The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-29
IMPORTANT FOREIGN INTELLI-
GENCE.

Farther Point, Sept. 25.-The steamship
North America passed here this morning, bring
ing European dates of the l4th instant.
The Chinese war has been renewed. The
Chinese, in great strength, prevented the allied
squadron, with the ambassadors on board, from
entering the Peiho. Nearly 500 British were
killed and wounded, and FIVE gunboats lost.
The Allies were forced to retreat. 1t was re-
ported that the American Ambassador had
reached Pekin unmolested.
The feed-pipe casing of one of the Great
Eastern's tunnels had exploded with terrific
force. Five fremen were killed, and others
were wounded. The damage to the fittings
was serious, but the ship and machinery were
unframed.
Breadstuffs generally had an advancing ten
dency and all kinds were slightly higher.
Flour closed firm at an advance of 3d. per
sack. Wheat closed with an advancing ten
dency at I'd. advance, and better demand.
Corn closed steady, but quiet. Provisions
steady; beef steady; pork firm; bacon firm
but quiet; lard dull rice heavy; rosin firm
at As. spirits turpentine firm at 35s sd.
ANOTHER ARRIVAL.
81. Johns, ~ f., Sept. 25.-The steamship
City of Baltimore passed here last night, with
one days later dates than those brought by the
North America, via Queenstown, by telegraph.
Mr.. Scott Russell undertakes to have the
Great Eastern ready for sea in three weeks.
The French and English feet of two ships
of the line, seven large steamers, and ten gun
boats, were in the Peiho, before Pekin but it
is believed that nearly year mus, lapse be-
fore anything decisive will be attempted, owing
to the insuficiency Of the land forces. 1t is
supposed that there will be no interruption OF
the China trade.
Further Particulars.-The explosion on board
ings. The funnel was blown into the air, tear.
ing to pieces the grand saloon, and doing great
damage to the internal fittings. The guests had
just Quilted the saloon. The explosion was ter
rife but the ship resisted the shock, the frame
sustaining no injury. 1t made 80 little difference
in the movements of the ship, that the engines
never stopped until she reached Portland. The
injury will be repaired at an expense of about
$4,000.
The coroner's inquest showed that the supply
of the boilers through the water jacket was
stopped, because of the failure of the auxiliary
pumping power, and that tap in the stand
pipe, which acts as safety valve, was turned
apparently Intentionally, so that the pipe was
useless.
During the voyage to Portland, the ship was
almost without motion, when large ships were
tossing in the stormy sea.
Some Details from China.-Adnliral Hope
arrived off the Peiho river on the 18th of June,
but found the entrance barred. An attempt
was made on the 18th to force the passage. Sud
denly the batteries, supported by'a force OF
twenty thousand men, were unmarked, and
o+ia
the squadron was compelled to withdraw, with
the loss of the gunboats Cormorant Lee, and
Ployer. Four hundred and sixty-four men were
killed and wounded. The French had fourteen
killed out of sixty. The Plenipotentiares re-
turned to Shanghai. Seven officers were killed
and seventeen were wounded, the latter inclu.
ding the Admiral.
The details say that the mouth of the river
was raked by the fire of the newly constructed
forts, mounting nine hundred guns At l.3O
P. NJ, the signal for action was run up. The
Opossum and Plover pushed in close to the
first barrier. The guns of the forts opened
their fire, and the action became general. The
fire of the Chinese, in weight and precision, was
such as was never before experienced. Every
shot told, while those of the British did com
paratively little damage. The troops were or
dered to land but, as the first boat touched
the shore, the forts poured perfect hurricane
of shells, balls, and rockets, which moved down
The men as they landed. The ships supported
them as we'll as possible. The mud was deep
Of the thousand who were landed, barely one
hundred reached the first of the wide bitches,
five hundred yards from the river, and only fifty
reached the third ditch. The troops made an
attempt to scale the walls, but their ladders
were broken by shot or stuck in the mud. Or
ders were at last given to retire, and in the re-
treat the men were shot down like birds.
Many boats were swamped by balls, and not
enough were left to take off the survivors.
Several boats full Of the wounded were struck
and swamped. Russian features were distinct
ly visible at the batteries. The Americans
towed up several boats to action, and afterwards
took number of the men to their respective
Il,