CANTON.

Colonist, Issue 78, 6 July 1858, Page 4

CANTON.

We have received the following note from Canton, dated the morning of the 18th, and give it in the writer's own words:—Yesterday was a holiday at the commissioners' Yamun in the city—the officers and men amusing themselves with foot and hurdle racing, leaping, boxing, wrestling, climbing a greased pole, &c, &c, and a fine afternoon's fun they had of it. The sports began with a long race of 600 yards, and were to wind up with a pig-chase, but as it was getting dark, and the Allied Gate closes at half-past 6, I wa« compelled to leave. In the intervals betwixt the games we had nigger songs and dances, which afforded much amusement. All-—officers and men, French as well as Britishseemed to enjoy themselves heartily ; and the thing is well worth the mentioning, a» being held in the garden-grounds of a Yamun, in the very heart of Canton, and lately occupied by the Tartar General. There is some talk here (I don't think it amounts to more, though others think differently) of a strong force assembling above Fatshan, with the intention of attacking the allied position, after burning the foreign packhouses on Honam. I am sorry to see that the military police in the city are not sufficiently accoutred to have much chance of d fending themselves in case of sudden attack. I believe a hint of the kind would meet with attention from the General. The Commissioners have written to the fojandarins about the triumphal arches raised in commemoration of the British force tfnder Sir John Davis and General D'Aguilsr being driven from the city in 1847, telliug the Mandarins that they had delayed remonstrating with them on the subject out of a feeling of delicacy, and in the hope that they of themselves, knowing j the falsehood of the story which the arches j were supposed to commemorate, would i have had them removed; that they had patiently permitted three months to elapse, and as there were no signs of any projected removal, now demanded that the arches should be pulled down forthwith. The Chinese authorities replied, that they had j long expected such a demand; but as the j arches had been put up by orders from Peking, they dared not meddle with them, our people, however, might demolish them if they pleased. So down they come in a few days. I see no appearance of any new shops opening—and in those now open, nothing but miserable old stocks are exposed, for sale, and very little o£ them. P.S.—l9th April.—An alarm has been spread of a projected attack by the braves. The ganboats were stationed last evening off Fa-tee, under charge of Commander Colville; but nothing occurred during the night. General Straubenzee is to inspect the Honam side of the river to-day, with the intention of stationing a body of Marines there, for the protection of the packhouses. 20th.—The alarm I formerly mentioned arose out of a gang of pirates having made a descent on a village above Fa-tee, for purposes of plunder. The river now swarms with these miscreants. - The Cruizer arrived in harbor yesterday morning, with the intention of proceeding northwards; but so alarming was the state of affairs at Canton when she left, that Commander Fellowes expects to be ordered up the river again. The Chinese merchants were in great fear, and were urging the foreigners to leave.

The following note, dated Tuesday morning, however, does not -treat the matter as of very serious importance; but within the lines, a man will naturally feel comparatively safe:— "We are already reaping the fruits of our rpoceedings in the matter of the attack on Colonel Stephenson and party last February. A proclamation has appeared in the city, purporting to emanate from some of the ninety-six villages (those to the "north-eastward,) offering a graduated scale of rewards for live and dead foreigners, and of compensations for death or wounds. This is a matter, of small importance in itself, but serves to shew how little effect the capture of Canton has had beyond the city walls, and the absolute necessity of carrying out measures of, reprisal when once threatened. Of course they attribute our not visiting the villages, to our fear of the braves. As far as actual courage goes,. they are wrong, but they must plainly see that we are as anxious to avoid hostilities as they are. We are not afraid of their swords and gingalls, but we are heartily afraid of the effects of renewed hostility on commerce and on the reputation of the 'No. 1 head man.' !

"Nothingnew in the City, beyond that which of course the mandarins attribute to the act of unprincipled vagabonds,^ who want to create a disturbance for the sake of plunder. Reports of approaching ruptures are very rife, but little importance can be attached to them. The burning- out oj'i&v reigners on Honamis one of them."