The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-18 00:00:00

-- "-:

OVERLAND MAIL.

'-a our files We have receive. es of papers and private
eorresponde-ticii 4.ol4Ppw.4ay.ta, the 14th Novem-
ber ; Calcutta t‘; tth Nc4einba• ;;China (Hong-Kong),
28th Octobei ; Alexandria (Egypt), Bth December.
We takethe following summary of news from
the Bombay Times of 14th November
The threatened loss, of half our opium revenue,
the death of the Commander-in-Chief of Bombay,
and the hurricane which visited the Presidency on
the 2d November; exhaust the topics. of any...in-
terest which the last fortnight supplies. We have
been for years past . apprehensive that the Chinese
would permit the( poppy to be grown in their own
country, or thai ,it would be cultivated by the
Americans in the southern States or in Japan, and
one or other or both of these contingencies will
doubtless in the course of a few years be upon us.
Meanwhile, in consequence as is supposed of the
disorders in China, • the price of opium is fallen
within the year from 1201. to 601. and the bulk of
it is a Government monopoly. This will strike at
least a million sterling of the three millions of re-
venue we draw from it, off our income. Tran-
quillity prevails throughout all partaof our eastern
empire—we have no warlike achievement in pros-
pect nor military movement to look forward to,
beyond those drills, reviews, and reliefs, which are
the concomitants of the season, and we have not a
single disorder to chronicle. The Governor-
General, after a long and strenuous battle with the
Court of Directors, has at length obtained a reluc-
tant permission to cut down the postage of news-
papers by half. The measure was put into effect
the instant it was permitted, and since the Ist No-
vember journals have been transmitted through the
post-office to all parts of India at the uniform
charge of lid. On the 2d of November Bombay
was visited by a violent hurricane, which in less
than tbree hours' time occasioned the destruction
of half a million's worth of property; and the sacri-
fice ofthree,or four hundred human lives. Tem-
pests of this sort, which occur two or three times
every year in the Bay of Bengal, near the Mauri-
tius and in the China Seas, are comparatively rare
in the Arabian Sea. Their visits are periodical, at
average intervals•of ten, or occasionally of 17 years,
and four of the seven that have passed over Bom-
bay within the last 70 years have occurred in the
beginning of November. We have had hurricanes
betwixt the Ist and sth November in 1783, and at
the same dates in 1799 ; in May 1819 ; November
13, 1827 ; June /5, 1837 ; November 3, 1842 ; April
19, 1847 ; and the extreme limit of 17 years ever
allowed us was a fortnight exhausted, and a hurri-
cane was due. On the 30th and 31st of October
we had violent thunder-storms, which are almost
of unfailing occurrence at this season. These hay-
ingsassed away, a thick and troubled sky, a stormy
wind from the south-east, with squalls and showers
of rain, and a falling barometer, gave full warning
by noon on the Ist that a tempest was upon us ;
but the warning was unheeded. In the course of
the afternoon a signal was made, indicating that
an ordinary storm was at hand. Several merchant-
men consulted their own barometers, made them-
selves snug, and escaped harm. The fishermen
who went out to sea in the morning, judging by
the sky and without the help of instruments, re-
turned home, drew up their boats on the teach,
and got off scot free. Our men-of-war, within half
a mile of an unlimited supply of marine stores,
lay at their ordinary moorings without lowering a
spar or an officer deeming it necessary to proceed
on board of them. The various flagstaffs in pub-
lic places remained in their fair weather con-
dition, and that of the Castle was snapped across.
It was not even deemed requisite to land 10,00/.
of specie on board the Margaret, or to bring
the vessel into a place of safety, and she ac-
cordingly went to the bottom with her freight !
The tempest burst upon us about midnight, from
east and by south, veering round southerly, and
slackening at south, redoubling its fury from the
westward for about an hour at daybreak, and at
six o'clock passing suddenly away, beautifully
serene -weather almost immediately succeeding.
The hurricane was one of those well-defined whirl-
ing storms known by the name of cyclones. It
seems to have originated five or six hundred miles
to the southward of us, and to have proceeded about
100 northerly. Its diameter was from 120 to 170
miles, and its centre, which travelled at the rate of
12 to 15 miles an hour, passed some ten miles to
westward of us. The whole of its features were
peculiarly well-marked and unmistakeable. A few
days afterwards the Marine Police reported the
total loss of five square-rigged vessels, of seven
large and small ships of the. Indian navy, and of
142 lesser vessels, mostly native,of d
nations. They various
calculated the loss of nativei
e 1a it
alone, all of which might have found refug craft
eat a
couple of hours' notice in the numberless creeks
and places of shelter that surround the harbour, at
a quarter million sterling. The loss of shipping
altogether on shore at 400,0001., and of property at
a million sterling. To us all these estimates appear
excessive, many of them double the Feali ty ; there
were not the less certainly above 200 vessels
wrecked or severely damaged, and the loss of pro
perty on shore is very great indeed ; but we should
think that 300,0001. would cover the whole. The
Commander-in-Chief, Lord Frederick Fitzclarence,
died of gout in the stomach on the 30th October.
He assumed office on the 24th of Nvember, 1.852,
being then Q ply fifty-two. His body was embalmed
at Poonab, where he died ; it was•received with
vast pomp and ceremony at Bombay yesterday,
and is now lying in state at the Castle, where it
will remain for a month, and their be sent home
by the Cape. The state of trade iu general is not
very favourable, and during the p LA. fortnight
money has been in great demand, causing consi-
derable tightness in the Bazaar.

