The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-10 00:00:00

E SUV, LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL JO. 1841.

returns to England by the Oriental steamer, to
impress upon Lord PALMERSTON the justice of
making the two concessions in the firman de-
manded by _MEHEMET ALI. The following offi-
cial account of the negotiations between Super-
intendent ELLIOT and the Chinese authorities, is
from the Bombay Times of the Ist of March,
quoted from the Canton Register of the 24th of
January
(From the Canton Press, 23rd Jan. 1841.)
CIRCULAR.
TO HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS.
Macao, 20th Jan., 1841.
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary has now to an-
nounce the conclusion of preliminary arrange
ments between the Imperial Commissioner and
himself, involving the following conditions :
1. The cession of the Island and Harbour of
Hongkong to the British Crown. All just charges
and Duties to the Empire upon the commerce
carried on there to be paid as if the Trade were
conducted at Whampoa.
2. An indemnity to the British Government
of Six Millions of Dollars, One Million payable
at once, and the remainder in equal annual in-
stalments ending in 1846.
3. Direct official intercourse between the
countries upon an equal footing.
4. The trade of the port of Canton to be
opened within ten days after the Chinese new
year, and to be carried on at Whampoa till fur-
ther arrangements are practicable at the new
settlement.
Details remain matter of negotiation.

The Plenipotentiary seizes the earliest occasion
to declare that her Majesty's Government has
sought for no privilege in China exclusively for
the advantage of British ships and merchants,
and he is only performing his duty in offering,
the protection of the British flag to the subjects,
citizens, and ships of Foreign Powers that may
resort to her Majesty's possession.
Pending her Majesty's further pleasure there
will be no port or other charges to the British
Government.

The Plenipotentiary now permits himself to
make a few general observations.
The oblivion of past and redressed injuries
will follow naturally from the right feeling of
the Queen's subjects :—lndeed it should be re-
membered that no extent of modification re-
sulting only from political intervention can be
efficacious in the steady improvement of our
condition, unless it be systematically seconded
by conciliatory treatment of the people, and be-
coming deference for the institutions and Go-
vernment of the country, upon the threshold of
i which we are about to be established.
The Plenipotentiary can only presume to advert
very briefly to the zeal and wisdom of the Com-
mander of the expedition to China ; and to that
rare union of ardour, patience, and forbearance,
which has distinguished the officers and forces of
all arms at all points of occupation and operation.
He is well assured the British community will
sympathise cordially with him in their sentiments
of lasting respect for his Excellency and the whole
force, which he is ashamed to express in such
inadequate language.
He cannot conclude without declaring that
next to these causes the peaceful adjustment of
difficulties must be ascribed to the scrupulous
good faith of the very eminent person with whom
negotiations are still pending.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT,

- -7
H. M. Plenipotentiary, China

CIRCULAR.
TO HER MAJESTY'S SUBJECTS.
Macao, 20th January, 1841.
Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary considers it in-
cumbent upon himself to lose no time in assuring
the Commercial Community that he will use
his best eflOrt with her Majesty's Government
to secure an early and entire advance of their
claims for indemnity.
And, mindful of the interest of parties in India,
he will not fail respectfully to move the Right
Honourable the Governor General of India
to second these purposes as far as may seem just
to his Lordship.
(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT,
Her Majesty's Pknipotentiary.

