The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-12-26 00:00:00

OUR CHINESE BARGAIN.

IN SO FAR as frost and snow may be necessary to
the full realisation of Christmas, these wintry
elements have not been wanting. If an irrenis-

tible, all pervading, and rarely equalled degree of
cold could intensify the mirth, and add to the
real enjoyment of this festive season, the Christ-
mas of 1861 ought to have been one of the most
enjoyable and memorable. Nothing could have
been more easily appreciable than the remarkable
contrast which we have been forced to see and
feel between the stiffly frozen; slippery; and un-
inviting fate of our high*ays arid thoroUghfares,
and the warm, genial and cheering interior of the
blazing hearth. Moreover, turning from the social
to the political aspect of affairs at this period of
time, we find that the news is good and season-
able; even; if like most human sources of joy; it
shotild be ebniMingled With some particles of bit-
tered grief.

- L ,
Not only, haVe the tidings of peace with China
received further confirmation, but we have
learned some of the actual terms and conditions.
Mr. Locti is not now far from home. He will
soon be able to tell us by word of mouth of his
wonderful escape with his life: When the news
left; the English and French ambassadors no
longer knocked at the gates of Pekin; begging to
be heard by the alitherities: They had taken
their residences within the capital; and there
they were to remain protected by the
army until duly satisfied; while the French army
retired only to Tien-tsin, which place was not to
be evacuated Until Unequivocal evidence had been
giVeU Of the dod faiili of the 'Chinese'. The
printipal clatiSes Of the treaty have been but
briefly made knoWn t.o is through the telegram;
but does the inforiUatiA we pOSseSSseeiii to war-
rant its iti Coiiclading that the objects of the
war have been realised ? We recently treated of
those objects under a quadruple division. Let us
repeat them, and see to what extent they have
been attained. First t It was deemed necessary
to eontinee the Emperor that re4istitriee to bur
poWer Vviis fiitile. The kabti already Cited in this
and in our father article; oh this topic; and those
hereaftei• to he referrer to, Seel to iiidiCate that
His Celestial Majesty has, for the time being, at
least, been sufficiently impressed with a sense of his
military inferiority to the allied powers of England
and France. It is significant also to note that
the Emperor has Undertaken to make an apology
for the affair of the Peiho last year: it Would
be amusing to know how this is •to be done.
Secondly : It was considered proper to exact an
adequate amount of indemnity money. That
sum, we are now told, has been doubled. By
this we understand that the Chinese Government
has agreed to pay twice the sum demanded before
the advance of the tallied armies iipOn
This can scarcely be objected to, but, on the con-
trary, may be , set down as a just infliction,
partly in the name of compensation, and
partly in the light of a fine for contumacy, and
breach of faith. No doubt the sum thus to be
obtained net lie any thing lilts siifi~cicnt to
cover the cost of this most expensive expedition;
but, after all, the mere pecuniary aspect of the
affair is not the most material--and yet the sum
now agreed to be paid to us from the pockets of
the Celestial tax-payers will be felt by them as a
burden which it would have been very much
better to have aVoicled. Morecy'ver, to Have in:
sisted 'Upon any considerably greater exaction
might, to some extent, have thwarted our pur-
pose, which was to convince the Chinese that,
although .we are not be thwarted in our intentions,
We are not avaricious or oppressive.. Thirdly : It
to be a sine ,qtta, non of any satisfactory
arrangement that there should be conceded greatly
enlarged priiileges fer developinent of our
trade-with-China hygpening-uf. the ports and also
the interior of the ' country to general ,commerce.
This, indeed; ;Was, par excellence,, the object
of the war.. .We could have wished that on this
great point the news had been a little more
ample. - Ilowever, it is most important to note
that Tein-tsinis is to be opened to trade imme-
diately, that Kowloon is to be ceded to the British
Crown, and that the treaty of Tein-tsin is to be
recognised. Tien-tsin in China May be likened
to our .Liverpool in England. Kowloon is a most
valuable and important addition to our rights in
Hong Kong—lying as it does, a small peninsula,
nearly opposite that settlement, and skirting the
shore to the north of its harbour. We shall thus
be able to extirpate the pirates inhabiting that
region, who have hitherto so much endangered
British property; while, as a more salubrious
residence for out Hong-Kong merchants, and for
the lodging of our troops, it cannot fail to prove
a substantial boon. Thiyond this, ho-wever, the
acquisition is not to be estimated at much.
The professed recognition of the Treaty of Tien-
tsin would seem to imply that, as we desired, the
mysterious veil -Which has hitherto shrouded the
Whole of the Chinese Empire hats been torn
asunder ;' and that the ports of China, Which,
with Very lithited exceptions; have been inacces-
sible to our mercantile nail', ate now to be opened
up to all corners. If further details shall confirm
this view; and if the forces now in China see
faithfitily to the full realisation of our anticipa-
tions; we cannot help coming to the conclusion
that Mirth, if not all; has been achieved to repay
us for our great erierifices: Time alone can toll.
In dealing with the Chinese, Who have shown
themselves so unprecedently slippery, We feel
that *e can rely only on accomplished
facts. We are certainly not uncharitable, but
would hope for the best. _Fourthly and lastly
In order to make any obtainable advantages com-
pletely available to our commerce, it was to have
been stipulated that measures should be taken to
establish a regular diplomatic mission at Pekin,
so as to keep open a regular medium of direct
appeal to the head of the Chinese Government,
If we rightly understand the telegraphic news,
this point also has been gained, for we are told
that " Ministers are to reside at Pekin."

