The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-08-07 00:00:00

EXPEDITION TO CHINA

The Bth native infantry, at present at Singapore, it is re-
ported,
will form part of the expedition to China, on being
relieved by the 37th native infantry. It is also reported that
other troops from the presidency of Madras than those
already ordered will be honoured with a visit to the Celestial
Empire, and participate in the martial deeds there to be per•
formed.—Examiner, May 25.
We have it from authority that may be relied on, that the
armament expected to the eastward will rendezvous in the
early part of next month at Singapore—that is, the Indian
portion of it; and this may probably be in consequence of
the favourable report made to the supreme government of
the resources of these settlements by the officer deputed on
that special service to the Straits. Neither will any such
force as 3,000 men be left at Singapore, as had been reported
some weeks ago. The force, we learn, will muster from
10,000 to 15,000 men, including marines. Malacca Weekly
Register, April 16.
PENANG.—Her Majesty's ship Dame, Mr. P. J, Blake,
captain, anchored in the harbour on Thursday noon, from
Calcutta, the 28th ult., in charge of the following transports,
being those of the first division proceeding on the China
expedition—namely, Ernaad, Defiance, Edmonstone, Indian,
Oak, and Romance. The three former vessels arrived here
at the same time as the Larne, and the two latter may be
expected in hourly. The brig Patriot, chartered by the
supreme government to carry coals and other supplies for
Singapore, reached here also on Thursday last, and is to sail
for that station this morning. There was not the usual
salute from the fort to her Majesty's flag when the Larne
anchored ; why, and wherefore, we have not been able to
ascertain ; but if the omission originated from an observance
of the rule which, we understand, obtains at Fort St. George,

that her Majesty's ships are to' be complimented only in
cases where they visit the port after the lapse of every six
months, there has evidently been an error in the present
instance, as the Lame was here in July 1839, and sailed
hence on the 20th of that Inonth for Trincomalee.—Penang

Gazette_, April 12.
Her Majesty's sloop Algerine was to'have left Calcutta a
few days alter the Larne, in charge of the second division of
trsnsports, containing her Majesty's 49th regiment, for Sin-
gapore direct, to be embarked on board the Sulimany, Ma-
homed Scab, Mermaid, Blundell, and Isabella Robertson.
'the general staff are to embark in the Marian.—Penang Ga-
zette, April 18.
THE CAMERONIANS AND CHINA.—Tne three transports
which have arrived bring a portion of this splendid regiment,
and the two others that are immediately expected convey the
remainder. Although the Cameronians are to remain here
for a fortnight, it is not intended, we learn, that they should
land, but for what reason, is not mentioned ; at all events, it
it is rumoured that they are to continue on board until the
arrival of the Romance, the head-quarter-ship. We sincerely
hope that the regiment may land, were it only to astonish our
Chinese inhabitants with a specimen of what their country-
men in the celestial empire may expect from such noble and
gallant soldiers.—Penang Gazette, April 18.
The Madagascar steamer may be daily looked for from
_ -

Calcutta, with Commodore Sir J. J. Gordon Bremer, C.B.
and K.C.H., on board, on his way to Singapore and China,
being preceded by her Majesty's ship Wellesley, which sailed
on the 16th ult. from Diamond Harbour, and passed in sight
of this island, we are told, on Saturday last.—Penang Ga-
zette.
The Arid had arrived at Calcutta with dates from China
to the 11th, and Singapore to the 29th of April. We are
happy to learn by her that the Water-Witch was all safe at
Macao on the 11th, and was to sail on the 18th for Hong-
kong, whence she would return to Calcutta. It is perfectly
true that she had had a brush with some Mandarin boats,
but was never in any danger from their attack. None of the
transports from Calcutta had reached Singapore on the 29th
ult. The Wellesley was there. She had not seen any of the
transports on her way. Opiuni was selling in China at 420
dollars per chest, but was rather difficult of sale, and prices
were thought likely to go somewhat lower. The Patriot,
from Penang, was spoken in the Straits.—Englishman.
PENANG, MAY 4.—No other vessels connected with the
expedition have arrived here ; a steamer came in yesterday
from Singapore, but brought no news of interest. The men
in the different transports are uncommonly healthy, having
had as small a proportion of sick as is ever found under any
circumstances. They have not disembarked, and care has
been taken that only men of good character leave the ships.
The Chinese inhabitants of Penang appear to look on us with
indifference, the hostility they might otherwise feel being neu-
tralised by pity, for they say that not one will escape to tell
the melancholy tale of our discomfiture, and that the memory
of the Chinese expedition will long remain as a monument of
Fangni folly and Chinese superiority.
MAY s.—The Madagascar only arrived to day, having f 1...

