The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-06 00:00:00

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 1001. 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 someimprovements 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 the hill, heard 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
daylight, observed one China boat attack and rob another in
the harbour. With 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 five years to be banished the island. Sir Henry Pottin-
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 Celestials.
On a recent occasion some British subjects at Amoy " wan-
dered away into the country" further than the fixed boun-
dary. kir 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 Fairlie, with troops, so long expected, ar-
rived on the 7th. She had been dismasted near the Mauri-

tius, 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 Canton,
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 India
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
find 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. bent and Co., and
other firms, are nearly completed. We anticipate at an
early date the removal from Macao to this colony of every
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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 crime was committed, and stuck
on poles, as an example, and in order to restrain ruffians.
Assistant-Commissary-General Irving died on the Ist inst.
He 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
of ,
Cal-
cutta to China, was lost on the 24th 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 days, for the wreck, in the course of three 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.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CHINA.—By the Antelope clipper we have received, since
our last, intelligence from China to the 24th of February.
The accounts received state that the Chinese new-year holi-
days had almost entirely put a stop to business, and few
transactions either in imports or exports had been effected.
Cotton was quoted at T. 51 to T. 7 for Bombay ; Bengal 6.2
to 8.6 ; Madras, 6.4 to 8 ; American, 6to 6.5. In the Cotton
piece goods market there was a good deal of activity. Prices
of opium were quite nominal, namely Malwa, 670 to 680,
and Patna, 595 to 600 dollars. Exchange on London, six
months' sight, 4s. 6d. With Bengal thirty days sight, 224
rupees per 100 dollars. The Canton Press of the 13th of
January publishes a translation of the articles whereby the
new tariff is to be regulated at Macao, as published by the
Loyal Senate of Macau in the same volume with the original.
The Press says, " The duties that are now levied are gene-
rally either four or six per cent. on a fixed valuation of most
articles, although some, where the qualities are too various,
and the difference is too great, are ad valorem." Trade at
Shanghai was extremely dull. The Spanish brig Campe-
ellen°, from Liverpool to Manilla, with a cargo of piece goods,
valued at from 30,000/. to 40,000/., was totally lost on the
sth of December, on the Monlufar shoal, in the Straits of
San Bernardino.

There is little doing in the wav of purchasing Black teas,
though considerable shipments clformer purchases are going
on, in order to get ships off before the China new year. Of
Green teas the shipments have been large, and the stock is
much diminished. Export, since the Ist of October, of
Black tea, 25,502,970 lbs. ; Green do., 3,277,7271b5. ; Sorts
do.,
35,0001bs.—total, 27,815,6971b5. Exchange upon Eng-
land, 4s. 6d. per dollar ; on -Bengal, rupees 222 per 100
dollars ; on Bombay, rupees 222 per 100 dollars; on Madras,
rupees 224 per 100 dollars ; Sycee silver, three per cent.
premium ; and Republican dollars, four per cent. discount.
Freights, to London and Liverpool, 3/. per ton of fifty cubic
feet. Our latest arrivals from England have been the Em-
peror, Canopus, Fairlie, and Magnolia. From Bengal the
Rob Roy. From Bombay the Antelope, Syed Khan, and
Gratitude. From Madras the Kestrel. Our opium market
is in a very depressed state. The nominal rates are Patna
590 dollars, Benares 500 dollars, and Malwa 670 dollars for
old, and 640 dolars for new. A further material decline in
prices is anticipated on the arrival of the new Bengal drug
from the Calcutta January sale, and of several vessels daily
expected from Bombay.
COTTON REPORT, JAN. 1, TO JAN. 31, 1844.
Bombay 17,180 bales. 73,523 bales.
Bengal
Madras

Xmerican

3,948

25,073 117,053
(From the Overland Price Current, April 1.)
BOMBAY, ArmL I.—During the first week of the past
month the native dealers were occupied with the Hoolie
Holidays, and there was an almost entire suspension of busi-
ness. They have since come into the market, and shown a
disposition to purchase pretty freely of some articles of import
at former prices, but not at the advanced rates demanded by
holders ; and the advices by last mail from England have
produced but a slightly favourable effect upon imports gene-
rally—the supplies on the way, to arrive before the next
rains set in, being considered by the dealers as amply suffi-
cient for their wants. _ _

,-,....-.
METAIS.—Iron has been in limited request during the
month, and nearly all kinds are rather lower, as our quota-
tions will show. Tile copper has declined about 1 r.'per cwt,
and sheathing 4 rs to 1 rs, but brazier's and raised bottoms
are unaltered, and South American has advaaced 3 rs per
cwt. Spelter is nominal at 164 rs to 17 rs per cwt. Lead is
very dull of sale, particularly sheet, and only 10.1 rs for Pig,
and 11 rs to lli rs for sheet are now obtainable. Red Lead is
steady at 11 rs to Ili rs percwt. Tin Plates and Steel are
unaltered in value. We subjoin a list of the sales that have
been reported to us for publication :—Copper, 225 cwt.,
Sheathing, at 52 rs 12 as per cwt. ; 900 cwt. Tile, at 51 rs 12 as
per cwt. ; 145 cwt. do., at 52 rs ; and 14 cwt. do., at 52 rs 2 as
per cwt. ; 450 cwt. Brazier's, at 58i rs per cwt ; 140 Ingots,
at 52 rs; 100 cwt. Rods, at 54} rs; and 150 cwt. South Ame-
rican, at 47 rs ; Iron, 120 tons British Bar, at 22rs to 22 rs
2 48 per Gandy; 408 tons do., at 22 rs per candy; 75 candies
Nall Rod (round and square), at 25 II 12 as; 388 candies
Swedish Dar, At 50 rs ; 400 cwt. U 001), At 4 re 7 &I per cwt.