The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-29

The London Post, of December 3Ist, gives the
following histoFy Of the bombardmens Of Canton
by the British, and the causes which led 10 II:
II has more than once been ment,oned bv our
correspondent 1t Hong Kong thss the intercourse
between the British authorities and the Governor
Of Canton has tor some time been embarrassed
with growing difficulties, tbs result of the I'M
redressed grievances of British merchants On
the 7th of October the Chinese authorities CON
summated their career Of arbitrary violence by
seizipg lorcha under British colors, and makine
prisoners of the crew. It Is stated on good au
thority that they cut off the heads of four of the
crew The consul, Mr.. Parkes the British agent
on the spot proceeded first on board the lorcha
and afterwards endeavored to obtain an interview
with the mandarips. On board the lorcha he was
menaced; and the mandarins refused to give any
explanation Of the proceeding.
of these events to Sir John Bowring, At HONG
Kong, and also TO Sir Michael Seymour, who was
on the spot, and reprisals were commenced In Z
mild form by the seizure Of . mandarin Junk
which Commodore, the Hon. G. g. j. B. Elliott, OF
the Sybiile, took and sent to Hong Kong Mean.
while the Consul sent In strong moastrance 10
Yeh, the Governor Of the city, to which no an.
swer was returned Finding all his efforts vain,
Consul Parkes renounced further attempts at re.
Cancellation, and a naval force soon appeared on
the scene.
On the 18th of October, Sir Michael Seymour
despatched from Hong Kong the screw corvette
Encounter, IA gums, and the steam sloop Sampson,
g. for Whampoa, in the first instance, with large
force of marines and blue jackets; and the steam
sloop Barracouta followed with further detach-
ments. Admiral Seymour himself then proceeded
to Canton, and undertook the direction of the
operations. The British and other traders were
officially warned of the posture of affairs, and
commercial transactions, which, for q week before
had been little more than nominal, were sus.
pended
The river in front of Canton is rather broader
than the Thames at London Bridge, but the depth
of water does not exceed two fathoms, while the
narrow passages, by which access is gained to it.
on the eastern side Of the island of Whampoa
have depth not exceeding fathom and q half
The city is externally guarded by five forts, of
which two are on the land side and two on Pearl
River. These were attacked and taken by our
countrymen, on the oath of October. An attempt
was then made by Admiral Seymour to terminate
the difficulty without further hostilities but the
Chinese Governor would neither give satisfaction
nor grant an interview to the British commander.
Admiral Seymour then determined to attack the
city itself wall, composed partly of sandstone
and partly of brick. surrounds Canton; II is about
30 feet high and % feet thick and is mounted with
cannon. Against this wall fire was opened on
the 9th Of October, and by the Goth. . practical
breach had been opened, through which the troops
entered. The governors palace, situated in the
southwest part of the new city, was gained, but
appears not to have proved . position worth hold.
ing, for the troops were withdrawn In the evening
with loss of only three killed and twelve wound
ed
A further attempt which was now made to ne,
gotiate proved vain, and it was then resolved to
attack the old, inner, or Mantchou portion Of the
city, divided from the southern by high massive
stone WALL and contsining the garrison of Canton.
This part of the city was bombarded on the Sd and
4th of November, and on the 9th the Barracuda
destroyed % war junks. Another interval of res
Election was then granted to the Chinese governor,
but at the dates of the last accounts from Canton
which had reached Hong Kong no signs of
commodation were dscernabe.
The Timex, in leader, says that in a city thick
ly inhabited as Canton, the loss of lives from
bombardment must have been enormous.