The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-24 00:00:00

OVERLAND MAIL.

_INDIA AND CHINA.
(Abridged from the Timex.)
This mail brings intelligence from Lahore, where the Go-
vernment of the Queen-Mother and her brother, the Wuzeer,
is in a precarious state. Peshora Singh continues master at
Attock, on the Indus, and has beaten some troops sent
against him. He has been joined by Tej Singh, the well-
knowi successor of ,General Avitabile, as Governor-
of Peshawur, who is disgusted with the treatment which he
and his relatives'and friends have received from the Govern-
ment at Lahore. The wily old chief, Glioolab Singh, has
contrived to get away, on leave, from Lahore, and has re-
treated to Jamoo, where he is watching the course of events,
and regu'ating the web of his intrigues for his future ad-
vancement.
The Governor-General, Sir Henry Hardinge, was to quit
Calcutta on the 23d of September. lie embarks at liar-
rackpore, and will receive the -last salute which Serampore
can give as a Danish settlement, for it is about to be ceded
immediately to the British authorities.
The deaths are mentioned if two gallant officers, Major-
General Considine and Major Leece, of the Bombay Ar-
tillery, who had distieguished himself during the late cam-
paign in Affghanistan.
From Sinde little is known ; tranquillity pervades its dis-
tricts. The small expedition to Kustnore on the banks of
the Indus above Sukkur has returned to Hydrabad. Sir
Charles Napier was at Kurrachee, whither the 2d Regiment
of Bengal Europeans was marching from Upper Sinde in
order to secure its health on the subsiding of the Indus.
There has been much talk respecting the letter written by
Lieutenant-Colonel (Slattern to General W. Napier, in which
strong charges are brought against Sir Charles Napier.
Indignant at them, Sir C. Napier had asked for a court-
martial, either on himself or Colonel Outram, which were
both declined by the Governor-General, on the ground that
such an investigation was not requisite, and would lead to
the production of evidence which the nature of the service
did not require to be made public.
In the interior of India tranquility prevails.
Further details of the horrible crimes of the Ameers of
Sinde have come to light, greatly to the dismay of those who
upheld them as "innocent and injured Princes."
Mr. R. Montgomery Martin has arrived with this
mail from Bombay. His object in coming to Eng-
land is to show the errors committed by the British
Plenipotentiary who made the treaty Frith China
in having selected the insalubrious and barren rock of
Hong Kong, instead of the fertile island of Chusan as the
British emporium in China. Hong Kong is a useless acqui-
sition, or rather it is a channel-house for her Majesty's regi-
ments, one of which must be sacrificed every three years, in
order to maintain it as a British colony. It would be worth
the while of the British Government to take notice of the
intrigues of the actual French diplomatists in China. They
have come there to seize every advantage which Great
Britain does not retain ; and, amongst their present
schemes, is one existing in their secret treaty for getting
Chusan to be their island and emporium, as soon as the Brie
tish relinquish that position next year. As they are but
mere imitators of the English, it has been recommended to
give them up Hong Kong, and to retain Chusan. It is an
undoubted fact that Great Britain would then only acquire
the advantages to which she is entitled ; from the past trans-
action it is universally admitted that it would be an act of
consummate folly to give up Chusan in order to its being
appropriated by the French.
The appointment of Mr. Davie to be the Governor of Hong
Kong was, as it now appears, a blunder, for the Chinese do
not respect him, and he cannot converse in their language.
One of the boldest, most talented, and most expenenced
British diplomatists ought to be sent without delay to settle
with the Chinese Court as to the continued appropriation of
Chusan. The French intrigues in the Pacific are now
directed towards out-generalling England in China, and un-
less immediate care be taken the germ will be there
created of a bloody conflict with that power even in the
Chinese, territory, such as was formerly the case in India.
Three of the newly acquired ports are good for nothing
as places of trade, viz., Amoy, Fow-chow-foo, and Ningpo.
There is more British trade carried on at Chusan
in a month than in those three places in a year.
The facts, of which we give here an outline,
are of sufficient importance to require the immediate dispatch
to China of a man of judgment. The name of the Earl of
Ellenborough is well known in the East. It would not be
beneath his dignity to go to arrange the difficulties which
are now arising with the Chinese. If this matter be ne-
glected, there is a proximate chance of another war with the
Celestial Empire, in which the schemes of France will have
contributed considerably to embarrass the good intentions of
England.
M. Lagrene, the French agent at Canton, appears to ex-
pect to proceed without delay to Pekin on a special IfliSEloll,
in the same manner as the actual Russian Ambassador.
The news from China comes down to the 10th of July, and
does not contain; any remarkable fact. Trade was dull at
Canton and in the other four ports. The ship C. C. of Lon-
don was burned in the Chinese seas on the 21st. Crew saved
by the Judith, of Liverpool.
The cholera, after having ravaged many places, was de-
creasing. The rains in some places overflowing, in others,
particularly at Bombay, rather scanty; the quantity fallen
in the last-named place was little more than 53 inches.
Railways were proposed at each of the Presidencies,
and with the greatest hopes of success. The utility
of one from Bombay to Bengal will become manifest,
from the fact that the mid-monthly mails of the 24th of
July were conveyed in a steamer from Aden to Bombay, and
thence sent express to Calcutta, where they arrived thirty-
six-hours before those sent by the steamer direct from Aden.
Amongst the miscellaneous items of intelligence we may
mention the establishment of a new bank at Bombay, which
is called the " Commercial Bank," and the incorporation, by
an Act of the Legislative of the Assam Company, for the cul-
tivation of tea.

