CHINA.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 779, 1 October 1853, Page 3

CHINA.

Though avc have dates to Hongkong to the oth August, the only additional intelligence of importance is contained in a summary in the Friend of China of the 7th of July, as follows:—• The arrival yesterday morning of two vessels from Sbangbae, with news from that port to the 23rd ultimo, is a fortunate occurrence, for without what they bring we should of had but little to tell of the progress of the civil war. By the opportunity mentioned, besides private letters, we have copies of the North China Herald , Nos. 149, 150, and 151, and cannot do better than furnish our readers with a summary of their interesting contents. In the paper of the 4th of June, we learn that at that date intelligence from Chin-keang-foo had been brought up to tbe 24th May. Chin-keang-foo, it may not be out of place here to remind our readers, is about half mile from the south bank to the Yang-1 se-river, and according to published descriptions of it, is surrounded by high and solid walls lour miles in circuit, with hills in the rear of considerable height. It is here that the Grand Canal, coming from the south, and running close under the city walls, forms a junction with the river, From its peculiar position, Chin-keang-foo is the key to the whole of China —provisions and specie supplies for the capital being always convoyed by the canal route. It was very reasonable then, on the part of the Tartar’s, that they should do their best to recover possession of such a stronghold, and with this view the Shanghae Taoutae directed the Imperialist fleet to make a determined attack. This fleet consisting of the Agnes, 28 guns commanded by an Englishman of the name ofEbsworthy—the Antelope 12 guns Captain Ayer (an American)—the Dewan, 12 guns, Captain Robinson, and twenty-five Lorchas (Portuguese) were, according to the report mentioned, on the 24th May, at anchor just outside the entrance of Chin-keang-foo, the Chinese Admiral intending to make the attack in the course of a day or two. The insurgents, on their side had not been remiss in the work of strengthening their defences, burning down all the suburbs, and mounting heavier cannon on the Avails. It was added that the fleet had been eighteen days getting from VVoosung to their then position. On the 28th May the attack Avas made, and an account of it is thus given in the Herald of the 11th June ;

“ The whole (Chinese imperial) fleet ran up abreast of Chin-keang ami opened a very heavy fire upon the stockades and junks along the banks of the river—this was returned with spirit. The position of the insurgents, however, is so admirable, that nothing but a land force, (and a very effective one too) will ever be able to dislodge them. They have fortified the heights overlooking the river with some very heavy guns, and as soon as we were fairly abreast of them, they favoured us with a specimen of their gunnery, that was anything but pleasant. I was of course anxious to go in and win, and volunteered to steer the Agnes into action, but the first shot struck just under the stern of the ship, throwing the spray over the wheel; the second went between the main and mizen, just over my head, and had we not got out of range as soon as we did, the probability is the third would have Ictfc me without a head. On tacking and standing back past the heights, we were again favoured, one shot going into the cabin, and knocking the second officer’s chest into a bundle of firewood, and another going into the forecastle like a bull into a China shop. All this time we were not idle, I can assure you, but every vessel was firing as fast as possible. At last, the powder being nearly expended, we withdrew, and are now lying about a mile and a half from the town. The casualties on our side are three killed, and two wounded. The loss of the insurgents cannot be ascertained. «During the engagement 0000 imperialists were lying within three miles of Chin keaug foo. who coolly looked on without attempting to aid the attacking force, or the result might have been different. The writer is of opinion that a thousand determined men would soon make themselves masters of Chin keang; but does not think a hundred thousand of such troops as arc about them would effect anything. Many red-buttoned mandarins are in the imperial fleet, whose occupation is divided between sleeping and smoking. In the above-named action the Antelope was much cut up in her rigid ng and sails, and the Dewau had her flying-jib-boom shot away, besides other damage, the lorchas were quite useless, their fire being rather promiscuous, several of their shot striking friends as well as enemies.” So much for the battle, which, had it had another result, might have lent a different hue to the fortunes of the Tartars. From private letters we learn that “the mercenary fleet” had all returned to Shanghae. The editor of tire Herald, without a remark on the importance of this fact, thus quietly announces it in a supplement to his paper of the 18th ult, : “ It will be observed that the Dowan, Antelope, and Agnes are returned from Chin-keang. Ihe reason for this, we hear, is to effect some provision for widows and orphans of Europeans killed in action, fighting on the side of the imperialists. Such a proceeding, wc suppose, is a novel idea to the Chinese authorities.” In addition to the report by the parties engaged, we have also some information regarding the battle, as furnished by a Dr. Charles lay lor, an American Missionary, who had made Ins way into the patriot camp. Dr. Taylor’s report appears to be as follows : “ The imperial fleet came up and attacked the citv during liis visit, and he witnest® 1 the engagement from the top of the ramparts. At the com-

menceraent of the attack be heard a cannon ball whistling through the air at s mie distance above his head, and strike in the earth beyond him. He could not ascertain that the insurgents suffered the least injury from the cannonade of the imperialists, nor could he discover what amount of execution was done to the assailants.

“ The imperialists land forces were encamped on the hills in the vicinity of the Chin-keang — just without range of cannon shot from the city. As they did not seem at all disposed to second the attack of the fleet, we presume they thought it most prudent to keep at that safe distance. To our thinking, this battle - settles the fate of the empire. They, the Tarters, have now had all the foreign aid they arc ever likely to have, and, notwithstanding, have been fairly obliged to give it up. When Taoutwang heard that British forces had captured Chin-keang foo, he lost not a moment in sanctioning an application for terms of peace ; —and when his successor hears that all attempts to retake the same place from his competitors have likewise failed, and when, too, the miseries attendant on the closing of the canal to the transmission of supplies are felt by those in his immediate vicinity—what are we to anticipate! The Governor of Hong Kong had issued a proclamation against British subjects engaging in the war.

