The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-24 00:00:00

211 E NAVY.

The 'following is an extract of a letter dated
Hong Kong, November 30 :
" Reports from the north and rumours from the
south tell us the Chinese are obtaining guns from
various sources, which are conveyed to their desti-
nation in junks and Siamese vessels, and that they
are preparing to the utmost of their means for a
vigorous struggle. Contributions of money, some
of which are very considerable, are being made to
the Government by all the nobility and gentry
throughout the empire. The governors of the
southern provinces are collecting and forwarding
to the capital all the rice and grain that can be
spared. They know and feel that our next cam-
paign must be a decisive one ; that in addition to
taking vengeance for the loss of so many of our
' braves' at the mouth of the Peiho last summer,
the commercial relations of all civilised nations with
the Celestial Empire must be arranged on a far
more liberal basis than has existed hitherto, and
their representatives placed in a position giving
them the power to maintain them.
" The Amezican Flag-officer Tatnall, in the
United States' steamer Po whattan, has been suc-
ceeded by Flag-officer Stribling, in the United
States' steamer Hartforth.

" Mr. Ward has arrived here from Shanghai.
The treaty with the United States has been rati-
fied. Before you receive this you will, no doubt,
have read the various articles composing it. The
only commercial advantage of any importance ob-
tained by it appears to be the opening of the two
ports Swatow and Taiwan, in Formosa.
" The French steamer Pregent, which arrived
two days since from Touron, reports that an en-
gagement took place on the 11th inst. between the
French forces and the Cochin Chinese, which lasted
three-quarters of an hour. Capt. d'Abouville, of the
Nemesis, two other officers, and five men were
killed. A great many were wounded. The loss on
the Cochin Chinese side was very great. The
French succeeded in taking two strong forts.
" A court composed of Capts. M'Cleverty (presi-
dent), Jones, and Willes ; Commanders Commerell
(acting captain) and Ilartin, assembled on board her
Majesty's ship Princess Charlotte on the 16th and
17th inst., J. W. Ashby, secretary to the Comman-
der-in-Chief, officiating as Judge.-Advocate, to try
Lieut. Jenkins, of her Majesty's gunboat Banterer,
on the two charges of oppression and drunkenness.
He was found guilty on both, and sentenced to bo
dismissed her Majesty's service. Also on the 17th
a court, composed of the same members, was opened
to try Mr. Stephen Cook, boatswain of her Majesty's
gunboat Drake, for insubordination to his comman-
ding officer. He was found guilty, and sentenced
to lose two years' servitude.
" Her Majesty's steam frigate Furious and the
despatch vessel Roebuck were ordered by the Com-
mander-in-Chief on the 19th inst., the former with
a hundred marines from the brigade at Canton on
board, to proceed to Shanghai, to strengthen our
force there during the winter.
" Admirul Jones, second in command of the naval
force in China, arrived yesterday. His flag was
hoisted on board her Majesty's ship Cambrian, and
duly saluted. In a few days, as soon as accommo-
dation for him is ready, he will shift it to her Ma-
jesty's ship Princess Charlotte, the fine old ship
which he commanded at the bombardment of St.
Jean d'Acre..

" The ships composing our China and India squa-
dron are distributed as follows :

"At Hongkong—The Chesapeake (flag), the
Cambrian, the Magicienne, and the Princess Char-
lotte; the gunboats Banterer, Kestrel, Leven, Star-
ling, Slaney, Woodcock, Drake, and Watchful.
" At Canton and Whampoa—The Fury, the As-
sistance, and the lles;:er, with the gunboats
Staunch, Clown, and Forester.
" At Shanghai—The Sampson, the Furious, the
Inflexible, the Cruiser, and the Nimrod ; the gun-
boats Haughty and Janus.
" At Ningpo—The Algerine.
" At Amoy—The Acorn.
" At Foochow—The Camilla.
"At Singapore—The Esk and the Saracen.
" Gulf of Tartary—The Actaeon and the Dove.
" In India—The Retribution, the Cyclops, and
the Sparrowhawk."
The launch of the Prince of Wales, screw three-
decker, will take place to-morrow at Portsmouth,
about 12.45 p.m. The " ways" were turned in
yesterday morning.

The Queen, 86, screw, Capt. Charles F. Hillyar,
will go out of Portsmouth harbour to Spithead this
morning if the weather should prove favourable.
The screw-steamer Ariadne, 26, Capt. Vansittart,
steamed out of harbour yesterday to Spithead, pre-
paratory to further trials with her screw at the
measured mile.

The screw-steamer Mersey, Capt. IL Caldwell,
C. 8., got under way yesterday morning at Spit-
head to test her Griffiths-Maudslay screw at the
measured mile, but, the weather proving very un-
favourable, the trial was deferred, and she again
brought up at Spithead.
The Pigmy, paddle steamer, Master Commander
Johnstone, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday from
the westward.

The Prussian steam frigate Arcona, 26, Commo-
dore Sundewald, sailed from Spithead yesterday
morning for Southampton.
Fifty continuous service, able-bodied seamen, in
addition to 100 forwarded last week, from the crews
of the Princess Royal, Centurion, and Conqueror,
yesterday left the receiving ship Fisgard, at Wool-
wich, for Plymouth, and a further batch of 100 will
leave in a few days for the same destination, pro-
bably in the troopship Dee, Master Commander T.
Pullen.

The troopship Rhadamanthus,Master -Commander
Sturdee, left Woolwich basin yesterday morning,
and sailed for Portsmouth, conveying 120 able sea-
men and novices for the fleet, as well as boilers and
steam gear for the Sutlej.
The sailing transport James Simpson, in St. Ka-
tharine's Dock, yesterday commenced loading 13-
inch shells from Woolwich Arsenal. The Ruintus
Giuseppe, Zarb master, yesterday signed bills of
lading for a full cargo of war stores, and sailed
from Woolwich. The following transports are char-
tered to ship military stores from Woolwich :—The
Fortitude, the James, the Palestine, the Mischief,
the Mary Sprout, the Llewellyn, the Iris, the Da-
nube, the Ocean, the Briton, the Agnes, the Al-
berto, and the Sarah. .

The steam transport Khersonese, alongside Wool-
wich pier, loading for China, has shipped 1,655 tons
of assorted military stores—such as guns, shot,
shell, and other heavy war materials—and has com-
menced receiving the remainder of her cargo, which
will consist of 345 tons of victualling and hospital
necessaries—including about 100 tons of wine,
spirits, beer, &c. She is expected to sail from
Woolwich on Thursday for Greenhitbe, where she
will embark 50 tons of powder.