The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-12-11 00:00:00

In mining up the met the admiral despatched the Blonde
into Amoy with a message. On her rejoining his excellency
at Chusan it was discovered that she sent in a boat with a
flag of truce. This, on approaching the beach, was fired on
by the Chinese soldiers, large bodies of whom were drawn up
in line along the shore. The frigate immediately returned
the fire, and continued it for two hours, by which time the
Chinese troops were scattered in all directions, and the walls
of Amoy levelled with the ground. The loss of the Chinese
in killed and wounded is not known, but it is supposed to
have been considerable.

Her Majesty's ships Blenheim and Pylades, the steamers
Madagascar and Enterprize, together with several transports
and store ships, also arrived at Chusan, subsequent to the
capture of its capital.
Shortly after the arrival of the Blonde the admiral and
Captain Elliot proceeded to Hingpofoo with that vessel, ac-
companied by the Conway cruiser, Algerine, and Queen
steamer. Their object was to get a sealed letter transmitted
to the Emperor. The mandarins behaved with the utmost
humility to the admiral and received the letter, being fur-
nished at the same time with a copy of its contents. Even-
tually, however, the original document was returned after
after having been opened. Hingpofoo is the capital of the
important province of Iche Kiong, the viceroy of which (a
relative of the late governor of Chusan) is the first Chinese
of high rank who has condescended to treat with the British
. .

authorities on terms of equality. Instead of.l3esioZio;
them the usual epithet of fanqui, or barbarians, he styled
them the honourable officers of the great foreign nation. It
is evident that the capture of Chusan, and the cannonade of
Amoy, have at least had the effect of teaching the Chinese
civility. In consequence of the letter having been returned,
Hingpofoo has been blockaded, and preparations were being
made for putting the mouth of the river Yong he Kian
(leading to Nankin) in a similar state.
The city of Ting-hae-keen is about six miles in circum-
ference. The walls are built of granite, interspersed with
brick of an inferior description.
The following appointments have been made :—Colonel
(or rather, agreeably to his local rank in India, Major-
General) Burrell, to be governor of Chusan ; Major Ste-
phens, of the 49th, and Captain Caine, of the 26th regiment,
to be commissioners for taking charge of public property;
the Rev. Mr. Gubzlaff, to be acting chief magistrate ; the
Right Hon. Lord Viscount Jocelyn, to be military secretary
to the naval commander-in-chief.

The appearance of the island is said to be very beautiful,
and its scenery strongly to resemble that of Wales ; magpies,
blackbirds, and larks have been seen, as also many wild
flowers, which have been found in England.

The Enterprise left Chusan on the 21st of July; at which
time it was expected that the admiral would shift his flag to
the Vi ellesley, and the commodore to hoist his broad pen-
nant in some other vessel. It was also said that the admiral
would proceed in a few days to the Gulf of Petcheli. Some
of the ports on its shores are within one hundred miles of
Pekin, and at one of these he will insist upon despatches
being forwarded to the Emperor.
Captain Osborne came to Macao in the Enterprise, whence
he proceeded to Singapore in the Kitty, and was conveyed
from that port to Calcutta by her Majesty's ship Childers.
He brought with him only Ike public despatches, but the
Kitty arrived a few days awards, bringing intelligence
from Macao to the 4th of August. The blockading squadron
had been reinforced by the arrival of her Majesty's ships
Nimrod and Columbine. All the foreigners who remained
at Canton—viz., two Americans, two Swiss, one Dutchman,
and one Portuguese, have been ordered to quit the city. All
the factories were abandoned. The Barrosa, from Bombay,
was discharging a cargo of cotton at Macao. This is allowed
to be conveyed to Canton through the inncr passage, but the
Chinese will not suffer manufactured goods to go up, neither
will they permit tea or silk to pass down. A typoon came
on, on the 21st July, but it appears to have caused no da-
mage to the shipping. Lin has organised a force of 3,000
men in 150 boats, with which he intends to attack the Bri-
tish. It was generally believed that he would commence
operations on the first calm day. There is some probability
of his making an attempt on Macao, and, though the resi-
dents of that place do not feel alarmed, yet they consider it
a necessary precaution to arm themselves, and prepare for
the worst. On the 3d of August six ships of the line were
assembled at the Bogue ; viz., the Druid, Nimrod, Larne,
Hyacinth, Columbine, and the Enterprise steamer. Captain
Smith's object in concentrating the squadron was not known,
but it was generally believed that he was about to adopt a
more active course of hostilities against the Chinese than he

had hitherto pursued. However. up to the date of the Kitty's
departure (4th of August) nothing addional had transpired.
Great inconvenience arises from the disinciination evinced
bp the mandarins in forwarding letters to the Emperor when
they find that refusing to do so occasions the stoppage of
their trade, as in the recent case of things, for it is probable
that the Chinese authorities will receive the admiral's letter,
with great apparent respect ; and, in order to gain time, pro-
fess that they have despatched the documents to Pekin, with-
out having actually done so. There is little chance of the
British demands being brought formally to the notice of his
Celestial Majesty, until so much injury has been inflicted on
the Chinese as may induce their government to endeavour to
ward off further evil by negotiation. The admiral's inten-
tion of proceeding to the Gulf of Petchely is, however, calcu-
_ _

lated to accelerat; matters, as hostilities, in the neighbour-
hood of Pekin, will produce a deeper impression than could
be hoped for from attacking the remoter provinces of the
empire.

