The Express.
London, England, 1857-03-05 00:00:00

CHINA.

We extract from a letter dated Canton, Jan. 15,
in the Moniteur de la Pone, the tenor of the in-
structions alleged to have been given by the Chinese
government at Pekin to the governors of the five
ports;
1. Until further orders, all the inhabitants of the
Celestial Empire are prohibited from trading with
the subjects of her Majesty the Queen of Great
Britain.
"2. The opium markets, which have been open
for the trade of the two nations, are provisionally
closed. (These markets were subjected to some very
severe regulations, and only a very limited quantity
of opium could be legally sold in them.)
"3. Around the five ports which are open to
Europeans a cordon of troops is placed, for the pur-
pose of preventing strangers from penetrating into
the intenor of the empire. The canals and roads
are closed against their goods, which will be confis-
cated in ease of a contravention of this decree.
"4. Smuggling, until further orders, will be
punished with death.
" 5. The imperial fleets and troops are to attack
the English wherever they meet them ; the treaties
made with them are suspended.
"6. The penalty attached to any violation of the
above decrees will be death for the Chinese, and fur
foreigners detention until the restoration of pence.
7. The provisions of these decrees are not appli-
' cable to the markets which are open for goods con-
' veyed by land transport across the frontiers of
Siberia."

TURKEY.

—a--
(room ova OWN COI

CONSTANTINOPLE, Frs. 23.
There was a great robbery committed a few days
ago, at the Palace of Top-Kapu, in the Hall of Relics,
where the Sultan's private treasure is kept. It now
appears as though the government wished to throw a
veil, so far as it can, over this unpleasant affair, and
perhaps not without good reason, for the population
of the city last Thursday was in a very excited state
about it. The rumours with respect to this robbery
are so different, that I think the real facts will never
be accurately known. Some fancy that domestic
intrigues of the palace have had a good deal to do
with the matter. All I can do, however, is to send
you that statement which is most generally received
here.
The first suspicion of this theft was occasioned by
the exposure for sale in the bazaar of a Koran,
which by its rich binding attracted the notice of all
the people who jiassed. This circumstance was
brought to the Sultan's cars, whereupon certain
persons were delegated to proceed to the Top-Kapu
Palace, and there to make • search. The treasure
kept there was duly inspected by them in the pre-
sence of the director, Ibrahim Effendi, when many
of the chests were found to be empty. The council
of ministers in consequence of this intelligence in-
stantly met, whilst in consequence of the disap-
pearance of the sacred relics, which had been kept
in the ball along with other valuables, the populace
was excited almost to insurrection by the preaching
of the enraged imaums, ulemas, and fanatical old
Turks. The ministers ordered a general search to
be made in every house, and some of the old relics
were fortunately discovered hidden in one of the
public wells. With regard to the treasure, we know
nothing positive as yet; but it is asserted that two
Cireassuins, who did duty as guards in the palace,
have disappeared—ergo, they must have committed
the robbery. 'When the relies were discovered the
imaums were informed of it, and the popular agita-
tion was appeased. The Sultan has already consoled
himself for the loss of his private treasure. The
investigation is still going on, but no hope is held
eat of ever recovering the lost property.
Mehemed Bey, the brave Hungarian officer who
has thrown up the Sultan's service in order to take
command of the patriotic army of Circassia, must by
this time have reached the place of his destination.
The Russian ambassador telegraphed information of
his departure to St. Petersburg, and it is possible
that orders have also been sent to Odessa to do all
that could be done to intercept him, but the Fe-
r sailing wind has been a fair one for the English
vessel conveying Nleheined Bey and his companions,
aid their expedition has bad a start of at least three
=Notes and couriers are passing backwards
lbewards between the 1111.411 m embassy and the
sed‘wee of the Grand Virier. The English resi-
floats here have been delighted to hear of the expe-
dition of the Poles and Hungarians to Cireassia, and
hardly anything else was talked of at the balls lately
given by the ambassadors. It is asserted, absurdly
misagh, in Russian circles, that Lord Redeliffe was
• party to the movement, and even that a high per-
sonal, at London had given it his support.
Oa Thursday last there was a juvenile ball at the
English Palace, to which the first families of Pere
bad been invited. Several Turkish Pachas arrived
with their young daughters, and great was the in-
terest they excited by the originality and the splen-
dour of their costume,
The Commissioner Extraordinary for the Danu-
bian Principalities, Sir H. 1.. Bulwer, has paid his
farewell visit to the Grand Vizier. The first drago-
man of the English embassy was sent to the Porte,
in order that an boor should be fixed for the inter-
view. Sir Henry desired the dragoman to leave him
and retire during the conference, but as the latter
refused to do so, Sir Henry was compelled to direct
the attention of the Master of the Ceremonies to this
refusal, and the cnd of it was, that the audience was