Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-10-07
THE CHINESE NEWS.


The Supercargo of the barque Florida (Mr.
Bush) reports that, just as the Florida hurried
away from Macao, news was received from Can
ton OF an outbreak there, the Chinese having
commenced hostilities. The Florida passed
Capt. ELLIOT in the steamer Nemesis, on the
18th, bound to Canton. tits probable, sherefore,
the bloody war has been commenced in good ear
nest. the British fleet off Canton, under Capt.
tlERBERr, having received orders, in case the
least hostility was manifested, to lombard the
city, and not cease until it was reduced to ashes.
They were enjoned, at the same time, to afford
all possible protection to foreigners The CITY
was filled with Tartar soldiers, above sixty thou
sand having already arrived. They were daily
coming in in great numbers from the adjacent
country.
The following extracts from letters were writ
ten few days previous to the sailing of the Flo
rida, and are therefore not so late as the above
verbal reports
CANTON, MAY IL, 1871.
With reference to political matters, since the
commencement of the present month, the native
population has been gradually becoming more
anu more alarmed by secret preparations made
10y the Mandarins for renewal olhostilities with
the English; request has been sent to Captain
Elliot that the forts on the river and at the Bogue
be surrendered to the Chinese, to which Capt f.
replies that every thing must remain as now STAN
ding, and that as long as the Chinese preserve
faith no act of hostility will be committed by the
English forces. large number of troops, said
to amount to some 10000 men, have arrived here
from the northern and western provinces, and
certain movements of bodies Of these men have
brought two or three British vessels ofwar within
cannon shot OF Canton. Capt. Elliot arrived
mere this morning, and has had aninterview with
the authorities, but to what purpose we have not
been able to learn; the excitement of the people
Is, however, increasing, and we shall not be sur
Priscd to find ourselves within ten days either
outside the Bogue, prisoners in the factories at
canton, or perhaps residing in Canton as we now
are, but with substitution Of British for the pre-
sent Chinese rules.
MACAO, MAY Is.
Commodore Sir GoRDoN BREMER is expected
to return here from Calcutta by about the end of
June, at the latest
Inc Peking GaZettcs have of late contained a
great number of memorials to the Emperor from
young men of good families, who, anxious to
signalizc their vaior and patriotism request to be
permitted to join the imperial army to fight agans,
The red bristled race. At Picking, so very dis
tant at present from the seat of war, the spirit
'ihceu ny the Government, so hostile to every
peaceable arrangement, seems to be very popular,
find great favor.
we are sorry TO state that good deal of sick
ness prevailed at Canton, as well among the mer-
chant community on board the ships of war
anchored In the river. The weather latterly has
been very unfavorable.
:, Her Maiesty's brig Columbine had returned to
Macao from trip to Chusan, with Nj. Guslafl
as interpreter but the hostility of the natives pre-
vented landing. NJ. Gutslail ascertained, how
ever, by brief interview, that Capt. Stead had
been killed by the Mandarins and soldiers, who
beat him to death with stones.
The reception the Columbine met with at Chu-
san abundantly manitests the spirit of hostility
entertained by the Chinese against the English,
and 1T likewise shows that what has hitherto been
done by The latter has entirely failed of making
them feared or respected; in fact the haughtiness
OF the Chinese towards outer barbarans seems
rather to have increased than otherwise since the
evacuation of Chusan, which in imperial edicts is
| ascrlbed 10 the fear of Tartar armies.