The Sun.
London, England, 1857-06-29 00:00:00

CHINA.

HONG KONG, MAY 10.
The steamer Pekin, with the 10th of March mail
from London, arrived on the 29th ult.
The steamer Norma, with the 26th of March
mail, arrived yesterday. The Pekin leaves this
morning with the outward mails.

The intelligence brought by the 10111 of March
mail of the opposition the Government met with
on the China question caused great disappointment
among the community here. It was satisfactory to
I,,arn, however, the policy commenced was not
likely to be influenced essentially. The accounts
we are now in possession of, that seemingly the
voice of the country is in favour of an extended
policy in treating with China at the present crisis,
give us sanguine hopes that our relations with this
country are at last to be put on a firm and proper
footing.

Since writing on the 26th ult. little of political
interest has occurred.

We have intelligence from the Canton river to
the Bth inst. Several attempts had. been made to
Mow up some of the ships. One was nearly
successful in doing mischief. A tink, supposed
to have been one of the boilers of the steamer
Queen, filled with gunpowder, was floated down
towards the Acorn. When within about 15 yards
of the vessel it exploded, but fortunately did no
injury.

Tenders for raising her Majesty's ship Raleigh,
it is advertised, will be received to the 16th inst.
We fear the chances of success in raising the ves-
sel are now small, as, besides the difficulty of
the undertaking in ordinary times, the Chinese
are afraid to come forward for such employment
at present.

Captain Bate has surveyed the rook on which
the Raleigh struck, and he states that it is not
put down in either the English or French charts.
Her Majesty's steamers Fury and Cruiser, and
gunboats S'aunch and Bustard have arrived here.
Her Majesty's steamer Sampson' Capt. Hand,
accompanied by the Camilla brig, Capt. Colville,
has done good service on the coast in destroying
a large number of piratical jnks and lordly?.
The Sampson arrived here on the 28th ult., and
leaves for Foochow to-day, as the rebels are in the
neighbourhood of that place, and they are seriously
interfering with the trade.
•

The Coinus leaves for Amoy to relieve the Camilla,
which vessel takes the Racehorse's place at Foo-
chow. The latter vessel goes to Singapore to re-
lieve the Spartan.
The coolie who murdered Mr. Markwick, the
Government auctioneer, has been tried and found
guilty, and has been sentenced to be hanged.
Some Chinese who were employed by the Govern-
ment at Staul,,y were seized and put on their trial
for high treason, in consequence of the discovery
of some papers. One of the men was convicted,
and had sentenced of death recorded against him.
Shanghai advices are to 29th ult., but do. not
contain anything of political interest. We men-
tioned that a tax of 12 dots. a-chest had been im-
posed by the authorities on the import of opium
into Shanghai ; a similar tax has been established
at Ningpo.
Foochow dates are to the 30th ult.
The near approach of the rebels caused consider-
able uneasiness, and little or no business was doing.
The merchants and wealthy people were removing
their property, and a complete stoppage of trade
was anticipwed by many. No operations could be
carried on for the next season's teas.
A notice has appeared from the Consulate at
Foochow, stating that a preliminary intimation
Lad been received frOm the high Chinese autho-
rities that they are desirous of raising among the
foreign merchants the amount of 500,000 silver
taels, to bear interest at 3 per cent, per mensem,
1110 r repayment of whin?' the duties at all the ports
of foreign trade are to be made security.
At Amoy on the 6th inst. all was quiet.

THE STRAITS.
SINGAPORE, MAY 16.
You will have heard by the last mail of the dis-
turbance created by the Chinese in this place. All
things are now proceeding in their usual train, but
the storekeepers are not without fear that the recent
Government regulations may be made the excuse
for some further attempts w. plunder.
General Gerrat and his staff landed from the
Aden yesterday under a salute of 11 guns. They
were entertliued at the Governor's house. His
Excellency is absent at Manila.
We have had a little dispute here between the
English and American authorities. On the 25th
Feb. last the American ship Coeur de Lion, Capt.
Tucker, bound to China, fell in with a Dutch ship,
the Henrietta Maria, in lat 17 30 long., 110 30 E.
Seeing that the ship was not under command, Capt.
Tucker boarded her and found that she was navi-
gated only by the Chinese crew. Their story was
that they had risen against the Dutchmen and com-
pelled the captain to run the ship over to Cochin
China, where they had allowed him and his officers
to take to their boats, and were then trying to
make their way to China. The American took pos-
sessiJn of the vessel, and, after considerab'.e diffi-
culty, keeping sentry day and night over the
Chinese, and having only five Europans to do this
duty, brought the ship to Singapore. The authori-
ties here sent over to Batavia to give notice of the
circumstance. The Yankee hoisted the American
flag on hoard the Henrietta Maria, and the Sin4a-
pore authorities sent off an armed force and hauled
it down. A Dutch vessel of war now arrived and
took away the ship, the Batavia authorities, how-
ever, saying that any claim for salvage would he
duly decided by the Courts of Batavia. Captain
Tucker put the matter into the hands of his Consul.
The American sloop of war Portsmouth has come
fill() harbour, as some say, to "see about" this
matter, but, as I believe, to take on the ratification
of the American trea►y with Siam. It is a ridicu-
lous matter, but the Yankee captains are sulky on
the subject.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CLIINA MARKETS
HONGKONG, MAY 10.
At Hong Kong we have to report very little doing in
trade.
Cotton—We quote Bangal and Bombay $9 to slla.
Cotton Yarn—High numbers in demand ; Noq. 16 to
24, $26 ; Noe. 28 to 32, s32i to 33 ; Nos. 38 to 42,
$4O.

