The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-28 00:00:00

CHINA.

The fortnight's news is not important, but is con-
sidered satisfactory. At Pekin all appeared quiet.
The following letters from Sir F. Bruce had been
published in the North China _Herald, and had
caused considerable excitement among the English
community at Shanghae

Pekin, Sept. 8, 1862.

Sir,—With reference to your letter on the proposals made
for the management of Shanghae, I have to observe that
there is great misapprehension of the position of these so-
called foreign concessions. The British concession at Shang-
hae was neither a transfer nor lease of the land in question
to the British crown. It was simply an agreement that
British subjects should be allowed to acquire land for their
personal
t accommodation within a certain space, in order
they
might have the advantage of living together. The
land s acquired remains Chinese territory, it is subject to
the land tax, and, if the jurisdiction of the Chinese Govern-
ment over it is denied, it is denied because in China it was
deemed essential for the security British trade that the
person and establishment of the oftrader
ef
theshould be secured
from molestation. But the characterconcession has
been entirely altered by the acts of the foreigners. them
selves. Instead of being a foreign settlement has become
a Chinese city, in which a few foreigners amidst a
large Chinese population. The security and comfortd
were supposed to be derived from isolating the foreignwhich
com-
munity have been sacrificed, and land has beenacqu'dnet for the legitimate purpose of accommodating foreigners,tre
but in order to build on it Chinese houses, which are ten
anted by Chinese at high rents, attracted by the protection
which our bayonets afford, and by immunity from their
natural authorities. This system it is proposed to extend as
far as it may suit the interest on convenience of parties on
the spot; and it appears that the Chinese population so col-
lected is to be ex-territorialised as well as the land they
occupy. The Chinese Governor is to be deprived of his
power of dealing with them, they are to be taxed for muni-
cipal purposes, and his interference is to be limited to
judging and punishing them in cases which the foreign head
of the nation to which the owner of the property occupied
belongs permits to be brought before his tribunal. The
consummation of this system is to be the erection of Shang-
hae into a free port, with a mixed consular and municipal
government under the joint protectorate of the
I:,,reatY Powers. It is my duty to remind you that
he chin_
its
rightseae o Government has never formally abandoned
Government over its own subjects, nor has her Majesty's
a protectorateveorveelr them,
or expressed any desire to exercise
• ently with the era- The only case in which, con-
her Majesty's authPoriTtiseieles laid down for the guidance of
right to interfere, whearein this country, the consul has a
British firm, and where thtehree i Chinese is in the employ of a
the arrest of the Chinese servanst!eason for believing that
la an outrage through him
on his employer. But it is thwehithtersests of the British ob-
ject, protected. I do not
and not the Chinaman,
understand what interest her Majesty's
lending itself to a system which is ot, Grerument has in
embarrassment and
which would be attended with endlessuetLable Principle,
responsibility, and which the Chinese
interest
never submit to willingly. Great Beta:hells ant would
except in providing a secure place for British tradingu°
esta-
blishments ; and whatever inconveniences may arise fthe conversion of the settlement into a Chinese town, from
not think that her Majesty's Government will be induced
to seek a remedy for them by extending its jurisdiction over
a large section of the Chinese population. Because we pro-
tect Shanghae from falling a prey to a horde of brigands, it
does not follow that we are prepared to interfere with the
natural relation of the Chinese to their own Government. I
must impress upon you most strongly the importance of not
lending yourself to any proposal which will lead, however
indirectly, to such serious alterations in our position in
China as are evidently contemplated by some of the resi-
dents at Shanghae. I am convinced that her Majesty's Go-
vernment would wish to sea the limits of the so-called con-
cession reduced, so as to exclude the Chinese, rather than
extended, so as to embrace a greater number of them. Our
interests in China are trade, and pacific relations with the
authorities, and I know no more fertile source of misunder-
standing than the collection of Chinese within our limits.
This is not a question which affects Shanghae alone; it
affects our relations with the whole Chinese empire; and,
considering the effect of our example, it is of the utmost
importance that we should take no step which cannot be
ed upon sound international principle. I request you

to reconsider the Land Regulations with reference to the
principles laid down in this despatch.—l am, &c.,
F. W. A. BRUCE.

(EXTRACT.)

