CHINA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 661, 9 March 1859, Page 5

CHINA.

By way of Panama and Melbourne we have news from Hongkongto the Ist of January, being: two days later than the Emeu's.mail. We take what follows from the ' Daily; Press ' (Hongkong paper) of that date: — : Two men, named Rodriguez and Saldaini, have beeii found guilty of murdering a seaman named M'Kay;

Our contemporary the 'Friend of China,'who stands pre-eminent for his "rebel" information, has the following in his last overland issue, without appearing to be aware of the circumstance of the authorities having expressed a desire that the city of Canton should be retained by the allies:— " Of provincial matters there is not much to report beyond a growing opinion that the province of Kwantung is in a fair way to secede from the Government of Mienfuus before long. A reporter, whose stories.on the average have been pretty truthful, promises stirring tales within a few months, and declares that already more than sixtenths of the population are in rebel possession. The north-west quarter, the parts bordering on Kwangsi, are filled with .fighting men—some under the standard of Chuukom Kong, and others under Leense Foo. In a letter on this subject received a few days ago, the writer says,—'These Hoongs (Triad Society .Rebels) are a much better class of men than.-those warring here, and whenever they come in contact with the Tmps (Imperialist soldiers) make them fly like chaff before the wind. The words literally translated run—the* IToongs are more long, more firm, more strong—the Impsare more weak, more lazy. One rebel soldier is a match for ten Imps—and • Viticere aut mod' is their motto. There are, intrigues, too; and the Imps have been .seen firing their guns in the air rather than kill men of the secret society to which they themselves belong. But they are forced to servo. Finally, says our correspondent, 'I think the state of the -province is like to that of a man who has a large sore on his body—a lonthsome

•disease, for which there is no good medicine, and ifc. is difficult for him to find peace or vest.'" We have been unable to obtain ;my particulars of these indicnted movements, hut liavp no doubt they arc b.-i.m-d upon fact, and deserve the utmost consideration. Since our issue of the 30th ultimo, we have received positive information that Kwang is still at Wychow. 11. E. leads a retired life, and does not exercise ostensibly any of the functions of Governor General or Impcritil Commissioner.. There can he no doubt that. H. E. still possesses the full confidence of liis Government, and that should occasion require he will'be found armed with full powers. Next, regarding the progress of the Yangtze expedition, the 'Overland China Mail' has it that " the latest intelligence of Lord Elgin's movement" up the Yangtze has 'been received here overland, via Canton, but it merely amounts to a statement that his squadron had advanced more than twothirds of the way to Hankow, and was moving very slowly, owing to the lowness of the river at this season of the year. It is also reported that 11. E. had been compelled to leave the large vessels and continue his voyage with the gunboats alone, and that the rebels were making preparations to arrest the progress of the expedition on ln'3 return down, the river." Our information is direct and positive, to the effect that the expedition passed Nankin on the 20th ultimo, and arrived at Hankow on the 24th idem. It might be that the larger vessels had remained behind, but it is strange our informant should omit so important an item of intelligence if such were the case. The idea of the rebels either stopping the Yangtze, or resisting two steam-frigates, is sufficiently ridiculous to cast discredit upon the whole of our contemporary's statement. We hear that the situation of Wyehow is extremely central and advantageously situated for commerce. Its water communication is extensive, and considering it is only about forty miles from this as the crow flies, it is strange that more is not known about it. It is situated close to Kwishin, whence many of the Chinese come who emigrate to Australia and California, but we have been quite unable to obtain information as to its resources or trade. It is a walled city of the second class, and very populous. The branch of the Canton river called the second bar creek leads to it, and we hear (but much doubt) that there is water communication to the eastward also. It is accessible to gunboats up the second bar creek, and the inhabitants have been in continual dread of the puffing destructive monster. The Bishop of Victoria arrived at Shanghai on the 12th December from Ningpo, which city he left thirteen days previously, and proceeded by the overland route by way of Hangehow to this place. Wishing to avoid, for the sake of a member of his family who was only recently recovering from illness, the passage by sea, often rendered unpleasant and tedious by the strong contrary winds which prevail at this season, his lordship made through a friend an informal application to the local Chinese authorities at Ningpo, in the pending absence of passport regulations under the new system of entrance into the interior. Having ascertained that the proposed trip would not be; viewed unfavourably by the native authorities, the bisiiop set out with his family, accompanied by the Rev. W. A. Russell, by way of the cities of Yuyao, Shaou-lring, and Seaou-san, meeting everywhere a friendly reception from the people, and arrived on the fifth day at the provincial capital of Hang-chow. Here they were detained through the-difficulty of procuring boats, : all the available native vessels adapted tothe canals being takerr up by the provincial government for the purpose of sending large bodies of military levies to the Yan-tsze-keang. The people in the city were well behaved, and manifested a favourable disposition towards foreigners". Their curiosity at. seeing an English lady and child formed the chief inconvenience; and, during some arrangements between Mr.- Russell and the agents of the Cheeheen at the Yamun of this official, the remainder of the party were located in a Buddhist nunnery and had to submit to the gaze of some hundreds of Chinese attracted to the spot, bufeviricing a very friendly>;and, orderly, spirit. • A subordinate from the office of the Cheheen accompanied,the party in chairs about one English mile to the bank of the. great Western lake, and assisted them,,in hiring a boat as a temporary lodging until a boat was secured for their farther transit onwards. *The view of the ' city from the hilltops, with its pituresque buildings, and its forty li of circumference of city wall, estimated as enclosing two million souls, is described to be one of the most striking scenes in China. 'On the fifth day the Bishop and his party embarked in a native boat about eight English miles from the city, concealed in a small creek to elude impressment by the soldiers. Several hundreds of boats were seen on the Grand Canal impressed for transmission of troops to Chinkeang; from which fact it would appear that the Chinese authorities hope to gain some military, advantage against the rebels from the present trip of Lord Elgin up the waters of the Yang-tsze-keang. The journey from Hangchow (at which place Mr. Russell left the Bishop on his return to Ningpo) to Shanghai, by way of the departmental city of Kea-hing, was accomplished in five days. .