouring in of the river, and others
have so very little plant left as not to think it worth
their while to work it up into dye.
COMMERCIAL REMARKS.
_ ImPORTS.

Cochineal.—ln consequence of the late extensive
Auports from Bombay, the price has declined con-
siderably.
Cotton.—Bombay, 7 to 9.2 ; Bengal, 8 to 9.6; Madras,
10 to 10.5 nominal, as none is in first hands.
Cotton Goods.—The late imports per Ackbar, &c.,
have caused a 'still further decline. Grays are now
worth dr. 2.30 a 2.50--Whites, 2.10 a 2.40. Sales have
been made at $2.75 a 2.80, but the price of the teas
bought has been in proportion.
Cotton Yarn-18 a. 40, ,$.97 a 29 per pecul, stock
nearly 7,000 bales, and, price declining.
Long Ells.—sq fur assorted colours. Scarlet, $9 a 91.
Lead.—s6.2s. A native mine has lately been worked,
which has caused the decline in this article ; it must,
however, be only temporary, as the Chinese cannot pro-
duce native lead at less that 37 per pecul.

EXPOItTE.

Teas are rather deareriicconsequence of the anxiety
lately shown to sell Bombay cotton, and for which parties
are compelled to take teas ; as the teamen are fully aware
of the quantity of cotton on its way here, they will
doubtless nold out for higher rates for teas, which, in the
present scarcity of cash, parties will be compelled to take
for their cotton.
RATES OF EXCHANGE AND PRICES OF BULLION.
On London, six months' sight, 4s. Bd.
Government, 30 days, 4s. 9d.
On Calcutta, 30 days, 224 to 226 Company's rupees
May
28 ;
iiga Chusan,ur CALCUTTA per 100 Mexican dollars.
East India Directors' Bills, at 60 days' sight, 224
rupees per $lOO.
On Bombay private bills, at 30 days' sight, 225 ru-
pees ditto.
On Madras private bills, at 30 days' sight, 227 ru-
pees ditto.
Sycee silver, large 1 per cent. premium, small 2 per
cent, discount.
Old Head dollars in canton 7 to 8 per cent. premium.
' Ferdinand dollars, in. Canton at 717 weight.
Republican dollars, .'6 to 7 per cent. discount, for cut
money.
Freight to London from Macao 51., from Whampoa
31., very scarce and difficult to be procured.
LATEST DATEs.—England, March 4 ; United States,
Jan. 92 ; Calcutta, April2o ; Bombay, April 14 ; Java,
MONEY-MARKET.
April 2 ; Sinpore, MaY 12 ; Manila --; Amoy,
May 26.
aru-office, Calcutta, Aug. 12, 1842.
Bank shares are stationary at our quotations, and
some speculation in. them at those rates.
DANK SHARES.
Rupees. Rupees.
Bengal Bank (Compoly:8 rs., 4,000) 2,400 to 2,430 pm.
Union Bank (Company a rs., 1,000) 1,130 to 1,140 pm.
Agra Bank (CompanYS rs., 500) ••• 190 to 200 pm.
Bonded warehouse ..................... 30 to 5 dis.
Bombay Bank ........................... 120 to 170 pm.
Discount onRATER
OF INTEREST AND DISCOUNT.
BANK OF BENGAL. Per Cent.
ivate bills and notes, at or
within three months ........................... 8
Discount on Government acceptances, at or
within three months 6
Interest on loans and accounts of credit, not ex-
ceeding three months, on deposit of,Com-
pany's paper ............ ....... ...................... 6i
Interest on deposit of.opi. _ and salt'
UNION BANK. 7
Intereat on deposit of metals and indigo 7l-
Interest on deposit of other goods
Discounts—Government acceptances
6
Discount,:---Privato
bills, adjusted policies of
insurance, account sales, &c., not
having more than 3months to run 10
Loans and cash credits—On deposit of securi-
ties in bonded ware-
house lO
Fixed deposits—lnterest at, 5i- per cent. is allowed on
money not withdrawable without 30
days' notice, and deposited for not
less than three months.
BILLS OF EX.CHANGE—UNION BANK.

s. d.
Six months after sight 2 Oi
Four months after sight
Three months after sight 2 0
Two months after sight
Tim Bank grants no bills at longer date than six
months after. sight.

