CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 560, 17 March 1858, Page 3

CHINA.

THE ASSAULT TJPON CANTON. The gunboat Dove arrived at Hongkongfrom Canton on the morning of the 31st December, with the remains of Captain Bate. She left Canton at 3 p.m. on the preceding day. The north gate, north-east gate, and City Hill, were the only portions of the city in the possession of the English. During Tuesday night there was some tiring of heavy guns, by whom was not learnt. All was quiet when the Dove left, and the city entirely under the fleet of the allies. The western gates were still open for those who chose to leave. The Chinese army was on the hills to the eastward, having taken the field with the intention of fighting, but changed its mind. The despatch steamers Nimrod and Surprise were to be hurried off to Fooshow and Amoy, a precautionary measure in case the Canton news should cause any excitement. THE ATTACK. We (' Daily Press') have a letter from Canton descriptive of the attack. 'The bombardment on Monday was carried' on by a line of artillery commencing with the Phlegethonand Actseon, lying off the site of the Factories, and extending to the French Folly, comprising six French vessels, and the Niger, Hornet, Cruiser, Nimrod, Surprise, a host of gunboats, the mortars and the rockets in the Dutch Folly. The firing was kept up all day, all night, and on Tuesday morning till half-past eight, at regular intervals by all the guns. The French, our correspondent thinks, kept it up better than we did. The large ships commenced with broadsides: those opposite the Yamun had a little excitement. Yeh had mounted two guns on the wall of his house, one of which' opened fire, but both were immediately capsised. His new poles were shot away, and his palace caught fire, but burnt very poorly. The effect of the bombardment seemed to be six or seven fires inside the cifc}-,. which soon went out, and the southern suburbs, which burned beautifully. The mortar practice was admirable, but the bed of one of the 13-inch mortars sank a little, .destroying itsaim.

The assaulting force consisted of about 6,000 men, in four divisions of about 1,500 each ; these were landed and encamped to the east of the city during the forenoon of Monday. After the landing, the Chinese commenced firing on the force (the bombardment still going on), with large guns from the walls, knocking over four or five of our men and taking good aim at head quarters. Some field pieces were brought to bear and scattered them. The Chinese must have had troops at no great distance, for it was here that Lieutenant Hackett was killed. He had been sent with a message, and being missed, he was found headless. His murderers were not seen. The fact is clear the Chinese showed pluck enough, but, the art of war being brought to bear upon them, they stood as much chance as we should at chess with Phillidore.

On Tuesday morning the assaulting force got to work. ' At nine o'clock the allied flags were flying on Magazine hill, whence rockets were fired into the forts outside the walls. H'bro, our correspondent, having been unable to sleep all night, seems to have gone to bed,

and, whilst he slept, the city of Rams changed rulers.

The^Triend of China says that the walls had been entirely traversed by our troops before •the Nimrod left, that-a message had been sent '•to Yeh to inquire if he had had satisfaction, and a proclamation posted by the allied commanders on the walls, to the effect that if any aggressive "measures were indulged in by "the* Chinese, that -"the bombardment would be resumed.

The 'DailyPress',' of Ist Jan., says^—The vnews from Canton reaches to Wednesday afterrnt>on,;per Surprise, w;hich steamer arrived ye'smorning, towing a large China boat containing tho wounded, which had been converted into a hospital.

The remainder of the city, although in the possession of the Allies in a military point of view, and entirely at their mercy, was not in their occupation. No signs >of resistance had •"been manifested. On the contrary, some mandarins had formed a deputation and had solicited an interview with the Earl of Elgin.. His Excellency's secretary met-them and told them 'that the earl would take up-'his quarters at the palace of the "Tartar, Commander-in-Chief yesterday, and there grant an audience to them. was affirmed-that Yeh had committed suicide.