INDIA.
AFFGHANISTAN.
(From the Correspondent of Me Morning Herald.)

The most important event of which intelligence has been
received during the present month, is the defeat of Dost
Mahommed, and his ally, the Walee of Khoolum, with an
army of at least 8,000 men, by a small force under the com-
mand of Brigadier Dennie. This splendid victory took place
near Bamuan, on the 18th September, and was achieved by a
very small British force, consisting of 230 men of the 35th
regiment Bengal native infantry, 220 of the Goorka corps,
with two guns, and a party of Captain Anderson's cavalry.
The enemy were completely routed. Dost Mahommed es-
caped, but was badly wounded. All his standards and artil-
lery fell into the hands of the British, as also the ex-king's
camp equipage, kettle-drums, and baggage. The loss of the
enemy is said to be 500 killed, and a proportionate number
wounded. That of the British is very trifling, only two officers
being wounded, Lieut. Le Geyt and Capt. Hart. No official
returns have as yet been received. This engagement reflects
great credit on the native troops, as there were no Europeans
present except officers, and the forces were so extremely dis-
proportionate, Dost Mahommed's troops being about ten
times the number of those commanded by Brigadier Dennie.
The defegt of Dost Mahommed is most opportune, and
cannot fail to be productive of the best effects in allaying the
present disturbances beyond the Indus, and will, moreover,
awe the disaffected native states, who have latterly evinced
much disaffection to the British Government. Too much
praise cannot be given to Brigadier Dennie for his gallantry
and decision on this occasion.

There appears every probability of a war with Nepai
which is likely to be accelerated by our relations with Chit

the former country being a dependency of the latter.
Nebel Ling, the virtual ruler of Lahore, has been detecte

making a remittance of 15 lakhs of rupees to Dost Mahommed.
The ameers of Scinde are evidently dissatisfied at being com-
pelled to pay us tribute. Even the Rajah of Kolapoor, in the
Southern Mahratta country, has evinced symptoms ofinsub-
ordination. There is not the slightest doubt that, if Dost
Mahommed had succeeded in making head against us, there
would have been a general insurrection amongst the native
princes.

The utmost activity prevails in the military departments
throughout India. An augmentation of one lieutenant and
one ensign has been made to each regiment of native infantry
in the three provinces. A general order has been issued by
the commander-in-chief, prohibiting applications being made
for furlough except on sick certificate. All officers absent on
leave have been directed to join their regiments without de-
lay. Major General Holt, with a division of Bengal troops,
is advancing on Khelet, and we expect daily to hear of the

re-capture Of that fortress. Large bodies of the Bengal army
are being concentrated in the northern provinces, and calls
have been made on the Madras presidency for European

troops

Ten thousand men from the Bombay army was ordered to
assemble at Lukkur. Steamers and transports have been
constantly running during September and October, between
this port and Kurachee. Her Majesty's 41st regiment
marched from Belgaum to Vingorla, whence they proceeded
by water to Scinde. A wing of her Majesty's 4th dragoons,
consisting of 16 officers and 340 men, will proceed to the
mouth of the Indus in a few days en route to Sukkur. The
following regiments and detachments are either at or in pro-
gress to that station :--The Ist and 4th troops horse artilery,
two squadrons ; her Majesty's 4th light dragoons, 3d regi-
ment light cavalry, Robert's horse, Scinde irregular horse,
300 of the Poonah auxiliary horse, one battalion foot artillery,

her Majesty's 40th and 41st regiments of infantry; the Ist
2d, sth, 6th, Bth, 20th, 21st, 23d, and 25th regiments Born
bay native infantry, as also the 28th Bengal native infantry
The whole will be commanded by Major-General Brooks
who left this with his staff on the 15th instant.

The infantry will be divided into two brigades—the Ist to
be commanded by Colonel Valiant, her Majesty's 49th regi-
ment, and the 2d by Colonel Farquhason, of the Bombay
army. The object of government in assembling so large a
force in Upper Scinde is not known. It is certainly much
greater than would be required for merely chastising the
Belochees. In all probability it will eventually proceed
against Lahore. Kurruck Sing is perfectly imbecile, and his
nephew, Ho Nehal Ling is decidedly hostile to British inte-
rests. The Seikhs will never be our faithful allies, and the
sooner their country is subjugated the better it will be for all
parties. The mountainous district north of the Indus will
never pay the expenses of their military occupation, which
will be a constant drain on the government treasury. The
revenues of the rich provinces of the Punjaub, and Cashmere,
would easily meet this, and leave a considerable surplus for
general purposes.

- Intelligence has just been received of the repulse of a party
of her Majesty's 31st light infantry, in an attack led on by
Sir R. Sale on a small fort in Kohistan, near Caubul ; twelve
men were killed and several wounded, amongst whom are
some officers. Captain Conolly, of the 6th light cavalry,
who volunteered to act as aide-de-camp to Sir Robert Sale,
K.C.8., was shot through the heart, and fell by the general's
side. The failure was said to be owing to the shortness of
the scaling ladders. The enemy evacuated the fort during
the night, and it has since been taken possession of by the
British troops. _ _