The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-10-08 00:00:00

STATE. OF TRADE

MANCHESTER, OCT. 6.---There was little change in the
market yesterday. Owing to the near approach of the time
for closing the shipments to Russia, some descriptions of
yarn, suitable for that market, were more earnestly inquired
after, and, in some tew cases, a slight advance was obtained:
On the whole, however, the market was rather quiet, and
prices remain, generally, without change. In goods there
was no alteration, either of demand or price ; and all descrip-
tion, except fustians, continue much depressed, notwith-
standing the firmness of the cotton market.

ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MONDAY, OCT. 4.—
The demand for goods to-day has been better than that of
last Monday ; but there has been no change in prices. In
the wool market there is nothing to report, except that prices
remain firm.

HUDDERSFIELD MARKET, OCT. s.—This was much the
same sort of dull market as that of last week ; perhaps no
worse, but still cold and inanimate. The chief demand was
for heavy woollens for the home trade, and light fancies for
exportation. Prices remain pretty firm. Business in the
warehouses is, on the whole, encouraging.

Gavin Scott, of Glasgow forging notoriety, has been tried,
convicted, and sentenced to transportation for life.

FEMALE HEROISM.—A few evenings ago, as the house-
keepef of Captain Dumont, an old officer of the Imperial
army, residing at the Themes, nearly opposite the Park of
Neuilly, was waiting at about nine o'clock for the return of
her master, who was in the habit of coughing three times as
a signal for admission, she was called by name, and desired
to open the door. She replied that it was not M. Dumont
who called to her, and looking out, perceived three men,
who, finding they could not obtain admission by fraud, were
endeavouring to force open the door. This, however being
well fastened, they made au attack upon the window-shutter,
at which the houskeeper, who is an aged woman, took her
stand, holding the iron handle of the upright bolt firmly
with her hands in order to prevent its giving way. The men
broke the window-shutter, and struck the bands of the
housekeeper with great force, whilst one of the ruffians en-
deavoured to stab her, exclaiming that he would cut her into
pieces if she did not admit them. She held firm, however,
and fortunately, two little dogs belonging to her master rushed
to the spot, and snapping at the hands of the asailants, ope-
rated a diversion which probably saved her life. This un-
equal struggle had lasted more than half an ham, when the
approach of some persons was heard, and the ruffians fled. It
swtaresnMgt.h oof
the Dumont,
courageous who
om
avery
was opportunely,exhaus
exhausted, and the for the
bolt of the window had just given way. The window was
covered with blood from the bands of the men, and portions
of their flesh, which bad been torn away by the little dogs,
were found.--Paris paper. • .

OVERLAND INDIAN MAIL

POSSESSION or CANTON:

DEFEAT OF THE CHINESE.

By the indefatigable exertions of our spirited townsmen,
Messrs. `Vintner and S►nith, news agents, we were put in
possession of the following important intelligence, at an
early hour yesterday morning, they having gone to the trou-
ble and expense of an express from London to bring it
here :

'MARSEILLES, OCT. 3.—The Oriental has arrived this
morning at 10, having on board Captain Brown charged
with despatches for the Queen of England. The English
forced the advanced posts of Canton on the 23d or 27th of
May, arid prepared on the instant to attack Canton itself.
But the Chinese capitulated. They pay 6,000,000 of dollars.
The Tartar garrison evacuated the city on the sth of June.
The English have again occupied Hong Kong.

Last evening Messrs. Willmer and Smith, with their ac-
customed activity, furnished us with a second edition of the
morning papers,..containing full details of the important in-
telligence from China and India.

