The Express.
London, England, 1857-10-01 00:00:00

(Stamped id. Additional.) Cr WOPENCE.

Upper Provinces of India. They express the utmost
loyalty and the greatest concern at the outrages
which have b en committed.

The supreme government has motioned the con-
struction of a line of telegraph from Calcutta to
Akyab, eia Jestore, Dacca, and Chittagong, and from
Akyab to l'rome, on Khyook l'hyoo and the Tonghoo
poeu

_
As we are informed that there are many extrava-
gant rumours abroad with respect to the sth Regi-
ment of Madras Light Cavalry, we are happy to be
in a position to contradict them. The basis of fact
on which they were founded is trifling in the ex.
treme. Only two circumstances have occurred ; and
those of a nature that in ordinary times would not
have been thought worthy of mention.

CHINA.

BLOCKADE OF THE CANTON RIVER.

Oar Hose Laos whirs' =kW is Mimi 10.
Oar correspondent writes :
The principal event of the fortnight is the
blockade of the Canton river, in consequence of an
improper use made of the liberty granted by
Admiral Seymour with the view of provisions
being supplied to the Cantonese. It is said that
this step has been brought about by the recent %isit of
the American trading steamer Antelope to Whampoa.
Messrs. Sturgis and Cunningham, of the firmer Russell
and Co., personally examined the docks at Whampoa,
which with one exception were not much damaged.
Until the arrival of troops and the return of Lord
Elgin from India nothing can be done in the way of
offensive operations.
Sir John Bowring has been suffering much from
fever, but is now convalescent.

News has reached us this morning that the town
of Honan, opposite to Canton, has been burnt down
—the work of incendiaries.

The following are the terms of the proclamation
announcing the blockade :
By Sir MICII•EL SE1101: it, Knight, Commander of the
Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Rear-Ad-
miral of the White, and Commander-in-Chief of her Ma-
.

je•ty'e ship nd vessels employed and to be employed in
the East Indies and Sees adjacent.
It being necessary, pending the settlement of existing dif-
ferences between the Chinese government and the govern-
meat of her Britannic Majesty, that the river of Canton
should tntinue in the sole occupation of the British forces
I do, by virtue of the power and authotity in me vested, sad
with the concurrence of his Excellency her Majesty's Pled-
porentiat y and cbief Sep intendent of Trade, hereby notify
that, from and after the 7th instant, the raver end per: of
Canton, by all its entrances, will be placed is a Nate of strict
blockade by a competent naval force of her Blitalutie Ms-
jealid.:dted it Is hereby farther nettled that the measures
by the laws of nations, and existing treaties with
neutral poseurs, will be adopted and executed with respect to
all vessels which may attempt to violate the said blockade.—
Given onboard her Majeety's ship Calcutta, et Hong Kong,
this 3rd August, 1857.
(Signed) M. Scvsov R.
By Command of the Commander-in-Chief,
(Signed) Wm. D.. 1 vats.
We read in the China Moil of August 10:
The melancholy state of affair. in India, with Lord Elgin's
departure for Calcutta, have annihilated all hope, if any 'a-
imed, of immediate adjustment of the Canton question,
and for many months to come matters must remain
in the present unsettled and unsatisfactory COSI.
11 while even the little traffic that bee bile
springing up In noag Aong win probably be ;el
a "mend to by the blockade cf the Canton river, which
Admiral ymour bee deemed it necessary. for the protec-
tion of Britt& interests, to prociaim,and which will doubtless
be rigidly enforced.
rufttrathls set, Hung Kong will suffer to • small extent, is thi:
generallitt M soffervNioo Of market sugt it s, as lip"mlimin trade
epir
ia a gieat measure drawn from the river, gwh those for
this colony are mostly brought from the enet. Notwith-
standing their plentifulness, provisions are now enotineuely
dear, both here end at Macao.
A-lam, the baker, after an unjust conf nement of six
months, has been at length liberated—we presume under
express injunctions from the home government.
Letters from the river describe the feet there es pretty
healthy, though the Niger and Cruiser had suffered some-
what from fever ; and the EA and Sens-Pareil from
ophthalmia.

THE MAHOMMEDANS AT SINGAPORE.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SINGAPORE, Avousi 20.

After the departure of the last mail sterner to
Europe our settlement was thrown into great alarm
in consequence of the discovery that Ithurruck
Singh, • Sikh political prisoner (then on parole),
was engaged in treuonablo correspondence
with the convicts. These latter number nearly
three thousand of the most desperate characters from
British India, meetly transported for life,
and for reenter and gang robbery. The
Sikh chieftain was seized, and at once
placed on board her Majesty's ship Racehorse, where
he remained for a few days, and was then sent up
to Penang in the steamer Hooghly, to be
confined in the fort at that station. The
state and condition of the convicts is a
just ground of apprehension. They are
mostly natives of Bengal, akin to the wretches
belonging to the sepoy regiments, whose barbarities
have shocked the whole civilised world. In two
days the Mohurrum or Mohammedan new year
will commence when the followers of the

