The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-28 00:00:00

CHINA.

By this arrival we have papers from Hong Kong
to April 14; Shanghai, April 7. The following is
from the summary of the China Mail:—
We mentioned in our last summary that the
ultimatum requiring the Imperial Government to
make a full apology, to admit a vessel of war to
Tien-tsin, and to admit Mr. Bruce to Pekin, had
been handed over to the Chinese authorities at
Shanghai on the Bth March. The answer which
has been received is still kept secret, notwithstand-
ing the large commercial interests which will be
affected by it ; and the most contradictory rumours
are in circulation in regard to it, from a positive
acceptance to a positive denial. The Chinese say it
has been accepted on the condition that the expe-
ditionary force be sent away, and we think this is
not the least probable of the rumours.

All that the envoys have allowed to transpire is
that they consider the answer which has been re-
turned as " unsatisfactory ;" but it is probable that
there may be two opinions on that subject when the
reply is made public. We are strongly inclined to
conclude, from all we can gather on the subject,
that the reply was conciliatory, peaceful, and such
as the Chinese hoped and probably expected would
be considered acceptable. This probably gave rise
to the general report and belief among them that
the ultimatum had been accepted. The dissatis-
faction with it by the plenipotentiaries is probably
based on small or technical grounds. By rejecting
they will be able to demand a large indemnity in
addition ; and this indemnity is what the French
particularly desired to wedge in. They are now in
a position, on arrival at the Peiho, to repeat the
ultimatum, with a large indemnity added ; and
before the presence of the force that will be assem-
bled, it is probable that the Chinese will yield all
that can be asked, as in fact they most likely thought
they had already yielded all the essentials of the
first ultimatum.

A number of troops are now quartered in tents
on the peninsula opposite Hong Kong, and a wooden
storehouse is being erected ; but there is no ap-
pearance as yet of the land being occupied for more
permanent purposes. The Hon. Mr. Adams, acting
chief justice, bas been made a member of the Exe-
cutive Council of Hong Kong.

CHINA COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
HONG KONG, APRIL 14.
We are unable to report an improved state of the
market generally, the prevailing dulness with one
or two exceptions, having continued throughout
the fortnight.
COTTON.—We are happy to notice an improve-
ment in this staple, prices having advanced, and
appear well supported.
OPlUM.—There has been a moderate demand for
opium since last mail, owing principally to the dis-
couraging news from Shanghae. New Patna has
been maintained in price at 782 dols. 50c. to 785
dols. per chest ; old has advanced to 807 dols. 50c.
There has been a fair demand for Benares through-
out the fortnight at 770 dols. to 772 dols. 50c. per
chest. Malwa, 602 dols. 50c. to 607 dols. 50c., and
has been in moderate demand. Turkey, 590 dols.
per picul, nominal.
TONNAGE.—We do not hear of more vessels being
taken up for her Majesty's service, such as are at
present wanted being required to be of certain ton-
nage and light draught of water.
EXCHANGE has not fluctuated much, but closing
rates show a downward tendency, for which we are
unable to account. Bank paper, 4s. 917 d. ; credits,
4s. 91-,d. to 4s. 10d. ; Bank on Bombay, Rs. 226 to
227 per 100 doll.; on Calcutta, Rs. 226 to 227-per

P F-iCE 4D. STAMPED, SD.

100 dols. Ihr silver, 7to 74- per cent. premium.
Sycee, 5 to 51 per cent. premium. Gold leaf, dols.
23.45 per tael.

SHANGHAI, APRIL 7.
There is little change to notice in our import
market during the fortnight, the bankers not yet
having resumed the issue of money orders; the
dealers are consequently unable to clear the goods
which they had bought, to arrive, some time since.
The acCounts, frOm the country are now more
favourable, and during the last few days there has
been some inquiry for English shirtings at Tls. 1.P.4
[e.
I to L 9.6 per piece for GA- catty goods, but in the pre-
sent unsettled state of our political relations with
China, we cannot look for a steady demand ter any
description of manufactured goods. Stocks in the
hands of importers are accumulating, as deliveries
arc now falling off considerably, whilst three vessels
with further supplies have arrived during the fort-
night. A considerable quantity of goods out of the
late arrivals has been landed in a sea damaged
state, and will require to be sold by auction, which
will farther tend to depress the market.

