The Northern Daily Times. — 1857-01-30 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

CHINA.  The advices from Hong Kong by the last Overland Mail extended to Nov. 24, They brought intelligence, it will be remembered, of the flemolition of the Barrier Forts by the Americans. The present mail brings the news down to the 16th of December.  The general summary of the Overland Friend of China, of Dec. 15, is as follows : • • " The mail packet Nerna, with London dates to the 10th of October, reached Hong Kong on the Ist instant-52 days over all. " We have no change in the temper of the Chinese Government to report. Yeh, backed by the gentry and people, is as obdurate as ever. He will make no sign; and nothing but the extremest measures can now produce the result desired. Until we have more men, however, little can .be effected. Not until the heights, the city, and the suburbs, are entirely under our command, and traversed by our soldiers. will the Cantonese be satisfied of their inability to maintain the unsociable position they have so long contended for. A couple more regiments ftnd some field pieces would be sufficient. "The only event of importance since the despatch on the 25th ult., via Calcutta, of the record of the ten preceding days, has been the capture and demolition of the French Folly Fort, with a loss on our side of one marine private, shot through the body by an iron arrow. The destruction of the fort was most complete ; and the rapidity with which it was performed must have had an astonishing effect on the Chinese' mind. In each of seventeen mines a hundred pounds of powder were buried, and at the hour of high noon the whole was exploded=so leaving hardly one stone square upon another. Our gallant brothers in arms, the Americans, have been less successful in their operations on the Barrier Forts —the indiscreet use of a crowbar on a charged mine sending three to eternity at once, and wounding half a dozen others who were standing by. Nevertheless, they, too, have well performed the work of destruction; if it can be thought well to destroy forts (the two southernmost especially) that might have been easily held, and would have proved useful. " The destruction of a village where a sailor and a marine of ours were waylaid and murdered, and the death of Capt Cowper, RE ' Acting Surveyor General, Hong Kong, by the fall of a house upon him, are also among the notaldia of the period." An extra to the Hong Kong Register, of Dec. 16, details the destruction ut the factories at Canton.  " On Sunday night, the 14th inst. at 11 o'clock, the factories to the west of British Factory were set on fire in six places, and when the eteamer Lily left on Monday at four p.m , the destruction was complete, with the exception of two houses facing the American Gardens, now or lately in the occupation of Messrs. Russell and Co., but as all behind were burning they were expected to go also, The house built at the bottom of Hoglane for a parsonage, was blown up to prevent the flames spreading to the houses in the British Fac; tory--.-but our informant seemed to doubt if it would be attended with success. We have no further particulars.  " During the conflagration the Dutch Folly Fort was throwing shells and rockets into the city. No attack was made—the Chinese- contenting themselves with burning the empty- houses, by which their own people will be the greatest sufferers " Since writing the above we have dates. two hours later to 6p m. yesterday. By them we learn that the Oriental Bank was at that time in full blaze—the Agra and Mercantile banks burned doss n —the Consulate still standing, but expected to go, with all the remaining buildings in the factories.• The fire oommence4 behind the premises of Messrs Dent and Co., and all the houses fronting the .American Gardens, except thoie of -Russell and Co. and Wetmore and Co:, burned : the two last named were saved for the time.  " We are sorry to learn that the fire has been accompanied with loss of life, Mr. 0. T. Lane, of the Consulate, having been billed by the blowing up the parsonage, and lir Winchester, ViceConsul, slightly bruised."—Timo.