The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-18 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH IN A cor-
respondent of the Morning Chronicle writes :
—lt is only eleven months since the first rail-
way in India was opened for traffic, and I have
now the pleasure of reporting the opening of the
first long line of electric telegraph, which took place
on the 24th instant, between Agra and Calcutta, a
distance of 800 miles. The last yard of the wires
was fixed late on the afternoon of that day at Agra,
and immediately after the superintendent sent a
message to Lord Dalhousie at Calcutta, which
reached gOvernment-house in one and fifty
minutes from the time it was signalled at Agra.
As yet the line of wire is but single, and words
have to be telegraphed on from station to station.
Bat still the improvement in the means of commu-
nication is most wonderful, and in case of a war
would be invaluable. I have only been ten nears
in India, but yet I remember when a letter took
nine days in the fine season, arid twelve in the
rains, between Calcutta and Agra. A few days
atter the receipt of the message, the following ap-
peared in the Government Gazette:-.
MARCH 27.—The Most Noble the Governor-General in
Council having, on the evening of the 24th March, received
from the city of Agra a message by electric telegraph, con-
veyed in one hour and fifty minutes, is pleased to direct
that the fact shall be published in the Government Gazette
for general information.
The construction of the electric telegraph was only com-
menced after the end of the last monsoon. That a message
should have been transmitted along BCO miles of continuous
line in this mouth of March, is very honourable to the su-
perintendent, awl most cre.lit%ble to those who under his
orders have accomplished the work.
Such energy and industry deserve reward. His lordship
in council is therefore pleased to direct, that don de
bpay
shall be given to the whole establishment which has een
employed ou the electric telegraph between Agra and Cal-
cutta, for the month of March, during which their exer-
tions have ac,lomplishod the opening of the first great sec-
tion of the India Electric Telegraph.
By order of the Governor General of India in Council,
C. ALLEN, Officiating Secretary to the
Government of India.

HONG KONG, March 27. -The mail'of the 24th of
January from London arrived on the 13th inst. ; that of
the Bth of February is.clue.
The news of the past fortnight is not of great moment.
From Shanghai our dates are to the 15th inst. In
the city matters remained without change, and there had
been less fighting going on. The Imperialists had re-
ceived further reinforcements, but heavy rains caused a
cessation of attempts to retake the place. The party in
the city were expecting assistance.
There appears to be some movement of the rebel force
from the westward towards the seaboard provinces, and
we may hear shortly of their further progress in the
green tea districts.
Pekin Gazettes are to the 30th of January.
The accounts of the success of the rebels north are
conflicting.
The Imperialists were reported having been successful
at Tuhleu, which has been contradicted, and the rebel
army is said to maintain firmly its position at Tuhleu
and Tsinghai. It appears beyond doubt that the city of
Laoucheu, in the Ghanwuy province, has fallen to the
rebels.
We regret to find his Excellency the Superintendent
of Trade, when at Shanghai, did not settle the duty
question. It appears unfair to the merchants to be kept
in suspense, and we cannot but conclude the consular
authorities at Shanghai have much to answer for by
their vacillating conduct.
Our dates from Foo-chou-fow are of the 3d inst. All
was quiet. We have to report the total loss in the
river Min, on the 25th ult., of the American clipper
Oriental, bound to New York with a full cargo of tea.
From Amoy we have advises to the 20th inst. Trade
slowly improving, and numbers of pirates again appear-
ing on the coast and interfering With the junk trade to
Formosa.
The Dutch ship Commercial Compagnie had sailed
from Swartaw for Havannah on the 10th inst., with 500
coolies.
The accounts received at Canton from the tea dis-
tricts of disturbances are very unfavourable, and there
appears some good foundation for their causing alarm
at Canton, and interfering with the departure of the tea
merchants with their treasure for the interior. The
movement whether of rebels or banditti, seems more
extended than last year ; and we are apprehensive of
constant interruption to trade this season. There was
lately some excitement at Canton, but all is quiet. The
executions during the past week have been numerous.
The import trade is again affected by the unsettled
state of the country ; and there has been but little dis
position among dealer- to take goods
.Tax is well. stip.
Tai;
from the
thffi:silty of procuring tonnlge.
The increrse of export oft that of last year to the
same time shows a great falling off ; the last month
being estimated at 5.800.000':b. in February the in-
crease was stated at 14,000,000ib
Fre!gtits to England, 71: Bullion—Sycee silver, 2t
7111. pr-m. ; gold, $2l 25c ; dollars 17 per
cent. prem. .Echatige on Eitgland, ss. to Sr. id. per
dollar ; on India, 244 rupees per dollArs. At Shan hai,
ss. 9d. per dollar on England ; and 270 rupees per
$lOO on India Imports at Shanghai were in little or
no demand. The prices of tea and silk were firm. The
export of silk from China is estimated at 43,800 bales.
We have to notice toe departure of the Russian ship
Cesarewitch to St. Petersburg with teas from Shanghai.
This is unusual.
His Excellency Admiral Pellew struck his flag from
on board the Winchester on the 16th, under the usual
salute, and left for Trincomalee in her Majesty's
ateamer, Barracouta.
~,Thy United States' Commissioner, his Excellency
-RObeit WLane, arrived in the mail-steamer on the' 12th
instant.
The Spanish steamer Jorge Juan arrived from Manilla
on the 25th inst., with dates to the 21st inst.
The Russian squadron from Japan arrived at Manila
on the Ist, and sailed again on the 11th inst. ; destina-
tion not known. Nothing said of the Japan treaty.
Exchange on London was 4s. 9d. to 4s. 9id.
In Harbour.—Her Majesty's ships Winchester, Spar-
tan, and brig Lily ; United States' sloops Porpoise and
Vincennes ; the Spanish steamer Jorge Juan.
At Canton—Her Majesty's ship Comus and United
States' steamer Queen.
At Macao—His Imperial French Majesty's steamer
Colbert.
At Amoy—Her Majesty's steamer Styx.
At Foochow—Her Majesty's brig Bittern.
At Ningpo—Hts Imperial French Majesty's frigate
Constantine.
At Shanghai—Her Majesty's steamer Encounter and
Rattler, and United States' ship Plymouth.
Our latest dates are—from England, January 24 ;
Calcutta, February 21 ; Bombay, February 16 ; Singa-
pore, March 5 ; Manilla, March 21 ; Melbourne, Jan.
29 ; Shanghai, March 15.
P.S.—Tile mail steamer Ganges, with dates from
London to the Bth of February, has just arrived.