TEA (Black).—The market operations for the fort-
night have been moderate, owing chiefly to the ab-
sence of country-packed tea, the stock continuing
principally to consist of refined chops. Settle-
ments are 2,938 chests of Mingchow at Tls 25 to
28 ; 2,290 chests common congou and low repacked
tea at Tls. at 14 to 20 ; and 276 chests of flowery
Pekoe, at Tls. 342, in all 5,504 chests ; to which
must be added 7,155 chests of contract teas received
since last mail, making a total of 12,659 chests
settled for the fortnight, and for the season to date
266,562 chests.
SILK.—The disturbances mentioned in our late
reports, occasioned by the incursions of rebels and
marauders into the silk districts, caused a larger
quantity of this article to be sent here for safety
than could find buyers at the advanced rate of ex-
change ; the dealers, desirous of quitting their
stocks, have given way their demands, and we may
advise a further decline of 5 to 10 taels on most
descriptions.
EXCHANGE AND BULLlON.—Business since de-
parture of preceding mail has been extremely small,
and bills on England difficult to obtain.
FREIGHTS.—Rates are looking up. Tonnage is
becoming scarce ; nearly all in port is engaged,
and vessels for the coast would find employment.
Ships of above 300 tons are taking 1,200 dols. to
1,500 dols. for Fuhchau or S watow. For England
and the United States rate is rather higher, but
little freight offering. To London—£2 for tea ;
£4 for silk. To New York-10 dole. to 12 dole.
for tea ; 15 dols for silk, per ton of 40 feet.

THE WEST INDIA AID PACIFIC

MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, SUNDAY.
The Royal Mail Company's steamer Atrato, Cap-
tain Woolley, with the above mails, has arrived.
Shebrings the following dates :—Vera Cruz, May 2 ;
Tampico, April 29; Santa Martha, 28; Carthagena,
May 5 ; Havannah, 7 ; Colon, Demerara, and
Trinidad 8 ; Jamaica, Grenada, and St. Vincent, 9 ;
Barbadoes, 10 ; Jacmel, St. Lucia, Martinique, and
Montserrat, 11; Guadaloupe, Dominique, Antigua,
and Nevis, 12 ; Porto Rico and St. Kitt's, 13 ; and
St. Thomas's, 14.

The Atrato brings in all 242 passengers, amongst
whom are General Von Oxholme and General Ygle-
sias and lady from. Vera Cruz ; Lieutenant Burgess,
R.N., from Vancouver's Island • Adjutant Moore
from Barbadoes ; and Dr. Budbelt, from Jamaica.
Her specie amounts to dols. 928,692, of which
dols. 460,477 is silver, and dols. 468,215 gold; her
cargo consists of 613 serons cochineal, 52 serons
indigo, 27 serons jalap, 190 cases cigars, 69 bales
tobacco, 6 tierces coffee, 7 bales sarsaparilla, 91
casks ginger, 72 packages vanilla, value £14,000,
6 cases beeswax, 6 cases succades, 10 jars balsam,
30 boxes limes, 562 bags cocoa, and 133 packages
sundries.
The Atrato left St. Thomas's at 11 a.m. on the
14th inst.; she has made the run home in 12 days
14 hours. On the 20th, in lat. 36 56 N, long. 43
59 W, passed and exchanged colours, with the
British ship -Lydia, steering north-east ; on the
22d, lat. 42 44 N, long. 33 19 W, passed and ex-
changed colours with the Bremen ship Shakspeare,
bound from New Orleans to Bremen, 21 days.
Her Majesty's ship Gorgon left Port Royal,
Jamaica, on the 9th inst., for Bermuda and Eng-
land; the Emerald, with Admiral Mihie had left
Colon for Greytown and Bermuda.
The West Indian Islands generally were very
healthy. Barbadoes continued to suffer from small-
pox, but not to a serious extent. The political news
by the Atrato is unimportant.
The Legislative Council of Trinidad assembled on
the Ist inst. ; there is little to note of an interesting,
nature. The revenue and expenditure for the quar-
ter ending 31st March exhibit a healthy appear-
ance; the duties received on imports alone for the
period referred to amount to £23,346 11s. 2d., and
tonnage upwards of £2,400.

Exchange at Colonial Bank, selling at 90 days'
sight, dols. 480 per £lOO ; ditto, 60 days' sight, dols,
4821 per £100; ditto, 30 days' sight, dols. 485 per
£lOO. Purchasing 90 days' sight, dols. 470 per £lOO.
At Demerara the Court of Policy was in session,
but no business had been transacted worthy of
notice. The weather since the last packet had been
fine, and very favourable for the growing crops.
Tonnage was abundant, and freights declining.
The Barbadoes Legislature met on the Ist ; the
business was unimportant. Bills were passed in
the House of Assembly to secure patent rights in
alleged improvements in the manufacture of sugar
and rum. The crop is nearly closed throughout the
island. The average yield will be about that of
last year. The import market was well supplied
with breadstuffs.