The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-06 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
am--from China, Aug. 24; from Singapore,
a.ras,
Sept. 4; -from Calcutta, Sept.. 11 ; from Md
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-
Conuncidore, Sir J. 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..areof high importance; and the former is
annexed. From the latter it would appear that Sir
ieruy Pottinger is sole Plenipotentiary, and al to-
gc'tller 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
danger, 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 Em-
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 en 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 niunei 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
typhoons 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-
on.

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 effect 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, 11Ir. Ross
Bell ; the negotiations continue with Nusseer
Khan, and will, it is hoped, soon produce favour-
able results.
in Affghanistan the conflicts continue between
Shah So ojah's troops and the unruly mountain
tribes. Several encounters took place last Au-
gust between the British troops and the rebels.
In 'Tibet there is fighting goin!, forward be-
tween some of the Sikhs under Zorawar 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
Kamram 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'Naghton, 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
Affghans, who had bound themselves by a solemn
oath to murder every European within reach of
their daggers.

CHINA.
(From the Bombay Times of Oct. 1.)
The intelligence from China, which in our last came
down to the 20th of June, extends unto 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 s Sir Gordon • Bremer, and
the cousin of Lord Minto, 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 servines 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 l--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
time been in progress by instalments; so that through
the medium of the Hong debts due to them., a part of
the six millions of 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 th 6
9th of August, and anclioreabout four miles from the.
town. Notwithstanding at lelay 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 alongside with Captains Elliot
and Nias, and Mr. Johnston, to welcome the Plenipoten-
tiary. The same day, 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 Nemesis to Canton with the announcement of tho ar-
rival of the new Plenipotentiary, and a copy of the de-
mands of the British Government to be forwarded, tn.
mediately to the Emperor. So soon as the Itrri274l of the
Secretary was made known to the Kvyancr.-chow-foo (the
Ma -or
to receive the despor of Canton), this higil! f.uef:tonary intimated his
wis
s'Ld. in person. The hall (now
in ruins) of the CifYmpsiny's factory was, as on former
occasions, selected for the interview. The Mayor came,
:attended by old Hewqua and Noogell ;but though the
former of these is the well-known source of half the
great mavenaents in China, and the most profound poll-
. 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-
ohanta residing; t- Canton, intimating that, as hostilities
wouldj.7.:::i 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 .f `):n Government for any injury they
might receive.' A rumour prevailed at this timq
at Canton, that all the Tartar troops had been ordere'd

r back again. • that two boats full, indeed, had actually
arrived ; and though the information continued without
any definite authentication, no doubt seemed to be enter-
tained that the fortifications would be immediately re-
built, armed, and garrisoned afresh, so soon as our troops
moved northward. The fact of the Hwang-chow-foo re-,
cei:ving the despatches in person, is of itself an indica-
tion of how speedily the Chinese themselves had made
the discovery if the different sort of persons they had
now to deal with from those who formerly •condneted the
business of the negotiation, ,and dealt in it as if it were
indeed a business, and, the sole, one wherewith the
expedition had occasion to concern itself. The alter-
ation was felt immediately in the change of conduct
manifested towards the English residents in Can-
ton ; the customary insolence vanished ; and the
studied rudeness experienced in passing along the
streets seemed at once exchanged for deference and
respect. Here was indeed a change from men,. not
measures ; for the powers and instructions under which
Sir H. Pottinger acts, differ almost in nothing from
those of Captain Elliot ; the characters of the men arc
nearly as much dissimilar as their powers are alike.
The Mayor of Canton, on afterwards coming on a mis-
sion to the Plenipotentiary, was refused admittance, and
handed over to Major Malcolm, the Private Secretary.
On the 12th Sir 11. Pottinger issued a notification in-
forming the British merchants generally of his in6n
tions, and warning them teat:cep themselves out of the
way of danger. It is a plain, straightforward, manly do-
cument. Tho truce with which Capt. Elliot so unnecessarily
tied our hands on the 27th May, has, singularly enough,
been maintained with a show at least of a little good
faith on the part of the Chinese, and as long as this lasts,
Sir H. Pottinger very properly states that he will hold
himself bound by the terms granted by his predecessor .
but we hear no nonsense about " great respect for the
Chinese, or scrupulous good faith of illustrious indivi-
duals ." the authorities are told at once that the slight-
est infraction of the truce will lead to a renewal of active
hostilities within the province, and that it is accordingly
to be borne in • mind, that such an event is not only
highly probable, " from the well-understood perfidy and
bad faith of the provincial officers themselves, but also
because they are compelled at any moment, by orders
from the Imperial Cabinet, to set aside and disavow their
own acts." This is speaking intelligibly and to the point,
and accordingly the change of feeling produced amongst
the officers of the expedition seems to have been instan-
taneous, and almost magical. Our mercantile corres-
pondents write so cheerfully, and in such spirits, that it
is difficult to suppose the writers the same as, those