The reverse side of the picture represents the
melancholy end of BOWLBY, BRABAZON, DE NOR-
MAN, and ANDERSON. Englishmen attach no
trifling value to the lives of such men, so sacri-
ficed. There is something specially revolting to
our national sentiments in the too probable fact
that Captain BEABAZON was first cruelly tortured
and then deliberately beheaded, while his mangled
body remains unaccounted for. And although
there is a grimly melancholic satisfaction in
knowing that BOWLBY, DE NORgAN, and AN-
. PERSON were brought in and buried with high
honours in a Christian cemetery, it is still mcst
painful to think that their precise fate—especially
that of Mr. BOWLBY—is still a mystery. Indem-
nities are said to be expected from the Chinese
for the families of those our deceased fellow
countrymen. We trust there are men in power
in connection with the distribution of these in-
demnities who are capable of appreciating the in-
estimable services of a correspondent of the English
Press in relation to such undertakings; and to them
we feel e:: titled to look for an ample recognition of
the clainiU of Mr. 130wLEY's family. While we
deeply mourn widl those who most nearly lament
the loss of the men whose 13.9noured names we
have mentioned, we consider that the distin-
guished sufferers are entitled to the highest
honours. They died for England ; and England
is never indifferent to the sacrifices of her faithful
sons. Let us hope that with these great and
costly immolations we have now seen an end of
our Chinese wars. Whatever may be the value
of our Chinese trade, it is not within the range
of probability that it can ever reach to that degree
of deveiopment that would make it worth the
recurring repetition of such
.costly
frequently'
Let us hope to have no more war
experiments.
with China.

Several accidents were reported yesterday at the hos-
pitals from parties having slipped, owing to the con-
tinued froq,

FOREIGN INT ELLIGENCE

FRANCE.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, 23rd Dec., 1860.

Public opinion continues to be very much occu-
pied with the consideration of the additional
reforms promised by the Emperor, and which
will require to be of a still more liberal tendency,
if his 10N-6in-ilea inierids to teeii Pace -With that
of the Emperor Joseph. The Senate will meet
probably on the 21st of January, and the .Corps
Legislatif on the 4th of February. The opening
of the session will as usual take place in the Hall
of the States) and the interval will no doubt be
aetftely erriploed iii discussing all the different
liearinOot.the Other ehofiges said to
be epnt9rriplritien; . .
SI. Fould has gone to Tarbes on his way to
Nice. The Emperor and he continue on the most
friendly footing towards each other. Since M.
Fould resigned he has had two interviews with
his Majesty, and at both of them the latter gave
him the strongest proof of his regard and grad'

. .
The artists at the Gobelins works are busily
engaged at present in making too Carpets coa-
taining likeirts'e§ o the Emperor,and 43press;
iiitehded present to tlie
Minister. It has. also transpired that M. Pould
nas peen offered the title of Duke, and a chief
place in the council of ministers.

