The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-28 00:00:00

MR. PARSES ON CIIINA.

At the soiree given at the town residence of the !
Hon. Arthur Kin naird, on Friday night, Mr. Consul
Parkes gave a general outline of the present state
of affairs in China, more especially of the character
of the rebel Taepings. Mr. Parkes first rapidly
traced the story of foreign relations with the Chinese
empire until the last two Chinese wars, but espe-
cially the last. It had been absolutely necessary,
he observed, to impress on the Chinese, by such a
stern process or teaching, the fact that they were
only one of the numerous families of mankind on
the face of the earth, all of which should treat
one another with mutual respect, and none
arrogate above the rest an absolute and exclu-
sive superiority. He then proceeded to speak of
the character, acts, and religious belief of the
Chinese rebels, the Taepings. The history of that
rebellion was not, he remarked, anything unusual
in Chinese history. Successive rebellions had
shaken the Chinese empire oven in the course of
the present century—in 1813 and in 1826; indeed,
one of the Chinese viceroys had once observed to
him that such sanguinary convulsions should rather
be hailed with satisfaction, otherwise the population
of China would increase far too rapidly. For a long
time, when the Taeping insurrection was raging in
the distant provinces of the Empire, very vague
and confused ideas were formed of its real nature.
The rebels were believed to be a sect of Chinese
Christians, and their successes were looked
forward to with hope, as implying the
speedy triumph of the gospel. Such views
were not cotfined to England. They had
hccwxbaxiael—kyvniii Engl4l&-restielpazia--im I !
But after their latest successes, which had brought
them more in contact with foreigners, and had en-
abled the latter to cbtain accurate details of their
previous progress, the ideas before entertained of
their being Chinese crusaders must be wholly given
up. They must be judged by their fruits. England
could scarcely wish them success, for, wherever they
passed, they absolutely depopulated the country,
and if England was to have any trade with China
that trade could not flourish if the Chinese were to
disappear. Great end populous provinces—cities
with a million of inhabitants—presented nothing
but misery and squalor and desolation since the
invasion of these locusts. In some cases there had
been wholesale massacres; in others, all
amongst the population who could migrate had
fled before the approach of the Taepings. This
proved two things—first, that the Taepings had
not the sympathy of the Chinese people, that they
were not hailed by the Chinese as their liberators
from an iron oppression ; and, second, thai, the
Chinese Government was far too weak to protect'
its subjects. This was, indeed, the great fault—the
capital defect of the Chinese Gowrnment. It was
a bad Government, not so much because it was a
cruel, as because it was a feeble Government.
It was unable to perform, with any degree
of satisfaction to itself or others, the first
and most elementary functions of a Go-
vernment—the protection of life and property—
which the subject has a right to expect in any
State, Of the Christianity of the Taepings, about
which so much had been said, Consul Parkes gave
some curious details. The head of the rebels had
issued what might be termed the official confession
of faith, which all his followers were to profess
and believe, and whoever should teach anything
contrary to the same was to be subjected to the
severest penalties. In this official confession of
faith it was declared that the present head of
the rebellion completed the revolution of Christ,
as Christ had completed the orginal work
of God ; that the whole power of Heaven
was divided amongst, not a Trinity, but a four-
fold deity ; that the Divine chief of the present
rebellion is to conquer, not China alone, but the
whole world. Consul Parkes remarked that if the
Taepings should triumph, our relations with them
would in all likelihood be attended with greater
difficulties than were those with the old Govern-
ment; for though you may have much trouble with
a despotic government claiming to reign in virtue
of a right divine, and tracing its origin from on high,
you are likely to have still more trouble in your
diplomatic relations with a ruler who declares that
he is God himself. At any rate, as matters now stood
the war proved a serious interruption to trade,
and he did not think, from what they had hitherto
seen of the Taepings, that any government which
they could form would tend to promote an ex-
tended European intercourse, or assist in the diffu-
sion of pure Christianity. The Taepings were
brigands. The Taeping revolution was an immense
and organised brigandage, and it was supplied from
those forests which held a place iu Chinese history
akin to that of the Black Forest in Central Europe;
for they had always been the classical forests of
Chinese banditti.-3. ancliester Guardian.

Some Prussian naval officers have during the
week been in communication with the Admiralty, with a
view of purchasing a certain number of our sailing men-of-
war. " There will be no difficulty on the subject, says the
Army and .A'avy Gazette, " as we have a large fleet from
which they will be able to pick and choose."
MARGATE.—THE NEW RAILWAY.—It has been
decided that the direct line in process of execution from
Herne Bay shall, in its course to Broadstairs and Rams-
gate, cross the South-Eastern line between. Margate station
and Tivoli-bridge, at an elevation of 16ft. above the present
line ; and we understand that, although no site has yet
been adopted for the erection of the new station, the pro-
posal that it should be made at or near Vicarage-place,
meets with most favour by those officially concerned. The
new line will cross the Garlinge-road close by the north
side of the company's temporary stables, now being erected
near Rankhorn, and pass between Garlinge and the sea
coast,—Dever Chrynick.

