The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-26 00:00:00

THE INDIA AND CHINA MAILS.

Recent advioes from Calcutta being to the 20th,
there is but two days' later news by the present
mail. During that period there have been but few
changes in commercial affairs.
We have intelligence by the present mail of the
fall of Hoochow, which took place on the 28th of
August. This event is looked upon as the finishing
blow of the Teepiug movement. The North China
Herald, in referring to the fall of Hoochow, says :
" We had previously learned from native reports
that the rebels were rapidly sinking into the
state of misery which heralded the ap-
proach of the fall of Nanking. Rice was scarce,
but actual starvation had not as yet set in.
The most serious want was that of firewood,
of which there was not a particle to be found.
Deserted houses had been pulled down and coffins
burned, and a general impression prevailed that the
city could not hold out much longer, as supplies of
every kind were cut off At length, on the day
mentioned, the garrison retired without beat of
drum through a pass in the Thd Deu hills into the
province of Kiang-si. The disposition of the impe-
rial forces ordered in the Pekin Gazette of August 1,
a translation of which we published in the last
North China Herald, would seem to have proved of
no avail in stopping the retreat of the Hoo-chow
garrison. What the course may be which they will
now adopt, whether they will subside quietly into
the ranks of the peaceful inhabitants, or whether
they retain sufficient organisation to attempt fresh
conquests, may well become matterfor speculation."
The latest intelligence from Japan is to the 24th
August, and matters seem to be rapidly comiog to
a crisis. As already stated, the Inland Bea is the
cause of quarrel. The entrance to that convenient
tradal passage is strongly guarded by forts under
the control of the Prince of Nagato. These forts
have, of late, bean greatly strengthened, apparently
with the intention of holding the Straits (of
Shimonoseki) against all foreign vessels. It was
at these Straits that French, American, and Dutch
vessels ware fired upon about a year ago, and quite
recently H.M.S. Cormorant, on steaming past the
batteries, bad a gun fired across her bows. This
was viewed as a sufficient intimation of
the prince's feelings towards foreigners, and the
Cormorant, accompanied by the Barone, made their
way back to Yokohama arid reported the reception
they had met with. Sixteen vessels of war
(Roglish, French, and Dutch) were, at last
advice., on the eve of setting out for Negates
dominions. The foreign ministers were all united
on the question of hostilities. The American
representative, though unable to send a man-
of-war, bad gone so far as to charter a sailing vessel
in order that the United States flag should be duly
displayed in the ooming tight. The vessels of war
reported as composing the expedition are the Con-
Cner, Euryalus, Barony Leopard, Tartar,
oquette, Cormorant, and Bouncer, all under the
English flag ; the Semiramis, Dupleix, and Tau-
credo (French) ; the Medusa, Metalen, Hans,
Djamba, and Amsterdam (Dutch) j and the Takiang,
chartered by the United States Minister. Consider-
able preparations have been made for the further
trial of Armstrong guns at shell practice, and the
result will, it is thought, most probably determine
the efficiency of those weapons.