Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-04 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.-LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, AUGUST 4. 1857.

in consequen3e of anonymous letters received by
the police.
The Pope is expected at Rome on the sth of
September, and the monument of the Immaculate
Conception is to be inaugurated on the Bth of the
same month.

ENGLAND has at the present moment warlike
affairs of a most serious nature on hand, We
allude to the mutiny in India and the Chinese
dispute. The particulars of the last news from
both countries we gave at length in yesterday's
publication. Although we were not among that
class of politicians who approved of the origin
of the Chinese quarrel, we cordially concurred
in the policy of this country taking such steps
as would show to the Chinese authorities that
all legitimate claims which England may put
forth shall be insisted upon and enforced, cost
what it may. Certain it is that in China,
as with Russia, we have found more determined
and courageous enemies than we supposed. The
former have shown themselves to be, not what
we were wont to represent them, " timid bar-
barians," but fighting sailors and soldiers. Any
one who peruses the official despatches, will
perceive that the Chinaman has made the subject
of naval warfare a study—aye, and practice too,
and already we feel that our intercourse with the
Celestial Empire has taught its people how to
make a defence. Two conflicts have taken place
with the Chinese junks, but we are told that, it
has cost Britain more English blood than was
lost at the memorable capture of St. Jean d' Acre.
At Escape Creek, which was a plucky affair,
one out of every ten men belonging to our forces
was hit.

We mention these facts not for the purpose of
causing any alarm, but solely with the view of
inducing the Government not to be led away
with the idea that JOHN CHINAMAN is a insig-
ficant enemy. We said as much of Russia.
Nevertheless it took four combined powers to
capture Sebastopol. By sea England is invincible.
Her "wooden walls" and the indomitable courage
of her "Jack tars" have earned a world-wide
fame, and taught ambitious nations to respect
and fear the flag they dare not encounter, much
less hope to conquer. This is, no doubt, satis-
factory and encouraging so far as it goes. We
may win gold too dear, so also may we pur-
chase power and supremacy in China at a cost
far beyond its real value. We have destroyed a
fleet of junks in the Canton waters, We did the
same with the Russian vessels of war at Sebasto-
pol, but that was not the denouement of the
conflict, nor will it be the termination of the
war with China. She is ere this aware of our
difficnities with India, and knows that we
cannot send troops to the interior. This know-
ledge the Chinese will turn, if passible, to
advantage, and stimulate her to act with far
greater arrogance than the paltry affair of the
.4r row. Again, the aspect of affairs in Turkey
are far from being satisfactory. NAPOLEON of
France is dictating terms to the Sultan, and that
too, we beli..ve, without the sanction, or even
oora c vatatiOn with ECll6la.llcl. rrituLa 1.7 !A 4.7tatV of
affairs which requires all the powers of
patriotism, political knowledge, and foresight,
to deal with. The collective wisdom of the
nation should not permit any Government, were
it even composed of a PALMERSTON in every
department, to carry on these wars, and settle
such momentous disputes independent of Parlia-
ment. • The history of our Persian campaign
should teach both Lords and Commons that it
is their duty not to blink -at the repeated
attempts of the prEsent Ministry to get into war,
incur its expense, and then settle the dispute
upon any terms they please, without saying as
much as—" By your leave."

The House of Commons, in particular, is
deeply interested in this question. They hold
the purse-strings of the nation, and should not
vote away a single penny of the people's money
without being satisfied that the objects to which
it shall be applied are expedient, just, necessary,
and reasonable. Under these circumstances, it
behoves the Legislature not to be in a hurry to
retire from the precincts of the Palace of West-
minster this year. The enticements of the Moors,
the invigorating and attractive scenery of the
R bine, or the advantage of and gay company at our
watering places, should not seduce them from the
more imperative calls of duty, as statesmen, to
their country and the QUEEN while there is even
the outward semblance of danger. Until some
definite intelligence reaches us—until the Indian
mutiny is subdued, and the dispute with China is in
a fair way of settlement by Lord ELGIN—we say
Parliament should not definitely adjourn. To
do so would be a dereliction of duty towards the
country, and would permit the Government to
practice de novo the Persian game of expending
money for the purposes of war without the
knowledge or consent of the House of Commons.
By a prolongation of the session the nation
would know at the earliest moment what was
passing, and be prepared for any and every
result.

We may have to do much more in China than
we expect, but tho official despatches which we
publish lead us to hope that all will yet terminate
to our satisfaction, and that the end of the quarrel
will be advantageous to England. At the same
time, to be a permanent settlement it must
benefit and improve China. As to India, some
remarks will be found in another column.

A RE-PERUSAL of the news from India lead/us
to be confident in the opinion we have already
expressed. Taking them in a political point of
view, we are disposed to say that the mutineers
and their instigators have done the -worst, and