The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-06 00:00:00

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LONDON:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6. 1641.

a Pro-Corn and an Anti-Corn-law candidate.
Thi3 alteration puts an end to all prior engage.
tr.ents, and leaves the electors at liberty to vote as
they shall deem best for the public good. Scores
of them preferring a Tory to Whig may have
pledged their vote to Mr. GLADSTONE, who at
the same time may desire to be represented by a
sturdy Corn-law Repealer. The appearance of Mr.
J. B. SMITH in the field puts an end to the promise
they gave the Tory, and they cannot vote for a
Pro-Corn-law man without breaking their
first
pledge, given, perhaps, to their own hearts and
their children, and without being false to the one
true faith of abolishing the Corn-laws.
The electors of Walsall are
arecalled
asked to a
onto decidesy
for or against a bread-tax. They
whether or not that hostility which now exists be-
tween the different classes shall grow into civil war.
To them an appeal is made whether the manufac-
tures of England shall be permitted to flourish and
make the empire great, or be doomed to decay. A
more important question was never submitted to a
constituency. Their decision wlll have great weight.
It will give a heavy blow to the abolitionists, or it
will carry terror to the hearts of the bread-taxers'
It will convince the Ministers that they would not
find adequate support in proposing the repeal of the
Corn-laws, or that something must be done. If
the decision be right it will most probably procure
the abolition or some modification of the bread-tax
during the next Session.
They must not suppose that one Member can
have no effect. If all the electors acted on that
supposition no exertions would ever be made. The
supposition is not correct. One sturdy, determined
man, by dwelling incessantly on the subject, by
making motions at proper times, by presenting and
reading parts of petitions, may do a great deal. He
gives courage to others, and gathers fresh spirit
from their support, and he and they together may
become a host. Let every elector of Walsall act
in the great cause as if the entire abolition of the
bread-tax depended on his single vote, and success
will be certain.
The result will have a powerful effect on public
opinion, and the influence of public opinion over the
actions of public men is paramount. Of the latter,
the Morning Chronicle yesterday contained a me-
morable example. It announced the unconditional
discharge of SARAH YOUNG, unjustly and ille-
gally imprisoned at Montnouth, at the
.suit of one
Dr. LYLE, for tithes. No legal steps appear to
have been taken to procure her discharge ; but a
public meeting was held at Monmouth, at which
Dr. LYLE'S conduct was denounced, and the case
was warmly taken up by the public journals. Public
opinion procured her release. It softened the iron
hearts of ecclesiastical proctors, and shook the
well-braced nerves of an endowed parson. With
such an example before the men of Walsall, they
may be thoroughly convinced that the power of
public opinion is unbounded ; and if they, by
placing Mr. J. B. SMITH high above his antago-
nist on the poll, demonstrate to the whole empire
that the town population is resolved to support only
anti-bread-taxers, they will convince both the Mi-
nisters and the landowners of the necessity of abo-
lishing the bread-tax.
It has been over and over again proved in the
Anti-Corn-law journals, that the bread-tax annually
dooms hundreds, and even thousands of our people
to death by starvation. Every elector of Walsall
who votes for a bread-taxer makes himself acces-
sory to the deliberate, wilful, and cruel murder of
his countrymen. How can he look on the suffering
crowd around him, asking for bread, and give a vote
for a man who deliberately consigns them to misery
and death ? The bread-tax is emphatically the
poor man's question. It is also emphatically every
mother's question. The unenfranchised of Walsall
and the women of Walsall must attend to their
own interest, and prove, though they have no
votes, they have much power. Let them aid the
League, besiege the electors, and supplicate and
implore them not to consign them and their fami-
lies to misery and death by voting for a sugar-
taxer and a bread-taxer. If the non-electors do
their duty they may work on the humanity of the
electors, and contribute to the success of the Anti-
Corn-law candidate.
Let us in parting say a word to the League. I
invites the electors of Walsall to give an honest
vote, and return an anti-bread-taxer to Parliament.
To do that many of the electors may disoblige
landlords, customers, and friends. Let the League
then at once promise to do all in its power to pro-
tect and reimburse every elector who may be co-
erced and injured on account of his vote. Let it
immediately set on foot machinery for inquiring into
instances of coercion, and holding up the would-be
tyrants to public scorn. Depend on it the highest
men in the land writhe under the honest expression
of public opinion, and when the landlords and other
wealthy and influential persons at Walsall are well
convinced that they will be gibbeted in the public
Journals if they attempt to coerce the votes of the
electors, they will abstain, will leave them free, and
will not dare to take any dirty vengeance on a
tenant for the honest exercise of his right.
If the hints which we have thrown out be followed
up by those on the spot, we hope that the enthu-
siasm of the inhabitants may be kindled, and Mr,
J. B. SMITH elected by a most triumphant majority.

