The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-10 00:00:00

CHINA.

A private letter from Canton, dated Jan. 13, ob-
serves as follows:

We are as nearly at a dead lock as it is possible to be—the
only feature of any interest being the settlement of about
1,200 packages of new Taysaus wagon. The tea men
have, I understand, paid pretty smartly to get this leaf past
Fat-Shan—and judging from the prises the tea has fetched,
I imagine they do not want to lose on the tnasaction. The
quality so far is anything but fine. You would naturally
think that if they can got leaf down to make Congo., they
could procure some to manufacture S. 0. Pekoe; but the
tea brokers tell me that there is no Rower now ; 1101:1141 time
sines they had plenty of flower, but no leaf. The few
8. 0. Pekoes on offer are consequently held for very
high rates. Although the shipments now show a decrease
of over six millions of pounds, I don't think you need fear
any scarcity of the commoner and Savoury Coogan, ; bet, a
I have before stated, really good teas snug, in my humble
*pinion, be in request. About a month since 8— paid a
visit to the headquarters of the rebels, near Whauspea, and
was received by the chief in due state, who appeared sur-
rounded by a guard with drawn swords. He was shown
their gunpowder and other belligerent manufactories,
everything showing them to be well organised. They now
have a number of foreigners of different nations in their
employ, who have been doing them good service. On the
30th of December there was a fight between the rebel and
imperial junks amongst the shipping at Whampoa, and in
the scrimmage several of the foreign ships were struck. The
English and American men-of-war did not, however, feel
justified in interfering. It ended in the Imperialists get-
ting 1 funk burnt, 1 blown up, and 2 captured. The
next day the Imperialists got a tremendous lick-
ing at Fat-Shan, but the most successful action
'of the rebels took place en the 7th fast,, about
half-way between this and Whampoa ; when, according to
the Imperialists' own accounts, 33 of their junks were taken
and 20 destroyed. No one knows how many people were
killed. This may seem "very small deer " after the daily
reports you get from the Crimea, but when you hear the can-
non biasing away—and if you like to pull down the river •
few miles, as see the action—it becomes rather personal. In
cue of an attack on Canton—en event that may take plus
any day—notice bas been given to both factions, that
foreigners insist upon the whole of the river facing the fan-
twigs being kept clear. An American man, of-war will be
stationed on the extreme left, and an English sloop on the
right, with gunboats between, to prevent any sort of craft
from passing up or down. At the same time guards will be
landed to take up • position so as to sweep the back streets
with grape and canister, and thus keep • space both before
and behind the foreign settlements intact. H.M. steamer
Styx, and the sloop Comus are up here, and the ,
Barracouta and the United States frigate Macedonian at
Whampos. We have been assembled at the consulate to
have all this explained to us, and have been told we shall
not he called upon to fight ii they can avoid it, but that we
must hold ourselves in readiness. There is • statement in
the Canton Chamber of Commerce (which I believe to be
entirely without foundation) to the effect that Fat- Shea is,
is the hands of the imperial soldiery. I bearre the simple
truth to be this. On the 23rd of December, a party of rebels
left Fat-Shan on some expedition, and on their return were
Intercepted by •• large number of villagers in the suburbs,
supposed to be in imperial employ; there was a regular
fight, the attacking party were driven back, the plate fired,
and every man speared as he tried to escape. The fire com-
municated to the town, and I believe half the place is burnt
down ; but beyond this, I don't believe the imperialists have
been within five miles of it since the drubbing they got at
the sad of the year.