The Sun.
London, England, 1853-03-15 00:00:00

INDIA AND CHINA.

ONE MONTH LATER FROM AUSTRALIA.
We have received by extraordinary express in
anticipatio. of the Overland Mail, our private cor-
respondence and journals from Bombay to the 13th
February, Calcutta to the sth Feb., and Hong
Kong to the 28th Jan. By this arrival we have
received Adelaide papers (South Australia) to the
10th of January. The mail of the Bth of Janudir
reached Bombay on the sth of February.

BOMBAY, FEB. 12.
The mail leaves this presidency two days earlier
than the date announced for its departure, in con-
sequence of some of the usually bad arrangements
concerning the departure of the Calcutta steamer,
which vessel the Hon. Company's mail-packet from
Y Bombay has to meet at Aden. During the last
f seven months there have been no fewer than five
mistakes in the departure from or arrival at Boni'
bay of the English mails. The great advantages
which Bombay ought to enjoy from her geograPlii:
cal position with regard to England are almost
entirely lost, and all because the Honourable Com-
pany will persist in carrying the mails in their own
vessels, instead of making over the contract to the
Peninsular and Oriental, or some other private
company, as is done in every other part of the
world. Owing to the present arrangement, bi
which the mail is dispatched on the 12th instet,
of the 14th, none of the up-country letters Will
be in time. The notification of the change was
only made on the 10th, and to those, therefore,
at a greater distance than Poonah or Abnili
nugger it is perfectly useless. But even now
is very doubtful whether the Hon. Company „
steamer Queen, which takes the mail, be able
"
to overtake the Peninsular and Oriental Company's
steamer from Calcutta at Aden ; and in such an
event, all the Bombay news by this opportuniti
will be a fortnight behind its time when it reach°
London.
The latest news from Burmah is dated Jan' 24,.
and can hardly be said to be of any general interest,
although more stirring events have haPPellt,-„
during the first month of peace than during
,n'"
twelve months' war under General Godwin. .„-L,l"
news of a revolution in Ava, a report of Widfii
went by the last mail, is confirmed • and a Brit's f
embassy, under charge of Colonel liandscotabe,„°
the 40th Bengal Native Infantry, has been
spatched to the capital, in order to negotiate
treaty of peace with the authorities. The Br'
lin
Minister of the late King was foster-brother to be
latter, and seems to have usurped the throne 131°1-;
for the purpose of saving a portion of the Barnits es
empire from the British conquerors, than 'wit° f
view of satisfying his own ambition. The name °
the new King is Ming-de-Meny ; he is said to be
one of the most influential amongst the Bur!
nobles, and to be anxious for peace on any termed
The late King is said to be in prison at Ava, "7,
nothing certain can be learned until we hear frTo
Colonel Handscombe's mission, now on its waY
Ava. The colonel was accompanied as far
Meaday by a force of seven hundred men'
under the personal command of General God it
At this place the majority of the troops Will
until the result of the negotiations is knn"'"
A newspaper published at Rangoon reports teed
the force under General Steel had met with
tided repulse on attacking the strong stockade ?In
Sitang ; but the report is not even alluded to
the letters from the seat of war, such letters ben*
of a later date than the print referred to abn, ".
Two boat expeditions have been dispatched into
-s
the creeks near Donabew, in pursuit of somerauders, with whom the whole country is infeste
One of these expeditions had failed in its objeo,t2
and it found one of the creeks to be so strollgi
stockaded as to be impassable for boats. The seel
expedition under Captain George Grenville Ifet:
of her Majesty's ship Winchester, was abonu •st
start when the latest news left, and was to con
of 300 soldiers, and 100 seamen, in the boats of jrf,
Majesty's ships Fox and Winchester, and her )K54
jesty's steamer Sphinx.
Throughout India the most profound peace reigire:
The north-west frontier is no exception to this rt"es
The Governor-General is at Barra,ckpore, and leto
his departure for Arracan very shortly. It is giv
out by a north-west paper that the Lieutenant,
Governor of Agra is very shortly to proceed to Luck
now, with the view of making all the prelirclna-vof
arrangements for effecting a transfer of the Kinti,
Oude's territories from that sovereign to the 81l
y 0 r
to
tish. It is said that the above prince has actua
applied to our Government to relieve him of ci
sovereignty, and to provide a liberal provision 0
the support of himself and family. The reventla
of the Oude state is said to be nearly a million an
a half sterling, even under the present manage-
ment ; under the East India Company it would o.°
doubt very shortly amount to something like double
the above.