Pekin, Jai. 22, 1863.
I wish you to understand that by treaty we L ave no right
to: interfere between the Chinese people and their authori-
ties; that the words "sanctity of the British concession"
have no meaning ; and that we have no power to compel the
Chinese who live within the so-termed concession to pay any
tax for local purposes except through and with the consent
of their own authorities. lam inclined to think that the
whole system at Shanghae is a mistake; that the police
arrangement of the Chinese within the lines would be more
efficiently and economically done through themselves than
it is done by Europeans, and that our management is most
extravagant and oppressive. I beg you also to remember
that what is done in a military point of view is for the de-
fence of the settlement, and that her Majesty's Government
has a right to expect that any charges for that purpose will
take the precedence of local improvements, which, under
other circumstances, might be desirable. If the Chinese
are taxed for local purposes to the utmost, it only proves,as
I said above, that the system is a bad one. If the assist-
ance given at Shanghae entitles us to a voice in the matter
of taxes, no distinction ought to be made between the people
in the settlement and those in the city. There ought to
be no dfference made in favour of the settlement; in fact,
the accumulation of Chinese there is a great misfortune,
and wculd make neutrality impossible, should the Govern-
ment wish to leave Shanghae to take its chance. It is a
great source of danger and insecurity to our interests; and
by ignoring the jurisdiction of the Chinese Government
over the inhabitants, we release it from any claim under the
treaty in case of incendiary fires, &c. That is a point not
sufficiently borne in mind by the community.

Pekin, July 3.
Sir,—ln reply to your despatch of No. 130 respecting a
projected new tax on opinm,you will state to the Taoutai that
he is at liberty to do what he likes with the article when in
the hands of the Chinese purchaser. But that on pay-
ment of the custom dues the British merchant is entitled to
deliver it without former formality to the Chinese purchaser,
It appears to be that the Chinese may levy any excise duty
on opium they like, and there is no article that may be more
legitimately taxed to meet the pressing wants of the state.
The same observation applies to native products; when in
the hands of the Chinese, the authorities may tax them as
they please.-1 am, &c.,
(Signed) F. W. A. BRUCE.
Sir,—ln reply to your despatch No, 148, requesting my
advice as to the proposals made by the Taoutai for the taxa-
tion of Chinese subjects within the limits of the so-called
British Concession, I have to observe that there is nothing
in the treaties which warrant me in interfering in anyway
in such questions. The Taoutai is entitled to levy taxes as he
pleases, and as long as he merely seeks to impose taxes on
persons resident in the concession, which are paid by those
living in the city and suburb, I see no reason for objecting
to it, at a time when it is our interest as well as that of the
Chinese that the government should not be deprived of its
resources. A heavy responsibility will rest on the consul of
any part, should his action in such matters lead to the dis-
banding or mutiny of the highly paid force under foreign
officers which the Chinese have embodied, by our advice.
—I am, &c.,

(Signed)
True copies and extracts.

F. W. A. BRUCE.

W. H. MEDISURST•
The China Mail contains the followidg :
The Sunkiang garrison, which is another name for what
used to be the " Ward Force" is in a most unsatisfactory
state. By every account, the Chinese troops have always
greatly preferred the rule of foreign officers : regular pay
and mild discipline naturally brought the force into favour
among Chinamen willing to accept military service ; the
superiority of foreign drill was also evident to the troops that
were subject to it, and it is likely enough that the active
hard working foreign officer favourably contrasted with the
dull and selfish mandarin, destitute alike of the physical
courage to lead his men to the breach, or the moral courage
to refrain from peculation. Be that as it may, the rule of
Chinese commanders is eagerly deprecated by the disciplined
troops, while that of foreigners is earnestly appreciated and
approved of. The consequence is, that little outbreaks,
which might easily become serious, are of frequent occur-
rence, being provoked by the inequality of discipline exer-
cised by the foreign and the native officer. The last out-
break, about two weeks ago, was caused by two men having
been decapitated for looting a shop, they having already
been punished for the offence by one of the foreign officers.
The timid Chinese officials seemed to admit the dangerous
nature of their course of action, for they caused the men to
be decapitated at midnight. These things are a fruitful
source of mutiny and desertion, and form a rock ahead in
the prospect of" Sunkiang garrison."

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Overland China Mail of April 15.)
TIENTSIN, March 29.—Business is not resumed, and the
only sales reported are 6,500 pieces shirtings, and 400 or
500 each of camlets, lastings, and Spanish stripes.
HANKow, April I.—Of imports we hear of sales of shirt-
ings and fancy goods at an advance, and woollens also have
found buyers. Of teas, there are only four chops remaining,
but the new are expected about the middle of May, a fort.
night earlier than last season.

r &UNGLUE, April 7.—Not much doing. The sales of
imports comprise some 12;000 pieces shit tings—grey, white,
and spotted; 1,000 chintz, and 7,000 T cloths, with a few
hundred pieces of other kinds. In teas, the only sale of black
is about 500 packages, and of greens a small quantity of
Moynnes and Fychow.

