CHINA.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 289, 27 July 1860, Page 2

CHINA.

(From the Sydney Herald) / Via Ceylon, we have intelligence from Hongbong to the 7th of May. . . The China Mail of that date says:— ■~ Nothing further has transpired in regard to the exact terms of the reply to the British ultimatum made by the Chinese Government, nor have we yet heard of any reply. to<4he second communication from the' Plenipotentiary, which was despatched on the 14th ultimo. ■■.•/,:.;. The island of Chusan was occupied by an allied force on the 21st of last month. This has been rendered necessary by the want of sufficient accommodation elsewhere for all the expeditionary force; and is regarded as a demonstration, not an act of war. No resistance was offered by the Chinese authorities. They were informed by the Commanders that the allies had an overwhelming force, and that the Chinese would be treated amicably if no resistance were made. This proposal was at once acceded to; and the 67th and 99th Regiments, with 400 marines and details, of artillery and engineers, Were soon after landed, and quartered in the Yamun of the principal military Mandarin, and in the fort and temples of Chinghae. There were few Chinese' soldiers in, the place, aa a body of 500 had shortly before been despatched to the mainland to aid in putting down the rebels. Before the occupation was completed, Sir .Hope Grant, accompanied by his staff, left Chusan. He is now in Hongkong, and so also is General MitchelL Sir Robert Napier is with the troops on the Kowloong peninsula. We understand that the portion of the expeditionary force which is here, will commence to move northwards about the middle of the month. The nature of the operations to be undertaken will probably depend upon the course pursued by Lord Elgin, who has hitherto shown himself more disposed towards bold strokes of diplomacy than to the use of force. -•-■-■•■': From the north there are rumours :tbat. great preparations are being made on. £he. Peiho for meeting the allied force, and that Sanuko-lin-sin compels every family; to furnish, a inane to learn the manual exercise and artillery drill. Cavalry were also said to be levied in great .numbers. One defeat will in all probability thres>the war party into such discredit that there will be no difficulty in then arranging terms if the allies are sincerely desirous to do so. The position of the rebels in the neighborhood of the Yang-tze is much the same as that described in our last advices. They are completely held in check by the imperialist force; and many arrests of them have been made in places which have fallen under Imperialist power, and where they have been lying concealed. In districts which the rebels have occupied, a great many villages have been burned down, and wanton massacres perpetrated. Funds have been opened for the relief of destitute people who have escaped from the localities which have been.laid waste, and imperial favors are to be conferred on those who contribute to the funds. From Canton we have the important intelligence that the rebel troubles seem over for a time at least; and that for some days back, there has been a very perceptible change for the better as regards trade. The result has been produced mainly through the instrumentality of Taou-chang-pei, who was formerly a rebel chief, but was bought over to the imperialist side by Laon, the Governor-General of Kwang-tung, who was then in Kiangsi. From Ningpo we learn that an Englishman called Daniel Fergusson, has been murdered at Chin-hai by three Frenchmen who were engaged along with him iri the convoy business, or in protecting native junks. Three persons engaged iv this business are far from being of best character, and such quarrels among them are not surprising. From Japan there is no news except, that the residents at Kanawaga still live in that State of alarm which their own improper conduct was calculated to produce. Reports have been published of some ? catastrophe' having taken place, but for these there is no ground. The origin of the reports is probably the attempt to assassinate the Regent which'was noticed in our last issue.