The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

CHINA.

The following is from Hong Kong, dated the
11th of January :—Our advices from Shanghai are
to the 30th ult., and by his Imperial French Ma-
jesty's steamer Cassini, arrived here on the 7th

inst., we have dates to.the 3dinst. The Cassini's
safe arrival at Woosung, from 'Nankin, we reported
last mail, and the principal news of interest is her
trip to that city and back. The Cassini arrived off
Nankin on the 6th, and left on the 14th ult. A
gun was fired at her before anchoring, said to be by
accident, and a satisfactory apology was made by
the insurgent authorities. This was the only inci-
dent in the voyage. His Excellency the I,Prencb.
Minister, M. Bourbillon, it appears, could not ob-
tain an audience with the kings, but had a private

int etweriththePrimeginisterof" Pae-pingsvang,
said to be of equal rank with the kii tgs. M. Bour
billon met with perfect civility, but v pith great cold-
ness and hauteur. The accounts cone Irm those first
brought by her Majesty's steamer Hern4 es. The leader
of the rebels seems to exercise unbount led influence
over his adherents, and enforces his Laws with un-
sparing severity. Of all the immense population,
reported at 480,000 women and 600,000 men, no
one was observed smoking even Chinese tobacco,
and it appears true about theiz having everything
in common. The troops were ;numerous, but very
ill armed, the best men being in the north. They
stated that they had news from Pekin that, tire
gates of that city were invested by their adherents,
and when it is taken they were likdy to proceed to
Shanghai.
There is a report that the insurgents had cap-
tured a city north of Pekin, which looks as if their
object was to prevent the mperor's esc.
tike. There
is no positive confirmation yet of the c.apture
Tieu-tsin. The Pekia. Gazette of the 281.'41 of Neer
vember does not mention it, but the report
is gene
rally believed.
,

Shanghai was quiet,. and but little skirmliillinA
going forward, and the Taoutae has sent away his
Canton fleet. Some attempts had been man`L' to
treat with the rebels in the city, but the messeni.:k3r,
a mandarin, was decapitated.
There was nearly being a serious rupture betwek
the rebels and the French, the former havin g
arrested and tortured two Chinese Catholic Chris-
tians, said to be spies. The affair, however; was
fortunately arranged.
The Russian Admiral left Shanghai on the 21th
ult. in the screw steamer Vostock, to join_ his .
frigate at Saddle Islands, and then to proceed. to
Nagasaki.
Our dates from Ningpo are to the 31st ult., whwn
everything remained quiet in that neighbourhoosl-
From Foo-chow-foo our advioeS' are to the 23
inst. The city was quiet, but the'vicinity infested
by pirates, and her Majesty's brig Bittern was
ordered out on a eruize after them. The Hastings
with teas had sailed on the 26th ult., reported for
Liverpool. The Anierican ship Howqua -was the
only vessel in port.
Our reports from Amoy of the 7th inst. mention
that there were rumours of constant fighting taking
place in the interior. There was some activity in
cotton ; but trade otherwise was dull, and all
were anxiously looking forward to what the
Chinese New Year would brinc, forth, being so
much disappointed in their expectations 'of a good
business after the recapture of the city.
Canton remains without disturbance, with whir),
appearance of the Chinese New Year's-day passing
over quietly, and engagements being sa.tisfactorily
met. Imports are unaltered, arid the business is
not likely to be important till after the New-Year.
Common congous are half a tael cheaper, but 'the
better qualities are firm. The export to Great
Britain is still in excess of last year to the same
time ; but that to the United States and the Con-
tinent shows a decrease. Exchange, ss. ld.
ss. 2d. for English bills ; Company's bills, 243 r.
241 r. Sycee silver, 3 per cent. discount ; bar
silver, 2.5 discount ; gold, $2O 90 per tael ; Mexi-
can dollars, 4.40 discount ; this coin now cireu-
laths more freely. Freights to England, 41. 10s.
Imports were unsaleable at Shanghai. Tea and
silk shipments were going on, and were a little
cheaper. The export of the latter from Shanghai
was 35,000 bales. Exchange for bills on England,
6s. 2.1. for Shanghai dollars ;. Company's • bi4s,
300 r. 290 r. Freights, 7/. to Si., owing to scarcity
of ships.
The United States' squadron, under Commodore-
Perry, is still here, but will leave shortly, we hear,
for Japan.
A second detachment of the Ceylon Rifles leave
in the mail steamer to-day.
The Enterprise has been taken- up for the con-
veyance to England of the corps of the Sappers and.
MinerS, whose relief lately arrived, and the inva-
lids of the 59th Regiment.
The mail of the Bth of November arrived on
the 4th inst., and we hourly look for the steamer
with the 24th of November mail.

