The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-18 00:00:00

CHINA.

The advices brought by this mail are of compa-
ratively an unimportant character.
The steamer,Zenobia with troops from Madras,
had artived at Hong Kona, as also had H. M.S. V.
Inflexibleaand the gunboat Starling.
The steamer John was lost by striking upon a
ro;:k to the south side of Tong-ying, having on
board a large and valuable cargo—crow saved. Rice
bad reached famine prices in China, and the people
were said to be " perishing in numbers."
An appeal had been made to Admiral Seymour
for a man-of-war to be stationed off the Brothers,
to protect the small craft trading betwixt Hong
Kong and Macao, on which the market supplies so
much, depend. His Excellency has hitherto been
short-handed.

Rumours were at one time rifeabout anticipated
disturbances in Macao, and threats head out against
the city by the Chinese. They sawn to resolve
themselves, however, into an attempt on the
part of the Mandarins to obtain access to the
settlement, for the purpose of extorting money
from natives in European employ.
A spirited affair, which had taken place within
the fortnight, is thus narrated by the China Mail :
"A daring, gallant, and successful attack has
been made during the past week upon seventeen
armed junks, by two boats, of B.M. steamer
Hornet, which shews that the spirit of their fore-
fathers is not dead, but stilt slumbers within the
breasts of our brave tars, and that opportunity alone
is required to draw it forth. The boats were in
charge of Lieut. Brock and Mi. Brown (mate),
who have well earned the promotion which we cor-
dially trust awaits them.

From information supplied by two Chinese, whose
junks had been captured by a large fleet of pirates
iu the vicinity of St. John's, the Hornet was de-
spatched early on Wednesday morning, the 19th
inst., in search for them, with orders to take with
her the Auckls.nd, then cruizing about Lantao,
if she fell in with her. Not seeing the Auckland,
the Hornet proceeded on towards St. John's,
off which island she remained until daylight, and
then went into Sha-tye Bay. Nothing suspici-
ous being seen there, and the Chinese informants
stating that the pirates had gone to another bay
adjoining, the Hornet went on towards Sandy Bay
on nearing which a small, suspicious-looking
fishing-boat was observed sailing outside the bay.
She was brought alongside, and it was found that
she had been chartered by a shopkeeper belonging
to Macao to take him to the pirate fleet, which bad
captured a boat of his—his object there being to
purchase the release of one of his partners, who
had been taken prisoner, and for which purpose
he had a sum of money with him. - The boatwas
directed to go into Sha-tye Bay and try to ascertain
where the pirates had gone to; the Hornet remain=
ing at anchor, preparing to return to Hong Kong
should nothing be heard of the pirate 4. Some time
after, the boat came back with information that
she had been warned by some fishermen not to go
into Sha-tye, as there were five small pirate boa's
inside, round a point, a'd that only two days pre-
vious a large number had been in Sandy Bay. It
was then dtermined to search the bay, and the
Hornet having gone into three fathoms water,
anchored, and manned her four boats. Captain
Forsyth pulled in his gig. followed by the pinuace
with a howitzer in charge. of Mr. Brown, one cut-
ter with a rocket-tube in charge of Lieut. Brock,
and another cutter in charge of Mr. Denison. On
rounding a rocky point Of land, the gig suddenly
observed several junks' masts. Captain Forsyth
backed his boat astern, and ordered the pinnace
and cutter to pull up ; and as soon as they came
in sight of the junks a shot was fired at them,
which fell near the pinnace. This was instantly
returned, and several other shots again
fired. Finding the junks were prepared for as at-
tack, Captain Forsyth landed with Mr. Denison's
and his own boat's crews, together with all the
marines, on the point of laud, and from its top kept
up a sharp fire with the minies, the pinnace and
rocket cutter still keeping up their fire, which was
briskly returned by the pirates. This lasted for
about half-an-hour, when Messrs. Brock and
Brown, finding they were so much exposed deter-
mined to make a dash ; • and as soon as the word was
given, the men gave three cheers and
pulled in.
The cheers were returned by those on the hill,
and Captain Forsyth led the party down. towards
the junks, still keeping up the muneerirng.
As the two boats approached, the pirates d firing.
ested
their guns and took to the
water, and theirjunks
being all aground, they easily got on shore and
took to the hills. All the pirate junks,
17 in num-
ber, were then taken possession of, and in the fore-
most one were found one European and one Goa
Portuguese ; they were made prisoners. The junks
were found to be armed with 74 guns of various
besides small arms. Captain Forsythd.id not
consider it prudent to set firs to the junks,as they
were, for the guns could be easily fished up again ;
he therefore determined to wait until he could get
two or three of them afloat, to place all the guns
into them, and then set fire to the disarmed junks.
This could not be effected till Friday, when teey
were entirely destroyed. The junks containing
the guns were next sailed out into deep • wat,r,
and the guns thrown overboard, atter which the
junks themselves were set on fire and cast adrift.
The Hornet then took in her boats and left the
bay, but anchored under the island for the night.
Next day she got under weigh, and stood for the
Ladroues, intending to look into Lingting. On
Sunday morning accordingly she did so, but could
see nothing suspicious. She then passed Chekchu,
and came in through the Ly-yu-moon passage to
Hong Kong.
The capture of a few fishing boats by pirates is
recorded.

