The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-02-14 00:00:00

WAR WITH CHINA.

(From the Sun of Wednesday.)
By extraordinary express from Paris the following impor-
tant news from India and China. The news from China was
brought to Bombay by the Good Success, Captain Fraser,
which arrived there on the 23d of December. It was an-
nounced by the Good Success that all negotiations between
the superintendent and the Chinese government were broken
off, and also the particulars of an engagement between her
Majesty's ships Volage and Hyacinth, with 30 Chinese war
junks, in which the latter is said to have lost 900 men.
(From the Bombay Courier, of Dec. 24.)
The Good Success, Captain Fraser, arrived yesterday from
China. By her we have received Singapore papers to the
21st November, from which we present our readers with the
following summary of the latest China news :
" successive event in this quarter seems to
deepen the crisis at which affairs bare arrived, and to com-
plicate our affairs with the empire. We had scarcely issued
an extra on Thursday evening, announcing to our readers
that the imperial commissioner had broken off the convention
which he had concluded with the superintendent, for carry-
ing on a trade outside the Bogue, had renewed his de-
mand for the surrender of the murderer of Lin-wel-he,
and threatened all the shipping at Hong-Kong with de-
struction, unless they either entered the port, or took their
departure from the coast within three days, when intelligence
was brought by the Cornwallis, that her Majesty's ships of
war the Volage and Hyacinth had an engagement with a fleet
of war junks off Chumpee'.—ending, as might be expected, in
the discomfiture of the latter, who it appears, were the first
to assume the offensive. The facts, as stated in private cor-
respondence, are as follows :—Captain Elliot had proceeded
on board of the Volage, with the Hyacinth in company, to
Chumpee, to deliver a chop to the commissioner, when a fleet
of twenty-nine war junks sailed out, with the manifestinten-
tion of surrounding the two ships of war, and continued to
close round them, regardless of repeated and urgent warning
as to consequences, until it became necessary to open fire
upon them. This was promptly returned by the junks, when
a regular engagement ensued, and in less than half an hour
five of the junks were sunk, another was blown up, and the
remainder, many of them in a disabled state, crowded all sail
to escape. This they were permitted to do ; the example
that had been made of them having been deemed sufficient,
or rather, as it is said, Captain Smith, of the Volage, having
yielded to the entreaties of Captain Elliot, to discontinue the
destructive fire from the ships, and permit the escape of the
fugitives. It is allowed that the Chinese fought pretty well ;
but the only damage sustained on our side is stated to be a
121 b. shot in the mizen-mast of the Hyacinth.
" Letters state that new fortifications were in course of
construction at Hong-kong, and the few English who had
gone back to Macao were again warned away by Capt. Elliot
after the engagement. How that event will operate with re-
spect to those on board of the Thomas Coatts, which is en-
tirely in the power of the commissioner, is a serious consi-
deration, and seems destined to put to the test the sincerity
of his professions of Moderation and favour towards vessels
entering the port, or the justice of the charges made against
him of acting ' with undistinguishing violence.'
"A recent adventure on the coast will in all probability tend
to heighten the general difficulties with which our affairs are
surrounded in China. The Canton Press of the 2d instant,
reports that accounts have been received from the west coast
of an affair between opium smugglers and the Mandarin boats,
in which one of the latter was sunk, several men killed, and
seven of the survivors sent back with their tails cut off !
This fact, it appears, had come to the commissioner's know-
ledge ; and " swarm" as he still proclaims himself to be, " on
behalf of the celestial empire to remove utterly this root of
misery, and not to let the foreign vessels have an off-shoot
left for the evil to bud forth again," the intelligence is not
likely to incline him to gentler measures than be has hereto-
fore resorted to."

