The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-06 00:00:00

CHINA.

(From the Bombay Times of Nov. 1.)
We stated in our last that we expected no additional.
news from China for the present despatch of later dates
than those formerly given on the Ist of October, and we
find ourselves in the catalogue of beatitude with those
who expect nothing—we have not been disappointed.
We observe that a statement made by us in our issue of
the 19th July—" That Sir W. Parker manifestly consi-
dered the expedition not likely to close for a year or two
to come—has occasioned some discussion amongst the
papers last received from England. Of course what we
then said was mere inference ; we know nothing of how
long hostile operations in the China seas may require to
endure. Those. who imagine that Sir Henry Pottinger
would in a few weeks reduce matters to order must keep
in view that Sir Henry himself must have entertained
very different expectations when he summoned first forces
from England, and then war steamers from India. Both
of them have, it is true, been long since despatched ;
but from the time of their leaving they could by no pos-
sibility reach their destination so as to make their ser-
vices available on the China coast before the months of
March or April. This date extends far beyond those
which the more sanguine have assigned to the whole ope-
rations of the expedition, a date at which we expect ac-
tive operations on a large scale will only just have begun.
Our news by the Atalanta extends to the 24th of August.
It is now the season in which rapid voyages are effected
by sailing vessels, so that before our next monthly issue
we may expect intelligence to the month of October at
least, though we confess we do not look for much news
of interest for some months to come.

The following extracts from a Hong Kong letter, will
be found peculiarly interesting. The information con-
tained is at once graphic and new:—
" What I can tell you of Hong Kong amounts to very
little—l merely give you my first impressions, formed
from what I have seen in one evening and one morning's
visit to a much-abused island. That the harbour formed
by Hong Kong with some of the adjoining islands (and
part of which I believe is the main land) is most splen-
did, besides being a good and safe anchorage, and in
every way adapted for the purposes of trade, none can
otherwise than admit ; on the other hand, it must be
allowed tha; from some cause or other, it has proved
fatal to many of our men, and that to such an extent
as, from the first view of the circumstances, to appear
not altogether undeserving of the character it bears—of
being a most unhealthy station. In coming to this con-
clusion, however, Ido net think that all those peculiar
circumstances, totally unconnected with locality, but
which inevitably attend the occupation of a new station,
and more especially in the present instance, are suffici-
ently taken into consideration. I allude to that neces-
sary exposure to the sun during the day, crowded Outs,
and to the heavy dews at night, very frequently with
nothing but the cold earth, or at best wet grass, for a
bed, instead of the comforts to which both European
and native soldiers are accustomed. Besides this state of

fatigue and exposure, nothing has been said of the qua-
lities of that most infernal nectar of the imperial gods,
" sam-shu," which is of course taken, being always easily
obtained from the want of police, or ineffectual state of
the guard over such commodities; nor has that state of
re-action into which men necessarily fall after such ex-
citement and exertion as must have been suffered at the
taking of Canton been taken into consideration. Some
such suggestions cannot otherwise than present them-
selves when you see a spot denounced as the ' valley of
death,' but which, judging merely from appearances for
health, would certainly be considered a good locality, more
especially when supported in your opinion by the fact
that, since we have known, the inhabitants have enjoyed
good health, and generally attained a more than
moderate old age. Barracks are now nearly completed
for the men who are to keep guard on shore ; they are
built of wood and mats—of course only temporary, but
at present quite sufficient for the purpose. They are
situated on the side of a high hill, which rises abruptly
from the sea just above the part of the island we have
selected for our position, and where the Chinamen have
already built what may be considered, in point of size, a
very respectable village. Mats are, however, the only
walls and roofs at present used, except in two instances
—one a house for magistracy, another most useless
building, I fear, the congee house. Both these are in a
great state of forwardness. Another, by-the-bye, in the
harbour, which I have most unpardonably forgotten to
mention, belonging to the house of Messrs. Jardine,
Matheson, and Company. This substantial building
really appears to have risen by magic. We have not oc-
cupied the place four months before a most excellent
godown of 100 feet long, proportionably deep, and two
stories high, is nearly roofed in and completed—and that
of the finest granite. In front is a jetty running out 100
yards into the sea, and about 10 yards wide, snaking a
most excellent landing place for boats with merchan-
dise. So much for the place ; now a word or two on
the people. Upon my honour since I have been here (in
China I mean) I have done nothing but open my eyes
and stare—l am astonished at the people. As I have
said before, we have not occupied Kong Kong four
months ;at time of taking the island I believe the
whole population did not yet amount to 4,000 ; now the
floating population in the harbour is estimated at be-
tween 5,00 Q-and 6,000, the bazaar about 3,000 or 4,000.
At one time- there were 1,500 Coolies employed here by
Government, all obtained at a few days' warning—to
give you an idea of the resources on that head. Most
true the Chinamen will do anything for money ; then
their capabilities—most excellent masons, stone-cutters,
brick-makers, carpenters—in fact I defy you to say what
they cannot do ; they certainly are the most intelligent
hard-working race I have ever seen—l am quite in love
with them ! Now I cannot say more about Hong Kong,
as we are just about to start. The people at Amoy arc
very cockey, sending down all sorts of impertinent mes-
sages by word of ships, &c. ; indeed they have a strong
force there, and I dare say there will be many broken
heads on our parts."

