The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-05 00:00:00

CHINA.

A letter from Sing Kong, dated 15th December, says :
Admiral Sir James Stirling still remains here. Commodore
Elliot arrived from the north, in H. M. S. Sybille, on the 25th
of November, but brings no intelligence of importance beyond
the ascertained fact that there is a navigable passage from the
Gulf of Tartary to the Amoor River. The Russian fleet seen
in De Castries Bay no doubt made their escape by that channel.
H. M. steamer Styx, Commander Bruce, left for Singapore
and England on the 6th instant, and H. M. steamer Rattler,
Commander Fellowes, sailed for England on the 9th inst.
The latter had on board two Russian officers, Lieutenant
Pouschkine and Mr. Schilling, and a number of Russian sea-
men, prisoners from the Diana frigate.
H. M. S. Nankin sailed on the 9th inst. for Trincomalee.
The French ship Sybille and steamer Colbert are now in
harbour, and the Virginie, Admiral Guerrin, is at Macao.
The intelligence of the fall of Sebastopol was celebrated on
the 3rd instant, by a royal salute from all the Allied men-of-
war in harbour, as well as from the battery on shore.
The American Commodore Joel Abbott, of the United States'
ship Macedonian, died here yesterday, after a protracted illness.
The trial of the American Consul Keenan stands over, pend-
ing the recovery of Chief Justice Hulme, who has been seriously
indisposed.
Commander Vansittart, of H.M. brig Bittern, has been pre-
sented with a testimonial and au address from the mercantile
body in Shanghai, commending the gallant conduct of the
officers and crew of the Bittern, and thanking them for the
eminent services lately rendered to the trade by the destruc-
tion of pirates on the coast.
The Chinese bankers and merchants at Ningpo have also
come forward to testify their gratitude, and have, among
other acts, subscribed £l,OOO, to be forwarded to the mother
of Mr. Turner, late master of the Bittern, who was killed in
action ; and £2OO to each of the three seamen who lost their
limbs in the engagement.
In Chinese politics we have nothing new to mention, and
no authentic intelligence has reached us from the interior. At
and around Canton all is quiet, and the Chinese appear more
confident of tranquillity than before.
Rice remains plentiful, though somewhat dearer.
Imports at Canton have been in limited demand, and
prices are somewhat lower. Stocks are light, however, and
improvement is looked for.

"BY ELECTRIC & INTERNATIONAL TELEGRAPHS.]

LONDON, Monday Night.

NEW ORDER OF MERIT.

The Globe says : We have reason to believe that a Royal
Warrant for forming an Order of Merit has been already
signed by Her Majesty, and that a copy will be presented to
Parliament, in the course of a few days. Its provisions will,
we think, be found of a very satisfactory character, founded as
they are upon the principle of the honourable recognition of
personal gallantry, in whatever rank of the army or navy it
may be displayed ; thus, in all likelihood, the order will con-
sist of only one grade, and for this distinction every individual,
whether private soldier or ablebodied seaman, up to the admi-
ral or commander-in-chief, who will have distinguished him-
self by a conspicuous act of personal valour before the enemy,
will be eligible. In granting the order, the particular reason
for which it is awarded will be specified, and along with the
decoration the recipient will be entitled to a small annual
pension. The order is not intended as a reward for continuous
good service, as that is already recognized in different ways.
It will be confined to the naval and military, and it is probable
that the first batch of creations will comprise most of 'hose
who have evinced conspicuous gallantry throughout the late
operations in the East. -
THE EAST.
MARSEILLES, Monday.
The Indus has arrived. She brings adv ices from Constan-
tinople of the 24th, and the Crimea of the 22nd ult. The
despatches were to land at nine a.m. Little doing in the pork
of Marseilles.