The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-13 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL

CHINA AND JAPAN.

The following is from the overland summary of
the China Mail of July 26 :
As regsr the rebels, everything is quiet at present. No ,
traces of them have been seen in the neighbourhood of
Shaoghae for the last few weeks. Their absence may be
accounted for by the hot weather, but it is more likely that
the pressure upon Nanking has caused the recall of all the
rebel forcer that could be spared. By last mail from
England wears is receipt of the cerreapoodence presented
to periinnent on the subject of the Taeping rebellion. It
seeensilmathe 000 tents of that Blue-book that its coca-
pilau have been disposed to receive the most unfavourable
accounts of the rebels, and • good deal of exaggeration
accordingly appears in its pages. Idle rumours that
were printed in the Shanghae papers, but never confirmed,
are quoted in the Blue-book ; end they acquire authority for
the first time by appearing there. The feeling against the
rebels here is sufficient to decide public opinion against
them on the whole ; but it snot be denied that they per- .
aist in maintaining a claim to our sympathy by not molest-
foreigoers who travel in their territory. At Bbsoghae
the panic-feeling has been fostered by young residents who
speculated io bind sod sold at high rates to the terrified I
Chinese who looked upon the place as • sure city of refuge
from every danger. The amount of Chinese capital in that
city at present is very large ; and a class of Europeans,
chiefly young men who have no money of their own, are
entrusted with dollars to invest on Chinese account in
shares of steamers, silk speculations, and so on ' • and
as the Chinese in Shanghae are quite carried away
with respect for the power of foreigners and esti-
titude for their services, they are found surprisingly
ready to furnish the money for all aorta of
' purposes. The cousequeoce of all this *that mushroom
firms are doing an extensive trade to the utter astonish-
moot of those who do not know the source whence their
capital is drawn. By those men the admiral', policy is
loudly upheld. The older houses look upon the present
state of affairs with considerable doubt • they have not yet
forgiven the unwonted state of subordination into which
they were thrown by the establishment of a foreign cus-
toms inspectorate ; and there were not wanting hopes that
the rebels might have been more easily dealt with than the
present men. The impossibility, however, of openly
stating their feelings in the circumstances gave an appear-
ance of acquiescence on their part te the turn affairs had
been made to take, and as no course but approval was open
to them, they adopted that course with as much display of
earnestness as possible ; but those who know best say that
the large houses are not the warmest friends of the present
policy.
It is needles to my that the imperial authorities view
our present attitude with unmixed satisfaction. The six
gunboats wider Captain Osborne's command, which are
coming out here under the title of revenue cutters in the
imperial service, but are destined immediately for operation
against the rebels in the Yang-tau, will form a sort of
counterpoise to Ward's regiment, which might probably
become troublesome in course of time without such a check.
It is well that men of houour and good reputation should
solar the imperial service if foreigners are to enter it at all;
otherwise the service would soon become crowded with fili-
busters. The example such men will show in the capacity
of mandarins doing their duty without squeezing, will not
be lost upon the Chinese ; the only fear is, that these
foreign mandarins will comply with the customs of the
country and squeeze on their own account, so that for the
next half century China will be a second India to the bold
penniless adventurer.
At Peking, and in China generally, matters are much as
they were when we last wrote. Cholera is mid to prevail
at Taku. . .

From Japan we receive various and conflicting reports as
to new political difficulties. Although we may consider
the reports exaggerated, there is no reason for re-
fusing them belief entirely. The gist of the rumours ia
that a section of the Ditimios have determined to set at de-
fiance any little remnant of authonty that the Tycoon may
ponce' over them ; they decline to give any further atten-
dance at Yedo, and have quitted the capital without leaving
the usual hostages ; they mean to remain in revolt until
foreigners are abut out of the country. The next rumour is
that parties of discontented retainers have quitted their
masters and banded themselves together for irregular pur-
poses. The Prince of &Loma is said to be preparing for
the wont; he is disaffected towards foreigners. The Mikado
is said to have summoned the Tycoon before him, or rather
to have called upon him to pay the usual vieds re-
quired by the constitution of the country, but which
had not been insisted on for some time. The
Tycoon is at a loss what to do or to think. The
French minister has been assured that the persons of
foreigners are in no danger, and it seems as if matters in
this instance would come to an issue among the Japanese
nobles themselves. Next fortnight will perhaps furnish
correct information as to this political melee. By later &deices
from Yokohama, received per Fiery Cross, we learn that
another attack was made upon the British Legation 411 the
night of June 2fith-416th. During the night, when the
members of the legation were is bed, Colonel Neale heard a
cry of pain from one of the marines who kept guard outside.
He assembled the inmates of the house into one loom, lest
the assassins might prove too numerous to sally out upon.
It proved, however, on investigation, that there was only
one 111811S1110 ; he was killed, but not until he had mortally
wounded with his spear a corporal and a private of marines
from the Repaid, who were on guard that evening. The
spear used by the Japanese assassin proves to be the same
as those belonging to the Japanese guard furnished to our
minister by the authorities. There is every raison to be-
lieve that the affair was only a private adventure on the part
of the man who attempted the deed.
With reference to the attack on the legation, it is
noticeable that all the ministers resident in Yedo have de-
termined to remain there. The French minister, who was
about to leave the capital for a abort time, changed his in-
tention u woo as be heard of the attack; and the American
minister has written a letter explaining that he went to
Yokohama to celebrate the 4th of July with the consul
there, and means to return immediately. We think they
are acting rightly in remaining at their posts.
At Nagasaki, two Japanese policemen have been killed
by a couple of drunken French sailors whom they were au-
thorised to take into custody. The men will be duly tried
for this crime. A PURA has been started at Yokohama,
and its artist has been assaulted by one of the gentlemen
caricatured ; the latter was fined by the consul for the
assault. Mr. Vyse assured the artist that the community
there were much too thin-skinned to bear such a pub-
lication.

In Hong Kong matters are in their usual way. The
opium swindle has reached a first stage. in the sentence to
imprisonment for eight years of W . K. Stanford, who signed
the fictitious receipts. The charge brought against him wu
theft of opium committed to his charge. There seems less
prospect than ever of bringing borne a criminal charge
against Rustornjee, and it is to be regretted that no revela-
tions have been made by Stanford ; he pleaded guilty to the
charges against him.
The weather is still comparatively mild for the mouth of
July ; thermometer at 92 dames.