( NEWSPA.PER
TILE VOLUNTEER&
•
t: 104 ,• •" ' ?A'
On Saturday afternoon the membe t4ttVit",„
h Frr
Middlesex (London Scottish) Rifles
quarters, and marched to the R 406-opr4
preceded by their brass band • and bagp
corps was under the command of LieNnana.
Colonel Lord Elcho. Several movements having
been satisfactorily executed, the battalion
formed a square, and the gallant colonel
addressed the members. After complimenting
them on the satisfactory manner in which
they had all acquitted themselves on Easter
Monday last, he said that he was sure they
now saw how absolutely necessary it As to be well
up in skirmishing, and that they might plielithem-
selves on an eciaal footing with the " lawyers" (Ole
Inns of Court, who formed the first lino of skiv-At
mislaers at the Brighton Review), he proposed that'
duringr:the summer months as many members colt
could conveniently spare the time would attend a
course of skirmishing drills, which would take place
in ;the Green nark on Tuesdays and Fridays, at
seven o'clock in the morning, commencing flew
next week.

On Saturday evening the members of the 46th
Middlesex (London and Westminster) mustered at
Westminster Hell, under the command of Captain
and Adjutant Christie, and went through a variety
of complex movements in a steady manner. Lieut.-
Colonel Sir John Villiers Shelley, in a regimental
order just issued, congratulates tho officers, non-
commissioned officers, and privates on the zeal and
efficiency displayed by them during the Brighton
Review, which " reflects great credit on the
regiment," and afforded him every satisfac-
tion. He trusts that they will pay great atten-
tion to firing and light infantry drills, so that they
may take their place with equal credit at the forth-
coming review, which will be held after the prigs
shooting at Wimbledon this year.
On isatnrctay evening, the members of the First
City of London Engineers paraded in full dress at
their drill rooms, White-street, Finsbury-pavement.
After the usual company drill, the corps marched
out, with their brass band, to the north-
east of London, via the City-road, Old-Street,
Kingsland-road, returning by Hackney-road.
Many recruits having recently joined, it has been
decided to form another company ; and arrange-
ments have been made for an additional drill night
for recruits, in order that they may be ao far ad-
vanced as to admit of their taking part in tracing
field, and other works, at an early date. •

On Thursday last a match between ten members
of the No. 12 (St. James's) company and ten mem-
bers of the Ne. 8 (Broadwood's) company of the
Queen's (Westminster) Rifles was shot off at Worm-
wood Scrnbbs. The ranges were 200, 500, and
600 yards, five shots per man at each range. The
following are the scores :—No. 12 company—
Sergeants Nash, 12; Ship way, 13; Corporal
Carrick, 7 ; Privates Young, 11; Ashman, 13 ;
Swears, 7; Ballard 12; Hadwen, 7; James, 15;
Smith, 5 ; total, 104 points. No, 8 Company—En-
sign A. Black, 16; Sergeants Anderson, 13; Allen,
9; Corporal Luce, 5; Privates Baxter, 14; Baron,
12 ; Christie, 8 ; Henderson, 14 ; Heath, 8 ; Tinto,
14: total, 112; less, 2,110. The No, 8 (Broadwood)
company thus won by 6 points. The prize contended
for was a rifle, value £4, and was awarded to Ensign
A. Black, who made the highest score on the win-
ning side. A strong side wind was blowing from the
bench, and the sun shining directly up the range
during the match.

A general meeting of the Sussex Volunteer As-
sociation was held at the Town Hall, Brighton, on
Saturday afternoon, to consider the locality for
holding the second prize meeting. The Lord
Lieutenant of the county (the Earl of Chichester)
took the chair, Considerable discussion took place
relative to holding the next prize meeting in
the town of Brighton, to which there were
various objections urged, the main one being
that, financially speaking, Brighton had shown
little anxiety for the progress of the associa-
tion, it appearing from a statement of accounts
that, out of 531 donations, that town had
given only 68, representing a sum of £lO 10s, 61.,
out of £126 19s. Captain Pipon moved that
the next meeting be held at some other town, where
they could find the necessary accommodation and
diaasamaisepar.t..--The it:solution, which was sccon dcd-
by Lieut. the Hon. Richard Denman, was then Put
and carried unanimously, and tho following were
appointed on the committee :—Major Gaisforci,
Major D'Albis, Captain Pipon, Captain Roupell,
Captain Cowie, Lieut. Denman, and Gunner Catt.
Lieut. Cockburn was elected honorary secretary in
the room of Captain Husey Hunt, resigned in con-
sequence of his inability to give that time and atten-
tion which the duties of the office required. It was
understood that steps would be taken to connect the
county with the National Rifle Association.

