Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-11
CAPTURE OF CANTON,

The correspondence from Canton gives ample
details Of the bOmbardment of that place All
the hill detences Of the city were in possession
OF the English and French. The whole of the
operations had been conducted with view to
occasion the smallest possible sacrifice Of life.
AT the last moment the Chinese showed no
signs Of surrendering, but continued to fire at
their adversaries from the tops of house The
position OF the allies was SUCH that they could
entirely destroy the city in case Of continued
Obstinacy.
The terms proposed to the Chinese are not
known, but, judging from a manifesto credbly
reported to have been published by Commits
sioner leh, to the people Of Canton, the re-
pellence would seem to be altogether on the
side OF the Chinese. This manifesto is said to
have stated that the demands of the Allies
were-the cessOn OF the island Of Honan-the
payment of two million dollars indemniication
Tor losses sustained by yforeigners-the entrance
into the city OF CantOn-and the immediate re-
sumption OF trade. The document stated that
ieh's replies were, that HOnan belonged to
private indiyiluals-if they wished to soil it and
the Allies to buy it, the Chinese government
would throw no obstacle in the way-that "a for
indemnity, the Allies should pay the Chinese
and not the Chinese the Allies-that the Allies
might enter the city if they cOuld-and that
tnere was nothing be was so anxious for as the
resumption OF trade. 1t should be observed as
the entrance to the city was treaty right-as
Honan was promised in 1S47 (under suitable
condltions,) and as both parties wished trade
resumed, the only subject of difference accord
ing to feh's own showing, was the indemnifi-
cation Instead of showing any spirit of ac-
communication regarding th point, Yeh aggra-
vated the defiant posture he selected by placing
on the walls the heads Of six British sailors
whom the Chinese had overpowered when stray-
gllng. Furthermore, the American Envoy
dIsclaiming all part in the quarrel, sent the
assurance of friendship which the United States
Government had instructed His Excellency to
convey, but experienced an insulting repuIse
=, Ihe hrst step Of the allies was to occupy
Honan, an island opposite the site Of the foreign
factories, where the principal pack houses are
situattd-the river separating the two, there
being about two hundred yards wide Occupa
tioh was taken without any resstan the pack
houses being converted into commodious bar
racks. The small island on which the fort
known as Dutch Folly stood, (which structure
had been entirely removed by the Chinese !
was next occupied. This is about half mile
below the HOnan pack houses and Immediately
opposite the city, from the walls of which Il
is not more than $50 yards distant Heavy
mortars were landed there, but still there was
neither resistance nor opposition from the
Chinese RecOnnOitering parties wDited the
back of the city, and approached within range
Of the Chinese Outposts, but still no symptom
would neither fight, fly, nor come to terms and
| it seemed clear that he rested his hopes on the
city being assaulted, for which contingency he
had doubtless prepared enormous mines OF
other destructive arrangements-thee existence
| oi which may account ior the difficulty that
has been experienced for some time in obtain
| ing Information as to what was going on in the
city The allied Plenipotentiaries, whilst they
devoted their energies to induce Yeh to come
TO terms, took great pains to issue proclama
ti"ns To the people, warning them away Thi.
hid the desired effect, and the population lef
under the guns of the allies in thousands.
lhe day Of grace was extended again anf
again-the warnings were disseminated far an,
| wide, until the time had come when the allie
had simply the choice Of yielding 10 Yeb, of as
saulting the city, or Of bombardinp il. Tn,
dates come down to noon Of the 2Sth December
when the bOmbardment continued-tbe Oh;
nose still declining any resistance. The allie,
troops were skirmishng in small parties ON TN
heights apparently with the view of DRAWN
the Chinese cut, but in vain, for they aed fror
one point To another, rs the allies approached
The city was on fire in several places, and will
probably, be all consumed.
u The trade at the Northern ports still eor