The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-03-18
LATER NEWS FROM CHINA.

By the arrival of the clipper ship Hurricane
at the Bay, we have received intelligence from
Hongkong to January l7th-forty-five days Ia
tor than previous advices. 1t appears that i'm
rnediately after the capture and destruction of
the Barrier Forts by the Americans, Commo-
dore Armstrong returned with his feet to
Whampoa, aud addressed letter to Yeh,
the Governor of Canton, in which he said
nHere presume it will end, and so long as
he 1.-THE Imperial Commissioner does not COM
nit any act of violence against our flag or cltl-
liens, we shall rest on our arms.'
His Excellency Yeh, in despatch of the 9Th
of January, writes Commodore Armstrong
"From this. see your Excellency has clear
knowledge of affairs There is no matter OF
strife between our two nations. Henceforth let
the fashion of flag which American ships EN-
ploy be clearly defined, and inform me what it
i beforehand This will be the verifcation of
the friendly relations between our countries"
It would seem from this, so far as the Ameri-
cans are concerned, that the difficulty is settled.
DESTRUCTION OF THE F0RTs.-The following
account of the destruction of the forts in the
neighborhood of Canton, is from the HongkOng
Gazette:
The only event of Importance since the de-
spatch on the 25th Of December, via Calcutta, of
the record of the ten preceding days, has been
fhe capture and demolition of the French Folly
Fort, with a loss on our side of one marine pri-
vate, who was shot through the body by an
iron arrow. The destruction Of the fort was
most complete; and the rapidty with which it
was performed must have had an astonishing
effect on the Chinese mind. In each OF seven
teen mines hundred pounds of powder was
buried, and at the hour of high noon the whole
was exploded, leaving hardly one stone upon
another. Our gallant brothers in arms, the
Americans, have been less successful in their
operations on the Barrier Forts-the indiscreet
use of o crow-bar on a charged mine sending
three to eternity at once, and woundng half
dozen others who were standing by. Neyerthe-
less, they too, have well performed their work
of destructon-if it can be thought well to de-
stroy the forts (the two southernmost especial
ly) that might have been easily held, and would
have proved useful.
DESTRUCTION OF THE FOREIGN FACTORIES
the 14th of December, the Chinese set fire to
the foreign factories at Canton. The factories
were all burned with ono or two exceptions,
and these were pillagcd. We find the following
on the subject in letter to the Gazette dated
December 18th
About half past IL o'clock last night, Admi-
raj Seymour, looking out of his bedroom win
dow, saw some Chinese with hambeaux and fire.
balls, setting fire TO the remains of the Chinese
houses, in Thirteen Factory street, in rear OF
Mcssrs. Dent Il Co.'S. A light south wind was
blowing az the time, and the flame soon crawl
ed to windward into New China street.-the
want of water, tide being low, rendered it quite
| 20, CHI tn Rtr az,
the fire was at its height, approaching the ruins
OF Hog Lane
Another correspondent, writing on the 10Th
December says
Notwithstanding the heat from the still glow
ing debris and the danger from falling walls
the Chinese loafcrs are as busy as bees grubbing
for whatever is worth removal Mcssrs Wal
drcy x Co.'S and Ezrah and Judah's houses, the
only premises intact from fire, are under Il
course of systematic destructiOn-irOn works in
the lower parts of the houses burnt, being also
a great abect of attraction-the hammer and
chise going on as generously as in q machinist's
shop. The sentres appear much tantalizcd at
being directed not to shoot any one of the plum
derers, some occasionally coming within 30 or
40 yards of them-so bold are they.
ArrEMrT OF TILE CHINESE TO RETAKE THE FORTS.
An attempt was made on the 4th of January
by the Chinese to retake from the English some
of the captured forts. The English feet was
lying off the factory ruins at Canton, when the
Admiral was Informed that large number of
war junks were approaching the Macao Passage
Fort. The steamer Commanded Immediately
started for the fort, leaving directions for the
encounter to follow as soon as possible.
| Nv fho Time tl,o ,xot ,Jou., a,
Fort, the Chinese had arranged that portion OF
their squadron, some sixty vessels that had come
down the Fashion creek, in a line between Ma
rines Island and Barrow's Island, about mid
way between the Macao Passage (Teatotum)
Fort and the stations of the Hornet and Comus
off the Barrier. But just as the Encounter was
under weigh. some twenty or thirty vessels
were seen coming into Startling Reach, and in
stead of proceeding directly, it was deemed best
to send few shot into them. The Encounter
then attempted to get down the Macao Passage,
but unfortunately, grounded somewhere off
Birds Nest Fort and was unable to get to the
assistance of the others engaged The accident
being observed from the Commanded Sir Michael
Seymour did not deem it prudent to do more
with the Commanded than stand on the defensive
and accordingly dropped back with the tide.
still firing from the bow gun, and sent the boats
crew into the fort The Chinese, of course. con-
strued the movement to irresolution, and came
on bravely to within four hundred yards of the
fort when, from the minnies of the marines and
small arm men, till then under cover, they re-
ceived repeated volleys, which must have COM
mitted frighful execution. II was about four.
or little after-that the Chinese finding they
had again met more than their match. and
knowing that as the tide made they could not
show fight minute, gave signs of an intention
to return.
Six men were wounded in the boats, and one
boy of the first class severely burnt on board
the Commanded, whilst in the act of screwing'in a
rocket staff which had accdently ignited either
from friction of screwing or the back fire of a
previous discharge. 1t is supposed that not less
than seven thousand Chinese. in altogether
some hundred and fifty boats, were engaged in
this'the most plucky action on their part that
has ever been witnessed by the English Naval
| Officers.
MASSACRE on BOARD THE STEAMER THIsTIE.-