The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-13 00:00:00

OHINA.

The following is from the Overland China Mail,
dated Hong Kong, Nov. 28 :
The past fortnight has been characterised by little
but repeated rumours, each one affecting greater ac-
curacy than another, as to when active operations
were really to commence. The flag-ship Calcutta,
with a number of the steamers and gun-boats, left
for the River on the 17th and 18th, but beyond this,
ws believe, no further step has been actually taken,
and the capture of Canton is still in perspective.
The admiral is said to be desirous for the presence of
Colonel Holloway, who is appointed to the imme-
diate command of the Marines, and who, with the
remainder of that body, is expected in the Ade-
laide, whose long passage is now creating some
armiety. At all events the furce at present here is
very large, and probably much better able to take
Canton than General Wilson's was to take Delhi.

There have been no additions to the fleet since
our last overland issue, with the exception of the
gunboat Kestrel ; indeed we have not many more
vessels to come. The steamers, Alacrity, Retribu-
tion, and Viper, the Belleisle, and Melville hos-
pital-ships, the Princess Charlotte, storeship, and
only one gunboat more, the Teazer, may be looked
tor. The fleet no 7r in Hong Kong and the river
consists of eight sailing vessels, aggregating 250
guns nine steamers, 149 guns, 19 gunboats, and
three despatch steamers. There are, besides, five
ships of war at the northern ports.
Of the force to be opposed to us at Canton no re-
liable information can be gained. There is every
reason to believe that it will not equal what
would have faced us this time last year, although
still large enough to give us a little trouble.
We are informed upon good authority that there
was no foundation for the report that Yeh had left
the city ; he is still in it, and likely to stand by it to
the last. The impression that the British are going
to sommence hostilities soon is decidedly being felt at
Canton. Some of the citizens are moving into the
neighbouring villages, and not a few have brought
their families to Macao, and even to Hong Kong.

There seems now to be no doubt at all that the
French are to assist us ; a correspondent up the
river says that they are to furnish 1,000 men. This
number will increase our force by about one-eighth.
Very little of consequence has of late occurred
in the river. A successful gunboat excursion
has been made to a village near Fatahan
Creek for the capture of some fire rafts.
Another gunboat has since penetrated to the same
place and returned with another fire raft. The
following is the position of the vessels:—The Hor-
net, the Highflyer, the Actaeon, and the Elk, with
eight gunboats form the advance squadron, close to
the barrier ; the Sampson, at Escape Creek ; all
the other vessels in company with the Calcutta,
near Wangtung. The marines and sailors are
drilled regularly ashore at Tiger Island.
The Shanghae steamer arrived, long before her
expected time, last night, having left Shanghae
only on the 24th. We have little news of general
interest from that port. A correspondent writes as
follows :

" There has been a grand cutting off of rebel and
pirate heads. Sims 50 or 60, or some say 100, were
decapitated to-day ; they were most of them brought in
by the Pluto, a small screw steamer bought by the
Chinese some time ago."

The steamer did not call either at Fuhohau or
Amoy, but we have news from the latter port to
the 26th inst., by H. Xs steamer Nimrod. The Ma-
dagascar had arrived with loss of mainmast, through
Laving taken is mud ballast. The Admiral was about
to sail from Amoy for Havannah, with about 216
coolies. The master was fined $2OO by the Consul for
failing to report a murder committed by one of the
coolies (who fractured the skull of another Chinese
by throwing a hollystone at him), and permitting
the murderer to escape. A piracy was committed
on the 16th at Tinghae Bay, about 15 miles from
Amoy upon Lorcha No. 64, Rozario master. Three
Fuhkienese junks ran alongside, and after throwing
stink-pots, boarded. They had no time to take
advantage of their capture, for the stink-pots, get-
ting among the "gunpowder, blew up the lorcha,
killing and wounding several of the crew, and many
of the pirates, 7of whom were missing. Some of
the survivors of the crew are much burnt, and are in
hospital. The quotations were—Patna, 640 dols. ;
Benares, 645 dols. ; Malwa, 700 dols.—very dull.
Bombay cotton 17 dols. 50c., in demand.
Our latest advices from Fuhchau by the same
steamer are to the 21st inst. A fair amount of
business in tea had been done during the last fort-
night, but stocks were still high-90,000 chests of
Congou, and 10,000 half-chests Oolong. Prices
were without material altera'ion. Patna was
quoted 700 dols. ; Benares, 700 dols. ; and Malwa,
800 dols. The Kelso had cleared f r London ; and
the Sarah H. Snow for New York, was alaicst full.

