The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-22
Important from China-Twenty-ThreeD Days
Later-Operations and Designs OF the Bril-
tish.-Capture of Nankings

the 9th of September
The news she brings is of an important character
II is that the British have captured the city of Nam
king, the second city OF the Empire, and several
large towns. The city is said to have been taken
on the 23d OF July, and ransomed by the Chinese
for several millions of dollars But letters from Can
ton, dated the 9th OF Sept, state the announcement
premature. We think, however, from the extracts
from the papers, that that city has fallen into the
hands OF the British. Even the Ceestals admitted
this.
According to the papers the Emperor Is In great
tribuaton. He is a rare philosopher however.
After his cities are captured he Immediately
ransoms them, and goes to work afresh to whip the
barbarians.
There was flying report in Canton, that Sir H.
Pottinger was at the mouth OF the Peiho. We can
hardly believe this to be true, as the season had SO
far advanced.
II appears that the Chinese become more warlike
every battle Their defeats teach them the art of
fighting.
On the 18th of July the city of Wohoo, to the
South of Marking, was taken.
The Canton Register, Of the 3Oth of August, &C.
cuses the commanders of the United States ships at
Macao Of defrauding the Chinese custom house.
1t says, that they 'shoud defraud the Chinese gov
eminent of its custom duties, at the time they were
experiencing the hospitality of that governmental
matter of surprising wonder"
letter from Manila, August IL, announces the
loss of the British bark Christina, Captain B;rkett
from Macao, bound TO Bombay, by striking on the
West London Shoal at midnight OF July lst All
hands took to the boats, the captain and seventeen
Others in the gig, and the second mate with thirteen
Others in the other boat. These last bore away for
the Philippines, and arrived at Mindoro on the 9th
OF July, but there was too much reason to believe
that the captain and his companions persisted
The U. S. frigate Constellation, and sloop Of war
Boston, were at Macao on the 3Oth of August
We give below all the particulars They are of
the highest interest.
[From Canton Press, 9th August
Although no authentic accounts have yet been
received from the seat OF war, 1t is mentioned in
letters from Canton of date OF oath August that
certain intelligence has there been received of Nam
king having been taken by the British force on the
23d of July. The few particulars attending the cap.
ture of this important city, which have been kindly
communicated TO us are, that on the taking a great
many lives were lost, that the Viceroy and other
great officers OF state escaped in good time OPEN
ing for their flight OF the gates only of the city,
while the others rNmaned Shut and that the rush of
the inhabitants to escape by flight was SO great that
many hundreds were tramped to death. These are
all the particulars that have as yet come TO our
knowledge. The fall of the second city of the EN-.
pire seems to have made great impression even
upon the apathetlc Chinese at Canton, who seem TO
be much distressed at this, to them, unexpected
blow and to have created there much greater
sensation than any previous event of the war This
news has cast gloom over the provincial CITY,
where business, for the time, was at a complete
stand.
intelligence will be despatched from the seat of war
and that we may soon be enabled to publish more
authentic and detailed account That this new
success OF the British arms, who said also to
have taken several towns on their way to Marking,
and to have taken and fortified the Golden Island,
near the junction of the great canal with the Yang
TIE klang, must cause sensation much greater at
Picking than at Canton, we have no doubt, partcu-
larly combined with it is the blockade of the
canal by which the supplies for the capital from the
southern and central provinces were sent and al
though it is said that Picking is always provisioned
for about three years, are inclined much to doubt
this report on account of the immense sum required
for suciency of provisions for long period to
nourish at least two millions of her inhabitants
any such stores exist, they are probably destined
only for the support Of the Imperial household and
troops. But the important question now is
what will, receipt OF this intelligence, be the line
OF conduct pursued by the government at Picking
VIII they persevere In their silence l-continue OBJ
stinafey bent not making the first advances to.
wards settlement? Will the Emperor still launch
his harmless thunders, and threats of determination
against the barbarlans! twill he at length see the
such manifold evils upon the blackhaired race, and
If persevered in, to involve them in
Others and greater! We hope the latter may be the
result OF the occupation Of Nankng but confess
ty-for hitherto the Court has not shown the slight
est symptoms of wish for accommodation. II it
should persist in It's conemptuous silence, the pos
session OF Marking WILL we fear, not be of great
use, and not hasten an ultimate settlement of diff
ferences between the two nations. The season is
too late for the British force to move to the Peho
and take the capital of China, and unless the Empe
ror be driven from his capital, we fear his pride
and vanity will not be sufficiently humbled to
sent to treat the hitherto despised barbariahs as
equals Should, therefore, as fear will turn out to
Chinese, be entered into, consequent on the fall
of Marking, the only way to enforce treaty
of peace although perhaps after the lapse of some
years only, would be to occupy the whole of the
menf, driving cory Mandarin oa Of the country. and
keeping foctbe possession of it, until the court Of Pc
king was brought to us senses. That the possession
of the richest and most central province of the En-
pire by an enemy, would seriously inconvenience
and embarrass the government OF Picking admits of
no doubt, and may prove the only means Of coer-
cling it into concession OF demands made by Great
Britain. But this may possibly be work Of time,
and may require still further accessions to the
strength OF tine English army, which we believe mot
counting marines sailors does in all not exceed
1900 bayonets, from which garrisons at Chlnhae,
Tinghae, Annoy, and Hongkong must be deducted
whilst the two provinces ofKiaagnan and Chekiang
are equal in extent to about one half of France,
containing, 1t is said more than double the number
OF inhabitants OF that country. The task of or
ganising government in such extent OF country,
with comparatively small force seems of the
utmost difficulty, the more as the Chinese have
hitherto discovered the utmost reluctance to obey
foreign rulers, as is exempfed by the little success
experienced in the small island of Chusan of which
the English up to the present moment, possess no.
thing beyond the walls of Tinghae and their own
cantonment.
BY letters from the Yang tsze kiang of 9Th July,
learn that the British force left Woosung on the
7th, on its way up towards Marking An eye-wit-
ness writes 1t was splendid sight TO this enor
nous fleet, consisting in all OF about 100 sail, with
out coupting steamers, sail w that magnificent river
The Plover, Royals and Startling, surveying vessels
which accompanied by several steamers, had sur
veyed the river as far as Marking, had returned
only the day previous, and we believe reported the
river navigabe fort largest ships up to Marking