The Sun. — London, England, 1857-03-12 00:00:00

developed at all, because we had not laid our railway down. We bad not opened our slips, or extended our cutting, and other things. The property was in a very different state. Mr. Linklater—l will ask you until I get an answer. Do you or do you not believe that you were making an honest representation to the shareholders in telling them that the Welsh mines were an available asset to the amount of 120,000/.1- 1 can only make the same answer that I made •fore. With that answer lam not satisfied.—l cannot give you any other. I can only say that at that time we did not be lieve amongst ourselves that there would be a loss upon that property. There is no question as to its lost power of dove; lopruent. The Commissioner—You would have sold it for 53,0001. if you could ?—But since that time we have done a good deal. We made a very large extra outlay upon it. After 1854 I—ln fact the principal outlay was subsequent to that period. Subsequent to the expected sale of Messrs. Fuller and Co. ? —Yes. Perhaps while we are upon that property it may not be considered germane to the question to say, that the value of the mineral property depended almost entirely upon the railway communication we could make to it. Had we suc ceeded, which we fully anticipated doing, in introducing our coke fairly to some of the leading railways, I think that there were the elements of redemption on that account, and, indeed, it is that feeling, Mr. Linklater, which makes me hesitate to give you a strightfor ward answer, which you think I am shirki ag, which is no such thing. I repeat it, the coal was of great value for railway purposes, and had we been in a position to have opened a free access to the Great Western, the South Devon, or to the South Wales, or even to run up to the Midland, such a new and important feature would have been impressed upon the whole thing that I do believe, and we believed up to that very time, within a week of our stoppage, that there would be the chance of ulti mate realisation, and, therefore, you must not press me to say whether I am prepared to admit that we were making an honest statement. In the balance-sheet ending the 30th of June, 1856, sub mitted to the shareholders on the Ist of August, did you not represent the bank as solvent 7 It is impossible to say :we were not deficient. We were sanguine of surmounting the dif ficulty by the extension of business and increase in capital. Was you not aware that the whole of the subscribed capital was lost ?—I can't deny but that wo were in jeopardy. I can't say lest, while there was a chance of redeeming the Welsh property and realising Mr. Humphrey Brown's secu rity. Mr. Linklater—How much out ?—lt would depend on the, estimate at the time of the value of the securities. Mr. Linklater several times asked if the account given in February, 1856, was true or false ; and Mr. Esdaile said he could not deny that it conveyed au erroneous impression. Diva yLu, Mr. Esdaile, as governor, sanction those accounts, knowing them to be false ?—A long pause, and no answer. Question repeated—No answer. I again ask whether you did not know the accounts to be false ? Mr. Esdaile (warmly)—By this question you are charging Mc with an untruth, which is foreign to my nature. I will not answer the question in that way. Mr. Linklater—ln your anxiety to protect the sharehold ers, did you not give a statement which was false I—lt was not strictly justified by truth. Mr. Linklater—l find in the accounts ending the 30th of June the gross profits, after making allowance for bad debts, interest on promissory notes, tic., amount to 15,0691. 15s. 6d. Was these any profit ?—Yes. Mr. LinklWer—Were not bad debts to 100,0001. taken cre dit for as assets ?—You mean including advancc:s to direc tors. Question repeated. Adding reserved fund and in creased capital there was a large margin. Mr. Linklater—Was not the representation untrue I—lt was certainly not borne out by the analysis. Did you believe it made a sufficient reduction in the bad debt I—No ; but in the course of years we hoped to find it sufficient. The Corntnissiener—You wanted to throw the present losses on future generations. Mr. Linklater—ln the 810,0001., were not debts included as assets which had been bad for yearsl—Thought as doubt ful. We received 13,0001. last year. Mr. Linklater —But a large amount ?—Yes. Mr. Linklater—Knowing them to be bad, did you not insert them as good, intending they should extend over future yearsl—Yes. Mr. Linklater—Did not the bad and doubtful debts exceed 150,0001. ?—They must have. You knew that in August, 1854 I—Yes. And in December and June, 1855 I—Partially. Mr. Linklater—Then those statements made to the share holders were untrue ?—Yes, with some explanations. Then you knew there should have been no division of pro fits in 1854, 1855, and 1856 ?—lf we are governed by the principle of meeting every obligation that appeared on our books. Question repeated—Yes. At the time Mr. Paddismr, the solicitor, wrote to the Board of Trade for a certificate under the supplemental charter, did you not know you were in a state of hopeless insolvency ? No ; only embarrassment. The Commissioner—You could' not have paid your way without new capitall—No. Mr. Linklater —Yon became governor in June, 1855, and did you then believe all the capital to be lost ?—Mr. Esdaile : We believed we should have recovered Cameron's debt, and that Humphrey Brown would pay. In June, 1855, he did not know all the capital was lost, but believed it to be com promised. Went on paying dividends after that. Believed Alderman Kennedy was not aware of the position of tile bank, but could not say ha did not know it to bo insolvent. The new shares were issued at a premium. After some further examination of a less important charac ter the sitting broke up. THEATRE ROYAL, D TICTRY LA..rsT E.— Lesseo, Mr. E. T. Smith. acting Msnager, Mr. C. Malliews. Stage Manager, Mr. P B,oxlty. SCCIlie futist, Mr. W. Beverley. Last Seven Nights of the present Season. The eminent Comedian, Mr. Charl,sAfathews, every evening, and Mr. and Mrs. Keeley. Last 7 Nights of the Grand Christmas Pantomime, the most magnificent ever produced on the English stage. THIS EVENING, her Majesty's Servants will perform the popular Comedy, A CURE FOR THE HEARTACHE, Characters by Messrs. C. Mathews, Keel2y, Vincent, Til blry, Templeton, Carter, 'Walton ; Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss Cleveland, and Miss IL Oliver. After which will be produced SEE, SAW, MARGERY DAW ; Or, Harlequin Holiday, and the Island of Ups and Downs. The reduced prices as follows, varying throughout the house to suit every-one :—Galleries, ed. and Is. ; Second Circle of Boxes, is. ed. ; Pit, 2s. ; First Circle of Boxes, 2s. 6d. ; Dress Boxes, 35.; Stalls, es. ; Private Boxes, 10s. 6d., V. Is., 11. 1 Is. 61, and 2/. 2s. 11)OPAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. .ait THIS EVENING, will be performed Shakespere's tragedy of KING RICHARD THE SECOND. King Richard 11., Mr. C. K an ; Queen, Mrs. C. Kean. Preceded by MUSIC HATH CHARMS. riNll EATRE ROYAL, EtAYMARKET. THIS EVENING, to commence at Seven, with -the sneenssffil new Comedy, in three acts, entitled, DOUBLE-FACED PEOPLE. Characters by Mr. Buckstone, Mr. Chippendale, Mr. Compton, Mr. W. Farren, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Clark, Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Poynter, and Mrs. E. Fitz wil iam. After which, A WICKED WIFE. Followed by LEND ME FIVE SHILLINGS. To conclude with Moncrieff a comic d:ama of THE IRRESISTIBLE% T HEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Lesec—Mr. Ben. Webster. THIS EVENING, will be performed the popular drama of IRELAND AS IT IS. Mr. and Mrs. Barney Williams. After which, A NIGHT AT NOTTING-HILL, in which Mr. Wright and Nal Bedford will appear. Followed by a new Piece de Caractere, entitled IN AND OUT OF PLACE, Mrs Barney Williams. To conclude with the new original comic drama, called BARNEY THE BARON. Barney O'T,ole, Mr. Barney Williams, OYAL SURREY THEA.TRE t Lessees, Messrs. Shepherd and Cisswiek. THIS EVENING, a new drama. entitled FRAUD AND ITS VICTI 11S. Messrs. Creswick, Shepherd, die. After which, an original farce, entitled, THE SERIOUS YOUTH. • To conclude with LES ARTISTES RIVAUX, Mr. F. Clover, Mr. Tapping, dr.e. THEATRE ROYAL, SADLER'S-WELLS. Under the Management of Mr. Phelps. TIIIS ETENINO, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Sir John Falstaff, Mr. Phelps. To conclude with THE HANDSOME HUSBAND. T RAND THE ATRE.—M%nager, Mc. T. osS3 Payne.—This Evening will be performed THE LAMPLIGHTER. Affer which, THE DEATH OF EVA, in which the Howard Family will appear. Followed by THE BLUE JACKETS. To concl u d e with MAID OR WIFE. (-3° lntatuce et Seven. Stalls, 3s. ; Boxes, 2s. ; Pit, ls. ; Gallery, Gd. