The Express.
London, England, 1850-05-20 00:00:00

CHINA AND THE INDIAN
ARCHIPELAGO.

Our correspondent writes :
HONG KONG. blAncii 30.—1 have not written you
for some two or three mails, for the simple reason that
there was lit:la to communicate beyond the usual
topics which ever and anon engage the attention of
the Aeglo-European community. Our relating with
the imperial court remain in the peaceable and satis-
factory state reportei month after month for almost
the period of • year. A change will come--indeed,
it must come. Tree bonds which have held Chinese
society together for cetr.urits are already loosened ;
on this point I have already written you
at s, me length, and, from ample metes
of observing and knowing the feeling., wants,
and sentiments of the Celestial Empire, the
conviction gains ground that the time is fast
approaching (if we are not already on the threshold)
when changes mug' and will take place in the relative
position and condition of the governing and the go-
verned. The fact is undeniable that free principles,
based on free representation, are discussed in all the
assemblies of the literati—the jeune t himas—wlf.ch
even now exercises the utmost influence in
the policy and conduct of the Chinese go-
vernment The literati, as they are styled in ell
official and municipal documents, are fast t eking the
position and pre eminences occupied by the French
philosophers, the index of a evils.' and political revo-
lution Various events are conspiring, as It were, lo
bring about this revolution in the institutions and
poliucal condition of the Chinese empire. The
Empress Dowager' who expired on the 23rd of
January, exercised the utmost matinee on the coon-
, ails of the King, and formed the great barrier to the
advancement of the principles by which the literati
were influenced. Her removal from the theatre
of events end the councils of the empire has been
followed by the decease, on Feb. 25th, of his Celt vial
Highness Tacukwang, the Emperor, in his 65th or
69th year, whose reign has been marked by occur-
rences of far
greater magnitude than any of his pre-
decessors. The late king was ever pacific, even to a
fault, and on more than one occasion was deserted
by his advisers, whose sentiments were otherwise.
The new king is young, and what is more, is cver-
benring and self-willed; this fact I learn rom one
of the courtiers at Peking who.. means of knowing
the prevailing opinions of the court are sufficient
guarantee for the correctness of the information fur-
nished. Brought up in a measure in the bosom of the
literati, Yih-chu, the newly inaugurated emperor, has
imbued largely their sentiments, which are well-
known to be hostile towards foreigners of all descrip-
tions, without exception, and though his lila:jolty,
now elevated to the imperial throne, may act inde-
pendent of the literati, it augurs somewhat ill that the
old, tried, and faithful Keying (who by the way
contemned the literati) has not been taken
into the youthful monarch's councils—a token which
certainly bids unfavourable to the continuance of
peace. The new monarch must make some conces-
sions ; necessity is laid upon him to do so, but what
they are or shall be time oely will disclose. lodging
from his education, his associations, and his senti-
ments (as far as the latter have become known), it
doss not behove foreigners to withdraw from
these waters the means and appliances Lot
merely of pro'ectioo, but for maintaining that
prestige, which has been gained under the late regime.
MT friend the courtier, whose opinions having ac-
qtared great weight, from their correctness and cer-
tainty, assures me that Commissioner Sea, now at
Canton, will shortly be removed, and his place sup-
plied by one of the meet pliant, bat subtle sad disin-
genuous diplomatists attached to the train of the
youthful monarch.
JAVA.

___ •
BATAVIA, MARCH 30.—INSURRECTION IN BANTAM.
—Toward' the end of February, the resident at
Bantam communicated to the Batavian authorities
that an insurrection was evidently rising, originating
with some Lampongtre. The principal native official
of the district, accompanied by two mantries and his
writer, at the instance of the resident, endeavoured to
reason with the insurgents. The official was murdered,
and there is good reason to fear his companions shared
a similar fate, as nothing haa since been heard respect •
lug them. An attempt was made to put down the
rebeliion by means of the irregular cavalry under the
regent of the northern district of Lerang ; situ a
severe hand-to-hand conflict the party was dispersed
with the loss of six killed and several wounded.
The nature of the ground, wooded and hilly, was
ill adapted for mounted troops; and the resident
wrote urgently to Batavia to send reinforcements by
steamers into the Bay of Bantam. Lieut.-Colontl De
Brauw, a brave officer, who distinguished himself at
Bally, was appointed to com nand the force
which wu forthwith despatched by the war steam-
' era Phconix and Semarang. After landing, this
force took the mountain road between Serang and
Anjer and formed a junction with the native force,
consisting of irregular cavalry and infantry. Having
taken formal occupation of the small piece of table
land forming the Campos g Boedang Batas, the irre-
gular troops were despatched to scour the jungle in
which the insurgents bad taken refuge. After a abort
march they came upon a party of the insurgents,
estimated at between 100 and 200, who commenced
a Ilene attack with spears, but were soon silenced
by the fire of the troops, although not without
some loss; for Lieutenant Krieger de Bach,
commanding the native irregular cavalry, in hie
ardour advanced too far for support, and woe out up,
together with his small detachment, which was sur-
rounded by the insurgents. On the arrival of the in-
fantry the insurgents took to the jungle. On March
4th additional reinforixtunts were sent from Batavia.

"vend ►kirmishes took piace which many of the
native. fell ; but finding the insurgents, frum their
superior knowlAge of the locality, had frequently the
advantage over the troops, and that the latter were in
capable dieting decisively against them, it was at