The Right Hon. the Lord Cowley, Ambassador
Extraordinary, )linister Plenipotentiary to the
Court of Paris, arrived in London yesterday by the
General Steam Navigation.. Company's steam-ship,
Magnet, Captain B. Stock, from Boulogne.

CHINA.

' The latest China date is the 7th of June. The
intelligence of most importance is the capture of
Chapoo, the mart of the China trade with Japan.
It appears from the following accounts that the
place was taken without the loss of a single man,
but untbrtunately a rencontre occurred between
300 Tartars and a small British force, in which
one officer and ten men were killed, and several
wounded.

A great many transports, steamers, and several
ships of war, had arrived at Hong-Kong. The
first division of the reinforcements, consisting of
the Endymiou frigate, three steamers, and seven
transports, had sailed fbr the northward, and the
others would be dispatched with as little loss of
time as possible. Sir Henry Pottinger was
still at Hong-Kong, and was to proceed to
the northward in a few days in the steamer
Auckland. Nothing authentic has transpired
as to the plan of the approaching cam-
paign. Some are of opinion that the Yang-
tse•Keang and the Great Canal are to be
the points of attack, and not Pekin. Others,
with perhaps greater probability, think that
Pekin is the object at which the efforts of our
troops are to be directed, where they will either
frighten the Emperor beyond the great wall, or
drive him into any compact we may dictate. Be
that as it may, the northern capital is now more
than ever before an object of attention, attract-
ing alike all eyes, foreign as well as native, far
and near. At Tientsen, and all along the Peiho,
from the sea to the capital, the Chinese have
made great preparations for defence. The forts
are reported to be more than a hundred in num-
ber, and the troops almost innumerable. No-
thing of this, however, appears in the Peking
Gazettes, which, down to about the middle of
April, are filled with the usual memorials, edicts,
notifications of new appointments, &c. The rumour
that the Emperor had fled from Pekin into Tartary
is not confirmed. The monarchs of the reigning
dynasty have been accustomed generally to spend
the hot season at Moukden, in Mantchourie, the
ancient residence of their family ; a practice for
some years discontinued by the present Em-
peror. Whether the advent of the British ar-
mament may induce him to resume the practice
remains to be seen. The oritzinal sentence
passed upon Lin, namely, banishment to Ele,
" the cold country," has been carried into exe-
cution. Keshen has been banished to Mant-
chouria, and old Elepu sent again to Chekeang-.
In the south the British authorities, probably
averse to commit themselves to measures that
might require the retention ofa large force, have
permitted the Chinese to rebuild their defences;
and from a little above Whampoa, upwards,
Canton and its approaches are more strongly for-
tified than ever before.

Chusan has-been virtually abandoned to the
Chinese Government, and it must be recaptured.
Her Majesty's present Government, it is painful
to I:poiv,'4ave not 'reetified. "tire blunder corn-
priqed by their predecessors in dividing the re-
,sponsibility of the difierent beads of the expe-
dition.. Sir:Henry Pottinger, it seems, can only
adViSe with Sir Hugh Gough and Sir W. Parker,
not control them. As it is, there is every pro-
bability that the present season will not witness
the conclusion of the enterprise, and that it may
be spun out to a. fourth year, and thus entail on
England the expense of the vast armament
now in China during another twelvemonths.
The settlement on the island of Hong-Kong
appears to progress rapidly, so far as the
erection of private buildings is concerned ; it has,
however, been ordered by the higher authorities
to be held only as a military post. All the public
works which were in progress have been sud-
denly stopped. This seems strange and unac-
coon table.
Shipments of bullion and specie are in pro-
gress from England to China. The steatnex
Memnon, has left Singapore with 150,000 Spanishdollars on board tier the public service—a prac-
tical commentary on the wisdom of Captain
Elliot in sending the Canton ransom money out
of China. The expenses incurred both ways, in
sending the treasure away, and bringing it back
again, must be very great.

