The Express.
London, England, 1857-04-02 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MAIL

_e__
CHINA.

By the Overland Mail, Ma Marseilles, we have
received the letter of our own correspondent, dated
Bong Yong, Feb. 17, with newspapers.
These advice* lend no countenance to the rumor
propagated through the Admiralty on Saturday last,
respecting peace with China.
Trade was at a stand. The attention of the European
inhabitants of Hong Kong we. chiefly directed to
means for their protection against the Chinese.

Accounts received from the northern ports were
ore satisfactory.
- .•

Ahlum, the partner, if not sole proprietor, of the
Chinese shop called the Elting shop, had been cap-
tured and brought to Hong Kong, examined, and
committed for trial, with nine others in his employ-
ment, one of them being his father. Forty-two
other persons were also captured, but were not put
on their trial. On Monday, the 2nd February,
Ahlum and his nine fellow-prisoners were arraigned
before Chief Justice Holme to answer the charge of

administering poison with intent to kill and murder
James Carroll Dempster, colonial surgeon. The
Hon. T. Chisholm Anstey, attorney-general, prose-
cuted for the crown ; Crown Solicitor Mr. Hickson
and Mr. G. Cooper Turner, solicitor, assisting ; Dr.
Bridges and Mr. Day, counsel, with Mears. Haskell
and Brown and Mr. H. J. Tarrant, solicitors, de-
fended the prisoners. The trial extended over five
days, and resulted in a verdict of not guilty, by a
majority of five jurors to one. Ahlum and the
others were arrested on their leaving the
court under a recent ordinance. Since then an
application has been made, by interested parties,
that Able= shall be allowed to settle his affairs,
and then be voluntarily deported. Another petition
was presented that he should be deported to For-
mosa, and a third that he shall be detained in custody
as a person too dangerous to be allowed to communi-
cate with the Mandarins. We understand that the
prayer of the last petition will be listened to.

(FROM OUR OWN

HONG HONG, Fze. 17.

The steamer Fiery Cross leaves for Calcutta at
3 p.m. to-day, and in full expectation of this catch-
ing the mail steamer Cadiz at Singapore, I give you
the latest particulars from this place and Canton.
It is very generally credited that Commissioner
Yeh has received the Imperial commands as to ,his
conduct and policy for the future. It is said that the
Emperor has expressed the highest contideuce in
Yeh's ability to deal with foreigners, and although
recommending clemency, yet that failing, the bar-
barians are to be driven into the sea. Yesterday ac-
multi; were received from Canton to the effect that
under Yeh'a direction the ploughshare had tra-
veried the site of the late factories, which the cum-
misaoner had sown with salt.

His Excellency the Admiral returned to Hong
Kong on the 13th inst , in the Niger, bringing intel-
ligence of an engagement between the Hornet and
two divisions of imperial junks, which was sIICCCEd-
fW, without the steamer sustaining any loss. The
affair took place below Powder Island. On nearing,
the junks deacended_the creek to meet or intercept
the steamer. When the latter was within 1,800
yards of the junks she opened fire with her bow
guns, and steadily advanced to within 800 yards.
When in 2j fathoms water, broadsides of shot and
shell were poured into the junks. The junks soon
tried to escape, and, with ono exception (which blew
up), they got away with damage. A second divi-
sion came down to Fuzeekee Creek, when the Hornet
was joined by the small steamer Hong Kong,
in command of Lieutenant Dent, of the Sy-
bine. These junks speedily retreated, with much
Ws; the wpm division of junks were less fortunate,
be the Harace. 4ena peppered them till night-fall.
The Barmeouta was sent by the admiral to support
the Hornet, but reached too late to be of service.
One junk was captured with 13 guns, two of them
being English 24-pounders. Three dead Chinamen
were found below. Next day scarcely the fragment
of a junk was to be seen. Against these large fleets
of war junks gunboats alone can offer a really effec-
tive opposition.
The Hon. Company's steamer Auckland had
a smart brush with Mandarin junks on Sunday
last, on which occasion she was accompanied by
the small steamer Eaglet. The engagement took