At length, as will be seen from the above Cir-
cular addressed by H. M. Plenipotentiary to her
Britannic Majesty's subjects in China, the so
long pending negotiations have come to a head,
and preliminary arrangements involving certain
conditions, as the basis, we suppose, of the treaty
to be entered into between the two countries,
have been concluded. We are informed that
" details remain matter of negotiation," and be-
fore the nature of these becomes known we must
be content with offering our remarks upon the
above public document alone, and we assure our
readers that no desire on our part of finding fault
where none exists, but a conviction that British
interests have been lightly sacrificed upon insuffi-
cient considerations, shall prompt the observa-
tions we are about to offer.
In order to do this it will be well to recall to
mind the circumstances which rendered it neces-
sary that Great Britain should send a splendid
armament to the shores of this Empire, that its
Government might be made aware that it could
no longer be allowed with impunity to trample
under foot the rights of other nations. Upon
the plea that some British merchants had
acted contrary to the fiscal regulations of the
country, not only they, but all British and
Foreigners residing in Canton, were detained
pri9oners during more than six weeks ; under
threats of being starved, and of personal vio-
lence, they were despoiled of property costing
10 millions of dollars or more. Her Majesty's
Representative, who had offered his mediation,
was likewise imprisoned, and threatened with
" the last degree of severity, as he informed her
Majesty's subjects;" all ships were detained at
Whampoa at heavy demurrage, and permission
for both persons and ships to depart was only
given after all the Opium of which the English
had been possessed was given up to the Superin-
tendent, and by him to the Chinese Government,
under a pledge from the former to its owners
that they should be repaid for it by the British
Government. After this the English merchants,
trusting to the energy and protection of their
Government for redress, retired to Macao, but
the rancour of the Chinese followed them even
there, and they were obliged to take refuge on
board their ships. The most inflammatory pro-
clamations against the English were published;
they were pot to be allowed to land for water,
the springs were poisoned, all Chinese were in-
vited to kill Englishmen wherever they were
found, and an unarmed passage boat was attacked
by mandarins, and its crew and passengers inhu-
manly butchered and mutilated.
These were the principal offences committed
by the Chinese, for which full reparation was to
be obtained, and to secure which an armament
sufficient to strike terror into the most remote
inhabitants of this land, was sent; this arrived
here exactly seven months ago—it is not now
our object to repeat what during all that time
it did or did not do; our business is with the
result it has produced in the hands of her Ma-
jesty's Plenipotentiary, a result which falls so
far short of the expectations entertained by all,
that we should be inclined to doubt its reality,
did not the document heading these remarks
stare us in the thee.
The conditions obtained by her Majesty's Ple-
nipotentiary are four, and we shall consider them
seriatim:-.,_u Ist, The cession of the island of)
Kong Hong to the British Crown. All just
charges and duties to the empire upon the com-
merce carried on there to be paid as if the trade
was conducted at Whampoa."
We consider that for an independent British
settlement no situation can possibly be more fa-
vourably chosen than that of Hong 'Kong. The
island itself is of little extent, we are told about
fifteen miles in circumference, but it forms
with the neighbouring lands one of the finest
ports existing, where any number of
ships,
and of any size, may safely anchor in the worst
of weathers, and the settlement of Hong Kong
would, we doubt not, in a very short time, be-
come a place of very considerable trade, were
its possession by the British not clogged with
the condition that the same duties as at Wham..
ecree,alilvhtihclei,
benefitethstai;
mation, destroys a
poa are to be
paidt
othn
might be expected to trade there, and will, in
fact, reduce the British settlement of Hong Kong
to nothing more than a military station, and
make it possibly the resort of thefamilies of
foreign merchants transacting business at Can-
ton, although even this is doubtful, as they

may continue to prefer Macao. The same
charges and duties being paid at Hong Kong
as at Whampoa, it follows as a matter of neces-

sessity that the 'trade will remain where for cen-
turies it has been established, and not seek a new
location where it is under the same disadvan-
tages, without its being afforded the same faci-
lities it now finds in a populous commercial city,
long the centre of the commerce of the empire,
and under the same charge infinitely better
situated than a port on an out-of-the-way island
can ever be. Had Hong Kong come uncondi-
tionally into the possession of the English, we
sh?uld. have thought it a valuable possession, ac-
quired at whatever price; now, according to the
reading we give to the Plenipotentiary's Circular,
its value is little or none.
" 2d. An indemnity to the British Govern-
ment of six millions of dollars; one million
payable at once, and the remainder in equal
instalments ending in 1846."