We have the greatest pleasure in laying before
our readers the highly-important news from China,
India, and Egypt, brought by the overland mail,
and occupying our columns of this day. There
required but this news to crown with complete

success the Oriental policy of Lord P- ALMERSTON.
A brief summary of the whole of this intelligence
precedes the longer details, which are not more

important than highly interesting.

The returns of the Revenue, which will he found
in another part of The Sun, are not so satisfactory
as we could wish, but quite as satisfactory as we
could expect. The scanty crop, with the high price,
of sugar, has limited the consumption of that
article, and of all other articles subject to excise and
customs duties with which it is used. A high price
Of corn, combined with low wages and lessened em-
ployment, has necessarily compelled the labouring
classes to content themselves with bread and pota-
toes, considering themselves well off if they can get
'enough of the coarsest food to support existence,
and has lessened the consumption of exciseable and
foreign commodities. The revenue this quarter
should, in consequence of the increase of tax-
wino, be much greater in amount than in the
corresponding quarter of last year, the custom
duties, however, are 398,399/. less, and the excise
duties 589,095 more. But we cannot forget that
the deficiency in the excise last quarter was attri-
buted to a peculiarity in making up the accounts ;
and that a considerable sum properly belonging to
the last quarter, must in consequence be reckoned in
this. The taxes being not easily escaped from
seem to have yielded the calculated increase, but
the excise and customs duties, which men can
easily shirk, have not answered the expectation of
die CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. The
worst feature we think of the whole is that, not-
withstanding the increase of taxation operating
:for seven months, the revenue for the whole
'ear is 254,000/. less than for last year.
'We are afraid, from these facts, that the
pros-
perity of the empire has attained
its extreme
'height, and that it is quite impossible for the people
t o continue to pay, as the Anti-Corn-late Circular
►tasteS, both the fund-holders' and the landlords' ta,
amr provide for the Government. Such a conditio'n
of tale revenue augments our hopes of the abolition
of the. bread-tax. One or other must be given up.
Eitimr that tax must be abolished, or the Govern-
mint, the expenses of which have been of late ne-
•eogsari, ly much increased, must give up its revenue.
In the
.present state of our foreign relations and of
tour pctipulation we do not believe it is possible
much. to curtail the expense of the State ; and the
concl usiori therefore we come to is, that the bread-
tax muji be abolished.

The ,retL•ement of Mr. LYTTLETON has en-
tirely ch anged the character of the election for
Walsall. IC is no longer a mere party contest be-
tween a I Vhig and a Tory, but a fair fight between

CHINA, 114,

AND

EGYPT.