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. Lessee, Mr. Alfred n Wigan. pc THIS EVENING, 7.1 ( .. farce, called THIEVES ! THIEVES ! ! Messrs. F. Robson. G. Vining, &c. The new drama, by T oni WOLF'S CLOTHNG. Taylor, Esq., A SHEEP IN I. Bayle Bernard, Esq Followed by tho new farce, called A SPLENDID INVESTMENT. .) And A CONJUGAL LESSON. Lullaby, Mr. F. Rob C omm ents at half-past S even. " D • A STLEY'S ROYAL AMP RITE( E A T TR ,. Lessee and Manager, Mr. W. Cook e . This Evening, with its manifold romantic equestrian effects, invented ly Mr. Wm. Cooke, the operatic drama o f ROB ROY, with the origi na l music, the last week of its performance. Rob Roy, Mr. James Holloway. After which, the Equestrian EVOLUTIONS in the ARENA. To conclude with the equestrian harlequinade called PAUL PRY ON HORSEBACK. Commerce at seven o'clock. Dress Bnes, 4s. ; Upper Boxes, 3s. • Private Boxes, from 1/. no charge for booking ; Pit, 28. ; dallery, Is. ; Upper Gallery, pox-office open from El even till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W. West. Equestrian Director, Mr. INT . Cooke, jun. CANTE RBU RY HALL, W es t m i ns t er -road.— OPEN EVERY EVENING.—The follow ing company of Vocalists are engaged for the performance of Selections from all tho popular Operas, Madrigals, Choruses, Glees, Ducts, &c., viz.: Miss E. Pearce, Mrs. J. Caulfield, Miss Brunel], Miss Summers, and Madame Marietta; Mr. J. Caulfield, Herr F. Jonghmans, H. Grover, T. Farrant, S. Jones, J. Barker, W. Melling, P. Corsi, Senor Antonio M. de Sella, and E. L. Rime; Masters Austin, Bennett, and Corri ; Messrs. Sam Collins, E. Mackney, and C. J. Wilkins. Pianoforte, Mr. Cecil Hicks; harmonium, J. Caulfield, jun.; director, Mr. J. Caulfield. Commence at Severs o'clock pro. isely, suppers, 4c., until twelve o'clock, 11 1 30YAL LYCEUM THEATRE. .J Lessee, Mr. C. Dillon. - THIS EVENING, will be performed the romantic drama of DON . CIESAR DE BAZAN, with new scenery, costumes, &c. Don Caesar, Mr. Dillon. Followed by the gorgeous burlesque of CONRAD AND MEDORA. Miss Woolgar, Mr. J. L. Toole, &e. After which, a new farce, entitled MY FRIEND FROM LEATHERHEAD. Mr. Toole, Miss Wilton, and Mrs. B. White. The box-office open daily, from 11 to 5, under the super. atendence of Mr. Chatterton, jun. Carriages conveying parties t i the Private Boxes to set down at the State entrance in Burleigh-street. I.IIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. rpis D,—Morn. 1Q min. aft. 3—Evening 21 rata. aft. 3 ro-Y..oßßow—Morn.37 min. aft. 3—Evening 51 min.att. 3 TdE WEATHEV.--Sux OFFICE, MARCH 12. THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE. 44 --highest since noon yesterday. 33 —lowest this morning and during the night: 45 —this day at ?Icon. BAEolernat, 80.06. WIND, Westerly -Light, with dull weather. Two o'CLocK.—Wial, S.W.—Slight rain. A tf - c§ un, J.i.;4,1f,,„i • LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1857. Many of the Coalitionists will speedily expiate the factious and un-English vote given on the Chinese question. The leaders themselves will not escApa scatheless. Mr. COBDEN himself, the mover of the obnoxious resolution, has received a very decided notice to quit from his constituents. He will not be allowed further opportunities of spouting the twaddle of the Peace Society as member for the West Riding. He was selected for that important and honourable position as a recognition of the vast services he had rendered to the cause of Free Trade ! But greatly as the electors valued the results, to the attainment whereof he had contributed, they are not prepared to sacrifice the prestige of the United Kingdom, or to suffer their native land to descend in the scale of nations. It is not that they love free trade less, but that they love the honour and interests of their country still more. And as the Hon. Gentle has proved incorrigible, as his re-election would be considered equivalent to an approval of the fac tious policy of the mongrel coalition, they are prepared, albeit with respect, to exclaim— " Richard, we loved you well, but never more be officer of ours." The Hon. Gentleman, rightly deeming discretion to be the better part of valour, will not venture to show himself on the hustings. In this lie acts wisely, for an overwhelming majority would cover with confusion himself and the cause of which he has so unfortunately become the advocate. Lord JOHN RUSSELL, the leader of the scanty remnant of a once powerful party, will meet with a similar fate in the City of London. It is to be hoped, for his own sake, that he will imitate the prudence of his recent ally, and retreat from a contest in which victory is wholly out of the question. In memory of byegone days we would not desire to see the Ex-Premier disgraced in the sight of the country. The days are past and gone when he could come forward as the honoured representative of a large and inde• pendent constituency. Should he still desire to take part iu pu'olie affairs he may "hide his aiaainished lacad" 'in some nomination borough, where t'lere is what is euphoniously termed " a prevailing influence." It is indeed deplorable that the once popular Reformer, the proposer of the modern illafita Charta, should b 9 "so fallen from high estate," with "none so poor to do him reverence ;" but he has only himself to thank for this untoward Alto of affairs. So long as he advocated an English policy minor errors might Le disregarded ; but his offence is rank, and can na be endured. He has been permanently dis qualified for the representation of the City of London. It is also by no means certain that "Poeta, junior" will retain his appellation as " the Oxford Pet." Of all the parties to the recent compact the Peelites may be regarded as the worst, and the already attenuated eirts will be reduced to infinitesimal proportions in the next Parliament. For some time they were looked on as a species of legi,lative engineer corps —all officers without soldiers. But the " half-pay list" will probably receive a large addition, and many, if not all, will be transferred to the non-effective branch. GLAD STONE, CA.RDWELL, GRAllAlf, PALMER, &C., &C. , have their work fully cut out for them, and it it is more than doubtful that they will be per mitted to appear again in the same character. The great point to be decided is the foreign policy of the empire. But although that is the primary, it is not the only consideration ! There are many questions in which the void of public opinion must be legitimately expressed at the buatiogs. Men may be sound on the Chinese question, but very unsound on other matters of vit 11 consequence to the welfare and prosperity of the nation. It is necessary that candidates should be strictly catechised on many other points. Never, perhaps, was there a time when so many interest iog topics were ox the Lapis, to pass which cannot be disregarded or slurred over. The iniquitous Bank Chatter Act will be renewed for a further tortn. The commercial, manufacturing, and alt the vari ous industrial interests will be condemned to penal servitude for a weary period of ten years, unless they speak distinctly and unequivocally while there is yet time. " The light cloud is rapidly passing from the face of the moon," and if the golden opportunity be neglected or misapplied, they will mourn "in sackcloth and ashes" their culpable apathy and indifference. The day of retribution will unquestionably arrive, and bitter, indeed, will be the cup that must be drained to the very dregs by those who conceive the question too abstruse for satisfactory solution. Parliamentary, fiscal, finan cial, and legal reforms must also be pressed for wards ; the last traces of bigotry and intolerance must be eradicated from the national statute book. No restriction on civil and religious liberty can be to lerated. Marriages must be rendered free, and the unfounded prejudices of one sect or party cannot be permitted to. fetter the freedom of choice in the most important relation of life ; that on which the happiness of so many respectable and conscientious persons greatly depends. If can didates whose views on the Chinese question are satisfactory cannot be induced to entertain whole some opinions on these and many other points, to will el Rbids w e cannot allude this day—others may and b r e y f i ou , nd —wh o are " a ll r i g he' i n e v er y res pect Generally, cal replies, every electer must press for categori and not suffer the candidates to ride off on vague generalities. .We earnestly hope that no Dissenter will give his vote for any person who will not only pledge himself to vote for, but to a dvance by every means in his