Shirtings—There has been a small inquiry for these
goods ; grays quoted $1 75c. to $2 40c. ; whites, 54 to
64 reed, $2 to $2 50c.
Iron—Nail rod, $3 65c. to $33 950.
Lead —sB to $B4-.
Freights are unaltered.
Exch4nge on England for six months' sight bills, ss.
to ss. 0.1. on India, 232r5. to 233r5. ; sycee silver, 9
per cent. pm. ; gold, $214 per tael ; clean Mtxtcan dol-
lars, a per cent. pm.
At Macao small parcels of tea and silk have been
bought.
Silk—Llonkings quoted, Nos. 1 to 2, $375 to $3BO ;
sucklows, Nos. 1 to 2, $365 ; knokongs, $350.
The transactions in imports at Amoy during April
had bean on a fair scale.
A t Foochow the settlements of tea were 4,000 cheats
at taels 14 to 24, short price. Stock 12,000 chests. The
Crest of the Wave and the Egmont were on the berth
for London.
At Shanghai a largo business bad been done in imports.
The settlements of silk had aleo been extensive. Very
little tea was obtainable. Longcloths—Grays quoted
taels 1-3-8 to tuts 2-1-5. Whites, taels 1-4 to 1-9.
Iron—Nail-rods, taels 3-1 to taelt 3-3. Bar, taels 3-4.
Hoop, taels 3-1.
Silk—The settlements during the month had been
,000 bales, making a total of 86,000 bales. Quotations
were—No. 3 Tsatlee, $4lO to $415 ; No. 4, $390 to
$405 ; inferior, $3BO to $385 ; Taysaafns superior and
good, none ' • middling to fair, $315 to $350 ; inferior to
middling, 3280 to $3lO.
Tea—Arrivals had only been two chops black, and
10,000 packages green. Very little business had been
done. Prices remained about the same as before :
Export of tea from Canton and Hong Kong,
from Ist July, 1856, to Bth lb.
May, 1857
~ Foochow, from Ist July, 185 G,
to 30th April, 1857
Shanghai, from Ist July, 1856,
to 29t1; April, 1857

Total 58,600,000
-
Canton, from Ist July, 1855, to
Bth May, 1856 26,500,000
Foochow, from let July, 1855,
to Nth April, 1856
Shanghai from lat July, 1855,
to 30th April, 1856

Total

Freights to London, 3/. for tea, and 51. for silk.
Exchange on London, 7s. 30. to 7s. 31. ; on India,
336 r to 335 r.

Manilla advices are to the 28th ult. Exchange bad
advanced to 4s. 5.0., and looking up. Clean Mtxican
dollars 26 per cont. premium, and likely to decline fur-
ther.

Our latest dates are—from England, March 26 ; Cal-
cutta, April 10 ;* Bombay, April 17 ; Singapore, May 2 ;
Melbourne, March 14 ; Sydney, March 10 ; Manilla,
April 23 ; and Shanghai, April 29.

. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
ARRIVALS FROM GREAT BRITAIN.
At Hong Kong, May 1, Janette Cornelia, from Hartle-
poi ; May 3, the Spitfire, from London, and the Robin
Hood, from Lircrp:A.

.
At Hong Kong—The French frigate Capricieuse, and
steamer Catinat, and sloop Nisus.
At Amoy—Her Majesty's brig Camilla.
At Foochow—Her Majesty's steamer Racehorse.
At Shanghai—Her Majesty's ship Pique.
SHIPS OP WAR.
At Canton River—Her Majesty ships Acorn, Cruiser,
Elk, Encounter, Hong Kong, Hornet, Inflexib!e, Niger,
Sir C. Forbes, Sybille, and the gunb,at Starling.
At Macao. —Tine Storeships A lligatpr, Nankin, and
Raleigh ; his Imperial Majesty's steamer Nitrceau and
the frigate Virginia ; the Portugese brig Moadego; the
Spanish steamer Jorge Juan.
At Hongkong.—Her Majesty's gunboat Bustard, the
sloop Bittern, the ship Calcutta ;, the sloop Comus, the
steamers Corrnandel and Fury ; the hospital ship
Hercules, the storeship Minden, the steamer Sampson
and the gunboat Staunch.

