The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-10-30
FOREIGN NEW S.
ELEVEN DAYS LATER.


U second edition Of the New York Amer
lean, al two late an hour for the Southern
mail. the entefprlslng prop.Ietors OF which
had despatched The steamboat Wave in
search and 10 board III ship Narlaganse. !.
from Canton; and we have the pleasure OF
laying before those of our merchants and
ciilzsns who are up aud ready &c receive
il, at daylight This incoming, and entirely
IN advance ot all our contemporaries, the
most IN pofiait news which has ever YET
be IL received from the Celestial Empire.
ATTACK ON TIE CITY OF CAN
TON BY TIE COMBINED BRITISH
FOR les.
The Steamboat Wave was despatched
a. an early hour this morning in search
of The Narragansett, and we have the plea
sure Of lay ny before Our readers, ELEVEN
DAYS alter news from Canton.
Passe ger in the Narraganset, Mr.. Will
liam Ii. Low.
Extract of letter, dated
MACAO, Goth May, l94l.
Messrs. Cary s. Co.-Since the date OF
onr general advices events oil much inn
portance have ,ranspir. d. a brief note
Of which may no. be unin!erestirg to
you.
The excitement amoug the Chinese re-
ferred to, continued to increase until the
18th instant. When Capt. Elliot arriveu
at Canton. it soon became known that he
had already ordered the whole British
force, vessels of war, transports, and
troops, to the immediate vicinity of Can
ton; and his advice to his countrymen
was to close their business and prepare
for removal with as little delay as posi-
BILE. Up to the ooh inst. the On nese
authorities had avoided holding any COM
municalion with Capt. Elliot, and matters
wore very dubious and unsatisfactory
aspect.
The local authorities, however, publish
Cd pr,clama,ions, and sent messages,
through the Hong Merchants and linguls,s,
assuring all resident foreigners OF their
perfect safety i'll Canton.
Ga the evening of the 20lh, all the
English residents had embarked, and on
ly Iour or five Americans, contiding in the
assurance of The Chinese, remained in the
Factories; the same night the Chinese
commenced hosti,ilies by sending fleet
Of lire boats and RATS against the vessels
of war lying near the city, but without
dong them an! damage.
In!s act was avenged by the Pyiades
and steamer Nemesis, that attacked and
destroyed battery neat lhe factories, and
about forty fire boats and as many fire
RATS.
o. the mornin. of the 22d, an Ameri
can resident VAS seized by .he Chinese
ANA taHea from his factory; al the anne
lime lhat boa, beion slng 10 the Amerl-
can ship Morc'sol, with tnlee passengers
ANA seve, seane!i, were captured Oh al
ter leaving the factories for Whampo
and The pa.ty carried prisoners into the
city.
From this, the time was occupied by
the English in concentrating their forces
near the city, until the Gath, a. 4 P. Nj.
The 'iyacln,h Is, Modesto lS, Pyades
Is, Nnnrod IL, Columbus l6, Cruizer
ii, and Algeilne 10, having taken up
their position in front of the city and
suburbs opened their fire upon every of
leaslve point Of the Chinese, who returned
i. with considerable spirit at first but
were soon compelled to desert their guns.
A. 6 P. NJ. body of soldiers; about 400,
were landed at The foreign factories, in the
vic nifty of which the Americans, who had
been taken prisoners two days before,
examined by the authorities, and releas-
ed.
The firing was continued until about 8
P. NJ, when the suburbs were on fire in
several places, and nearly all the bate
ries on shore in possession of, or des-
sroyed by the English.
While this was going on in front of
canton, Generai Cough was landing his
troops, 1900 men, at the foo, of the
heights, in the rear Of the city, and on the
morning of the 25lh he commenced ope-
rations; particulars Of the days work are
not yet known further, than that. with q
loss # some 40 killed and wounded, four
batteries were taken from the Chinese, and
great number, of their officers and soldiers
killed, the heights com handing the city
taken, and the British forces en.renched
upon them.
The loss of the Chinese on this occa-
sion is variously estimated at from 3 to
5000, and even as high as 10000 NEIL
and they now find TO their cost and ex-
treme disappointment, that they are una
BILE to cope with European troops on shore
as they have before proved themselves
in their encounters with British force.
ahoat.
On the 26th the vessels Of war wer.
engaged in quoting and destroying tn,
few remains Of opposition, and in the eve
ming mandarins called on Capt. with flag
OF truce, to negotiate for the preserva,lo,