Oa the 29th of March the Exchange on London
at Hong Kong was 4s. Bd. to 4s. 10d.
Exchange at Shanhae was Gs. lid. to 7s.
The export of tea this season, from Ist July to
15th March had been—from Canton, 19,674,0001 b. ;
Fuhcha,n, 15,744,6001 b. ; Shanghae, 15,908,0001 b.
giving a total for the season 1856-7, as far as yet
ascertained, of 51,426,6001 b. ; against 67,796,9001 b.
at the same date last year—the decrease this season
being 16,370,300ib. The silk exported has been
61,807 bales, against 33,635 "labs last season, the
increase this season being 28,172 bales.
Raw silk for Marseilles, per Peninsular and
Oriental steamers--July 1,315; August, 793; Sep-
tember, 996 ; October (Malta and Snanghai) 2,218;
November, 1,429 ; December, 1,406 ; Jaunary,
705 ; February, 272 ; March, 648 bales.
The Hong Kong Register; March 24, gives the
state of the markets at that date as follows
" Since the departure of the mail steamer on the
15th there has been a good demand for ding both
here and at Ma;ao; and prices have advanced con-
siderably. To-day quotations are—Patna new, 470
doll. to 472.50 dols. ; old 440 dole. Benares new,
465 dols. to 470 dols ; old, 440 dols. to 445 dols.
Malwa, 485 dols. The cotton left in the Canton
pack-houses is gradually being worked off by the
Chinese in whose bands it was placA, but at low
rates, the brokers though refusing to come here find-

ing no difficulty in placing, funds for it in Macao,
where also a colpiderAble business is being carded
on in silk and other products.

SINGAPORE.

A public meeting, convened by the Sheriff, had
been held at Singapore for the purpose of taking
into consideration the recent Chinese outrages at
Sarawak, and to address Sir James Brooke, congra-
tulating that gentleman on his fortunate escape and
the re-establishment of his power.
A series of resolutions was passed expressing
sympathy for Sir James, and declaring it to be the
opinion of the meeting that he was entitled to the
confidence of the British Government. The final
resolution was as follows :—" That it is the opinion
of this meeting that the late outbreak in Sarawak
is sufficiently indicative of the feelings and tenden-
cies of the Chinese, to warn all of the danger of
temporising with a class devoid of all proper feel-
ing, who view clemency as cowardice and conces-
sions as weakness, and to demand from the Legis-
lative Council of India those acts which have been
frequently asked for, and without which it is im-
possible to control the turbulent and disaffected."
A committee of four gentlemen was appointed to
carry out the resolution.

LITERATURE.

China. fly Thomas De Quincey.