whose tone for these two years past has been so uniformly
melancholy and desponding. The Canton truce was a
purely local one—affecting only the southern pro-
vince, and accordingly, as preparations proceeded for
moving towards the north, the terror of the southern
authorities became extreme. Ten—some say twenty—
millions of dollars are believed to have been offered the
Plenipotentiary to induce him to alter his purposes. In
answer to the question as to the nature of the protection
which would be afforded to British life and property at
Macao, and as to how far the Portuguese Government,
in case of emergency, might be depended on—Sir H.
Pottinger referred to the statements in his official notifi-
cation ; hinting to them, that Hong Kong was now the
proper place for British subjects to seek safety ; and
that experience should have taught them how far Portu-
guese _good faith was to be relied on : adding, at the
same time, that the same protection which was left for
vessels in the roads might, in case of emergency, be
made available to the residents on shore. On the 21st
the fleet, consisting of nine ships-of-war, four armed
steamers, and 22 transports, sailed northward for Amoy.
The Admiral continues urgent for more river steamers ;
and the Medusa and Ariadne, of exactly the same
armament with the Nemesis, that is traversing 32-
pounders, left Bombay on the 29th ultimo. A strong
force of seven ships of war and one steamer, with
troops and transports, remains for service at Hong Kong
and in Canton river so that while our principle con-
sideration is directed to points further north, the people
in the southern province will have no want of attention
should their conduct require a little castigation—a con-
tingency much more than probable. The land force
mustered in all nearly three thousand bayonets. The
fleet.of transports amounted to forty.
Such is a brief outline of the occurrences in Southern
China betwixt the 20th June and 24th August, and
meagre as is the intelligence which -it contains, our
friends at home must look for little of more recent
date or pregnant interest for some months to come.
We have already stated that the tone of the whole of
our Chinese correspondence had altered ; and al-
though we do not think that its former tenor was
more gloomy and desponding than the circum-
stances warranted, we consider that, so far at least
as their views of the celerity with which matters are
likely to be settled, the anticipations of our friends
are much too sanguine. It is obvious that the Admiral
and Plenipotentiary have kept their own secret, and that
much of what is known here as unquestionable fact
is matter of idle and vague conjecture at Macao.
We on the 17th and 21st of July put our readers in
possession of the opinions and intentions of the Pleni-
potentiary and Admiral, of which nothing whatever
seems to have been known at Macao, though rumours
and conjectures have brought them pretty near to the
greater part of the facts, excepting, always, as to the
duration of the war, in reference to which the China
merchants appear to entertain very different notions
from those of the parties about to conduct it. We can
neither blame nor greatly marvel at this ; but we are
bound to caution our friends at home against lending too
ready an ear to Ole contents of their present China cor-
respondence, or to the letters founded on these, likely to be
despatched from Bombay. The merchants at Macao have
written partly in ignerance,partly in over-sanemine antici-
pation of what will immediately be done; and these senti-
ments are likely enough to be re-echoed from Bombay by
those who rather illogically argue, that because their
correspondents are on the spot, they must therefore know
better than we do who are thirty days removed from it;
forgetting that the people at Macao are wholly in the
dark as to what is perfectly known in India—the autho-
rity under which the Plenipotentiary acts, and the views
entertained by him and Sir William Parker, as well as
by the Governments:—supreme and local—as to the
ultimate termination of our operations. Our readers
will recollect that so far bick as July we informed them
that the strictest blockade would immediately be imposed
on the river and southern shores of China; and this much
of the, arrangement only has been temporarily interfered
with by the treaty with the Cantonese which the Pleni-
potentiary found in force; so soon as this is broken—as
it undoubtedly speedily will be—the primary arrange-
ment' will be put into effect. The total suspension of
trade we stated as certain to ensue ; and this Sir H.
Pottinger has notified in his address. We know no set
of men who will more cheerfully acquiesce in any amount
of individual sacrifice or inconvenience that may be
required of them, on considerations of public benefit,
than .the British merchants in China. The fleet has
sailed north, as we stated that it would do, and will
proceed to occupy Ning-po and Amoy, where it will
remain for six months inactive. This is the term to
which many of our Macao correspondents limit the
arrangements of the whole expedition altogether. Chusan
will not be occupied until the sickness prevalent there
in September and October shall have passed over. The
expedition to the Yellow Sea will take place as early in
spring as the state of the weather will permit. Such
we stated before to have been the plan of the Admiral
on leaving Bombay ; nothing has occurred so much
at variance with his. expectations as to lead him to
alter it ; and we know that up to the 21st of August
it had not been altered. Sir W. Parker 'on leaving us,
did not expect that the affairs in China would be settled
in less than sixteen or twenty months ; and.to that effect
he had the dock-yards, arsenals, and marine stores
at Bombay, Trincomalee, and Madras, inspected and
reported on, with a view to the assistance or repair of any
of the heavy ships of the squadron which might, during
that protracted period, have become injured : we know:
of nothing that can have, meanwhile, occurred to melee
him imagine-that the term of his duties will be abridged
to a shorter span than he had in July last prescribed.
We have no doubt that Sir Henry. Pottinger and Sir
William Parker will do all that becomes a British Plenis
potentiary and a British Admiral ; and that their eff,,its
i'
will ultimately be crowned with that triumphant 'success
which has invariably attended the arms of England when
directed by fitting counsellors, and wieJeaed by proper
hands : they can attempt no more, and they can look
for no more. It were the most rash and preposterous
of attempts to endeavour, amidst the mass of discordant
materials wherewith we are furnished, to prophesy or
prescribe a term for the conclusion of our present ope-
rations ; but we are most strongly convinced, that that
assigned to them by the China correspondents—antiei-.
patiug as it does the probable arrival of the Bombay
river steam flotilla, and the British reinforcements the '
left England in July—is infinitely too limited.
[FROM THE SAME. 3
The Honourable Company's steamer A. tal:
here on Sunday evening, the 26th ult., fnm ch. ante arrived
brier ve
ssion
er
lug intelligence to the 24thAlaugteus,C::ommi
gd-
Sirj.
Captainji
• Amongst her passengers Commodore
Gordon Bremer, and i tie
Charles Elliot.
her as to ce.:4- operations there, is a plain, The only inteLicrenee of importance she brim with
stiaight-
pfolre‘nviarpot'itopnrtioacrlyam,
whichation by%%.i Sirl b e
onot.ttihnegeir7,tthhe
July,
reached Henry subjoined.
The Sesostris, which left this
reached Macao on the 9th August.
A frightful typhoon had blown over the Chinese Seas
on the 21st and 26th July, and done fearful damage to
the shipping.
The following is
Hong Kong, dated 18th Angus::---
" " The fleet consists extract private letter from
74. Wellesley, Captain Maitland—Sir W. Parker,
Commander-in-Chief.
Captain Herbert.
Captain Bourchier.
Captain Pritchard.
Captain Smith.
Captain Nias.
Bentinck, Surveying.
Starling, schooner.
Sesostris, steam five e,
Captain Ormsby.
Queen, armed steamer.
Phlegethon, iron steamer.
.0
Nemesis, do. d •