As above stated, the cost of the opium alone,
extorted by the Chinese, exceeded ten millions,
and other losses suffered by British subjects, not
calculating interest even for the two years al-
ready elapsed, such as demurrage of ships unjustly
detained, property left in Canton, &c. &c., may
swell the amount justly due to 12 millions, and, if
tie expenses of the present expedition are added,
to at least 15 millions. For these the Chinese are
to pay in toto six millions, in annual instalments
of one million each, which million at the less than
usual rate of 8 per cent. is not quite equal to the
annual interest for the whole claim, of which
capital and interest alike are lost at the expira-
tion of six years. But even without reference to
the inadequacy of the sum, we may ask, how will
the Chinese raise it? Will it not be levied in
the shape of a new duty upon foreign commerce,
and will it not therefore be the British chiefly who
will be at the expense of this payment? A tael or
two on tea will soon raise the required sum, and
consumers in England will drink dearer tea ; or
if the duty for payments of the indemnity be raised
on imports, their increased price will curtail the
consumption ofßritish manufactures. That, how-
ever, Capt. Elliot consented to receive this small
amount of indemnity, although we may regret
it, does not surprise us, after his despatch dated
Tungkoo. 28th November, 1839, in which he en-
deavoured to injure the interests of the holders of
his Opium-scrip, with the Home Government,
representing them as not entitled to too much
consideration, and the small sum per chest which
they may now possibly get out of this indemnity,
will, according to his reasoning, be clear gain to
persons who, without his interference in March,
1839, would have suffered a loss of two to three
hundred per cent. upon their opium ventures!!
" 3d. Direct as the intercourse between the
countries upon an equal footing."
Nothing less could have been expected, after
the Chinese had felt front experience that they
had no force whatever to oppose to the British
invasion ; besides, in the blue book, we are in-
formed that Captain Elliot had already long be-
fore this gained this point.
"4th. The trade of the port of Canton to be
opened within ten days after the Chinese New
Year, alcd to be carried on at Whampoa till fur-
ther arrangements are practicable at the new
settlement."
Yes, we suppose, that 10 days from this date,
(this being Chinese New Year's day) we shall
see all the British Merchants return to Canton,
there to transact their business as before ; -in
fact Canton will again be, as it always has been,
the Emporium of the Chinese trade, and al-
though, there, British Merchants may be insult.;
ed, their property taken from them, and their
liberty endangered, we think that they will
prefer running these risks for the facilities trade
enjoys there, to going to a new settlement equal-
ly burdened with imposts, and which therefore
offers no advantages commensurate with the in-
convenience and expense caused to commerce
on leaving its old accustomed channels.
Thus far what occurs to us on these four con-
ditions separately, which, taken altogether, seem
to restore matter to about the same state in which
they were before our imprisonment, for unless
the details, at present matters of negotiation
be explained, and these be more favourable
than Captain Elliot's circular enables us to ex-
pect, the making Hong Kong an English set-
tlement seems to hold out very slight advan-
tage to the British trading community, who will
probably not avail themselves of it, except per-
haps for the carrying on of unlawful business;
the port of Canton is to he opened, and trade
will there of course be resumed; British mer-
chants will be obliged again to trust themselves
to the tender mercies of the Chinese. But under
what guarantees? On this all-important subject
the Circular is silent—will they, after they shall
again be in the power of the Chinese not
be made responsible for former transgressions
of Chinese Custom-house regulations ? What
has become of the bonds? Are they still insisted
on—have the Imperial laws been changed in &-
your of the British? What has been done with
regard to the dividends of bankrupt hong-mer-
chants, some of which have been overdue some
time? Has, in fact, anything been stipulated to
remove the many laws for th degradation of fo-
reigners visiting China ? Is the Hong system to
continue unaltered? Is the British merchant
still to be obliged to confide his property into the
hands of men notoriously insolvent ? These are
some of the questions the solution of which we
should wish to see, and which it is to be hoped
form part of the still pending negotiations.
We had reason to hope that the Chinese would
be obliged to open if not several at least one of
their ports to the northward, a hope we conceive
