The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-14 00:00:00

CEIINA.

The Overland China Mail (Hong-Kong, May
23), says :
Sir Hope Grant still remains in Hong-Kong, but
preparations are making for his departure north-
ward on the 30th of this month. General Sir
Robert Napier has already left.
The continued delay of Lord Elgin excites dis-
appointment; and it seems doubtful. whether mili-
tary operations can effect much, or almost any-
thing, this year. A great part of the British force
is in movement for Chusan, where it is supposed
that it is to rendezvous. The French force is re-
ported to be about to rendezvous at Che-foo, on the
coast of Shan-tung and in the Gulf of Pechelee;
and there will be also a station for British stores
and troops on the opposite side of the Gulf. It is
whispered that Sir Hope Grant may, perhaps, oc-
cupy Tien-tsin before he attempts to take the
Taku forts.
No apparent change has occurred in the position
of diplomatic affairs, except that Kweiliang has
been made senior guardian to the heir apparent, and
it is rumoured that another Mantchu of high rank
has been appointed to deal with foreign affairs.
A confidential correspondent, in a position to
obtain good information, writes to us :—" The
reports I get from Pekin are to the effect that the
defences of the Taku forts are very substantial, and
that the Chinese have been practising in gunnery
till they fire with great precision. this is borne
out by a visit of H.I.M.S. Forbin to the Gulf of
Pechelee, which has reported that an extensive
line of fortifications has been erected on the banks
of the Peiho from its mouth upwards. It also
appears from the Pekin Gazette that trenches
or rifle pits are to be used by the Chinese, and
from their own invention. If an attempt is made
to take the Taku forts there will doubtless be some
hard fighting ; and we are not altogether convinced
that even the present force (weakened as it is by ,
the consciousness of a bad cause) will be able to

take them. What the effects of another effectual'
resistance at Taku would be at the ports cannot be
surmised. At present the prevailing sentiment at
Canton is clearly in favour of peace, among officers
and people, residents of the city and of the country.
The island of Chusan has been ple.ced in charge of
an allied commission, composed of Mr. Hughes, of
her Majesty's consular service,M. de Merimns, attaché
to the French legation, and Captain Gritton, Royal
Marines. They have published proclamations, inti-
mating their authority, and forbidding any one to
establish himself at Ting-hai without their per-
mission.

We are sorry to have to report that the rebels in
the Canton province have again been successful, the
money for buying them up having not been forth-
coming on the day it was promised. They imme-
diately attacked a force of mandarin soldiers, and
killed or took prisoners 500 of them, together with
a number of war boats. Troops have been ordered
up to meet them froin another part of the province ;
but before these can arrive the marauders may
commit much injury, and they have already de-
stroyed some of the new tea. There are thousands
of refugees in Canton from tho disturbed districts,
and both Chinese and foreign merchants have come
forward to their relief.
In the North also the rebels have obtained some
success. They have forced the Imperialists to raise
the siege of Nanking, have captured much of their
arms, and have compelled them to disperse.
At Swatow, Mr. M'Cann, a European in the
Chinese customs service, has been murdered by six
Cantonese carpenters, who attacked him with their
axes, and quickly dispatched him. It is said that
this act was perpetrated in revenge for his having
enforced the duty on some opium in which they
were concerned.
There is no change to notice either in our com-
mercial or political relations with the Chinese Em-
pire. Business, usually dull at this season, this year
displays unwonted inactivity. In Hong Kong the
amount of business during the fortnight has been on
a very limited scale. A large amount of business
has been transacted in Exchange for the outgoing
mail. Government requirements having put about
£400,000 of 30 days' sight Treasury Bills on the
market, they were taken at 4s. 91(1. to 4s. 10d.
against Mexican or South American dollars weighed
at tls. 7.1.7. Bank paper has been sold as high as
4s. 10d. Closing prices, however, do not rule h; her
than 4s. 91d. to 4s. 91d. First-class Bills are quoted
4s. 91d. to 4s. 10d. Bombay and Calcutta rule alike
rs. 2?.8 to 229 per 100 dols. Sycee, 6 per cent., and
Bar Silver, 8 per cent. prem. Gold Leaf; 23 dols.
35c.
In Canton, business is in a most unsatisfactory
condition, in consequence of the gradual approach
and reported successes of the insurgents. Exchange
was firm at 6 7 for bank bills, 6 8 for first-class
credits, and 6 81 for paper with documents at-
tached. The tendency was, if anything, down-
ward. Contrary to the general rule, Shanghae
Exchange will no doubt be influenced by the Hong
Kong market, owing to Government operations
here, and from all accounts the downward tendency
noticed was only arrested by accounts of extreme
firmness in Canton.