We have pleasure in placing before our roaders the text of the despatch by G. F. Seward, Esq., U.S. Consul-General, which was referred to in our notice last week of the Annual Report on the Commercial Relations between the United States and Foreign Nations, for 1873. It is a thoughtful and suggestive review of the position of our relations with China, present and to some extent prospective, and as such it will be read with much interest.
Dividends have been notified for the half-year ending 31st ult. by the following Companies:—Yangtsze Insurance Aasociation, 7} per cent.; Shanghai Steam Navigation Ca., 3 per cout.; Shanghai Gas Company, 5 per cent, The hearing of the case of the French brig St. Francois against the steamer Cawdor Castle, was brought to a close yesterday afternoon, before R. A. Mowat, Registra, and Messrs. A.
The owners of the brig were represented by Mr, Robinson, and thos of the steamer by Mr. Wainewright. The forenoon was taken up by the hearing of evidence as to the capacity, measurement of cargo, and other minor details; and the afternoon with speeches of counsel, who severally referred to and commented upon the evidence given and points raised in favour of and against the numerous items of which the plaintifis claim for damages was made up. The Court and Assessors took time to consider their award.
At the Supreme Court on Tuesday, before Sir Edmund Hornby, Chief Judge; James Malone, late Captain of the - schooner Alecandra, sued Mr. Joseph Walton, the owner, for $264, balance of wages due, and $550 us per account stated, for disbursements, &c., and the cost of " passage from this port to Australia, Mr, Hannen appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Wain wright conducted the defendant's case. Mr, Hannen, in placing the case before his Lordship, said the main facts to go upon were that the plaintiff was engaged by the defendant xt Adelaide in May last year, and was subsequently made Captain of the vessel at a salary of £15 per month. The ship was to go to Freemantle and Singapore, and back to the Colonies. The plaintiff was engaged for six months, and according to the terms of the articles to be discharged in the Australian Colonies. If he were discharged in a foreign port, then a passage was to be provided for him back to Austral This was endorsed upon the articles. The other claim was for expenses incurred on shore, and for money paid by plaintiff on defendant's behalf. Plaintiff had been discharged at Shanghai after having fulfilled the terms of his agreement, but the defendant had refused to pay or provide him with a passage or refund the amounts he had disbursed. The case for the defence was that plaintiff was engaged by the defendant in the first instance as superintendent of riggers, while the vessel was on the slip at Adelaide, on the 23rd May, 1874, at the rate of £14 per month (captain's pay.) On the 15th of June plaintiff's name was placed upon the register as captain at £15 per month. The ship went from Freemantle to Singapore, and on to Shanghai. Defendant always transacted all shore business, except entering and clearing the ship, shipping men, &e, Defendant, in giving evidence, also swore that his agents in Adelaide, Elder Smith & Ca., had told him that an agreement had been signed by them in conjunotion with Capt. Malone, but that the latter iliad since told him he had torn it up; and again, that he (the defendant) had never seen the articles or the clause in writing providing for plaintiff's passage home. He discharged the captain for personal reasons and because he did not suit him, but not until after he had served his term of agreement, viz., six months, He the plaintiff was discharged months from the date of signing articles, he would give him one month's pay and £10 towards his passage mo! After some conversation respecting the items of the account:
lered by the plaintiff, both Counsel addressed the Court on behalf of their spective clients, at the conclusion of which his Lordship reserved judgment.
The sum of $1/5 has been collected by the exertions of Captains Peters and Thomson, of the British ships Inverness and Amba, from some of the vessels in harbour, on behalf of the crew of the Horatio, who lost their property in the fire which destroyed that ship. Yesterday, at the U. S. Consulate, Mr. 0. B. Bradford distributed the money in suitable proportions.
A seaman of the U.S. corvette Kearsage was drowned early on Tuesday morning under peculiar circumstances. The man was seen by a policeman on duty on the Bund coming from the direction of the French Settlement ina jinricsha. He got out when opposite Messrs. Russell id walked along the jetty to the pontoon, followed by the jinricsha man, From words he overheard, the constable walked slong the jetty towards them, and suddenly hearing a plunge in the water, he hastened forward and saw the seaman found elsewhere. clinging to cargo-boat, the force of the current quickly dragging him under. The constable sprang on to the cargo-boat, and tried to reach the poor-fellow, but could not, for he soon disappeared, and was of-course drowned. The constable got into a sampan and made a thorough search at the spot, but found only the unfortune man's cap, which bore the badge of the Kearsage, Yesterday, at the U, 8. Consulate, before O. B. Bradford, Eaq., a deposition was made by the police constable, who in addition to the factsmentionedabove, said he saw no indication of drunkenness the part of the deceased, and that the riksha coolie was not near him when he fell into the river.
A case of successful highway robbery has been reported at both the English and French police stations, It appears that a French gentleman while proceeding hoinewards along the French Bund from a party, at about 1.30 on Sunday morning last, was violently assaulted by a Chinaman, who struck him a severe blow across the face with a bamboo, knocking him down. While he was on the ground, the thief robbed him of his watch, chai trinkets, valued at $42. The num the watch is $0,907, and this may possibly lead to identification aid recovery. The unfortunate gentleman also had his hand much hurt in endeavouring to defend himself.
It appears from our Pexina correspon-dont's Notes, that although the illness of the Emperor from small-pox caused con derable uneasiness, the Imperial patient was already convalescent when the latei advices were despatched. Another correspondent, noticing a rumour that the illness was of the most serious character, anys the attack was very slight, only twenty: vesicles appearing. There was a report that his Majesty would by atid bye pro-coed to one of the temples to offer ai fice, when ho would be visible to all, Whether this had reference to some special thanksgiving service on his recovery, otto the Winter Solstice ceremonial, which Prince Tun has been deputed to perform, we are unable to say. It seems not unlikely, however, that after the three months during which his Majesty is to remain in seclusion, he shoitld make a public appearance, for the former purpose and the satisfaction of his subjects. Later news from the capital, received yesterday, informs us that the Emperor continues to progress toward recovery. A great festival was to be held on the 23rd ult., in honour of the Godde of Smallpox, when a quantity of peper offerings were to be burnt in front of the Palace.
It is reported that Li Tsung-shi, Vice! of the Liang Kiang, has applied for I to retire, owing to bad health, In the event of his request being granted, it is thought not improbable that he will be aucceeded by Tseng Kin-tenon a younger brother of the late Tseng Kuo-fan, There seems to be a fatality connected with the post of Viceroy at Naxxrxe; no one appears able to hold it long without being either murdered, dying, or falling 5 Ovrrors, Coast and Japan news will be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.