place off Toong-Chang, with four war junks
heavily armed. After a =art fire the junks
were captured and burnt. The steamer's beats
pushed for the shore, where, on (landing, they
captured a battery mounting 16 guns, which they
spiked, and set fire to a village near by. To the
westward were observed extensive fortifications,
which it was found were too strong to be attacked
without a larger force. One man belonging to the
Auckland was shot dead through the eye, and four
others were wounded. The Eaglet having expended
all her ammunition returned to Hong Kong ; the
admiral sent the Niger yesterday to join the Auck-
land, and the Eaglet will follow to-morrow.
Below are extracts from the summaries of the
Nail and Register :
Tus Enrizon's view or ATFAIHA AT CANTON.—We
wisterstand that a paper has been forwarded hither from
Canton se wells. from the North, purporting to be a decree
of thaAmperer. It dirests the high authorities of the west
to b. on the siert bat not to alarm the people ;
la Yeh's knowledge of the barbarian,
sad kb sop sity to settle this affair with the
British, on N thin lon in the engagements reported,
vb., of 400 Wading the admiral, him discouraged
thempalkiently to cease a oration of hostilities on their
part, Yoh be not to be over were, bat they are not to be met
WI way, lest a coneunkot in the present tame load to a de-
bited k. other concessions. That Is to say, it must not be
supiend that the goverment of China is not ready to resist
barbs:ion wersoachmsat, bat, with rebellion in the land, war.
like sespinSifillhe in the provinces might be turned against it.
It has sowagh otherwise on head now to talk of ezterminat-
bg the barbells, end doubtless Yeh will be able to
elide✓

ars at miners killed by accidents in cod-pits, and the settle this quartet, which is as yet local, end the Emperor
MI aan imiiiallot fat the elation and briidft •P desires may continue so. There will, of mune be no aim
is children.
.j..._ ad , ,so long a Canton maintains its character se a
ItERPOOL FREE LERRARY ANEi MUSE1711:411111 • to be taken.-Chnse Mail, Feb. 16.
ing of the Liverpool Town-council yesterday, ft . mutt to Boar run C0N04.-012 Monday night,
d that the foundation-stone of the New Lt• . t . January (the first hied of the China New Year,
rum will be laid on Shaw's Brow (near St. , 7: - • , period for their desperate but futile efforts),
I) on the 16th bud. ; that among than invited to , tIC made by the Ching* to burn her Majesty's
and who had consented to come down on the ' 41Ar - • of flre-ralti. A sharp look out had
Lord Stanley, the members for the borough and , , .- . -••-• ' . ship in the river in anticipation a
Edward Cost, Dr. Livingston, lka ; that , A . donne; of the night pre-
el will be presented to Mr. Brown, the dcm.l .'i • ' ' ham ems until within 40
•.. . • ~•kr• at the library ; that there will be a • - -
~eWr fight, two large junks,
rge's Hall at two o'clock, after the cam= ' e . 74.... well . ' crenoned with fern,
stone; and that in the evening Mr. Brown ~• and all kinds a febunznabla materials,
be Concert Hall, Lord Mehra-street, to ... ° ' "" .. .. . with oil and haeptinkled with gun-
- L„„.
a from the readers attending the library. soiled up Elliot Burge towards the
on the brae plate will be so follows .-.4. • . iv
- --a strong biome and Good-ads in
Ina building fore Pros Public Library and . The Camas ma byre Moored head end
borough of Liverpool mu set MI the 1
7, by William Brown, Esq., M.P. for South e" ' the me, lmash of the ring, ens bread/do com
rhos' sole met the building was erected, and . ' tillage, the Mier Peahen Creek. The
,
Ad as a free gift to his fellow-townsmen." ' • fast the ship, observed them, and
be the names of Francis Shand, mayor • J. A. ~...." -•- ...,-
hit
• *oft no saws', she opened Ike,
irman of the committee; William Illtatlew. .
.''''. 40 4' gee. • Likeeed by the gip, Lea tide •
waning
k; and W. Weightmen, surveLor end architect.*
NE Hanlon MMEUM.—For the year lading • .••• to fire their junks inelantly, end to-
rch next, 60" xOOOl. is required for the Battik Mamas ea- • • few moments they were in a hism and retain-
isluaset--43,3141. foe buildings. rad 7,0001. kw pasimm. lag • owe up heavily on the Coma, an. taking
•