One of the ministers without a portfolio, g.
Magnej has been installed in the house in tho
A? eniie *litaighe; the inilieFdr has Di
his munificence bestoWed upon hirn: It cost riot
less than. ddo;000 francs (L24;000), and the Ern'
peror, lai,.e,niore than 100;000 francs to,Complete
and furnish. the iriferior: M: salaryl
Which ,;;as ±4,Odd 6, 6 16.:J t 66
head of a department of the ministry, has beeii
raised to X 6,000.

I have every reason to believe it certain that
the commercial negotiations which hate been
entered FrithCb tifb goiri
on in the iies6ihle: Sill!
as a Vast number of different points have to 138
considered; it is scarcely likely that the necessary
preliti~iriarles wild be coUiPleted earlier thau the
15th or 2dtli of th.e
Franco-Belgian treaty is to be of a still more et-
tensive character than that which has been signed
by France and England. The interests of Belgium
are supported at the various conferences which are
held by DIAL Firmen, llogier, Liedts, Baron
Beyens and toi,det ,Sttaeten arid cid the side of
France, by MM: ThotiVet!lei; ItOihier; Herbert,
de Clerq, Barbret, and flaroche, jun. It is stated
that the abolition of passports on both sides of the
frontier will be agreed upon, either in the treaty
itself, or at the time of its execution.

A very important question is at this moment
under discussion bet Ween England and France.
It relate§ td Syria if it be true as stated in certain
journals that France and Russia dre as one on
this subject, the same cannot be said as to I"rattee
and England; and I have reason to know that
M. Lavalette has experienced very serious diffi-
culties at Constantinople. The Turkish Minister
alleges that Syria is pacified, whilst it is notorious
that such is not the fact t that Fuad Pasha has
been completer suceesfdl iii His Ini§sioti; arid that;
by way of rewarding him, it is Wished td dOrdidate
him Viceroy of Syria, with powers of a nhieli
more extensive nature than those which he at
present possesses. Meanwhile, also, the conduct
of Fuad Pasha has been most inconveniently
troublesome, and General Hautpoul has met,
arid still Meets; with no end of obstacles in
the fulfilnient his niissidri---.irt fact, unless

the French Commander-in-Chief had been
supported by the European Commissioners, there
would have been a regular rupture between him
and the Pasha. The further occupation of Syria
is thus admitted to be indispensable, and although
the Constantinople journals talk as if France was
about to recall its troops in the month of February,
and give Most -unmistakeable hints to that effect,
there is not the slightest dhance of any such mea-
sure being adopted by France.
Several rumours are in circulation as to the
present state of matters at Gaeta. A partner of
one of the first Paris banking houses said to several
persons on the Bourse, the day before yesterdaa,
that at the termination of the last Privy Council
meeting, when the Russian note was discussed, the
Emperor made known his intention of preventing
the continuation of the siege at any price, and
declared that he would, if necessary, give orders
for occupying the fortress with a body of French
troops, Ido not wish, however, to guarantee
this account.

A story of a very circumstantial character is
also in circulation, respecting the sale of Venetia.
It is proposed to give to Austria certain territorieS
on the Danube, in compensation for that pro-
vince, ds, it is alleged, Austria has most posi-
tively declared that &he will never consent to
treat for the cesssion of Venetia, if it be made a
pure question of money, and that she 'will only
agree to give it up in exchange for some other
territory, her dignity imposing upon her the
obligation not to yield for any other considera-
tion. She will only accept money, it is said, by
way of indemnity, for the whole of the materiel,
which she makes over to Piedmont at the
time of withdrawal. It is further asserted that
England has expressed her readiness to approve
of the transaction being carried out on this foot-
ing,

The project for the creation of four battalions
to each regiment of the French army is about to
be put in execution, so that by the month of March
next France will be able, with ease, to have
750,01 V men under arms ! It is not true that the
Imperial Guard is to be increased.
The octroi duties will not, as was at once sup-
posed, be suppressed on the Ist of January. The
question is not sufficiently ripe for discussion, and,
in the meantime, an inquiry is to be made as to
the results of the abolition in Belgium.
Nothing could be duller than the state of affairs
at the Bourse.