power, the " Mar riages Affinity Bill," brought in by the Earl of S. Grjorancs. A gentle pressure on that point will prove very effectual at the p resent emergency. It must be a dmitted that the Act o f 1835 isnoat only a disgrace to th e national s tatute - book, but libel on the religion of every Dissenter from the Statefreligion throughout the length and breadth THE SUN; LONDON, of the land. A Mid° exeition will also secure the satisfactory adjustment of Church Rates. We trust that the necerisary steps will not be omitted to secure these grilat objects. Major-GeneraP., rather Colonel, TrromrsoN, once more for Bradfo rd ! No announcement of pos sible changes will give genuine Reformers, and grateful Free-tray tiers, more pleasure than this. His failure at tho last contest in Bradford was ' unhappily due to a piece of Ecclesiastical revenge. The Catholics, fo r whom he had laboured so effi ciently to procny:e Emancipation, could not for give him his opl ?osition to what went by the name of "The Papal Aggression." We will not revert afresh to the discreditable stratagem, by villa, under archiepiscopal direction, they ejected, on a petty quarrel, the man who had done so much for them in the great contest. Suffice it to say that Catholicism is, we trust, on the one hand not im placable and 'ungrateful, that Liberals are not unforgiving ; and that an opportunity is now offered to the 'Catholic voters of showing that they remember great services, although, unwisely and unkindly we t hink, they resented at the last elec tion a then rect •nt affront. As the consequence they then procured the return of a man who, however worthy iu othf)r respects, was one of the " No- Popery school," and who would, certainly, rather have put soate of the old fetters on Catholics again than have granted them fresh liberties. Mr. Minrai.laav, a thoroughly oonsistent Liberal, retires, the demand on his health being too severe ; an of Hafting occurs, and the Liberals have prepared to contest the borough with TITUS SALT, Esq., the noble-minded proprietor of the world famous Saltaire manufactory, and Col. THOMPSON, for their candidates. A mo+e unexceptionable choice for this great centre of the worsted trade could scarcely have been made. No one can better understand the business details and requirements of the trade of Bradford than Mr. SALT ; while no living Free-trader can be mentioned with COl. TiroalrsoN, as the philosophical populariser of Free-trade principles. A better combination of theory and practice could hardly represent any business constituency in the kingdom. Some hints have been dropped of the more Con servative Whigs supporting Mr. WICKHAM, the Tory candidate. We trust that they will not thus, AO far as Bradford is concerned, set the example of weakening, and dividing the Liberal interest. The wealthy manufacturer of Saltaire—a Liberal, too, as consistent as wealthy —may well satisfy the most Couservative of the Liberals ; and in h borough with such a large amount in it of Radi calism as Bradford, it is but fair that Radicals should return one member. When the choice of the latter rests on a candidata renowned through , out Civilisation for his literary attainments and writings, even the old-school Whigs may well be proud to keep all Liberal electors together by aiding in the return of a Candidate who will do them more honour than they can do him. They are not asked to vote for a demagogue, but for an author to whose writings on Free Trade Bradford owes perhaps half its present prosperity. Even if his Reform principles do go further than theirs, they may comfort themselves with the certainty of their not being carried out in the new Parliament elected under the auspices of Lord PALMERSTON ; while the whole town, and every manufacturing town in the kingdom, owes him a debt, which RIOHARD COGHIEI4 himself and JOHN BRIGHT would tall them they could never repay. If they pass over this opportunity of doing honour to the Apostle of Free Trade another may never occur; the town did well to honour a departed PEEL, lAA it would do better to honour a living THOMPSON. Why should death be necessary to open people's oyes to the, merits of men whom they neglected when living ? RECOVERY OF THE TYNE. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY. The Tyne (steamer), from the Brazils, which went ashore off St. Alban's Head on the 13th January, came off this morning, and proceeded at 7 30 a.m. for Southampton. THE PENINSULAR MAILS. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) SOUTHAMPTON, THURSDAY. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Sultan, Captain Cook, arrived here this morning, from Alexandria and Gibraltar, with a small cargo and two passengers ; baing only au extra steamer, she brings no mails. From Gibraltar we learn that the Admiralty agent of the Madrid, wrecked at Vigo, 'delivered the mails correct and undamaged at Lisbon on th• 27th ult. The British screw Eiteam-ship Thalia, Captain J. W. Wilson, from Glasgow, was immediately char tered, and on the Ist instant, at 7 in the morning, left Lisbon with the mails for Cadiz and Gibraltar, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 4th. The Madrid's passengers were ]eft at Vigo, by their own choice, to await the arrival of the next packet from Southampton. DEATH OP THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OP "FIFE.— We stop the press to announce that this much-esteemed nobleman died at his residence at Duff House, last night, at five minutes past eleven:o'clock. He is succeeded in his estates and his Irish tide.; by dames Duff, Esq., M.P. for Banffshire.— Ban f fshire Journal. Rear-Admiral his Grace the Duke of Northumberland, K.G., has consented to take the char at the annual general meeting of the Royal National Life-boat Insti tution, to be held at tie London Tavern on Thursday next, the 19th inst., at two o'clock. A new drama is in preparation at the Haymarket Theatre, from the pen of Mr. Bay:e Bernard. We are informed on goo :l authority that the Bishop of Norwich bas gone to London, and tendered his resigna tion, in consequence of his continued indisposition. The annual meeting of shareholders in the Alliance Bank is called for the 14th inst. at Paris. A further sum of 40,0001. in gold was taken from the Bank yesterday for exportation. The Blackwall has arrived from Melbourne with 81,000 ounces of gold, valued at 324,0001. A large pro. portion of it is expected to be sent to the continent. Miss Poom—This agreeable and popular English singer has announced a concert to take place early next month it the Hanover-square Rooms, at which numerous vocal and instrumental artislei are engaged. Among the former the names of Madame Gassier and Madame A nna Thillon appear ; among the latter, M. Sainton and Signor Giulio Regondi. it is believed that the next Indian mail will take out about 600,0001. in silver. We are authorised by Lord Panmure to eats that the assertion made by Commissary-General Filder, in a pamphlet published by him, that Colonel Tulloch , when sent out to the Crimea, carried with him a commission to supersede Mr. Filder as Commissary• General of the army, is without foundation. Colonel Tulloch was armed with no commission to supersede any officer, and could have no personal object to attain by the removal of Mr. Filder from his office. Mr. Beale's troupe of Italian artistes have been per forming with great success in Manchester and Liverpool. 'Amongst the novelties in the representations has been the first appearance of Herr Formes as Don Pasquale ; and the result has been such as to realise the expecta tions that might naturally be farmed by those who had witnessed the great basso's performance of Leporello. He played the part according to a conception of his own; and the audience were much amused at the ease and lightness displayed by an artist whom they had seldom seen in other than characters of the most sombre hue. Madame Gassier, as the heroine, is described as having fairly revelled in the sparking beauties of the music ; and the papers state that this favourite artiste was never heard to greater advantage. GREAT Loss OF CATTLE.—The steamer Countess of Lonsdale, which arrived at St. Katherine's Wharf on Tuesday afternoon from Hamburg, reports having expe rienced a most terrific passage. About an hour before daybreak on Monday morning she was struck by a SO, which carried away the port paddle-box, and swept over board 208 sheep, 35 oxan, and 5 horses. THE CIVIL SERVICE ESTlMATES.