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Blenheim,ho Tu7sne4ed,
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possible.l,oe
immediately, and that the Admiral will follow in a few
days ; that a Commissioner has arrived there from
Pekin of high rank, and of the blood Royal, for the
purpose of negotiating. I suppose it will take a few
months to get an answer from Calcutta, and perhaps
the Admiral will await the orders of Lord Auckland.
I really believe that all hostilities have ceased, but 1
very much fear that the business of bringing the nego-
tiations to a close will be protracted to a sad time by
the Chinese, if they are not dealt with in a proper
manner. It ought to be made their interest as well as
ours to bring matters to a speedy close, and then we
should all be on board ship fast enough. We shall be
very uncomfortable here in winter. Not a house has a
fireplace or the means of having one to give warmth.
EXTRACT OF A LETTER DATED CHUSAN HARBOUR. SEPT.
29, 18-10.—HON. COMPANY'S STEAMER MADAGASCAR.
" I sit down to write you a few lines to give you an
account of my trip up to the mouth of the Peiho, or
Pekin liver ; from this place we had a very fine run up
with fine weather, and arrived off that place on the 9th
of August, the squadron consisting of the following
ships :—the Wellesley, with his Excellency Rear- Ad-
miral G. Elliot, C.B. ; the Blonde, Modesto, Volage,
Pylades, Madagascar steamer, and the Ernaad and
Malcolm, with coals and provisions. On the 11th Cap-
tain C. Elliot, R.N., proceeded into the mouth of the
river in the steamer, with the boats of all the men of
war present, manned and armed, and on our arriving at
the bar the steamer anchored, and the boats proceeded
into the river with a flag of truce flying ; on their arri-
val off the forts at the entrance a mandarin boat pushed
off to them and received the Admiral's letter, and after
the expiration of six days, the time granted by his Ex-
cellency, a chop was received, stating the Emperor re-
quired ten days to consider, which time being agreed
to, the squadron proceeded to the different islands in
the Gulf of Pe-eke-lee to water and procure bullocks,
the Ernaad transport proceeding with them. They
succeeded very well in obtaining a supply, and returned
to the anchorage by the 27th of August, the day ap-
pointed, and the imperial chop was sent off to the ships,
and on the 30th an interview took place between Cap-
tain Elliot and Klie Shan, the Imperial Commissioner,
who is the third man in the empire, a Mandarin of the
first class, and red button, and ever since (that is, up to
the time of our departure from the Pieho, on the 15th of
September) negotiations have been going on, and, from
all we can hear, it is generally believed that the Pleni-
potentiary is to proceed to Canton to meet Kbe Shan.
and there to settle affairs, if possible. A portion of the
troops remainlto bold this!place until matters:are finally
settled. When the interview took place, Khe Shan, the
imperial commissioner, gave the party a splendid breakfast.
The Chinese Government are much alarmed at our
being in possession of Chusan ; they do not like our
being so near their capital, and they will endeavour to
keep us to the southward. The island of Lantao is
spoken of as the place most likely where the English
will be settled at, but the Chinese would prefer our not
having
any settleuent at all. They have offered to
punish Lin in any way the English propose. The
