The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-19 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S AMPHITHEATRE.

Tho new grand spectacle, entitled the White Maiden
of California, is quite a hit, and backed up as it is by
the equestrian performances of the first artistes in the
world, draws crowds to this favourite place of amuse-
ment every evening. We understand that Mr. Batty
has recently purchased an elephant, which arrived from
the East Indies by the ship Barham a few days since,
and which will be introduced to the public so soon as his
education shall be perfected.

CHINA.
(From the China Mail of Feb. 26.)
The conference between the British and Chinese Ple-
nipotentiaries took place on Saturday, the 17th instant,
in Anson's Bay, on board the flag-ship Hastings, where
Seu was received under a salute from all the ships.
These consisted of, besides the flag-ship, the sloop Arab,
and the Medea, Fury, and Phlegethon war-steamers.
lied the Inflexible returned in time, she also would have
proceeded to the Bogue. This display was probably in-
tended to convince the Chinese Commissioner that, if it
should be necessary to assert our rights by force, resist-
ance on his part would be vain. It may therefore be of
advantage to state the substance of the information we
have received on the subject of the conference.
The question of opening the city on the 6th of April
was of course the main topic of discussion ; and after a
long discussion, in which Seu stated his inability to gua-
rantee the forbearance of the mob, it was arranged that
he should refer the matter to Peking for the purpose of
obtaining an Imperial edict, setting forth our right, and
enjoining respect to it.
If this be a correct estimate of the question, the Im-
perial edict now waited for would greatly facilitate
foreign intercourse to the city ; but it is too much to
expect that it will have the effect of removing the anti-
pathies of generations, or securing a cordial reception or
even immunity from insult. These can only be the slow
fruit of mutual forbearance. The reply from Peking
may be expected in little more than a month; and as
Keying is the Minister most likely to be consulted in the
matter, there is every reason to believe that the answer
will be a favourable one.

This, though the chief subject discussed durirg the
conference, was not the only one ; others of more real
importance were broached, such as building ground,
transit duties, and the state of the coasting trade, but
we believe without anything being positively arranged.
At the close of a long conference, Sen was conducted
to a banquet, at which a large party of British and
Chinese were present. Next day the Governor, the
Admiral, and their respective suites, partook of an en-
tertainment on board Seu's barge ; and the party
separated with expressions and every appearance of
good-will.

ITALIAN OPERA, COVENT GARDEN.—A meeting
of holders of debentures in this theatre was held on
Tuesday, at the Albion, Great Russell-street, to take
into consideration the most desirable steps to be adopted
in order to obtain a removal of the restrictions against
their admission that had been adopted by the manage-
ment of the Italian Opera. Mr. Eaton occupied the
chair. There were altogether about thirty gentlemen
present. It appeared, from the proceedings, that the
theatre was built by means of debentures of 200 h each,
one of the conditions of which was that every holder of
a debenture should be entitled to a free admission to all
performances whatever in the theatre, and to
e
all
d b
parts
tthes hooounsdeittiexcept the
beenprsi private boxes.
rostric e
eldt
thatwas
allegedthe en-
h a t
ture holders bad now only an admission to a portion of
the pit and gallery. The pit bad been divided by means
of stalls, and the gallery by the conversion of a part into
au amphitheatre, from both of which the debenture
holders had been excluded. It was also stated that ob-
struction had been thrown in the way of their admission
even into these portions. On the motion of Mr. Silk it
was unanimously resolved, that a deputation, consisting
of Mr. Silk, Mr. Barber, and Mr. Marden, should wait
upon Mr. Delafield, the manager, and state to him the
ptloaibned, and afterwards
Infioftheeirheinldterovnietwhe. even-
grievances of which,
Ltheeryeseuol
av,tli.beowssohas,
submit to an adjourned meeting,
iwn g.Mojrf the
Cll hu
ar2
141 te hs
stonei
i‘n s t
we learn, engaged Mr.
amateur performance of hsuccessfully appeared in the
to
RATHERinake his firstNE ATv
appearance
shortly,teWhi ttinigatoan
nCowlubf.aroHe.o i s
the country get on so-n'sliPplouw—nl
Parliamentary train.—
ey\h h y
Becausedoes the
itt businessreis
by ofa
PIRACY.--SINGAPORE, MARCH 6.—The Kestrel
Bremtner, from Newcastle, which arrived here on the,
16th ult.,brigantine,
Nov.
last,aboutin
was plundered by a pirate of
200 tons, and a crew of about 90 hands, 22d
lat. 22 S., long. 20 W.
The Earl of Liverpool has arrived at Fife House,
from Butted Park, Sussex, for the season.