—Yesterday wag pub lished a statement of the Cirvice Estimates for the year 1857, endi ng 31 s t Mar c,di' 1858, showing the total estimate ar.i the sum proposed to be voted "on ac count" Er each service. The whole amount required is 4,448,901., and the stun to be voted i* 1,03,20011 LATEST N E WS. THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 12, 1857 THE STATE OF CHINA. BY SIR J. BOWRING. The following letter, addressed to the Registrar- General, London, by Sir John Bowring, has been published in the "Journal of the Statistical So ciety ;" "Government house, Hong Tong, July 13, 1355. " Sir,—l wish it were possible to give a satisfactory reply to your inquiries as to the real population of China. "There bee been no official census taken, since the time of Kia King, 43 years ago. Much doubt has been thrown upon the accuracy of these returns, which gave 362,447,183 as the total number of the inhabitants of China. I think our greater knowledge of the country increases the evidence in favour of the approximate cor rectness of the official document, and that we may with tolerable safety estimate the present population of the Chinese empire as between 350,000,000 and 400,000,000 of human beings. The penal laws of China make provi sion for a general system of registration ; and corporal punishments, generally amounting to 100 blows of the bamboo, are to be inflicted on those who neglect to make the proper returns. The machinery is confided to the elders of the district, and the census is required to be annually taken ; but I have no reason to believe that the law is obeyed or the neglect of it punished. "In the English translation of Father Alvares Se medo's 'History of Ch:na,' published in London, A.D. 1655, is the following passage t ' 6 'This kingdom is so exceedingly populous that, having lived there 22 years, I was in no less amazement at my coming away than in the beginning at the multi tude of the people. Certainly thez,truth exceedeth all hyperboles ; not only in the cities, towns, and public places, but also in the highway there is as great a con course as is usual in Europe on some great festival. And if we will refer ourselves to the general regieter hock wherein only the common men are enrolled, leaving out women, children, eunuchs, professors of letters and arms, there are reckoned of them to be fifty-eight mil lions fifty-five thousand one hundred and four score.' The minuteness of the enumeration would seem to show that the father quoted some official document. " I forward herewith two tabular statements which I have copied from Dr. Williams's Middle Kingdom,' one of the best books on China. The first (No. 1) gives a list of the various estimates from A D. 1393 to 1812, with the authorities quoted. The second is a rearranged statement of censuses taken at different periods (No. 2). "As there are few men in China more diligent or better instructed than Dr. Williams, I thought it desir able to communicate with him in order to ascertain his present views as to the credit which may properly be a.- tached to the official statistics of China. I send a copy of his letter (No. 3). "I do not know that there is any safer course than to reason from details to generals, from the known to the unknown ; and I have taken every opportunity which try intercourse with the Chinese has afforded me, to obtain, if not correct, at least approximative, infor mation as to the true statistics of the country. It may be affirmed without wry hesitation that, as regards the Five Ports and the adjacent districts to which we have access, the population is so numerous as to furnish ar guments that the number of inhabitants of the entire empire is very much greater than is represented by the official returns. These localities cannot be taken as fair averages; for, naturally enough, increased commercial activity has brought with it a flow of new settlers, and there can be no doubt that some of the ancient seats of commerce have lost much of their population in losing their trade; but whether all the causes of decline in par ticular spots have much counteracted the fecundity of the Chinese races, considered as a whole, may well be r questioned. " Some years ago I bad an opportunity, of discussing the subject of Chinese population with the mandarin at Ningpo, who was charged with making the returns for that district. Ningpo can scarcely be called a progres ' sive place—it is decidedly the least so of the five treaty ports ; but I found, generally speaking, that the real returns were considerably in excess of the official esti mates. "And I would remark that, in taking the area of the 18 provinces of China at 1,318,870 square miles, the census of 1812 would give 268 persons to a square mile, which is considerably less than the population of the densely peopled countries of Europe, "According to ancient usage the population in China is grouped under four heads-1, Scholars ;2, Husband men • 3, Mechanics ; 4, Merchants. There is a nniner -0114 class who are considered almost as social outcasts, such as stage players, professional gamblers, beggars:, oonvicts, outlaws, and others ; and these probably form no part of the population returns. In the more remote rural districts, on the other band, the returning officer most probably contents himself with giving the average of more accessible and better-peopled localities. "I have no means of obtaining any satisfactory tables to show the proportions which different ages bear to one another in China, or the average mortality at different periods of human life ; yet to every deriade of life the Chinese apply some special designation. The ate() of 10 is called ' the Opening Degree ;' 20, Youth expired ;' 30, ' Strength and Marriage ;' 40, Officially Apt 50, ' Error-knowing ;' 60, Cycle-closing ;' 70, Rare Bird of Age ;' 80, Rusty-visaged ; 90, ' Delayed ;' 100, ' Age's Extremity.' Among the Chinese the amount of reverence grows with the number of years. I made, some years ago, the acquaintance of a Buddhist priest living in the convent of Tien Tung, near sing po, who was more than a century old, and whom people of rank were in the habit of visiting, in order to show their respect and to obtain his autograph. He had the civility to give me a fair specimen of his handwriting. There are not only many establishments for the recep tion of the aged, but the penal code provides severe pu nishments for those who refuse to relieve the poor in their declining years. Age may nlro be pleaded in ex tenuation of crime and in mitigation of punishment. Imperial decrees sometimes order presents to be given to all indigent 01l people in the empire. I am not aware of any detailed statistics riving the Lumber of such recipi ents since a return published in the time of Kanghi (1657). Kienlung (1785) directed that all those claim ants whose age exceeded GO should receive 5 bushels of rico and a piece of linen ; those above 80, 10 bushels of rice and two pieces of linen ; those above 90, 30 bushels of rice and two pieces of common silk ; and those above 100, 50 bushels of rice and two pieces, one of fine and one of common silk. He ordered all the elders to be enumerated who were at the head of five generations, of whom there were 192, and, in gratitude to heaven,' summoned 3,000 of the oldest men of the empire to re ceive Imperial presents, which consisted principally of embroidered purses, and badges hearing the character shau, meaning longevity. "The Kanghi tables show the numbers of those who enjoyed the benefit of the edict ; but as the returns bear no proportion to the general population of the country or to the relative extent of the various provinces, many fortuitous and local circumstances must have ' caused the obvious incongruities. Fcr example, in the adjacent provinces of Kwantung and Kwangse, in which the whole mass of population is in the proportion of two to one, the recipients are as 46 to 1 ; and as regards age, while the proportion of those above 80 is represented at 19 to 1, those above 90 are only a little more than 5 to 1. In all these matters the greater or less co-operation of the local authorities is one of the most important ele ments in producing a result. Kwangse is extremely mountainous, and bur leered on the north-west by the country of the Al eaou-'sz, or aborigines, the districts adjoining which are but in a tall-reclaimed' state, and governed by officers of a character and denomination distinct from those of the provinces. But it is inexpli cable that the province of Pechile, in which Pekin is situated, should exhibit but a small proportional return, especially as compared with the adjacent province of Shantung. Hook wang, wi h a population of 26,250,000 has 37,354 indigent persons above 70, while Szeelauen, the population of which is 21,500,000, presents only 176 persons in that category. "I think there is abundant evidenceof redundant pope latien pressing more and more heavily upon, arid suffering more and more severely from an inadequate supply of food. Though there are