CHINA

Wellington Independent, Volume XIV, Issue 1442, 27 July 1860, Page 5

CHINA

Via Ceylon, (we Sydney Herald,) have intelligence from Hongkong to the 7th of May. The China Mail of that date says : —

Nothing further has transpired in. regard to the exact terras of the reply tn the British ultimatum made by the Chinese Government, Hor have we yet heard of any reply to the 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 nil 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 tiie Chinese would be treated amicably if no resistance were made This proposal was at once acceded to ; and the 67th and 991h Regiments, with 400 marines and details of artillery and Engineers, were soon after landed, and quartered in the Yatnun of the principal military Mandarin, and in the fort and temples uf Chingbae. There were few Chinese soldiers in the place, as a body of 500 had shortly before been despatched to the mainland to aid in putting down the rebels.

Before the occupation was dompleted, Sir Hope Grant, accompanied by his staff, left Chusan. Ho is now in Hongkong, and so also is General Miohell. Sir Robert Napier is with, the troops on the Kowioong 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 puisued by Lord Elgin, who has hitherto shown himself more disposed towards bold strokes of diplomacy than to the us? of force.

From tlie North there are rumours that great preparations are being made on the Peibo for meeting the allied force, and that Sanukolinsin compels every family to furnish a man to learn the maiiuel exercise and artillery drill. Cavalry, 'also, were said 10 be levied in great numbers. One defeat will in ail probability throw the war pasty into such discredit that there will be no difficulty in thsn arranging 1 terms if the allies are sincerely desirous- to do

The position of the rebels in the neighbourhood of tho Yang-tze is much the same as that described in our last advices. They are completely held in check by tiie Imperialist force ; and many arrests of them have been -jnade in places which have faiien under Imperialist power, and where they have been lying concealed. In districts which the rebels hava occupied, a great m.sny villages have been burned down, am! wanton massacres perpetratrated. Funds have been opened for the relief of destitute people who have escaped fiooi the localities which have laid waste, and Imperial favours are to be conferred on those who con. tribute to the funds.

From Canton we have the important intelligence that the i ebel troubles seem over tor a lime at least ; and that foi some days back, there has been a very perceptible change foe the better as reufiirds trade. The resale has been produced ujuuily through the instrumentality of Taou-ehang-pei, who was formerly *a rebel chief, but was bought over to i he Imperialist side by Laon, the Goveruor-Gooeral of Kwang-tung, who wus then in Kiangsi.

From Ningpo we learn that an Englishman. called Daniel Fergusson, has been murdered a Chin-hai by throe Frenchmen who were engaged along with him in the convoy business or in protecting native jnuks. Three persous engaged in this business are far from being of best character, and such quarrels among them are uot surprising.

From Japan there is no news except, that the residents at Kanawaga still live iv that state of alarm which their own improper eouduct was calculated to proJuce. liepoits h.ive beon . published of some "catastrophe" having takeu place, but for these there is no ground. The origiu of the report is probably the attempt to assassinate the Hegeut which was noticed iv our last issue.