We are still anxiously looking for the two gunboats, Woodcock and Woodlark, which left Ichang for this on the Sth of April last. We hear that in yield ug to a junk at the Yeh rapid, the latter vessel touched a rock, necessitating a delay of ten days for repairs. When they do arrive a warm welcome awaits them and their gallant commanders. As to the fast passenger steamers expected to commence running in June, we cin hardly realise the fact that regular steam communication is really going to be established between Chungking and Shanghai without more delay. The difficulties and dangers seem insuperable. May the ardent pioneers of the enterprise successfully overcome them
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.