by no means extravagant„ when already a very
favourable position had been occupied by British
arms, commanding the mostimportant of Chinese
rivers, the Yangste-Keang—the Circular says
not a word on the, subject, and its omission is a
proof that no such stipulation has been made. No,
on the contrary, Chusan is to be immediately
evacuated and restored to the Chinese as
Chuenpee already has been on Thursday
last, when the English flag was low-
ered, and the Chinese again hoisted. As a
consideration for the cession of these conquests,
which, held by the English, would, from their
commanding positions,have been well worth some-
thing better, the Island of Hong Kong has come
into conditional possession of the English, and
this is all the advantage gained by the send-
ing of the expedition, for we consider the
payment of the six millions, when no less than
at least twice that sum ought to .have been ex-
pected, as a most shameful compromise, and a
heartless abandonment of the interests of a com-
munity which the Plenipotentiary was sent to
cherish.
But people will object, these terms perhaps
are so little favourable, because no others could
be got; perhaps the Chinese opposed equal
forces to your armament, and you were unable
to back your argument by force—if these were
so we should not quarrel with a compromise dic-
tated by necessity; but the contrary was the
case—Chusan had been taken without resistance,
and kept possession of without any attempt be-
ing made by the Chinese to recapture it ; the
Chinese notoriously have no sea force to de-
serve that name, and from the backwardness
of their troops to face the British at Chusan
we arrive at the conclusion that their land
forces in a war with an European nation are
equally unavailable. Chuenpee and Ty-cock-
too were taken with great slaughter to the
Chinese, who were so surrounded in the former
fort that they could not run away—immediately
on this being witnessed from the other Bogue
forts, the garrisons prepared themselves to evacu-
ate them, and in fact, when on the Bth the ships
of war approached the fortress, the garrison was
seen leaving it as fast as possible. Here was
another proof that the Chinese have not
the means of opposing force to force, but
the Plenipotentiary, who might have pos-
sessed himself at that time of the forts
without almost firing a gun, was afraid
of losing the Imperial favour by going
too far, and stopping the British arms in their
career of success, was the first to recommence
negotiations on the plea, we hear, that Keshen,
the two small forts only being taken, might gloss
this over, but if the principal forts had fallen
into the hands of the English, even Chinese di-
plomatists would not be able to hide the truth
from the Emperor, who, enraged at the presump-
tion of the barbarians, would then refuse all
peaceable accommodation. We need not point
out the fallacy of such argument, or the sin-
gular bias in favour of underhand dealing, if the
forts of Anughoy were really spared for such
reasons ; yet it is difficult tofind others. As far as
physical three, then, was concerned in obtaining
an arrangement of existing difficulties, this was
so clearly in favour of the English that not a
doubt can exist on the subject, and there being
no necessity for being too yielding, all just de-
mands ought to have been strictly enforced. If
in private life I injure my neighbour to the ex-
tent of 100/., the law gives him redress for the
full amount of the injury, and I must pay it, and
costs besides, and if' I have not the means to pay,
my creditor may consign my body to a prison.
In public life, or in transactions, between na-
tions, the law would stand exactly as between
tmhye rneighbour and
em er,e av
an
idl
eidv 1 aont
hConsiderations
Plenipotentiary to apccept from China so much
less than was in justice due, we are at a loss to
guess at at. Suppose that the Chinese have not
money enough to pay fbr the opium destroyed,
they are rich in lands—but conditional pos-
no one,Captain w
Elliot
pre-
sume,llu
twmhiliicii(3ins of dollars or
more,
eso;:riell
the
e !Pal nuy gemd Kong,
:9;
has remitted. If lands or possessions_ were not
wanted, favourable conditions for the trade of
except
ie ittof
beon
British subjects might have been
obtained;
equai
this point the Circular
evariesnsitlehnots,e
the " direct official intercourse upon
fn
cibhOtpins"4":'; not wef
value at the sum named; if, in-
deed,
ho
to ngt;amdoenwophoelry free
deed, ports to the northward hadbeen opened or
permissionifins ead of h taldi e oppressiveeen
and
with whom we liked; if a promise of lowering.
the duties had been obtained ; if respectful and
decent treatment to foreigners had been secured,
then perhaps we might think that the
Chinese had paid in kind for the debts they
may have incurred ; as it is, there remains a
large balance unaccounted for—the assets for
which have disappeared during the negotia-

