The Sun.
London, England, 1850-05-20 00:00:00

CHINA.

♦ correspondent at Hong-Kong, whose letter is
dated March 30, writes as follows :
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Malta reached this on the night of the 19th, bringing
dates from England to the '24th of January.
The only important intelligence to communicate is
the death, on the 25th of February, of the Emperor
of China, Tau-Kwang (the Lustre of Reason), in the
69th year of his age and the 30th of his reign. The
Foreign Consuls at Shanghae received from the au-
thorities there, on the 20th of March, an official notice
that his Majesty the Emperor " had departed upon
the great journey, and had mounted upwards on the
dragon to be a guest on high."
The nomination of a successor rests always with
the Emperor, and before his death Tau-Kwang de-
creed that his fourth and only surviving son should
succeed him.

He ascended the throne the day of the Emperor's
death, and is to reign under the title of Sze-king.
He is only 'l9 years of age. Keying, the former
Viceroy at Canton, is appointed his principal guar-
dian, and will no doubt hold a high and an influential
position in the Cabinet.
It is not likely that any material change in the
policy of the Government will take place, but from
the enlightened character of Keying and his know-
ledge of foreigners the tendency of any new measures
will probably be towards a more liberal course. The
customs and prejudices of the people, and their tran-
quillity will of course, however, always occupy the
chief consideration.

On the 23d inst. her Majesty's screw sloop Rey-
nerd, Captain Cracroft, recaptured, from pirates, a
little out of this harbour, three fishing junks lately
taken from the owners, some of whom had been
wounded and killed. The pirates had transferred
their guns, firearms, and spears to their prizes, being
better adapted for their purposes, and had just re-
ceived a reinforcement of men, ammunition, and
provisions, from this settlement. Such is the charac-
ter and employment of the Chinese population of this
island. Of the pirates, 15 were brought in prisoners,
15 are supposed to have been drowned, and the re-
mainder, about 20, escaped.
It is said that the formidable pirate chief, Shap-en-
tzei, has made terms with Seu, Viceroy of Canton,
and is now holding some office under Government.
Chin-Apoo is supposed to be in the north collecting
and organizing another force.
The Reynard, it is understood, leaves next month
for Pekin, with a letter to the Emperor from his Ex..
cellency Mr. Bonham. This was determined on
before the intelligence of the death of the Emperor
Tau-Kwang was received.
The Bishop of Victoria arrived yesterday in the
Sir George Pollock.
At Canton all is quiet. The favourable accounts
of tea from England have nearly cleared the market
of the quantity remaining on hand at 2 to 3 ts. ad-
vance. The excess of export of all kinds from China
to this date, compared with the same period last year,
is 6,000,0001 b.
Our advices from Shanghae are down to the 20th
of March. The population of the town and neigh-
bourhood of Shanghae were suffering from severe
famine, consequent upon the late inunclgions, and it
L was lured that pestilence might follow.

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR OF CHINA.
(From the Overland Register of March 29.)
•The past month has been marked by two conspi-
cuous events. The Emperor of China died on the
25th of February last, having survived the Empress
Dowager, whose decease was recorded on the 23d of
the previous month, only thirty•three days. He is
succeeded by his fourth or eldest surviving son, a
youth nineteen years of age, who will reign under the
title of Sze-king.
The present event is likely to cause important
changes, both political and commercial, in our re-
lations
with this empire, as it will probably bring
Keying, hitherto the principal guardian of the heir
apparent, into a more influential post in the Cabinet,
if not at once into the Premiership. We must,
however, reserve all speculation upon these matters
for the present. Meantime we may remark, that the
legalization of the sale of opium, both as a source
of revenue in helping the new Government through
its formidable financial difficulties, and towards set-
tling a long vexed and dangerous question, will pro-
bably be one of the first measures submitted to the
new sovereign.
The death of the Emperor Tau-kwang is said to
have been hastened, if not caused, by a fright he
received during a recent conflagration within bis
palace.