CALCUTTA. MARKET.
SATURDAY, May 16.
Since our last issue, under date the 2d inst., we have
been put in possession of Londo❑ adviees to the 10th
ult. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ave with the mails arrived here the day before yesterday.
We have no particular change to report in our pro-
duce-market, all staple articles with one or two excep-
tions, continuing in limited request in consequence of
small supplies coupled with ex.rerne prices and high
freights. Sugar has been in improved demand at en-
hanced figures. Rice has remained without any altera-
tion. Very little has been done in saltpetre for Great
Britain. A good business has been done in raw silk, hut
at a decline in prices. For want of supplies cerahs have
not been largely dealt in. Jute in excellent request at
enhanced figures, but little to be had in the market. Lin-
seed continues to command attention for America.
Scarcely any change in lac dee or shell lac. A brisk
demand has prevailed for safflower, and the new crop
has been taken at extreme rates. Cutch has been sold
to some extent at a reduction on our last quowions.
The position of our Import-market has experienced
little change. All descriptions of grey goods have been
in fair request, while white do not seem to attract much
attention. The active demand for mole-twist which we
reported in our last has continued unabated, and a
further decline has taken place. A fair amount of busi-
ness has like wiee been done in coloured yarn. We have
not bad any acti,ity in our metal-market.
The money-market has scarcely been easier during the
past fortnight, though the Bank of Bengal has reduced
its rate of interest and. discount 1 per cent, all round,
which stands now as follows :—Private bills and notes,
7 per cent. ; Government bills (accepted) 5 per cent. ;
Mint certificates, 5 per cent. ; loans on deposit of Com-
pany's paper, 6 per cent. ; ditto on goods, 7 per cent.
Rates of Advance.— Sicca 4 per cent, and stock re-
ceipts, 88r, ; Company's 4 ditto, 83r. ; Company's 5
ditto, 95r.

Shares.—Since our last report there has been r.o
change in this market. The Bonded Warehouse Asso-
ciation have just declared a dividend for the past half-
year at the rate of 17 rupees a share.
Government Securities.—Soon after the Bank of
Bengal rates were lowered last week an improvement in
the value of ad securities took place. A large business
has been done in C,mpany's Fours at 12r. 41., which is
the rate to-day. Sicca Fours are quoted at 14r. to 14r.
45. ; Company's Fives at par. The other descriptions of
paper remain nominally at our last quotations.
Exchange on Laudon.—The market for the present
mail opened at 2s. 1.11. for first-cla,4s Americans and
other credits, it fell suh,equentiv for a few days to 24.
13,1., but is again up to is. lad for Barings and other
first-class papers, and 2s. 1 d. for credits in less favour.
On China tran,actions to the extent of about 14 tics at
227 r., and bids in fair demand. On Mauritius 60 days'
sight bills are quoted at 53e.

Freights. —Our rates for Great Britain, since our last
report, have continued unaltered, pr sect quotations be•
ing still 4/. 15s. for London, and 41. 7s. 6J. for Liver-
pool all round ; but the scarcity of produce has cur-
tailed business. Some large engagements of tonnage
have taken place for the West Indies, Hamburg, Aus-
tralia, and other ports. The rates to the Mauritius sud-
denly declined from 2r. 2a. to lr. Ba. a bag, in conse-
quence of five large vessels, which were take❑ up within
a few days for the conveyance of emigrants to the Mau-
ritius, requiring dead weight tothe extent of about 60,000
bags ; but we have since had a re-action, and our el >s-
ing rate is lr. 12a, a bag. Fur China also, since the
arrival of the strainers Fiery Cross and Lightning, lower
rates were accepted, the bulk of the engagements, to
the extent of about 100,000 bags of rice, having been
at 1 dollar a bag, though 1 dollar 100., has latterly been
paid. We have again to report a scarity of tonnage in
our port, and a want of vessels of moderate sizes, which
are always preferred to ships of large carryingcapacities.
As yet supplies of produce have come down v-ry spar-
ingly, in consequence of the rivers not having. rise❑ suf-
ficiently ; but, as in a month hence our stocks v. ill be
considerably increased, a largcr demand for tonnage is
expected. It is, however, difficult to say whether our
present rates will be further enLanced, as a good num•
ber of vessels might visit our port from different quarters
seeking employment, and induced by prospects of remu-
nerative freights.

THE BOMBAY MARKET FROM THE nut TO

THE 26 it OF MAY.

The English mail from '4,n :don of the 26th of April,
per Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamship Bom-
bay, reached Bombay on the afternoon of,the 22d inst.
Our money market during the past fortnight has, con-
trary to expectation, become very much tighter, and the
banks in consequence have raised their rates of interest
3 per cent, all round, and present rates of interest now
range from 8 to 10 per cent. ; but we are of opinion that
the present pressure will be of short duration, as the
public did not seem inclined to submit to these high rates.
A drain on the banks for speculation in opium and in
the new 5 per cont. loan is said to be the cause of the
present tightness in our market.
Government and other securities remain at about
former quotations. _