dons, and it is but a poor consolation to know
that the Plenipotentiary may by his country be
held accountable for them. These are the obSer-
vations which naturally suggest themselves to us
on consideration of the money-interests of the
question ; for the insults offered to her Majesty's
Superintendent and to British merchants, and
through them to the nation, no atonement what-
ever has been made, nor seems to have been de-
manded. We are told in the circular to forget
and forgive—the latter we recommend as the
exercise of a Christian virtue—the former, to him
who can.

RELEASE OF THE FRENCH MIS-
SIONARY.
On Tuesday evening arrived in Macao, M.
Tallandier, a French Missionary, who having
been apprehended in the country, had been kept
a prisoner in Canton. during nearly three months.
M. Tallandier owes his liberation to Captain
Elliot's intercession, without which, it is probable,
he would have remained much longer ; he was
taken befbre Keshen, previous to his departure
for the _Bogue, and graciously dismissed by that
eminent person.
WITHDRAWAL OF THE FORCE FROM

THE BOGUE.
Last night his Excellency Commodore Sir
Gordon Bremer arrived in the Roads, accom-
panied by several ships of war and steamers.
The English colours were removed from, and
Chinese planted in their stead, on Chuenpee.
On Thursday last the ships of war have, we
learn, all left the Rogue, and a part of them
will proceed to Hong Kong immediately to
take possession of that island, in the name of her
Majesty.

The division against the forts of Tycocktow
was not, as reported in our last, comaianded by
Captain Smith of the Druid, but by Captain
Scott, of the Samarang, as officer of which ship
was the first to land and enter the fort.

The following, taken from the Register, we
had in type, when another translation of appa-
rently the same document reached us, the
original of which was placarded in the streets of
Macao yesterday. No mention is therein made
of the cession of Hong Kong
(From the Canton Register, Jan. 19,
We have just received and translated t
lowing order from Keshen to the Keunmingtoe
of Macao—which- is a rider to the British Pleni-
potentiary's Circular, and confirms the good and
grateful news contained in that document.
" Keshen, a great Minister of State, and Im-
perial High Commissioner, of the second order
of the hereditary nobility, and acting Governor
of the two Kwang Provinces, writes this despatch
for the full infbrmation of the Tangche, or Keun-
minfoo, of Macao.

Le fo.

" The English barbarians are now obedient to
orders, and, by an official document, have re-
stored Tinghae and Shakee ; invoking me with
the most earnest importunity that I should for
them report, and beg for (the Imperial) favour.
" At present all affairs are perfectly well set-
tled. The former order for stopping their trade
and cutting off the supplies of provisions, it is un-
necessary to enforce; it is for this purpose that
I issue these orders to the said Tangche, that he
may obey accordingly, without opposition. A
special despatch."