FUHCHAti, April 6.—Sales of imports 500 pieces while
shirtings, and 6,000 T cloths. Very little doing in tea;
2,700 cheats congou, 500 boxes scented, and a few chests
Pekoe. Stocks nearly as last reported. Freights to London,
£4 55 ; to New York, 16 dole to 17 dols. Ships loading--
Java, for London, and Hound, for New York.
AMOY, April 9.—Scarcely anything doing in either im-
ports or exports. The total sales of manufactures do not ex-
ceed 1,500 pieces, and in teas some 200 half chests only
found a buyer.

CANTON.—The only cotton manufactures at all saleable
are white shirtings, at an advance of 20 cents.; 700 pieces
Spanish stripes are also reported sold. Ia teas 8 chops
Congou have been settled ; also 800 boxes scanted orange
Pekoe and 9,500 caper, 2,600 packages country greens, and
6,500 Canton-made.

HONG KONG.—A fair amount of business has been trans-
acted during the fortnight in imports, and we have to report
sales of 20,000 pieces grey and 8,000 white shirtings, 2,700
American drills, and 3,500 each of T-cloths and brocades.
Of rice 3,500 piculs have found buyers at former quotations.
Exchange—Bank, 4s 11/d ; credit, 5s Old, with an upward
tendency. Tonnage still in demand for the coast, and to
load at Manilla.

JAPAN.

No definitive information respecting Admiral
Kuper's movements has been received, but it was
reported at Shanghae just before the departure of
the mail, that he had sent in his ultimatum, and
that every hope was entertained of a pacific solu-
tion. The China Mail says :
There are not wanting indications of a desire to temporise
on the part of the Japanese, but nothing is known suffi-
ciently definite to allay the general anxiety as to what atti-
tude they mean to adopt, and what securities for their future
good behaviour our minister means to require, in the event
of their showing a desire to treat with us peacefully. In
the meantime everything is quiet. The secession of nobles
from Yedo still continues, and it cannot be concealed that
some grave design is shrouded under that extraordinary
proceeding. Two documents, purporting to be translations
of native papers, were published in our last issue ; they are
believed to be genuine productions, and the opinions to be
formed from perusing them are unfavourable to the position
of American political agents in this portion of the East, The
steamer Fiery Cross, recently purchased by the Japanese
Government from a foreign firm here, has been lost in a
typhoon in the Inland Sea.

A crowded meeting of factory operatives was held
at the Town-hall, Macclesfield, on Monday night, when it
was resolved that a committee be appointed to raise a fund
to enable silk weavers and their families resident in the
town and neighbourhood to emigrate to the colonies.
SCIENCE EXAMINATIONS AT THE SOUTH KEN-
SINGTON MUSEUM.--The
en
.—scTiheceansnchuoaolls Manady
classes
sinbay-
tions of the pup
the Department of Science
showsand Ara t
'have
satisfactoryhravejustter-
minated, and theresult
xa in examinationed,
and the number of pupiincrease ;in the number l
s
bwerhoohaf veeecnotmrese up to
be examined, d
with last year. In geom
pare
119, but this year they had
increased to 289. In machine
although on some suhiects thereehtrasieabledenraawdinecgretahsee
nasumcobmer-
of pupils examined in 1862 was
drawing
In theoretical chaareasbeedenfraonm
i7nOc
rt
eo a
sl
egif
r; 0 amn d4isn
to
pupils to 35--
me-
chanics there has been a falling off from 52
b the number has in-
uillod7il.2o. construction there
most popular. In
The experimental sciences appear the
and in applied mechanics the decrease is from 47 to 52.
acoustics, light, and heat there is an increase from 47 to
121—and in magnetism and electricity the increase is
from 105 to 207. Inorganic chemistry shows an increase
from 558 to 679 ; and organic chemistry an increase from
105 to 157. It is rather remarkable that there should be a
falling off in some of the natural sciences. The number of
pupils in geology has decreased from 189 to 129, and in
mineralogy from 81 to 46. There is a slight decrease in
crease
is from 4to 4
alphysioslo
physiology from
13n49
reyet:343physiology ; bpuhtyisnLogoy there zoology the
is an
hede-
increase from 66 to 126, and instableystemic botany from 26
to 84. In mining and metallurgy, whieh has been lately
suer, to the list of subjects, there were 29 pupils in the for-
have and 63 in the latter. The centres of examinations
number increased from 54, in 1862, to 71, in 1863 ; and the
Lumber of pupils examined in the different sub-
jects has increased from 1,943 to 2,672. These figures only give an approximate estimate of the number
of pupils receiving instruction in elementary science, because
a considerable proportion are not sufficiently advanced to
attend the examinations.

CRYSTAL PA LA CE4—ONE ►SHILLING DAY.—
Wednesday, May 27.—Admission on payment, 4924; ditto
by season tickets, 1,036; total visitors, 5,960,