FALL OF CHAPOO.
(Letter of an officer in the Fleet.)
Orr CuAPoo, MAY 23.—We moved from Chusan
on the Bth, and on the 16th we reconnoitred in the
Phlegethon and Nemesis without interruption, and
satisfied ourselves of the ChineSe means cf defence.
The line of land from east to west, for three miles,
ending at the 'suburb of the city, comprised separate
hills ; the slopes between were fortified by field works,
and on the last of these hills next the town were tw3
batteries, about one-third up, consisting of seven and
five guns. In front of the town facing the water was
a circular battery, mounting, I suppose, fourteen or
fifteen guns, and further to the westward another, al-
together about forty-five guns on the sea face. The
hills and works appeared to be covered with soldiers.
On the 17th we moved in ; and on the 18th the Corn-
wallis, Blonde, and Modeste, being anchored abreast
and as close to the battery as possible, opened their
fire, which was very faintly returned: To
our right (eastward) the troops disembarked
on a fine sandy bay without accident, and headed by
the gallant Sir Hugh, pushed on over the heights,
and soon came upon a causeway leading to the city.
The Chinese fled before them in every direction. As
soon as possible after the troops moved from the east,
the naval brigade landed at the west end of the
heights, and joined the troops between the heights and
the suburbs. 'Up to this time every defence had been
carried with scarcely any loss ; but about 300 Tartar
troops, finding escape impossible, and being inspired
with the idea that the English would give no quarter,
took possession of a joss-house on the spot, defending
themselves most desperately ; and it was not until the
house fell upon them that about forty were taken—
the rest perished.
in this affair we have met with a very severe loss.
Colonel Tomlinson, of the 18th, and eight men of the
army, killed. Colonel Mountain, the Adjutant-Ge-
neral; Campbell, 55th; and Jodell, 49th, wounded
severely ; and 45 men. The Navy—Two killed and
four wounded. The Chinese had about 10,000 men,
one-third Tartar troops. We captured an immense
quantity of arms of all sorts.----Bombay Times, Aug. 17.

POSITIONS of the BRITISH and CHINESE
FORCE S.—CHAPOO and HANG-CHOW.
Hangchan lies on the north bank of the river
Tsientang, at a point where that river, after a rapid
course from the southward and westward, through
the western districts of the province, begins to open
out and form a wide embouchure towards the sea.
" The tide when full," says Sir G. Staunton, in his
account of Macartney's .embassy, " increases the
width of this river to about four miles opposite the
city. At low water there is a fine level of strand
near two miles broad, which extends towards the sea
as far as the eye can reach."
On its southern shore, as we proceed eastward from
Hangchan, this swift-flowing river has deposited,
during the lapse of ages, upon the slope of a ridge of
hills that skirt it to the southward, bank upon bank
of sand and earth, brought down by its rapid stream
from the high mountain range (one of the outmost of
the off-branches of the Himalayas) wherein it has its
source. Under the triple distinction of hardened
ground, firm sands, and quick sands, these deposits of
centuries have so narrowed the stream in its progress
onward, that the deep channel that has been left on
on its northern edge has been found to flow with a
rapidity, which even the steam-vEssels, when sent out
to survey, were unable during the spring-tides to stem.
A stone causeway, built and kept in repair with
much labour and the utmost exertions of Chinese en-
gineering skill, serves, on the northern bank, to keep
out the encroachments of river and sea from the gene-
rally flat country that lies between this place and the
Yangstz' Kiang—a country everywhere intersected
with streams, rendering it rich and fertile in the highest
degree, and, at the same time, sufficiently diversified
with hills to add beauty to the scene, and to make it
in all respects one of the most lovely and interesting
parts in the whole empire of China.
The sand-banks on the southern shore reach nearly
to Chinhai, not many miles to the westward of which
the unfortunate ship Kite was lost in 1840, and her
crew conveyed to TsZki and Yuyan, and thence to
Ningpo. The river Tsaungo, rising in the centre of
the Chekiang province, flows northward, almost in a
straight line, into the embouchure of the Tsientang
or Hangchan river : and thus makes a slight break in
the line of these sand-banks, to examine which Com-
mander Collinson has recently been sent out, but
with what success he has met we have yet
to learn. Communicating, too, with the river
of Ningpo by means of a canal, that ex-
tends likewise from the Tsaungo, westward past the
city of Shanhing, and ends at a place directly
.oppo-
site to Hangchan a line of communication by inland
waters is thus afforded between the British position of
Chinghai and Ningpo, and the head• quarters of the
Chinese force at that provincial capital—a line which
has been twice described to us—first by the PP.
Bouvet, Fontenay, and others, on their route from
Ningpo by way of Hangchan to Pekin in 1687—
and then, by a portion of Lord Macartney's embassy,
proceeding in an opposite direction, from Hangchan
to rejoin their ship at Chusan, in 1793. The em-
bankment and causeway, on the northern shore of the
Tsientang river and embouchure, extend from Hang-
chan, with little interruption, to the knot of hills that
encircles the bay and town g-fk.Chapoo, passing by the
ancient Canfu (Kanpu) of:iLohammedan travellers,
before it reaches this the modern seat of the rick trade
with Japan ; and nearly parallel with this road runs.
a canal, its banks adorned at short distances with pret-
tily wooded villages. .
We have thus three modes of approaching Hang-

