(From the "London and China Express" of the 22nd of June.
In the House of Lords, on 18th instant, the Marquis of Salisbury, replying to a question by the Earl of Kimberley, said:—"TI do not think we have any information about China which I can call interesting in its character. The Admiral has gone back to Tientsin. This news comes through the Japanese boats, "ud we really do not know exactly what grounds he had for coming back or what his intentions are. I think you will see from the newspapers that the Taku forts have been ed, but we have not received any information as to the results of that movement. I very much regret that I can give the noble Earl no fuller information, because it is naturally a matter which has everywhere created the ut-mest interest, both in this and other countries. At present all that we have been able to do is to inform those who represent us that their discretion is absolute and to forward as many troops as we can.
In the House of Commons, Mr. Brodrick, in reply to Sir H. Campbell-Bamerman, si We bare no news from: Sir Claude Macdonald later than 12th, but nothing has reached us to cou-firm' the rumour of a general attack on the Legations at Peking. The latest telegram from Admiral Seymour's forces dated the 13th instant, the telegraph to Tientsin having been cut. A Japanese man-of-war which arrived at Chefoo last from Taku reported that the Commander-in-Chief and troops had returned to Tientsin; also, that the Taku forts opened fire on the gunboats in the mouth of the river on Sunday at 12.30 am. The ships then engaged the forts, and the engagement was proceeding when the Japanese ship left at 1.30 a.m. Detachments from all the ships of war were landed on Saturday to protect. Taku. There was one Chinese ship of war ab Taku, but she remained passive. As regards reinforcements, the British troops from Hongkong will reach Taku on Thursday. We understand that Russian, French, and Japanese reinforcements are due about the same date. Additional British ships sre on their way from Manila and Hongkong. I need hardly say no effort is being spared to get into touch with the Admiral and_give him every support in our power. In the last hour we have heard that telegraphic communication has been established in Takw and Tientsin, vii Helampo, North Manohn Mr. Yérburgh: May Task whether it the intention of Her Majesty's Government to send native troops from India to reinforce the garrison of Hongkong.
Mr. Balfour: The answer is in the affirmative. (Cheers.)
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.