The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-17 00:00:00

THE OVERLAND MALL.

The Overland Mail arrived last night, bringing
despatches dated Bombay, June 16 ; Madras, June
11 ; Hong Kong, May 29 ; Adelaide, May 23 ; and
Sydney, May 20. The following are the principal
items of intelligence in the Bombay Gazette :—" The
Bombay Bank Commission was opened publicly,
pro forma, on the 10th inst., and adjourned till the
20th, the commission to be occupied meanwhile in
going over the papers of the bank. The exporta-
tion of silver coin from Persia has been prohibited,
but that of gold is still allowed. Paymaster (Cap-
tain) Lewes, of the 90th Light Infantry, at Suba-
thoo, is about to be tried by a court-martial
for defalcations amounting, it is said, to about
10,000 rupees. Considerable reforms are to
be carried out in the Indian Telegraph Department,
charges being lowered, and alternative lines erected.
The Bhunnoo Expedition is reported to hare been
abandoned fur the present for want of funds.
Capt. Sladen's official designation has been altered
to that of Political Agent at Mandalay. Sir S.
Northcote has given Rs. 2,000 to the Calcutta Uni-
versity, to be awarded in the form of four prizes
of Rs. 500 each at the entrance examination of
1869. He has male donations also to other Cal-
cutta institutions. The annual hadj to Mecca IS
reported to have passed off satisfactorily. The Go-
vernment of India has decided not to do anything
towards establishing female normal schools unless in
every case there be native co-operation and ini-
tiation, an exception being made of the Presidency
towns, which are to receive Rs. 12,000 each per
annum for five years, in order to establish such
school experimentally. The Madras Chamber of
Commerce has protested against the abolition of
the Madras Mint, on which the Government of In-
dia had resolved. From an annual report as to the
Calcutta volunteers, it appears that there are 205,
150 being effective. Some adverse criticism has
been excited by the severity of a sentence in a re-
cent suttee case at Cawnpore. Fourteen men were
transported for life, and 30 for ten years ; and 11
others were to be imprisoned for five years. The
inhabitants of Lahore have adopted an address to
the Queen apropos of the Australian event. The
French bark St. Bernard has been wrecked at Ma-
dras, and serious damage has been done to the Ma-
dras pier by her coming against it.

The Overland China Skil, in its summary of
news, states :

There is but little news from Japan. The El"
Shogoon, Stotsbashi, has submitted to his sentence
and gone into retirement. Two powerful Daimios
of his party are,. however, still in arms. The Con-
cession at Iliogo is described as " sandy and
swampy ;" lots are, however, to be put up at $1,500•
A proclamation has been issued at Shanghai by the
Chinese authorities, warning natives against swind-
lers who profess to collect money for the suppres-
sion of piracy. The Che-heen of Shanghai has pub!,
licly invited detailed accounts of all persons who
fell in the Taiping rebellion, in order
that an authentic native account of the
movement may be written. Mr. Cooper,
the explorer, has reached the confines of Wes-
tern China. He was within five days' jour-
ney of Thibet by last advices. A beacon has been
erected on Block House Spit in the Yangtsze. The
rebels have retired from Tientsin. Great uncer-
tainty prevails as to their intentions. A local rising
is said to have broken out in Anhwey, owing to
disputes between former occupants of land before
the Taeping rebellion, and those who subsequently
became possessed of it. Consuls Winchester and
Medhurst have visited Chinkiang to report on the
desirability of keeping open or closing it as a
Trinity Port. Result of their visit is not known•
The Chinese officials at S hangbai have prohibitol,
native women from " aping foreigners in dressing
their hair. Gen. Li is in much disfavour with the
authorities, despite his alleged victories over the
rebels. The recent movements of the latter do 114:4
seem to indicate that they have met with a very
severe check.

Three criminal informations have been filed b 7
the Attorney-General of Hongkong, on the part of
her Majesty the Queen, against the proprietor of the
China Mail, for alleged libels, against the King of
t
Portugal, against Sr. Amaral (late Governor 01
Macao), and against Sr. llorta (the present Goya'
nor), all in connection with the co)lie trade at
Macao. " Not guilty" and justification are de-
fendant's pleas.
There is nothing of interest from Australia.