(From the Bombay Courier, of Dec. 28.)
Hong Kong Bay, 7th of November, 1839.
Our last respects of the 29th ult. communicated the viola-
tion on the part of the imperial commissioner of the conven-
tion between him and Captain Elliot, to conduct the trade
outside the Bogus. The two vessels of war at present here
went to the Bogue with Captain Elliot, to deliver a chop,
which after little discussion was taken by the Chinese Ad-
miral on the 3d instant, and immediately after it appears he.
ordered twenty-nine of his war junks out, with the evident
object of surrounding the men of war, which was repre-
sented by the Captain of the Volage, he ordering them
the same time to move away ; they, however, perse-
vering in their object, Captain Smith was compelled in
self defence to open his fire upon them, and an engagement
of short duration was the result between the Volage, the
Hyacinth, and the war junks, in which the latter suffered
severely ; five or six were sunk or blown up, and the rest
were spared as they were preparing to retire ; whether this
forbearance 'has been judicious or not, remain to be seen.
Captain Elliot returned to Macao most unexpectedly, and in
the night all the English.were warned to leave hmediately,
and only a few now remain. Preparations are making here
by the Chinese. Constructing fortifications and encamp..
ments, no doubt to operate against the fleet, and they have
already attempted to carry off some gentlemen walking
peaceably on shore. We have not had any communication
from Captain Eliot yet, or the vessels of war which are now
here, but we trust some more energetic measures will be
adopted than have hitherto characterised his proceedings to
bring the Chinese to reasonable terms.
With respect to trade it appears that a serious decline had
taken place in the price of all imports, but that tea and silk
had advanced. There was nothing doing in Exchanges. We
learn that the Good Success has brought on about £lO,OOO
of Captain Eliott's bills on her Majesty's treasury.

IMPORTANT FROM INDIA.
(From the Bombay Times Extra, December 4.)
Captain Outram has brought despatches from General
Wilshire, whose camp before Khelat he left on the night of
the 15th ult., announcing the capture of that place on the
13th ult., and the death in the conflict of Mehrab Khan, the
chief, all of whose principal Sirdars were killed or taken, and
hundreds of other prisoners.
This was accomplished by a weak brigade of infantry (her
Majesty's 17th and 2d foot, and Bengal 31st regiment,) and
six light guns, at mid-day, by storming the place in the teeth
of 2000 Beloochees, the elite of the nation, after a previous
march and assault of some heights commanding the approach,
on which the enemy had six guns in position.
Our loss was severe, 140 killed and wounded—about one-
fifth of the number actually engaged, one officer, Lieutenant
Gravat, of the Queen's, among the former ; and six or seven
officers among the latter, but none severely.
Captain Outram made his way through Beloocbistan in
disguise, from Khelat to Somneana, by a different route to
that travelled by Pottinger in 1869—a distance of upwards of
350 miles, which he accomplished in 74 days, but has since
had an unfortunately tedious passage by sea.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-Y ESTE R D AY.

A TROUBLESOME " BIRD."

Alice Plunkett, a pretty-looking young woman, albeit with
somewhat of the " tartar" in her countenance and demeanour,
which former exhibited certain proofs of a recent pugilistic
encounter, charged her husband, Robert Plunkett, with
having returned home late on Tuesday night, and assaulted
her. She said she had been married to the defendant about
nine years, and had two children. She wished him to
allow her a separate maintenance.

When defendant was asked what he had to say, he com-
menced—" I had been to the Circus "

Plaintiff (depreciatingly)--lon had been to Holloway's
Sans Pareil. (Laughter.)
Defendant then said that when he went home he found the
plaintiff and her mother intoxicated they caught hold of
him, but were so drunk that they fell over each other on to
the door. He did not blame his wife so much as her mother:
they were a bad set.
Plaintiff (sneeringly)—You ! you are all rogues and black-
guards : if you don't mind, I'll send you somewhere.
(Laughter.)
Defendant said there was no person in his neighbourhood
who could say anything against him.
Mr. Rushton, having read a paper which the plaintiff called
her " character," asked him if he knew Connor, Brewer,
Hutton, and others.

Defendant—Oh, yes, they use the public-house where my
wife goes and gets drunk.
The wife denied this : she did take a glass when she liked
(laughter), but never sat down in a public-house. Her body
was sore from end to side."

Mr. Rushton—Well, the defendant will have to pay for
the assault.

