Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-28
FROM CHINA.

We have received from China the semi-monthly
publications of the Friend of China and China Mail
of August 9Th and 9th, which contain variety Of
information of some interest.
The condition Of the city of Canton had become ex
remey alarming from the increased number and violence
Of the insurgents who assaulted it, and who were prevent
ed from entering the city only by force Of the city walls
and their being destitute of artillery. They were how
ever engaged in casting iron Cannon and their number
supposed to be about thirty thousand. The Gov
had withdrawn his troops withia the city,
from which they made saies almost daily upon the in
surgents and also fired upon them with heavy cannon
from the city walls charged with various missiles and
combustibles All the gates kept shut except the
two nearest the foreigners quarters On the Sd Of August
the rebels under heavy rain advanced in strong force
the square fort on the hill where the Tartar portion OF
the Canton garrison were encamped, and received
by profrse discharge Of these cobusbles that they
were Obliged to retire. twas asserted by the Imperial
lists that upwards OF thousand rebels killed by
thirty six discharges of very large gun. The reports,
however either de found to be entitled 10 very
little credit and the editors Of the Friend of China
plain Of the impossbity of obtaining reliable nforma-
on even through special agents. Persons employed
Liable to being suspected of voring the insurgents
They however say that the population Of the city
in much more serious state of alarm than fortnight
prevous that nearly every shop and house Of business
in the wards in of the factories partially
wholly closed and that almost nothing doing in the
way oftrade. Orders had been given to clear away all
houses N the vicinity of the walls which could give shell
tcr " llc Inc Foreign was AT
entire sandstlL Three large villages in the vicinity Of
Whampa had raised the rebel standard Large numbers
of the population ct Canton had gone to Macao and to
Hong Hang
The Friend of China publishes two procamatous of the
Canton Authorities One Of them requires all the inhabi
tants of he city to Keep in readiness tubs Of water for
the extngushment OF fire. to guard against the necessity
Of opening the gates for the admission Of fire engines
from the suburbs in of confagration thereby
giving occasion for the admission Of the insurgents.
They required in fires occur, to extnguish them
instantly, and "ose time by hesitsncy or looking
| about" Another proclamation from the Imperial Com
missioner zee the people of the province to be
their guard against being deuded and entccd away by
the insurgents Ind told that if the said rebels dare
skulk into tip villages in the vicinity of the city,
is the duty Of al good people, without exception to be
"you must az once lead out your village braves and at
attack ITEM, with promise of specia rewards to
all who distinguished themselves.
In proof ofthe barba-tes committed in the vicinity of
the city it sstated that the river every and then
brings dowrnumerous drowned Chinese, of them in
twos and tees dashed together; and occasion
batch of tenwas floating in heap. Whether these
Of barbriy committed by the Imperalsts the
rebels oe knows. One party is as blood thirsty and
craven as tie other"
There ise additional information Of the progress OF
the insurgents at the North. 1t does not appear that
they had recently made any advance towards Picking.
Sir JohI Bowring, the new Commissioner, was still at
where he had been in correspondence with the
merchan the question Of export duties The steamer
Lady May Wood, lately arrived ct Hong Kong from
Shanghai after leaving the port heard furious bonn
harding d the city walls and terrible explosion, from
which 81. feared the place had been recaptured by
the Impaialists.' 1t said that five mines were
sprung uider different parts of the wall
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