The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-13 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

ST. PETERSBURG, JAN. 11 (Evening).
The Journal de St. Petersbeurg of to-day con-
tains an article congratulating Mr. Seward upon
the uprightness and intelligence of his policy, and
demanding that the incident of the Trent may be-
I come the starting point of negotiations for the
recognition by the different Powers of common
principles upon the neutral flAg question. This
article also exhorts lingland to give to the world
solemn guarantees for the future by signing a con-
vention which, by insuring universal respect for
the rights of neutral Powers, would contribute to
the maintenance of peace, and mark the progress
of civilisation.

INDIA, CHINA, AND
AUSTRALIA.

We have received our letters and newspapers
under date of Calcutta, December 9; Hong-Kong,
November 30 ; Melbourne, November 25; Sydney,
November 21.

INDIA.
On Friday, the 6th instant, deputations from
he Chamber of Commerce, the Landholders' As-
sociation, the Trades' Association, and the British
Indian Association, waited upon the Hon. Samuel
Laing to congratulate him on his return to Calcutta
with restored health. Mr. Laing returned thanks
for the kind wishes expressed in the address. He
thought that they too highly appreciated the ser-
vices he had performed. It gave him great pleasure
to find that the representatives of important inte-
rests applied the term of " wise measures and con-
cessions " to the recent policy of the Government,
and to the recent measures, which would render
the closing career of Lord Canning as memorable
in the annals of Indian history. It afforded the
best proof that the policy had been successful,
the object of which was to reconcile the Euro-
pean and native interests, in developing the in-
tellectual, the social, and the material improve-
ment of this great empire. Mr. Laing next ad-
verted to the importance of encouraging European
capital and enterprise in India, and to the expan-
sion of European commerce, which he observed
was so obvious, that the man must be stricken with
"judicial blindness " who did not perceive its
advantages. At the same time he said that it was
not leas clear that the welfare of the 150 millions
entrusted to our care demanded our primary object
and attention. Mr. Laing believed that these two
objects "are not only compatible, but, if rightly
understood, identical." With reference to the im-
port duties which the aforesaid bodies had recom-
mended for abolition, Mr. Laing remarked that,
however desirable such a change was, he could not,
with so large a revenue depending upon so fluctuat-
ing an article as opium, hold out anything like a
pledge at present upon the subject. He thought
the first duty of a Chancellor of the Exchequer
was to resist the desire to gain popularity by re-
mitting taxes until he was assured that he had ob-
tained a solid surplus. He saw the desirability of
a reduction of the taxes, and he would spare no
efforts to accomplish the measure, consistent with
financial prudence. He thought that the perma-
nent substitution of Indian for American cotton
could never be brought about until the quality of
cotton in India had been improved, The only
means to bring this about were improved commu-
nications for the conveyance of cotton from the
interior to the seaboard, and the presence in the cot-
ton districts of European agents to make advances

gency is now held by the two Empresses, widows of
the late Emperor—one having been his principal
wife, and the other the mother of the youthful Em-
peror, Tsai Chum. Prince Kung is chief adviser of
the Crown, and Kweiliang, Hwanliang, and others
of good repute, are members of the Cabinet. It
is worthy of notice that the three members of
Council who were condemed to death were those
most immediately connected with the disastrous act
of treachery by which so much suffering was caused
to some of our brave countrymen. Altogether the
present aspect of affairs at Pekin is a matter of the
most sincere gratulation ; the governing energy
which it was feared our advance on the capital had
entirely prostrated, is still there, and putting forth
fresh vigour ; the reins of Government are out of
the feeble hands that formerly held them, and have
passed into those of the statesman who alone has
shown himself equal to the age; the Councils of
State are no longer distracted by a divided policy,
but rendered strong by the overthrow of those who
would have used a position of power and authority
for their own selfish ends. tinder the new Prince-
Minister, the relations between England and China
will, in all likelihood, acquire a solidity they never
could boast of before ; and, if we rightly judge, the
turn matters have taken, the recent coup is worth to
England many battles and much treasure.