The Express.
London, England, 1857-04-28 00:00:00

CHINA.

We have received our despatches from Hong lone
•to March 15. The particulars of many very impor-
tant occurrences are given at great length below.
_ .

The following extract from the China Rail of the
above-mentioned date represents the general state of
affairs at Hong Kong when the mail left :
" Affairs in the Canton river have been very quiet
for some time past. The imperialist junks are in
great force. in the entrance to Fatshan Creek an
attempt wu made to dislodge them by the En-
counter, small steamers, and boats of the squadron,
on the 28th February, which failed, the Encounter
not being able to get within 2,700 yards of the
nearest junks, her bow pivot gun alone being able
to reach them. The steamers Hong Kong and
Forbes were a few hundred yards in advance, and
kept up a hot fire with admirable precision, by which
three of the junks were silenced. Had the boats
advanced and attacked them at close quarters, con-
tasks and panic would have ensued on the part of
the 'braves,' and the destruction of the junks would
have been inevitable. No doubt there would have
teen much loss of life in the boats from the first
volley, se all the broadside guns were depressed.
The thing was kept up on both sides for upwards of
two hours, when, as if by mutual consent, there was
a emotion of hostilities.' The shots from the junk
reached the Encounter and cut away some of her
rigging, dropping plentifully around the boats, but
fortunately without inflicting any damage on the
crews. Tlse Chimes are now fortifying the approaches
to Fatshen, and inking barriers.

"The Cantonese have not as yet commenced re-
building the suburbs or forts. They have contested
tlwnimelvcs by digging in salt into the soil of the
Factory gardens, and making a few small batteries
on the left bank of the river below the ruins of the
French Folly. Not • boat is to be sees in Elliot
Purge, being exposed to the guns of Encounter,
Comas, Acorn, Elk, and Barracoots. Whampoa is
still in a deserted state. Sybille, Sampson,
sad Hong Kong are at Second Bar, Nankin still at
anchor off Wantung Forts. The Nankin's new have
been busily employed in destroying the South Fort, ,
and this, the main branch of the river to Canton, is
in the possession of Sir M, Seymour. The passage
hosts now ply by the Broadway Passage, Macao
river, and Hyacinth Creek; turning to the right if
for Canton by boat passage, or to the left if for
Fabliau, which is now a place of considerable im-
portance. _

"An attack, sad the burning depose Chinese men-
of-war junks at Tams Choong, by the steamers
Auckland and Eaglet, with the loss of only one man
belonging to the Auckland, after a few hour.' en-
gagement, has given us considerable satisfaction, the
mon so, ea being a set-off against the successful cap-
ture el the gran steamer; and we tram that due
rewards will be allotted to Mr. Ellis, commanding
the Eaglet, and Lieutenants Davis and 1)e Benin, of
the Auckland,fte their gallant conduct in that affair.
The following an the casualties
Killed—Peter Altman, 0. S.
Severel wounded—W. Harrison, A. B. ; L
0.5.

Slightly wounded—Lieut. D'Selin ; D. Johnnon,
A. B. ; H. Smith. A. B. ; P. Sykes, O. S.
. . .

The above belong to the in addition,
Mr. H. T. Ellis, commanding Eaglet, wee slightly
wounded when blown from the junk.
The storehouse of Mr. Duddell, the government
contractor, has been burnt down, with the destruc-
tion of some 700 barrels of Hour, a particularly in-
convenient circumstance at the present time, and
entei a moat serious lac upon that gentleman.
A after the lire was placed over the ruins,
which we believe had been refused previous to the
catastrophe; Mr. Dodds-Li wisely thinking that, as
purveyor of bread to the troops, An, and in the face
of the poisoning case, he was entitled to some /rotes-
tion from her Majesty's authorities.

SEIZURE OF THE STEAMER QUEEN, AND
MURDER OF SEVERAL PASSENGERS.

