The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-25 00:00:00

CHINA.

(From the Glasgow Herald (a Tory Paper).
• Attempts arc made to excite a popular feeling againtst
the whole proceedings with reference to China, and
with this view the entire question is treated as if it
were the intention of Britain to irisist on the perfect '
freedom of the opium trade. It is not fair so to repre-
sent the matter. The question is not whether China
shall be permitted to regulate her foreign commerce at
her pleasure, and to debar what articles she chooses from
admission to her ports. Her right to regulate her whole
trade and interval policy is not in the smallest degree
disputed. Let her prohibit any traffic, and sire is en-
titled to enforce the prohibition. But what Britain
has to complain of, and must exact reparation lor, is
this—that the Chinese authorities have gone be-
yond the mere enforcement of their commercial regula-
tions, and have been guilty of the most gross maltreat-
ment, not only of innocent British subjects, who were
guilty of no violation of their laws, but of the British
Superintendent, who was honestly co-operating with
them in their efforts to put down the opium traffic.
The crime against Britain is not that the opium trade
was prohibited, or that opium snaunlers were punished.
So far the right of the Chinese is fully admitted. But \
they assailed and violently imprisoned British subjects,
1 who wcro notoriously innocent of any violation of their
laws, end who were outraged, both in person and
property, in order that the sufferings of the innoc ant
might facilitate the punishment of the guilty-
This is contrary to every principle of reasm.'
or justice—and if Great Britain permitted suck
lan iniquitous course to be pursued against her
subjects abroad, she might as well proclai,m at once
that her foreign traders had no right to look to the mo-
ther country for protection. if anything is demanded
from China beyond what is reces,ary for the maicte-
nanee of common justice, then there may be grouWs
for condemning the course adopted by the British Go-
vernment. But if nothing is asked but an acknowleofe- I
meat of the common law of nations—if all that is re-
quired is security for the persons and property of those
who, trusting to the faith of these barbarians, enter into
commercial intercourse with them, and preserve them-
selves guiltless of any off:glee against their laws—then
we shou.d imagine that the most philanthropic among
us would find it difficult to say that what we now do is
wrong. We are more and more persuaded that there
will be no war—that the just demands of Britain,
backed by an efficient force, will he at once acceded to.
IVe require nothing more than justice, and nothing more
will be asked. And we have little doubt that the jus-
tice which was refused to the unprotected stranger will
be yielded to the imposing argument of a powerful fleet.
We repeat that if the slightest interference with the
internal government of China was contemplated, it
would be deserving of the severest censure that could be
bestowed upon it. But we cannot think that there is
anything wrong in extending the protection of tile Bri-
tishNords that thisyea r determination ete
ago rminiagthimotn have‘ o
vs
empire to all her subjects in every quarter of the
gnio°tbme.aniOfeustrer regretslyooaer. v is,
saved fleets now.

The Landowners ace re not all disposed to
or twootake
five shillings out of the poet man's pocket to put one
into their own. At the spirited demonstration in Kendal last
week, a letter was read from E. Swinburne, E of Bowness,. Es
q., landed proprietor, and heir to one of the largest st estates in
Northumberland, in which he said—" I am anxious for the
success of your association, and shall be glad to sign a petition
for the total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws whenever I
have an opportunity. lam one whose income arises entirely
from land, and am convinced that those laws are pentagon.; to
the agricultural as well as all other classes."—Mr. Crackaa-
thorpe, another landowner, said—" 1 feel that we are now met
together in the promotion of a cause upon whieli depends the
happiness of millions. Our endeavour is to give to the people
of this country a supply of food, regulated acoorslinz to the
beneficent intentions of Providence, and according to the laws
of the soundest political economy. lam a plain country gentle-
man, relying for my means of subsistence solely upon the pro-
duce of the acres 1 possess in this and the adjoining county ;
but I am satisfied that a change in the law is absolutely neces-
sary to the prosperity, not only of the manufacturing but also
of the agricultural class."—Manchester Times. •
CRIMINAL STATISTICS.—In the calendar of
prisoners for trial at the late Maidstone Assizes, were eleven
persons charged with stealing trifles, amounting altogether to
the sum of four shillings and threepence-halfpenny! By re-
ference to the date of their respective commitments, it appears,
that collectively they had been in gaol 370 days, and must,
therefore, have partaken of 1,110 meals at the expense of the
county, while many of their families were supported by pa_
roehial assistance.

HE 1. s)
INACOTHECA.—This Repository for
works of Art, as the quaint Greek name given to it signifies, is
now open for the season. It contains two or three paintings
and one statue at least of great merit. The Venus Tbor-
waldsen is a beautiful piece of workmanship, and surpasses any
of the Graces by Canova, and perhaps every Modern represen-
tation of the female form in marble. Though the attitude and
proportions are different from those of the Vining di Medici
there is a strong resemblance, yet not the resemblance of ser-
vile imitation. The painting of the " Israelites in the Wilder-
ness," the " Cordova Venus," said to be by Titian, arta the
`Day of itegment," by Lucas Van Leyden, are of a sal- erior
class. The collection altogether is very respectable, but the
place of exhibition is too confined, and consequently full Justice
is not done to the merits of the collection.