The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-26 00:00:00

CHINA.

HONGKONG, May 13.
Accounts from Japan of the position of affairs
there continue to be very disquieting. The latest
intelligence from Yokohama is of the 30th nit., from
which it appears that a further delay of 15 days
has been conceded by her Majesty's Charge
d'Affaires, on the urgent solicitation of the Tycoon'.
Government, for the receipt of their categorical
reply to the demands of her Majesty's Government.
The additional term expired on the 11th inst. Great
alarm prevailed among British residents, in conse-
quence of Admiral Kuper having intimated la:.s in-
ability to give them efficient protection on shore,
should hostilities commence, in case of an attack in
force by the Japanese. There seemed to be no clue
to the intentions of the Tycoon's Government ; but
little hope was felt of a satisfactory solution of the
difficulty, and the threatened coercion was gene-
rally looked on as inevitable.

The Imperialists, under Major Gordon, have lately
had a marked success over the Taepings, in the re-
capture by assault of Tait-Shan. Both sides fought
well, the Imperialists losing some 400 men, and
the rebels double that number, it is said. Of Major
Gordon's force one European officer was killed, and
three wounded ; while on the enemy's side three
Europeans (two of them French) and three Sepoys
were killed, a fourth Sepoy being carried off
by the Taepings in their retreat, and one de-
serter from her Majesty's 31st Regiment, badly
wounded, was made prisoner. The report had
previously been received at Shanghai that
Tait-shan had been voluntarily surrendered to
the Imperial Government ; but it appears that
cruel treachery was meant; for, on 500 men being
sent to take possession, they were met by a heavy
tire of musketry from the walls, and, on turning to
fly, the survivors were intercepted by another
body and captured, all the slain on the field being
taken into the city and decapitated, to the number,
it is said, of 200. Such are the episodes of this de-
solating civil war: The neighbourhood of Tein-tsin
was still infested by marauders, and the alarm
at Hankow from the neighbourhood of rebels
still existed, to the great detriment of trade in both
cases. At Ningpo rumours were also rife of an in-
tended early movement of the Taepings in its direc-
tion. With such wide-spread and chronic disaffec-
tion it requires a considerable effort of faith to
believe in the possible regeneration of Imperial
China, but certainly it becomes even less probable
if provincial Mandarins can with impunity set at
nought the decrees of the Emperor. The Footne
has positively declined to reinstate General Burg-
wine, notwithstanding his restoration to rank and
command by the Emperor ; and the general is now
said to be on his way back to Pekin to obtain the
enforcement of previous orders.
The London mails of March 26th were delivered
by the steamer Ottawa on the sth inst., and the
outward mail steamer Columbian leaves to-day at
2 p.m. She takes the official despatches from Japan
which were brought from Shanghai by her Majesty's
steamer Cormorant. Immediately after the arrival
of the last mail her Majesty's steamer Perseus left
for Japan.

It may be as well to mention that American sub

ects have been so active iu the delivery of arms to

the Japanese at the present critical juncture that
Colonel Neale has been obliged to remonstrate with
the American Envoy on the subject.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
ARRIVALS FROM GREAT BRITAIN.

At Hongkong—April 28, the Beatrice, from London ;
May 5, the Voltigeur, from Newcastle; May 6, the Shake-
spare, from Cardiff; May 9, the steamer Bahama, from
Liverpool.
At Shanghai—April 23, the Clontarf, from Cardiff; the
Moldavia, from Swansea; May I, Scanfell, from London.