At the time of these intestine troubles, the great number of ladrones or land-pirates, who infest the vicinity of the densely-populated cities, whose desperate fortunes, make them indifferent to what government they may be under, generally seize upon the opportunity of plundering, and the foreign hongs, or factories of the American and European merchants, are always an object of attack, from the quantity of specie that is known, or believed to be within their vaults. The existence of the rebellion, and the heavy freshets in the Pekiang causing much loss and distress, had also made the ladrones in the vicinity of Canton very threatening; and a few days after our return from Japan, our ship was ordered to proceed to Blenheim Reach, to communicate with the American consul, and to afford with our force, any aid that we could in the protection of American property at Canton, which, notwithstanding the representations made to our government, has been indebted for some time past to the protection of the guns of a little English brig-of-war, which lay off the factories. But if one thinks of the un-American manner, and the cockneyism, which marks nearly all of the United States merchants, who abide and much do congregate near the walls of Canton, perhaps the protection, which an English flag would give, is more to their taste, such at least is my opinion. It occasions no effort to appreciate the hospitality of these people. Should you be a merchant-man, and indebted to their brokerage for the purchase of tea and silk, or the sale of opium, their spacious-chambers are soon put at your disposal; but if unfortunately an officer from some national vessel, your way to the single China-hotel, with its pent-up rooms, infuriate musquitoes, and pleasant fried-rat odors, will not be impeded by them in the slightest degree. During an extended stay, they might patronise you, if having the financiering of the ship to do, with an invitation to a dinner, or one to a “tiffin;” but they will scarcely be heard from again, unless when they anticipate an _emeute_ of the Ladrone population, when a man-of-war would immediately get representations about the necessity for some force to protect their coffers.