The second affair we have to record is the capture
of three piratical vessels by her Majesty's steamer
Reynard, on the 23d instant. It occurred at the en-
trance of the bay, and within sight of the western
point of the city Victoria. Three junks and fourteen
prisoners were brought in. The latter are waiting
their trial at our next criminal sessions, and have been
identified as part of the gang of pirates who captured
the informants' fishing boats and murdered part of
their crews off Macao the week before. It is indeed
a pleasing feature in the new *line, not only that the
Chinese Commissioner points out to us the resort and
gathering of pirate fleets, and entreats the co-opera-
tion of our flag, but even a solitary act of piracy can-
not now be committed within a circle of fifty miles
without information of the fact being immediately
conveyed to the Hong-Kong Government, if any one
of the victims is left alive to carry the tale.
It is reported that Shap-en-tzei, and several of
his followers, have surrendered themselves to the
Commissioner, and have not only received free par-
dons, but rank and office, for future service to Go•
vernment ! The report, we learn, has been fully
authenticated.

Two trading steamers, one English and the other
American, have been prohibited from carrying cargo
in Canton river. This is looked upo❑ by the repre-
sentatives of both powers as a breach of treaty on
the part of the Chinese authorities, and pending the
settlement of the question, the steamers are lying on
demurrage.
We regret to announce that the population of the
town and neighbourhood of Shanghae are suffering
from a severe famine, consequent upon the late inun-
dations. It is too much to be dreaded that the scourge
of pestilence will follow as usual ; meantime the most
humane efforts are being made by the British and
foreign residents to alleviate the cruel sufferings by
which they are surrounded. A subscription, set on
foot here by the Roman Catholic padres, for relief of
their Christian congregations in the neighbourhood of
Shanghae is, likewise, being liberally responded to.
Canton continues quiet, and Hong-Kong perfectly
healthy

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
BOMBAY.

IMPORT MARKET.
There bas been considerably more business done in
this market since the date of our last (April 3) than
&ming the previous fortnight; it has been large for
this season of the year as respects Manchester goods,
and we must add that prices of th"se last have not
given way farther fo'r the present. Foreig❑ and up-
country dealers have appeared in this market in fewer
numbers than usual. throughout the entire season, and
latterly there has been no speculation in the bazaar.
Stocks in general are large, and we consider that only
a mouth of the fair season now remains for business.

Metals—ln these we continue to note the ordinary
amount of transactions; but in some instances, it will
be seen, at lower prices than those last reported.
There is a large stock of South American copper at
market, and the demand for that article not active.

Cotton Manufactures—As has been remarked above,
the prices of these in general have not given way far-
ther for the present, and transactions have been consi-
derable. In gray madapollams, medium quality, ray
50,000 pieces at Ir. 12a. to 2r. 6a. per piece; 15,000 to
20,000 pieces of gray ahirtings, 40 in. at 3r. Ba. to 4r.
6a. per piece; of gray jaconets, say 30,000 pieces, at Ir.
6a. to 2r. 8a; domestics and T cloths, each, to nearly
the same extent, at 2r. I la. to 3r. sa. per piece. For
bleached goods there has also been inquiry, skirtings eind
madapollama having each been sold to the extent of
about 15,000 pieces, at 4r. 2a. to 6r. 10a. for the former,
and Ir. 15a. to 3r. 6a. for the latter. Of white jaconets
the sales of the fortnight may have been 8,000 to 20,000
pieces, at 2r. Ba. to 4r. per piece. Turkey red plain
cloths have been sold to some extent at Br. to Br. 4a. per
piece. In printed, Scotch, and fancy goods generally,
there is oven less doing than before.
Yarn—Nos. 20, 30, and 40 mule aro in demand, and
low in stock. Other numbers are rather overstocked, as
is also the case with respect to water of all numbers, ex-
cept 40, which is scarce. There is at the same time a
fair inquiry for both; but less for coloured yarns, owing
no doubt to the absence of dealers from the north who
usually purchase these.
Woollens—The folio ing sales are mentioned:—
_ _