Plaintiff said she wanted him to support her.
Defendant, who appeared not yet
" Sated of life, of wife and children tired,"
said he was ready to live comfortably with her.
Plaintiff—Oh, its no use. This is not the first time. He
broke eight shillings' worth of mugs, and spilt all my milk.
(Laughter.)
Defendant said they could live comfortably together if it
it was not for•complainant's mother.

Plaintiff (imploringly)—lf my mother was not to come and
see me sometimes, I should be left like a lone bird by my-
self. (Laughter.)
Mr. Rushton did not attempt
" To soothe the many parting griefs she bore ;
None had a tear for that sweet spirit lone—"
and merely ordered the defendant to pay ss. and costs.

A TEE-TOTALLER AT FAULT.
Wm. Kelly chargedThos. Wright with having assaulted him.
Kelly stated that he drove a team for Mr. Prescot, and
was at work in his master's yard, when defendant came in,
" cotched" him by the collar, and wanted to borrow a shil-
ling. He had not got one. He had had one in the course
of the week. (Laughter.) Defendant knowed he sometimes
had a shilling in his pocket, for he had been one of those
tee-total chaps, and had not drank anything for eighteen
months. (Laughter.) When he told defendant he had no
money, he knocked him on the eye, so that he could not see
no more nor one wot never seed. (Laughter.) Mr. Prescot
then came into the yard, when defendant said he would like
to kill the -- Irishman.

Defendant said that this occurred some time back ; that
complainant had lost his place through getting drunk ; he had
obtained it, and this proceeding had arisen from spite.
Complainant did not agree with the defendant in this par-
ticular; he said he was discharged because lie did not drink
enough to to please Mrs. Presout.
Mr. Rushton said that, as the complainant had chosen to
let the matter sleep for so long a time; and as the accusation
had evidently been brought forNN ard,through spite, he should
inflict the lowest possible penalty, namely, Is. and costs.
THE AVIAN G PASSION ALWAYS STRONG.
A miserable-looking woman was brought up under the
following circumstances .—lt appeared that she had bean
sent to the borough prison, as a reputed thief, for fourteen
days, and that at the expiration of that term, on her being
about to leave the prison, she was found to have secreted
one of the prison blankets about her person, having previously
cut it into convenient pieces for that purpose. The blanket
was worth from four to five rhillings. She was ordered to
Pay ss. and costs, or be imprisoned for fourteen days.

ILLEGALLY PAWNING.
Elizabeth Fox was charged with having illegally pawned
several shirts, to the value of 365., the property of Mrs.
Stephenson, with whom she lodged. The prisoner, who had
a very wretched appearance, acknowledged to having sent
the shirts to he pawned, but stated that poverty urged her to
do so. When asked by Mr. Rushton why she did not apply
for relief, she stated that she had done so, but that Mr.
Evans (the relieving officer) would not assist her unless she
went into the workhouse; she did not accept of this offer,
as she had a daughter sick, and could not leave her. She
was ordered to pay 365., the value of the property, and 50s.
fine, or be imprisoned for one month.

THREATENING LETTERS.
George Rees, formerly captain of a vessel trading to Val-
paraiso, was charged by Mr. Thos. Barber, a merchant, with
having sent him, at intervals, a number of threatening let-
ters, in the last of which he urged complainant, for the sake
of his young family, to find him (defendant) a situation, un-
less which was done, he would enforce a charge on which he
wonld be convicted of forgery, and sent across the seas ; he
also stated that he was out of patience, and would wait no
longer. In previous letters he had also used threats, and de-
manded money. It having been proved that the impliedcharges
were utterly without foundation, Mr. Rushton severely re-
primanded the prisoner, and ordered him to find good bail
or be sent to prison.

CAUTION TO POSTI4ASTERS.
Mr. Jonathan Spinks, of the Bull Inn, was charged with
having neglected to enter the amount of duty in his weekly
post horse account. It appeared that on Sunday, the 6th
October, he drove a Mr. Morgan in a gig, for which he
charged a sum the duty on which, 4s. 6d., he had neglected
to enter.
Mr. Spinks said it was entirely an °reunion. It was not
likely he should wish to defraud the revenue for so small an
amount.
the duty, and enstz,.
Ordered to pay a fine of X 5,