The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-21 00:00:00

NOTIFICATION.

British Consulate, Shanghai, April 8,1853,
Iler Majesty's Consul is directed by her Majesty's Pleni-
potentiary to circulate, for general information, the an-
nexed copy of his answers to his Excellency the Taoutai's
application for assistants in the defence of the city.
(Signed) ECTITERPOILD ALCOCL, Consul.
To the British community at Shanghai.
British Consulate, Shanghai, April 7, 1853.
Sir,-1 have the honour to report that B. E. Woo,
Taoutae, paid me an official visit to-day in order per-
, smelly to urge the expediency of • declaration from
the foreign consuls at this conjuncture, which would
' enable him to assure the people of Shanghai that the
ships of war at present in port would protect them and
lend effective assistance to defend the city from any
I attack on the part of the insurgents. I told him it would
be seceuary that I should take your excellency's instruc-
tions before I could give him any reply, and, in conformity
with these I have now to state that I directed Mr. Inter-
preter Meadows to call upon the Taoutae, and inform him
thee your excellency could hold out no promise whatever
of assistance in defence of the city if attacked by the insurij
gent forces; bet that unquestionably you would defend the
peoperty within the foreign settlement if any attack upon
it were made. In regard to any danger to be apprehended
from thieves or marauders within the walls of the city, you
would naturally desire to assist the authorities In prevent-
ing the pillage of honest citizens; but that you must re-
serve to yourself the right to determine what course should
be pursued when the circumstances which might call for
any iatervention were before you."
I have the honour to be, sir, your Excellency's most
obedient bumble servant,

•
(Signed) RCTRZEEORD ALCOCK.
To his Excellency Sir George Bonham, But., K.C.B.
True copies,
(Signed) FREDC. HOWL HALL

Our last, of the 11th, brought down news of the
rebellion from Shanghai to the 28th ult. We have
now dates to the 12th inst. Previous to the Bth inst.
the success of the rebel force had been rapid; the
most current information was that the city of
Nankin had fallen into their hands, and that
Chinkeangfoo had been taken without opposition.
On the Bth instant reports reached of the hostile
intentions of the rebels against the foreign commu-
nity in particular, and that they intended advancing
on Shanghai, which caused the greatest alarm and
confusion, and the inhabitants of the city were
moving into the country, and the united naval force
and the whole community commenced to fortify and
make preparations for the defence of the British
settlement, and a volunteer corps was at once
formed. Later accounts from Loochou had been re-
ceived, stating that something had checked the
rebels' approach, and matters were more quiet. The
rebel force had evacuated Chinkeangfoo, and were
retreating upon Nankin. This has been confirmed
by advice* received from Loochou on the 11th, from
an enterprising volunteer of the British diplomatic
department, who had reached there in disguise and
in safety.
The Tartar General, Heang Yueng, with the
Grand Imperial army, was close to Nankin, and
which, it was generally believed, he had taken pos-
session of. An engagement between the two forces
was expected to take place about the 10th inst., and
till the result be known, all will be intense anxiety
and suspense.
Applications had been made to the foreign powers
for assistance, by the local authorities, but a strict
neutrality seemed to prevail.

HONG KONG.
Since the departure of the last mail, the health of
the European portion of the force has been very
good, no death having occurred. Among the native
troops there were three deaths, two in the Gun
Lucars, and one in the Ceylon Rifle detachment,
all from Ben Berl. Yesterday morning's statement