The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-13 00:00:00

CHINA.

The //maw. Times of Feb, 2 says :
There is but little news of the Nienfoi during the past
week. They are said to be within the limits of the dis-
trict of Hiao-kan on the north, but not inside the city.
The proximity of this place to Hankow, it being only
some 1001 e distant, would drive the Chinese here into the
utmost consternation ; but the Nienfel have been so
roughly handled during this campaign, having been beaten
with a lees of 800 men at Kewkow by Tan eight days ago,
that their spirit is said to be quite broken. Their funds too
are at as low an ebb an those of the world in
general, and their only desire appears now to be a safe
return to their dens. They were on the retreat
when they were encountered by Tan at Kewkow. Turn-
ing back from him they were met by two other leaders of
braves, who gave them battle, but with no particular suc-
cess. The Nienfei, however, thought it better to secure a
retreat to the north of Hiso-kan, whence to Honan the
road is more open. The New Year festivities, which no
Chinaman thinks of omitting, have much to do with their
present movements ; and the provincial government, which
at first declared its intention of never letting these
robbers escape alive out of its limits, has thought
better to modify its line of action, mul allow them to go
if they will.

The Orerland '7ina Mail says that the Har-
bour and Coasts Ordinance, intended to regulate
Chinese shipping and check piracy, is working
satisfactorily, over five thousand registries having
been effected by Chinese.

JAPAN.

DEATH OF THE. MIKADO.

The Japan Herald announces the death of the
Mikado, or spiritual Emperor of Japan, in the fol•
lowing terms :
Scarcely has Japan had time to cast off her mourning
for the death of the late youthful Shogoon—Minamoto
Iyernochiko—when she has been called upon to don her
deepest weeds to mourn the death of her venerated sove-
reign—the Mikado, whose reigning name was Kingo Koo
Thei. He died on the 3rd instant at Kioto in the thirty-
eaventh year of his age and 25th of his reign. He leaves
A son 16 or 17 years old, who in all probability will succeed
to the throne. The usual period of mourning for the
death of a Mikado is now 50 days ; at the end of which
time the ceremonies appertaining to the accession of a
successor are proceeded with, and they generally occupy
thirty days. In the meantime no governmental or
other business of the country, requiring a refer-
ence to the court of the Mikado, can be transacted.
The death which we announce would in any case deeply
affect the nation ; but in this instance we hear that it is
held to be peculiarly deplorable and unfortunate, inasmuch
as he died of small-pox—s disease which, although
quite common to the country since the time of the first
Mikado, Jingmoo Ten.o, who reigned 2,563 years ago, has
never been known to attack the sacred person of a Mikado
until now. It is not surprising, therefore, that many
simple now shake their heads, and give one to understand
that since the Mikado's divinity has departed and left him
a prey to small-poi like an ordinary mortal, there is no
telling what calamities may befall the country.
The Japan Times seems to regard the news of the
Mikado's death with some hesitation. It says :
Our contemporary, the Herald, has killed the Mikado
with an attack of small-pox. The rumour is disbelieved
by the natives. Small-pox, however, we regret to say, is
very prevalent in Yokohama at this moment, and the
Japanese state that in the native cases it is unusually
fatal.

AUSTRALIA.
VICTORIA.

The parliament of Victoria has again been en-
Mtin discussing a revision of the tariff. Mr.
n, the treasurer, submitted his budget on the
sth February, and stated that, though the revenue
for 1866 had fallen considerably below his expec
tations, the savings on the votes for the year had
been proportionately large. The total receipts
were 3,322,8871., a sum which met the expendi-
ture, and left a balance of 1,1081. to be carried
forward to the service of 1867. He calculated the
total revenue for the current year at 3,380,1861.,
and the expenditure at 3,379,0781. The estimates
submitted with the treasurer's statement embrace a
great variety of works. The treasurer put it to
parliament that it was better to meet this expendi-
ture by fresh taxation than to postpone useful
public works. The additional revenue necessary
to meet this large public expenditure he proposed
to obtain through the custom-house, by an increase
in the duties upon numerous imports, and by
adding to the list of dutiable goods a vast variety
of articles hitherto exempted.
In reference to the public feeling of the colony
with regard to the increased duties, the Melbourne
Age says :
It ie deserving of particular notice that at their meetings
the town and mining population declared in favour of pro-
tection to the agriculturist, even at the risk of having to
pay a high price for bread ; while the farmers declared in
favour of increased protection to artisans, even at the risk
of making labour dearer--a convincing proof that protec-
tion is not the selfish principle its enemies have represented
it to be.

By a treaty concluded with New South Wales,
which came into operation on the lst February,
free trade is now established on the border between
the two colonies.

The Intercolonial Exhibition closed on the 23rd
February. It appears that the money received for
admissions has exceeded 9,6001., and that over
270,000 persons have visited the rooms.