The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-04-06
The DAILY DISPATCH
Monday Morning, April 8, 1857.

|
Monday Morning, April 8, 1857.
l ~"~>-~---~~-~>~~~~~>~~~~~->->~
| THREE DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.
PROGRESS OF THE CHINESE WAR.
The Belgian screw steamer Constitution arrived
~ New York on Thursdsy evening At O'Clock,
having sailed from Southampton on the evening
OF the 18th ult, and experienced heavy gales on
the trip. She brings 565 passengera
The cause of the putting back of the Circa ssian
to Liverpool was succession of gales she expe-
rfenced Oft the coast of ireland, which blew The
sails to ribbons from the bowsprit
INTERESTING FROM CHINA.
The overland mail had arrived in London, br,us.
ing correspondence and papers from Hong Kons
to the 3oih Of January. The Hong Kong corre.
spondent of the London Times writes: -
As we were writing our last advices on the ls.b
inst there was report that an attempt bad hssn
naoe 20 poison . large portion of the community.
arsenic having been mixed with the bread Mt ~ .
OF the principal bakeries of the place This n,ovad
to be the case and several hundred peonle
| from eating the bread but we are bappv to add
we have heard OF no fatal consequence, though
many are still suffering from the effects We be-
eve 1t is agreed among the medical men tbst Il a
| consequences were not fatal owing to the laryo
| quantity of arsenic used which acted generate
| as violent emetic. The head man of the bakery.
"
| in the morning of the day the occurrences tool
place. There was some delay on the part of gov.
errment in sending after him, but q foreign 9ens
tieman, sufferer from the atrocous attempt char
tered steamer and succeeded in capturiup AIlum
before he got on shore at Macao He was broncht
back here and bis trial and that of several of fhe
men who were employed on the premises comes
On at the sessions now sitting The msn, from the
hrs mas asserted bis innocence, but it ia signii
| cant fact that the Chinese steward, who wss on
board the small river steamer Thistle when she
was captured and the foreigners murdered. and
| whose evidence was most conflicting at the 10.
guest was the person employed to see to the de-
iveriug of the bread that morning
After this act of the Chinese there was a sfronr
feeling In favor of martial law being established:
and the advsabiity of such course was recon-
| mended to Sir John Bowring by those on whom We
have to depend for the security of the place and
who have not an over strong force at their disposal
His Excellency was disinclined to have apv inter
ference with bis authority.
The Chinese New Years day, the 26ih nh
passed over quietly here, but apprehensions are
eutetsined that mischief Is intended AGAR st
the place
We hear of large number of boats and iunks
being collected in the neigh borhood for the purpose
of an attack. The force in the harbor is no doubt
sufficient TO repel any Chinese feet, but we have
a very small number of men to meet an attack on
land One regiment is not sufficient for the ser
vice of this place in an emergency like the pre-.
Eeat
AL AppncatlOu mdQ9 TO the G0VerpOr General
of India for regiment to be sent out here, we
understand, has been refused
The French ships are anchored at the head of
| the bay. Her Msjesty's ship Calcutta is anchored
at the west; The United States ship Levant is
also in the harbor. Small steamers chartered by
the government move about in the harbor at night
In consequence of the report brought in by the
American steamer Lily that member of iurks
and snake boats were off Linten, and had attempt
ed to intercept her, the United States steamer San
.JaciutO had tn iOok
The want of steamer to cruise constantly In
the neighborhood is now much felt their being
none available for the service at present
Commissioner Yeh had addressed DR. Parker the
United States Minister, asking him why he has
not ordered American subjects and American
ships OF wal. away from Hong Kong, to be clear of
the present troubles. We have not heard of DR.
Parker's reply.
perial Commissioner from Pekin was expected to
come down here shortly to arrange matters at
Canton This is premature. A Tarter General
with about forty attendants, came down from
Shaughae on the American steamer Antelope, and
went on to Canton via Maceo, passing through this
place uDawares to the authorities
At Canton, Admiral Sir Michael Sey mour owing
10 the demands made upon him for the security Of
this place. has been obliged to withdraw the forces
from the Garden the Dutch Folly, and the Birds
Nest Fort and opposite the foreign ground. He
has taken up q position in the Teetotum Fort in
the Macao passage. 1t is to be hoped he will be
able to maintain this post and keep open the river
which the Chinese are making great efforts to
block up. They have now a very large feet of
junks and boats congregated on the river, and
which are daily increasing.
Before the Dutch Folly was evacuated, the city
was heavily bombarded from it
On our forces leaving the garden, the church and
boat house were at once set fire to by the Chinese.
On the 18th instant, her Majsstys steamer
Sampson was on her way up the river, she fell in
with large fleet of junks, which she engaged for
h-ryo folI0
The steamer was huled by numerous shot, and
the Chinese pilot, who was in the British service
throughout the last war, was killed.
The junks which engaged the Sampson were
seen the other day up the creeks when the En>
counter was coming down; but although the steam
er anchored off the place, they would not come
out. The want of boats of light draught of water
Is great drawback.
Admiral Seymour is at present here, waiting the
1t is reported that the Viceroys under whose ju-
rsdicton the four Consular ports to the north
ward have received dispatches from Pekin to the
effect that they not to interfere with the quar-
rel at Canton, and so far quietness prevail along
the coast.
From the Overland Friend of China, of Jan. II
On Monday morning, at daylight, armed bodies
left the ships for the purpose of setting fire to the
western suburbs of Canton, measure which, If
before carried out, might have tended to show
the Chinese we are now determined to give them
their deserts and have checked that course Of OBJ
stinacy they appear bent on pursuing. The En-
counters people landed at the Shameen Fort. the
Barracoutas at Howquas pack house, the Myers
and the Foy's took the hongs between the remains
of the old fire and Factory creek, while the shore
party walked into Carpenter square and streets
in that direction The whole thing was 80 unex-
pected that the Chinese found the place in blaze
before they could realize It, Unfortunately some
of the 59ths party went too far back and unex
pectedly found themselves assailed by stones and
firearms from the city wall Three Of our men
being knocked down, the braves rushed on tnem
and in an instant cut their heads off Fortunate.
ly, though wounded in two places and faint, the
third made q for 1t and succeeded in escaping
to the rest of the Iarty, five of whom, including
an officer, were also wounded, one or two badly -
The fire rose rapidly and extended back fuly
quarter of mile thence scattered occasionally
by shot and shell from the ships and Folly
Nor did the city escape, an extensive blaze about
the Yamun following some of the FoliYs car
ca5ses.
There is some rumor of deserving both the Dutch
Folly and the Gardens-a circumstances to be re-
gre if II does take place. Preliminary to It, If it
is to be 60 the Admiral has taken up his quarters
10 Birds Nest Fort on Houau, and will content
himself in keeping open the Benbem Reach and
Macao passage of the river. Whampoa Is given
up entirely. The Barracuda towed the Jonge
juan Sybille AID Alligator thence on Tuesday,
las wing the American Bethel Hunt g. Cos chop,