troops are very sickly at this place, and we are all
looking out for a speedy settlement of affairs. Cap•
tain Anstruther, of the Madras Artillery, was out
sketching a short distance front the city of Chusan, and
was seized by the Chinese and made prisoner ; he is
now at a place called Ningpo, and well treated ; the
authorities at that place have sent over to say they
have twenty more prisoners, but whom they can be
we cannot make out ; they say, if we will give up
Chusan, they will give up the prisoners. The Alli-
gator had a brush with them at Amoy, and returned to
this place ; the day after the affair 400 chests of
opium were sold at very high prices indeed-1,184 dol-
lars a chest, so it is said ; the Chinese come on board
the ships here to purchase, thinking we have conic here
to sell opium only, and they will have the drug at all
risks ; in fact, the smugglers benefit much by the war
and they hope it may last. Supplies of all kinds, in the
eating and drinking way are in great demand. The
Indian Oak was wrecked on the Loo Choo Islands,
crew all saved. The Niinrod man-of-war has.been sent
- . .
to bring them to this place, and is hourly expeeted.
When at Pe-che-lee, I went into the Peiho, or Pekin
River, with the steamer ; on our approach to the river,
the forts, two miserable affairs, were manned with Chi-
nese soldiers. We had a flag of truce flying, and a man-
darin boat came off to us. When we anchored about a
mile below the forts the whole of the beach was crowded
with thousands of the inhabitants to see the steamer.
They were quite astonished. The forts had three old
guns mounted on sand bags, but they never expected
that we should attempt to pass the bar, it being shal-
low. However, we managed to cross, and can say
we are the only European vessel, and steamer, in the
world that ever was in 'he river leading to the capital of
the Celestial Empire. Durine: our stay at Pe-che-lee,
we had a trip to the Great Wall of China with the
Admiral. The end conies down into the sea about
half a mile ! There is a fort on the end of it with a
large tower. It is one of the most stupendous affairs
I ever beheld. It appears about 30 feet high, and
about the same width. It has a watch7tower about
every mile on it. The land is very high in the vi-
cinity, some of the hills about 3,000 feet, and the wall
goes completely over the tops of the mountains, and
is seen as far as the eye can reach. It is impossible
to say anything for certain regarding politics, but it is
generally supposed the Chinese will come to terms.
Our stopping their trade entirely, and the taking Chu-
san and the barrier forts at Macao, bring the Chinese
Government into very low reputation with its own sub-
jects, and at this the Court at Pekin are much alarmed,
fearing a revolution may break out. All junks are
stopped and detained, but have in some instances been
released again ; the whole coast is now in a complete
state of blockade, but the inhabitants at Chusan ap-
pear to be coming in. Should our Government hold
Chusan it will be a place of much importar'co ; the
whole trade would be thrown in here ; the Pekin autho-
rities are well aware of this, and would rather do any-
thin than have a protracteu war. Under these circum-
stances, I think matters will be soon settled. I have
now given all the news that the time will admit of---the
signal was only made half an hour ago that the vessel
starts this evening, so I bring this to a close."