LIVERPOOL EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY, MOUNT.
PLEASANT.—Consulting Surgeon, Dr. Hugh Neill,
F.R.A.S. ; Surgeons, Dr. R. Hibbert Taylor, Dr. Nevins,
T. Bickerton, Esq. ; Assistant Surgeon, Robert Batty,
Esq. ; Treasurer, J. G. Livingston, Esq. Report for
the week ending Dec. 22, 1860 :—New cases : Eyes,
53; Ears, 10. Prescribed for and received surgical
assistance : Eyes, 06 Ears, 208.
TESTIMONIAL TO A CLERGYMAN.—A meeting of
members of the congregation of at. Saviour's, Falkner-
square, took place on Christmas Eve, when a rich set of
robes, a silver pocket communion service, and a purse,
containingg gold, were presented to the Rev. Joseph S.
Pickles, 8.A,, curate. The rev. gentleman has for the
last two years (doting which period he has been curate
of the above church) greatly endeared himself to the
congregation by the earnest zeal with which he has
discharged the sacred duties of his office, and by his
general kindness and urbanity.

NEPTUNE"—THE LIVERPOOL CiLtRIVARL—We are'
happy to say that the Christmas of 18& has given birth
to "Neptune," a local cliet rivari, which, judging from the
manner in which the publishers have made their bow
to the public, and their promises of wit directed towards
humbug, cant, and popular frivolities, illustrated tell-
ingly and well by local and metropolitan artists, will,
we think, meet with the approbation and support of the.
community. The present number, although perhaps,
rather diminutive, is exquisitely printed and published ;
the cuts are very pretty and telling in their way, and all
the jokes are jokes that need no remarks at the bottom
of the page in order to illustrate their meaning.. We
welcome the advent of "Neptune," and wish him every
success.

- -
DESTRUCTIVE Finm.—On Monday night, a little before
ten o'clock, a fire occurred in Manesty-lane, Paradise-
street. The fire was discovered to have proceeded from
the cooperage of Messrs. Wright and Co., sugar manu-
facturers. In several minutes after the first alarm the
tame uppermost stories of Messrs. Wright's sugar ware-
house viere found to be in a blaze, which gradually in-
creased until the arrival of the engines. The West of
England engine was placed at the front of the burning
pile in Manesty-lane, and those of Seel-street and
Hatton-garden in Paradise-street, the pipes from which
lattc/ were convey(' through the general doorway be-
tween the shops of Messrs. Benussi, pawnbroker and
outfitter, and Thornton, provision dealer, up to the
point at which the fire threatened to break through
and by these means such a storm of water was throvn
upon the devoted building that by a little after twelve-
o'clock the flames had been completely subdued. The
origin of this fire cannot as yet be ascertained. The
damage done cannot be estimated at present ; nor can
the amount of insurances on either premises or goods be
giteri, although insurances on both are effected in the
Liverpool, London, West of England, and Northern
Insurance Companies.
SACRILEGE AT ROME.—The Italian journals state
that a few evenings back the discovery was made in the
famous shrine of Loreto, in the Papal States, that in the
course of the night a box for the reception of the offer-
ings of the faithful had been opened by means of a
false key, and the money in it, supposed to be about
1,000 crowns, abstracted. Strange to say, however,
the thieves did not take a jewel worth 80,000 crowns
which is suspended from the neck of the statue,aue neither
did they steal any other of the many c value in.
the place. The robbery turned out to have been corn-
mitted by a priest attached to the chapel, and after per-
petrating it he got out of a window to avert suspicion;
it also appeared that another priest of the chapel and an
inhabitant of the town had been privy to the robbery,
and had received part of the money. In a short time
these men were arrested,
,Pd Part of the booty was
recovered.