CANTON MARKET REPORT.
HONG KONG, March 27.
Since our report of the 11th instant, there has been
little demand for manufactured goods. Reported dis-
turbances in the interior continue to affect our import
market, and, although we have no decline to notice in
prices for goods, the tendency is downward.
Cotton.—An advance in quotations has taken place.
stocks moderate. , Bombay quoted, 6ts. to 7ts. 1; Ben-
gal, 6ts. to Its. 1 ; Madras, 6ts. 4 to Its. 4.
Cotton yarn.—nly 270 bales sold. Nos. 16-24.
$22 to $24 ; NOB. 28-32, $26 to $29 ; Nos. 38-42, $26
to $324.
Longoloths.—There has been little disposition to pur-
chase, and the' value has 'somewhat dec,ined, Greys
quoted $l. 70c.' to.s2 500.; whites,- $1.950. to $2 90c.
Woollens have been in more inquiry, anti priees have
improved. Spanish stripes assorted, 90c. to .$1 04
long ells, $6 66c. to $7 ; carule s, English, $l6 to $l9 ;
Dutch, $22 to $26.
Metals—lron.—The stock ig small, and prices are
supported ; nail roil, $3 to $3 15c. ; bar square. $2 •
20e.
to $2 50c. round, $2 20c, to -.4 80c. Lead—s 7 50c. to
$7 60c. 'nil Piates—s6 30c. to $d 80c.
Turkey Opium—s4lo to $420. stock small.
Cochineal--$B5 to $l2O.
Tea —Transactiong ;duce the 11th inst. have been mo-
derate, Congous, 'common quality, are firmly supported,
and the better descriptions are from five mace to one
tael dearer. Green tea—hyson skin, gunpowder, and
imperial are without change. Other kinds have ad-
Vance two to thee ta,els, About 10,000 packages re-
main, d and from 5,r
000 to 6,000 packages more are ex-
'peoted :
Export from Canton from July 1, 1853, to lb.
March 22,1854 37,000,000
Do. from Shanghai, from July 1, 1853, to
March 14, 1-51
Do. from Foochow, from July 1, 1853, to
March 1, 1854

(,900,000

Export from Canton, from July 1, 1852, to
March 22, 1833
Do. fiom Shanghai, from July 1, 1852, to
March 22, 1853

29,000,000

31,100,000

60,100,000

Exchange on London, for six months' sight bills, ss.
to •St 4d. On India.--Ompany's accepted paper,
2430 to 244 r. • 1
, lipllion.—Sycee ?aver, 2 taels 7 mace premium ; gold
$2l. 25c.. per tael ; Carolus dollars, 17 per cent.
premium.' •
Freightki.The vessels loading for England are
getting 71 . Tonnage mach required for produce waiting
shipment, and to take emigrants to California and the
colonies.
From Shanghai our dates are to the 15th instant
t.
Imports continued in little request. For 6i cahty a
$1 60c. offered, but holders declined to sell at suc
low
Sil fik--Supplies were being received more freely, and
P4l". 4i filiosloi bed &Owed, lies. 1 m