The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-07 00:00:00

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COLCHES'f.Eit -Atm. 4.

)(
THEBRITISR EXPEDITION TO aillYA.

--04.7 an—the Special Correspondent of the Times.)
SINGAPORE, JUNE 14.
Through storm and tempest across the restless
Bay of Bengal, in calm and sunshine down the
Straits of Malacca, and through the lovely Bay of
Islands,the Pekin brought the Ambassadors safely
to Singapore. She anchored yesterday under the
usual double salutes from the fort and from the
steam frigate Assaye, of her Majesty's Indian navy.
Lord Elgin and Baron Gros were received on land-
ing by a guard of honour from the 11th Regiment
of Sikhs. Such alarming reports met us at Penang
respecting this corps, and they have experienced:
such extraordinary treatment, that the attention of
the authorities should be at once called to the sub-
ject.
When the Government required volunteers for
China the llth Regiment was the first to come for-
ward. Although a young corps, it had already
given proof of steadiness and attachment to its
colours, particularly at Mooltan, when the 62d and
69th Native regiments mutinied. For his behaviour
on this occasion a havildar got the order of merit.
No sooner was it known that the regiment was
proceeding on active service than a host of officers'
volunteered from the regular army and from the
Indian army. Fourteen were selected from the
applicants, who had passed in the native language,
and some 700 strong, the 11th Sikhs, marched
down from Lahore to Kurrachee, whence they em-
barked for China.

After a tedious voyage they arrived qt Singa-
pore about the middle of May, and were in-
formed by the Brigadier commanding at the station
that the regiment was to disembark and proceed no
further. Such were the orders received from Cal-
cutta, and no explanations were given. Singapore
is a penal settlement for convicts from India, and
the Sikhs showed a very natural antipathy to be
transported wholesale. They had been embodied
for service in India alone, had then volunteered for
China, and embarked for the mit of war; their
services had been first sought, and then accepted by
the Government, which now, for some unknown
motive, deliberately broke faith with them. The
commandant, Captain Stafford, addressed his men,
and took the responsibility of informing them that
should they not proceed to China they would return
home, and he at once wrote to the Cemmander-in-
Chief iu India for instructions. The men have be-'
hayed admirably. Though extremely dissatisfied
with their treatment they are obedient and tract-
able. Some spell seems to hang over the Indian
Government. After a mutiny which swept off the
native army in Bengal, it disgusts and disbands its
European soldiers, and now sows the seeds of dis-
affection and mutiny among the only native troops
on whom reliance can be placed. If a regiment
which has committed no offence be treated in so
offensive a fashion, what hope can there be of ob-
taining further volunteers when, as there is every
reason to fear, they may be suddenly required ?
The mail which takes this letter to England will
carry a fortnight's later news from China. Accord-
ing to our last advices there seems little doubt that
the war is assuming larger proportions, and that the
Emperor is preparing for a desperate resistance.
The proposals of the Allies have been rejected
with scorn, the French receiving the large dose of
Imperial contumely. All the troops have left for
the north. The British Commissariat alone has en-
gaged some 80,000 or 90,000 tons of shipping, and
so great are its demands for money that exchange
has risen considerably in consequence of the large
amount of hills drawn upon England.. Mr. Glad-
stone must look to it, for the £850,000 Toted for the
war will be expended before a blow he struck. I
had an interview yesterday with Mr. Whampoa, a
well-known Chinese merchant. He speaks English
fluently, educates his son at Edinburgh, .and seems
to have emancipated himself from the trammels and
prejudices in which every Chinaman is bound. He
says that the Chinese population of Singe pore take
no interest whatever in the war. For his own part,
without discussing the question of right or wrong,
he holds that in the interests of China it is most
desirable that a decisive blow be struck before
Pekin. The Emperor is in the hands of the war
party, inflated beyond measure by their success last
year at the Taku forts. A disastrous defeat would
bring them to reason and lay the basis of a solid
peace. The story goes that the Emperor objects
" to the very bad habit you English have got.
When you go to war you always want money. You
ask me to pay for the gunboats you lost. Who is
to pay me for my forts which you destroyed at Can-
ton and elsewhere ?"

Mr. Whampoa's property on the hill has been
bought by Government. It is now being cleared,
and barracks will at once be built for an European
regiment, to be stationed at Singapore. A few
years ago but a fishing village Singapore now boasts
of a large and increasing trade. Its population is
thriving and numbers some 80,000 souls, of whom
50,000 are Chinamen and 30,000 Europeans. It has
never been garrisoned by Queen's troops, but is
evidently the place where a reserve should be sta-
tioned. In six days a regiment could be forwarded
to Hong Kong, in 12 to Calcutta, and in three weeks
to Australia or New Zealand. It is by n o means un-
healthy, the temperature ranging from 80 deg. to
90 deg., while the Penang Hills, within two days'
voyage, afford the climate of England and an ex-
cellent sanitarium.

The Pekin sails at 2 o'clock for Hong Kong. You
must not be surprised if the next mail from China
be delayed, as I am informed that there is no Penin-
sular and Oriental steamer available to take the
place of the Malabar, and carry the mail of the 21st
to England.
P.S. I am happy to say that Lord Elgin has
availed himself of his powers as Ambassador Extra-
ordinary, and has requested the Governor to for-
ward the Sikh Regiment to China by the first op-
portunity. On this order the Governor will act.
Lord Elgin has thus done the State good service.
He has remedied an unquestionable grievance, re-
stored the good faith of the Government, and
checked a spirit of discontent which might have
produced most lamentable results.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

There was a rather fair supply of wheat. and business
was not brisk, at barely late rates. In Spring (stn little
doing worthy of notice.
Wheat, white 6os to 654 Beans, Mazagan..37s to 404
red s4s to :388 I Middle & small 40s to 44s
Barley 2Bs to 32s I Vhite peas 3Bs to 464
Oats 26s to 23s Urey,. 4O, to 42s