periods when e xtraordinary harvests enable the Chinese to transport rice, the principal food of the people, from one province to another, and sometimes even to foreign countries, yet of late the importations from foreign countries have been enormous, and China has drawn largely on the Straits, the Philippines, Siam, and other places, to fill up avast deficiency in supply. Famine has, notwithstanding, committed dreadful ravages, and the provisions of the Imperial granaries have been wholly inadequate to provide for the public wants. It is True that cultivation has been greatly in. terfered with by intestinal disorders, and that there has been much destruction by inundations, inceadiarism, and other accidental or transitory causes ; but without ' reference to these, I am disposed to believe that there is a greater increase in the numbers of • the population than in the home production of food for their use. It must be remembered, too, that while the race is thus augmenting, the causes which lead to the destruction of food,---enich as the overflow of rivers, fires, ravages of locusts, bad seasons, and other calarnities—are to a great extent beyond the control of human prudence or human exertion. It would be difficult to show what new ele ment could be introduced which would raise up the native supply cif food beyond its present productiveness, considering that band husbandry has given to cultiva tion more of a horticultural than an agricultural cha racter. "The constant flow of emigration from China, con trasted with the complete absence of emigration into China, is striking evidence of the redundancy of the population ; for though that emigration is almost wholly confined to two provinces, namely, Kwantung and Foo kien, representing together a population of probably from 34,000,000 to 35,000,000, I am disposed to think that a number nearer 3,000,000 than 2,000,000, froni these provinces alone, are located in foreign countries. In the kingdom of Siam it is estimated that there are at least 1,500,000 Chinese, of which 200,000 are in the capital (Bangkok). They crowd all the islands of tSe Indian Archipelago. In Java, we know by a correct census there are 136,000. Cochin China teems with Chinese. In this colony we are seldom without one, two, or three vessels taking Chinese emigrants to Cali fornia and other places. Multitudes go to Australia, to the Philippines, to the Sandwich Islands, to the n e tern coast of Central and Southern America ; some h Are made their way to British Indic. The emigration to the British West Indies has been considerable—to the Ha vannah greater still. The annual arrivals in Singapore are estimated at an average of 10,000, and 2,000 is the number that are said annually to return to China. "There is not only this enormous maritime emigra tion, but a considerable inlond efflux of Chinese towards Mantchouria and Thibet ; and it may be added, Ana the large and fertile islands of Formosa and Hainan hal e been to a great extent won from the aborigines by suc cessive inroads of Chinese settlers. Now, these are all males ; there is not a woman to 10,000 men ; hence, perhaps, the small social value of the female infant. Yet this perpetual cutfielving of people seems " * See a valuable paper on Chinese Agriculture iu the Chios' 11 °Posit9U:' y9l, WI; pp, 121-27. THE OVERLAND MAIL. CHINA AND INDIA. TRIESTE, MARCH 11. The steamer Calcutta arrived here to-day at 3 p.m. in 114 hours from Alexandria. The India mails had arrived at Alexandria, with advices from Bombay to the 6th of February ; Calcutta, 7th of February ; Madras, 13th of February ; and Hong Kong, 30th of January. At Hong Kong the attempt to poison the com munity lrld caused great consternation. One partner of the baking establishment had been arrested and committed for trial with nine other Chinese. " Admiral Seymour bad withdrawn from the Gardens and Dutch Folly Fort. 44 As a reprisal for the treacherous attempt against the Brit 7 sh, the Western suburbs of Canton have been burnt down. " Exchange at Hong Kong, 4s. 80. to 4s. 9id. '• At Fo3chow tees were arriving slowly and prices were high. " At Shanghai holders were looking out for a further rise. " Silk S3ttlements wore 2,000 bales, with $lO advance. " Exchange, 6s. Bd. " The intelligence from Busbire is to the 23d of January. The general health of the army was good, and supplies were plentiful. No further military operations had taken place. General Outram had not yet arrived. The Conferences between Sir J. Lawrence and Dost Mahonied broke up on the 28th of January, when the Ameer left for Cabul. It is asserted that a British Residency is about to be established at Candahar. The Bombay money market was easier. Imports were steady. Excha,ngr!, 2s. lid. At Calcutta exchange was 23. 2L-d. Tile improvement in the import market was well maintained. The New Five per Cent. Loan was progressing very slowly. It is said tint the Emperor Napoleon bas offered the Spanish Government to act as mediator in tho differences with Mexico. Some French ships of war have been ordered to cruise off Vera Cruz. The Colombo arrived at Alexandria on the morn ing of the 11th inst. At that tune the Euxine from Marseilles was not yet in sight. A Paris letter, in the or ci of Brussels, says " The French squadron in the China seas is about to be reinforced, and an arrangement has been con chided to that effect between Count Walewski, Lord Cowley, and Admiral Hamelin." The corresponde'its of foreign journals (says the Constitutionnel) speak of what has taken place at the two sittings held by the Conference on the Neuchatel question. Their remarks on the subject can only be mere conjectures, as the pleni, potentiaries have come to an understanding to keep secret all the details of the negotiation. The repre sentative of Switzerland_ has not yet taken ary part in the deliberations, because as long as the only matter before the Conference was the principle of renunciation 03 Swiss envoy was not convoked to the sitt:ng, but he will be called on to take part in the deliberations as soon as the details of the question are entered on. The conferences will pro bably be resumed this week, and there is every reason to hope that they will lead to a favourable • result." FRANCE. PAWS, WEDNESDAY EVENING• The Moniteur contains a decree allowing a num ber of French officers and others to accept and wear different foreign decorations. despatch from C ons t an ti nop l e o f the A 4t t h el a egr un a o p u b n i c c es that' the bank had just been con st;tuted. BouusE; March 11.—The following were the las quotations Cub. li. c. 44 per Cents ......... 92 75 3 per Cent 5........... 70 90 New Loan ............ Bank Shares ........ 4 , 200 Roman Credit Mobilier ...... 1,420 Austrian Belgian Fives ...... Spanish Threes Piedmontese (5) .. . ... 91 50 Home Debt RAILWAYS—FOR CASH. End of 3ionth. —fr. ---c. 71 25 fr. c. fr c Orleans 1,450 Western . 837 50 Northern ............... .982 50 Strasburg Lyons . Mediterranean ......1, 9 x 0 Grand Central 617 50 Lyons Geneva - Cette 832 59 Austrian C0rn....... 795 SPAIN. We have received the Madrid journals of the 7th. According to the Espana the English and French Governments have declared that Spain, in the event of making war on Mexico, will be war ranted in calling on the United St a tes to maintain neutrality. ra A L TA. VALE TA, MA.RCH 5. The European and Australian steam-ship Etna arrived from Southampton yesterday morning, hav ing been only seven days and four hours on the voyage. This is icaugurating the new line with. rapidity 'indeed. It is stated that the captain ex pects to be 12 hours shorter in his next run. The Cambria came in this morning from Marseilles, bringing a London mail of the 28th ult. ; and the Etna proceeded for Alexandria. