Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-02-07

| From the New York Times, 2ad.
Interesting from China-FulA BE-
tails Of ithe Recent Troubles at
| Canton.
Letters from our special correspondent at
Canton have put us in possession OF mucn
more ample details concerning the recent
bombardment of that city by the British
feet.than are to be found in any of the Lon
! don journals. The Times is the only London
paper which has has any correspondence
from China upon this subject, and its Ia
-|test dates are Hong Kong, Nov 10, while
Iour letters are from Canton to the same
date. In regard the action OF the Amer
lean force upon that station, they correct
important errors in the first accounts re-
Iceived by telegraph. In those accounts 1t
was stated that the United States frlgate
Portsmouth had fired upon and taken one
iof the forts that defend Canton, and this
was supposed to be in punishment Of the
Chinese for the murder Of MIR. Cunning
lham. Our correspondent, however, writes
THAT the murderer of Mr.. Cunningham has
|been discovered, and was to be Immediately
|executed, and that all differences growing
Tout Of this subject had beeu amicably adj
ljusted. The American ships of war had
laided in protecting the persons and proper
|ty of American citizens, and the Ports
mouth had once returned fire that was
directed against her whether BY DIES On
or accident dees not appear from the
Chinese fort. With this exception she
has taken nc part in the affair, though it
lis alleged that number of Americans did
lioin the British force in storming the place,
and played a conspicuous part in the as
Isault. This was strongly protested against
lby the resident Americans as an unJustta-
|ble violation of our neutrality.
| It is clear, from the aspect of affairs, that
1.-The Americans are quite certain to suffer
from the hostilities that were still in pro-
gress at the latest dates. The Chinese
lcannot or will not discriminate between
English or Americans, and will be very
likely to assail the persons and property of
both without distinction. Indeed, the
tone of the Chinese Governors reply to
1.-THE representations on this subject from
1.-The Americans does not encourage the
hope that they will escape serious loss, or
even more direct implication in the VAL
Instead Of expressing any regret for the
unwarrantable attack upon Americans that
has already been made, he coolly says
Ithat it is not possible for the enraged peo-
pie to draw any distinctions between them
and the English, and advises them, as the
best means Of safety, to leave the city alto
gether. Under such circumstances, it is
easy to see that our commerce at Canton
must for tie time be entirely suspended.
The causes of the British attack are
clearly stated in the accounts by this mail.
II seems that the Chinese authorities seiz-
ed twelve Chinese criminals on board a
British vessel called the Arrow; that when
called on to return them, they sent them
back, but without any apology or explana-
ton. The treaty of 1912 expressly pro-
vides that suspected criminals shall not be
|seized from British vessels, but demanded
from the nearest Consul. But the Chin
lese, in reply to the remonstrances and de-
mands of the British Consul, denied that
the Arrow was British vessel-affirming
that che was built by Chinese, owned by
Chinese and manned by Chinese,an that
her captain falsely pretended that she was
registered as British vessel, only to evade
the scrutiny of the authorities. 1t was
then alleged by the British Consul that
the seizureswas made when the British flag
was flying. This the Chinese perempto-
rily denied-declaring that no flag was ex-
|hibited at the time. The Consurs demand
for the return of the prisoners seized was
however complied with, as already stated
but he required letter Of apology and an
assurance that such an occurrence should
never happen again. Of this demand no
notice was taken; and the Consul hands
the matter over to Admiral Seymour, who
requests an interview which, in conformity
to usuage, the Governor declines. There
fupon the Admiral proceeded to a lombard
) ment Of the city, which has already result
tied in fearful loss Of life and was still in
progress at the departure Of the mail. It
is not quite clear, therefore, that the Brit
, ish were in the right; and it is very evil
dent thas the alleged offense, even if il
were actually committed, is sadly made
Iquate to the penalty with which it has
Ibeen visited.
u The consequences of this proceeding are
likely to be ofthe utmost Importance. The
8 London Times takes the ground that the
: outbreak a6rogates the existing treaty, and
) leaves England free to shape her future
relations with the Chinese Empire as she
Ipleases It will be her own fault, there
fore, it is added, she fails this time to OBJ.
tain such treaty as shall be entirely. sat
Iisfactory. The principle danger which the
Times foresees IS, that, in the process Of
inAicting punishment upon China, the EN-
lpire may be wholly subverted. The
lreigning dynasty is already tottering to it,
] I'll Al IL - I. Ii