The arrival of the Hindostan steamer on the 3d, with Mr.
Simms, Mr. Stephenson, and the railway surveyors who ac-
company him, has given new life to the railway proceedings.
Nothing can exceed the earnest anxiety of the Governor.
General upon the subject. All is bustle and activity. A
commission, consisting of Col. W. N. Forbes, Col. Cheaps,
Capt. Greene, and Capt. Goodwyn, with two civilians, and
two mercantile men, has been already decided upon, and will,
in all probability, appear in Government orders in the next
gazette.

The engineer officers have already been actively engaged
in obtaining such information as they conceived could be of
service to the cause, and among other valuable results may
be especially mentioned the decision to which these gentle-
men have come in regard to the practicability and ease with
which tbeline can be carried across the hilly range, after leav-
ing the alluvial plains of Bengal, a point on whichopinions were
expressed very confidently to the contrary, until the correct
levels were taken by the engineer officers in charge of that
portion or the road. lam not conversant with the detai:s or
technical terms sufficiently to give the particulars, but it ap-
pears to be regarded as a point of considerable consequence
by the officers who surveyed the ground, and by those in-
terested in the railway, as removing any doubts which might
have previously existed in regard to the engineering ob-
stacles to be encountered.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Chamber of Commerce Overland Price Current.)
THE BOMBAY MARKEI'.
Emma', SEPT. 15.—Although the business transacted since
cur last has been, from the same causes as before, but limited
in extent, the aspect of the market for imports has continued fa.
vourable, and we have in numerous instances to report a satisfac-
tory improvement in prices. Fears were at one time entertained of a ,
failure In the crops, owing to the inadequate supply of rain;
but
these apprehensions have been in a great measure removed by a
plentiful fall within the last few days, and it is to be hoped the
threatened injury, if not entirely averted, will be at any rate ma.
terially lessened. From the present state of the market, and the
prospects which are apparent, there is every reason to anticipate a
hrisk demand for most descriptions of imparts as soon as the com-
munication with the coast and the interior is fully re-opener'.
Metals—But few transactions have taken place in any variety of
metals the Imparters holding their stocks firmly for an advance on
the current rates. We quote prices of copper precisely the same
as before, with the exception of the item nails, the price of which
is Rs. 2 per cwt. higher. In iron the only change is in sheet,
which has improved to the extent of six annas per cwt. Pig lead
is a shade higher, and quicksilver somewhat lower than last month.
The prices of other articles remain stationary.
Cotton Manufactures—The goods which have been principally
in request since the departure of the last mail have been gray and
bleached shirtings, madapollams (save very low descriptions),
gray and bleached jaconets of tine quality, and domestics of all
kinds. The last-named fabrics have obtained advanced
prices, as have also 45. inch gray shirtings and made.
pollarns, and the finer qualities of bleached shirting. For
the other descriptions cf goods sold very full rates have, almost
without exception, been paid. Satin stripes and spots, and jacenet
checks and stripes, have been in fair demand. For bleached mulls,
zebra dresses, and lappets, there is little inquiry, and scarcely any
sales have had effect, save of the finest descriptions of the latter.
Turkey red cloths are dull of sale, and the same may be said of
prints of different kinds.
Yarns—The lower numbers both of mule and water twist
have been in brisk demand since our last, and owing to the
firmness of holders, a general improvement in the prices
of these counts has taken place. Nos. 20 to 50 mule have
advanced to the extent of from e at 1 of an anna per lb., and Nos.
20 and 30 water from iati an anus. The stocks in the hands of
dealers arc believed to be light, and this may perhaps lead to
greater improvement. We hear of no sales in water, but annas 7i
per lb. have, we believe, been refused for No. 20. Both Turkey
red and orange yarns are without change in value, but the inquiry
for the latter appears tohave somewhat improved, and the prospects
of the market are more favourable for it than before.
Woollens—Woollen cloths of all descriptions arc still greatly ne-
glected, and the prices offered quite unremunerating. Th,roffely,
sale of which IVO have heard is one of 2,000 yards at rs. -. ,rlic,,i,
yard. Flannels are. i%nvesoamreewalii)aptri!bedettoefe
stelemsanodf,
still continue low. 6,7"o"OgyharPds at
annas 11,-and 920 yards at amiss 6 per yard. -
Marine Stores—The only change we have to record in the prices
of the articles under this head is an improvement to the extent of
ra. J per barrel in coal pitch, of which 322 barrels have, as we
hear, been disposed of at the rate of rs. 5 per barrel. Of tar the
market is nearly bare, and consequently no transactions in this
article have taken place. Paints are still without inquiry.
Beer—There is no alteration to notice either in the price or de-
mand for the superior brand. Supplits are still held firmly, and
Iscarcely any transactions have taken place. For inferior descrip.
tions there is no inquiry whatever.
Spirits—Prices are without change. We have been informed of
a tale of 2E runcliconb of turn, at u. 1 14 rat gallen.