chan—first, by the sea and the river of Tsientang, a
route which sand banks and rapid tides render most
difficult, if not impracticable ; secondly, by inland
water, from Chinghai and Ningpo to the shore opposite
the capital, carrying us past Shanhing ararsevertd
other fortified towns, and meeting 'interruptions
some places of locks that must be ascended`; and
thirdly, by land route from Chapoo, upon.a carefully
preserved causeway, whereof we possess rather well-
drawn native maps, and which we have reaSo(n to be-
lieve good, and of sufficient width fora'tillerya
these routes a question can scarcely arise as to „which'
will be found the best to advance upon.
A distance of about fifty miles of seaa measured on
a line drawn northward and westward, separates
' Chinghai from Chapoo ; and a somewhat greater dis-
tance of causeway has to be travelled Over be-
fore reaching Hangchan from this latter place..
But the town of Chapoo once taken (and it can
be come at by the guns of the British ships,
as the Algerine proved in 1840), and its hills once ,
crossed, there is little other than a large tract of plain
ground, with perhaps only small streams intersecting
it, to be passed over in the march thence upon Hang-,
chan. The city of Kiahing Fu lies, however, not far
from this route, nor many miles distant from Chapoo,
and here the main force of the Chinese left wing will
have to be encountered. Its centre rests upon Hang-
chan, and " the rich and beautiful country about
ninety miles in length," that lies between it and Suchan,
on either side of the grand canal, The chief position
of its right wing is Shanhing, a large city, situated, as
already mentioned, on a branch of the river Tsaungo,
and about midway between Ningpo and Hangchan—
from which advanced parties have been frequently
pushed out to Yuvau and Tsz'ki, chief towns of dis-
tricts on the north bank of the Ningpo river, situated
between that river and the sand banks of the embou-
chure of the Tsientang.
With the centre of this extended Chinese force we
find; surrounding himself with every sensual indul-
gence, the Imperial High Commissioner, Viking-,
" awe-inspiring General, a Minister of the Cabinet of
Six, a President of the Tribunal of Civil Office," and
a nephew or cousin of the Emperor, attended by a
galaxy of high provincial officers, the Tartar General,
the Governor, Sze. Scc., and by two. joint Commis-
sioners, by name Teishun and Wan Wei, to whom a
third has lately been added, and a multitude of " cour-
tiers," or officers sent immediately to the presence of
the Emperor. Kishen, too, would have been of the
number (for he is among the friends of Viking), but
for the strongly urged remonstrances, as we are 'led to
believe, o f the Governor, Liu Vunko. With the
left wing, at iiiaking-fu is Huchau, another joint
commissioner, who, having gained rank and nobility
by the war of 1831 against Jenanguir' and his
Turks, at Cashgar and Yarkand in the farthest
west, hopes now to adorn himself with honours'
wrested by his own right hand from „the
English on the sea coasts of the,east. At Shaulling,
with the right wing, is Chin Kiaiping, an aged 'nap,
lately retired from the chief,command in. Fukien, put
now again called forth' ass joint Commissioner prid
Commander. in-Chief-in Chekiang; with whom tare
associated the active and, intelligent old General, Yu
Puyun, late Commander-in-Chief of the• proYincial
force, and all 'those .who; with him, retired defeated
from Chinghai ;and Ningpo, :after the death of chat
savage self,eorifident,,gerieralissime, Ytikien. Vrider
these numerous-officers are assembled ninny thousands
of select troops, from almost every province of the
empire, foremost among whom stands a detachment of
the Imperial Guards—a body of the men of Kansu,
tall and athletic inheritors of the blood of Mohamme-
dan Turks and Tartars—and a band of aborigines
froth the mountain fastnesses of Hukwang or of
Sz'chuen, called forth now to meet the new invaders
of the country, from whose plains they themselves
have by former invaders been long since expelled.
Against this who'.e force we find marshalled, under
the Gallant Lieutenant-General and Vice-Admiral
Sir Hugh Gough and Sir William Parker, besides
the necessary detachments of Royal and Madras Ar-
tillery and Engineers, only four regiments of Foot,
the 18th, 26th, 49th, and 55th (none of them com-
p!ete), and two battalions from the Navy, consisting
of Royal Marines" and seamen. And of so small an
array portions must yet be left to rest upon Chinghai
and Tinghai, while the main body is moving forward
to meet the left and centre of the Chinese army. That
army 'met and worsted, its right will alone remain,
hemmed in, resourceless, between the division of the
British force at Chinghai and at Hangchan—and
quickly as the dew it must dissolve away. But so
dispelled it will become yet more formidable than in
its entirety, if, instead of withdrawing from one field
of battle to seek elsewhere another, the British forces
should repose from their toils amid the scattered but
not subjected multitudes of the enemy. Blow must
succeed rapidly to blow, if final success is to be hoped
for. It was by the windmills in active motion that
the redoubtable Don Quixote was worsted ; he might
have come off scatheless in the collision with them, in
the calm and idle rest of a breathless summer's day.—
Canton Press, June 4.

