The weekly Placer herald., 1854-03-11
From China.

Hongkong we are IN receipt OF China
papers to the Goth of December. They
contain no additional news of importance.
The following sGmmary is extracted from
the Friend of China of the 10th:
Particulars of the progress of the Pa
triot army, as brought by the last vessel
from the north, are scanty But those re-
ports in the Pekng Gazette of Il series OF
defeats, readily believed by the credulous
and partial, have proved, as we anticipat-
ed, altogether wanting in truth; subse-
quent papers containing news of the Pa
triots' nearer approach to the capital;
whence. according to intelligence equally
as reliable as the Gazette's, they were
distant, at the eni af October, only six
miles: the main BODY being in possession
of broad causewa. leading direct to
Peking, between which and their position
there was no formidable obstacle in the
shape of hills, fortresses, or rivers. SO
determined were the leaders Of the patrl-
OTIS there should be no turning back, that
the bridges over which they had passed
were Immediately destroyed.
At Shanghai the lmperalists exhibit
such contemplate 'front.' that even those
who up to a recent period entertained
some hopes for a reversion Of the old
order of things, are changing sides; and
sympathy with the rebel Triads, low and
unworthy in department though they APP
pear to be, is becoming the fashion among
all classes.
From Nngpo and Fuh chow we have
no late intelligence. 1t was rumored at
Shanghai that the rebels who evacuated
Annoy had proceeded to and captured the
last mentioned place; but there was no
truth in their having gone there at all;
indeed the report, to any one remember
ing the large body of Tartar troops sta
toned at Fuhchow, bore on its face the
stamp of improbablily.
At Annoy, on the 9TH inst all was quiet.
Some apprehensions were entertained by
foreign residents from the crews of the
large fleet of West coast boats--genuS
pirate-who were awaiting payment of
the sums promised for their aid in causing
the rebels to evacuate the city; there being
no man of war in port to protect the fac
tories-the S. s. ship Plymouth leaving
for this place-the Brittern having gone
to Fuchow, and the Hermes actively en-
gagged in destroying pratica fleets out
side. Twenty-four Foklin and one West
coast boats had been captured up to the
29th ult. Trade, if it might be called
trade, was improving.
We are not able to ascertain what has
been done at Formosa by those reported
on former occasion as beng in arms
against the Tartars. The Island, we may
expect, however, is no longer "a depen-
dency on the Chinese Government.
The unruly spirits about Canton have
been mastering in large force during the
last month, and a grand fight has been
as for To day. The insurgents,
driven to action by the barbarous conduct
of the Mandarins and their lawess SOL
diery, propose to make themse ives mas
ters of Hwui.chau and the Bogue forts
before proceeding to Canton. But we
can only speak of that section of the
insurgents with whom our passengers
have come in contact; other of the Ill
may bring matters to crisis
before the Sze-ma people have consum-
mated their intentions.
SHANGHAI.-Dates at Hongkong from
Shanghai, were to the 10th December
The Taoutae Samqua had applied to the
British Consul to have him and the other
Consuls register all the Chinese in the em'
ploy of their respective countrymen, in
order that when the city should he taken
there might he no difficulty in distinguish
ing those persons from the rebels He
also desired that no fugi'ives might be
sheltered in the foreign settlement. The
Consul had, of course, declined compli-
ance.
The Register further states that at
tempts have been made to open trade
at another place than Shanghai.
SIGNIFIcANr Under this head the
Friend of China, of the 18th, states that
the Emperor had ordered the revenue to
be forwarded to Shin9-king; and adds that
Moukden, in Tartary, not Peking, is now
the Tartar's capital in China.
Pirates ON THE COAST I'VE find the
following in the Hongkong Register, of
Dec. Goth.
On the Gath November intelligence
reached Annoy of the capture of the Eng
lish hrig Fortuna, and the Portuguese
Lorcha No. 70, by pirates. H. M. steam
er Hermes was shortly after got under
weigh for the purpose of recovering the
vessels and eXterminating the pirates -
After cruise of ten days, she eventually
returned to Annoy, having destroyed 90
junks, some well armed, and destroyed or
dispersed their crews, estimated at from
100 to 1900 men. Up to the present
time we have not seen or been able to
obtain any very reliable account of the
oneratiOns hut thew seem To have reflect