GENERAL MEMORANDUM.
Wellesley, Jan. 8, 1841.
The Commander-in-Chief' has to express his
admiration at the gallant conduct of the whole
force during the affair of yesterday, and requests
that the Captains and Commanders of the squa-
dron, and the Commanders of the steam vessels,
the officers, seamen, and marines, will receive
his best thanks.
To Major Pratt, commanding the Force, Major
Johnson, 26th Regiment, Captain Knolles of the
Royal Artillery, Lieutenant Simpson of the
Wellesley-and Wilson of the Blenheim (employed
on shore) Captain Ellis Royal Marines, Captain
Duff 37th Regiment, M. N. 1., and Captain
Boulton Bengal Volunteers, together with the
officers, non commissioned officers, and privates,
his best thanks are also due.
The Commander-in-Chief wishes to mark in an
especial manner, the conduct of the whole of the
non-commissioned officers and privates of the
Force in abstaining from the least excess or irre-
gularity, a circumstance alike honourable to them-
selves,_ and beneficial to the character and inter-
ests of their country.
(Signed) J. GORDON BREMER.
Commander-in-Chief.
To the respective Captains, Commanders, and
Commissioned Officers of her Majesty's ships
and vessels, and the Hon. Company's steamers
and the Military Officers employed at the cap-
ture of Chuenpee, the respective Ship's Compa-
nies and the Officers, Commanding Officers,
and Privates of Marine and Land Forces.
MACAO, JANUARY 21, 1841.
We avail ourselves of the departure of the
steamer Enterprise for India to send you the an-
nexed copies of public notices by her Majesty's
Plenipotentiary.
The result may be communicated in a few
words; indemnity ofsix millions of dollars, direct
official intercourse, and a British settlement at
Hong Kong, where, however, Chinese duties
are to be levied as at Whaimpoa.
Chusan, it is understobdOvill be evacuated,
and no port will be opened to the northward.
The future course .of the opium trade does not
seem to have formed a subject of discussion, but
we understand opiuM may be imported into the
new settlement al though still contraband in China:
In consequence of the arrangement above al-
luded to Chuenpee has been delivered to the
Chinese. The whole of the British squadron has
left the Bogue, and a portion has proceeded to
Hon Kong to take possession of it in the name of
her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain. An
order has also been despatched to Ningpoo, di-
recting the immediate release of the British sub-
jects who had been detained there.
Nothing can exceed the indignation and dis-
gust which Captain Elliott's proceedings have
excited amongst all classes of British subjects
both in India and China. Not only has he ne-
glected the just claims of private individuals
but he has sacrificed the honour of his country.

CHUSAN,
Accounts from Chusan to the 24th December
have been received per Eagle, according to which
the health of the troops was improving, there
being no new cases of sickness. As will
be seen from an extract of a letter from
thence, communication with Ningpo was
unrestricted, but the writer of that letter says
that the Chinese intend commencing hostilities
in spring. We do not think it unlikely, having
never bad much faith in the pacific intentions of
the Chinese Government, as long as these could
only be manifested by sacrifices on their part,
and haring hitherto refrained from exten-
sive hostile acts, was probably caused by the bad
state of the army, which must have been much
demoralized during the two last peaceful
reigns, particularly when it is borne in mind
that the civil service is at all times held in
higher esteem in China than the military,
which, neglected. during peace, can only regain its
proper rank in times of pressing necessity.
How far the preparations lately made
in our neighbourhood, have served to or-
ganize an effective body of troops, the events
now passing at the Bogue will show; we do
not expect to hear much said in favour of
their discipline or tactics. Provisions at Chu-
san were plentiful ; the bazaar was sup-
plied with all kinds of necessaries, and even
articles of export-commerce, such as course
Silk Piece-goods, Raw Silk of inferior quality,
and Tea, but in small quantities, were offered for
sale. The weather was getting very cold, the
thermometer having fallen as low as 22 degrees
—Canton Press.
T.

_he Church Extensionists, we see, are again
actively employed in getting up petitions iu &-
your of their plan of levying additional taxes on
the public. Sir R. INGLis, " whose ardour in the
cause of true religion" it is said, "no temporary
defeat can extinguish," has informed the House
of Commons that he hopes, after Easter, to at-
tract its attention to the subject. In the mean-
ti:ne the clergy and the friends of Church Ex-
tension throughout the land are to exert them-

selves, and pour in petitions to both Houses. In
one House the prayer of such petitions will no
doubt be favourably listened to ; but, fortunately
tbr the public, the subject involves a grant of
money, which must proceed from the House of
Commons. We are not, indeed, sure, from the
manner in which that House is now constituted,
that it would not listen to the prayer of the Ex-

tensiimists, were the Exchequer as overflowing
as in the days of Mr. Prosperity ROBIN-
SON ; but the urgent wants of the State
and the deficiency of the revenue will now
effectually prevent the House of Commons from
listening to the demand for more money to build
churches and endow priests. We would not,
under such circumstances, recommend the public
.to meet the Extensionists by counter petitions,
If they be disposed to address either House of
Parliament, but rather to petition for a redress
°f some grievance connected with the Church.
We See for example, according to the proviu-
papers,
ctal that a considerable number of pep- •

well."

