CHINA.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 October 1842, Page 4

CHINA.

(From the Colonial Observer).

The British naval force for the Chinese expedition of 1842, (anxiously expected at Canton, when the Australasian Packet left that port,) numbers no less than 110 sail, consisting of 35 ships of war, 6 armed transports, 19 steamers, and 50 transports ; the most splendid naval armament that has ever been seen eastward of the

Cape of Good Hope. It is confidently expected* that the very appearance of the fleet will have a good effect in bringing our contest with the celestials to a speedy adjustment. The object in sending such a fleet to a country possessing almost nothing in the shape of ships to oppose it, is said to be the bombardment of a considerable extent of the coast; but the plans for the future conduct of affairs remain vet to be developed. Complaints are still made of the temporising measures adopted by the English commanders ; Whampoa being allowed, for the convenience of trade, to remain a friendly port, enables the Chinese to receive, with the greatest facility, the necessary supplies and munitions of war : i while, were it blockaded, it is confidently asserted that no interruption to the trade would ensue, as the Chinese would convey their merchandise, tea, and silk, to Macao and Hong Kong for sale; and Captain Elliott’s truce, in' virtue of which the port of Whampoa remains open, having been infringed by the Chinese in the rebuilding of the forts, it is argued that it ceases to be binding on the English. ! The Chinese, on their part, are indefatigable in their attemps at retalliation, but these are in the usual inefficient style. At Amoy and Chin , Chow, the English vessels were under considerable apprehension from, the attacks of pirates in the pay of the Mandarins. A daring pirate | had for this purpose received the command of thirty-five war junks with a military force on board, in addition to the ordinary crews, of one thousand men. H.M.S. Pylades had been sent to reconnoitre, but at the latest advices no hostile had taken place. A letter from Chusan gives the attempt, adverted to in a late number of our paper, to destroy the British shipping at Chusan, in full detail.

“ On the 6th April, about fifty fire-rafts were sent down on the ships at Chinhae, but were all towed aground without doing any damage. An apparently empty junk was boarded by the Blonde's boat and that of a transport, when she blew up, killing two men of the transport’s boat, and wounding an officer and three men belonging to the Blonde's. At 10 p.m., on the 15th, a boat came off from the military magistrate, reporting that fire-rafts might be expected from the westward; but from the frequent false reports of the same nature, nothing was done beyond sending boats to watch the passage, and warning the transports in the Inner Harbour, in immense numbers, burning furiously, and constantly exploding. We had busy work in towing them clear. Between twelve and one o’clock (the same night), upwards of fifty passed our ship. It was a beautiful sight, the whole bay being as light as day, upwards of 150 burning at the same time. They were composed of boats lashed together, filled with saltpetre, turf, and brushwood, which made it very difficult to tow them, as from the constant explosion it was most dangerous to go alongside to cast them adrift. The Nemesis being to the win ward, kept up a fire on them as they came down, which had the effect of making the Chinese light them earlier than they intended. The boats that went to the westward discovered about thirty in a cove, ready to come down on the return tide, our boats took four prisoners and blew up the rafts. The whole affair was well planned, and if they had sailed them down close to our ships before lighting them (the night being pitch dark), they might have done an immense deal of damage amongst the transports. At daylight, on the 15th, I was sent away in the Phlegethon, to Jinkow, about ten miles to the northward, but discovered no signs of their having been fitted out there. On our way back we fell in with a fleet of wood junks, and brought them with us to Chusan, where we anchored at seven o’clock.”

An extract from a military letter from the Board of Directors of the East India Company, in reference to the distribution of gratuities from the Canton ransom-money, has been published by authority. None are allowed to participate except those employed in the military operations in May, 1841, under the immediate pressure of which the ransom was paid by the Chinese authorities. Reports were current that the Chinese were receiving from the United States’ ships Constellation and Boston, lying at Whampoa, instructions in the mode of working their guns with effect; but the only ground for the reports was, that, on a visit of the Chinese admiral on board these vessels, he was received with a salute and manned yards, and the crew were put through their exercises in the presence of the Chinese officers in honour of the occasion. Ningpo continues to be held by the British in expectation of a ransom. The Druid has proceeded to Calcutta to convey the Ex-Governor-General to England.— Her Majesty’s ship Hyacinth, which has been

upwards of five years on the India station, also proceeds to England. Sir William Parker is promoted to be ViceAdmiral of the squadron, and Sir Thomas Cochrane, Rear-Admiral.