CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 285, 25 July 1855, Page 6

CHINA.

Recent advices inform us, that the Imperialists at Canton have succeeded in driving away the rebels from the neighbourhood of the city, have retaken the forts on the Canton river, aud once more opened the river to free navigation.

A correspondent of the " Straits limes" has : supplied the following version of the capture of Shanghae, in contradiction of what he.asserts are the false and exaggerated accounts in the "North China Herald." On the night of the 17th February, the Imperialists advanced to the south of the city, scaled tiie wall, and set fire to some tents belonging to the banditti which were in close proximity to the" wall; these men, taken by surprise, bs-hed over the west wall and fled The chief Lew-le-chuen was taken prisoner outside the west gate and there decapitated. The third chief,-.Leang-ngan-pang, was captured and suffered a most cruel death ; he had the flesh scraped from his bones. ■ This is the. man who decoyed his uncle into tht. city, and with his o.vn hand ripped his belly open. The fourth chief was also captured at about four miles distant from the city. The second chief, .Chunaling, better known as Skinner's Horseboy, has escaped for the present. Tt is said he was concealed for' some time in a European friend's house in the foreign settlement at Shanghae. He is expected to have fled to Hongkong, if he is not already there, and such a reward is offered as will doubtless bring about his capture. Two others have escaped ; we suppose they are English or Americans from their nam.es —Eldridge and Roberts. After fleeing from the city they went to Wousung. A party of marines from H.M. steamer Encounter, was sent after them, but were too late, as (he two men had captured a boat belonging to Mr. Richards, and started for Chusan. The Imperialists have, as was to be expected, made a bloody use of their victory, and a number of victims, estimated fro.n 500 to 2,000 have fallen beneath the knife of the executioner. This is a sad state of things to European nations, but having kept so much from interference hitherto, we had better not meddle in this, unless it is absolutely and wantonly brought before our eyes, of which there is no likelihood. MADRAS. We subjoin a brief description of the nature of the contributions to the Madras Exhibition, which has now been some time opened :— Tiie productions of the Indian looms are of unrivalled richness, and the display of gems and jewellery of the most splendid character. The samples of vegetable products are, however, the most important. They comprise various cotton wools of excellent quality, and well cleaned. Some sent by Messrs. Fischer and Co., of Salem, was remarkable 'for its cleanliness and pure white colour. There was likewise a kind ticketted as " Red Cotton," but really of a deep fawn hue. Fibrous substances applicable to various purposes of weaving and paper making preseuted themselves in great variety and ahnn-1^ dance, a remark which applies si.il! more forcibly to the.specimens of Indian wools collected. Most of the kiio.wn trees of India—and numbers wholly unknown to people in general—were thus represented. " Drugs, minerals, hemps, tows, see, also held a conspicuous place in this highly interesting section of the exhibition. The tow made from the pine-apple fibre attracted attention by its line quality and whiteness. Some pretty light rope manufactured of it was added to the collection.