The Placer herald., 1857-03-21
IMPORTANT FROM CHINA.
The War-Forty.Five Days Later News

Francisco, on Friday, March 18th, brings
Hongkong dates to the 18th of January
The news, particularly respecting the war be-
tween the British and Chinese, is highly i'm
portapt;
MATTERS IN HoNGKoNa AND MAcoA-
LATEST NEws.-The following is the memo
randa of the Hurricane, which gives the latest
news and the antcipations Of the foreign
residents:
When we left Hongkong business was
nearly at a stand, it was the general opinion
that after the Chinese New Year, (Jan. 2sth,
1879 an attempt would be made to destroy
the city, The Mandarins had caused plac-
ards to be posted in the streets notifying the
Chinese residents to leave the place, and
many of the compradors and respectable men
had already left. Government had taken
measures to prevent such calamity by an
organization of private patrols, composed of
European residents, and the addition of large
numbers to the regular police force; but as
negroes, not much depe dence could be plac-
ed on them. The number Of sailors being
about five hundred, the services of the navy
would be required for the protection of the
mercantile marine, there being upwards of
one hundred and fifty sail of vessels lying in
the harbor.
The receiving ships had been brought from
Cum-sing ngmoon to the anchorage in Hong
kong and every foreigner and every foreign
vessel haG left Whampoa. Since the burn
ing of the suburbs of Canton and the cap
ture of the bogus forts, nothing had been
done in the offensive by the English but the
arrival of several men of war direct from
England was anxiousy expected, when it
was supposed active hostilites would be i'm
mediatey commenced.
An attempt was made on the 18th of Jan.
to poison the European residents in Hong
kong, by the admxture of arsenic in the
bread; but the large quantity caused it to
act so powerful in vomiting that no deaths
were reported The baker was apprehended
and was undergoing an examination when
we left
Rumors were afoat at Macao that an at
tempt would be made to destroy that place,
and as the Governor had expressed his fears
that such would be the case, and having but
about one hundred soldiers, probably a vessel
of war would be sent there for protection.
Chinese sugar had risen in price, and owing
to the impossibity of getting it down the
river, could not be purchased at less than
81 to l-2 per picul, and large parcels could
not be bought at any price China rice was
also in demand, and was not to be had
Large quantities Of foreign rice was atloat in
IIongkong harbor, but owing to the high
price of labor caused bv the Chinese leaving
the place. could not be sold at remunerating
prices; and several ships had left for Shang-
hae where the failure Of the crops had caus
ed great demand for it. The last accounts
from Manila, Singapore and Siam, were all
favorable to the further advance in the price
of this article
Nathaniel Crosby ir., merchant at Hong
kong. died very suddenly at that port on the
10th of December, 1856. He was formerly
shipmaster in the California and Oregon
trade, and his many friends in both places
will regret his sudden decease.
DESTRUCTION OF THE FOREIGN FACTORIES
AT CANroN.-The foreign factories at Can
ton were burned and totally destroyed by
the Chinese on the 14th December. We
find the following on the subject in the
Hongkong Gazette, being from letter da-
ted Canton, Dec. 18th:
About half past l l o'clock last night, Adj
miral Seymour, looking out Of his bed-ro
window, saw some Chinese with hambeapx
and fire-balls, setting fire to the remains OF
the Chinese houses in Thirteen Factory
street in rear of Messrs Dent & Co.'S. A
light south wind was blowing at the time
and the flames soon crawed to wndward
into New China street.-the want Of water,
tide being low, rendering it quite impossi-
ble to put stop to them. BY daylight
the fire was at its hight, approaching the
ruins of Hog Lane.
Another Canton correspondent, writing on
the 18th December, says:
Notwithstanding the heat from the still
glowing debris. and the danger from the
falling walls, Chinese loafers are as busy as
bees, grubbng for whatever is worth carry
ing off. Messrs Waldrey e. Co.'S and Ez-
rah & Judahs houses the only premises in
tact from fire, are under a course of sys-
&ematic Decentralization work in the low
ler parts of the houses burnt, being also a
great object of attracton-the hammer and
chisei going on as sonorousl y as in machin-
ist's shop. The sentlies appear much tan
talized at being directed not to shoot any oi
the plpnderers, some occasionally coming
within 80 or 40 yards of them, so bold are
they.
ENTIRE DESTRUCTION OF THE FORTs.-1he
Hongkong Gazette says The only event OF
Importance since the dispatch of the 25th
via Calcutte, Of the record of the ten pre-
eeding days, has been the capture and demo-
iition Of the French Fohy Fort with osi
on our side of one marine private, who was
shot through the body by an iron arrow
The destruction of the Fort was most COM
pete and the rapidity with which it was
performed must have had an astonishing eff
feet on the Chinese mind. In each of seven