Sir Henry Pottinger is at his seat of Government'
Lord Falkland is at present in Bombay. The latter
goes to the Mahableshwar Hills next month' and
returns by _
returns to Bombay in order to
steamer of the Ist of May. His lordship will Pr
the last few weeks of his sojourn in India •he
same manner as he has spent two-thirds of his
ftrla
since he has been Governor of Bombay—away,_ tb° e
the proper scene of his duties. According `4" t
evidence lately given before the Indian commit e
these pleasures trips will have cost the State se l,
39,0001. during the five years of his lordship 'S
ministration. Every one is now anxiously vraitt
to see who our new Governor is to be, and all ,_
that some one better qualified than Lord Fal-Ku`
for the post will be appointed. Natives and Biro
peans—the servants of the company, as we ';hat
merchants, lawyers, &c.—are agreed in wishing 'l,nt
some person of Indian experience should be 8;s.
out to rule over an Indian presidency. The dited
sion upon the Baroda Blue Books is still Canis
on by the local press, and public opini°ll da
greatly against the gross mismanagement of Barea.
matters as exhibited in these volumes. It is 81_,
gular with what avidity these Blue Books are Pile-
chased and read by the natives, and how the Ai.o.
acts of the Bombay Government, more paxticularea
their dismissal of Colonel Outram, are canvass,„..
amongst the more enlightened portion of the
munity. All cry out that a governor who uncles.
stands India is the crying want of this most Sir
naged presidency. The nomination of either
G. Clerk, Sir George Anderson, or any other nl7l
of local experience, would certainly be looked teal
as a blessing of which Western India stands much
in need.
Lord Frederick Fitzclarence is suffering fre.
mooed
severe attack of gout and fever. Our new fti:ed
judge, Sir Charles Jackson, and his family, ;,"
here, from Calcutta, on the Ist inst. A ineeoll-01
was held on the 31st ultimo, for the purile,,i'g
contributing to a memorial to the Duke of "a;
lington. The ship Governor Higginsen was.,n;
tirely destroyed by fire in the Madras roads sa

me ago.
The Government Gazette Extraordinary oil the
29th ult. re-published a notification in the fine:
cial department by the Government of 1,,,_11"7.
dated the 22d, intimating that the Five per 'AIL,
Transfer Loan, comprising the book debt of ,v'nf
10th of August, 1835, the book debt of thee
January, 1836, and the promissory notes of
„1411 h
loan, dated the 31st December, 1834, will b°
charged on the 23d of April, 1854. This notice of
payment will be considered equal to a tendeiro
payment on the above date, from which peri'9", iv
interest is to cease. All proprietors of the stoc.plie
the above loan will be permitted, on or before "
22d of July next, to subscribe the amount into r
new loan, to bear interest at the rate of 4 Pet.
cent. In consequence of closing the Five per hies
Transfer Loan, the value of Government sect:ollBj
and of shares in the Bombay Bank, Orielllo,
Bank Corporation, Commercial and Agra B
d by
have risen, and large profits have been secure do
all the banks upon their Government paper. shag
is brisk, and a considerable amount of busineo
been transacted since the last mail. ge
The Money Market is animated, but dollop,"
has a downward tendency owing to the China Ineci,
not having brought the quantity of paper expect
and principal shipments going on here having for
previously drawn for. The rates of the day arc
Baring's credit 2s. 11d., and best local drafts a,
lid, per rupee at six months' sight, on Fig a 4.
Rxchange on China is Rs. 219 to 220 per dry. r
at 60 days' sight ; and on Calcutta, at Rs. 991 Pe
Rs. 100, at 60 days sight.
t°
Freights keep up at 3/. 15s. to 4/. per -121,,r..
London and Liverpool, and a vessel has been cw—
tered to China at Rs. 24 p candy.
At Calcutta the Exchangeer according to the latest
accounts is, for first-class credits, 2s. ld. to 2s. 1,5
per rupee ; documents, 2s. ld. to 2s. lid', tie
rupee. The following are the freight rates
day at Calcutta :—To London : Sugar, 31.
saltpetre, 3/. ; rice, 3/. 17s. 6d. ; jute and c°l"."
31. to 31. 2s. 6d. ; hides, 3/. 10s. •,
shellac, 31.; lac dye, 3/. 15s. To Mauritius: 7-50
Co.'s Rs. nominal per bag, payable there a io
cents. per rupee. To China : Opium, drs'B t°
per chest; cotton, drs. 3 to 3 25 per bale.

