Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser

FROM CANTON

New York March 25.-The ship London Trader, capt Ansley, which arrived at this port last evening, sailed from Canton on the 1st of December It was ascertained that about 4500 houses were destroyed by the great fire. The loss of the American property was about the same in the aggregate as has been stated. We are favored with a file of Canton papers printed in the Portuguese language, and the following account of proceedings of the Chinese government, in relation to the disaster.

PROCLAMATION

By the Fooyuen, published Nov. 19th 1822, not communicated by the merchants. but obtained privately.

Ching, a member of the military board at Peking, a Censor. belonging to the board of general inspection, a Fe ruch of Canton Province. and superintendent of the grain tax, &c. hereby issues a general proclamation, with the utmost earnestness, on a most important subject.

On the 18th and 19th days of the 9th moon of this year, in consequence of a fire occasioned by a shopman, when a mad wind blew, and the fire became furious. it was impossible for man's strength to produce any effect in arresting the progress of the flames-they spread and consumed shops, and houses and hovels to a number that exceed 2400: and maimed & wounded men to the amount of several times ten: and destroyed the property of merchants and foreigners to the value of several hundreds of thousands of tens of thousands -- The flowery gaiety and glory of Canton was all at once consumed like the gaudy insect that rushes into the burning flame- such an event has not taken place for several hundred years,

You Gentlemen. merchants, poor natives and foreigners, who have suffered by this Heaven-sent calamity, are not the only persons whose hearts are grieved and wounded. I, the Fooyuen, since my ears heard it, and my eyes saw it, have not for a moment ceased to feel bodily pain and mental anguish on account of it. But the proverb says of "every drink and every filled cup, there are none that are not previously fixed by fate." This judgment of fire. was no doubt occasioned by the influence of the numerical destiny of the Pearl River, (which runs past the city and suburbs.)

But I desire that you all gentlemen, merchants, poor natives and foreigners, will every one quietly submit to a righteous destiny. Do not sorrow, grieve, lament and sigh. You must not repine at Heaven nor criminate man, and so in vain add to your trouble and vexation. But it is incumbent on you to receive the warning from Heaven above, repent of your sins, examine yourselves, and always preserve impressed on your minds the four words 'Heavenly principles. good heart.' And. really, acting according to these, you will not be ashamed before the discerning Gods, and no doubt the high Heaven will silently assist you. And how do you know but that the residue left by the fiery flames shall re-arise in piles of gold. and heaps of gems, and riches and honors?

You that have the power are hereby commanded to hasten and rebuild on the original site and foundation, which you must not overstep to encroach on your neighbors: for if you do so great an offence will be prosecuted and punished without mercy,

As to the poor who have been burnt out, and have no dwelling. I have directed the local magistrates to. hasten and draw out a list of the names, and give grain, and exercise compassion,

As to those criminals who availed themselves of the fire to rob and plunder. many have been taken and will be severely
punished; and a new search has been commenced for those not yet seized, so that not one of them may escape the net. I have also appointed an additional number of officers and troops to patrol the streets night and day, that hereafter any who should act as incendiaries or robbers, it is allowed to country gentlemen, to scholars, to merchants and poor natives and constables and watchmen, to join the military officers and soldiers, to seize the culprits, to present them before the Magistrates, and if the charge be proved they will on the spot be immediately cudgelled to death. As to the Foreigners who have in barks passed over seas several times 10,000 miles in width, to come to our celestial Empire to trade; in one morning their goods have been consumed by fire, and they have no settled place to roost nor rest—a case indeed much to be pitied. I hereby command all the Hong Merchants to act as is safe for the Foreigners and settle them in tranquil situations, that none of them may be destitute of a place to live in. Let all military officers, country gentlemen, merchants, poor natives and foreigners, whom this may concern, yield obedience thereto. Do not oppose a special proclamation. Jiaqing, 2d year—10th Moon, 2d day.
Remarks on Ching Ta-gon's Proclamation by Dr. M.

The writer of this document is a man of official rank and great popularity in the Chinese Empire. He is esteemed a well educated, religious, virtuous Pagan. The mixture of truth and error, of wisdom and no sense contained in the proclamation, must be very apparent to any well instructed Christian. The Canton daily paper announces that on the day of the new moon (Nov 13) which he had chosen as an auspicious day for receiving the seal of his new appointment to the office of Foo-yuen, or 'Soother of the People'—the place next to that of Governor General of the Province, he early went forth from his mansion and proceeded to the temple of Confucius; to the Temple of the deified Warrior Kwan-foo-tzu; to the Dragon King or Sea God Temple; to the Queen of Heaven's Temple; and to the Fire God Temple; to the City God Temple, and to the Wind God Temple: at each of which he worshipped and offered incense. He then visited the Tartar Generals, the Literary Chancellor, &c. and received visits of congratulation from the Governor, the Hoppo and all the civil and military officers belonging to this provincial metropolis. Next day the proclamation was published.