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam ship Colombo arrived on Saturday from South ampton, with the heavy portion of the India mail; and the Eux;ne, with the overland mail of the 26th ult., came in on the 3d inst. Both vessels proceeded a. few hours afterwards to Alexandria. H.M. steam-ships Spiteful, Magicienne, and Des perate arrived during the week from the East. The corvette Miranda arrived on Friday from Corfu, on her way home to bs paid off. The Recruit left on Sunday for Corfu and Patras with a mail. She i s ordered to remain on the Patras station and look out for pirates. Amongst the passengers by the Peninsular and Oriental C ompany ' s s t e am-sbip Ripon, which left on Friday last for England, is the youthful Marquis of Hastings, who has been staying a few months in Malta with his step-father, Captain Yelverton, commanding H.M.S. Conqueror. The Duke , and. Duchen of Norfolk are expected here shortly on a I regret to state that an accident has occurred to Mr. Charles M'lver, one of the principal pro prietors in th e C unar d Steam-shipping Company. A pony kicked Lim on the arm, fracturing his elbow, aid causing a severe contusion. A serious accident also occurred on Friday last to Captain Goodenough, R.A., aide-de-camp to his Excellency the Governor. Whilst s iding, his horse stumbled, and falling upon the rider's leg, caused a fracture of the small bone. Both golf lemen are doing well. By the arrival of her Majesty's ship Miranda, from Corfu, on the 27th ult., I learn that the 91st Regiment was daily expected there from the Piraeus, as also a regiment from Malta. Sir A. Damaschino, K.C.M.G., has been nominated President of the Senate of the lonian Islands, vice Count Roma, G. C. M. G. A resolution of the Senate has been published, giving the cruisers of his Hellenic Majesty the right to search suspected vessels under the Greek flag, when anchored in any p or t o f the lonian. States, or on any part of the l on i an coats. A reciprocal act is granted by the G ree k G over nment to British cruisers to search lonian vessels in the harbours and coasts of Greece. Ms. Zervo and Monferrato, who have been suffering exile for several years, have be3n generously pardoned by Sir J. Young, and they can now return to Cephalonia without condition. The ten electors of that island peti tioned the Governor on the subject immediately after their election, and have expressed themselves very sensible of their prayer having been listened to. Nothing more Of any importance. no respect to diminish the number of those who are left cow's feet.* Father 'Wee mentions that of abandoned behind. Few ClA:earners leave their country, without a children the Jesuits baptised in Pekin alone net less feed purpose to return to worship in the ancestral hall than 3,000 yearly. I have seen ponds which are the —to bring sacrifices to the tombs of thei r f a th ers ; but habitual receptical of female infants, whose bodies it may be doubted if one in ten revisits his native land. lie floating about on their surface. The loss of life from disease, from bad arrangements, ; "It is by no means unusual to carry persons in a from shipwreck, and other casualties amounts to a fright- state of exhaustion a little distance-from the cities, to ful percentage on those who emigrate. give them a pot of rice, and to leave them to perish of "The multitudes of persons who live by the fisheries starvation when the little store is exhausted. Life and in China afford evidence not only that the land is culti- death in China, beyond any other region, seem in a state vated to the greatest possible extent, but that it is install- of perpetuol activity. The habits of the people, their cient to supply the m cesshies of the overflowing popula. tradition-', the teachings of the sages--all give a power tion ; for agriculture is hell in high honour in China, ful impulse to their procreative affections. A childless and the husbandman stands next in rank to the sage or person is deemed an unhappy, not to say a degraded, literary man in the social hierarchy. It has been sup- man. The Chinese moralists set it down as a law that posed that nearly a tenth of the population derive their if a wife give no children to her husband she is bound by means of support from fisheries. Hundreds and thou- every tie of duty to encourage and to patronise a collet:- sands of boats crowd the whole coast of China—some. I bine, through whom his name may be preserved, and times acting in communities, sometimes independent and provision ma d e th a t w h en he leaves the world honours isolated. There is no species of cra ft b y w hi c h a fi s h can w i ll be done to his manes. One of the most popular of be inveigled which is not practised With success in China Chinese writers says, There are in the world wives who, —every variety of net, from vast seines, embracing never having borne boys, or nourished girls, even when miles, to the smallest haudfilet in the care of a child. the husband has reached the age of 40, prohibit his Fishing by night and fishing by day—fishing in moon- bringing home a concubine or entertaining a handmaid light, by torchlight, and in utter darkness—fishing in for the purpose of continuing his posterity—they look boats of all sizes—fishing by those who are Eta- upon such a person with jealous hatred and malig tionary on the rock by the seaside, and by those who nant lie will. Alas ! do you know Low fleet is time I are absent for reeks on the wildest of seas,—fishing by Stretch as you may your months and your . years, cormorants,—fishing by divers,—fishing with lines, with they fly like arrows ; and when your husband's animal baskets,—by every imaginable decoy and device. There spirits and vigorous blood shall be exhausted,—then, fin is no river which is not staked to assist the fisherman in deed, he can never beget children, and you, his wife, will his craft. There is no lake, no p on d, w hi c h i s no t h ave stopped the ancestral sacrifices, and you will have crowded with fish. A piece of water is nearly as valuable cut off his generation—then repentance, though you may as a field of fertile land. At daybreak every city is exhibit it in a hundred ways, will indeed come too late-- crowded with sellers of live fish, who carry their com- his mortal body will die—his property, which you, hue modity in buckets of water, saving all they do not sell band and wife, have sought to keep together, will not to be returned to the pond or kept for another day's ser- descend to his children, but be fought for by multitudes vice. And the lakes and ponds of China net only supply of kindred and relations ; and you will have injured not large provisions of fish—they produce considerable quart- one person—not your husband only—but even yourself ; titles of edible roots and seeds, which are largely con- for who shall take charge of your coffin and your tomb! , sumed by the people. Among these the esculent arum, Who shall bury you or offer sacrifices ! Alas ! your the water chestnut ( sc-irpus tuberosus) and the lotus orphaned spirit shall pass nights in tears. It is sorrow ( stelantbiai ) are the most remarkable. feel to think of. There are some wives who do control. " The enormous river population of China, who live their jealousies, and allow their husbands to take concise only in boats, who are born and educated, who marry, blues to themselves ; but they do so (ungenerously) as if rear their families, and die— who, in a word, begin and they were drinking vinegar, and eating acids—they beat end their Existence on the water, and never have or Betty by way of scolding Belinda-)•—there is no peace to dream of any shelter other than the roof, and who the inner house. But fbeseech you to act as a p r udent seldom tread except on the deck or b oar d s o f th e i r an d v i rtuous woman. If you have no children, provide sampans—show to what an (latent the land is crowded, with openness and honesty a concubineet for your bus and how inadequate it is to maintain the cumberers hand. If she bear him children, to you he will owe that of the soil. Tn the city of Canton alone it is esti- the arteries and veins of his ancestral line are continued; mated that 304;000 persons dwell upon the surface of his children will honour you as your mother, and will the river; the boats, sometimes twenty or thirty deep, not this comfort you I Give not way to the malignant cover some miles, and have their wants supplied by jealousy of a wicked woman ! Prepare not a bitterness ambulatory salesmen, who wend their way through which you yourself must swallow.'