The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-05

existence of the ssrous conflict which has suddenly
arisen between the English and the authorities OF
canton. Ihat city In completely evacuated by En-.
lopeans the factories als destroyed; Admiral Sey.
hour has wlthcrswn the detacbmeDts Of troon5
which he had established IN several ports ana
tas only retained the pert Of TeoTum situated az
Tue entrance OF canal which uuites Macao
to Canton. In that position he is in q condition to
resist all the attacks Of the Chinese and he waita
Teinioicements and instructions TO recomme nce II
necessary to do 80, offensive operations
1t was pretended, IN recent discussion ia Pariia
ment, that the dispositions OF Admiral Seymour
were to be considered as Disgusting retreat; but
that interpretation Ia entirely erroneous. The Adj
miiai could have very easily If he had SO wished.
Continued the bombardment Of Canton and reduced
mat city 70 ashes. It was net even necessary to
accomplish that act of destruction to proceed to q
cisembarkment. He preferred however, con-
formally to the opinion which he had him
seif expressed upon English commerce, in
connection With tbe English Governor. Sir
John Bowrng not to prosecute hostilities actively
until he had received orders from his government.
That was evidently the only way to de- and the Eng
lsh could In taking that course towards the Chinese
government demonstrate that their intention was
not to engage in a. general war. but only to reply
sharply 70 the insulting proceedings of the govern
meat Of Canton towards them.
The European residents in the other ports
namely, Shanghae, Nipgpo, Annoy and Fou-Tchou
Fou--hsd not, at the time of the departure Of the
last mail, been disturbed in their commercial opera
tons. II is pretended that even the mandarius
would have given assurance that they consider
ed the affair at Canton az local diff
Guilty, which ought not to exercise any
injurious influence upon the whole of the relations
OF Great Britain wi the Celestial empire, and there
are English journals which, according to letters
ceved from Peln. declare that the Emperor is ami
mated with sentimsnts the most pacific. We felioi-
tate the journals which have their own correspol
cents At Pekin, but we will permit ourselves. untd
mere ls urther proof not to believe the exactness
nor even the authenticity of those correspondents.
IN China, where nothing passes as elsewhere, it
10 very possible that the mapdarins of Shang-
t nae 90 90 not feel wounded by the cannon which
Inc .Ei;nensn hred upon the CITY of Canton; but
that the central government, in learning the
details OF the siife and the bombardmeut, does not
intei DICT sll relations with the English in the differ.
1t ia moro natural to think that the cabinet OF Pekin
have not received precise concerning the events
Of Canton, (Which viii be explained by the slow.
ness OF communications In Chins) and that at that
time they bad not been able to transmit to the other
ports their instructions upon the attitude to be OBJ
served in regard 20 the English From that comes
the inaction Of the mandA'ins.
the Hong H;Sng s0s thy wse Mating ,ugssy
had demanded in great haste at Singapore.
and at Ceylon the garrison was insufficient
70 too DO service; The French squadron was an
Guerin had placed detachment Of sailors on shore.
The American Commodore. equally with the Eng
lsh, took determined course in pursuing, with the
steamers OF bis squadron. the numerous Chinese
pirates who made their rendezvous at the mouth of
the Canton river, and who had already attacked
several foreign vessels.
1t is not to be feared that the Chinese will attempt
any enterprise against Hong Kong. and the Chinese
population Of that colony is sufficiently held in awe
by the vigorous measures of police But il is to be
feared that con6agrstions and disaster will ensue
since the warehouses Of Victoria (the chief town in
the colony are encountered with merchandise. the
English merchants having stored at HING Kong
Oil that they could import from the factories Of
Canton.
We have read, in the letters of different
correspondents, that the government Of the
to China, under the pretext that they were
already occupied in q war entered into by the fauc
tonaries OF the Crown 10 the interest of the mother
not taken part in it. This news is evidently inexact
They win send from India all the troops which viii
be disposabe, for the company ought to obey the
orders which are transferred from the Board Of Goa
tropolis that the difficulty China should terminate
honorsbly fer the sg Of Great Britain. II can only
be supposed that the company have declined all par
tcipation In the expenses of war which they have
not provoked, and perhaps do 10. approve of; il
ought besides to be observed that at the moment
when they have sent two expeditions, one towards
the Persian Gulf, the other towards Csbul, II vii
he nc, difficult San for them to furnish corps da,mts
no longer exists, however; peace with Persls
is on the point of being signed. Nery
4oOO0 men VIII then be disp0sable and II their pre-
ssnce 10 demanded in China the company will us
longer lind any difficulty in ming them there.
In the midst Of these events foreign com nerce is
under the pressrIe Of violent crisis. The imported
merchandise does not sell silk and tea are very hugh
especially nj Shaughse and Fou-TcbouFo (she
principal marke.s for black teas). The freight OF
the vessels has fallen very low England viii pay
dearly for the bombsrdment Of Canton. 1t is MOI
only trade which IL Diminished il Is also the trans
port OF travellers or Chinese coolies to Caorna and
Australia. A great number Of emigrants are EN-
barked at Annoy. War will not arrest that current
OF emigration, which fol- the last Ave years has been
drawing the Chinese towards the Western rivers Of
the Southern Sea-