The Express.
London, England, 1847-03-25 00:00:00

CHLVA.

The gossip supplied by such translations from the
Pekin Gazette as appear in the Hong Kong end Canton
papers from time to time, if it do not afford an enlarged or
comprehensive view of the condition of the " middle
country," may furnish amusement.
FINANCIL—As we noticed yesterday, the Chinese finest-
cien are in great distress for circulating media. In the
dearth of silver, the Emperor has caused a general query
to be directed to the governors and lieutenantgovernors of
provinces whether or not, in most cases, cash or copper
money might be substituted for silver ? In answer to ail
the viceroy of Keaug-se has forwarded the following re-
marks to head-quarters The price of silver has of late years
so much risen, that measures for preventing absilute '
ruin must be instantly adopted. In 1844 it was pro-
posed to issue and receive cash at a uniform rate throughout
all the provinces, to produce a reaction and bring the price
of silver to per. An experiment of this kind was to be made
at Keeng.se, but not carried out, for fear of attracting the
cash of the adjacent provinces to this spot, from the ease with
which it could be changed into bullion. It was therefore
resolved to order the treasurers throughout the realm to
make their returns of the receipts and expenditure, and to
fix 1,500 cash as the standard exchange for a tael of silver.
It would however be unjust to pay the soldiers in this man-
ner, because they can obtain 1,900 cash for a tael in silver,
and would therefore be losers to a considerable amount,
which might lead to mutiny. To pay other classes
in cash would prove advantageous to the nation, and
the project is likely to be adopted. Never since the
accession of this dynasty, has there been such a scarcity of
silver, or the financial difficulties appeared so great. ft is
wonderful to observe, however, with what dexterity the
board of revenue parries the imminent danger, and keeps
natters going on, notwithstanding the large deficit in the in •
come. In lionan, since 1843, there has been raised by
patriotic contribution, under the promise of office, in order
to repair the public works 3,750,000 cash, and 5,780 tack in
silver. Of this sum only 557,000 cash and the river remain.
We may, therefore, presume that the works have been car-
', tied on with great despatch. The salt department and Cus-
s tom-house at Teentsin have still 40,800 tads at their dis-
posal, and submitted a statement of the same to the Em-
peror. The trade from the south appears to have been very
thriving this year, and hence this large and unexpected surplus.
The Lieutenant Governor of Chekeang, in an able and
lengthy paper, avers that the present unheard-of high pike
of silver arses from its scarcity, and that no artificial means
can supply the deficiency. He propose to east large copper
pieces of zr.oncy. :ntroditer gold tk Lott of silver, and to
put a stop to false coinage, by which the value of cash is
much deteriorated. On the other hand, the proposal to sub-
stitute the currency of cash for bullion has naturally in-
creased the demand for copper from the imperial minis.
Instead of producing a greater quantity, however, it is les-
sening every day—the reason assigned by the governor being
that, as the mine deepens, the expense of working it becomes
' greater, while government continues to pay at the same rate
ea formerly. lie therefore suggests that new mines should
be opened, though he is doubtful whether the proceeds will
cover the outlay.

Aaste.—The efficiency and courage of the imperial forest
' I may be judged of fromthe following facts :—A high afiOtt
having been convicted of drunkenness, was severely repri.
mended by the Emperor, and banished to the frontiers,
there to redeem his character. The glorious victory an-
nounced os having been gained by the imperial troops is
Kokonnr, appears to have been greatly exaggerated by the
general in hie despatches to the government, as a memorial
addressed to the Uovernortlenerel of Shenoe and lianoult
reports that one of the commanding officers, instead oe
exterminating the mountaineers, had, in direct upped.tion to orders received front head-guartees, entered
into a compromise o ith them. When urged setae.
gnently to take the field, he excused himself oo
the plea of sickness, though a young man in the
full vigour of life. Tathungah must therefore march into
the mountains to retrieve what cowardice and indecision
hove lost —An officer of the frontiers being desirous of pet-
ting the post he commanded in a state of defence, invested
a cannon and matchlock of descriptions much superior to
those hitherto in use, and which met with general approbe.
Lion. When about to provide the garrison with these arm;
however, he found there were no funds to cover the ex-
pense, and that if he did so, it must be at his owu cost. Not
being a wealthy man, he proposed that some cavalry hem*
should be sold fee the purpose.-Some regiments stations{
in Shen-se being badly off for barracks, considerable discos.
sion took place as to how the expense of erecting new one
should be repaid. At last the treasurer was ordered to ad.
vane the sum of eight thousand taste, to be deducted is
instalments from the pay of the miiitary.
Itotiteis.—Rennexy, AND PIRACY are carried 00 is
China on a scale to which we have no parallel in Europe.
The sole employment of the imperial navy is to hunt down
pirates ; and, instead of solitary policemen, whole regiment.
are set in motion to catch robbers, so may be seen by the
following official extract :—On the 6th of Ilth 111001 some yd.
loins took with them to the pawnbroker Fung-cheang, at the
12th Pd, outside of the west gate, a letter demsadiag a
thousand tech of money, saying, that it he did not pay it
they would have his shop plunek•red. The pawnbroker im-
mediately reported the case to the local officers, who repro.
seated it to the governor. The governor then, on the ruglit
of
eth.heo7pthandad
pyre,
vseenntt
theout erobigbeh
nt hundredfro soldiers
m
coming.
B to
dittsecui
were
about in huudreds. His Excellency Tai, the late chief pro.
vincial director of education at Canton, was returning to the
capital on the 27th day of the 10th moon ; on his way he
came to Tsin-kwan, in the neighbourhood of Hunjetswefe,
to the south, and was pillaged by a band of upwards of a
hundred robbers, who took away all his baggage and other
things belonging to him ; and, besides this, they wounded
fifteen or sixteen of his servants, and of the sailors that were
on beard his boat.-11th moon, Rth day.
Coeur CIRCULAR.—We conclude with a short specimen
of the l'ekin Court Circular :—The Emperor, assisted by the
princes of the blood, held an examination, in the gardens of
Yuetemilig, of those scholars who had not obtained their de-
. It is well worthy of remerk, that the ruler over bun.
deeds of millions does not consider it beneath his dignity to
act the part of a professor of the Chinese and Mentchoo
languages, but shows himself interested in the education of
his people, and anxious for their advancement in knowledge.