The Sun.
London, England, 1861-06-17 00:00:00

CIIIN A.

A private letter from China, dated " Off the
Peiho, April 16," says :—The Scout arrived here
to-day at 4 p.m., with Admiral Hope, K.C.8., and
Mr. Consul Parkes, C. 8., on board. Admiral Hope
and Mr. Parkes leave for Pekin tomorrow, the
latter to relieve Mr. Wade. The Scout left
Shanghae on the Bth, and Woosangon the 10th,
called at Chefoo on the 13th, where were the Odin
and gunboat Woodcock. She stayed there for the
admiral to inspect Chefoo to ascertain the best site
for a naval depot. She left on the 15th, and arrived
here to-day. The Odin was ordered to Hope
Sound, about 60 miles from Chefoo. At the latter
place there was a demand for cheap foreign goods,
and every prospect of a brisk trade springing up.
The great bane to healthy commerce, however,
makes its influence felt here, as in almost every
other district in China. " The rebels" has become
the watchword of capitalists. The Ruan rebels
have formed a coalition with and sworn allegiance
to the Taeping insurgents, and have advanced as
far as Tse-nang-peo, a large and rich town, lying
at a right angle between Pekin and Chefoo, and
about equidistant from these places. Their
probable worst intention is to work their way
northward to Tien-tsin, and from thence to Pekin.
Failing in that, they may file off to the westward,
on Chefoo. The recent expedition up the Yang-
tse-Kiang has brought the subject of the rebellion
very prominently before the commercial and
religious public. The river all the way up to Yok-
chou, through a distance from Shanghae by the
water's course of 700 miles, is described as most
magnificent ; the scenery in many places grand
beyond description ; the soil surpassingly rich ;
cities, and towns, and villages thick on every side ;
but wherever the rebels have come all are in a
ruinous condition. When the visitors arrived at
Hankow, they to their great delight found there a
scene of activity and mercantile prosperity which
eqoally:surprised and delighted them ; but ere they
were ready to return, and in the space of only
three days, the city became a solitude—houses
closed, streets deserted, people running with their
valuables hastily collected to the boats. A panic
had seized them. " The rebels were coming,"
having taken Hunchow, a walled city on the right
hand of the river, about 45 miles distant. Scores
of places are mentioned where the interests of com-
merce might be very satisfactorily served but for
this scourge of the country. The Snake, gunboat,
was left at Hunchow, the Havoc at Kinkiang, the
Centaur at Nankin, and the Banterer at Chinkiang.
The Coromandel, Cowper, Atalante, and Bouncer
returned to Shanghae:

METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT

BILLS.

er encumbering the votes about thirty times,
.hese bills to amend the existing act and to appor-
tion some old debts are once more postponed until
" next week" for second reading. This is mere
child's play, for these bills consist of upwards of 100
clauses, some of them in a very imperfect state, and
about which representations from time to time have
been made for their amendment. The board, how-
ever, seem " resolved" not to amend. It would,
therefore, evidently be better to withdraw the bills
for this year ; have them revised at leisure, and put
it into a more practical shape ; and then get the
Government to take them up next year as publicbt
bills, which they are in fact. There is no doubt
that legislation on the subject is urgently wanted,ait
but not in an inchoate shape. If it is to e
should be as nearly perfect as it can be
suited to the wants of the public, and nto morernbadegthaannd
it sh wanted. nd toe d
in. t
hßeu
report
etphoer
t boardad adopted
p shouldted s n los
y pretend,t h aa st
" having regard to the advanced
sion, and the present positiolstm; ta
steps in regard to
not prepared to recommend _ re i odl oft shey aerse-
_The committee of the
boardpr proposed saendd
membersm
Parliament who have charge
eo.Lewis
discussion in emntnittee:
on Friday last, to ufrogrethuep
of these bills hadend ma ne no
ft a I
intervoinewhiwmittho
tSaikreGthe
matterL •
buuptatnhdeygicvaenantayhope that the Government will
divulge their intentions at present, or give up any
valuable Government timefor the Passing of im-
perfect bills. The utmost to be expected would be
to forward the bill No. 2, as to the debts of the late
oftheCommission,
parainshd remesthowvaertdhsatthdei
justflicu lsteyttolue!
settle-
ment wtnhtee wayrosf
these matters, which were disarranged by
the passing of the Metropolis Local Mans
Act.-oserver. g

Aft