CALCUTTA COMMERCIAL.

We aro still unable to report any activity in our pro.
duce market, the demand for almost all descriptions 01
goods continuing very moderate, and in consequence o,
native holidays, business has been again interfered with
during the week.

Considering that the first two days of the week were
native holidays, owing to which no business was done,
we think on the whole-we must be satisfied with what

has been done in our import market. A fair inquiry
has prevailed for all descriptions of British piece goods,
and considerable sales effticted in some cases at prices a
shade higher. The stocks are not so heavy now as
some time ago, and if an increased demand is experienced,
we might be enabled to report a further improvement,
and a better feeling on the part of dealers.
The money market continues
.unehauged. Funds as
abundant as for sonic time past,

EXCEIANGE.—Thero was little doing until the arrival
of the atearner Formosa from Coina' with bills to some
extent, which at six mouths sight were principally dis
posed of at ls. 11d. Present rates for Bank Bills and
first class credits range from ls. Md. to ls. 110.

CHIN A.
(From the Overland Friend of China of Oct. 23,
GENERAL SUMMARY.

Two mails from Europe have come to hand since
last despatch hence—that of the 25th of August
on the 12th inst., and the mail of the 9th Septem-
ber the day before yesterday.
Onr latest news from Shan grhae is between two
and three
_weeks old. The English, French, and
American ambassadors had not started on the 11th
on their intended trip t o the Peiho.
Intelligence from the northern provinces is again
favourable to the patriot cause; and from the re-
ports of Romanist missionaries who have traversed
the country it is now certain that the serious
failures and fatal checks it was said they had ex-
perienced were told of without warranty from
actual facts.
Admiral Stirling, with the frigate Winchester
and steam-ships Encounter, Barraceuta, and Styx,
has returned to Hong-Kong. His Excellency has
been diplomatising at Japan, where the squadron
above mentioned remained at anchor in theharbour
of Nagasaki for a period of six weeks. To warn the
Japanese against giving assistance to the Russians
and to pave the way for amending our treaty are
supposed to have been_ the objects of the gallan
admiral's visit. Nothing whatever has been seen
or heard of the Russian Pacific fleet, and ero this,
no doubt, that section on the American side has
struck to the combined squadron under Admirals
Price and Pointes.
_ Around Canton matters are about the same as
last reported. The rebels are somewhat quieter, and
havemovedTyi._. their linesa little further from the city ;
butbebeingsl ais supposed to be from strategic motives,
eviflent to them, doubtless, as to every
out eit 0 , that they have only to tire the Imperialists
wealthy inhai :t them, by repeated levies on the
srpirpoants to
their liest pay the troops (so alienating
ou!:, waste of prt3terds), to gain all they desire with-
, very now thwlidaearn:d make The Imperialists go out
a show of fighting ;
but; after tin heloen
c; ytilseskirinishing, if as many as
three are killed
weihetrd that there
After the above was wrrist,:tcl`' it is grand work.
tiring in a direction
-was ionic; extraordinarily her,
of Canton the day i„vit
yesterday, from
:north
advanced
we infer that the robelsii,Le again
Cleir liii s.
Itoa s'
a,nd Spartan,,
West
ei•ews front her Majes; y's
p coast,,l
under comm of Lieutenant Palliser, have beet'
r
doing good s,,ry ice against pirates on the
and succeeded in rescuing a French lady ma
Fanny Loviot), who bad been taken by pirates
('
from the wreck of the Chilian ship Caldera.
Our table of latest dates is as follows :—pekin,,
August 24 ; Shanghai, October 11 ; Fuh-chow-fe_
October 15 ; Amoy, October 22 ; Canton, Octo-
ber 27.
Exchange and Bullion.—Canton : On London,

