The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-15 00:00:00

CHINA.

HONGKONG, June 29.
From Japan the latest intelligence is decidedly
more pacific, though in what manner the demands
of the British representative have been met does
not appear. It was believed in Yokohama, on the
14th instant, that the pecuniary indemnity had been
settled, but that the question of the trial and
punishment of Mr. Richardson's murderer would be
allowed to lie over. So strong was the impression
of an amicable arrangement, that trade was reviv-
ing; but, at the same time, everything was enve-
loped in mystery. The Tycoon said to be friendly
to foreigners, was still detained at Miaco ; there was
even a rumour of his having been decapitated ; and
the Prince of Mito, known to be hostile to
foreigners, but described as an adherent of the
Tycoon, rules at Jeddo as the latter's locum
tenens,—perhaps successor. The policy attributed
to Colonel Neale, of avoiding war with the Tycoon,
and of coalescing with him in humbling the haughty
and hostile Daimios, may account for his apparent
acceptance of very inadequate compensation for in-
juries inflicted, as any show of such a policy would
hasten the Tycoon's fate, even if he be not already
disposed of. The American Minister has been
obliged to quit Jeddo, having been officially informed
by a high functionary, who chose the hour of mid-
night for the communication, that a plot existed to
murder all the members of the Legation. Under
such circumstances, it is as incredible that a really
satisfactory solution of difficulties can have been
arrived at as that future troubles can be averted
by half measures. The outskirts of Yokohama had
been taken possession of by the Tycoon's guards,
apparently as a protection against the numerous
bodies of Loonens moving about with murderous
intent. These ruffians had been attacked in their
haunts at Jeddo, by order of the acting Tycoon, and
had got the worst of it, though with considerable
loss of life on both sides.
The .Municipal Council of Shanghai has come to
terms with the Chinese authorities on the subject of
the rent-tax levied by the latter on Chinese resi-
dents within the settlement, The assessment of
the rentals is to be joint, but the collection of the
tax remains with the Council, and disputes are to
be settled by the Taontar, in concert with the Eng-
lish and American consuls. The tax is fixed defi-
nitely, at 20 per cent. per annum, one-half to go to
the Taontar for military expenditure, the other
half to be retained for municipal purposes, and no
addition to existing taxes is to be made, nor is a
poll tax, or similar impost, to be levied; but, as a
crowning consolation, the tax on rent is to cease as
soon as peace is restored. There had been a
destructive explosion of gunpowder at Shanghai,
on the premises of Messrs. Junet and Co., by which
the buildings were greatly damaged and M.
Junet so burnt and injured that he died shortly
after. The bodies of three murdered Europeans had
also been brought into the French settlement, or
" concession," as it is called. They had been de-
spatched under regular passes into the silk districts
with treasure for the purchase of silk, but the cir-
cumstances of the murders were not known.
Oa rebel matters there is not much to say, as it is
very difficult to ascertain what is really going on,
but a well known foreign missionary just returned
from Nankin, in writing to one of the local daily
journals, says that the Taepings were anxious to
know why England is so hostile to them, and that
Kan-Wang expressed the following sentiments :
"If they (England and France), force us to the
conclusion that we are to be treated as outlaws then
the day of retribution will come. We are fighting
in our own country and to rid ourselves of a foreign
Power ; and woe to the stranger who falls into
our power after the first shot has been fired
against Nankin. We need not, then, take cities, or
hold them, or allow foreigners to assist the Impe-
rial imps in surrounding us. We shall then move
in one compact body, ravaging the country and
destroying trade," &c.
A case of cruelty to prisoners, in the instance of
seven reheis taken at Taitsan, has been fairly
brought hurne to the mandarins, for there seems no
reason to doubt the truth of the positive published
statements of the barbarous and revolting tortures
inflicted on these unhappy men before being put to
a lingering death. The matter requires strictin-
vestigation on account of the concomitant circum-
stances.
Strange doings continue at Ningpo. Trade is all
but stopped by the attempted illegal exactions of the
mandarins, and General d'Acquebebe follows up his
assumption of arbitrary power by outrageous acts.
A correspondent in one of the Shanghai papers
states that a " European named Smith was taken
up as a pirate, was tried by a court martial of offi-
cers of the Franco-Chinese Contingent, was by them
ordered to be sent to his Consul ; was sent to
D'Acquebebe instead, and was by him shot at dead
of night outside the walls of Shaon-Sbing." Other
accounts givo two foreigners as having been so dis-
posed• of. If true, this Frenchman is guilty of mur-
der ; for it is evident that he had no jurisdiction in
the case of Smith, and it is to be hoped that the
matter will not be lightly passed over. From the
other ports there is nothing of particulhr interest
to notice.