Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-06-24

AT a. m. the tide served and the sig
NAL was made for the squadron 70 weigh.
ll. NJ. S. CalIiope bearing the bread PEN
dant Of the Commodore led the attack
against North Wsnlong, followed by the
Ssmange, DRUID, Wellesley, Sulphur, and
Modesto. The Blenheim, and Melville,
with the Queen steamer, opened tier lire
on the fort at Chaen-p pee. by noon the
action had become general, aud the firing
constant and heavy on all sides. In the
meantime the Nemesis and Madagascar
steamers with numerous boats IN tow, ran
IN close 10 1'y Cock Tow, and landed the
Troops under TIC command OF Maj Pratt.
Shortly afterwards the whole Of the
forts were in posse ssion Of the British
forces. Official notifications were issued
in the course Of the day ; ono by the plen-
Ipo,culiary iutimaiing the capture Of The
forts, The other by the Commodore autho-
rizing merchant vessels 10 proceed to the
1 Boeue.
The number Of prisoners taken at Chu
on. pee is estimated at 1000, and the Kill
ed and wounded on the side of tho Chinese
are said to be very numerous.
The Island Of Chusan has been evacu-
ted and delivered up 10 the Chinese, or
ders TO that effect having been transmit
ted bv Captain Elliott, when he was labor
ing under the unhappy delnsion that the
/ Chinese were inclined 10 fulfil their pro'n-
ses of indemnity. The British who were
detained prisoners at Ningpoo were rtleas-
ed as soon as the evacuation oil Chusah
was completed.
We have extracted varions items oil
Chinese intelligence from the Calcutta pa
pers Of the 30lh Of April. On the morn
ing of that day the Queen steamer, from
Macao the 3lst Of March, arrived at Cal
cutta with Commodore Sir James Gordon
Bremer. His Exctlleucy is said 10 have
come to In ia, for the purpose OF consult
ing the Governor General, and obtaining
rcInforcemen's.
The British troops have poss ssion oil
the factory at Canton, but II would ap
pear there IS provisional Chinese gov
ernment in the city. The Calcutta Cou-
rier states that the forcing the passage be-
tween the 30 rue aud Canton was most
CALAMITY eiitcted. The Chinese lost 490
men. The English had only SIX wound.
ed.
We have been favored with privnte
letters from Singapore to the 10Th 'stImo,
Macao to the 2Sth, ndCanlon TO the 2oth
Of March. From these we learn that
Canton was almost d serted. The Hong
merchants remained on the spot, but SAID
lthat the people were afraid to trade whilst
1.-The men-of-war remained in the river
The CHINESE Of Canton now believe thai
no traffic of Importance can be carried on
until the whole utston is definitely SET
tied.
PROCLAMATION or THE CHIEF SUPER.
lNlENDENr.
In the first proclamation, dated 9Th OF
March, 1871, Capt. Elliott says
"pEOPLE OF CANTON!
"Your city is spared because the gra.
cous Sovereign OF Great Britain has com.
manded the High English Officer to re-
member that the good and peaceful people
must be tcnderly considered.
=" But if the high officers of the Cclcs.
ual Court offer the Iecs, obstruction to the
British forces in their present stations,
then 1t viii become necessary 10 an
swer force by force, aud the city may
suffer terrible injury"
In another dated the Goth Of March he
says
GA suspension OF hostilitios Of Canton
and in the province, has been his day
agreed upon between the two Imperial
Commission Yang and the undersigned
cit has further been publicly proclaim.
ed to the people under the Seals Of the
Commissioner and the acting Governor OF
thcProvnce, that the trade of the Port Of
Canton is open and that the British and
other foreign merchants who may see fit
to proceed there for the purpose of lawful
commerce shall be duly protected.
These arc the most important facts in
the proclamation Of Capt. Elliott.
Canton is in possession Of the British
troops, and truce had been agreed upon
between tic new commissioner and Cap.
tain Elliott the trade is 10 be re-opened
at Canton, pending the imperial decision.
The accumulation of goods outside
Canton is immense, and will without doubt,
be thrown on the market. Prices will
rule very low.
1t appears that alter Captain Elliott's
notice OF the ro-opeuing of the trade, nine
| American and fourteen British ships pro-
ceeded to Whampoa, butin few days new
obstacles were thrown in their way, il
being minated that the Chinese traders
were ALARMED, as the ships of war were
so near Canton, and that no trade would be
carried on until they were removed.
/; is said Captain Elliott was inclined TO
yield this point. Before, however, any ar
engagements could be made, the reply of
the Emperor to the despatch announcing
the deSti. ction OF the Bogue Fort was re.
ceved, which was fierce 10 the o, treme,
and orders war of determination to be car.
ried against the English. The notices
posted by the Canton authorities on the
walls, announcing the opening ofthe trade,
were pulled down aud all communication
with the English ordered to be cut off.
Another letter says, GAN the factories
in Canton are occupied by our troops. The
Chinese yillagers render every assistance
in their power to the steamer Nemesis, in
removing stakes and other distractions to
the river, between Macao and Canton. -
.