The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-05 00:00:00

OVERLAND MAIL

•
By an extraordinary express from Marseilles
we. have received Journals from China and India,
together with papers from Canton, Singapore,
and the several Presidencies Of Hindostan.. The
dates of the intelligence received by this express
are—from China, Aug. 24; from Singapore,
Sept. 4 ; 'from Calcutta, Sept.' 11 ; from Madras,
Sept. 15; and from, Bombay, Oct. 1.
The . intelligence from China, which ~in con-
sequence 'of the arrival at Bombay of the
steamer Atalanta extends to the 24th of
August, is of far higher interest than any
from other quarters which has reached'
us by this express. By the Atalanta, the -
late Plenipotentiary, Captain Elliot, and the ex-
Commodore,. Sir 3 J. Gordon Bremer, arrived
from Canton, and, as they proceeded by the
overland mail -through Egypt, they may be
hourly expected in England.
Sir Henry Pottinger and the new Admiral, Sir
William Parker, arrived at Macao on the 9th of
August, and proceeded without delay to' exe-
cute their important duties. In the Hong Kong
Gazette of the 12th a notification was published
by the new Plenipotentiary, and a copy of his own
commission from the British Crown. Both docu-
ments are of high importance, and the former is
annexed. From the latter it would appear that Sir
Henry Pottinger is sole Plenipotentiary, andal to-
gether independent of any control on the part of
the Indian Government. The notification de-
clares that war subsists between the British.
and Chinese, but that the existing truce should
be observed -at Canton unless infringed by the
Chinese authorities. It also warns all foreigners
against placing•themselves or their properties in
anger,,as there might be a collision. The island
of Hong Kong:is to be retained until her Ma,
jesty's decision is known. -
The • Plenipotentiary sent his Secretary to
Canton, with a notification of his appointment •
and arrival to the Chinese authorities. .A letter
is also said to have been addressed to the Eifi
peror, to which 'an 'answer is expected at a
northern station ; Chusan has been named.
The interference of the Kwang-chow-foo,
or Mayor of Canton, has been refused. He
sought, as on former occasions, an interview
with -the British Plenipotentiary, but it was re-
fused, and he was referred to the Secretary.
The Imperial Commissioners and the other man-
darin authorities at Canton, are described as
alarmed by 'these new measures, particularly as
the British expedition has proceeded to the
northward. It is said that they offered a large
sum of money to delay .the departure of the
fleet, which was declined. These decided
proceedings on the part of Sir H. Pottinger
have given satisfaction to the British merchants
and all concerned.
On. the 21st and 26th of July there were violent
typhons on the coast of China, which did much
damage. During one of them a cutter, having
on board the Commodore and Captain Elliot,
was'wrecked on the Island of Know Low, when
the crews and passengers were. roughly treated,
but after Some parleying they were, for a large
ransom, taken to Macao. Two. iron steamers
have been sent from Bombay to join the expe-
dition.

In India tranquillity prevails, with the excep-
tion of some disturbances excited by parties of.
the unruly Arab soldiers employed in the service
of the Nizam. The trial of some of their men,
who'some months back raised disturbances in the
neighbourhood of Budamee, is stated to have
excited their rage, and they are anxious to
attack the gaol or to make a diversion in order
to produce their escape; but the British autho-
rities are on the alert to prevent any unpleasant
result. Some of these freebooters have been
already condemned and executed.
The only intelligence of importance from
Scinde is that the important position of Shikar-
pore has been ceded to the British. Major Out-.
ram.has
.taken possession of his charge as suc-
cessor to the deceased, political agent, Mr. Ross
Bell ; the negotiations continue with Nusseer
Khan, and will, it is hoped, soon produce favour-
able results.
In Affghanistan the conflicts continue between
Sc bah Soojah's troops and the unruly mountain
tribes. Several encounters took place last Au-
gust between the British troops and the rebels.
In Thibet there is fighting goirg forward be-
tween some of the Sikhs under forawar Singh
and the inhabitants. The former is said to have
gained several victories. It is thought that some
of the Nepaulese, who are alsO marauding in
China, may soon come into contact with the
Sikhs there.

