The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-15 00:00:00

CHINA.

A terrific explosion ocourred at Hong Kong on
the 17th January. The powder hulk Zephyr and
Bremen schooner Thernis, moored about two miles
from the Praya, and having on board 115 tons of

powder between them, blew up, and 36 men were
instantaneously killed, besides many more, number
unknown, who were drowned by upsetting of

sampans.
The Overland China Mail of the Ist February
says :—" It is said that the Chinese at Pekin have
been enthusiastic at the account which Pin Ta-jen
has given thorn of his visit to Europe, and a desire
has been manifested in many directions to follow
his example. The establishment of a college under
the foreign professors who have come out with Mr.
Hart is looked upon with great interest, and it is
generally believed, both among natives and Euro-
peans, to be likely to have a very beneficial influ-
ence. The chief difficulty will consist in getting
professors acquainted with the language, those who
have come out being mostly beyond the age when a
language so difficult as Chinese can be acquired. It
is, however, hoped that the student interpreters in
the service of the Customs will render much assist-
ance in this respect, and that in the course of time
the institution may be set into good working order."
JAPAN.
The Japan Times Overland Mail of the 17th of
January states that the principal political occur-
rence of the fortnight is the determination come
to by the foreign Ministers to accept an invita-
tion tendered them by Stotsbashi, the new sho-
goon to visit him at Osaka. It was believed to be
their intention to leave Yokohama for that pur-
pose in about a fortnight. " Such a visit, some
time before the opening of the port of next Ja-
nuary," adds the Japan Times, " would in any case
have been necessary, as there is much to settle re-
garding the position of the new foreign settlement,
the anchorage, the tenure of land, erection of
buildings for the Custom-house and bonded ware-
houses, residences of diplomatic agents, &c." We
read in the same paper : —" Many Japanese of high
rank have left or are leaving this country for the
purpose of being present at the French Exhibition.
We have mentioned the departure of Satsuma's
brothers and suite from Nagasaki, and almost every
mail now carries away Japanese passengers. A
large number of young gentlemen have been sent
to Europe for education, and the very best results
are to be anticipated from the evidently strong
desire manifested amongst the upper classes of
Japanese to see for themselves the nations
of the 'West. Nor are their efforts at self-im-
provement confined to foreign travel. A school
under French direction has been for some time
established at Benten, near the residence of his
Excellency the French minister, and we are now
able to announce that a school and college on the
English system will shortly be opened at Yoko-
hama, under the direction of an English principal
orders were sent home the mail before last for the
necessary books. By the Alphee arrived a number
of French officers, commissioned and non-com-
missioned—all men carefully picked for the service
—whose mission, though of perhaps not so useful