An alarming fire broke out in Canton on the night
of the 22d of November last, and continued to burn till about seven o'clock on the next morning. A letter dated the 23d of November says-
" As the foreign facto' ies lay directly to leeward of the fire, great apprehen- 'lions were entertained that the scenes of 18'22 would be repeated : all the foreigners packed up their papers and other valuables ready to put into boats when all hope of saving the factories should cease ; and many embarked every thing during the night, and are not yet sufficiently certain of the fire being sub- dued to reland them. The honp,s of the Hong Merchants were also in con- siderable danger : and the property contained in them being to an exceedingly large amount, they early despatched every thing across the river for security. Bad the fire got past the city-wall, the whole of that pant of the town where our dwellings are situated would have been in flames in an hour, and it was only the want of wind that saved us. The destruction of property must be enor- mous ; the tire appeared to be about a mile in breadth, and in the most popu- lous part of the city. This event will cause an obstruction to business for a day or two, till things are got back to their old places."
The estimated loss in British goods is about 70,0001.
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