The Express.
London, England, 1861-11-28 00:00:00

CHINA.

The general news from China and Japan is of a
favourable complexion, but some little time would,
it was thought, be required to determine whether
the pretent aspect of affairs indicates permaneut
and solid relations of friendship between those two
couutries and England.
The Chreriarad China Mail says r— "We areentirsly without
means of astertaining the footing on which the foreign em-
bark* are, at pretreat, in Japan. All we know is, that our
minister has selected Yokohama as • place of 'occasional'
residence, in order, evidently, to give an official colour to
hisabsence from Yale. The foreign policy of the new Chinese
government is not yet known, but there are not wanting in-
dications of its frieodliness to foreign tuitions. The strong
feeling that recently existed in regard to the
conduct of the Chinese customhouse authorities,
and the unwarrantable imposts they were latterly
exacting, has been appestied by au intimation from
oar ministers& Pekin, to the effect that all the grievances
eomplained of would be redressed, sad all illegal exactions
—of which there were not • few—would be made good to
every claimant on application to the government haulier.
Wears not as yet able to report that say such claims have
been made, either successfully or otherwise, but there is
every evidence that the Chinese are acting in good faith.
We are of course aware that many notifications is regard to
fereigeers are liable to be disregarded in particuLir quarters,
and in anticipation of something of this kind, Mr.
W. H. Medhurst, the consul at Sbanghas, has the
following clause in a notification, dated 4th October:—
'• In spite of the pledge now given in Rule VI. that a
certificate, taken out on goods as provided by Tariff Rale,
will protect them from all charges other than the proper
transit duty, cases will no doubt still occur of illegal
exactions on certificated goods at the place of produce se
well as en route; but the Superintendent of Customs of
Shaaghas being unable to put • stop to such abuses, save
within the limits of his own authority, there is no alter.
native but to report all owes of the kind at once to
the undersigned, and be will not fail to bring than to the
notice of her Majesty's Minister, who, no doubt, will in
time succeed in coming to some arrangement with the Sa-
preme government on the subject." This comparatively
' prompt redress of grievances is doubtless attributable to the
strong sense of their unfairness that has been felt sod ex-
pressed by the Shanghae Chamber of Commerce, the genies'
foreign public, and the English press in China.
"The rebel movement is beginning to assume • new appear-
saes. It is impossible for foreigners to avoid feeling • car-
tels sympathy with the imperial cause, and various coast.
&rations combine to stimulate such • sympathy. Leaving
cot of view tie general disreputable character that usually
beleepto mere rebellion, and the particularly bed fame that
tie colds fa question have acquired by their defogs, the
interest' of sommeroe are Immensely damaged by the thith•
eon and character of this revolution."

From the northern ports there is no news of
consequence to record except the departure of

[TWOPENCE

troops from Tien-tein. The Sunoon takes the 60th
Rißes, and the Urgent the Land Transport ; Fane's
Horse will leave in the Vulcan. Tho settlement
of Chefoo (Yeutai) bas been taken tinder the protec-
tion of French troops, the inhabitants baying be-
come alarmed at the proximity of some rebel
bands. _ .

The Chinese tradesmen living on the Yang-king-
pang bad petitioned the Municipal Council to erect
defences and maintain a guard round their quarter,
as the loose marauders who had left the rebel ranks
were becoming a dangerous nuisance. The expense
of such protection, if granted, would, it was said,
be paid gladly by the petitioners.
The troops were rapidly ev.icuating Canton, and
the last of them would most probably have left be-
fore the end of October.