The Express.
London, England, 1855-05-31 00:00:00

CHINA.

The news from the Middle Kingdom by this mail
is indecisive. The Imperialists do not appear to'
have improved their recent successes at Shanghai,
and we hear of one or two positions of secondary
importance having fallen into the possession of the
insurgents.
A private letter from 800-chow states that the
city of liwuy-chow, let. 26.59 N., log. 118.28 E., tell
into the hands of the rebels at 7 o'clock in the even-
ing of the 9th of March. Ihe taking of Kwei-chow
is said to have been effected by a party of the Nan-
king insurgents, aided by a local band, who sur-
prised the city and killed the Tautest. The interior
of the province of Canton is kept in a state of woe-
ful disorder. The " good people "—they who have
not strength or spirit to take up arms on their ow.
account—are the prey equally of red heads, village
braves, union men, and soldiers.
About three weeks before the evacuation of Shan-
ghai a letter was received there from Tai-ping-Wang
assuring Loo and Alm of his warm sympathy ; honour-
ing the former with the rank of Che Se, the latter,
with that of Hoo Che fie, or Deputy, and telling them
that a brigade of 40,000 men and 5,000 women was
being organised wider General Hee, and would soon
leave Nanking for their relief; that the route taken
would be somewhat circuitous, but that no time
should be lost. Before that letter arrived, however,
Jesuit and French Admiral had effectually succeeded
in disorganising all previous arrangements, and the
city had to be evacuated.
The entrances to Hong-Kong harbour, both east
and west, have been lately infested by detached
fleets, and passage and trading boats have been com-
pelled to put back, while one or more lorchu, with
provisions for vessels loading with emigrants, have
been captured, as has also a large trader with a cargo
of market stuffs, some of her crew being killed and
others wounded. The Hornet and Bittern, with
boats from the Winchester, Sybille, and Spartan, had
been despatched to make a clearance of the waters.
It was said that the combined French and British
squadron was about to sail for Japan, en roue to the
Amour and Kamschatke. _ _

On the 21st of March the Styx, under command of
ILieutenant Bruce, proceeded to Amoy and Shanghai.
On the 7th of April the Sybille, Commodore Elliot,
Hornet, and Bittern, left Hong Kong for the north.
The Spartan followed them on the 13th. The &mi-
t:outs and Encounter left Shanghse, under sealed
orders, on the 21st March. The French frigate La
Jeanne d'Arc, and Constantine, also left Shanghai
on a cruise on the 4th. The surveying schooner
Saracen arrived at Hong Kong on the 7th, and on
the 14th of April there were in port the French
Sybille (50), Winchester (Admiral Stirling), ana
Saracen. At Canton the Comas was moored off the
factories. The Racehorse was at Fult-ohow-hi.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Up to the present date, lays the Overland Friend of Chita,
of April 14th, in 21 ships, about 13,264,600 pounds of tan
have been shipped to Great Britain from Canton for the
whole of the current mason. Up to similar period the
year before, in 64 ships 40,208,700 pounda; and in 1853,
to mine date, in 41 ships, 30,649,000 pounds. Sines the
commeneement of the present year only four ships have
been dospatebed from Canton to Great Britain with toss—
total on board of them 1,898,900 pounds. During similar
period last year 14,232,800 pounds found despatch, and is
1863-10.100,000
Exciwoon AND BOLLION —CSMOS; April 12.—0 n
London, 49 ; on Bombay, TS Rs. ; on Calcutta, 232 Re.
Aprill3.—Carolus dollars, 24 per cent. prem. Shanghai,
April 7.—On London, 6.21 ; on India, 297 Re.; draft. on
Canton, 26 die.
0911311.—Canton, April 13.—New Paton, 334 dole. ; old
Patna, 330 dole.; new Bemires, 340 dole.; old Rename,
330 dole. ; Malws, 420 dole. • Turkey, 480 dole. Shanghai,
April 7 —Malys, 328 da to 327 dole. per chat; new
Patna, 258 dole.; old P.m., 253 dole. per chest.
FAZIONIS AND TONNAOL—Croton.—To London, nomi-
nal, 51. for sta. fibangbal.—To London, It for tea, 41. 108.
for silk.