and Sons,

Groombridge

A seasonable pamphlet yet. Part of it is a re-
print of articles which have just appeared in " Ti-
tan," but will deserve to be read by all who
have tot seen them in that spirited periodical.
The other ihalf termed a "preface" is altogether
new, and is specially appropriate to the present
hour. We arenow about to try arms and diplo-
macy together, with the most obstinate race of
officials on the face of the earth, and M. De Quincy
makes it his business to paint, as not many besides
De Quincy can, the memorable contrast between
the successful diplomacy of a consul curried on by
men of war, though without firing a shot, and the
utter failure of diplomacy carried au by arn4ssa-
dors, who were received, and paraded through the
Empire as the "Tribute-bearers of Barbarians."
We give some ex4ra,cts in another column of the
principal details of the successful case referred to.
M. Do. Quincy, as might be expected, has taken a
thoroughly English view of the whole question, but
he has done, what all might not have expected, be
has waded through the blue-b .oks on China for
this ten years past, and has, for the benefit of all of
us, evoked form, and breath, and life from the Dry-
asdust materials which we all shun if we can. His
view of the case is simply this, that " for licensed
scurrility in all their dealings a ith us, and
for the foul indignity of a spiteful exclusion
from a right four times secured by treaty,
the Chinese are facing the unhappy issues of
war." He challenges Mr. Cobden or any
apologist for the Chinese to name, " that Chinese
object which is here overlooked." ,He cites the
explicit declara.ions of the Consul at Shanghai (the
successful diplomAist) to prove that the example of
Canton is endangering the safety of foreigners at
all the other points ; and joins in urging the policy
recommended by our Government, bythe merchants
of Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Canton—
namely, to act decisively at once, with an adequate
armed force, and to insist on the renunciation of
the arrogant pretentions to superiority hitherto
claimed by the semi-barbarian Emperor over Eng-
lish and other European Governments. This lies at
the basisof all the insults and savagery whi ch foreign-
ers have to endure from the officials and the mob;
It only amused us once. We now see, however,
that it is a serious matter.

COWES, ISLE OF TVIGET.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON INTELLIGENCE.—At the
annual general meeting of the members of the squadron
the following gentlemen were elected members :—Risbard
Arabin, Esq , Zouave schooner, 105 tons ;'John Houlds-
worth, Esq., Julia yawl, 122 tons ; Edward Cotterill
Scholefield, Esq., Ireie schooner, 98 tons ; S. Block,
Esq., Magic, 86 tons. The Royal Yacht Squadron
Regatta was fixed to commence on the 4th of August
by a match for Prince Albert's Cap. The annual dinner
of the members will take place on the sth of August.
Her Majesty's Cup will be sailed for on the 6th, on
which evening the annual display of fireworks will take
place. The ball was fixed for the 7th. It is expected
that a prize will be given by the club to be sailed for on
Saturday, the Bth of August, but this will not be decided
on until the general meeting of the members at Cowes
in July.
LAUNCH OF SCREW STEAMERS FOR THE ROYAL YACHT
SQUADRON.—On the 11th instant, a sei ew steam-yacht,
of 200 horse-power, built for Sir Henry Oglander, Bait,
was launched at East Cowes, and named by Lady Leeds
the Firefly. The Vice-Commodore schooner yacht
Capricorn, having been lengthened by the stern and
fitted with a screw-propeller, was launched at West
Cowes.

AitRITAL OT YACHTS.—May 7—Engenie, R. Frank-
land, Esq., from the Mediterranean ; 10th—Nymph, Sir
J. Bayley, Bart., from 'Torquay ; 13 h—Camila, F. P.
Astley, Esq., from Gibraltar ; 14tH—Plover, Lieut.-Col.
H. Brown, from the westward.
YACHTS AT AND ABOUT THE STATION.—Zoe, schooner,
the Right Hon. the Earl of Yarbordugh ; Water Lily,
H. M. Hammereley, Esq. ; Tetania, Robert Stevenson,
Esq., M.P. ; Gypsy Queen, Sir H. Bald, Houghton,
Bart. ; Plover, Lieut.-Colonel Brown ; Extravaganza,
Sir Percy Shelley, Bart. ; Irene, Edward C. Scholefield,
Esq ; Coquette, J. H. W. P. Smyth-Pigott, Eq. ;
Camilla, T. P. Astley, Esq. ; Nymph, Sir John Bayleart
Bart.! Sapphire, the Right, Hon. T. M. Gibson ; .Ana-
conda, Captain Phillialore ; Julia, R. Holdsworth, EB4 •
having been lengthened b;"Ratsey and Son, sailed oo
the 11th for Cherbourg ; Amazon, Sir Sohn Walsh,
Bart., is nearly ready for launching from the same build-
ing-yard, having been lengthened 12 feet by the bows ;
Caprice ; Lieut•-Cel. Baring is also in a forward state.
YACHTS FITTING OUT.—The Capricorn, Vice-Com-
modore C. R. M. Talbot, Esq., M.P. ; the Leda, Sir
R. B. W. Bulkeley, Bart., M.P. ; the Aurora, LaMar'
chant Thomas, Esq,; the Georgeanni ; the Spider, Sir
Henry Beelber, Bart. ; the Firefly,, Sir H. o,;lander,
Bart.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.—The Local Board of Health
have given directions for the pavement to be continued
along the front of the Parade from the Royal Yacht
Squadron-house to the Castle ; they are also extending
the causeway at the South Parade a sufficient distance
into the harbour to make it available for landing on at
the lowest tides. A number of workmen are employed
en the esplanade building a sea wall, and forming a
road on the beach from Lord de Grey's Villa to Beach
Villa.
STEAM-BOAT PIER.—In consequence of complaints
having been made of the narrowness of the entrance to
the pier from the High-street, and of the want of wait-
ing-rooms for the accommodation of the numerous pas-
sengers by the Southampton, Portsmouth, Lyrnington,
dßade steamers, Mr. Ward has bad two waiting-rooms
erectedam the pier ; and, to widen the entrance; pulled
down the house between the Fountain and Vine Hotele,
lately occupied by Mr. Praugnell, hair-dresser, and for-
merly the Dolphin ,Inn, which will nearly double the
nidtti of the entrance. The coach-houses, &c., on the
pier are also to be pulled down, to give more a'Peera°-
dation to the passengers and their friends,
ROAD TO CONNECT THE NATIONAL FREEHOLD LAND
SOCIETY'S ESTATE AT MILL-HILL WITH MADEIRA-PLACB•
--Notice of the intention of the local board to contract
with persons willing to construct the proposed road have
been issued, and this long promised accommodation is
now likely to be Soon carried into effect.
FASHIONABLE VISITORS.—A great many marine resi-
dences have been taken this week ; indeed there Are
more houses taken tban for many preceding years, et
this early part .o 1 ther,season,.