prophet become maddened by excitement
and intoxication. Heaven knows whether
this festivity will pass over quietly. What
means are available have been resorted to
and we hope to pass the next ten day,
and nights in peace. At present the Madras
troops stationed here are staunch, but if their brethren
at Nladras mutinied, the example would in all probabi-
lity be followed. We have just now a few acceptable
guests in five officers and 101 men of the Royal
Engineers, who will remain here until Lord
Elgin's return from Calcutta. The European re-
sidents are on the alert, and to-day a
protest will be sent to the Governor in
consequence of that functionary having granted
permission to the convicts to go outside their lines
during the Mohurrnm. Once out, it may not be
easy to get them in again.
lier Majesty's steamer Encounter sailed hence on
the oth for Suez, having on board the Siamese em-
busy.
The wreck of her Majesty's steam transport
Transit is to be sold next month. The crew have
proceeded to Hong Kong in the Inflexible.
Her Majesty's steamer Fury left this on the 11th
inst. for Trincomalee, having been ordered there by
Admiral Seymour, on the requisition of the Governor
of Ceylon.
Her Majesty's steamer Shannon is daily expected
from Calcutta, with Lord Elgin on board.

In the face of the disturbed Mete of the North Weet Pro-
vince., and the total emsation of trade with that quarter, any
marked imprevement in our import market cannot reseonably
be looked for;, but during the last Let daye we are happy to
state. our advices from the up-emnizy hove Iwo of n wore
cheering nature, giving hope. of the fell of Delhi, end the
suppression of the revolt at no distant period, though the
complete restoration of order and tmeuorfility mart he the
work of time. Under the influence of such advice',
our market has assumed 11 more buoyant appearance, and in
some instance. we have bad a better inquiry for Britith
cotton piece goods, though on the whole operations have
continued on • limited wale. Mule tent has, however, im-
proved both in demand end value, and a fair business hie
been done dunng the past fortnight. In metals we twee
scarcely any change to notice, the market continuing very
quiet without the least speculative demand.
MONEY MARKET.— We have had no change in the Bask
of Bengal rates, the last increase of two per cent. noticed in
our preceding number, having continued untouched, although
the amount of cosh has decreased from Co.'s 1t... 1,14,34,212-
15.4 on the 4th inst. to Co.'s Ra. 92,44,477-13-7 on the
19th inst., as appear (reel the weekly statement of the bank's
asset& and liabilities. Evidently there are symptoms of the
market getting gradually tighter, and we may probably have
occasion to report more unfavourably em long.
Jotter STOCK Sli Amts.—The tranesctions during the past
fortnight have been very limited, owing to the high rates of
interest prevailing, end the feeling of uncertainty which ex-
ists throcagthont all dams. Bengal Bask Shares have been
90 at 2,300 petits, but holders are now willing to accept
2,279 ra. Some Agra Bank Shares have been sold et 600, but
this is below their value. North-Western Bank Shared have
been placed at 190 re., and we hear some Steam Tugs at 850,
but this can scarcely be considered their market value, which
is nester par. Bengal coal shares there has been nothing
doing in, neither have there been any sales of East India coal
shares. The demand fur coal has greatly ineresee.doehkh can-
not fail to benefit these companies. In Assam and dock shares
there is nothing doing, but they maintain full rates. The
Calcutta Auction Compaay has made its first call of Its. 20
per share.
GOVERNMENT SECURlTlES.—Considerable excitement has
prevailed in this market since our Irk tending to • farther
depreciation of 611 stoats. This is to be attributed mainly to
the failure of the last government financial measure, and the
utter want of confidence on the part of capitalists and dea-
lers at a crisis like the present. The Bank of Bengal, to
against losses, has
deposit of government seccuitim, and though we
have not many sellers at the present moment, there are
few inclined to enter into operations in the face of the tua-
cm Minty which seems to hang over the future. It was ex-
pected that at the weekly meeting of the Directors of Bengal
last Thursday, some further changes would be effected in its
terms, but this has not been the came, and as the panic ap-
pears to he subsiding slowly, an improvement in the value
of the Seel!' ;ties hasstready taken place. At closing our
quotations are Its. 21-10 to 22-0 for the Sieca and Co.'s
Fouts, end Rs. 10-4 to 10-8 per cent. discount for the Fives.
There is nothing doing in the 3i and 4i per cents.
EXCMANOE.—On London.—The early sales for the pre-
sent mail were effected at 2-21 for Awaken and other first-
class credits at six months' sight. Soon after the rate M-
eanest to 2a. 2id and subsequently to 2a. 2ld. per rupee,
which may be quoted as the clotting figures. Document
bills at six months' sight 2s. 2id. to 20. On China—Com-
pany's rupees 224 per 100 dole. have been obtained for 60 days'
sight paper, hut the demand is limited.
Faelonrs.—Engsgements of menage have been made
during the fortnight to a very fair extent for different parts
of the world, but in some cases at a 'mall decline in rates.
For London and Liverpool, our rates are about ss. a ton
lower, being 31. Ific for the former, and 32 7s. 6d. for
the latter place. For China lower rates have been
socepted for rice, the last engagement having been
at 9a cents. a trig. No change to Mauritius. For America
betimes' continues being dent at It dole to 12 dole. per
ton. We have not heard of any transactions for the Con-
tinent, the Mediterranean, or Auetrisha, and our quotations
must be considered nominal. In country freights a alight
improvement has takes plaoe. At present the available
tonnage is just sufficient to meet the existing wants of oar
port.