§ every accessible passage, Of this vast population some " Generally, however, the wife willingly coincides with dwell in decorated river boats used for every purpose of the husband in introducing into the household any nuw' license and festivity—for theatres—for concerts—for bee of concubines whom he is able to maintain, since she feasts—for gambling—for lust—for solitary and social exercises over them an undoubted authority, and the recreations ; some craft are employed in conveying goods child of a concubine is bound to pay higher respect to and passengers, and are in a state of constant activity ; the first wife than to its own mother. The Chinese illus. others are moored, and their owners are engaged as ser- trate all the domestic relations by imagery, and are went vents or labourers on shore. Indeed, their pursuits are to say that, as the husband is the sun, and the wife the probably nearly as various as those of the land popula- moon, so the concubines are the planets and the stared tion. The immense variety of boats which are found in the domestic &manse. Chinese waters has never been adeqaately described. "And it has been often truly observed that, thong? Some are of enormous size, and are used as magazines th e Chi nes e ma y b e ca ll e d sensualists, there is no dei fi' for salt or rice—others have all domestic accommocla- cation of the grosser sensualities such as is found in th e tions, and are employed for the transfer of whole families, classical pantheons, and in many of the oriental forms O f with all their domestic attendants and accommodations, faith. Tales of the amours of their gods and heroes from one place to another,—some, celled centipedes, from seldom figure in their historical books or traditional le' their being supposed to have 100 rowers, convey with gends. The dresses and external habits of the women extraordinary rapidity the more valuable cargoes from in China are invariably modest; and on the whole the the inner warehouses to the Lr o i gn s hippi ng ire the ports social arrangements must be considered friendly to an —all these from the huge and cumbrous junks, which augmentation of the human race. The domestic Alfa; remind one of Noah's ark, and which represent the rude tions are strong. Parents are generally fond and proud and coarse constructions of the remotest age-, to the of their children, and children obedient to their parents. fragile planks upon which a solitary leper hangs upon Order is, indeed, the first law of Confucius—authority the outskirts of society —b oa t s o f ever y form and applied and submission the apex and basis of the social pyramid' to every purpose—exhibit an incalculable amount of "The sentiment of dishonour attached to the extinetio ri population, which may be called amphibious, if not of a race by the want of descendants through whom th e aquatic. w h s l e 1 ne o f reverential services ( " kith some have tailed "Not only are land and water crowded with Chinese, religious worship) rendered to ancestors is to be pee . but many dwell on artificial islands which float upon the tual is by no means confined to the privileged classes is lakes—islands with gardens and houses raised upon the China. One of our female servants—a nominal Chris" rafters which the occupiers have bound together, and on tian—expressed he r earnes t d es i re t h at her husband: which they cultivate what is needful for the supply of should hava another wife in her absence, and Beanie d life's daily wants. They have their poultry and their quite surprised that any one should suppose such an vegetables for use, their flswers and their scrolls for or- arrangement to be in any respect improper. nen:lent, their household gcds fur protection and worship. " The marriage of children is one of the great 0 0 : , "In all parts of China to which we have access we corns of families. Scarcely is a child born in the higher find not only that every foot of ground is cultivated ranks of life ere the question of its future espousal b; which is capable of producing anything, but that, from comes a frequent topic of discussion. There is a 1 0 1 0 the value of land and the surplus of labour, cultivation body of professional matchmakers, whose business is rather that of gardeners than of husbailmen. Th e to put all the preliminary arrangements iu train, to s ettle sides of Lille in their natural declivity often unavailable, questions of dowry, to accommodate differences, tfce are, by a succession of artificial terraces, turned to pro- report on the pros an d cons o f pro j ected a lli a n . h ' . fitable account. Every little bit of soil, thou g h it be There being no he re dit ar y h onours i n Chinet:.l only a few feet in length and breadth, is turned to ac- except those which rec k on upwar d s f rom the If count ; and not only is the surface of the land thus cared tinguished son to th e f a th er , th e gran df at h er , an d th e ~ for ,hut every device is employed for the gaqierina toge- whole line of ancestry, whi c h ma y b e enno bl e d by • tiler of every article that can serve tor manure. Seaven- literary or martial genius of a descendant—the disur g gees are constantly clearing the streets of the stercorace- tions of caste are unkno wn , an d a success f u l s t u d e nt even ass filth ; the cloacae are farmed by opecul hors in human of the lowest origin w ou ld b e d eeme d a fit ma t c h fo r the ordures ; the most populous pl ices are often made most opulent and distin g ui s h a bl e f ema l e i n th e corn . n 3 .t u, offensive by the means taken to pr e vent the precious de- nity. The sev e r e l aws w hi c h pro hibit marr i ages within posits from being lost. The fields in China have almo s t cert a in degre es o f a ffi n ity (th ey d o not , h owever , ititerdl l always large earthenware vessels for the reception of the it with a deceased wife's sister) tend to make ma rriagie contributions of the peasant or th e t r a ve ll er . Y ou can - more p ro lifi c , an d t o p ro d uce a h ea lthi er race o f c hild r en not enter any of their great cities without meeting mul- So strong is the objection to the marriage of blood relP titudes of men, women, and children conveying liquid tions that a man and woman of the same Sing or famill manure into the fields and gardens around. The stimu- name cannot lawfully wed. ants to production are applied with most untiring in. "Soldiers a nsl sailors are in no respect prevented from dustry. In this c, luny of Hong Kong I scarcely ever marrying. I exp:ct there is, from the number of mal e ride out without finding some little bit of ground either emil;rants—fr,,iu the greater loss of men by the various newly cultivated or clearing fur cultivation. accidents of life, and their abstraction in many circtin l4 "Attention to the sail—not only to make it produc- stances from intercourse with women—a great silt title, but as ranch productive as possible—is inculcated proportion between the sexes, tending naturally enoa6: as a political and social duty. One of the most ad. to the lower app rec i a ti on o f woman ; b u t corre ct et a mired sages of China (Yung-chin) says Lot there tics are wanting in this, as indeed in every other part 0 be no uncultivated spot in the country—no unem- the field of inquiry. ployed person in the city ;' and the fourth maxim of " The proportion of unmarried to married poe ts ) it the sacred edict of Kane-hi, which is required to be (as w ou ld b e d e d uce d f rom the f orego i ng observatietc: read through the empire on the let and 15th day of exceedingly small. To promote marriages seems ev": 7 l, every moon, in the presence of all the officers of body's affair. Matches and betrothings naturally enoileti State, is to the three/kg effect:—' Let husbandry occupy the attenti on o f th e young , b u t no t l e ss that ta v t occupy the principal piece, and the culture of the the middle-aged and the old. A marriage is the ha s' mulberry-tree, so that there may be sufficient supply e ven t i n t h e lif e o f man or woman, and in China i s. _ 0 c ln , of food and clothing.' Shin Nung, the n a me of one o f soc i a t e d w i t h- more o f preliminary negotiations, cer e t r the most ancient and honoured of the Chinese Empe- v i a l s a t diff erent steps of the negotiations, written Yo, tors, means the Divine Husbandman.' respo n d ence , v i s i t i ngs, protoco l s, and convent i ons , " The arts of draining and irrigating—of preserving, in any other part of the world." preparing, and applying manure in a great variety of shapes, of fertilising seeds, indeed, all the details of Chinese agriculture, are well deserving of note, and all display evidence of the inadequate proportion which the produce of the soil bears to the demands for the con ') gumption of the people.