Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-10-08
From the Philadelphia u. 8. Gar
Fourteen days later from Canton

Ry tUC uIIlN"l ~ WIS p't W VIZ o'''P
nice, Capt Flemning, from Carton, we have
information from that city as late as the 18th
OF NAV. being more than fourteen days later
than our most recent information via England.
The Venice was one Of tho vessels reported
as LETT II, China; and as just npprehensons
we're entertained that deie nton might be ex-
pcricnccd, we may congratulate all concern.
ed in the ship aud cargo and those who have
returned IN the former, upon the fortunate
result. r'
we arc indebted to an intelligent and es-
:mablc young friend for the means of giving
The information below, which will be found
very interesting.
| All was quiet on the 18th Of May, though
every thing denoted convuls on, aud the signs
Of the times were too significant to be dISrc-
gardcd, so that tho few residents were send
! inc their furniture aud other articles down To
! Macao MS rapidly as possible, and making all
due preparations to follow. Ii is said by our
! informant, that no MORE than twenty-four per-
sons remained.
/ There can be no doubt now TINT the Chi
ncse feel the necessity oftak'ng measures to
give the English warm reception when
|, they arrive with their offensive fleet.
The old compsny's ship Cnmbridgc, which
the Hong merchants some time since Pur-
chased, aud presented to His Excellency
Governor Lin, and which continued at an.
chor IN Md Channel, opposite Ilowqua's
/ Fort, and below the booms disman,lcd, wns
undergoing preparations for sea, by receiving
her upper spnrs, rigging, and sails.
/ Aware, too, Of the Importance Of meeting
the British with their own weapons, the gov
ernment employed some Portuguese carrcn
,rrs to construct two small s!ovps Of war, or
Gun vessels, without decks. aud Of about
u tons each, upon European models, and
placed six Founders on their bows, and swiv-
IL, on their sicrns.
His Highncss having heard that the great
| English war slips were slow TO turn, and had
no guns on their sterus, conceived the happy
thouplt that light vessels, such as his 'scram.
bling Dragons or many cared bouts might
,,ca up behind them, discharge their guns,
aud run away again without danger. trial
of the two above named 'crecpers' was pub
/ llcly made upon the Cambridge and appears
! IN have been successful, as a contract was re-
ported as Immediately concluded Tor forty
more.
1t is said, also, that under cover OF large
frame houses. the Chinese were constructing
many other vessels Of war, using the English
vessels within their reach rs models tor con-
s,ructioH, as the Romans constructed their
rallies after the Cartbaginian galley cast
away upon their coast.
I An attempt had also been made Mt lnlfa-
ton ofa steamboat. A native pulling boat
was rugged with eight wheels, four OIL side,
having four floats each, md moved by two
|, tread. wheels within bnt the velocity attain
ell was lot sufficient without oars to make
her manageable.
\ Scows and junks, loaded with stone were
daily passing Wlampoa on their way to the
i Boguc, To be sunk IN the channel as soon as
an English foice Is known 10 be oil the coast.
The pagodas were again III use as s'shaI
stations.
1t does net appear that the opium trade has
been destroyed, us II is SAID upon what Is
deemed good authority, that more than hiHy
vessels ure engaged " that traffic along the
u coast.
The English had two sloops Of war and +
! irigato at Macao and Toonkoo.
i Captain Elliott and his countrymen remuin
Tranquil aud unmolcsted at Macao. The
former bad received dispatches from his gov.
erDment, though their nature had not trans
pred. Probably they ure an account OF tho
step which the British government had taken
n and Whicl has urcady been detailed IN this
n CbuHuy lIOupH tUc lsiSHsu P"pt'S' hN
\ arrival Of the conlrnissuriat department AT
Singapore was known at Macao, but nothing
further relative to any fleet destined 10 act
against China, or ordered to assemble IN the
II Chinese scar.
i No,hing was known, though conjecture, as
might be expected, was most busy, as To the
waIlIkc measures which the British would
adopt, or which The Chinese would think
Il proper to assume Ms defensive nor was any
able 10 tell whether Canton or some other
city would be first assaIlcd IL was, however,
the opinion univ crsnlly, that the commence
Inent OF hosillllies would cause an entire stop.
\ page Of trade with all nations.
II Tue Chinese government had heard that
the French had recently invented and used
\ species OF bomb which was most destructive
IN It's operation; aud they instituted inquiries
at every point, where they thought inlorma.
lion could be obtained, ss to the mode "i
constructing these total ,nIss,les, but could
Obtain bo satisfactory account. Probably
they had heard OF The effects OF the French
lburnbsrJment Of Vera Cruz, some time since,
ono supposed that the success OF the enter.
lprIse was due ra,ber 10 the conetfuction of
the weapon, Than the skill Of the officers.
| q. K.-1hey say these mystic initials