CHINA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 190, 10 May 1860, Page 4

CHINA.

Via Sydney we liave'dates from Hong Kong to 11th February. The China Chronicle announces that Mr. Lay has just returned from Swatow, after establishing the new maritime customs there, it is presumed, under the American flag. The same gentleman was shortly to start for Foochow, to set agoing the same institution at that port, and Amoy will be the next to be brought under the same organisation. At Shanghai, we are informed, it has become an admirable and popular institution.

Writing to the China Chronicle from Shanghai, on the 4th of February, the correspondent of that journal says:— ‘ The Imperial government is sorely pressed, perplexed, and vexed, and with good and sufficient reason. It is pressed, perplexed, and vexed by its own functionaries, in their dereliction of official duties, and by its own people in their open rebellion. The Red Book pre : sents a melancholy spectacle, hundreds of its pages being deformed or defective in the nonfilling up of the official stations throughout the empire; the names of the places and the offices are there, but the names of the incumbents (or of those who should be, or would be, if all was right) are wanting. The worst is yet to be told. Much as the Emperor and his Miuisters may be perplexed by these domestic or internal disorders, the greater grievances and anxieties are caused to them by outside barbarians, by the Ngo-kwoh Zhin at the north, and by the Zing-Fah-kwoh in the east. The victory at Taku, and the sudden withdrawal of the Ying-Fah barbarians, continue to fill the minds of people and rulers ■nith strange and mixed emotions. Every possible effort is made to ascertain what the English and French will do, or intend to do. Even the Mongolian general is troubled about these far-travelled foreigners, and has sent some of his confidential to the south to sound the deep waters, and if possible to find out whether the allies will keep the peace or make war. The Shantung and Tientsin people are for peace, though their rich men have contributed in aid of the defences at the mouth of the Pei-ho.’

The force to be despatched from India is being rapidly organised, and will soon be embarking. It is to consist, as far as at present known, of the following corps:— From Bengal—3rd, 6th, Bth, 37th, 67th, 73rd regiments of foot; 1 battery 14th battalion royal artillery; sth company royal engineers; 600 Sikh cavalry ; 1 regt. native infantry ; 4 do. do. irregulars. From Madras —44th and 56th regts. of foot ; No. 7 battery, 14th battalion royal artillery; 23rd company royal engineers; 2 companies native artillery ; 200 sabres first dragoon guards; A and K companies sappers. From Bombay—2lst and 65th regts. foot; 3rd and sth regts. native infantry. In addition to this force, a special corps of irregular cavalry is being formed from existing regiments of irregular horse, to accompany the expedition. The regiment will be commanded by Lieut. W. Fane, Madras infantry. A siege train will be supplied from Bombay. The Chinese are loud in their vaunts of the reception they will give us; an army of one lac and twenty thousand cavalry being ready, it is said, to oppose our advance upon Pekin. It is stated that the army for service in China, under command of Lieut.-General Sir Hope Grant, will be divided into five divisions ; the Ist and 2nd, composed of troops from the Bengal Presidency,- will be under BrigadierGenerals Sir R. Napier and Chamberlain; the 3rd, or Madras division, under Major-General Sir C. Whitlock ; the 4th, or Bombay division, under Major-General Sir T. Michel; and the sth, comprising the force at present in China, under Major-General Yon Straubenzee.—■Bombay Correspondent of the Melbourne Weekly Herald.

The Musbees, of which the 15th Punjaub regiment, under Captain Shebbeare, is composed, have volunteered to a man for the China expedition. Their offer has been gladly accepted, and General Grant thinks very highly of the corps. —Oude Gazette. The North China Herald remarks concerning the north and Japan,-—“ Uncertain accounts still continue to be received relative to the progress made in our intercourse with Ja.

pan. The extensive commerce with Nagasaki, which at one time bid fair to become to foreigners of the utmost importance, is gradually dwindling away, owing to the great feudal nobility, whose hostility to foreigners, it is suspected, is the reason, and their influence is sufficiently effective to cause our relations with that country to receive a severe check.”