The seven junks, reported as captured on the 17th, have all been destroyed by the French, and another large craft was added to the list of reprisals yesterday. The loss incurred by the destruction of the is vessels and cargoes is variously 50,000 dollars. upposed to must now be upwards of three hundred natives divided between the three ships, Itscems a pity that these unfortunate people are not sent on shore. Such accurse would at once allay popular excit moutand remove all doubts, In the absence of tidings, the most extravagant rumour continue to be circulated, as to fate, Noiwithatanding this vigilance on the part of the French, two joke arrived in Anping yesterday from Swatow, and at Takow a Namoa lorcha is reported with valuable consignments, quantity of opium. The utter absurdity of the alled blockade can be understood when tated that the Champlain is the only cruiser employed in maintaining the blocks to the southward of this port, a coast of atleest 70 miles, At the time of writ from Tameui, dated the 11th have been received. The French a state of perfect inaction, The are reported to be making great preparations, and a desperate fight is anticipated when the next attack is made, 20th January. la port, xnd the Triomphante reported to beat Takow. H.MS. Swift arrived from Amoy on the 22ud instant, and after livering mails left for Tamsui. She is hourly expected back, and will then return to Amoy. Three Chinamen, natives of the Pescadores, reached this place a few days ago, from Keelung. An interview with one of them reveals the following facts, He and four others were seize! by one of the blockading squadron, off Takow, about two mouths ago, whiler navigating a cargo boat from the south of the island. In company with a hundred or other captives, they were taken to Keelung, and made to work in the fort and coal all being kept in close confinement at night. Sixty of these prisoners effected an escape, twenty others being shot down in the attempt. The French are charged with much cruelly. Such statements, must be taken cum grano, and of Western reputation, that they a1 exaggerated.
No junk has ru clu he blocked th past fow days, and it is said that the wan-fu merchants, in view of their recent Iossea, have chartered a boat to carry letters to the mainland, instructing their agents to make no further shipments for the pre-A telegram waa received from Takow yesterday, stating that the daily courier had been robbed and maltreated on the road 1d that all Lette or P urged state of try, together with the approach of the China Now Year, will, doubtless, bring about many outrages of this kind, here is naturally much distress among the lower classes, particularly the boating population, in consequence of the total absence of any trade.
Private letters been received, dated Tamaui the 17th \d that operate ill be suspended ni additional troops. In_ this Courbet will find himself dri into the rainy season, an obstacle difficult, to contend with. It is further reported that the Annamese are deserting to the fore: Four of war were ed off the port of Gazette Extra, 26th January.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.