Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-28
LATE NEWS FROM CANTON.
Communicated for The Journal of Commerce.
U. s. STEAMER JOHN HANCOCK,
Homo KoNG AuoUsT & 135

| COMMUNICATING Jor Me journal OF Commerce.
U. s. STEAMER JOHN HANCOCK,
HOMO KONG, AUGUST 8, 1854
We left Canton week ago yesterday, being relieved
from guard duty by the arrival of Commodore PERRY
mentioned in my last that Commander RISoaoLD was
lying dangerously ill at DR.. Parker's On Friday even
ing July e. previous to departure, called Dr.
and found the Commander sitting up and talking
with them and their company He then just GONZALES
cent had been derious in his Sickness and then showed
occasional symptoms Of wandering mind, though his
conversation was for the most part rational.
The apprehension of an immediate attack Iby the
Rebels upon Canton subsidized before we left The Chi
fought in their peculiar fashion, making business
OF the war-the two armies fighting day and stopping
in sight Of each other the to rest and eat Til
within few days of leaving the principal hostiities
were taking place at village small city about ten
miles the ryerhe rebels standing there to hold the
place. and the mandarns alternately meeting them when
they sailed os and burning them out when thew retired
within the town. Human bodies some fresh and others
in various stages of decay and many Of them headess
came floating down past sngy and tied together in
wos threes and fyes, at every turn of the tidewhie
we lay there. They in considerable numbers and
tainted both the air and the water.
The Consul desiring to reconnotre requested Captain
Rogers to accompany him up the river with armed boats
The launch and the gig were therefore manned and
ed and dispatched early one morning The party re-
turned about They had passed through the impe-
rial feet of junks without question: and pulling some
the rebels in the field, but warned off. When they
had showed two three rods from the bank one Of the
rebels, standing near the Shore took deliberate aim
With his matchbox and fired at the gig The ball grazed
the Consups cheek bone. The four marines seeing this
fellow aim, took aim also, and one Of them wished to
fire to prevent the threatened mschie but the captain
said "No: if he fires, then we'll fire; not otherwise
The Chnaman's audacity was astonishing. He had no
sooner fired than before he could lower his piece the
four muskets of the Marines the short earbnes of the
men, and both barrels of the captains double gun loaded
Han
and over he tumbed at The rest and suuated
down in iue and covered themselves with their bamboo
shields. Returning through the mandarin feet they
called on the Admiral, were graciousy received and
treated to cups of tea Mr. Bonney, American mis-
sionary acted as interpreter. Sothe adventure ended
During our stay Canton became gradually depopulat-
ed When we first went there the streets crowd
ed with the usual population that you could hardly move
through the busy press took several walks from time
to time, and witnessed the changes day or two be-
fore we left there were scarcely dozen individuals in
street. The shops with perhaps half dozen exceptions
in street were stripped Of their shelves, and the
walls hung with religious and deprecatory handblls.
Even such shops as had goods in them had very few
such as might easily be removed. The neat narrow,
smoothly paved streets seemed have been suddenly
deserted with all their gaudy ornaments and signs left
standing 1t was lonely, peculiar, and somewhat mel
ancholy scene.
The investment of the city was very gradual Before
left the rebels before the walls and fighting was
going outside the gate visible it was sad from the
tops of the Hongs but the opposite side from the
RIVER In my sontary walks through the streets found
the narrow door-ke entrance to each end of street.
with its stone framing and ss barrcaded by stout up
right wooden bars only being left out for the pas
sage Of single person. and the street watched by half
dozen of the imperial soldiers with their bamboo
das, round bamboo Shields cose-ftng, bowke paint
ed straw caps and their long trident spears These last
set in rack by the barbados they carried in
stead in their patrol rattan SWITCH with quite the air
of rattan dandes. In this the whole of Canton
appeared to be barrcaded at every few steps Such
the state of things when we left We have heard since
of two large fires there and the landing Of Commo
dore Perrys seventy and marines with their
and howizers but there is decided of struggle
within the city Its fa suppose, will be contested
and gradual from fire to fire and barricade to barricade
Dr. PARKER says that the Chinese, Notwithstanding their
want of skill to resist foreign arms fight very well among
themselves
The Perrys bring no very glowing account Of Japan,
and assure us that when we get there we shall find it
dull enough-scenery and every thing else. Trade,
for curiosties with officers is pretty much nerdcted
yet &c. setting aside Japan and the cold regions Of the
north, consider that have already had the Of
the cruise.