Columbine, 18, Commander Morshead.
Clio, 16, Commander E. Troubridge.
Algerine, 10, Lieutenant Maitland.
Lady Bentinck, surveying vessel, ConLB.
• Troop-ship Jupiter, Mas.,.Com.• K. Futn.
AO'n.Coinpany s steamer Nemesis,LieuqV
liOn. COmpany's steamer Queen, Alas.'
Warden.
Hon. Comp4ny's steamer Phlegethon, Lieut. 111'Cle-
verty.
iloli.Comici4y's steam ers ostris, C,om. Ortnab_vil.N.
lion. Company's steamerTenasserim,Cont.W44LN.
AT AMOY.

Herald, 26, Captain J.*Nias, C.B.
Pylades, 18, Commander Tindal (absent).
Cameleon, 10, Lieutenant Hunter.
Starling, 6, Commander H....Kellett.
SQUADRON AT TIM MOUTH OF CANTON UPPER.

Blenheim, Captain Sir Thos. Herbert,
senior commanding officer.''
Druid, 44, Captain H. Snai), C.B.
Nimrod, 18, Commander alasse. L
Hyacinth, 18, Commander G. Goldsmith.,
Royalist, 10, Lieutenant Chetwood.
_ Young llebe, 4, Lieutenant Wood. ,
Her Alajesty's steam vessel Vixen,. Commoder
H.Boyes.
11. C. S. Hooghly, Mas. Corn. Rosa.
H. G. S. Ariadne, Alas. Corn. Roberts, I.N.
H. C. S. Auckland, Alas. Com. Ethersey, LN:
H. C. S. Medusa, -
IL C. S. Pluto, Lieut. Tudor, R.N.

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• -Trf;-
W.H.IIall.
74.1141N4216)