From Persia or Herat there has been no late
intelligence of interest. It is rumoured, that
Kamran► is intriguing strongly against his crafty.
and powerful Minister, for whose removal he is
anxious.
Letters from Aden, dated the 10th of October,
state that a force of 600 men and a gun had pro-
ceded eight miles inland and attacked two of
the strongholds of the Arabs, and returned with
only one officer and four men wounded. They
were perfectly astonished, as they had not the
least notice of such an act of audacity, and the
consequence resulting was an offer of concession
from the Sultan on the morning of the above date.
Tharawaddie is described as still making pre-
paration for war, but the proximity of the seat
of the British Government at Calcutta will con-
tribute to neutralize all his intrigues.
The new Governor of Bombay, Sir W.
M'Naghten, is expected to arrive there in Dec.
Intelligence has been received at Agra of the
murder of Dr. Forbes, by Ibrahim Khan, the
Belochee Chief of Seistan.
Mr. O'Gorman, who accoMpanied Major Todd
on his mission to Herat, was murdered at Canda-
bar on the 25th of July,. by one of a band of
Afghans, who had bound themselves by a solemn
, oath to murder every European within reach of
I their daggers.

CHINA.
(Prom thesßombay Tones of Oct. 1.)
The intelligence from China, which in our last came
down to the .20th of June, extends up to the present date
to the 24th of August. The last faciculus is so recent,
that we,can look for little more before the middle of No-
vember. The truce, of which we formerly gave parti-
culars, singularly enough continued unbroken from the
27th of. May till the 24th of August. The bulk of the
Canton ransom money had been despatched by her Ma-
jesty's ships Calliope and Conway—the former carrying
two and a half millions of dollars to Calcutta, where she
arrived in safety on the sth of August; the latter being en-
trusted with two millions direct for England.• It is said
that the expense of transmitting this home, in specie, in-
stead of by the usual method of remittance, will, besides
the value of the vessel's services, amount to 40,0001.
The Canton Press considers this a bit of patronage
to give the son-in-law of Sir Gordon Bremer, and
the cousin of Lord pinto, the captains of the vessels,
a little piece of lucrative employment. Sir William
Parker is understood to have been greatly incensed that
two such vessels as the Conway and Calliope should
have been despatched when their services were so much
wanted: the 32-pounder armament of the latter render-
ing her one of the most efficient ships in the squadron.
The Honourable East India Company's steam-frigate
Sesostris had, when at Singapore, on the Ist of August,
lost twelve of her men by desertion. An inventory of
the amount of property belonging to Keshen, which has
just been confiscated, has been published—its value ex-
ceeds three millions of pounds sterling !—mostly ex-
tracted in bribes from the Hong merchants, from opium
speculations, and illegitimate imposts'of trade. • The for-
tune of Keshen is one of many similar ones acquired by
like infamous means. The exactions made on the Hong
merchants for a third of the ransom of Canton had inter-
rupted the payment of the dividends which had for some
dine been in progress by instalments; so thrit through
the medium ~of the Hong debts due to them, a part of
the six rnillionsof dollars received by Captain Elliot was
drawn from the pockets of his countrymen !
By the steamer Atalanta, which reached this on the
26th ultimo, we received intelligence from Hong Kong to
the 24th of August. The Sesostris, with the Plenipo-
tentiary and Admiral on board; arrived off Macao on:the
9th of Atignst, and anchored about four miles from the
town. Notwithstanding a delay of two days at Singa-
pore, where she took in 180- tons of miserable coal, she
acCoMplished her voyage in twenty-three days—being
the most rapid on record. At six o'clock the following
morning the Nemesis was alonguide with Captains Elliot
and Nias, and Mr: Johnston, to welcome the Plenipoten-
tiary. The same clay, about two o'clock, the Admiral
sailed in the Sesostris for Hong Kong, for the purpose of
inspecting the condition of the fleet preparatory to an im-
mediate start for the north. He again returned to Macao
on the 12th, and went back to Hong Kong on the follow-
ing day to hasten preparations, accompanied by Sir H.
Gough. On the 13th, Major Malcolm was despatched in
the Nemesisto Canton with the announcement of the ar-
rival of the new Plenipotentiary, and a copy of the de-
mands of the British Government to be forwarded im-
mediately to the Emperor. So soon as the arrival of the
Secretary was made known to the Kwang-chow-too (the
Mayor of Canton), this high functionary intimated his
wish to receive the despatch in, person. The hall (now
in ruins) of the Company's factory was, as on former
occasions, selected for the interview. The Mayor came,
attended by old Howqua and Noogell ; but though the
former of these is the well-known source of half the
great movements in China, and the most profound poli-
tician perhaps within the empire, both were ordered to
retire previous to the commencement of business. The
same day a notification was presented to each of the mer-
chants residing at Canton, intimating that, as hostilities
would in all likelihood very shortly recommence in the
north, they should keep themselves and their property
out of the way of mischief, as the Plenipotentiary would
not hold himself responsible, nor must they look for
recompense. from Government, for any injury they
might receive: A rumour prevailed at this time
Canton, that ell the Tartar troops had been ordered

