The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-27 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

By the arrival of the Calcutta and China mails
we have advices from Calcutta to March 23 ; Madras,
March 28; Ceylon, March 30; and Hong Kong,
March 14.

INDIA.

There is but little general news by the presen

mail.

The Hurkaru says :

The most important fact, and almost the only one worthy
of note, is that the Four per Cents, are at par, having thus
at length recovered the 30 to 35 per cent, discount to which
they fell during the times of trouble and distrust. Al-
though the rise in value of these securities may, in a slight
degree, be owing to a vague but unfounded rumour of an
intention on the part of the Government to pay them off, it
is really and truly the indication and result of an abund-
ance of money in the market. Such a rumour, however, is
the best testimony to the public faith in the genuineness of
the cash balances, and in the extrication of the Government
from its financial difficulties. The existence of a consider-
able surplus is likewise accepted as an undoubted fact,
though no one appears to possess Sir C. Trevelya.n's confi-
dence unless it be Sir Charles himself—at least, no one has
yet betrayed it. The withdrawal of the odious and little-
productive income tax would be the most popular use he
eould possibly derive from his embarras des richesses, though
very few anticipate any such agreeable announcement in
the forthcoming budget.

Mr. Laing's able and well written essay on " England's

Mission in the East" has been very favourably received
by the Calcutta public, and divides the table-talk of the
" polite end" of the town with Mr. Kinglake's " War in the
Crimea." Never, perhaps, has the true bearing of all the
most important questions of the day relating to India and
China been placed before the people and Parliament of Eng-
land in such a strong and clear light. There cannot be two
opinions as to either the perfect soundness of his premises,
or of the generous and statesmanlike conclusions founded
upon them.

The Colombo Observer says that the prospects of
the coming coffee crop in Ceylon are exceedingly
good; blossoms have come and gone very satisfac-
torily; and with the present high prices, and the
low exports likely to be afforded by Brazil and Java,
the planters are expecting a continued run of pro-
sperity.
The pearl fishery is likely to fall short of expec-
tations.

The sum of Madras contributions to the Lan-
cashire Relief Fund has now amounted to
Ra. 74,394-2-2.
The viceroy and the commander-in-chief are still
pursuing their respective political and military pro-
gresses in the north-west.
It seems (says the Madras Atheneum) that the
unfortunate disturbances created by the hill people
on the north-western frontier, which have demanded
mention for so many months past, are at length in
a fair way of approaching their conclusion ; the
energetic measures lately taken having produced
their due effect on the insurgents.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Calcutta _Englishman of March 23.)
Produce Market.—This market continues firm in the face
of limited supplies, and presents no feature requiring
especial attention. Although the exports still show well,
they chiefly refer to parcels settled for some
in our
Import Market.—The active demand noticed our last
report continues, and prices have again advanced consider •
ably.
Joint- stock shares command full rates, and there has been
a considerable business done in favourite stock since our last.
Government Securities.—We have no change to report in
this market. The abundance of money serves to maintain
rates, and the unlucky persons who have to complete their
time bargains at this time are suffering serious loss ; some
of the keenest speculators, and even one or more of the
banks, are said to have suffered from the sudden advance
during the last tew weeks.
Money Market.—The only change to note as regards
money is that the Bank of Bengal have reduced their mar-
gins for loans on Government securities, leaving their rates
as before; better terms can, however, be obtained outside
upon first-class securities.
In exchange rates are 1-16th lower. Freights have had
a downward tendency since the closing of the last mail.

CHINA.
The Cleina Mail of March 14 says :
The rebel victory at Tai-tsan, on the 15th ult., recorded
n our last issue, has been succeeded by another victory at
Shaou-hing (more properly Shaou-bsing), 90 miles from
Ningpo, which took place on Feb. 20. This is unfortunately
the second repulse which the Imperial disciplined troops
have met with before Shaou•hsing ; in the first attempt to
take the city, General Lebrethon, it will be remembered,
was killed by the bursting of a gun, and the troops under
his command became disheartened in consequence. On
this occasion General Tardiff, his successor, was also killed
by the fire of his own men as he was leading the assault.
For a second time, too, the assault was impeded by the
want of proper means for crossing a moat that surrounded
the city, the first time being at Pai-tsan. Such blunders
are beginning to prove expensive. It continues to be
noticed that the rebels seem well supplied with European
arms of the newest pattern, if we may judge by the bullets
that have proved so fatal in the Imperial ranks. Captain
Dew and Lieutenant Tinling, from her Majesty's ship
Encounter, were present at the second attack upon Shaou-
hsing, in the capacity, it is said, of spectators. Lieutenant
Tinling received a wound in the head, which has since
proved fatal ; he died in Ningpo a day or two after receiv-
ing it. Captain Dew and he were both undoubtedly absent
from duty on the unhappy occasion, and the event will
likely put an end to British officers travelling beyond a
radius of 30 miles. After the defeat at Tai-tsan, General
Staveley took a force to Kanding, and scoured the adjacent
country. All was quiet. Captain Gordon, R.E., has been
appointed by Prince Kung to the command of Ward's force.
He was recommended for the post by General Staveley an d
Sir F. Bruce.
The news from Japan is scanty. Nothing has happened
to alter the alarming aspects that affairs are there assuming.
All reports speak of increased vigour on the part of the
Japanese Government in military matters ; the matter is
being brought to a high state of effectiveness. Admiral
Kuper has gon to Japan but his object has not transpired.
He is said to have gone to demand a fine of £125,000 for
Mr. Richardson's murder.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
The London mails to the 26th January reached this on
the night of the 10th, per steamer Malta.
In the import market very little business is doing.
Holders continue firm for an advance on cottons. In exports,
a fair business in teas for the time of the year has been
done, but in silk the only transactions are some 900 bales
at Shanghae.
Shanghae, March 7.—Not much doing in imports, trans-
actions in shirtings being under 5,000 pieces for the fort-
night, and of T cloths only 500. In tea 400 chests black
had been taken, but in greens the market has been brisk.toe.
In silk 900 bales had found buyers, leaving 2,500 in stock.
Exchange on London : Bank, 68. 24d. to 6s.
21d•
;Credit,
tea; and
6s. 21d. to 6s, 2/d. Freights: To London,f
£3 15s. to Liverpool. Ships Loading—For London,ir Fero-
zepore, Leichardt, and Martaban ; for Liverpool,rit Caldera,
Carlotta, and Cyclone; for New York, Ariel.
CANTON.—Business shows signs of improvement, and
16,000 grey and 2,000 white shirtings have been taken.
Rice hes also advanced. In teas 17 chops Congou, 14,000
boxes scented orange Pekoe, 3,000 caper, 2,000 boxes Can-
ton made, and 2,790 pkgs. country greens, are the transac-
tions. In stock 35 chops Congou and 17,000 pkgs. country
greens. Nothing doing in silk. Freights to London £4* to
New York, 15 dole. nominal. Ships loading for London—
Lauderdale
and Peterborough, with Margaret Mitchell on
the berth.
HONG KONG.—Very little doing in imports generally,
and 6,000 pieces grey,
3,000 white, and 750 spotted shirt-
ings, 7,000 T cloths, 1,500 brocades, 750 American drills,
800 camlets, 1,000 long elle, and 600 lastings, comprise the
sales of manufactures. In rice a good business has been
doing. Exchange on
London,_ 45 8d 6 4s Bid ; credit,
45 Btd to 4s 9,1. Vessels for the rice and coasting trades
still in good demand.