The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-27 00:00:00

CHINA.

The following is from the China Mail of Dec. 14 :
The news for the past fortnight is of an encouraging
kind, both as regards China and Japan, In the lat-
ter country, both foreign and native officials are
showing the most anxious desire to avoid every
kind of hostile collision between the people of Japan
and the traders from the West; and in furtherance
of this object, rules of the most specific character
have been framed by our minister there for the
guidance ofEnglish subjects at the various ports of
trade. The Japanese question has, in Mr. Alcock's
mind, reduced itself to a choice of two courses. He
argues, in one of his ponderous circulars, that our
object in Japan is to trade, and that we have before
us the choice either of trading peacefully or of doing
so amid continual alarms and complications, which
have been found to endanger our very residence in
the country, and thereby to give a highly preca-
rious character to our commercial relations with
Japan. It is, he argues, when traders begin to be
travellers that the popular hostility is evoked; and
although he should gladly allow those under his
protection both to trade and travel, he cannot do so
any longer, having arrived at the conclusion that,
in Japan, as regards foreigners, the one is incom-
patible with the other. The strictest rules have ac-
cordingly been decreed by our consul for the con-
finement of all his countrymen within the limits of
the various foreign settlements. Excursionists,
sportsmen, and men of similar kidney, will there.
fore follow their favourite pursuits under most un-
usual difficulties, in order that every species of pro-
vocation may be taken out of the way, and such
cases as that of Mr. Moss may not recur to harass
the officials as this case is likely to harass Mr.
Alcock, unless a jury can be got to see it in the de-
sired light. As regards excursions into the country
producing feelings of resentment on the part of the
Japanese people, Mr. Alcock has had more personal
experience than any man in Japan, and certain
other of the consuls have acquired a most unen-
viable notoriety by the scandalous incidents
connected with their travels. The night attack
upon the embassy at Yeddo, after the overland
journey from Nagasaki, is now generally read in
this light. The upshot of these consular escapades
has been the rules and regulations we allude to—
ten in all. They are in effect :-1, Against furious
driving or riding. 2, Against neglecting the rules
of the road. 3. Against discharging firearms in
any but specified limits, to be hereafter fixed by the
joint authorities. 4. Against pursuing game with-
out a license from the consul. 5. Against entering
any native house 'without an invitation (a flattering
rule for Englishmen). 6. Against offering violence
to Japanese officials (the Moss case). 7. Against
persisting in any outrage after being warned to
desist (the consular scandal case), or refusing to
produce a card with the consular seal affixed, when
charged with the commission of any offence; the
card being supplied to every Englishman for the
convenience of affirming " his identity." 8. Against
residing for even a single night out of the foreign
location, without written permission from the con-
sul. 9. Imposes a fine of 200 dole. for a breach of
these rules. 10. Imposes a similar fine for allowing
Chinese servants to ride out alone. In addition to
these rules, a communication from Takemoto-
dzosioeno Kami has been promulgated, illustrated
by engravings, setting forth the particular marks
of costume by which a Japanese official may be
known and respected (also a result of the Moss dis-
turbance). Then follows a rule against servants
going out with open lights, and so endangering
such buildings as are not fire proof. And lastly
appears a memorandum from the Japanese official
above named, forbidding the native merchants to
take money from foreigners until they have given
over the value agreed upon. The notifications are
published in the Japan .Herald of Yokuhama (late
Nagasaki Shipping List).
Our advices from Peking are up to November
26th, at which date all was quiet, and the inter-
course between the native and foreign authorities
proceeding in a most satisfactory manner. Mr.
Bruce had quite recovered from the effects of his
late fall, noticed in our last summary of news.
There appears not the slightest reason to doubt the
entire good faith of Prince Kung in his friendly
policy, and it is quite possible that, before the young
Emperor attains his majority, a strong government
may rule in Peking over a peaceful land.
But while expressing gratification at the Prince's
disposition towards foreigners, we have nothing to
boast of on our side ; we cannot even be said to re-
for courtesy ; the spirit, if not the
turn courtesy

The intelligence from the Yang-tsze river con-
tinues to be satisfactory ; and at Hankow, the ex-
treme port in the interior, all was going on
smoothly according to the latest accounts. The
steamboat traffic on the river promises an immense
increase in the ensuing year.
The alarm caused by the proximity of the rebels
to Shanghae has abated, and those dreaded bands
have withdrawn with_Qut molesting the city; they
,w,„ as nesnuatiVittlailes, and the smoke of bum.:
ing townships and cottages that marks their move-
ments was visible from Shanghae. But at Ningpo
the panic arising from the same cause has not
altogether abated ; all who could had fled away, and
by the last accounts the place was almost deserted.
The foreign residents consider that they will not be
molested, and most likely they are right ; if nothing
else secures them, the high position of Mr. Roberts
in the rebel camp may act as a protection to their
persons if not to their goods.
The business that required the presence of Mr.
Harry Parkes at Shanghae, just as he was on the
point of embarking for England, has not yet trans-
pired; but there is little doubt it has some connec-
tion with the rebels, and that he has proceeded to
Nanking for the purpose of obtaining a thorough
understanding with the chiefs as to the places in
which Europeans are resident. We are supposed to
demand the same freedom from molestation in carry.
ing on trade from the insurgents as we now receive
from the Imperialists; and it is justly enough sur-
mised that the business of Mr. Parkes ie to make
fully known that we shall resent any interference
as promptly in their case as in that of their oppo-
English diplomacy may demand
proportion as the rebels grow
more
oppo-
nents.
weak, but at present they are sufficiently formidable
erthhaispsie
thanP
to make us respectful, and even fair, in our require-
ments; at the same time the civil war in China is
not in a condition for us to throw the weight of
English influence into either scale. When the mo-
ment arrives, we shall have the "cause of humanity"
plea ready for use ; and one thing is certain, that if
this plea is ever to be urged in favour of interven-
tion, it would be more becoming to urge it now,
when the devastation is spreading, than afterwards,
when the rebel cause shall have exhausted its force.
From the other ports we have no intelligence of
importance.
At Manilla matters are quiet, some of the Cus-
toms grievances having been ameliorated.
Canton, since its restoration into Chinese hands,
has begun to resume some of its old importance.
The rebuilding of houses is proceeding at a great
rate.

The emigration offices at Canton are receiving
numerous applications from Chinese desirous of
trying their fortune at Demerara. The men come
voluntarily to the agents, at the rate of about 40
per diem, and no kind of canvassing is required.
The cold weather is setting in.

At;Macao, a resident of this colony was recently
fined - 500 do's. for conteml.4,- of -coutt, in despising
a judge's mandate.
There is no local news. Two ships with naval
and military invalids will leave for home within the
next week. Thermometer in Hong Kong at 70.