The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-07-07
Foreign Sum unnry.

NANKIN.-From Lord Elgin's report Of his cruise
up the River Yangtse Kiang. to and beyond Nankin,
as published in the China papers, We quote the fol-
lowing:
"From the ships tops we could discern the be-
leacuering hosts of the Imperialist army, GROWING
the hills in rear of Nankin, their encampments form
ing n complete aud extended semi-circle round the
devoted city which they have been so long and ineffec-
tually engaged in b~esieging. In the course Of the
same afternoon, some Haunting rebels in gay colors
had the audacity to wave defiant Rags and fire GIN
gals at US, but when they brought a gun to bear
upon us from a small redoubt, we considered the joke
had gone far enough, and after two or three shots
from the Retribmtion and Furious. n we'll directed
68 FOUNDER from the former knocked the whole of
their gingerbread Fort into smithereens. and sent its
occupants scampering over the open plain. their long
yellow and red robes streaming in the wind, in ludi-
crous dismay and confusion. That nieht6e anchored
near the rebel city of TAPPING. from whence. in con-
sequence, doubtless, of the affair at the Redoubt, we
received amicable overtures which however were very
CURLY responded to. On the following dav we were
again delayed by shoals, and did not reach the rebel
town of Woohoo till the afternoon of the 23rd. Here
again our prestige had preceded us, and we were re-
ceived with so much civility by the insurgents that
some of US landed. and were treated with great polite
ness by their Chief, n Canton man of n low type. sur
rounded by n d~sorderly rabble of opium smoking dis
reputable looking men and youths, the latter in pre-
ponderance, tricked out in the usual show Of eaudy
p~lumage. Altogether We were most unfavorably i'm
pressed with the general aspect of these gentry,
whose religious knowledge consisted but of a confused
tumble of the persons of the God head, and whose
practice, to judge by the SOURCE they have proved to
the country, the reputation they have left behind
them, and their own admission, is far below that of
protesting Christians generally"
South America,
C~HrLF.-From Chile we have dates to the 1st of
May. The most important news is that the govern
ment forces on the 25th April, attacked the revolu-
tionists near Copiapo, under command of Gallo, and
after FIVE hours hard fighting, the latter were COM
pletely routed. The loss is estimated ut ! 900 killed,
and 800 prisoners fell into the hands of the govern
ment. As this was the stronghold of the revolution
lists and their best army, the defeat may be looked
upon rs the close Of the war. Peace is confidently
talked of, and commerce is already Frightening.
The ports in the north Of Chile, which had for some
months been closed, are now open. The southern
provinces of Chile are quiet, and have returned to
their allegiance TO the government. There are some
small bands of rebels still about Talca. but the local
authorities are considered strong enough to take care
of them.
The AUSTRIAN FRIGATE-The Austrian frigate
.Nororo, which is on a scientific expedition around
the globe, is ut Valparaiso. II was their intention
to visit Panama and the Sandwich Islands. bur it il
qnite probable that the present war in Europe may
change their course.
Ar PAYAMA.--TheB British steamer Alert (snpnoscd
to he n naval vessr) arrived ON the OBJ of May from
the ports of the Gulf of California. brir ging orer
tDo millions of treasure, which her officers and men
smuggled out of Mexico.
JAPAN.-The Russian Gun boat Sfreiok,- Capt. Fee
dorovitch, arrived at Shanghae, from Nagasaki on the
20th inst By her we have dates to the 18th Feb.
A callmitous fire broke out in the city of Yedlo on
the both January, in which $1,000 buildings are re-
ported TO have been destroyed; the devouring element
continued its ravages for n day and n halt, spreading
devastation over n space of about 6ve miles in length.
The young Emperor was crowned Mt Ye1io on the
4th January. He is n youth Cf some fifteen years
old. 1t win be remembered that the late Emperor
die1 on the 18th of August ut the time the treaty
negotiations were in progress, and it was not until
the 18th Of September that the fact was publicly
male known. This is the civil Emperor, or Tycoon.
W China Herald.
BRIDGIxG THE ATLANTIc.-A scientific gentleman
Of New York, in n letter to the Secretary of the Navy,
published in the New York Observer. suggests n new
plan for the erection and support OF telegraphic C ibles
across the ocean. He proposes TO attach them to air
buoys sunk and anchored n certain distance below
the surface, rendering them easily accessible for re-
newal or repair; and at intervals of two hundred
miles to erect Geographic station-houses on RATS of
floating buoys. The advantages to be secured would
be reducing the risk of failure in laying the cable in
proportion to the number of stations, much greater
greatly retarded in passing through n wire two thou
sand miles long, and preventing a monopoly of intel
ligence, as lines on this plan may be constructed in
any part Of the ocean. 1t is estimated that If the
present cable were fully restored, only one word could
be Transmitted in a minute; while if the lines were
only two hundred miles long, thirty words a minute
could be Transmitted. Should there be the slightest
defect in a cable laid in the deep sea, destroying the
insulation, the whole would he irrecoverably lost;
but on the plan suggested, repairs or renewals could
be made much more cheaply and easily, without re-
quiringe renewal of a large part of the line Ii is
supposed that the telegraphic station-houses could be
erected and fitted up for $4,000 each. so that FIVE
hu udred could be erected with the money expended
in the fruitless laying of the Atlantic cable, which is
said to haU cost 5000, 900.