MILITARY INTELLIGENGrE.
CASUALTIES BY DEATH IN THE ARMIES OF ISM... a 15.61
THE DEPARTURE OF THE MAIL ON THE 29511
Her Majesty's Troops.—Lieut. Martin, Dec.,
c
78th Highlanders, at Malta, on the 17th Deal
1852 ; Lieut. Westropp, H.M.'s 51st 11001
Poonamallee.
Bombay. Cadet H. G. Fraser, at Atfeh, on. el.
4th Jan.
Madras.—Lieut. W. Dallas, Horse Artillerh can
Madras, on the 28th January, of cholera; Surge

J. Mathison, Med. Est., at Vaniembady, on the
26th Dec. ; Lieut. F. M. Minchin, 35th Regt.,
N. 1., at Prome, on the 20th Dec. ; Quartermaster
R. Palmer, 28th Regt. N. 1., at Perambore, on the
26th Jan.

Bengal.—Capt. Turner, 51st N. 1., at Calcutta ;
Lieut. G. Miller, 40th N. 1., of fever, at Burmah ;
Capt. C. S. Reynolds, 19th Regt. N. 1., at Assam;
Major Minchin, 67th N. 1., at Rangoon.

(From the Bombay Times of Feb. 12.)

We mentioned in our last that the Aeng Pass,
through which our troops in Lower Arracan com-
municate by a short ,cut with Prome, had been
strongly stockaded, and that 3,000 of the enemy
held a post 5,000 feet high, from the front alto-
gether unapproachable. A chief named Makeekay
having described to us the -enemy's position, Cap-
tains Nuthall and Sutherland, with a party of the
Arracan battalion, proceeded to a place called
Thorawa on the ISt of January, where they
learned that a Burmese force had left the neigh-
bourhood to attack Prome, and that the defenders
of the stockade had become careless of their
charge since the British troops had quitted their
neighbourhood. The most careful inquiries have
been instituted, and all the requisite arrangements
made, the attacking party started before dawn on
the sth, and proceeding through the jungle found
themselves about nine a.m. within eight hundred
yards of the pass on the Burmese side of the moun-
tain. Here they rested for the day, while Captain
Nuthall pursued his inquiries and just before dusk
they were moved on to within two or three hun-
dred yards of the pass, and so as to be within reach
of the high road. They were under arms by two
o'clock on the morning of the 6th, but so difficult
was their progress that it took them two hours to
clear the jungle. They now formed, and proceeded
in the most profound silence in the direction of the
barricades, which they reached, as had been de-
sired, just before dawn. Captain Nuthall having
himself proceeded to inspect the works found the
enemy sound asleep, and suspecting no danger. Capt.
Sutherland was ordered to advance in full force against
the gate, which he carried, and entered the stockade
at once,while Capt. Nuthall, who had seized on pur-
pose an eminence close by, caused a volley to be
poured upon the head of the sleepers which spread
death and dismay in all directions. The enemy
never for a moment rallied, but scampered off as
hard as their feet could carry them, leaving the
stockade, and everything in it behind, including
their arms, all loaded. They had not been allowed
so much time as even to fire. This decisive and
brilliant affair, the most brilliant and decisive that
has occurred during the war, which opened up to
US the country at once, shows what our troops can
do when disencumbered of a general, and proved
how easy it would have been to have pressed for-
ward on Ava when Prome was captured ten
months ago, and dictated our terms in the capital.
The enemy having disappeared in considerable
strength near Martaban, General Steelmoved out at
dawn on the 14th, with the whole force in the gar-
rison, one company of each of the native regiments
excepted. His advance consisted of a party of
seventy-five men of the Madras, and a similar num-
ber of the Bengal Europeans, and companies of the
Bengal 10th, and Madras sth Native Infantry, a
detachment of Irregular Cavalry, and two 24
Pounder howitzers. The road lay through a thick
entaigled jungle, barely passable by carts. The
enemy were first seen behind a strong breast-work,
stretching along the base of the hill, as our troops
cleared the forest, and approached the plain on
which they had intended to encamp. We were
received by a salute from their guns, followed by a
brisk fire of musketry and jingalls, while the
men were debouching. A couple of well-di-
rected discharges from our howitzers, the shells
bursting right over them, followed by some
rockets, sent the enemy scampering, and when
our troops pushed on they found the works,
which were singularly strong, abandoned, the place
having fallen into our hands without the loss of a
single man. The enemy's artillery were found to
consist of short pieces of bamboo, bound round with
cord—they had all burst on the first fire. Every
precaution had been taken to cut off their retreat,
but this was found impossible from the nature of
the ground. An immense number of carts and
120 elephants had now been collected, and a march
in the direction of Shoegeer and Sitang was ordered
to commence on the 17th • the force to return by
Pegu, within 14 miles of which the enemy were saic
once more to have collected. No authentic parti.