We take the following summary of the events in China
from the Bombay Times:—

" Our intelligence extends from the 20th May (the date of
our former advices) to the 19th June.
" Captain Elliot, having on the 10th May visited the Pre-
fect of Canton, with a view of ascertaining his intentions,
saw at once that it was in vain to look for a continuance of
the armistice, and that a fresh rupture was immediately at
hand. The Chinese had, during the period of simulated
peace, been secretly engaged in raising outworks, arming
their batteries, and collecting troops. On returning to the
fleet accordingly, Captain Elliot on the 15th countermanded
the sailing of the expedition about to start for Amoy ; and
Sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse prepared to move up the river
with the 18th. On the 20th, Yu. acting governor of Canton,
issued a proclamation to tranquillise the fears of foreign mer-
chants ; anxious, doubtless, to detain them within his reach
till his arrangements were so matured as to permit their
seizure. Next day the merchants were formally warned, by
an official communication from Captain Elliot, to quit the
factory before sunset. The same evening about midnight,
the Chinese commenced the attack by a general canonade
against the advanced ships of the squadron (now off Canton)
wherever the guns could ,be brought to bear, and by fire-
rafts dropped down the river to destroy the headmost ves-

The schooner Aurora and Louisa cutter, was unable to
weigh anchor, and were exposed off the factories to a heavy
fire during the night. The, steamer Nemesis meanwhile
towed the fire-ships out of the way, and opened a tremend-
ous tire from her 32-pounder guns ; while the Pylades, Mo-
deste, and Algerine kept up a brisk cannonade on the newly-
erected fort of Shaming. The fort was captured at day-
break next morning, and eight highly-finished new brass
guns taken possession of. Meanwhile a number of war-
junks having issued from a creek opposite Patee, were chased
back again to their retreat by the Nemesis. So soon, how-
ever, as they observed that the steamer was once more oc-
cupied battering the fort, they ventured oat again, but seeing_
that they were observed and instantly pursned by their vigi-
lant and terrible enemy, endeavoured to retire, but escaped
not with their former impunity. The Nemesis having given
chase, was soon out of sight of her friends, but the explo-
sions and bursts of white or murky smoke, told how fear-
fully she was employed. In three hours she blew up no less
than 40 war junks. Her return presented a scene truly
unique—she was entirely bedecked with the flags and pend-
ants which she had taken from the captured junks, mandarin
dresses and caps graced the persons of the boats' crew ; and
the Chinese tail was seen dangling from beneath the caps
of the crew of one of them. The casualties among the
Chinese are said not to be very heavy, from the circum-
stance of their having had ample time to save themselves by
flight, after the junks had been set on fire, before they blew
up. These doings of the Nemesis, and the capture of the
fort of Shaming, were performed on the second day after the
re-commencement of hostilities. On the 23d the forces,
naval and military, arrived off Canton, when their com-
manders held a conference with the plenipotentiary, for the
purpose of concerting measures for their future proceedings.
Sir Hugh Gough proposed to disembark the land forces to
the north-west of the city, while Major Pratt, with the 26th
Cameronians, should ocoupy some part of the enemy's atten-
tion by seizing the factory situate on the southern side. In
the meanwhile Captain Belcher, of her Majesty's ship
Sulphur, was sent to explore the river to the north, and to
report on the practicability of effecting a landing in that
direction. He was attacked by a number of boats of the
enemy on this excursion, but suffered no obstacles to over-
come him, and succeeded in his mission, after destroying 28
of their boats. From the mast-head of one of the larger
junks he completed his survey of the country, and found
that there was an excellent landing-place, and that the hills
north of the city appeared easy of accession, even to artillery.
By 2 p.m., of the 24th, the troops being all on board boats,
&c., the steamers commenced towing them to their respective
points of attack—the right column to take possession of the
factories, by the Atalanta ; and the left, consisting of four bri-
gades, by the Nemesis. The right column, under Col. Moun-
tain, arrived at their destination in time to prevent, for the pre-
sent, the foreign factories being destroyed, the inhabitants and
