London, 6th February.
Parliament was opened to-day by Royal Commission. The Speech from the Throne states that an interchange of communications with the President of the French Republic, with regard to the incidents in Madagascar, has confirmed the cordial understanding between France and Hngland.
The revision of the Treaty with Japan was nearly completed.
'A Treaty had been signed with Corea.
The policy with regard to Egypt was unchanged.
The Speech enumerates the principal measures for the Session as follow: the enlargement of the Occupé Franchise, and the reform and local extension of the Manicipal Government of London.
Buker Pasha has been completely defeated near Tocar with the loss of 2,000 mev, and returns to Suakim. 7th February.
The House of Lords voted the Address in reply to the Royal Message after a short debate.
The Daily News publishes a telegram announcing tribal rising at Korosko.
General Gordon's advance Las been stopped.
Troops from Aden have occupied the Egyptian Ports in the Gulf of Aden, and sailors and marines are at Suakim, 8th February.
Lord Salisbury and Sir Stafford Northcote will move on Tuesday that ters in the Soudan are due to lating policy of the Govern-
9th February.
Suakim is declared in a state of siege. Baker Pasha and the Egyptian troops will reorganize the Blacks to hold Suakim.
11th February, Cotewnyo has died suddenly.
Sinkat and Tokar are at the last extremity, and relief is impossible. Admiral Hewett, at the request of the British Government, has been appointed to the supreme civil and military command of Suakiu.
It is expected that Her Majesty's Consul at Shanghai will shortly be gazetted as Consul-General for China.
The Chinese affirm that the Viceroy of Navking is expected to arrive in Shanghai shortly. Statements differ, however, as usual, and we are unable to say shether there' is any likelihood of another visit from His Excellency.
A telegram was received in the Settlement on Monday to the effect that an extensive fire was raging at some oil-godowns at East Point in Hongkong on Sunday. The damage done amounts, we believe, to about The weather was very cold early on Friday morning, and the thermometer was down to 20° on shore and 17° afloat. Icicles three feet long were formed on the eaves of some of the houses in exposed positions.
Several telegrams have been received from Tientsin recently relative to the condition of the Peiho, On Saturday a telegram stated that the river was open and safe for steamer traffic, but on Sunday this was followed by another advising the post patioment of the intended departure of steamers from this port for the North, The barriers which the Chinese authorities notified some time since that they were going to erect in the Canton River are now in course of construction, When the work is more advanced, the passages through the barriers will be lighted at night so as to facilitate the traffic of steamers.
Wo loam that a petition tv the Lisbon Government is being numerously signed by Portuguese residents, asking that the present Acting Portuguese Consul-General ointed by the Home Gor Consul-General, Senhor Leo has only been a short time in Shangh but has become very popular with his countrymen. Up to last night, 126 signatures had been appended to the The Hu Pao says that according to a Chinese letter sent by Admiral P'éng Yilin to the Tao-t'ai, the French sustained a terribledefeatin Bacniuh. ''he french, says the Admiral, marched against Bacninh on the 13th of the 12th moon last Chinese year, and drove off the Chinese soldiers, who, after a show of fight, retired, leaving their enemy masters of the place, "But the victors had not long to enjoy themselves, for on the 18th, the Chinese, having joined the Black Flags, stal ly on the French, and after inveigling them into a disad tageous position attacked them most. fu ously. The French forces, caught in a trap so skilfully laid, were able north to retreat nor to advance. The Chinese and Black Flags were determined to exterminate their foreign foes, and fought with so much vigour and desperation that before long the French lines were pierced through and through. Rank after rank was broken, and the French beat a pro-imitate retreat to Sontai. The French had about 9,000 men at the commencement of the struggle, but fled with only a little more han 2,000, leaving on the battle-field 6,000 000 killed, wounded, and prisoners, 88 on the part of the Chinese was iguificaut. The combined army of Black Flags and Chinese are now planning i. French also Tifles, and a gre The Report of the Municipal Council of the French Concession for the last year, with the Budget for 1884, has been issued. The income for 1883 was Tls. 122,681.50, being Tls. 5,701 in excess of the estimate, to which was added the balance of the previous year, Tls. 7,380.27. The expenditure amounted to Tls. 117,461.64, leaving a surplus to be carried into the current year of is. 12,600.13. The Council estimate the revenue of 1884 at I's. 117,014, to be thus derived: from land tax Ts. 36,150, from licenses Tls. 42,865, from general taxes Ts. 20,754, from the Taotai Tls. 10,000 and from sundries Tis, 1,745. The budget expenditure is taken at Tls. 101,614.13, and the Reserve Funds at the close of this yenr are estimated at Tls, 28,000. The cost of ligh put down at Tls. 10,000, of new public works and widening the streets Tls, 10,000, and Dis. 2,800 for the water supply. the Council are to be congratulated on the position of their finances,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.