It has 12 fect of water on it and 6 to 7 fathoms all round. The Suwonada, it is believed, had very little cargo on board, 80 that the loss to uninsured native shippers will not be heavy. It is rather remarkable that this was the Suiconada's 101st trip.
The Mib-ho-loong gave their Annual Ball on Friday last, with as complete success as last year. Tu fact, we are almost tempted to repeat what we then wrote. The rooms were decorated with admirable taste, and every possible arrangement was made for the comfort of the guests; the supper was excellent, and dancing was kept up, with spirit till an early hour. Great curiosity was excited by the figure of a dragon with 'a gorgeously dressed rider, which filled the end of the hall. The following is the interpretation. The Chinese say that rain is the work of Dragons, caused by their drawing water from the sea in the shape of waterspouts, and filling the clouds. Dragons are confined in the palaces of the King of the Seas, and'are governed by the King's third Son—a prince of renowned strength and beauty, and who is alleged always to work wonders when he rides abroad on his dragon steed. The figure to which we refer, was a representation of the Prince and found a fitting place among the emlems of a Corps whose name is founded on the legend. And as the Dragon without the ballroom typified the prowess of the Miholoongs in their capacity aa Fire-Destroyers," soa star of bayonets in the ballroom, with a prettily illuminated dragon in the contre, indicated the military side of their twofold character.
Of the various other emblems displayed over the rooms, of the graceful greenery which freshened the walls, of the beauty of the ladies, of the brilliancy and contrast of the varied uniforms, of the spirit of the dancing and the excellence of the supper, a fuller description will be found elsewhere, We can only add, here, as we said last year, that all was perfect.
This is the eve of the Ohinese New Year, and business is at a standstill in consol quence. The next week will be @ virtual holiday. H.B.M. Consulate and the Customs will be closed to-day, Friday and Saturday. The Municipal Council, Insurance Offices, and the Banks, will be closed to-morrow, Saturday, and Monday.
We print elsewhere the text of Lord Granville's despatch to Mr. Wade, commenting on the Chinese "Missionary Circular."
Our readers will regret to notice among the deaths recorded by the last mail papers, that of Dr. George Smith, Into Bishop of Victoria.
The Pxxixe Gazette of the 28th December is interesting, with reference to our article, afew weeks ago, on Chinese Turkestan. The result of Teéng Kwo-fan's late tour of inspection—so far as military officers are concerned—is shown in an Imperial edict in the Gazette of the lst December.
The Hongkong Advertiser gives: the following particulars of a mutiny in Mamma, regarding which we were already informed, by telegram. arrival of a most dreadful mutiny ofthe "By the Sunshine from Manila, news has native soldiers at Cavite, It seems that the mutiny was intended to break out Cavitaand Manila simultaneously, but owing vita, whereagroatslay 3 rate Witt wan ait nad ener Erutally trested, and every Kuropean found: in the street was killed on the spot; the: insurgents then took charge of the Forts Immediately on the news reaching Governor-General in Manila, active steps were taken by him by immediately disarming the whole of the native troops, after which they again swore allegiance to the crown They were then again taken poisoner was put to the bayonet completely, and every insurgent The Dutch expedition to the North-oast coast of SuMATEA, consisting of five war steamers, with 1,000 men, passed, through the Straits on Saturday afternoon, 13th, It consists of H. N. M. 8. Marnizx, Banka, de Briel, Java and Kapvas, and 500. men under the. command of Colonel Perle, to punish an insurrectionary movement among the inhabitants of two campongs, who banded together under their headmen, murdered the Rajah of Koita Penang anc other persons, plundered the camping, and carried off a number of prisoners. They also fired upon and destroyed the portraits of the King and Queen of Holland, which had been presented to the Rajah, and robbed him of a Netherlands flag and. the insignia of his rank. The Resident of Rhio accompanies the expedition,—Straits Times,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.