culars as to their further operations have yet
reached us. The mishap said by the Rancoon
Chronicle to have befallen them is generally dis-
believed, and we have little doubt that when we

next hear from them, we shall be able to give an
excellent account of them, as they will of the ene-
yA large flotilla of boats, with a man-of-war
convoy, started for Prome with commissariat stores
on the 25th. A boat expedition was dispatched on
the 22d, up thea creek between Donabew and Hen-
zanda, after brigand,w largewho had been plunder-
ing the countrybanduni of followers.
The banks of the creek' were gsLpkreicnipsitaofeuts,
and high, so that the enemy couldj
on the crest, and fire down upon us with fatal
effect. They were compelled to return to Ran-
goon, which they reached on the 24th, without
securing their capture—one marine having been
killed, and eleven sailors wounded ; one officer was
Tery severely hurt. A second expedition against
the same enemy was under orders for the 27th,
commanded by Captain Lock, with Captains Shad-
Well and Rowley Lambert. It consisted of 300
soldiers and 100 seamen, on board the boats of the
Fox, Winchester, and Sphinx, and there seems
every reason to hope that on the present occasion
they will be successful. Such is the string of stir-
ring events with which the first month of peace
Presents us. It is well that General Godwin was
not on the spot, or he would, in all likelihood,
have still been waiting for reinforcements. With
the affairs of Burmah our intelligence for the fort-
night begins and ends. Profound tranquillity
reigns throughout India, and even our north-west
frontier scarcely supplies us with an accident or
event.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CALCUTTA MARKETS—Fn. 5.
(From the Calcutta Englishman.)
The Precursor, with the London mail of Dec. 24 last,
arrived in the river on the 3d inst., and the letters were
delivered yesterday. The advices regarding colonial
Markets are upon the whole satisfactory.
In our export market sugar has been quiet during the
Past fortnight, and operations in it have been chiefly con-
fined to the lower kinds of new date ; refiners, deterred
by the high rates required, are not yet at work on the raw
material. 1,445 maunds of raw silk have been exported to
Great Britain during last month ; the article is in eager
inquiry. Filature silks have been contracted for at 12 to
14 Rs. per seer, and comparatively high prices have been
Paid for native produce. A fair quantity of torahs
(59,20Cpieces) had gone forward to Great Britain in
Jan. Of late the demand has abated, owing to holders
requiring an advance of 2 to 3 rupees, to which only a
few parties have been found to submit. The export of
saltpetre to Great Britain during the same period has
been 45,747 mds. The demand for this salt has fallen
or, and its value has declined about 2 annas. per md.
Rice has also been sent to the same market in large
quantities. The exports in January amount to 291,757
Inds. The finer kinds of jute are nearly out of the mar-
ket, but the middling qualities are taken up with avi-
dity at full prices. The crop is stated to be a short one.
Turmeric is regaining favour ; 2,717 mds. had been sent
to Great Britain and 5,871 to France in January.
We regret that we can report no improvement in our
import market, which remains depressed. Holders of
cotton goods are as anxious as before to realise, while
the local inquiry has not improved, and the up-country
demand still continues inert. The absence of that demand
at this season particularlyis unaccountable, as it is known
that stocks in the interior have been reduced. It would
be impossible to place goods in quantity at the reduced
current rates. The accounts received from home of the ex-
Port trade there are also of a nature calculated to have an
injurious effect upon our market, inasmuch as the large
pments lately made and in progress, and the speculative
spirit displayed, tend to destroy the firmness of holders,
and make them anxious to realise. So long as parties
at home continue to throw in larger supplies than can
be absorbed by the demand in our market, no improve-
blent can be hoped for ; on the contrary, certain loss is
Sure to result. Copper is dull, and has further receded
in. value. With the exception of bars and hoops, which
a';'e in fair request, and pig, which is in active demand,
all descriptions of iron are depressed. The price of
sPelter has fallen to Ct. Rs. 7-12 and 7-13. Lead is
also dull, and looking down.
The Money market keeps well supplied. The share
market has been made firmer by the move above re-
'erred to in Government Securities.
tExchange after the date of our last report rose to
r' lid- and 2s. 11d., although a few transactions have
anspired on better and some on worse terms. Drawers
11:?now unwilling to part with their paper at the above
`:__t etc, while remitters are holding out for them. At
uto press very little had been done, and it remained
mnlecided which party would give way.
weFrereights declined a little, but are again much as they
il• Our quotations now are :-3/. 2s. 6d. to 3/. ss.
tpet
°ndo re
3/. 7s. 6d. to 3/. 10s. sugar ; and 4/. rice to
tlae V.—Soon after the dispatch of our last report,
French relaxed in their demand, and as English
avers would not come forward on the same terms, the
I:4l.ket became dull, with a decline of about Rs. 10 per
whit Wye sales have been held since the 17th ultimo, at
1.. 2,988 chests were brought forward, out of which 39 were withdrawn and bought in. Since the 24th
whi_io no sale has been held, and the only transaction
ches'in has transpired is one by private contract of 57
Arm r Wise and Glasse's indigo at 160-0. Shippers are
detllt'n refusing to meddle with the article at the prices
arriv Tied, and holders generally have been waiting the
,ion.n. of the home advices before submitting to minces-
not The mail has just arrived, but sufficient time has
eeiv4r elapsed to allow the effects of the advices re-
ex,,c, to develop themselves. 9,259 chests have been
4' "Id up to the 2d of February, inclusive of which

