The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-14 00:00:00

THE BRITISIi

(From the Times' Special, Correspondent.)
After a safe and prosperous voyage the Pekin,
aided by the south-west monsoon, has deposited her
diplomatic freight at Hong Kong. Soon after day-

light yesterday morning we sighted the Asses'-ears.
Steaming on, amid rocky, barren islets, we pass

Deep Bay, and see the masts of her Majesty's steam
transport Assistance, with her Majesty's ship Esk
on guard by her side. The Assistance was lost on
the Ist inst., according to Act of Parliament. She

struck on a rock not marked in the chart, but she

was hugging the shore so close as to be less than her
own length from it. She is a total wreck, and had
some £lO,OOO worth of stores on board, which are

either destroyed or damaged. With the ensigns of
England and France at her main, and gaily dressed
in many-coloured bunting, the Pekin steams slowly
to her moorings ; and now the anchor is down and

we quit the ship. Most fortunate were the poor
castaways of the Malabar in finding such a com-
mander as Captain Cloete. In this his first voyage
in command, and under most trying circumstances
—he was obliged to suspend his first officer—Capt.
Cloete has exhibited qualities which augur well for

his future career. An Oxford man and a scholar,
a skilful seaman and a careful navigator, he has

brought us safely through these dangerous seas, and
been most unremitting in his attentions to all on
board. In bearing this public testimony to his
merits I do but echo the opinion of the Ambassa-
dors and of all on board.

Hong Kong, " the island of fragrant streams," is
progressing rapidly in wealth and importance. Some
19 years have elapsed since it became a British co-
lony, at which time its population of 700 Chinese
eked out a miserable subsistence by fishing and ca-
botage. See those gay bungalows perched on the
hill-side towards Victoria Peak, or cosily nestling on

the margin of the lake ; there reside the heads of
those great China houses whose fame is European, and
who hence direct the operations which lead to such
colossal fortunes. "The living here's uncommon
pleasant," as Thackeray sings ; but, alas, you will
not " find the air agree." Built on the side and at

