LATEST NEWS EROM CHINA.

Colonist, Issue 5, 6 November 1857, Page 3

LATEST NEWS EROM CHINA.

We have papers from Hongkong to the 10th of August. From the Overland China Mail of that date we take the following summary of news, both local and general:— The melancholy state of affairs in India, with Lord Elgin's departure for Calcutta, have annihilated all hope, if any existed, of immediate adjustment of the Canton tionIn Hongkong itself, there has been but little stir. Ma-chow Wong, the pirate informer, has been committed Ibr trial on two distinct charges of confederating with pirates—that is, supplying them with stores, and disposing of their booty. A-lum, the baker, after an unjust confinement of six months, has been at length liberated. The transport ships Neleus and Moresfoort have arrived, bringing four companies of the Royal Artillery, numbering in all about 520 officers and men; and the Admiral, with the Royal Engineers, may be hourly looked for. The Sampson is reported under orders for Calcutta, with the Artillerymen just arrived. The Northfleet sailed on the Bth for England, with invalids : —l3 officers, 76 seamen, a serjeantrmajor affd 4 men of the Royal Artillery, 72 of the 59th Regiment, 10 women, and 7 children.

The North-China Herald contains the, following account of the apprehension of the Soeiro :—" Our latest from Ningpo is :to the. 13th instant, Soeiro, who escaped from the1 policeman in Shanghai, and froni Woosurig in the lorcha, got her aground at Lookorig; They tlien seized ,two fishing boats into which they transferred dfms, ammunition, &c, when,, seeing the Marcea" 1 standing out from Ningpo, they' ran the boats ashore and took to the hills. One of I these boats, protected by a private boat was, taken into Ningpo. The papers left on i board by Soeiro, in his hurry to escape, I implicate drie or two Portuguese residents, jof Ningpd in the whole afi'air. Three of Soeiro's gang was caught, and he gave himself up to the CorVeite Capricieuse^ i where he is a prisoner., There was a j Chusan mandarin on fopard Soeiro's lorcha* who having been kept in irons fodr months, has lost the use of his legs from confinement. Another mandarin was killed, aha it is said his head is in a cask on board the lorcha now in this harbour. The French authorities have intimation of this report. Rumour says Apak is to pay 10,000 dollarsindemnity, and to keep the lorcnas;" Provisions were becoming very scarce' at Ningpo,—rice was dear, wheat not to be had, and pease only at a very high price. At Sharighae a proclamation from the" authorities has been issued, to the effect that, notwithstanding the nigh price of provisions, iio reduction can be made in the' local taxation, the exigencies of the State' ! demanding payment in full. The Taouthee is reported to have secured his retention of office by the administration! of a handsome bribe to the Imperial Commissioner: 200,000 teals is the sum mentioned. ! Intimation of an intention to levy additional imposts on tea and silk has beeri posted at the Custom-houses, and the foreign consuls have had a correspondence" with the Chinese authorities on the subject, and appealed against such an increase of the export duties, but without success. The impost levied upon opium has been' increased from 12 dollars to 24 dollars. It is very generally believed by foreign-" ers, that the rebel cause is losing ground.BLOCKADE OF THE CANTON KJT.PR. The American steamer Antelope weutupf the river on Tuesday—some say to land Governor Pih-lswei as near Canton as pos-' sible; other to bring down Aowqila and his friends on a piece-mission to Sir John Bowring. Both stories probably will prove' as ne^ar correct as such rumours generally are.-— China Mail, July3o. Speculation has been rife during the" past week as to the object of the Antelope's late visit to Whampoa; but of the riiyriad rumours afloat, we doubt if any one is correct; and if secret there be, the owners of the vessel are likely to keep it to themselves. That it was purposeless, or dictated by a mere feeling of curiosity as to the state of the port, no one believes; and one result of the steamer's trip appears already to have been, the issue of the following notice of Admiral Seymour's intention to blockade the river on and after the 7th July. Many insist that this ought not to have been so long delayed, but should have been in operation so far back as December last. : ; I Of the wisdom of the measure we hear but one opinion. It may not, perhaps, much interfere with the trade which ha* latterly sprung up in this colony; but, Macao will be seriously affected by it, for that place has thriven wonderfully since the commencement of hostilities.. But the blockade has become necessary for several reasons; among others, the stoppage of the large supplies of guns and ammunition that have been forwarded to Canton via Macao, hitherto unnoticed, apparently by the British authorities.