Affairs at Swatow seemed by the latest accounts
to be restored to their former tranquillity.
The amount collected here on behalf of the suf-
ferers in India has been very lArg--R15,000.
810,000 of this sum wai remitted on a former
occa,Aion, and the remaining R 5,000 has been for-
warded through the Oriental Bank Corporation,
per steamer Lancefield, at the flame liberal rate of
exchange, viz., R 225 per 100 dole.

THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
THIS EVENING. will be performed THE LADIES'
BATTLE, in which Mr. and Mrs. Leigh Murray and Miss M.
Oliver will p^rform.
After which, the new grand pantomime, LITTLE JACK
HORNER.
Commenee at 7.

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone.

THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven o'clock. with
A CURE FOR THE HEARTACHE, in which Mr. Buck-
stone will appear.
After which, a new comic Christmas Pantomime, entitled
THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD ; or, Harle-
quin and the Spiteful Fairy. Harlequin, Mr. A. Leclercq ;
Columbine, Miss Fanny Wright ; Pantaloon, Mr. Mackay ;
Clown, Mr. Charles Leclercq.
Orchestra Stalls (which may be retained the whole of the
eveningk6s. each. (No charge for booking.)
First PUce. s. d. Second price. s. d
likess Boxes 5 (IDress Boxes 3 0
'Upper Boxes 3 0 Upper Boxes 2 0
Pit 2 0 Pit 1 0
Gallery

OY AL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Proprietor, Mr. Charles Kean.
.A.%)
THIS EVENING, will be performed Slaakspere's Play of
MIDSUMMER-NIGHT'S DREAM.
After which, a new grand comic Christmas Pantomime,
entitled HARLEQUIN WHITE CAT •, or, The Princess
Blanche Flower and her Fairy Godmothers. The Princess
Blanche (White Cat), Miss Kate Terry ; Harlequin, Mr. Cor-
mack ; Clown, Mr. Huline; Pantaloon, Mr. Paulo ; and
Columbine, Minn C. Adams.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.
Lessee—Mr. Ben. Webster.
THIS EVENING, will be performed the second and
third acts of THE GREEN BUSHES, in which Madame
Celeste, and Mr. Wright will perform.
After which, a Mythological Extravaganza, entitled
HARLEQUIN, OR THE LOVES OF CUPID AND
PSYCHE. Jupiter, Mr. Paul Bedford ; Mars, Mr. Frank
Hall; Venus, Mrs. Billiwzton ; Cupid, giS4 Marie Wilton ;
Psyche, Miss Mary Keeley.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—SoIe Lessee
and Manager, Mr. C. Dillon.—
THIS EVENING, THB KING'S MUSKETEERS. Prin.
ciPa sharacte" b 7 MesarP. Charles Dillon, Stuart, Barrett,
Poynter, Hihtton; Mesdames V, oolgar, Buckingham White,
and Weston.
To conclude with the Burlesque and Pantomime, LALLAH
ROOKH, and the PRINCESS, the PERI, and the TROU-
BADOUR ° • or, Harlequin and the Ghebers of the Desert.
Supported by Mesdames Charles Dillon, Buckingham White,
Eliza Webb, Maria Taman, Esther Jacobs, and Woolgar ;
Messrs. Barrett, Calhaem, Holston, Poynter, and J. L.
Toole. Clowns, Messrs, T. Matthews and R. Stilt ;
Harlequin, Mr. J. Ricketts; Pantaloon, Mr. A. Stilt ; Sprites,
Herr Zaleski and sons ; Columbines, Misses Malcolm and
Lees.
Gorgeous Feast of Lanterns.—Fenton's Grand Trans-
formation Scene.
Doors open at half-past 6, to commence at 7.

A Morning Performance on Saturday next, Jan. 16, to coin.
mence at half-past 2, on which occasion the Boys of the Duke
of York's School will attend.
On Monday next, a new and original Comedy, by Leigh
Hunt, Esq.
3ox•oftice open from 11 to 5 daily.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

rIII9 DAY—Morn., 55 Min. aft. 12—Even., 15 min aft. 1
To-Moßitow—Morn., 35 min. aft. I—Even., 0 min. aft. 2