LATEST FROM CHINA. [From the South Australian Register.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 207, 24 July 1847, Page 3

LATEST FROM CHINA. [From the South Australian Register.]

The news from China received via Singapore, down to the Bth April, is important, there having been hostilities, attended with a very extensive spiking of great guns, but happily very little bloodshed. The first particulars were communicated in a letter from an accredited Portuguese commercialist resident at Hongkong, in the following terras :—: — " Hongkong, April 2, 1847. "Yesterday morning the H. C. Steamer Pluto, arrived here from Canton, with despatches for the Governor. Immediately on her arrival, the Governor commenced making military preparations, and directed the ships-of-war to proceed to Bocca Tigris, which they did ; the Pluto and Vulture then took the Espiegle and Corsair in tow ; the troops of the 42nd and 18th R. I. ptoceeded in six fast boats ; General D'Aguilar and Sir J. Davis accompanied the force. It is understood that the armament proceeds to take the Bocca Tigris Forts, should the Chinese not accept within twenty-four hours the teims proposed for opening the gates of Canton. Part of the 18th were to go up to Canton to protect foreigners there. It is also stated that orders have been received from England, strictly to enforce the terms of the treaty relative to Canton." A supplement to the Hongkong Register of April Bth, says — "On the 2nd the batteries of the Bogue, second bar, &c, were taken possession of without resistance, the guns spiked and the gunpowder destroyed. The ships remained at Whampoa that night, and on the morning iollowing the steamers Pluto and Corsair, full of troops, proceeded to Canton. The forts were entered and spiked as before. A few shots were fired from Napier's fort which did no harm. The gate was blown open, and the Chinese ran away. Having arrived opposite the Factories the troops were landed, and took up their quarters in the Hongs and Gardens, where six guns were mounted. The Governor and General took up their residence at the Consulate. Neither Chinese nor English were aware of the expedition until they leard of their arrival at Wharapoa." The taking ot the Bogue Forts is reprepresented by an eye-witness as a serio-comic affair. On arrival of the vessels of war off the forts, five shots were fired from one of the batteries. This was a signal for commencing operations. In a short time the troops land* ed and captured the forts without resistance — the Chinese laying down their arms with smiling countenances, and making their tschin tschin (respects.) Between 800 and 900 guns were spiked, and the magazine destroyed ; after which the troops marched through the disabled forts, the possession of which commanded the passage to Canton. There was nothing more than a trifling expenditure of gunpowder — not a soul was injured on either side. This singular demonstration ended in a conference between Keying and Sir John Davis, at which the local rupture between the English and Chinese governments was amicably settled by a new agreement, to the effect that at the fixed period of two years after the 6th April, 1847, the city of Canton shall bj open to Britsh subjects ; and by the immediate concession of a piece of ground on the side of the river opposite to Canton, whereon to build residences and an English Church.