* "The Chinese, again, have no prejudice whatever as regards food ; they eat anything and everything from which they con derive nutrition. Dogs, especially puppies, • •I re habitually sold for food ; and I have seen in the butchers' shops, large dogs skinned and hanging with their viscera by the side of pigs and goats. Even to rats and mice the Chinese have no objection—neither to the flesh of monkeys and snakes ; the sea slag is an aristocratical and costly delicacy which is never wanting and mere than tLe edible birds' nests, at a feast where honour is intended, to be done to the guests. Unhatched ducks and chickens are a favourite dish. Nor do the early stages a putrefaction' create any disgust ; rotten eggs are by no meting condemned to perdition ; fish is Ithe more acceptable when it has a strong fragrance and flavour to give more gusto to the rice. " As the food the Chinese eat is for the most part hard, coarse, and of little cost, so their beverages are singu larly economical. Drunkenness is a rare vice in China, and fermented spirits or strong drinks are seldom used. Tea may be said to be the national, the universal beve rage; and t'neugh that employed by the multitude does not cost more than from 3d. to 6d. per lb., an infusion of less costly leaves is commonly employed, especially in localities remote from the tea districts. B ,th in eating and drinking the Chinese are temperate, and are satisfied with two daily meals—'the morning rice' at about 10 a.m., and the evening rice' at 1 p.m. The only repug nance I have observed in China is to the use of miik— an extraordinary prejudice, especially considering the Tartar influences which have been long dominant in the land ; but I never saw or heard of butter, cream, milk, or whey bring introduced at any native Chinese table. " While so many elements of vitality are in a state of activity for the production and sustenance of the human race, there is probably no part of the world in which the harvests of mortality are more sweeping and destructive than in China., producing voids which require no ordi nary appliances to fill op. Multitudes perish absolutely from want of the means oft xisteuce—inundations destroy towns and villages and all their inhabitants ; it would not be easy to calculate the loss of life by the typhoons or hurricanes which visit the coasts of China, in which boats and junks are sometimes sacrificed by hundreds and by thousands. The late civil wars in China must have led to the loss of millions of lives. The sacrifices of human beings by executions alone are frightful. At the moment at which I write it is believed that from 400 to 500 victims fall daily by the hands of the headsman in the province of Kwang-tueg alone. Reverence for life there is none ' as life exists in superfluous abundance. A d ea d b o dy is an ohjsct of so little concern that it is sometimes not thought worth while to remove it from the spot where it putrefies on the surface of the earth. Often have I seen a corpse under the table of gamblers ; often have I trod over a putrid body at the threshold of a door. In many parts of China there are towers of brick or stone where tooth less—principally female—children are thrown by their parents into a hole made iu the side of the wall. There are various opinions as to the extent of infanticide in China, but that it ;s a common practice in many pro vinces admits of no doubt. Oue of the most elo quent Chinese writers against infanticide, Kwei Chung Fu, professes to have been specially inspired by 'the . God of literature' to call upon the Chinese people to e frain from the inhuman practice, and declares that the God' had fi led his house with honours, and given him literary descendants as the recompense for his expions. Yet his denunciations scarcely go further than to pro nounce it wicked in those to destroy their female children who have the means of bringing them rp ; and some of his arguments are strange enough To destroy daughters,' he says, is to make war upon Hea ven's harmony' (in the equal number of the ete.s) ; 'the more daughters you drown, the more daughters you will have ; and never was it known that the drowning o f dauciaters led to the birth of sons. He recommends abandoning children to their f a te o n the waysiCe' as u e e an d preferable to drowning them, and then says, There are s instances of childre,nsvvsaohneedxrepusoihosoed mothers we having have been been,' nursed s h e e d asks, had b een d rowned in if reared our by gr a t n i g d raerso.t'h r their infancy.' And he quotes two instances of the pu nishment of mothers who had destroyed their infants, one of whom had a blood-red serpent fastened to her thigh, and the other her four extremities turned into • * Doubt has been sometimes expressed es to the P rac of infanticide in China on any great scale ; but abundan c- 4 0 evidence of the extent of the u sage ma y b e f oun d in books. The following is a translation of a decree of Emperor Kanghi, entitled,— I / " Edict prohibiting the drowning of Children.-- wt " --e „fr• mother mercilessly plunges beneath the water the tender ' spring to which she has g i ven bi r th , can it be said t ho ti st owes its life to her wh o th us t a k es away w h a t it has J o e begun to enjoy. Th e p over t y o f th e paren ts iS ca e 0 cause of this wrongd o in g ; th e y h ave diff icu lty in e rt 0 inn subsistence for thems e l ves , s till l ess can th e y , pay n" c o, ' and undertake all the necessary expenses for their Thus driven to despair, and unwilling to cause the death rat two persons to preserve the life of one, it comes to pas s t i,er a mother to save her husband's life consents to destroy P at children. Their natural tenderness suffers ; but they length determine to take this part, thinking themselves liberty to dispose of the life of their children, in order to P' o , long their own. If they exposed theso children in some 0 3 . frequented spot their cries would move the hearts of the P t , rents, What, then, do they ? They cast the unfortaliloso babe into the current of a river that they may at once :, e0 sight of it and in au instant deprive it of life. You have V: 0 1 ma the name of father of the people, Though I cannot Te for these infants the tenderness of the parents to whom t be a s owe their being, I cannot refrain from declaring to you the most painful feelings, that I absolutely forbid such he'lf elites. The tiger, says one of our books, though it be a tit; childr e does not rend its own young ; towards them it has a feeling breast, and continually cares for them. Poor as you ' - f be, is it possible that you should become the murderer! . 0 1 your own children ? It i s t o s h ow yourselves more un aab l: L than the very beasts o f prey."—Lcttres Edifmutes, vol. pp. 101-!. • f Chang for Lee, i.e.—they punish the coucubine'S if vants to be revenged on the concubine. Gones:s xxx , 1-13. § From the Perfect Collection of Household Gems. IRELAND. _ DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNIN6' CONFIDENCE IN LORD PALMERSTON. ills At two o'clock on Monday a special meeting °,h,, 0 committee of merchants of the city of Cork was beil„ 4 . ' their rooms in the Commercial-buildings un d er the r o f sidency of Mr. Thomas S. Reeves, for the purpos e by addressing Lori Palmerston on the decision come tf ito e the House of Commons on Mr. Cobden's motion. •°'"' yp some conversation the following address Was draw° and unanimously agreed to : "TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD VISCOUNT PALMERSTON' " Cork, MaYell or "My Lord,—The committee of merchants of the clip Cork beg leave to address your lordship on the extracm.a. nary event which has just taken place in the admin i %. tion of the country, and to assure your lordship o f our roo cere regret that anything should occur to endanger th e t be of your valuable services to the Government,. b ec ause l i t nation is indebted to you for the decision and abilityn. which you brought, under Providence, a mighty and Tes ful war to a successful issue; becaus e we b e li e ve the oa decision of the House of Commons on Mr. Cobden's m e 'la was based on combination, factious and unpatriotic ; 7 0 1 b ecau se we 'have the 'utm os t re li ance on the honour be hi g h-mindedness of you r l or d s hi p, which we believa_rf° su perior to personal cons id erat i ons,and only concern ed the honour and welfare of the united kingdom. Signed, on behalf of the Committee of Merchants. "THOS. S. BEEVES, Chairmam THE MURDER OF MRS. SARAH KELLY. The mem ory of this almost forgotten butcher y wel f ;; vived at th e c l ose of the Westmeath Assizes yeater bee when application was made to Chief Justice g ore °. on behalf of Mr. George Strevens to discharge hica fr to his rec ogn i sance, i nto w hi ch he entered l as t & Psi° of attend at the present assizes to answer the cher o o t having been concerned in the murder of Nfra•_, b oa Kelly on the sth of April, 1856. No bill ha' soil' found, a n d un d er th e H a b eas C or p us Act Dlr. Bize t!, rens wag entitled to his discharge after two as 0.0 tielel.s good reason were shown upon a ffidavit. ~ ..b oo motion was opposed on the ground that the 1 1 t te Corpus Act did not apply to a case of bail ; a h a t o ot ChiefJu-tice said he was of opinion that be 0 4 love to interfere in this case. He would therefort„epob, Mr. Strevens to apply to the Court of Queen'el... se al if _he thought fit so to do. lie abstained ac a l i v ure of from stating his reason, but, knowing the n ;_, row e the case Red the difficulty of obtaining information, he was of opinion_ e on the part of the th ' st be ty should not interfere. It might be di ff erent if th 1 ) : 0 4 were in custody, but the gentleman was not !a_ c r v i o tody, and be could only say that he would not * 4 be him to surrender and go to prison, as possiley , :biza did, he might fell it to be his duty toy keep there