The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-07 00:00:00

CHINA.

Our intelligence from China at the date of last dispatch
extended to the 12th of January, and we are now in posses-
sion of letters to the 27th of February. The contents of
this, like those of all our other budgets this month, are
weary, fiat, and unprofitable. A passage of unprecedented
celerity has been made from Bombay to Macao in the Ce-
lestial, a clipper of the finest form but smallest size, which
occupied no more than 23 days in the voyage. The Hon.
Company's steamer Sesostri•, Captain James Rennie, arrived
here on the 13th ult., from Macao, in 24 days, briaging with
her as passengers, Major-General Sir J. Schoedde, K.C.8.;
Capt. Rose, A.D.C. ; Messrs. Macqueen, Methven, and Conolly.

HONG-KONG.
(From the Friend of China, Feb. 14.)
Our last summary for the overland mail was dated the 23d
of December. We resume our task of giving an outline of ,
the affairs of the colony since that period, as also the state
of China generally. The sale of building allotments in the
town of Victoria took place on the 23d ult. The allotments
were put up by public auction at certain prices varying from
101. to 401. per annum of a ground-rent; parties making
purchases being bound to build within twelve months to the
amount of ten times the ground-rent. All houses to be built
of stone or brick, to the satisfaction of the Government
surveyor. The sales are not absolute, but only endure for
a lease of 75 years, when•the ground with the buildings
revert to the Crown. During the last seven years of the said
lease the premises may be inspected by her Majesty's sur-
veyor, who will order anything thought necessary for keep-
ing such building in a fit state of repair. Notwithstanding
these hard conditions, upwards of 100 allotments sold at
prices varying from 51. 103. to 100/. per annum. As these
will all be built upon within twelve months, or parties hold-
ing them suffer a forfeiture of one year's rent for non-com-
pliance with the conditions of sale, we may expect a large
addition to the size of our town in the course of 1844. The
colony is now quite healthy, and we trust that the ensuing
summer will not prove so fatal to Europeans as the last one.
The past season has been a sickly one all over the East—
both in India and China. We may reasonably hope, that
with some improvements in drainage, a better class of houses,
and a greater attention to habits of temperance and cleanli-
ness, so necessary in tropical climates, the troops, and inhabi-
tants of the island generally, will escape much of the
disease which proved so fatal last summer. The
barracks built in Victoria, and on the south side of the
island, are spacious and airy, protecting the men from the
heat during the day and the dew by night, exposure to
either of which is so prejudicial to health in this climate.
The most daring attempts at robbery are made almost
nightly, and too frequently with success. The Chinese inha-
bitants are of the worst description, and with all the vigilance
of the police and private watchmen, attached to every re-
spectable house, the Ladrones find their way through brick
walls and bolted doors. On the morning of Sunday, the 21st
of January, an attempt was made by a body of 70 Ladrones •
to force an entrance into the godowns of Messrs. Jamieson,
How, and Co. The robbers bound the watchmen on duty,
and then proceeded to break open the doors with iron bars,
axes, &e. The party within the godowns showed every dis-
position to resist ; but unfortunately, from the robbers keeping
close under the walls, their fire-arms could not be depressed
sufficiently to shoot any of the assailants. Mr. Edger, at his
bungalow on theta'', beard the affray ; he immediately armed
' his servants, and with two European gentlemen proceeded to
the assistance of those who were defending the godowns. The
robbers, howeVer, made off, and escaped unpunished. A
few days subsequent to this attack, Mr. Edger, in broad
Vtioine China boat attack and rob another in
dt
jai )erl fahr t;ooubr s. e r
i Mr Henry, an assistant in the house,
he gave chase, and captured the piratical boat with nine men.
The case has been tried before Major Caine, and the evidence
was so clear that they were sentenced to five years in an iron
gang, with 100 lashes during each year, and at the expiry of
the fire years to be banished the island. Sir Henry Poetin-
, ger shows an earnest desire to act up to the treaty with
China. This is as it ought to be, and will doubtless tend
much to raise Englishmen in the estimation of the Cele'stials.
On a recent occasion some British subjects at Amoy " wan-
dered away into the country" further than the fixed boun-
dary. 6ir Henry has written the Consul at that port
a severe letter on the subject, which he also has thought
it proper to publish. Major-General D'Aguilar has issued
a general order, in which he expresses his determination
to maintain the honour of the Queen's Government, and
to preserve inviolate the treaty ratified under her' Ma-
, jesty's sign manual. Her Majesty's 55th Regiment are
under orders for immediate embarkation. They return to
England after a long period of service in India and China.
They have always sustained a character, both in the field
and barracks, alike honourable to themselves and the coun--
try they serve. The ship Cornwall sailed on the 2d instant
with about 250 invalids from the different corps serving
in China. Her Majesty's ship Dido, Captain Keppel, left for
Singapore and Calcutta on the 2d. Lord Saltoun, the late
Commander of the Forces, has embarked in her. She has
also a large freight of specie, part of the Chinese indemnity
money. Her Majesty's steam-frigate Driver sailed for Chusan
on the 10th. The with troops, so long expected, ar-
rived on the 7th. She had been dismasted near the Mauri-
titts, at which port she put in for repairs. Her Majesty's
brig Childers is understood to be under orders for England.
For general commercial news we refer to the Canton price
currents. The high prices at which teas are held in Ce.nton,
and the low rates in London, deter merchants from purchas-
ing so largely as might be expected at this season. Freights
still continue low, although many vessels have gone to 'lndia
seeking. A large portion of the last year's crop of inferior
tea is unsold, and, were satisfactory accounts received by
next overland (that for December), freights would probably
get up. The sales of cotton piece goods in Canton; have
been large, also on the coast. In Victoria there is! little
doing. It will probably be years before the wealthy buyers
tind their way to the colony. It is a matter of regret, that
more of the English merchants have not removed the
head-quarters of their establishments to Hong-Kong.
Macao offers no inducements for continuing there, its trade
is limited, and not likely to increase. As a place for
storing goods, and giving instructions to the various agencies
at Canton and on the coast, Hong-Kong is much to be pre-
ferred. The princely establishment built by Messrs. Jardine,
Matheson, and Co., also those by Messrs. Dent and Co., and
other firms, are nearly completed. We anticipate at an
early date the removal from Macao to this colony of every
British house in China. Mr. Richard Burgess, M.A., of the
Middle Temple, barrister-at-law, lias been appointed .Clerk
of the Legislative Council. The pirates who murdered Dr.
M'Kinlay, of the 18th Regiment, and two Portuguese sailors,
have been tried by the Chinese authorities. The three who
were taken have been sentenced to be decapitated. The
ringleader, Farrasxe, was to have suffered an ignominious
death (to be cut to pieces) ; he however died in prison, but
his head, and also the heads of the other criminals, are to be
sent to the place where the crimewas committed, and stuck
on poles, as an example, and in order to restrain ruffians.
Assistant-Commissary-General Irving died on the Ist inst.
Ile had only been a few weeks on the island. He arrived in
bad health, his constitution being broken down by long
service on the coast of Africa. He was buried on the 2d with

military honours. The Pelorus, Captain Triggs, from Cal-
cutta to China, was lost on the 24th of December, on the
London shoals. Captain Triggs proceeded to Singapore in
the gig, a distance of 100 miles, where he arrived with two
passengers, Mr. and Mrs. Francis. Captain Triggs again
left Singapore for the wreck, in the course of three days, in
the Victoria steamer. He expected the wreck would hold
together, being on the lee side of the shoal, and that the crew
would be all saved.

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, MAY 7, 1844.