4 8).2. On Bombay, 239 Rs. On Calcutta, 240 I
Carolus dollars, 23 per cent. premium.
Opium.—::Canton October 25 : Patna, p26± ;
Benares, $335 ; $470 ; Turkey, $3BO.
Freights and Tonnage.—Canton : To London,
tea, 4/. 10s. to Si. 10s.

--C4001,1* MARKET, OCT. 25. I
i IMPORTS.
' We have no improvement to report, either in imports
or„ealports. The onlyksales of the former are, 300 pieces
40-yard drills, at 2 dols, 25 c. perpiece ; 800 pieces Eng-
lish sheetings 61,,- cattiest at 1 dol. 60 c. to 1 dol. 65 c. ;
300 piculs English lead, at 9 dole. 20 c. ; 300 piculs Ban-
jarmassing rattans, at 3 dole. 20 c. ; 100 piculs quick-
silver, at 58 dole. ; while small sales of cotton have been
effected at very low pripes, say at 5.5 taels for best
Bombay.
Opium.—Patna, 320 dole. ; Benares, 335 doll. ; Mal-
wa, 470 doll. ; Turkey, 340 dole.

EXPORTS.
Teas.—A few trifling purchases of Canton-made sorts
comprise the transactions of the fortnight. All nego-
tiations for bringing dciwn further supplies have failed,
and the rebels have destroyed some six or nine chops
which had approached Tsing Yuen, and taken posses-
sion of as many more, which renders it impossible that
the tea stored at Sew-quan, Naarn-hoong, Am, will
again be moved from thence, until one party or the other
has undisputed possession of the water channel. No
sales have as yet been effected of the Hing Yuen teas.
Raw Silk.- --The sixth crop of Cumchuck is now about
coming to market, and is said to be short. Dealers,
therefore, will not sell at the nominal price of 320 dols.

per 1)=1.
Silk Piece Goods—Dealers are willing to contract for
limited quantities of sarsnets, senshaws, damasks, satins,
and lustings, which are machine made within the city ;
but exclude all of country make, such as pongees, hand-
kerchiefs, shawls, &c.
Exchange and Bullion—On London, first-class paper
and American credits, 4s. 9d. to 4e. Bdid.; short dates,
4s. ild. On India, 243 re. to 242 re. The two mail
steamers of the month have imported treasure to the
value of about twelve lace of dollars. Oriental Bank
bills on London; at six menths' sight, 4s. BA.; Bombay,
three days' sight, 239 rs.; Calcutta, three days sight,
24.0 re. Commercial Bank of India, bills on London,
six months' sight, 4s. 6Ad.; Bombay, three days' sight,
' 240 rs.; Calcutta, three days' sight, 242 rs. Mercantile
Bank of India bills on London, six months' sight, 4s. BAd. ;
Bombay, three days' sight, 240 rs.; Calcutta, three days'
sight, 242 rs.
Sycee, three per cent, premium. Gold leaf, 100 touch,
21 doll. 15c. per tael. Carolus dollars, 24 per cent. pre-
mium. Gold, 21 dole. per tael.
Freights—To London, 4/. 10s.; to the United States,
18 dole. to 16 dole, per ton. Little offering for either
destination.

MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
Casualties by death in India since the departure of the

Mail on the 28th Oct.
H.M.'s Troops.—Lieut. H. John Hinde, 24th Regt.,
at Lahore, Oct. 24.
MADRAS —Capt. George Simpson, 22d Regt. NJ., at
Chinsurah, Oet. 6 ; Lieut. Samuel James Humfrays,
Engineers, on board the steamer Argo, Aug. 2; Colonel
Peter Whannell, 32d Regt. N. 1., at Egmore, Oct. 28.
-
BENGAL.—Lieut. Magnay, 22d Regt. N. 1., at Feroze
pore, Oct. 17 ; Capt. James Rattray, 2d Regt. N. 1., at
Dorundah, Chotah Nagpore, Oct. 24.