OVERLAND MAIL FROM INDIA.
(From the Times)
We have received by extraordinary express from
Marseilles letters and journals from Bombay up to the
Ist of December, as well as advices from Alexandria
to the 24th, and lettsrs and journals from Malta to
the 28th.
The intelligence from China is of the highest import-
ance—no less than the near settlement of the China
question.
Shortly after the capture of Chusan, 'Admiral Elliot,
in proceeding to the Peiho river, was met by a manda-
rin of the third rank of the Chinese empire, though some
accounts say by the Emperor himself, while others
affirm that Admiral Elliot had arrived at Pekin, and
had an audience of the Emperor.
The Emperor has agreed to pay 3,900,000/. for the
the expenses incurred by the British in making war ;
other authorities state 2,000,000/. sterling as indemnity
for the opium seized, and 1,000,000/. for the expenses
of the war. The Emperor, either himself or through
his officers, has expressed pacific intentions to the Ad-
mire', and he disavows the actions of his Commissioner
Lin. This latter, indeed, has fallen into disgrace, and
the Emperor offers to surrender him into the hands
of the British, to be dealt with as they may think pro-
per. Two Commissioners were to be sent either to
Canton or Ningpe, with full powers to negotiate a Treaty.
Chusan is not to be given up until the Treaty be
signed.
The above intelligence, which is up to the Ist of
October, was brought by her Majesty's ship Cruiser to
Calcutta.
No movement southward is expected from Chusan
before Oct. 15. The Admiral was to leave Chusan for
Ningpo in one of the steamers on Sept. 30. and the
Blenheim was warping out for the same destination.
The Emperor is greatly annoyed at our occupation of
Chusan, and bis Minister hinted " that the Admiral's
visit had prevented the march of fierce soldiers to re-
take the island."
The Malacca papers have got up a story, that ac-
counts have been received there that our ships-of-war
had taken the Boguc forts, and after forcing the pas•
sage of the Bocce Tigris had proceeded to Canton. It
is feared that this is not correct.
Great complaints are made of the unhealthiness of
•the mon in the expedition against Chusan ; the wea-
ther at this place is represented as cold and unhealthy.
Mortality appears to prevail. Captain Stean, of her
Majesty's 49th, had died. The fleet, however, was
plentifully supplied with provisions.
The intelligence from India is also highly important
Our extraordinary express from Marseilles received
this morning, brings intelligence from Alexandria to the
24th ult., on which day the Great Liverpool sailed with
the Indian mails. Her trip from Falmouth to Alex-
andria is the shortest on record—viz., 14 days and one
hour from port to port. 12 days and 11 hours only
were spent at sea. The plague had appeared in
Alexandria a month earlier than usual, and three deaths
had been officially notified. The Indian mails and 18
passengers were landed at Suez on the 18th
ult., and escorted across the Desert by a
guard of 60 horsemen furnished by the Pacha to
preserve them from the attacks of the Bedouin Arabs.
who had lately become hostile and dangerdus, seizing
the Pacha's stores, and attacking the pilgrims en route
from Cairo to Mecca. Ibrahim Pacha was still with his
army at Damascus, to which be had returned in ill-
health and beset by the mountaineers, hoping (it was be-
lieved) to avail himself of the Napier Convention to re-
turn to Egypt peaceably and by sea. Mehemet Ali had
again written to Admiral Stopford on the 21st ult., and
proposed to send another message to expedite the re-
urn of Ibrahim and his army. Sir Charles Smith
had arrived in the Hydra at Alexandria on the 17th
ult., and had an interview with the Pacha on the 19th
and placed the Hydra at his service to convey his des-
patch to Marmorica on the 22d ult. Sir Charles left
Alexandria in the Great Liverpool. Serious sickness
had prevailed at Acre. The storm that visited the
coast of Syria with such violence on the 2d and 3d
ult. had produced an alarming scarcity at Beyrout and
in the mountains, where the new Turkish Governor had
recklessly stopped the supplies of grain arriving, and
the mountaineers were again nearly driven into col-
lision with the authorities by desperation. No hope is
entertained that the Porte will be able to govern Leba-
non, now that the population is re-armed. Mehemet
Ali was still raising batteries and exercising his troops
incessantly, and had given notice to the National
Guards of Alexandria that they were to consider them-
selves his regular soldiers. At the same time he was
making preparations for the better cultivation of his
private estates, and had appointed his son, Said Bl.y,
and his grandson. Abbas Pacha, to be resident admi-
nistrators in separate districts.