We read in the Gazette of Bankruptcy :—" It is
stated that Mr. Roupell, late M.P. for Lambeth, whose
unsuccessful building speculations have, it is understood,
principally contributed to involve him in his present diffi-
culty, has offered his creditors a composition of 7s Gd in the
pound."
A TALE OF HORROR.—Mr. —, we shall call
him Mr. Vellum, of Melbourne, is blessed with the friend-
ship of Mr. —, we shall call him Mr. Stockwhip—whose
cattle station is not a hundred miles from Echuca. Stock-
whip is in the habit of sendingdown tongues, potted butter,
rolled beef, and fifty other up-country niceties to his town
friend as presents. On Tuesday last arrived at Vellum's
office a good sized keg, the address card in the usual well-
known hand writing. It was late in the afternoon, just
about time to start for Paradise Villa, South Yarra; the
gift was safely stored in the buggy, and off Vellum started
with the treasure; while tea was getting ready the keg
was opened. " How heavy it is P" says one. " What on
earth can he have sent this time ?" says another. Specu-
lation was not allayed when the lid was prized open, and
only dry salt presented to view. " Dive deeper," was the
order of Paterfamilias„' there must be something else in
it." The salt was carefully removed and with considerable
difficulty something bulky was dragged out, of indefinite
shape and texture. "Perhaps it's a Murray cod," said one
of the juveniles. " Seems to be some preparation of pork,"
remarked Vellum ; however, let's have some fried for tea
and see how it eats." Fried a slice or two of it; everybody
tasted, but nobody liked it; it was horribly tough. "Per-
haps we don't know how to cook it properly, suppose we
try it to-morrow for breakfast." Stewed it was, and cer-
tainly it tasted a little more savoury, but still tough. The
proper mode of cooking it had evidently not yet been hit
upon ; a piece was ordered to be boiled for dinner, and
Vellum started for the day's business in Chancery-lane.
There was the usual pile of letters to open, but one in
Stockwhip's handwriting had the preference, and here it is:
—" Dear —, the scourge has reached us at last. Two of
my finest bullocks were found dead in the paddock yester-
day morning, and en being opened the indications of pleuro
pneumonia were unmistakeable. The left lung of one of
them Dr. here says is the most perfect specimen of
diseased structure he ever saw. I want Dr. Macadam and i
Mr. Miscamble to see it, and I therefore send t—to---
you--packed--in—salt." Vellum's eyes began to
swim. He did not dine at home that day,—Geelong Ad.

maser.
CASE OF SUSPECTED POISONING.—An in
quest
was
opened on Tuesday, before Mr. C. G. Thompson, coro-
ner, at the Royal Hotel, Kirkby Lonsdale, to inquire into
the death of the late Mrs. Ann Atkinson, dressmaker, of
that town, who died in the month of Oct., 1860. The body
was disinterred, and a post mortent examination made by
transmitted to Dr. Mundy, analytical che-
mist, T. H. Whitaker,. surgeon, and the contents of the
for examination, pending whose report
81170: nti
Ilaqcohufir:Lcesidands adjourned to Thursday, the 29th inst.
From the evidence of Mr. Joseph Atkinson, the husband
(examined by Mr. Roper), which was partly taken at the
inquest, and from what we have been able to learn, it ap.
pears that the deceased died in London after a few days'
severe illness, at the house of a Mrs. Taylor alias Wilson
(the Constance Wilson who was committed fur trial on
Tuesday last by the Magistrate at the Marylebone Pollee-
office for attempting the life of a Mrs. Cornell, by poison),
her symptoms being such as to create at the time suspicions
that she had been unfairly dealt with. These suspicions,
however, were by some means or other allayed for the
time, and nothing more was thought about the matter until
some months since, when farther events transpired which
once more raised in the mind of Mr. Atkinsou suspicions
that his poor wife had come to an untimely end. Inquiries
were made in London, and the result was the discovery of
what it is feared will turn out to be a fearful train of
atrocities committed by this woman Wilson, who appears
under the garb of devoted friendship to have lured her
victims to her house, and then poisoned and robbed them,
and in some cases even to have adopted that means of de-
stroying her victims for no apparent purpose than the rev
is
.t
moval of an obstacle to the gratification of her passions.
The inquiry is creating the greatest interest in the town,
where the Ceceased was long and intimately known by
all
around, and much sympathy felt for Mr. Atkinson irt
the distressing position in whichhe is Placed,