4 THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, NOVEIVIiI3:6i, 5, 1841.

don, bought into service—remain-here to protect Hong
Kong.. ThelOng4ried sy=stem of humbug is at an end.
With Bremer's flag, we hope it is all stt'uck, and our
dearly beloved friends Bremer and. Elliot go to Bombay
in the Ata.lanta; ' I expteo you will be all down • at the
Builder to receive them.. ,These heroes of the Bogue, the
Boguese as they are- called here, deserve some sort of a
tribute'.from the dealers in opium.
The Atalanta has returned, as she is completely done;
for towing ships, &c., has *quite broken up her frame
and engine.
The iron steamers are of more.use than any other—
they draw, so. little water, and consumed such a small
quantity of coal, that their services are incalculable. The
Queen is a fine.Xessel; but having Hall's condensers, she is
often out of
,repair. I wish you could only whisper to
your big wigs to send the iron steamers you have in
Bombay—at least I have read of such things. I was at
MaCao when the Sesostris came in twenty-three days
from Bombay, two out of which she remained at Singa-
pore. This.. is the quickest passage ever made. Elliot
went, off to her the next morning in the NemesiS,
which vessel acted that day as a tender, and landed
their 'Excellencies. Major Malcolm, the Secretary,
has been sent with a letter to Canton, advising
the Governiucnt with Sir Henry's arrival, and
letting his Highness know that his Excellency would
wait the Emperor's reply at Chusan, " being after taking
Annoy on the way." This is really and truly acting the
Irish Ambassador. The letter to the Emperor demands
payment in full for the opium, the expenses of the war,
and a free trade and Consular rights. What will his
Majesty say to this? This is not dealing with subordi-
nates. We all expect to be soon back. The Emperor
will given in ; and as Keshen is reported* again in power,
there is no doubt he is too knowing to allow their pro-.
vincial towns to be battered down.
The Eniperor—tail so dOcked—and their weakness
made manifest to the world, mind ye, you will see a new
game played. They will give us all we want, just to get
rid of Our for Ce. Hong, Fong is a most wretched hot
place, particularly at this season ;t from the formation of
the bay, not a breath of wind stirs in it. The shore is
almost too 'steep to build upon, and the wretched town
that now exists is about four houses deep, and a mile and
a half, long. This Elliot, the Viceroy, calls the Strand.
Few buildings are in progress, but the land was-greedily
,purchased., No doubt .but any place we fix upon will
soon become a great mart.

• A smart: fire—consumed Hong Kong on the night of the
but. the light material of which it is built rendered
it easily re• erected. The Phlegethon and Starling.have
been to Canton to pull up the stakes which our friends
have been employed fixing in the river. They have suc-
-ceeded so far in.placing stones, that a junk or two well
sunk• would fill 'up the western passage.
19th. The Nemesis arrived from Macao to-day, to ac-
company the fleet northward. Amoy will be taken in-
stanter, and then Chusan. The 21st is the day fixed upon
for a start. This day's return of bayonets in the force
is 2,570.

P.S. The Queen goes to Macao for Sir, Henry.
I must refer you to the Canton Register for Sir Henry's
Proclamation. This is the first time that, in the public
documents, our aggression on the Chinese has been called
a war.

ORDER OF SAILING.
CENTRE.

Befitinck, surveying ship ; Wellesley, 74 ; Blenheim,
74 ; Marion, staff of Sir H. Gough ; Barretto, Gipsey,
Eagle, Faze Allutn, Mysore, Prince George, store ships;
Algerine, 10.