BU.KMAH.
(From the Bombay Times, Nov. 1.)
We mentioned in our last that the movement of the
King of Burmah towards Rangoon, attended by an armed
force of between 100,000 and 200,000 men, had alarmed
the Bengal Government for the safety of Moulmein, and
that her Majesty's ship Childers and the steamer Ganges
had been sent down to watch his motions. These, it
would seem, appeared so unsatisfactory and unpacific,
that the Ganges steamer was, on the 30th of September,
despatched from Moulmein to Calcutta, which she
reached on the sth of October. Immediately on her
arrival arrangements were made to strengthen our force
in Burmah. The Indus steamer, her Majesty's ship
Calliope, the transports Roberts and Thetis, on board
of which her Majesty's 50th Regiment has been de-
spatched, were immediately taken up by Govern-
ment. The 47th Native Infantry follow with Artil-
lery, Sappers and Miners, as speedily as possible. The
Forbes steamer meanwhile was sent off to Singapore to
see if it was possible to overtake the iron steamers
Medusa and Anadne, which left Bombay on the 29th of
September to join the China fleet. These vessels had
little hope of being able to get beyond Singapore for the
season, so that their recal to serve for a month or two
in the Irrawaddy will probably in no shape disconcert the
arrangements of Sir W. Parker in contemplation of their
arrival. The Ganges and Forbes will, we presume, re-
turn to Moulmein without delay. The steamer Enter-
prise, then at Bombay, having been sent round with
treasure, was immediately put into commission. She
sailed from this for Burmah direct on the 28th ultimo.
A steam frigate is expected also to be ordered round
from Bombay. We shall thus have in the Irrawaddy,
besides her Majesty's ships Calliope and Childers, and
the Orissa and Eagle fitted as gunboats, eight powerful
steamers; the most formidable steam flotilla which evor
was convened in the Eastern seas.
The purposes of the Government have not as yet
transpired, and it is likely, indeed, that these will be
guided entirely by circumstances. Nothing could be
more expedient or desirable than the promptitude and
vigour which have just been displayed. From the mag
nitude of the river portion of the armament, we should
suppose that something very decided, should occasion
permit, was proposed to be done. A better time for
reading King Tharawaddie a lesson' not to be forgotten,
could not have occurred.
We shall be able to show
him that, notwithstanding the extent of our engage-
ments in Affghanistan and China, the castigation of such
small deer as he is merely a p
morning's exercise to the
m
Government of India, with steamers to
forces in the Burmese provinces before
help them. Our
5 0 the
with 20
pres ent
movement began, amounted to about 2,0 men,
pieces of artillery ; and thct
this
reinforcement when
completed will nearly double
ex-
pedition to Burmah—for this see.onaFßorurtmheesper7,aerntasit
may turn out—we are indebted to Captain C. Elliot and
his employers. The belief everywhere prevalent in the
Eastern seas that we had been foiled in China, led, and
the Golden-footed Monarch to seize
the opportunity he considered most suitable for attack.
(From the Indian Papers.)
BURMAIL—The proceedings of Tharawaddie appear
to have called forth the deepest attention of the
Supreme Government. Our readers will have gleaned
from our summary of Bengal intelligence that nume-
rous reinforcements have been ordered to Moul-
mein. By the arrival of the steamer Ganges at Cal-
cutta our intelligence from the former place has been
brought down to the 29th, and from Rangoon to the
25th of Sept. Tharawaddie was then at Sarawak, about
20 miles above Rangoon, where it was expected his Ma-
jesty would arrive in about ten days. The whole of the
Royal Family, men, women, and children, have accom-
panied the King, who has with him nearly all his army
the number of boats in which they have been conveyed.
down the river is estimated at from 15,000 to 18,000.
Tharawaddie appears• to have taken every precaution
against any attempt at insurrection during his absence
from the capital. There is only one man of high rank
left at Ava, and to insure his fidelity his principal wife
and son have been taken as hostages, and travel with the
Court. The general impression on the part of the mili-
tary authorities at Moulmein is, that a skirmish with the
Burmese will shortly take place. That Tharawaddie
meditated hostile movements against the British at the
time he left Ava is evident ; but it is doubtful