The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-19 00:00:00

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LONDON, 117ZIDAr. JANUARY IL

IT is all My well far oar China merchants to ergs
on Lard Efate the opeeing of trade with the inte-
rior, the obviating of vexations dada an the purge
of goods, and so on ; but it strikes mart people that
there is something else to be attended to first. We
must see our Ambassador is &condition to treat before
there is much use in insisting on what terms he is to
obtain. There is nothing mom Illiatiafactory is
the present state of oar affairs than the aspect of the
Chinese question ; and there are some points to be
insisted on prior to the stipulations of treaties, and
at least as important as they can be, became no
treaty can be had without them. It is useless to
postpone this subject on the pies of the abserbing
character of oar interest in India,—a plea no doubt
acceptable to the Ministers, bat thoroughly inexor-
able from anybody. If China were in the western
hemisphere, and its affairs as isolated as those of
Peru or La Plata, there would be same pretence for
carelessness ; but while the state of oar affairs in
China must largely affect oar interests throughout
the East, and in India especially, it Is an urgent
duty to keep the responsible parties up to their
business, in the first place—however important it may
be to secure favourable terms for oar trade afterwards.
The conduct of our officials in China a year ago was
not so wise as to entitle them to any unquestioning
confidence from the people of England. Treating them
with rash generosity, England adopted (in spite
of Parliamentary condemnation) their acts towards
the Chinese, and followed them up by inviting the
world to attend to the spectacle of her dealings wit►
the Empire, with which several other Pewees bed
more or lesa reason to be discontented. This we did
last spring. What was the state of affairs when the
Mail of Nov. 28 left Hongkong'

The naval reinforcements which were tout in the
China seas are not there. Where are they ? Capella
PEEL with 400 men of the Shane= are on the
Ganges. They have garrisoned Allahabad; and
they have taken part in the fighting at Lucktow
and Cawnpore. We have heard of Captain 13011Laalt
of the Pearl and his seamen at Patna—not a little
astonished, of course,at finding themselves in Bengal,
protecting a wide range of inland country, instead of
threatening the Chinese coasts. The men of the
lianspareil, in garrison at Calcutta, set free troops
enough to accelerate Ornimes march on Lacknow,
Such a destination was not contemplated at home.
It was the Ambassador to China who rendered this
aid ; and if assistance is needed in tarn by him, it is
as mach for the sake of saving mischief in India as
for security in our conflict with China. At the end
of November our countrymen at Hongkong had
received the better news from Calcutta which raised
our hopes high before the arrival of the last two
mails; and they considered themselves justified in
making for at least two regiments wherewith to
hold Canton. If they were not very hopeful when
making the request, they mast sines have made up
their minds to a refusal ; for it is pretty evident
that no European regiments out be spared from the
Sepoy war for a long time to come. This makes it
the more imperative that we at home should see to
the providing of a sufficient npport from soother
quarter.

When the tat Mail came away everybody was
waiting foe the fame which was to take Canton.
The Plenipotentiaries of France, Rada, and the
United States were all present together, looking on,
and expecting from our officials the clearing of the
ground for their respective and united negotiations.
It was England that brought affairs into this position.
England invited, as it were, this party ot observers--
challenging, indeed, all nations to witness her entry
into Canton—at the bidding of the fueetionary who
desired to make that entry in his own person. Well!
that happened nearly a year ago, and can't be
helped now. The question now is, whether des
care has been taken to conclude the business favour-
ably—to justify the beginning by the end ; or, it
that is impossible, to make the end an improvement
on the beginning? The public at home have cer-
tainly done nothing towards protecting the enter-
prise they eagerly embraced when men of sagacity
gave warning of its extent and difficulty. Rae
Ministers taken measures for sustaining any possible
reverie, or for meeting any difficult contingency
whatever? If they can tall us, when Parliament
meets, that they have looked forward beyond the
taking of Canton, it will be an immense relief to •
mania& of people, besides China merchants. The
one thing in which all parties (possibly not except-
ing the Chinese themselves) agree is in absolutely
reckoning on the British taking Canton. We shall
take it. We trust we may say so much without
presumption. But we may lose more men
than we have anticipated. We know nothing et
the additions which may haws (some say have
savisstionaWy) ban made to the dehisces of the
Owe; and the sego may take lager than has hi.
inflamed. Aid who coo form the most roods idea
bre beg our opeopation of Canton may nemaartly
be Have we prodded for it! Do we know