The Express.
London, England, 1863-07-16 00:00:00

CHINA.

Advices from Hong Kong ere to May 30. With
regard to the rebels it appears that Major Gordon,
at the head of the entire contingent known as
Ward's, after the capture of Tai-tsan as narrated
last mail, marched on to a walled town calls('
Quen-san only six miles distant. He found it
occupied by a strong garrison of Taepings, and
after reconnoitering for two days he declined the
attack and returned with his entire force to his
head-quarters, Sunkiong.

Front the ports ou the Yang-tsze River the
general intelligence is favourable. The rebels who
were lately in the vicinity of Hankow and of
Kiukiang seem to have withdrawn themselves, and
native traders are resuming their ordinary pur-
suits.

JAPAN.
SERIOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS.

By the last fortnightly summary of news readers
were informed that war with Japan was imminent,
although the British charge d'affaires had granted
to the Japanese, at their own urgent request, a
further period of fifteen days to consider the terms
of the ultimatum. " Since that time," nays the
China Mail of May 30, " the Japanese authorities
have asked for a still further extension of time, and
a period of ten days more has been allowed thew.
According to this latter arrangement, the period
fixed for receiving a reply to the ultimatum must
have expired on the 21st instant." The latest
advice° from Japan aro to the 14th of May, at
which time no reply had reached the British autho-
rities.

At Yokohama, the native servants were leaving the
employ of foreigners, and were, moreover, conducting
themselves towards them with studied rudeness, breaking
articles of furniture, forcing their way into bosses, jestling
foreigners in the street, and otherwise endeavouring to show
their patriotism, or bring on such a disturbance as might
lead to • general attack upon our people. The latter, how-
ever, have not retaliated these offensive deinoestratious to
such an extent as to disturb the peace. By this time mutt
of the foreign residents at the open ports are in a pot:-
lion of comparative safety. Merchants have trans-
ferred oa hired ship their stores of goods and other
valuables, and their arrangements are made for taking
to the shipping at very short notice. It is not desirable,
they consider, to leave the foreign concession until that step
becomes actually necessary fur their safety ; and in order to
SWUM the latter, Oolonel Node has sent to Shaogbae fur
the list Regiment, which was, it may be remembered, or-
dered to England a coariderable time ago, on being relieved
at Taku. Her M ,jesty's transport Vulcan, which left
Hongkong to convey the list from Shaaghae to this port,
will now, it is understood, carry them to Yokohama, where
the foreign concession will be held during any hostilities
that m►y ensue. Admiral Kuper has informed the Japanese
authorities that no heathities are intended by him in the
neighboarhood of the open ports, unless it should be notes-
nary as a defensive measure. The Tycoon's gornromeat
have notified to the admiral that proper warning will he
given in the event of war being determined upon, so that
foreign residents on shore may have time to withdraw
should they desire it ; this act of courtesy, however, it
somewhat seriously qualified by a statement annexed, to
the effLct that Ptiata Rasmus is sending his retainers into
Yokohama disguised as peaceful natives, and that they are
to arrive is groups of three or four at a time so as not to
excite suspicion. The Tycoon has vary plausibly assured
the admiral that he was in the position of being com-
pelled to feign dislike and hostility to foreigners, al-
though his real feelings were friendly. Notwith•
standing that the period for receiving the reply
of the Jaw:less government has been twice extended, it it
rumoured that, to oblige the Japanese, further grace will