The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-20 00:00:00

CHINA.

W 741 have received intelligence from Hong-Kong to
the 24th of June.
The colony is described as slowly but surely im-
proving. A considerable accession of Chinese settlers
had taken place, and nearly all the shops in favourable
situitiuos had been occupied. Nor have the European
storekeepers been without a share of prosperity. The
position of the island is favourable for supplies to
California ; many ships had left, and the place had
been sweat of all kinds of stores that had been
thought suitable. Woolen houses in vast numbers
had been constructed and sent to the diggings, and
one or two vessels were loading. Considerable quan-
tities of gold had from time to time arrived, but, as
yet, none of it as returns for goods sent on English
account from China. .these were daily looked for,
and, if favourable, a considerable amount of business
would be done in the supplies that had recently arrived.
The greatest bar, however, to prosperity was the
piracy committed upon native craft in the adjacent
waters. That the pirates are not to be deterred by
example seems evident from the fact that a piracy
occurred on the morning of the last execution actually
within view of the gallows.
The principal event of the month had been the
compulsory liberation, by the marines of her Majesty's
ship Meander, by order of the Thn. Captain Keppel,
of Mr. Summers, a British subject, who had been
imprisoned by order of the Portuguese Governor,
either for not taking off his hat to his Excellency
when commanded by him to do so, or for refusing
that mark of respect to the procession of Corpus
Christi, which he had accidentally fallen in with in the
streer:. Among the English, there bad been scarcely
any difference of opinion as to Captain Keppel's con-
duct on the occasion; he had been generally justified
both on account of the frivolous nature of the charge,
and from the anomalous position of Macao itself,
which, until the arrival of Senhor D'Amaral, the
present Governor never asserted any independence of

China.
At Canton all had been quiet. The new Consul,
Dr. Bowring, had been passing about to various parts
of the suburbs. The Learned Gentleman had hitherto
met with no interruption, and it is said is in-
clined to consider the Chinese as a very inoffensive
people.
Sickness had again broken out among the troops
about la of whom were in hospital ; few deaths had,
however, occurred. Generally, the other portion of
the community was healthy, notwithstanding rather
trying weathel., the earlier part of the month having
been extremely hot, and followed by a very unusual
qua„
Our correspondent writes as follows:
Hong-Kong, Juno 24.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Achilles arrived here at care o'clock on the morning of
13th inst. By her we have had tidings from London to
the evening of the 25th of April, consequently in 48 days
and 12 hours—shorter then on any other occasion since
the line was opened, when by the Lady Mary Wood,
Captain Cooper, accounts from London were received
here in August, 1845, on the 49th day.
We have to report perfect tranquillity at Canton. The
people were inclined to rest satisfied under their triumph
or the authorities show that they have the power of
keeping them under. The new season's teas that are
beginning to arrive may also have its effect.
Of the seven pirates committed for trial.alluded to last
month, one has escaped from want of evidence, the other
six have suffered the penalty of their crimes.
.1 mentioned in my last that the Governor of Macao
was tit issue with Sem, the Viceroy, who declined to
allow the Portuguese Governor to assume the sove-
reignty of the settlement, and jurisdiction and control
over other than Portuguese subjects. From this ques
Lion the attention of the public has been diverted by an
incident which took place at Macao on the Bth inst.
Mr. Summers, a respectable gentleman, employed here
in the school of the colonial chaplain, landed at Macao,
and was proceeding up one of the narrow streets, when
ho unexpectedly came upon a procession carrying the
host. Mr. Summers merely raised his hat, but on re-
ligious scruples refused to keep it off. Upon this he was
hurried off to prison by order of the Governor, chiefly,
as it would afterwards appear, on the grounds that
Senhor D'Amaral's orders must be obeyed. Mr. Sum-
mer's letter to the Governor setting forth his unac-
quaintance with Macao, and his regret that he should
unfortunately have got near the procession, met with
no attention. Captain Keppel, of her Majesty's ship
Meander, happening to bo at Macao, waited upon the
Governor the following day as soon as the matter came
to his kuewledge, expostulated with him, and at last
wrote him an official note, demanding Mr. Summers' re-
lease as a right. This being refused, Captain Keppel quietly
landed a few sailors and marines, and rescued Mr. Sum-
mers from prison. The precautions taken to avoid
bloodshed did not prevent, unfortunately, one man being
killed by a random shot, and a sentinel in the act of
firing being wounded in the arm.
This affair has led to great protestations and excite-
ment on the part of Senhor D'Amaral and the Portu-
guese, and no doubt an attempt will be made to make it
assume great importance at home. It is stated that,
even according to treaties between Great Britain and
Portugal, Senleor D'Amaral would in the present in-
stance have exceeded his powers.
Shipments, both of men and goods, continue to go to
California. The quantity of gold received from there,
up to this time, is about 100,0001.
Her Majesty's ship Meander, the Hon. Captain Kep
pal, has sailed for Manilla and Labuan.
Her Majesty's ship Amazon is now here, commanded
lay Captain Troubridge.
Her Majesty's steamer Medea left for the northern
ports on tile 15th inst.
Her Majesty's brig Columbine is at Whampoa; the
Hon. Company's steamer Phlegethon, off the factories.
Her Majesty's brig Mariner, by accounts of the 2d of
June from Shanghae. had not returned from Japan.
Her Majesty's brig Pilot, at Amoy—the commander of
this vessel, Captain Lyons, is cruising after pirates, and
has already captured upwards of a hundred. Her Ma-
jesty's brig Arab is at Ningpo.
Her Majesty's 95th Regiment is expected to be re-
lieved in the month of November by the 59th Regiment
from Ireland.
Our latest dates are—from London, April 25; from
Calcutta, May 3; from Madras, May 9; from Bombay,
May 18; from Singapore, 6th inst.; from Manilla, 12th
inst.; and from Sydney, April 23.