soldiers (Chinese) being engaged in carrying off whatever
came in their way—but the Greek, Dutch, and British Hongs
were completely plundered of everything they contained
(among the rest a large quantity of woollens, stored in the
Company's godowns) before their arrival. The left column,
under Sir Hugh Gough, comprising 117 officers, 2,276 rank
and file, and 13 guns, arrived at the village of Tsinghae, their
point of debarkation, about dusk. The general and the 49th
regiment, consisting of 28 officers, and 273 rank and file,
landed for the purpose of reconnoitring, but a few straggling
parties alone were seen. During the night the guns were
landed, and the next morning the landing of the remainder
of the column was effected, and the whol moved forward a
little after daylight. The distance was computed to be about
3 miles from the city walls and the heights to the north of
Canton, which were crowned by four strong forts ; the ground
between our force and the city was chiefly under paddy cul-
tivation. The commander having cautiously advanced within
range of the forts, and everything being prepared for their at-
tack, about half-past nine the order was given to advance ;
and in little more than half an hour the eastern and western
forts were in our possession, and our troops looked down on
Canton within one hundred yards of its walls. A spirited
fire was kept up from the city walls from heavy ordnance,
ginjals, and matchlocks during the greater part of the
day. After the troops had landed and proceeded on their
way, a large body of Tartar troops thought of capturing the
Nemesis steamer, and made a rush to the water's edge for
that purpose; but her commander allowed them to approach
within range of his guns, when he opened such a volley of
grape on them, that they were fain to retire, leaving a great
number dead behind them. To the N.E. of the city was a
strongly entrenched camp, containing about 4000 of the
enemy, which was separated from the heights by a tract of
paddy land, from which repeated attacks were made, and as
frequently repulsed by H. M's 49th regiment. About three
p.m. it was evident a mandarin of rank bad reached their
camp (afterwards understood to be Yang, the Tartar Ge-
neral,) and that the Chinese meditated a fresh attack in
consequence of which Major General Burrell was despatched
to repel it, and follow up the enemy across a narrow cause-
way, and destroy their encampment, which duty was gallantly
performed by her Majesty's 18th and 46th regiments and a
company of royal marines, though not without considerable
loss, from the troops being exposed to a heavy fire from the
north-east face of the city wall. The enemy fled • the en-
campment was set on fire ; several magazines were blown up,
and the permanent buildings destroyed. The General now
determined to carry the city by storm, for which every
necessary measure was, of course, effected ; but a flag of
truce appearing the next morning on the city walls,
Mr. Thom (the interpreter) was deputed to ascertain the
cause, when a mandarin stated that they were anxious for
peace. The general had it explained that; as commander of
the British forces, he would treat with no other than the
commander of the Chinese army ; but that he would suspend
hostilities for two hours to allow of the Chinese general meet-
ing him ; and that if he did not receive a communication
from her majesty's plenipotentiary, (who was with the
squadron south of the city,) or had not a satisfactory inter-
view with him during that time, hostilities should be resumed.
The Chinese general not making his appearance, the interval
was made use of to bring up the guns, &c. During the night
of the 26th everything was prepared in the British camp.
Orders were given to open the batteries at seven, and to
commence the attack at eight o'clock next morning in four
columns. On the morning of the 27th, when our troops
were about to commence operations, an officer of the royal
navy arrived in camp, who had been travelling all night
having lost his way, with a communication from Captain
Elliot, containing instructions to suspend all hostilities, as the
inhabitants of Canton had agreed to ransom the city. In
compliance with these orders (though greatly to his mortifi-
cation) Sir Hugh Gough was obliged to countermand his order
for the attack. The conditions upon which Capt. Elliot agreed
with the Chinese for the ransom of Canton were—" 1. That
all soldiers other than those of the province, with the
three imperial commissioners, should quit the city in six
days, and retire sixty miles. 2. Six millions of dollars to be
paid for the use of the Crown of England, counting from the
27th May ; one million payable before sunset of that day.
