Bombay, 4th May.
The Afghan authority over the province of Badakshan has been overthrown. qMfohamed Ibrahim Khan has died sud-The Yakakhels have made submission oh Khan is proceeding to the British Camp for an interview with the Indian Authorities, accompanied by a large retinue, 10th May.
Yakoob Khan has arrived at Head Quarters, and announced his arrival to the Viceroy with the expression of a wish for the re-establishment of friendly relations.
Calcutta, 4th May.
The position of affairs at Mandalay is more reassuring.
Constantinople, 7th May.
The Tussian Teoepe have evacuated Roumelia.
London, 7th May.
Despatches from the Cape, dated 22nd April, state that the movements pro-paratory to the British advance into Zululand have commenced, but that the actual advance would not take place for a fortnight, 10th May.
The Marquis of Salisbury, Secretary of State. for Foreign Affairs, in reply to a question, said that a difficulty had arisen between the Powers, preventing the ratification of the Chefoo Convention, and that the Government is awaiting Sir Thomas Wade's despatches. He denied the statement that the delay would be injurious to China, and further said that as the cause of the disagreement between the Government at Hongkong and the Cantonese auth had ceased, a Commission was urineed He also stated that a Mission to Thibet was not at present contemplated, on account of the disturbed state of the country.
The Board of Trade returns of Exports for last month are very unfavorable.
The Under-Secretary for War, in reply to a question, said that a telegram had been received from Lord Chelmsford asking for further reinforcements, but that further details were awaited before any steps were taken.
We unhesitatingly call public attention to the appeal made elsewhere by the Chevalier C. de Boleslawski, Consul for Austro-
Hungary, on behalf of the sorrow-stricken inhabitants of the town of Szegedin, in Hungary, more than 60,000 of whom have been rendered homeless by the unlooked-for calamity of sudden flood, upwards of 6,000 houses having been destroyed. We hope the appeal will meet with a liberal response in these Settlements.
'A meeting of the "General Grant Reception Committee" was held on Wednesday afternoon, at which we understand that the programme, so far as it can be at present arranged, will consist of a salute of 21 guns on arrival at Woosung, a grand reception at the landing at Kin-lee-yuen Wharf, a ball and reception at the Club, a torchlight procession through the Settlement, etc. The General will stay at the U.S. Consulate-Mr. Bailey having courteously uvate residence at the distinguished visitor's disposal.—It is now understood that General Grant will arrive at Shanghai on the 19th inst.
There is more delay in the ratification of the Chefoo Convention—"'a difficulty having arisen between the Powers so says Renter ina telegram published elsewhere—but as to what is the difficulty and which are the conflicting Powers, there is silence. The Marquis of Salisbury seems to know a good desi about the real aspect of the affair, from a Chinese standpoint at least, as he is stated to have denied "that the delay would be injurious to China." No reference is made as to how the interests of British trade are affected—those interests would seem to be in another scale, It will be more than usually interesting to learn what gave rise to the present hitch, The British mercantile body in China seem utterly powerless, or to lack energy, even in this grave matter.
An "unofficial meeting," as it has been described to us, took place on Saturday, between Mr. Robert Hart, Inspector-General of LIN. Customs, and the Committee of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce. The important questions of the establishment of Bonded Warehouses and the obstructive wuutitien of the Wr were, we understand, conversed about, but, as we are informed, without result,—To these might have been added those other burning questions of the narrowing channel of the Hwang-poo river and the equally rapid silting up of the Soochow Creek, &e., e, Perhaps, however, on the arrival of Sir Thomas Wade, another meeting can be arranged, at which the Chamber of Commerce as a body might be present to discuss with H.M. Minister and the Inspector-General not only these four questions, but also others affect ing foreign mercantile interests in China generally, which have ea long lain in abeyance, The appended items of news are taken from the Daily Press:—"We understand that the question of the costume to be worn by Chinamen claiming to be British subjects has recently been engaging the attention of Sir Thomas Wade, who has intimated that some distinctive mark must be worn, though not necessarily such as to interfere with the characteristic dress of the Chinese. The persons affected are to confer together and decide what form the distinetion shall lake."—" Mr. Kaw Hong Ping M.A., whoretumed from England recently, has received the appointment of private secretary to Sir Thomas Wade, and accompanies His Excellency to Peking. Mr. Kaw Hong Ping is a Penang Chinaman and a British subject. His elder brother, Mr. Kaw Hong Take, is an influential merchant engaged in business between Foochow and Penang. The family has been settled at the latter port for five generations."
There will, we venture to predict, not be a member of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps but who will read with interest and satisfaction the correspondence which has passed between the Municipal Council and Captain Commandant Holliday on the subject of accoutrements and ammunition. The ready acquiescence of the Council in the suggestions made will, there is no doubt, be fully appreciated, and their willingness to do anything necessary to promote the effectiveness and convenience of the corps should lead to fully recruited ranks—a mode of practical response we strongly urge upon all who have enough energy and public spirit to shouldera rifle, Touching the ammunition, perhaps an application to Vice-Admiral Coote for an immediate supply, would be met with the liberal response not wanting in former emergencies.—There were about seventy present at the Commanding Officer's parade on Wednesday afternoon in the Consulate Compound, several causes combining to prevent a larger muster. A number of comparatively new
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.