3,529 are for Great Britain, and 4,458 for France.
Business will be resumed next week, when it is hoped
prices will be determined.

REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE BOMBAY

MARKETS.

FROM THE 28TH OF JANUARY TO THE 11TH OF FEBRUARY
INCLUSIVE.

Money continues plentiful and cheap ; and the mar-
ket for securities of all kinds has been very animated
during the past fortnight, the appearance of the notifi-
cation regarding the payment or conversion of the :Five
per. Cent. Transfer Loan having caused all other securi-
ties to advance in price.
Cotton Piece Goods.—Since the date of our last re-
port, a considerable amount of business has been done,
but at slightly reduced rates. •
Grey Shirtings.—Of these there has been a large Hale,
but prices have declined about two annas per piece on
all descriptions.
Grey Madapollams have likewise been sold to a large
extent, while the value has improved one to two annas

per piece.
Grey Jacconets have had a fair share of the market,
and the sales have been effected at rates a shade higher
than those quoted in our last report.
Grey Longcloth.—The business done in these goods
has been rather small ; the value may be quoted at the
same rate as when our last report was published.
Grey T Cloth is in good inquiry, at an improvement
in value for the higher descriptions.
Grey Domestics are in '(rood demand, at enhanced
rates, especially 40 inches, which is scarce.
Grey Twills are in fair enquiry, but without improve-
ment in value.

Grey Mulls.— A considerable amount of business have
been done in these, but the value has somewhat receded.
Bleached Shirtings.—A large number of sales has been
effected, but at considerably reduced prices.
Bleached Jacconets have been in moderate inquiry.
Their value is without change.

~
Turkey Red.—There is not much doing in these, and
little or no improvement in value.
Fancy Goods.—Lappets, mulls, and checks, are in re-
quest, while gauze, zebra dresses, and book-muslins are
dull. . _

Cotton Yarn.—A fair amount of business has been
done at the same rates as we quoted by last mail.
Metals.—lron continues to be in good demand at the
former rates. Swedish steel continues in request. In
copper we have no improvement to note. Lead con-
tinues in request. Spelter is likewise in inquiry.
Red Lead.—Little or nothing doing.
White Lead.—Steady at our last quotations.
Quicksilver.—Steady at our last rates.
Linseed.—ln demand, and is with difficulty procured
at the rates quoted by last mail.
Woollens.—Very little business has been done.
Marine Stores.—The business done has not been very
great.
Spirits.—ln fair request.
Cotton Wool.—The amount of business done since
our last report has been small.
Opium has risen to Rs. 995 to Rs. 1,000, and busi-
ness is brisk.
Tonnage.—ln consequence of recent arrivals, freights
have further declined to V. 12s. 6d. to 3/. 17s. 6d. for
London, 3/. 12s. 6d. to 3/. 15s. for Liverpool, and to
Rs. 18 to Rs. 19 to China.
Exchange.—The rates of the day are 2s. lid. for do-
cument bills, and 2s. 15-16 d. for credit bills at six
months' sight on London ; Rs. 218 per 100 dollars at
sixty days' sight on China ; and Rs. 991 at thirty days'
sight on Calcutta.