The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-05-09 00:00:00

THE ATTACK ON MAJOR OUTRAM.

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the body of cavalry and
Agency
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The following are the particulars of this outbreak, as con-
tained in a despatch from Major Outram to Sir C. Napier,
dated February 15, 1843 :
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(the fourth being defended by the Planet steamer, about 500
stthiosn: Inth°rrenein
yards distant) in the gardens and houses which immediately
command the enclosure, and which it was impossible to hold
with our limited numbers. A hot fire was opened by the
enemy, and continued incessantly for four hours ; but at their
attempts to enter the Agency enclosure, although merely
surrounded by a wall, varying from four to five feet high,
were frustrated by Captain Conway's able distribution of his
small band, and the admirable conduct of every individual
soldier composing it. Oar ammunition being limited to 40
pounds per man, the officers directed their whole attention to
reserving their fire, and keeping their men close undercover,
never showing thechselves or returning a shot, except when
the enemy attempted to rush, or showed themselves in great
numbers, consequently great execution was done with trifling
expenditure of amunition and with little loss. Our hope
of receiving a reinforcement, and a supply of ammunition by
the Satellite steamer (hourly expected), being disappointed,
on the arrival of that vessel without either, shortly after the
commencement of the attack, it was decided, ai 12 a.m., after
being three hours under fire, to retire to the steamer while
atill.vre had sufficient ammunition left to fight the vessel up
river. Accordingly I requested Captain Conway to keep the
enemy at bay tor one hour, while the property was removed,
for which that time was ample, could the camp followers be
induced to exert themselves. After delivering their first loads
on board, however, they were so terrified at the enemy's cross
fire on the clear space between the compound and the vessel,
that none could be persuaded to return except a few of the
officers' servants, with whose assistance but little could be
removed during the limited time, we could afford; conse-
quently much had to be abandoned, and I am sorry to find
that the loss chiefly fell upon the officers and men, who
were too much occupied in keeping off the enemy to be able
to attend to their own interests. Accordingly, after the ex-
piration of another hour (during which the enemy, despairing
of otherwise effecting their object, hid brought up six guns
to bear upon us), we took measures to evacuate the Agency.
Captain Conway called in his posts, and all being united, re-
tired in a body, covered by a few skirmishers, as deliberately
as on parade (carrying off our slain and wounded), which,
and the fire from the steam-boats, deterred the enemy from
pressing us as they might have done. All being embarked, I
then directed Mr. Acting Commanding Miller, commanding
the Satellite steamer, to proceed with his vessel to the wood
station, three miles up the river an the opposite bank, to se-
cure a sufficiency of fuel for our purposes, ere it should be
destroyed by the enemy, while I remained with the Planet,
to take off the barge that was moored to the shore. This
being a work of some time, during which a hot fire was opened
on the vessel from three guns which the enemy brought to
bear on her, besides small arms, and requiring much per-
sonal exposure of the crew (especially of Mr. Cole, the com-
mander of the vessel).

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL RETROSPECT.

CHINA

The Cotton Market is active, and the dealers have now
cleared off their old stocks ; and, since the effects of the new
year holidays have passed away, the following rates have been
ruling :—Bombay 5 to 7-6 ; Bengal 6 to 7 taels ; Cutchoura
8.5 to 9 ; Jalona 9.4 to 9.5; Tinnevelly 9 to 9.2; and Wes-
tern 6 to 6.2.

The stock, however, on all kinds of cotton in Canton on
the Ist February is very large, amounting to 109,114 bales,
being about double the quantity in Canton at the same time
last season. The following are the particular:: :
Deliveries. Stock.
Bombay
Bengal
Madras 6,848 21,171

Total
In British manufactures very little has lately been done,
chiefly owing to the uncertainty that existed as to the time
when the new duties and customs regulations would come
into operation. But as it is now understood that no change
will take place before July, business will be again resumed,
and it is expected with more animation in consequence of the
removal of this uncertainty.

The stock of Grey Sheetings is much reduced, large ship-
ments intended for the Canton market having been sent to
Chusan and Amoy. 66 reed were then worth Span. dols 3
at 3.05-72 s 3.10 to 3.15. White Skirtings were also in
demand at Span. dols 3.10 to 3.20. Of Cotton Yarn the
stock is very heavy, the lower number entirely neglected.
Nos. 18 to 30 are quoted at Span. dols 27 to 28.
Owing to the reduction expected in the duty on Woollens
under the new tariff 'none are being now sent to Canton, the
holders preferring to store them at Hong-Kong till the
change takes place.
Superior Spanish Stripes are quoted at 1.15 per yard ;
Long-ells assorted 7 Spanish dollars; and Scarlet, 10 dols.
per piece.
The demand for metals is unusually limited. Lead at sto
5.10 Spanish dols per picul. Nair-rod Iron from 2.70 ; and
Bar-Iron 1.70.
TEA.—Very little tea has been bought for some time past,
owing in some measure to the expected reduction in the
duty, and partly also to the obstinacy with which the tea-
men hold out for higher prices than can be given with safety
under present circumstances. Common to fine Congou is
quoted at 19 to 25 taels—superior Chops at 27 to 29 taels.
It is believed that the teas lately bought have belonged to the
Hong merchants, who bold much less firmly than the tea
merchants. The only ships loading are the Alexander Baring,
Gemini, and James Matheson, all likely to be loaded in the
month of February ; but no great addition to the export will
be made this monsoon.
RAW Stmc.—Of raw Silk the Stocks keep very low, there
were only 430 bales in the market, and no more is expected.
The finest chops are held for 490 dola to 500 dole, and 470
dols to 475 has been offered for them.
Exchange is still quoted at 4s. 10d.