sons in different places have been summoned for
Church-rites, and in some cases have been called
before Ecclesiastical Courts. In the majority of
the cases the people paid, and on that account
the Tory journals have set up a cry of triumph.
The Anti-Church-rate party, then, are mocked
at and insulted for obeying the law. If the Dis-
senters have in them the spirit of men that
ought to rouse them unanimously to demand that
they should he relieved from the payment of
Church-rates, and from the jurisdiction of Eccle-
siastical Courts. Here are great grievances to
which the Dissenters are subjected, and for the
abolition of which they ought to petition.
Let them not petition for the abolition of Ec-
clesiastical Courts, because the members of the
Church and the clergy may wish to preserve
them, but let them petition to be relieved from
the jurisdiction of those Popish tribunals, and
from the payment of that Popish exaction,
Church-rates. If the Churchmen like Ecclesi-
astical Courts and Church-rates, let them
be gratified. The Dissenters can have no
reason to prevent them indulging. in so
rational an enjoyment. All that they-
have to do • is to protect themselves. It is
no business of theirs to break the yoke
of priestcraft for the members of the Church.
To get relieved from the payment of Church-
rates and from the jurisdiction of ecclesias-
tical tribunals is their proper business, and
seems to us a nobler object than to petition merely
against the extension of the Church, which. their
wily opponents describe as petitioning against
Christianity.
We have long been surprised at the patience
with which Protestant Dissenters, who have a
conscientious aversion to Popery, submit to ec-
clesiastical tribunals, and to ecclesiastical taxes.
The Dissenters must remember that Mr. Nrcuor,
lately informed the public from his place in Par-
liament that the Ecclesiastical Courts are not the
QUEEN'S Courts, but the Bishops' Courts, and
were not affecteu by an Act of Parliament
restraining the Queen's Courts. To obey them
is, therefore, to obey the Bishop in spiritual
matters; and we cannot reconcile the consis-
tency of the Dissenters in deserting the Church
for conscience sake, incurring all the guilt of
schism, and still submitting to the Bishop's
jurisdiction, as exercised in the Courts which
were established by Papal Bishops for Papal
purposes. Such conduct is neither consistent
nor conscientious. At various periods the Dis-
senters have stood out stoutly against the
Church and State combined; and it will be dis-
graceful to them, when the State will not take
an active part against them, if they now submit
to the Church alone, and humble themselves
before the enthroned Bishops or their repre-
sentatives, when, by one spirited and unanimous
remonstrance, they might cast off this remnant
of the Papal yoke from their necks for ever.
As to the Extensionists, the House of Corn
mons will probably think it their duty to in-
quire before they grant money to build churches,
whether or not they are to be filled with that
ingenious race of sophists who reconcile their
consciences " to hold the tenets of Rome with the
endowments of the Church of England," or by
" those low-minded, bitter race of priests,"
ac-
cording to the Post, who persecute the High-
Church Angels. As Church Extension is
advocated by Sir R. Istaus and the Standard,
we presume that the Low-Church party is the
most active in the chase after the public money,
and that their ism will find most favour with the
patrons of the new churches, should any more
be built. It is, however, for the Legislature to
reflect, in so applying the public money, that
they will either encourage mysticism and insin-
cerity, or bitter, persecuting, theological malig-
nity. Far better would it be to throw the wealth
the law will take from the people into the sea.

