Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-17

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the interests of France are not the same as
those Of Great Britain.
The quarrel of Admiral Laguerre with the
insurgents at Shanghai had assumed a charac.
| ter altogether serious. On the 9th of January,
he made an attack on the town. 1t began at
daybreak. An hour after opening the fire, a
breach was made practicable; the sailors
rushed in with their officers at their head. The
rebels were routed, and the French remained
masters of the ramparts, when the troops Of
the Emperor (of China) seeing the French
flag hoisted, advanced in disorder to the num-
Der OF many hundreds, and planted themselves
right between the positions occupied by the
marines. There ensued, therefore, a certain
confusion which gave time for the flying rebels
to rally Retracing their steps, they charged
the imperialists, who turned their backs on the
first shock. In their precipitate flight they in
terfered with the man9uvres. Three discharges
right in face did not restore their courage. The
most part bounded over the walls the others
escaped through the breach The blow had
failed; retreat was sounded. Ii was made
in admirable order, Notwithstanding the fire
well kept up of troop of English, American,
French, and other vagabonds, from sixty to
seventy in number, in the service of the insur-
gents. Our loss was considerable two officers
killed, four wounded, three or four soldiers
killed, and about forty wounded We owe these
mishaps to the support which the insurgents
find in the Americans. Whilst the city was in
state of seige, two officers of the United States
we're taken in fagrante delicto. They uere
anxious to repudiate their nationality; bit their
uniforms, hidden under their paletots, betrayed
them. As the only chastisement, the Admiral
was satisfied with disarming them.
The chief of the Chinese instruction, Tae-
Ping Wang appears to be altogether occupied
with the regulation of the interior We no
longer hear him spoken Of Canton is quiet
enough for the moment. The insurgents who
who had assaulted it on the north have disap-
peared. The burning Of Fowchan has been
fatality for them. Since that period their
forces have been constantly on the decrease
The population have at length opened their
eyes on the dangers they are exposed to. They
rally round the mandarins, and assist with all
their efforts in the destruction Of those brigands
who make much parade of patriotism, but have
in reality no other object than plage and de-
bauchery. Many encounters have taken place
between the soldiers of the government and
bands Of rebels. The advantage always re-
mains with the imperialists Unfortunately the
mandarns have still to combat with the pirates,
who, alured by the prospect Of booty, have
focked in frightful numbers to the rescue Of
their Disconnected brethren. The victory they
had achieved over the mandarin feet in De-
cember led them to believe that nothing could
resist them. Full of this idea they advanced
upon Canton. To arrive before the city it was
necessary to pass under the fire of three forts,
called forts of the Barrier, at three leagues
from the capital They were unable to force
them. Several times they returned to the
charge, but without success. Returned within
their general quarters, they console themselves
on their reverses by the intimate correspondence
they maintain with the English and American
authorities. One is astonished to see the rep
resentatves of those two nations treat on
footing Of equality with the chief of this rabble
of the sea. They are on friendly terms with
him; and, believing him to be the head Of
powerful party, are careful not to displease
him. These gentlemen make a profound mis-
take; to dissipate the illusion they have only
to interrogate the first conner from among the |
Chinese. The mandarins are not likely to |
forget conduct so hostile to their government,
and one may readily conceive that, should ever |
the occasion offer, they will not let it slip with
out taking their revenge. Nevertheless, neu- |
trality is protested; that neither act nor part |
would be taken with any of the belligerent par |
driven away from tue Eoadstead of Hong Kong |
two mandarin banks, whilst on the same day |
and the morning after, q half score Of barks,
with the red flag flying, have been able to re- |
victual, without the police having considered it
in the least necessary to disturb them.