Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-01-31
The Romb a I'd Of Canton China.

IIE IIfllbu 4 80 u pbaA H'@-
history of the bombardment OF Canton by the bflllsh'
and the causes which led to Il:
II has more than once been mentioned by our cor
respondent ut Hong Kong that the intercourse oe-
tween the British authorities and the Governor Oh
Caution has for some time been embarrassed with
growing difficulties, the result of the nnredressei
grievances OF British merchants. On the TN OF &c
tobcr the Chinese authorities ~consumpaied their ca
rcer Of arbitrary violence by seizing a lorcha under
British colors. and making prisoners OF the crew. IL
i.k'atcl on good authority that they cut off the heads
Of Tar N The crew. The consul, Mr.. Parkes, the
British an on the spot, proceeded hrst on ooata
the JrehHi. tal a0crwards endeavored to obtain an IN
terijew Win tbt maudarins. On board the loreiti
he was menaeej, and the mahdarins refused TO give
Ruy explanation Of Ire pro- eediyg. -
Tn e0nz II imnti..y3 dispatched intelligence oil
these events - SIR John lj5tfiag. at Hong hong, and
also - Sr Michel Seymour, aho WAS on the spot,
ana teptissis Ntrc commenced IN Il mild form BY the
scihuie II Il mandarin junk. which Commodore, the
Hon &C. !. Il. Elliott, of tie Sybille, took and sent
to Hong kon9. MeauNh;lr the Consul sent in Il
strong lempnslrance to lci, the Governor Of b ecltY,
TO Ni.t3 n14n-NorW WIS returned. Finding all his
efforts vain, Consul Plr.cs rcnouuccl further at
tcmpts At reconciliation, and n naval force soon ap-
p"trrI Oh the srrna.
Ollle 18th Of October, Sir Michael Seymour les-
patched from Il5ug koug the screw corvette Encoan-
ter, Ii guns. AMI the steam sl35p Sampson, 9, for
Whaiapoa, in the first instance, with a large force of
mariuesaol IlI jackets and the steam soop Bur
rdruIlt followed, with further drttrhmen's. Admiral
seymour himself then proceeded to Canton, and in-
dctfooi the direction ofthe operations. The British
ami other traders were officially warned of the pos
ture Of a1tirs, and commersial Transactions, which,
for a week before, had been little more than nominal,
were suspended.
Tn river IN front ofCduton IS rather broader than
the Thames ut London Bridge, bntthe depth OF water
does not exceed two tathoms, while the narrow paS-
srges, hy which access is gained to it, on the EASTERN
side Of the island of Wlampoa, have a depth mol eX-
ceeling \ flthom and IL hall. The city IS externally
guarded by I've forts, OF which two are on the land
side aud Two on Pearl River. Thee were attacked
and taken by orr countrymen, on the 9Th of Oeto-
Der. An attempt was then made by Admiral Sey-
moar 10 terminate the difficulty without further hos
t%.litles, bat the Chinese Governor would neither give
satisfaction nor grant in interview to the British COM
mander.
Admiral Seymour thea determined to attack the
city itself \ wall, composed partly of sandstone
and partly of brick, surrounds Canton; it is about 30
feet high aud - feet thick, and is mounted with can
non. Against this wal, Il fire WAS opened on the 9th
Of October, and 10y the 10Th, n practical breach had
been opened, through which the troops entered. The
governors palace, situated in the southwest part Of
the new city, was gained, bnt appears not to have
proved Il position worth holding, for the troops were
Withdrawn in the evening with a loss ofonly three
killed AMI twelve wounded.
y further attempt which was now made to nego-
tiltc prov Il vain, and it vas then resolved to attack
the old, inner, or Mnutchou portion Of the city, diyi-
dcl from the southern 10y ii high massive stone wall,
and containing the garrison Of Canton. This part of
the city was bomblrdcd on the ID aud 18th ofNovem
Der, and on the 9Th the BlrracoHta destroyed % war
junks. Another interval of reflection was then grant
rl 10 the Chinese governor, but at the dates of the
last accounts FROM Canton which mad reached Hong
kpnspo signs ofau accommodation were disccrnlble.
The ii1aes, in Il leader, says that in acity thiekly
~ inhabited as Canton, the loss Of lives from n bonn
barluent mist have been enormous.