We are reminded, by seeing a brief notice of
Lord ASHBURTON in the Anti-Corn-law Circu-
lar, that we have lately said some harsh things
of that Nobleman. We have accordingly taken
our conscience to task, and if we could honestly
retract them we cheerfully would. But while
our Parliamentary records prove that Mr.
BARING, the merchant; having then much to
gain by enlarged commerce, was a strenuous ad-
vocate for free trade, and a determined opponent
of the Corn-laws, and that Lord ASHBURTON,
the landowner, having left trade and in-
vested his gains in the soil, is the for-
ward opponent of free trade, and the sturdiest
advocate of the Corn-laws—while our Parlia-
mentary records prove these charges against Mr.
BARING, become Lord ASHBURTON, we cannot
recollect one instance by which his private mu-
nificence has redeemed his public character.
Europe has heretofore had princely merchants,
and many of them, both at home and abroad,
have conferred honour on their country by
employing their wealth in improving and
adorning it. The palaces of " Genoa, the Superb,"
built by her merchants, would confer honour
on most of the Princes of Europe. The
merchant Medici having first enriched their
country became its sovereigns, and placed their
descendants on the Papal throne. In like man-
ner our own GRESHAMS and BECKFORDS have
conferred renown on their country by the muni-
ficent employment of their wealth or their de-
fence of our liberties. Lord ASHBURTON, as far
as we know, has done nothing for the arts but
build an ugly house in Piccadilly, and nothing
for the national liberties but betray them.
The name of BARING, too, is associated in the
public and Parliamentary records with one of the
meanest pieces of petty oppression that has made
much noise in modern times. In the pages of the
late Mr. COBBETT and the Times it will be handed
down to posterity with anything but applause.
We venerate the name and character of a true
merchant. It is his great business to equalize
the variations of the seasons and the diversities
of climates. He brings the abundance of one
clime or place to supply the wants of another. He
enriches himself by conferring. benefits on all
with whom he deals. The wealth obtained by
our commerce is not, in the eye of humanity,
of one tithe so much importance as the
civilisation which follows in its train, and
as the friendly relations with which
it binds together nations politically and
historically hostile to each other. It was left
for Mr. BARING, become Lord ASHBURTON, to
degrade, in our estimation, the name and station
of a princely merchant to the level of a money-
scrivener, seeking wealth at the expense of
others by nefarious legislation. From creating
employment, conferring wealth, multiplying food
and conveniences as a merchant, to arresting
trade, stopping subsistence, and starving the peo-
ple as a Legislating Peer, is one of the saddest
instances of degradation front true nobility
which the annals of mankind can afford. To
have lost his fortune and become a pauper would
have been a less degradation for Mr. BARING
than the change from a useful merchant to a
mischievous landowner.

The French Journals of Wednesday have duly
reached us. They publish the news from China
which appeared in our columns of yesterday
but they contain little else of any importance.
The same may be said of the Madrid Papers of
the 31st ult., which have also reached us. •
The following was the bulletin of Lord GRAN-
VILLE'S health, issued on Wednesday
" British Embassy, Wednesday Morning, April 7. " His Excellency has passed a good night, and is going on

The Toulonnaise f the 28th of March says "It is re-
ported in our city that an important operation has taken
place at Oran. It seem that the fear with which General
Larnoriciere has inspired the Arabs is so great that they had
formed a project to get possession of his person; in order to
obtain their object they had laid a snare for General Lamori-
ciere, who having been warned by his spies did not suffer himself to be taken in it. In order to punish them for their
perfidy the brave General laid an ambush, which the Arabs
could not avoid, and in consequence of which 800 of them
were left on the &id of battle. We do not answer for the au-
thenticity of this intelligence, which, if it is true, will be con-
firmed by the next sail."
The ffentinelte de Toulon mentions. the same report.
On the 26th of February another earthquake threatened
Zante with total destruction. —La Gazette de France.
M. Fararaond, French Consul at Campeachy, who was ap-
pointed Consullin New Holland, has declined to accept that
post. He will return to Campeachy at the end of the month.
In consequence of serious differences which had arisen be-
tween the Homan Catholic Bishop of Gibraltar and the lay-
men who were intrusted with the management of the revenues
of the church, a law suit has taken place, and M. Hague, the
Bishop of Gibraltar, has been condemned by a sentence of the
tribunal of Gibraltar to a pretty long imprisonment.
A letter which the Univers has received from Constanti.