Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-04
Stauntor Sqettator,
STAUNTON, VA.
THUSRDAY, JANUARY 20. 1851.
NEWS BY THE MAILS.


On Tuesday afternoon last after our paper
went to press, the Central cars reached staun,
ton. but brought no mails. On Wednesday
evening the mails arrived, only elerem days
from Richmond From the vast pile of news
papers found upon our table this Thursday)
morning, we compile the following items of in
telligence. The great snow storm seems to have
been very general, but severer South and East
than it was in this latitude:
FOREIGN NEws.-Late account, from Canton
bring intelligence that that city was bombarded
on the oath of October by the British squadron
under Admiral Seymour
The collision was owing to the seizure OF
twelve British seamen on board vessel in the
river. ~.
The British Consul interfered and was insult
ed and threatened with violence, and when re-
monstrating with the Chinese General he was
treated with contempt.
The matter was placed in the hands of Admi-
raj Seymour on the 21st OF October, and HOSTILE
ties commenced on the 24th The forts at Can
ton were taken and several destroyed.
The Governor still rejecting Admiral Sey-
mour's demand for satisfaction, fire was OPEN
ed on the 9th on the city walls and. the Gov
ernors palace.
The walls were preached, and on the Goth the
| troops entered and penetrated to the palace, but
were withdrawn in the evening. The British
loss was only killed and II wounded.
Attempts at negotiations were made but con-
tinuing frulless, the city was bombarded on the
Sd aud 4th of November. On the 9th % war
iunks were destroyed by the British steamer
Further time was then given but the Chinese
remained obstinate.
The Bogue forts were then captured.
The foreign factories We're vacated and prop
erty to large amount was burnt and CON-
merce paralyzed.
1t is reported that the United States ship of
war Portsmouth participated in the attack.
Prussia and Switzerland continue their prepa-
rations for war, but the tenor of the recent In
telligence was favorable.
The demands of Prussia were diminishing and
it was reported that Napoleon had made a con,
ciliatory offer for an arrangement to the Federal
authorities.
The Prussian Journal says that the American
Envoy had offered loan of S20, 100000 to Swift
zerland in case of need, while Austria strongly
protests against the war
LATER-A later arrival than the above brings
the following:
Lord Napier has been appointed Minister to
Washington. He is a practised diplomatist, haV-
ing served in Austria, Persia, Russia, Naples and
Turkey.
The Archbishop of Paris while officiating at
the church of St. Stephen, Paris, was stabbed to
the heart by discharged Priest named Verges
The Archbishop instantly expired.
The Conference of Paris proceedings still re-
hof thn
ence met on the 3D., hut the Moniteur is silent.
The delay is attributed by some to the necessa-
ry time to prepare the protocols. By others, 10
new disagreement in the detail, not of princi-
pie, respecting the compensation to be paid to
Russia No apprehension is felt OF any other
than pacific result.
| The Swiss difficulty remains as before report
ed. but the expectations of peaceable settle
nent increase A favorable augury is drawn
from an apparently cordial reception given by
Napoleon to the Swiss envoy.
The London Gazette publishes official accounts
of tie hostile operations against China, confirm
ing the previous details.
DEFERRED CONGRESSIONAL ITEMS --On the 10Th,
ult. the Senate passed the Consular and Diplo-
matte Appropriation bill.
| On .ae Goth, Mr. Clay introduced in the Sem
ate bills for the repeal OF all laws granting boun-
ties to fishing vessels. The subject was debated
at length, and referred to the Committee on
Commerce. The Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons, in Executive session, reported tavoraoly
on the Central American treaty.
On the 21st, the House adopted resolution
that Simonton, the correspondent OF the New
York Times, be confined in close custody until
the end of the session, or until he relieve himself
from the charge of contempt before the investi-
eating committee.
On the I'D. the Senate passed the Submarine
Telegraph bill, the object of which is to author
ize the government to make contracts TOR the
use of the submarine telegraph similar to that
entered into by the company with the British
government
The House confirmed its action in relation to
the Imprisonment of Simonton, the correspondent
of the New York Times, for contempt in refusing
to appear before the committee forinvestigatlon
of alleged bribery and corruption in Congress.
A bill to enforce the attendance OF witnesses be-
fore the committee, was considered and passed.
| On the 23d. the Senate passed the House Dill,
more etfectually to secure the attendance oI
witnesses summoned by either House, IN rela-
ton to the charges of bribery and corruptlon'
and to compel them to disclose testimony. There
were only three votes against the bill.
/ On the 18th, Mr.. Nourse, of Maine, elected to
fill the vacancy in the Senate caused by the re-
signation of Mr. Ilamlin, took his seat ne
credentials of Mr.. Sumner were presented. Mr.
| Chester was brought before the House by the
Sergeant at Arms, and resolution was adopted
calling on him to furnish an excuse why he did
not appear before the committee appointed 10
investigate charges of bribery After debate II
was determined that the witness should answer
in writing under OATH Mr.. Chester was then
given into the custody of the Sergeant at Arms
TERRIBLE MIsTAKE-On the 2lst ut. Dr. Ar
mold. of Baltimore, was called TO see child OF
John Eckert. He gave description in which
chlorate of potash was directed; but the drug
cst. Mr.. Letter, put in cyanide of potash The
child made resistance, and the mother succeed
ed in administering only half Dose In ten
minutes the child was dead The Doctor was
sent for. and insisted that death was not caused
Ly the medicine To prove it, he swallowed
portion. and Immediately experienced symptoms
of poisoning. He LASTED to the apothecarys'
took an emetic, and fell on the floor In few
minutes Mr.. Eckert entered with the medicine,
and accused Mr.. Letter with killing his child
Mr. +, maintained that it could not be, and
himself took q spoonful of the medicine. lie
fell and in twenty minutes died. llle scene
which followed beggars description. husband,
wife, and mother, all frantic from the deplorable
results of mistake. In u very short space, OF
time the street in front of the house was filled
with human beings, each eager to know what
was the matter The emetc which DR.. Arnold
had taken caused him to vomit freely, and was
probably the saving of his life, as he is consider
ed out of danger.
DEATHS OF NOTED PERsoNs-The Hon. John
Barney. of Baltimore, died in Washington city,
on the 26th ult of pneumonia.
The Hon. Preston S. Brooks, of South Caro-
lima died at Washington on the 9th ut., of
thickening of the larynx. He had been i'll nearly
all the week but died almost without moments
~. - w ...., Of the crnun