The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-30
LATEST MAIL NEWS
INTERESTING FROM CHINA

Supposed Loss Of the u s Brig "Porpoise," sritA
aR on Board.-Sto Of A5ai's IN China, &c
The Journal of Commerce publishes the follow.
log extract from letter of officer of the U. 8
steam frigste "Powhatau," dated Hong hong, ia, Z.
~ 1855:
We have great fesrs that the IT, 8 BRIG upor
noise" 10 lost with ali on board She sailed from
here with the vincennes, early In September last
and when nine days out, parted company with The
y since when nothing has been heard of her -
The two vessels, in case of being separated were
To- rendezvous At BONN Island
The Viucennes, shortly after her arrival there
experienced a terrible gale of wind and ALTHOUGH
blew 40 hard that she obliged to nut down fnnr
snchors 10 keep from being driven ashore and
even then they though her mssts would be blown
ont OF her 1t is feared that In this gale the por.
poise may have iouudered at sea. The vincennes
waited number oi days IN hopes OF her arrival
I'm, She came not and the '. continued b ,r cruise
The CAPTAIN of the merchant ship Sayhrook
arrived here yesterday, and reports the entire loss
o. his ship and cargo al Loo Choo Island. Himself
and crew were saved In the ships boat and on
reaching the hsrb2r found the NtnceDues at anchor
there After trying to save something from the
wreck without success the y sailed, with the
Csptsin and crew Of the wrecked ship all on board
Tor ShsnChse but meeting the " Nightingale" at
sea bound to ShsnGhse, they were all put on board
a her. and the kincenneS resumed her course
without stopping. Ry this means we have learned
that there is scarcely the slightest hope of the safety
al the "porpoise,' else the Nincennes would have
fallen in with her. Il was at the Bonin Island that
Lieutenant Matthews and his brosi's crew were
lost last year. The Ssybrook had on bosrd Sl65-
900 IN specie besides a cargo of 600 bbls u! Hour
VII ca wss all lost In her
Com. Abbott returned to Canton on the l2th, in
c 4use9uenee OF intelligence reaching him that an
attack the city was expected to be shortly made
hy the rsyoutoniss
There have been several collisions lately in the
river in the vicinity Of the city, between the fsrces
ut the Imperial government and the Rebels sttend
Ell wiki very considerable loss on both sides The
Rebels, however, seem TO have had the best of L.
aud there is every probability of the city soon fall
ing into their hands The war Ia carried on with
the most bloodthirsty cruelty, Ii seems more like
strife between ravenous tigers, than between man
and man. Where either party fall into the hands
ui the other, no mercy is shown, but death is 10
icled in the most dreadful manner, by disemboW
cling while yet alive and then cutting OF the head
The whole empire lie in thorough state of anarchy
and confusion, and great suffering prevails among
the middle and lower classes, their whole substance
being seized by party or the other TO carry on
the war. The wealthy citiZens are leaving Canton
Ia crest numbers.
The English and American forces remain perfect
y neutral in the matter Of the begerents; but the
French have inclined towards the Imperial govern.
lnent, as II now exists The trade Is now entirely
broken up at Canton, and is diverted to Shanghae
ana Fou choo-iou, where affairs are in a compare
lively more settled state Ii will be years before
The Country gets into settled state again and then
many years more before it regains its former pros.
perity.
1t is de cided that We are to start in day OF
Two ior Japan direct, having on board Capt Adams,
bearer OF the Ratified Treaty" After inishing the
Treaty business there, to return to Shang-
hae, and relieve the Vandalia stationed there which
ship is to 90 to Whampoa, aud relieve the Mace
donlan Commodore Abbott will come up in her
10 relieve us at ShRnghRe. and we shall return to
Hong hOpg to await orders from home