The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-17 00:00:00

CHINA.

Wo have advices from Hong Kong to August 28,
and from Shanghae to August 17.
The following is from the Once/and China Mail.
The news from Pekin is, as usual, a little uncer-
tain. Some accounts report the Emperor to be ill—
probably wishing so to explain his long absence
from the capital ; other reports nay that he intends
returning in October. The Shantung rebels seem
to have been kept well in check during the past
fortnight. The temperature at Pekin has been so
high as 108 in the shade ; the nights were cool.
From the three northern ports there is very little
news ' • at none of them does trade appear to have
got into a normal condition. Some of the troops
are being withdrawn from Tien-tsin. New-chweng,
although by every account situated in a large pro-
ducing district, has not yet done much in the way
of trade. With regard to Chefoo—or rather Yen-
tae, which is the part occupied as a foreign settle-
ment—it may be considered as one of the
moat promising ports in China. It possesses
an excellent harbour and the country all
around it is of the mosebeautiful description, only
to be surpassed by some of the best Japanese
scenery. The climate is pleasant and healthy, and
the place altogether has exceeded the highest ex-
pectatious that were formed regarding it.
The news from the Yang-the river is confined to
the fact that trade at Hankow is improving. There
has been no fresh movement of the rebels during
the past fortnight ; it is not unlikely that they are
gathering themselves up for an effort. Mr. Consul
Melburst has issued a notification warning British
subjects against the slightest breach of neutrality,
and referring to the Manila having, some time ago,
drawn upon herself the fire of the Imperialists
while engaged in landing a passenger at Ngan-
cluing. The Consul cannot afford protection to
vessels so attacked, and he warns all against the
danger they incur by any such broach of neu-
trality.
From Shanghai, there is little news to record.
It would appear that a movement is on foot to have
gas introduced into the settlement. The action of
the Shaughae Chamber of Commerce in the Cus-
toms question has been closely followed up by that
of Hong Kong, but sufficient time has not elapsed
to ascertain the sentiments of her Majesty's Pleni-
potentiary on the subject. It is impossible, how-
ever, to exaggerate the importance of a speedy
determination of all the matters at issue between
the foreign trader and the Chinese Custom-house.
The former complains of undue exactions on the
part of the Custom-house officials, and of vexatious
and unnecessary delay in the transaction of busi-
ness, which, as time is money to the trader more
than to most other men, is fully equivalent to
an actual pecuniary loss. It is a great pity that
this should be the case, and that an institution
meant to do good should be in the hands of mana-
gers who are fast rendering it mischievous. It
would appear that English victories in China are
rapidly being avenged, now that the weapons are
changed frcm the sword to the abacus, and the
theatre of war shifted from the field to the count-
ing-house. Chinese skill is now fully equal to
English, and the issue of this contest is scarcely
doubtful ; so quickly has the day of retribution
arrived.