3. For the present the British troops to remain in their actnal
possessions : no additional preperations for hostilities to be
made on either side. If the sum agreed upon be not paid
within seven days, it shall be increased to seven millions;
if not within fourteen days, to eight millions ; if not within
twenty days, to nine millions. When the whole shall be paid,
all the British forees to return without the Bocca Tigris, and
Waatong and all fortified places within the river to be 're-
stored but not to be re-armed till all affairs are settled be-
tween the two nations. 4. Losses occasioned by the plunder
of the factories, and by the destruction of the Spanish brig
Bilbaino in 1839; to be paid withid "Orie week. 5. It is re-
quired that the Kwing-chow-foo shall produce full power to
conclude the arrangement, on the part of the three com-
missioners—The General of the Tarter garrison, the Govern-
or-General,and the Foovuen of Kwangtung."—At 10 o'clock,
at' the request of Yang, the Tarter General, a conferance was
held between Sir Hugh Gough (accompanied by Sir Fleming
Senhouse) and himself, when a long parley ensued. Sir
Hugh explained to him that her Majesty's plenipotentiary
having resumed negoctiations with the local authorities,
lie should await a further communication from him. At
twelve o'clock Captain Elliot arrived in camp, when all
farther active operations ceased. The day following (the
28th) a conference was held with the Kwang-chow-foo, un-
der the walls of the city, when every arrangement was made
for the evacuation of the city by as large a body of the Tar-
tar troops as could be got ready, and a mandarin of rank was
permitted to pass through the British lines to procure quar-
ters for them. Sir Hugh Gough was now informed that the
Chinese force consisted of 45,000 men, exclusive of troops
belonging to the Quantung province. The Tartar troops,
at the request of Captain Eiliot, were permitted by Sir H.
Gough to pass out of the north-east gate, carrying with them
their arms and baggage, but were not allowed to display
their banners, or sound any music. The next day (the 29th)
a large body of troops, apparently irregular, numbering
about 5000, armed with long spears, shields, and swords,
ware collected on the heights, and was rapidly increas-
ing. The general advanced aff°ainst them with a wing of
the 26th, three companies of the 49th, the 37th Madras
N. 1., and the Bengal volunteers, supported by the royal
marines. The enemy were dispersed with some difficulty, on
account of an awful thunderstorm which came on, and which
wetted the muskets of the troops so that they would not
go off. The heat of the sun was at this time so insupportable
that Major Beecher, deputy quarter-master general, fell from
exhaustion, and expired in a few minutes ; indeed both offi-
cers and men were nearly exhausted. The next day a similar
force of the enemy had assembled, and meditated an attack
on our camp ; upon which Sir H. Gough sent to the Kwati-
chow-fow stating that he would resume hostilities if a similar
insult should again be offered. On Captain Elliot joining
the camp a meeting was held with the prefect, who delared
that the conduct of the soldiers was contrary to the wishes of
the authorities, and that he would soon disperse them by
sending of his own assistant, if the general would depute an
officer to accompany him. Captain Moore of the 34th Ben-
gal N. 1., volunteered to do so, and they were quite success-
ful, as the enemy entirely dispersed on learning the reason
of their coming. Sir H. Gough, finding that five millions of
dollars had been paid, and that Captain Elliot was satisfied
with the security for the remaining million for the ransom of
Canton,—that 14,500 Tartar froops had marched out of the
town ; that three thousand more had gone by water, and
that the remainder were prepared to follow when carriage
could be procured, acceded to the wish of her Majesty's ple-

nipotentiary to re-embark his troops—the Chinese finding
coolies to convey the guns and ammunition. The coolies
being furnished on the Ist June, the troops and guns were
embarked, the British flag was lowered in the four forts, and
the expedition returned to Tsing-hae.
Our casualties have been very heavy—Major Beecher fell
from over fatigue, and Lieutenant Fox, of the Nimrod, was
killed, and 15 officers have been wounded. The numbers of
soldiers and seamen, both on shor6 and on land, amounts to
13 killed, and 97 wounded. Sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse
sunk under the fatigue he had undergone ; aided, it is said,
by the mortification he experienced at the proceedings of
her Majesty's plenipotentiary.