CANTON
HONG KONG, JUNE 24.
The transactions during the month in the staple arti-
cles of import have been almost entirely confined to
u ?ply immediate wants, and, although money is obtain-
alate by the steady dealers on easy terms, there seems to
be little or no s
cotton has )itof speculation among them.
declined, and we quote Bombay T's 5.2 to
5.6; Bvngal T's, 67 to 7.4;, Madras T's, 6.6 to 7.2. The
sales are estimated at 12'000 bales. Stock 87,000 bales,
against 57 800 bales last year.
Cotton Yarn-800 bales have been 2 disposed of, and
prices are rather lower. Nes.tol26-53:t ;lops dolls. to 23
(1911 s.; n. 4. 28-32, 251 dolls,
5,34
whole
Nos. 38-42,
year.
600 half
261 dolls. to 27i dolls. Stock,
bales, against 3,300 whole and 2,400 half bealanesdlaot
Long Cloths—The demand has continued
actual wants, and the transactions have been limited to
25,000 pieces of gray aid ab )ut 5,000 pieces of white.°
We quote as last month—gray, 2 dolls. 20e. to 2 dolls.
70c.; white, 2 dolls. 35c. to 3 dolls.
Wool:ens—Sp. stripes, 90e. to 1 doll. 10c.; long ells,
assorted, 7 dulls. 70e. to 8 dolls; scarlet, 8 dolls. 70c. to
9 dolls.; oucolets, English, 19 dolls. to 22 dolls., and have
beeii more inquired after; Dutch, 21 dolls. to 23 dolls.
Iron has alvanced. Nailrod, 3 dolls. 80c. to 4 dolls.
80c.,• bar, 2 dolls. 70c. to 3 dolls. 10C.; hoop, 5 dolls. to
5 dolls. 40c.
Steel-5 dolls. to 5 dolls. 50c.
Lead-6 dolls. 80c. to 7 dells.
Tin plates-11 dolls. to 11 dolls. 500.
Cochineal-140 dolls, to 150 dolls.

Turkey Opium-390 dolls.
Tea—Abn;ut 25 chops of new congous have reached
Canon, and musters of about 35 more have been re•
calved, but no settlements have as yet taken place, in

consequence of the extravagant rates asked by the tea
men. The transactions in old teas have been very
trifling, and the remaining stock is almost exhausted.
The exports for the season 1848.9 may therefore be
considered as almost closed.
The export of silk amounts to 18,600 bales, against
22,400 bales during the previous season.
Exchange on England-4s. ld. for Oriental Bank and
first class paper; bills, with shipping document, 4s. 2d
to 4s. 2id.
Freights, 31. 3s.
From Shanghae we have no later advises than the 2d
inst. The new silk had not them come to market, and
of new tea only one chop had reached. In imports very
little doing.
Arrivals from Great Britain since the 24th of May—
June 9, Mary Sparks, from Portsmouth, at Hong-Kong;
June 11, John Bibby, from Liverpool, at Hong-Kong;
June 21, Protomolis, from London, at Hong-Kong.
Departures to Great Britain since the 24th of May—
June 18, Coromandel, to London, from Hong-Kong;
June 20, Salopian. to London, from Hong-Kong.

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