The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-14
ease Of death and seven Of dsserton since leaving
lhe United States.

ease Of death and seven of deserton since leaving
ahe United States.
UNITED STATES SHIP MISSISSIPPI
Hone KONG, Jan. d, 1858.
interchange OF Hopitaltiss bstcsen the English and
-Amer1ean Vessels Of War-Ihe Anerican Trea-
tywsth Chino The Rumored Disturbances at Ma
eao-Changss in the american Squadron-Break-
ing Up Of the american NaralHospitai at Hong
kong-P'ices Of Provisions IN Chinese Ports
Present from Queen Victoria to the Emperor Of
Jepan-Ine Chinese Mastering in Force to At-
tack the British in Canton, &C., &c.
Since my last, the Honorable Mr.. Reed, Captains
Dupont, Nicholson, and Commanders Bell and FOOte
and the officers of the several ships of war in port,
with other distinguished gentlemen, have attended,
grand dinner party OH board the English 7D gun
ship the Princess Charlotte. The ship was most
elegantly decorated for the occasion. Speeches,
toasts songs and music from the vessels band con-
tsibuted to the enjoyment of the evening. Our Pre-
sident our Minister and our navy were not forgotten
in those speeches by our English friends.
On the day following Mr.. Reed made an official
vsi. TO the Princess Charlotte, and was welcomed
on board with the yards manned, the American en-
sign flying at her fore and salute of seventeen guns,
which was promptly returned by the Minnesota,
Me English flag flying at her fore. | am happy to
say that Mr. Reed is progressing to his entire salts
faction with this government in regard to the mis-
sion on which he was sent ont. And you may rest
assured that when he returns home he will
take with him treaty that will give entire
satisfaction to both countries. The nature of this
treaty is kept secret and of the contents of
y will not be made public until it has been laid be-
fore government. 1t ia understood here that
ID will give entire satisfaction to our government at
home. So you will at once perceive that the pow
der and shot that We brought out with will have
10 remain in magazines and lockers. The tre
nendSus naval fighting that our squadron was ex-
pected TO do will all be done with paper and ink.
OF course this will be a sad disappointment to all of
us naval men.
The disturbances reported to have broken out at
Nacoa q few weeks ago, which caused the despatch
Of the Portsmouth to that port, am happy to say,
have all ended in smOke--no one hurt or
killed. Commodore Josiah TatnaI and his Sc
eretary arrived here on the morning OF the
10th instant, and Immediately took up his quarters
on board of the Portsmouth. He is in fine health
and looks as fresh a man Of forty+ive. Commo-
dore Jas. Armstrong will leave in the next steamer,
accompanied by Surgeant Wood and his Secretary,
for home by the overland route and CommO-
dore Tatnan will Immediately take charge Of the
squadron.
A few days since Captain Dupont gave splendid
dinner party on board of his ship to all the naval Of
hcers in port Mr. Reed and suite was present, and
several gentlemen of distinction from on shore.
have made few visits on Shore and must
confess that Hong Kong is not what expected to
find it. Travelling far outside Of Hong Kong, for
instance, among the mountains, Is dangerous. If
the stranger chooses to travel in these quarters he
must do it at his own risk, as the English govern
nent will not be responsible for what may happen
they be responsible for any harm that may beiall
the stranger who tit to be out after p NJ. The
of this is that the Imperial government pays
reward of two hundred dollars for the head of every
Englishman sent to Pekin This two hundred dollars
N 50 tempting that the Chinese of Hong Kong would
soon take of a Yankees head an Engiishmlns.
The Naval Hospital which was established here
three years ago for the OF our squadron, was
broken up on the 3lst Of December last by Commo-
dorc Armstrong, for what reason j have not been
able to learn. II ever there was station that re
quired hospital on shore il certainly is this, where
liable every day TO be taken Sick and their
eases are frequently such As require that the patient
should be kept as quiet "a possible, which cannot
be done on ship board There Is now thirty or forty
sick men on hoard of the San Jacuto, number on
board of the Minnesota and Portsmouth. Ii certainly
would be much more comfortable for the healthy
portion of the crews of these ships to have those
sick men removed from amongst them.
The English government have the hulk OF an old
seventy -four moored here, which is used a hospi
tai and store ship, and il is quite comfortably fitted
up, 10 make the unfortunate sailor as pleasant
as possible. On board Of this hulk there are Sc
veral poor fellows who have been sent down from
Canton, who have been somewhat In battle, and
Others sick with the dysentery, darrhda, &c. Nearly
every day since we have been laying here some poor
llow has been carried from her to his final resting
spot.
Il il the intention of our wardroom officers TO
give a grand ball on board of this ship before
We leave, and from the well known repu
taton of their officers, am confident that it will be
Q most brilliant affair. Our most excellent captain
still continues TO enjoy his usual good health aud TO
use an old saying, he is az tough as pine Knot,
he is always nj his post there is nothing going on
on shipboard that he is not acquainted with; his
great desire seems 10 be 10 make all hands contented
never saw men used better by the officers over
them; every indulgence that is proper has been and
will continue 10 be allowed them, besides the liberty
money they will receive. Every man aud boy in the
ship are 20 be allowed to receive i've dollars on the
first of each month from their wages; aud all those
who may not wish TO spend this amount will have
chance to put II into the ships saving bank, which
IL large chest containing about fifty different COM
partments in it. furnished with lock and key,
and kept on the quarter deck, under the sen
try's charge. Each who may wish to
ave his money IL required to put it up
in package and have IL marked, and " he chooses
he can LET IL lay 20 the end of each year, when IT
will amount to sixty dollars. He can then take II
on shore and with his sixty dollars purchase draft
on the United States or England for one hundred
dollars which he send home to his friends. This
movement was put on foot by Captain Nicholson
and very excellent First Lieutenant Mr.. kembe,
and IT has received the hearty support of most of
the crew.
The luxuries OF the market are brought alongside
Of the ship every meal hour in bumboats and are sold
quite cheap, in fact provisions OF all kinds sold at
reasonable price; for instance beef at eight cents per
pound. fowls twenty five cents pair. potatoes fifty
cents per bushel oranges one dollar per hundred.
and other articles In proportion; washing IL only
thirty cents dozen; shoes Of the best English calf
skin made in Hong Kong, can be purc biased along
eide of the ship, for dollar and twenty-five cents
pair: good cotton shirts with liLen bosoms, sell for
AK dollars a DOZEN beautiful large and handsomely
figured silk pocket handker ,hics scl for thirty cents
.soh to 20 the point, clothing Of every descrp
ton IL very cheap.
We have our coal and provisions on board and arc
ready for sea but when we shall leave this port IL
uncertain: the probability is il will be some time yet
II has been rtlfnOred among the knowing ones that
when we leave here we shall proceed 10 japan, TO
.rua ,ho months in that deivhtful