74. Blenheim,
38. Blonde,
28. Alligator,
42. Druid,
26., iterald,
IS". Hyacinth,
18. Pylades,
16. Cruizer
16. Columbine,
18. Modeste,
10. Algerinc,
12. Royalist,
' G. Sulphur.
The fleet of transports consists of forty-four vessels ;
we muster three thousand bayonets:
Every thing is in a great state of preparation for our de-
parture, and only wait the arrival of Sir 11.
Pottinger, and
the Queen leaves to-day to bring him over from Macao ;
the first of our operations is to be the reduction of Amoy,
then the devoted Ting-hae—where the fleet and forces
winter. Strong opposition is expected at Amoy, but no
Chinese, or China army, eau stand against the long-tried
courage of the English troops.
Sir G. Bremer hauls down his flag from the Wellesley
to-day, and Admiral Sir W. Parker shifts the from Bl en_
beim to that vessel.
The Alligator, Ilyaeinth, and Royalist 4.0 m 1 f —417 ,or-

don, bought into service—remain here to protect Hong
Kong. The long tried system of humbug is at an end.
With Bremer's flag, we hope it is all struck, and our
dearly beloved friends Bremer and Elliot go to Bombay
in the Atalanta. I expect you will be all down at the
Bunder 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 vessel, 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 Government with Sir Henry's arrival, and
letting his Highness know that his Excellency would
wait the Emperor's reply at Chusan, " being after taking
Amoy 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 give 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 Emperor—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 force. Hong Kong is a most wretched hot
place, particularly at this season 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 Own
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
15th, 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 llenry's
Proclamation. This is the first time that, in the public
documents, our aggression on the Chinese has been called
It war.

ORDER OF SAILING.
CENTRE.

Bentinek, surveying ship ; Wellesley, 74 ; Blenheim,
74 ; Marion, staff of Sir 11. Gough ; Barrett°, Gipsey,
Eagle, Faze Allum, Mysore, Prince George, store ships;
Algerine, 10.