The Press.
London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

The overland mail reached Alexandria on the 4th,
and Trieste on Tuesday last, with advices from
Calcutta to the Bth; Madras, 10th nit.; Shanghai,
15th March ; Manilla, 21st March ; Hong-Kong,
27th March; Singapore, 4th April; and Bombay,
14th April.
Burmah continues in a disturbed state.
The electric telegraph between Agra and Calcutta,
a distance of 800 miles, is completed.
The Russian fleet left Manila on the 18th March
for Batas ia.

From China we learn only that the Imperial forces
had been defeated, and the troops of the Tartar
general, Kang Chung, had deserted their colours.

AUSTRALIA.
The sales of Crown lands in South Australia, for
the current year only, have reached the sum of
200,0001., with every prospect that by the beginning of
1854 these sales will touch close upon 800,0001. This
conclusive evidence of the rapid and bond fide settle-
ment of our province cannot fail to satisfy the most
sceptical that its prosperity is proceeding and in-
creasing on the most sure of all grounds, namely,
a freehold interest in its soil. There can be nothing
ephemeral in those investments in land. The result
is that upwards of 70,0001. is to be added to the
sums already destined to promote emigration from
England to Adelaide.—dustratian and New Zealand
Gazette.

TilE proposed " resolutions " relating to Exchequer
Bonds and Exchequer Bills were printed on
Tuesday. In addition to the 2,000,0001. Exchequer
Bonds of series A, already taken up, the Chancellor
proposes to raise a further sum of 2,000,0001. Three
and-a-half per Cent. Exchequer Bonds, to be paid off
at par on the Bth of May, 1859, and to be issued " at
any prices and on any terms of subscription determined
upon by the commissioners." Mr. Gladstone
obviously means to have money for this series of
2,000,0001. bonds, excluding subscriptions in Exche-
quer Bills. Of Exchequer Bonds falling payabie in
1800, a sum of 48,5001. is proposed to be issued " at
, a price not less than 981. per cent., to be paid in Ex
chequer Bills at par or in money at 1001. ls. for every
1001. so subscribed." Government also propose to
make a further issue of Exchequer Bills to the amount
of 2,000,0001., and, in the event of the bonds not
being fully taken up, Exchequer Bills will be issued
to make up the deficiency.
A PUBLIC FESTIVAL has been proposed to celebrate
the union which at present exists between two
countries which have been occupied during a large
portion of the history of both in cutting each other's
throats. It is suggested that a certain number of dis-
. tingished individuals holding public appointments in
France, and connected with the arts, sciences, manu-
factures, and commerce in that country, should be in-
vited to the festival. The principal features of the
entertainment prepared for the guests, as at present
proposed, are a banquet in Guildhall, a public file at
the Crystal Palace, and a festival on the river Thames.
The funds are to be obtained by subscription and
from the sale of tickets issued at a price to be fixed
by a committee.
THE CHOLERA has entirely disappeared from Edin-
burgh ; and, although it lingers in Glasgow and Fal-
kirk, seems greatly to have abated even there.

THE WAR.

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