Her Majesty's ship-Comus arrived from the Cape
on the 29th ult.
The Spanish steamer Jorge Juan is here,,waithlg
the mail steamer's arrival, as the new Governor c'tf
the Philippine Islands is exPected by her.
In Harbour.—Her Majesty's ships Winchester
and Comus, • and steamers Hermes and Rattler ;
United States' steamers Susquehannah, Mississippi,
and.Powliattan, aud•storeships Supply and Let-.
ington ; his Imperial French Majesty's steamer
Cassini and the Spanish steamer Jorge Juan.
At Illhampoa,,-,Her Majesty's brig Lily and ther.-
United States' steamer Queen-.
At Macao.—The United §tates'.atoviship Soutitr.
ampton.'

At Amoy.—Her Majesty's steamer, Styx..._ -
At Foo-chow.—Her it brig Bittern.
At. Ning-po.—His Imperial French Majesty's
Erigate Constantine.

Shanghp.i.—Her Majesty's ship Spartan and
steamer Salenander ; United States' sloop Sara-
toga and Vandalia ; and his Imperial. French Ma-
jesty's steamer Colbert.

Latest dates are—From England, Nov. 8 • CaL-
ctitta, Dec. 5 ; Bombay, Dec. 2 ; Singapore, Doc.
23 ; Sydney, Nov. 5 ; Manilla, Dec. 19 ; Shanghai,
Dec. 30.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
HONG KONG, JAN. 11.
Imports show little alteration in price for the fortnight
past, and transactions have been light, and are likely to
continue so till after-the Chinese new year's day, the 29th
instant.

Cotton.—A few sales have been effected for Mexican
dollars ; Bombay quoted taels 5.8 to 6-8 ; Bengal, tads
5-5 to 6-4.

Cotton Yarn.—Foreign holders are firm, but Chinese
have quitted at ,a decline. No. 16-24, $2l to $234 ;
No. 28-32, $25 to $27 ; No. 38-42, $26 to 304.
Longcloths.—The late clearances have checked the
demand, but prices are supported by holders. Grays,
$l-50 to $2-50 ; whites, $l-80 to $2-95.
Woollens.--Sp. stripes and long ells, as last quoted ;
the former 80 to 97c., and $6-30 to $6-85 for the latter.
Metals.—lron. Sales effected by Chinese at a slight
advance. Nail rod, $2-60 to 2-70 ; bar square, $2 to
2-15 ; flat, $2 to 2-15 ; round, $2-20 to $4-20. Tin-
plates, $5-80 to $6 ; lead, $6.20 to $6-50. Turkey
opium, $370.
Tea.—There has been a fair amount of business done
during the fortnight, and for some descriptions at slightly
easier rates. Of congou the settlements have been 36
chops at from 16 ts. to 25 ts. Latterly the arrivals of
black tea have been small. About 90,000 packages of
green tea have been received, of which 17,000 packages
of young hyson have been taken at last year's rates, and
6,000 packages of hyson skin one tael under the prices
that ruled last season. The estimated export to Great
Britain still shows an excess on that of last year to the
same time, but to the continent and United States there
is a considerable falling of.
Exchange on England, six months' sight bills, opened.
at ss. 3d., and closed at ss. 14d. to ss. 2d. ; on India,
Company's bills done at 243 r. to 241 r. per $lOO.
Bullion.—Sycee silver, 3t. lm. discount ; bar silver,
2t. sm. discount ; gold, $2O 90 per tael. Mexican .dol-
lars, 440 discount. Carolus dollars, 13 per cent. prem..
Freights to England, 4/. 10s.
From Shanghai our advices are to the 30th nit. In
imports there had been very little done. Tea and silk
were being sent forward.
Tea.—The settlements of congou had been 18 cholla,
at 9 to 14 taels; 10,000 packages of green tea were takes
at a small reduction.
Silk.—Arrivals had been large, but the advices rem
ceived of the fall in the home market checked purchases,
and prices were $lO lower on the common qualities. No.
1 and 2 Teatlees, $320; No. 2, $290; No. 3, good, $266;
common, $220 to $245 ; fair, $220 to $230 ; oommorry
$l9O to $2OO ' • thrown, $270 to $2BO. The export fro=
Shanghai is stated at 35,000 bales.

LoTigcloths.—One sale had been made of 4,000 pieces
grays at $1.20.
Wool len s.--No quotation.
Exchange on England had fluctuated from 6s. 3d. to;
6s. Bd., but declined, and drawers refused 6s. sd. On.
India, Company's accepted bills were done at ra. 305 to
rs. 300.

Bullion was depressed, owing to the large quantity
received. Sycee silver $ll6 per 100 taels ; bar silver,
$114.50; gold $l7O per bar —lt. 7a►. 3c.
Freights.—The rate for England was 71. for tea and
8/. for silk.