We have advices from Amoy to the 9th iust. At that date the place was still, and likely to remain, in possession of the patriots. C Communicated.) The Tartars have at last made their long threatened attack upon Amoy, for the purpose of re-taking the place from the x’ebels, but, after thl'ee days fighting, have made no progress whatever in their attempt, nor has any serious loss happened to either party. The whole affair was most ludicrous. On the sth instant, the imperialists landed their troops at the back of the island, and on the following morning opened fire upon the rebels (taking care, however, to be quite out of the range of their shot), and which fire was kept up until the sun began to get rather too powerful to he comfortable ; both parties then stopped firing, and quietly commenced their morning’s meal, after which nothing farther was done until the cool of the evening, when they had another little fight of the same description, and to as much purpose as that in the morning, the day closing without either party gaining the slightest advantage. At noon on the same day the foreign residents were entertained by a kind of sham fight between the admiral’s junks and the rebel fleet, the former numbering about thirty, and the latter consisting of something like ten small junks, chiefly armed with the guns taken from pirates by H. M. steamer Rattler, and sold for the benefit of the Crown. The fight was commenced by the admiral, and continued for about an hour, daring the whole of which time neither party ventured to come within shot of the other; on the 7th, after waiting until the tide commenced to ebb, and which they always took care to do, for fear of being set into the harbour, the imperialist fleet again opened their fire, and kept it up for an hour and a-half, the excitement on shore being most amusing, crowds of Chinese lining the bills, and appearing about as interested as they would be at one of their own sing-songs, greeting each shot reaching within a hundred yards or so of the mark with great applause, and the unsuccessful ones with groans and hisses, and availing themselves, as far as their means allowed, of the refreshments supplied by the attendant hucksters. On the Bth, similar proceedings were enacted, and the admiral sent in a letter, requesting the English ships to move further up the harbour, and stating that he intended coming in to attack the rebels, the likelihood of which, however, from previous proceedings, appears very problematical. The land forces again left the island on the Bth, with a) loss of some fifteen men, whose heads the rebels have stuck about the citadel.—F. of C., July 10*. The Ajnoy Triads, elated with their recent successes, have sent, we learn, an expedition to Quemoy, and there is little doubt but they will succeed in driving out the Mandarins at present in charge of that island.— F. of C. —July 27th. (From the " Overland Register,” July 23,) To what was known on tbe departure of the last mail regarding the positions, military and political, of tbe rebels and imperialists, little has been added. Tbe rebellion, however, continues to be tbe all-engrossing subject, for it has thrown tbe foreign import trade into a position which has become most alarming to those interested. In tbe southern part of China, tbe bad effect of tbe intestine disturbances bare not so prominently shown themselves, though tbe import trade here may be at any time thrown into tbe same position as it is at Sbangbae, where it is impossible to make sales, and where stocks have accumulated tiff it is said they now amount in value to 1,000,000/. The accounts which bare gone home since tbe early part of tbe year, have not deterred shipments, as goods to a similar value are expected to arrive in Sbangbae within two months. We have accounts from that market to tbe 9th instant. It is known that the rebels have greatly strengthened tbe commanding positions which they bold : and it is reported, and generally believed, that they have pushed a considerable part of their force further to tbe north, and that they are not likely to delay, longer than tbe termination of the hot weather, pushing forward to Pekin. It is believed tbe chief city of the province of Kiangsi is now in their possession. Further than issuing proclamations, the Imperial govirnment seems to do nothing. That which would have been expected to have called forth their utmost energies—the losing the second capital of the empire—seems to have made no change in the imbecile conduct which they have throughout displayed, from which it may be judged that they are wanting in power to show effective opposition to the rebel leaders and their forces. Amoy still continues in possession of the insurgents, by whom it was taken ; and although these men have neither the ability, nor the means at their command possessed by the insurgents in the north, the Imperialist troops have failed in their endeavours to re-possoss themselves of the city. Canton still remains quiet, but from the disaffected feelings of the people in and around it, it would be no matter of surprise were the people of that city to rise up and drive out the present authorities. It appears clear that many years will elapse before the country is again brought into a state of quietude ; and until that is done, trade will doubtless be conducted on a most precarious and dangerous footing. We find the following interesting notice of the proct edings of Commodore Perry 's squadron in the North China Herald of 9th July :

“ We are glad to learn that there is already some prospect of an opening to civilised nations amongst the Eoochoo Islands.

“ Information has previously reached us that whilst the U. S. fleet were in the neighbourhood of Napicau, (Napahiang?) the Susquehanna and Saratoga went on a cruise eastwaad, and touched at several beautiful Islands, where they distributed live stock. They also touched at an island named Boniau. To their surprise they discovered a few European residents, consisting of English, Scotch, Irish, and Spanish, who had left whalers and established themselves there ; amongst them were about eleven women. The Governor of this island is a Scotchman. He claims the island as his own and has been settled there about twenty years. He has a family of several children, one of whom was drowned a few days before the Susquehanna touched there, in endeavouring to cross the bar. u The Commodore has made a purchase of a piece of land containing about ten acres, for fifty dollars. It i» in a good situation, on one of the best sites of the harbour, and is intended for a Government Coal Depot. The island is mountainous ; the harbor excellent, bavin" from eighteen to twenty fathoms of water at the anchorage. Shell-fish, such as lobsters and cray-fish abound ; also plenty of wild goats, plums, bananas, plantains, and other varieties of fruit are found plentifully and are delicious.” This is a subject of gratulalion, as it already affords to civilised nation a footing in this almost terra incognita—and we hope it will soon be followed up by more important advantages. At the same time this intelligence fully shows how little investigation has hitherto been made of the shores of these interesting islands.