(From the Cirilia-Monl of Fol. 2&)

Anode" river eleauw, the Queen, has falles a
pre/hero her Chinese paissegers and crew.
following nets by a erierespswdent gives a
pretty full, and, we beiges, easaawle mount of the
affair :

On Raga, the Gatos this Clemeolesam, wee m bar
sisy bus bones to Ream sad when the inn and la.
repel. pimps MIMI Si
tba
ChZUlitS=
Via SOW., 1/1/11•11// gent
eft tithe mom giendla the Mb demi,
and fret Gm embalm rang the Rwmpam
M sessinly el the meson; Ns.
len =dm yawner of gai Comm 1m°,172,
ids GM to the " fir r; ales two
Yeses rwliPew with their wire.. 17n meshed
• Mew an the bead, and immedinny jongei evesimed.
Gls One le mikawas. The to, sigiesses would net
mg woe Mid* the Mimosa ; the Tanegues Ibms-
rer the Win Me. Gantt* and the la-
sew. mil be te ablest
bat Ms ma trritilitsyuilzhot
thellendbinep themeires ; shish
he hip the whole lasi daps st via • be
slant tee mistilea sail lest On se Gem of tier whim
be War Kee he' esti, when be Ins When
es Maar urns ar meletemae les Grew a bombes
disk ben the esti Irbil'', stripped tit Ids clothes, and
=hie the met, elms he issenned be so besseeni-
mB won pima why • Leda hewed le Masiem to
tibia glees ba was Writ gni they he may pliably
Ism Ws lag,lt hops& lie lb webs semi
The eganiak en bit Weer Skid 7 at 8
edeit Ms &Segonembg. la area et the indnimeste
Gra Mr beim hike Oseweint-raoce, end • tern
_a the nett Mg of lalea, and monied es Gum sheet
3 Vasa wawa bentagemn anythleg. Not Mynas she
would; bat I epee Ke slams had to be back in time ton
the evestuts ressaanadaisai thenfon could an man
Bone for a Weber mesh. It bto be biped that the Meek-
has send will ho owe betasate. She his an mimed
yettbevlsg been ahem*m* saw two illy.
he
QOM had al beard about 130 limb of
opiembiellesethereargo; 37 chests mei mere to
have been seat Gem the John Adman hut the
theiimey order readied Captain Roper so late, that
Q it tlme the *ma was_ pat into the boat the
wee leaner nillsk. The steamer has been
taboo to anloons.. mil is there at anchor,
surrounded by a Sot af Iftramen mandarin junks
her female peasengiers are reported to be Are and
well.
Several respectable Ching* were also pamnagers
in her, and the rumour of some of A-I®'s people
being concerned in the capture is entirely imaginary
—at all events, the met energetic inquiries en the
subject have been snail to trace the origin of the

Y.S. As we are going to press, a note from a friend
in Mom has reached WI. It is as follows :
Xr. Cleverly meting aloag favourably thus be, and
Ogre is
abbe
lie will
the l set bare to Auntie to aropnestion.
He was Jobe on upper deck, wham On Mbar pew
mien, all Portugaa., were at dinner, whin a Chinese
=Nrson up asked him why be did sot Moo go
ou dinni, anil recommended him to do no. flocs after
be west towards the askne, at which time than was set as
Aker at aims mewl wwwbunt =dock. 19 se 16 bat-lose
Clem yessugmrs bid an.. an braid at Martin, sad Won
way ernes saw Mikity wee noes of Awls was then
lasllsen ariswebisms ow yam • sestloaasy per* lima
Iwo the *seat Marettem The bang waists vs* la Ws
deed as the wet Walk sad Is Ws Mira,
wise dna emended par the simPagpsift arks
We eases ed. Tay Mee Awl kw lbs iis Ms main,
span the swan and peammews wow se Wine, One an..
sewalsei as My,
ai as/ Iseery prigs forwent demi.
OOs lawswalt Wpmthes ►
clef tem mil Mcrs asseryleol /Mt We Am, and
no amp
_was worded la the herd and Swaps! owe-
MOP% doneund by lb. Clam*, whose tbinb-bans lag