countered very rough weather on the passage. • All hei•fuel
was expended some days ago, and they were obliged to burn
all the yards and studding sail booms to keep up their steam.
They came in with one boiler only, and would have been
obliged to burn some of their bulwarks had they not reached

Penang to-day. The Algerine also put in here this morning,
having been separated from all the transports she was con-
veying. The Larne and our transports are to sail to-mor-
row, the commodore following the day after (the 7th). On
dit that we are not to wait for the admiral at Singapore, but
proceed to China as soon as practicable, on or about the
24th instant. The Madagascar saw some transports of the
49th regiment, but was not near enough to speak.
MAY 6, Six o'CLocx.—We are now getting under weigh.
—Calcutta Courier.

BOMBAY, JUNE 17.—The hon. company's war steamer
Sesostris, Capt. R. Moresby, from Falmouth, Feb. 17, Cape,
April 30, and Colombo, llth inst. came in yesterday evening,
and brings the following intelligence :
The expedition to China under Admiral Elliot,- had- sailed
from the Cape, consisting of her Majesty's ships Melville,
Blonde, and Modeste. tler Majesty's ship Blenheim was
daily expected, and was to proceed at once to the general ren-
dezvous at Singapore. The steam-frigate Sesostris is in-
tended as a vessel of war, and will in all probability proceed
to China. She is a beautiful craft, certainly one of the pret
tiest looking vessels we have ever seen, and measures 860 tons
and 220-horse power, and combines the qualities of sailing
and steaming. She is commanded by Captain Moresby of the
Indian navy, an officer who has distinguished himself very
highly by his superior survey and other important services.—
Bombay Gazette.

CALCUTTA. JUNE G.—A little more of the news brought
by the Ariel has at length transpired. It appears from what
we gather that opium was selling on the coast at 600 to 700
dollars per chest. Edicts had been published in every town
and village in China offering seven dollars a month to every
one who should join the celestial army, but it appeared that
after the first month's pay had been disbursed no more was
forthcoming. In anticipation of the landing of the English,
the women of the towns on the coast of the islands had all
been sent into the interior. The shopkeepers and dealers
generally, however, remained at their posts, and made no
secret of their joy at the prospect of having the English for
customers. There are many rumours, of course, of Sir J.
Gordon Bremer's intentions, and of the intent of the expe-
dition. Amonst these it is confidently given out that the two
forts of the Bogue are to be blown up„as the first measure of
vengeance. From the Bogue the expedition is to go to Pe-
chelle, but the general impression is, that if the fleet does not
get there before October it will be frozen up for six months
at least !—Canton Register.

We understand that intelligence has been received of the
Indian Oak, and of the
b
safe arrival at Singapore of three of the ships on board which
am eronian sLetsh en Defiance,not remember the name.—Calcutta
Courier, June 22.
third thirdoe Cur informant

A Foy:-AUNT OFF WATERLOO-DRlDGE.—Between four
and five o'clock on Sunday morning a novel hunt was wit-
nessed from Waterloo-bridge—the game being a fine dog-fox,
and the sportsmen coal-porter and watermen. Reynard
who appears to belong to some of the residents in Somerset:
house, by some means effected his escape, and, by way of
amusement, took to the river. Just as the fox neared the
bridge, and was about giving the double to his pursuers, some
of the watermen from the stairs in the vicinity came up in
their boats, and he again got into the stream. Ultimately,
however, he effected his retreat, and landed, by a curious,
coincidence, at the Fox-under-the-Hilt He ensconced him-
self in a stable, where he was discovered in the afternoon,
and consigned to his old quarters.