DESTRUCTION OF THE CAMBERWELL RAG MILLS BY
FlRE.—Yesterday morning, at a few minutes before five
o'cl.ick, the south aide of the Thames became illuminated
by a fire in Newman and Co.'s Rag Mille, situate on the
banks of the Grand Surrey Canal, in the Albany-road,
Camberwell. The discovery was made by a policeman,
who aroused the workmen, who were sleeping in a back
building, and sent for the engines, which were placed et
the edge of the Surrey Canal, but the flames could net
be conquered until the mills and all they contained wee°
razed to the ground, and a building at the back,. in the
occupation the workmen, much damaged. The origin of
the fire is unknown, and it is understood that the a'
ferers were uninsured.
MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.—The 12th anniversary Festi-
va! of the above charity was celebrated on Friday even.-
ing, at the Albion Tavern—Mr. Hugh Adair, M.P.,
intsided. Mr. Michael Smith said that there were 3,010
beds in the different wards, but rarely more than 270 of
these were, from shortness of means, filled at the san s
time. Diming last year, 2,268 in-patients were received,
and relief was given to as many as 16,844 out-patiest!;
Their inceme, was a trifle more than .7,0001. a year, an"
their necessary expenditure exceeded 11,0001, and their
had been compelled to summon a meeting of governors
to sanction the sale of 4,500/. stock to clear off a hirgAn
accumulating debt. Among the subscriptions announce`'
at the meeting were those of her Majesty for 105/2. }PS
Grace the Duke of Northumberland for 1001., "he
Pepys, E: q., 50 guineas ; anonymous, . ; 20/and the
the names of several ladies for large and small sumo.
They amounted ultimately to 1,5001.
FOREIGN MILITARY EDUCATION.—WiII no indepen-
dent member of Parliament ask Sir John Battled"' in
the House of Commons, or Lord Panmure, in the Ilen'er
of Lords, why it is so difficult to obtain the report 0'
Messrs. Yolle,nd Lake, and Smyth on foreign inilitarY
education ? This most valuable report has been drawn
up tvi:h the greateq,care ; it has cost tho country
aidorable expense ; and it is, in fact, the evidence upef
which any change in our military system must dePel?.a•
Yet it is a notorious fact, that many members of Parueso
meat have never seen the report, ft,r it has never ben.
sent to them ; and we know well that some of "r
COtemporiaries have experienced the utmost difficuit is
obtaining a copy. There is some trickery here. 15
mwhuicshperaeladrtallieadt saotm
theem esitnabteermseof ntsthiet Government ale
aleorads
fPaamnonrsreivain,Nd FailoPcheeldao,ceurme aetrAt.he Istatiet7ent.htirienftot.ibe.;
their intention to attempt to Burke, if pb e?, his
Let
blue book and the whole subject of army reform
the House of Commons look to it.—Daily Newf.