Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-18 00:00:00

LORD ELGIN ON THE CHINESE TREATY.

On Monday, the 17th of January, a numerous body of
the representatives of the English and Indian firms at
Shanghai waited on his Excellency the Earl of Elgin at the
British Embassy, by appointment, to present a complimen-
tary address on his lordship's successful career in the North
of China. The address was of the usual character on such
occasions.
Lord Elgin, in his reply, said : In reference to the
treaties lately concluded with China and Japan, on this
head we have no doubt incurred very weighty responsi-
bilities. Uninvited, and by methods not always of the
gentlest, we have broken down the barriers, behind
which these ancient nations ought to conceal from the
world without, the mysteries—perhaps, also, in the case
of China at least, the rags and rottenness of their waning
civilisations. Neither our own consciences, nor the judg-
ment of mankind, will acquit us, if, when we are asked to
what use we have turned our opportunities, we can only say
that we have filled our pockets from among the ruins which
we have found or made. . . . _ _

An eminent French writer has observed, that it is one
of the glories of Christian civilisation that it has caused
the sentiment of repentance to find a place in the hearts of
nations. Let us hope that it will not be by pointing this
moral that Great Britain, when she comes to review
her connexion with the furthest East will make good her
claiM to the title of a Christian nation.

It gives me much pleasure to have it in my power to
assure you that my recent trip up the Yang-tse to Han-
kow fully realised the expectations which induced me to
undertake it. I was enabled during my progress to ob-
tain much information respecting the political condition
of this country, which will, I trust, be useful to Her
Majesty's Government, and the interests of commerce will,
no doubt, be materially promoted by the knowledge
of the navigation of the river, acquired by the able
officers of her Majesty's navy, by whom I was accom-
panied.
Among the critical places which, in my progress as a
negotiator, I found in mid-channel, right a-head of me,
two were pre-eminently so—the trade in opium and the
Chinese Custom-house system. I had long sincerely com-
miserated the false and cruel position in which men of
high honour and integrity engaged in commerce with
China are placed by the irregularities which characterise
the admininistration of the one, and the anomalous condi-
tions under which the other is carried on, and I did not
consider that the difficulties attending the removal of these
evils, and the risk of misconception to which those who
undertook the task must necessarily expose themselves,
would justify me in abstaining from the attempt to grapple
with them.
As regards the last-Mentioned of these subjects, it is
necessary that I should offer one word of explanation at
the outset, in order to prevent misapprehension, not so
much here as elsewhere. It must be understood that the
modifications introduced into the new Chinese tariff
in reference to opium do not in any degree fetter or
restrict the discretion of Great Britain as regards the
traffic in that article. If the British people and the British
Government see fit to do so, they may still make it penal
for a British subject to be engaged in it, and, by so doing,
although they will not probably in any material degree
diminish. the consumption of opium in China, they
will no doubt do something more or less effectual
towards preventing British subjects from being
the importers, Short, however, of this extreme mea-
sure, of the likelihood of the adoption of which each man
may form his own opinion, I am satisfied that the
barren announcement by a foreign Government of its
assent to the principle that the trade in opium is illegal,
is productive of nothing but mischief; that it is a delu-
sion and a snare both to the Chinese, and those who
have commercial dealings with them. It is notorious that,
notwithstanding the clause in the treaty of Wanghik,
which pronounces opium to be contraband, and the strong
declaration of American statesmen on this head, the
American flag has been in some instances used habitually
even by British subjects to cover that traffic. In my
recent discussions with the Chinese Imperial Commis-
sioners I have merely sought to induce them to bring
the trade of opium from the region of fiction into that of
fact, and to place within the pale of law, and
therefore under its control, an article which is now
openly bought, sold, and taxed by them beyond that
pale. The effect of the change on the interests of
the trade itself will be, I believe, either trifling or
null. If, on the one hand, the tax to which the new tariff
subjects the importer be somewhat greater than the squeeze
now levied on the article, he will, on the other hand be re-
lieved from certain charges incident to a traffic ostensibly
contraband. _ _

As regards the lax and corrupt administration of the
Custom-house, I may observe that, in addition to
.many
other,evils to which it gives rise, it bears hardly on the
'subjects of the treaty Powers who are amenable to cer-
tain checks and control from which unrepresented
foreigners are free. I have endeavoured, not,- I hope,
altogether without success, to impress on the imperial
Commissioners. the importance of establishing a Custom-

house system which shall be uniform at the several open
ports, equal in its operation on all parties, and controlled
by persons of integrity and competent knowledge.
Various grievances, besides those which I have mentioned
above, affecting British subjects in their relations with
the Chinese or with other foreigners, have been from
time to time brought to my notice by gentlemen who
have done me the favour to write to me on such
topics. Some of them may probably be met by special
arrangements, whether with the Chinese authorities or
with the representatives of the Governments of

other
.om the work-
Lich Christian
nations have deemed it necessary for the interests and pro-
tection of their subjects to establish in China.

"ear, inset

According to an official estimation of the diamonds
of the crown of France, their value is twenty-one millions
hat amount the " regent " is set down for

of Francs.

t welvo millions

THE MURDER NEAR NEwARR.—The culprit Birkett,
who was sentenced at Nottingham assizes, last week, to be
hanged for the murder of William Watmore, at Barnby-
in-the-Willows, has been respited during her Majesty's
pleasure,