, 1857-02-20

seamen were accidently shot by their com
rades' rifles in getting out OF the boat.
Flags had been prepared by the men before
landing on which were inscribed the words
remember Mullins" the leadsman first
shot, and there was no quarter from the
hands Of his infuriated messmates. With
the taking Of the fort the days work ended.
tYeh's reply was sent to the American fac
tories little before midday. In it Yeh
said. "that the Americans were told some
weeks ago they had better go away from
Canton, and he was under the impression
that they had left. In any event, their
boats had no business under the fort; and
in short, it served them right to be shot
at" Yeh had no apology. The fight
was continued next day, and one shot
from the Chinese killed two and wounded
eight in one of the Portsmouths boats
The forts were all captured subsequently,
as related above, without loss.
The United States steamer San Jacinto
arrived few days after the disturbance &C.
Cured. ...... .........
The Americans, says the Register, in
tend to retire from the quarrel, it is said,
and await the issue of Admiral Seymour's
demonstration before again operating.
The French have also withdrawn their
men-of-war's-m from the factories.
CAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY.
The Chinese Mail gives the following as
the origin of the whole difficulty:
"By treaty, should suspected criminals
be on board vessels under our flag, it IS in
cumbent on the Chinese authorities if they
wish to obtain them, to make application
to the nearest Consul and that officer, on
being satisfied of the guilt of the parties
charged, at once gives them up. Some
such suspected men were on board Lor-
cha, registered as belonging to this port of
Hongkong but, without making the pre-
scribed reference, the Governor-G General Of
the Province directed that they should he
seized. This was done. The British Con
sui demonstrated and demanded their re-
turn to the vessel they were taken from.
The Governor-G eneral treated the applica-
ton with contempt. The Plenipotentiary,
by the Consul, then warned him that unless
he did as was wished, and at once apollo
gized for the insult to our dignity as a
State, the matter should be placed in the
hands of Admiral Sir Michael Seymour
To this the Governor General replied
by sending some Of the men to the COnsu-
late-not to the vessel He averred after
wards that the vessel in question was not
, British owned he had offered no insult to
our flag, for none was flying when she was
boarded that his subordinates knew moth
ing about the treaty and, in fine, he had
committed no Intentional insult, and had
nothing to apologize for. All this may
be as you say in effect responded Admir-
al Seymour, when the reply reached him,
but come, why not permit me TO visit you
, at your official residence within the city,
and let us talk the matter over face to face
This the Governor General refused point
blank consequently it only remained for
Admiral Seymour to pay the visit without
leave"
DECLARATION OF WAR BY IEH-From a
proclamation issued by Yeh, we extract
the following:
"Now the barbarian rebels have raised
disturbances, attacking our heavenly dynas.
ty, destroying forts, burning ships and
making war on the city. The anxiety on
this account has entered iuto my very
bones and marrow, and your united wrath
too has been aroused Now / have re-
ceived the Imperial command firmly to
hold and resolutely to 6ght and maintain
the war from the public treasury-to block.
ade the river and sea, and sweep out every
! fragment. You must on behalf of the
Empire exert your strength as brave SOL
diers, in order that not fragment of the
foreign robbers may remain"
CAUSE OF THE DIFFICUITY.-From the
China 1HaiL, which came to hand late last
night, we copy the following as the origin
of the whole difficulty Canton itself was
bombarded by the British All the forts
on the Pearl river, from the Bague to
Canton, were captured, and entrance .ef,
fected into the city itself by the British.
The conflict above rected, it appears,
has called forth declaration of war by
the Celestial Emperor, against all the "bar-
barian" ships in port.
/, 1t appears that Canton is now between
two fires, and that the rebels are marching
on towards that city, as well as materially
threatening it with destruction.
The details of the affair-as to how the
American vessels become mixed up in the
matter, are given at too great length for
us to attempt to give them publicity.
Congress re-assembled on the End Jan,
and it is supposed that now the Pacific
railroad schemes, the ocean mail services,
the increase of the compensation of the Of
6cers of the army, the affairs of the terri
tories, &c, will receive some attention.
The Senate confirmed the nomination of
Gen. Persifer F. Smith to the Brigadier-
ship created originally for General Shields.
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