The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-28 00:00:00

CHINA.

The following is from the summary of the Over-
rand China Mail of March 15:—

The London mail of January 27 arrived here on
the 12th instant. The internal state of the Chinese
empire, and the attitude of foreign nations with re-
gard to the belligerents in the domestic war which
has continued for so many years to desolate the cell:
tral provinces of this country, will, it is now evident,
be the chief subjects of interest here for many months
to come. The step deliberately taken by the allied
naval and military commanders, of protecting
Shanghae, is gradually leading us on to actual hos-
tilities with the Taeping rebels, and it is now pretty
well ascertained that there exists among these
people a party strongly in favour of turning their
arms against foreigners. From all we can learn,
however, such a step has not exactly been deter-
mined upon by the higher leaders of this movement.
The necessity for mere subsistence has a good deal
to do with the movements of the Taeping soldiers,
that having hitherto, as far as we can judge, formed
their only motives of action. It is true, that flashy
promulgations have been issued by the rebel leaders,
setting forth their own greatness and their preten-
sions to divinity ; but these pretensions have not
been at all supported by a display either of military
or administrative genius. The English admiral has
been keeping down his restless spirit during the
past fortnight by short excursions up and down the
Wongpoo river (on which Shanghae is situated)

in search of rebel forces. These were discovered
and driven off on two occasions—the first, about the
15th ultimo, five miles down the river, where Col.
Ward, with 500 disciplined Chinese, routed a rebel
force, while the admiral attended with "moral sup-
port ;" the next, about a week afterwards, fifteen
miles up the river, when a force, consisting of 400
English, 300 French, and 700 "disciplined" Chinese,
drove a force of 5,000 rebels out of a village in
which they had fortified themselves; the achieve-
ment was mainly owing to good artillery practice.
By these facts it will be seen that the country about
Shanghae is being taken under foreign protection,
and the probability is that the rebels will eventu-
ally regard this protection while it continues effi-
cient, retailiating in their own way as they happen
to have opportunity. Recent rumours speak of
them as about to cast their eyes on Fuhchau, and,
in the absence of an imperial force, the capture of
that city would follow close upon its investment.
At Peking, by the last accounts, some activity
was being manifested in the promotion or degrada-
tion of civil and military officers according to their
conduct. The Emperor has also decreed that the
provinces now distressed by the presence of the re-
bels shall be exempt from payment of this year's
taxes to the Government ; this measure is affirmed
to proceed from pity for the suffering of the people
in the provinces specified. Altogether there has
nothing occurred during the past fortnight that
points to a way out of the present unsatisfactory
condition into which Chinese affairs have fallen.

From Tien-tsin, we hear that the ice is likely to
break up a little earlier than usual this year ; the
troops and residents had been amusing themselves
by skating, sledging, &c. Some amateur theatri-
cals had also helped to vary the monotony of a
northern winter.

From Neuchwang (in Manchuria), we learn that
the foreign residents have been in imminent danger
from the populace, many signs of hostility having
been shown by the latter, almost amounting to vio-
lence. _

At Hankow all is quiet by last advices.
At Kiurkiang (our port at the mouth of Poyang
lake) the imperial troops have lately been threaten-
ing and suspicious in their conduct to foreigners.
The principal residents have transmitted to Shang-
hae a statement of their position. For some reason
which does not appear the gunboat originally sta-
tioned there has been withdrawn, and the imperial

troops, not knowing how much we are befriending
them elsewhere, have taken the opportunity of an-
noying foreigners ; beyond this, no harm is likely
to ensue.
From the other ports there is no news of im-

;ance.

At Manilla there has been an earthquake with-
out serious results. Our correspondent, writing on
the sth instant, says :—" I am afraid we are going
to have another earthquake, unless the rain, which
has just commenced falling, continues to pour
down in good earnest. Happily for us,
these shocks are generally of short duration. From
the records of the last two centuries, it would ap-
pear that every 28 years, a heavy shock of earth-
quake and a hurricane are experienced at Manilla;
slight shocks are annually felt, and I have no doubt
that very many pass unperceived.
The Times seems to have fallen into error with
regard to the treaty of Pekin, as we find in an
article on Russian encroachments in the East, re-
ceived by last mail, a supposition that " in negotia-
ting the recent treaties, we thought only of China
and forgot Tartary"—to such an extent, that Mr.
Bruce, the Times believes, has declared his inability
to make application for passports from Pekin for an
expedition to Yarkand. This, we think, must be
a mistake, :as we know that, on the conclusion of
the treaty in 1860, imperial orders were issued from
Pekin for its publication throughout Manchuria and
Mongolia, and that Yarkand was actually specified
in the rescript. It is not likely, therefore, that Mr
Bruce can have made any such statement as the
times alludes to.
The news from Japan has reference only to the
chronic state of dissatisfaction with their consuls
in which the mercantile community hal) always