the base of the mountain, Victoria is completely shut
out from the breeze of the south-west monsoon
Not a cat's paw is now stirring on one half of the
lake-like harbour. The sun is setting behind the
peak, but no sea breeze comes to refresh the jaded
body. Across the bay on the mainland is the Kow-
loon peninsula ; it lies at the foot of the lofty granite
hills, which exclude us from all view of the inte-
rior. This promontory is some two miles long and
one wide. The rocks which form it have been
heaved about into small hillocks and narrow
valleys. Open to the south-west monsoon, which
is ruffling the water at its base, Kowloon is the
very place for an encampment, for it is dry and
airy, and the ground is easy of access. Great Bri-
tain has just obtained at a nominal rent a lease of
this peninsula in perpetuity from the Governor-
General of Kwantung province. Here a great part
of the army has been encamped, and a most healthy
position it has proved. But Kowloon possesses au
additional value. Deep water surrounds the low
rocks which fringe it, and at a very trifling cost a
pier could be run out, alongside which a 50-gun
frigate might coal. This has not been overlooked
by Admiral Hope, who has recommended the home
authorities to commence operations without delay.
A small dockyard already exists at Hong Kong,
and a magnificent dock, built of the best granite,
and some 325 long, has just been finished by Mr.
John Lamont. Hong Kong, therefore, promises to
be the naval. as it already is the financial, head-
quarters. Before leaving Kwantung province let
me refer to a case which curiously illustrates our
relations with China. For many years an active
business has been carried on at Swatow, though it
is not one of the five ports opened to trade by the
treaty of Nankin. From Swatow, also, have been
exported those cargoes of coolies whose sufferings
and harsh treatment have so often afforded sub-
ject for comment. The treaty of Tien-tsin added
Swatow and other places to the five ports,
but as this treaty was never ratified the
Consulates have not been opened. Many com-
plaints having lately been made, and some little
rioting having occurred, Mr. Bruce has concluded a
treaty within a treaty, and arranged with the Go-
vernor of the province that the Consul, Mr. G. W.
Caine, shall at once proceed to his post. Ho goes
forthwith, accompanied by Mr. Alabaster as inter-
preter, and Mr. Cooper as assistant. The armies
have assembled in the North—the English at Ta-
lien-hwan, the French at Chefou, both in the Gulf
of Pechele, and about 100 miles from the mouth of
the Peiho. A force of 2,000 men has been left to
garrison Hong-kong, consisting of the 21st Madras
Native Regiment, a provisional battalion formed of
the depets of the British regiments on service in
the field, and 250 artillerymen. The health of the
troops has been excellent. No epidemics have pre-
vailed, and they have suffered more from one cause
to which I can merely allude than from any sick-
ness incidental to a tropical climate. I am happy
to say that I hear but one opinion as to the efficiency
of the British force, or as to the arrangements made
by the chiefs for insuring the health and comfort of
the men. Staff Surgeon D. F. Rennie was in-
structed by Dr. Muir, the principal medical officer,
to report on the state of the barracks here with re-
ference to their sanitary condition. He found the
arrangements defective in many particulars, and
the barracks overcrowied. Dr. Muir forthwith
communicated with Sir Hope Grant, who acted
with energy and promptitude. A number of men
were removed to the barracks at Stanley, on the
south side of the island, and the authorities are now
actively engaged in carrying out the necessary sani-
tary reforms. An additional Deputy Inspector-
General of Hospitals being required, Dr. Gordon,
C. 8., late of the 10th Foot, has arrived at Hong-
kong. Dr. Gordon was superintending surgeon of
Sir Edward Lugard's column during the late opera-
tions in India, and received the Order of the Bath
for the energy and ability he displayed in that ca-
pacity. He remains here, and will forward to the
Cape all sick and wounded who require a change
of climate. There they will be placed in a large
sanitarium lately established at Constantia. The
Mauritius, the Sir W. Peel, and the Melbourne
have been fitted up as ambulant hospital steamers
for the conveyance of the sick and wounded. The
Lancashire Witch remains as permanent hospital
ship in the gulf of Pechele, and the Hercules and
Princess Charlotte in Hong Kong harbour.
Canton is strongly garrisoned. The British force
consists of 3,589 men, and includes one European
regiment (the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, upwards
of 1,100 strong), two native regiments, a battery of
Royal Artillery, and some detachments. The 87th
are much disappointed at being left behind, and
there is certainly no finer regiment in her Ma-
jesty's service. At the battle of Barrosa they took
an eagle from the French, and in commemoration
of that event the Imperial bird, with a wreath of
laurel, is embroidered on their colours and worn on
their shakos. I strongly suspect that this badge of
victory has caused them to be left in garrison, lest
our allies should take umbrage at seeing it dis-
played in action before a common enemy.
Sir Hope Grant and Admiral Hope left Hong
Kong for Shanghai on Monday the 11th inst., and
arrived on the 16th. They found a most extraordi•
nary state of things awaiting them. The Imperial
Government has for months bestowed all its care
and attention on the line of the Peiho, where, if
native accounts may be credited, a desperate resi§t-
ance will be made. In their anxiety to prepare a
proper reception for the barbarians the Govern-
ment forget the Imperial army besieging Nankin,
where the rebels have been so long and successfully
established. But your Chinaman is a practical
man, .and the Imperialist troops, finding
scat-
tered them-
selves forgotten by the No. 1 Mandarins
at Pekin,
determined to fight no longer but to loot on their
own account. They therefore disbanded,
andand town.
Chang, themselves over the country in every direc-
tion, pillaging and plundering village
Chang, Generalissimo of the Imperial forces,
en-
deavoured to arrest the disorder, and published
the following proclamation
(g Chang, appointed by Imperial commission Generalis-
simo, superintending all military operations in Chehklang
(properly), Commander in• Chief of the Provincial Army
of It wangsi, a Kituyii (hereditary rank), and Mingyung
Baturu, makes proclamation, whereas the vagabond
rebels, madly outrageous, having worked their way into