CHINA.

(From another Letter.)
TINGIIAE, SEPT. 30.
! The Admiral has returned from Pcilio and the Gulf of
Pe-the-lee ; his reception is said to have been good,
and that the Emperor is anxious for peace. Lin is to
in' tried by some Chinese commission, and I have no
doubt will be sacrificed, They want us to give up
Chusan and to take Liman, opposite to Macao, and
they offer 2,000,000/. sterling in cash. The force it is
believed will winter here, all but a small detachment of
Artillery and one European regiment to accompany the
Admiral to Macao, where it is supposed peace will be
concluded. The troops are dreadfully sick ; quarters
arc taken, and they are to leave their hill, and conic
into town, when the rain ceases, which we have had
for some days. The Cameronians have lost 30
the 18th about 24, the 49th about 15, and the Vo-
lunteers 24, the Artillery only one man, but have been
more sickly than any ether. The Cameronians had yester-
day 545 men unfit for duty. This is a dreadful state
of things. This island has been drained of supplies, in.
stead of their being obtained from the mainland. The
Admiral goes to-day with Captain Elliot to Ningpo to
try and recover poor Captain Anstruther ( Madras
Artillery) and Mrs. Noble, Captain Noble, and the
crew of the Kite, who are all prisoners. The Viceroy
has written to say that they shall all be taken care of,
and invited the Admiral to treat, as the Prince's guar-
dian had been sent from Pekin for this purpose, as also
a relative of the Emperor. You will bear front Macao
the result sooner than we shall here. We have not
one shop open in the city, nor a single article of food
now to be purchased but from ships. Of paddy there
are thousands and thousands of maunds in the town,
but fresh meat is what we want for our men.
The weather is cool and
pleasant, but very damp.
It, however, has rained for some days• The scenery
is beautiful beyond anything- I have ever seen, and the
island is most richly cultivated, but John Chinaman
thinks to starve us, and that is not pleasant. Since
thi
writing this I am told that all the troops at present
here are to continue at this place until after the winter.
Parties varying from 50 to °OO men have been making
Two officers and four men on a foraging
frequent excursions in different directions, for the pur-
pose of discovering armed men, but have always failed.
excursion were
attacked, and with difficulty escaped ;
one Chinaman
killed, and several others wounded in the affray. Capt.
Anstruther, Madras Artillery, was carried away pri-
soner to Ningpo whilst making a survey of the country ;
the wife and family of the Captain since taken prison-
ers themselves. Sickness amongst the troops on the
increase, and deaths more numerous. The wreck of the
Indian Oak, off the Loo Chop Islands, crew and cargo
saved ; the natives there so kind, that on the Cruiser
being sent to bring them back they refused to coin', as
the natives were budding them a junk out of the wreck.
The capture of twenty Europeans, one lady, and several ,
Lasears at Ningr,a, reported to belong to the brig Kite,
since supposed to be the crew of some opium schooner
wrecked ; the assurances of the Ningpoites that they I
shall want fur nothing, and that they shall be given up
as soon as the island of Chusan is vacated. The arrival
of the Madagascar from Pe-che-lee with intelligence
that the Emperor is most anxious to treat, and offering
Lantao iu exchange for Chusan.
Several transports have been ordered to he in readi-
ness for sea, and it is supposed two regiments will be
sent to take possession of Lantao.
The following is extracted from the Malacca .Weekly
Register, but we believe there is no truth in it :
" We learn that a private letter has been received
at this settlement by a Chinese gentleman from his ,
friends in China, conununicatiag the important intelli-
gence of her Majesty's ships of war having forced the
passage of the Bocce Tigris, captured the Bogue Forts,

TI I i SUN LON1)0N, WE ON E'S ;MY, J A NI_TAR V

over whch the British ensign now floats triumphantly,
end gone up towards Canton. Tikis intelligence, if true,
will be the most decisive and important blow that has
been struck since the commencement of hostilities.
MACAO.
DEFEAT OF THE CHINESE.
(From the Canton Press, Aug. 8.)
On Tuesday last her Majesty's ships Druid, Calum-
bine, Larne, Hyacinth, and Nimrod anchored in these
roads, and left again on Thursday last, with the excep-
tion of her Majesty's ship Larne, the two former for the
Bogus and Capsingrnoon. the Hyacinth for the Broad-
way, and the Nimrod for Chusan. The reports which
we noticed last week as to their probable movements
have not been confirmed, but we hail the entering of the
Hyacinth into the Broadway as an earnest that the
blockade of the Canton river will henceforward be
strictly enforced.
It is with the deepest sorrow we have to announce
that a British subject has probably fallen into the hands
of the Chinese. Mr. F. Stanton, formerly tutor to the
sons of the late Mr. R. Turner, left his lodgings on
Thursday morning, as is supposed, about 5 o'clock, to
bathe in Casilla Bay, where he had made an appoint-
ment to meet with two friends, who, however, ou ar-
rival there, found him not, nor any traces of him. The
most probable conjecture is that, in consequence of the
rewards ()tiered by the Chinese authorities, for the cap-
turing or slaying Englishmen, he was, while on his way
to Casilla Bay, in the twilight of the morning, surprised
by Chinese and hurried away, and it is probable, at
least so we hope, now on his way to Canton, there to
be delivered over to the authorities for the promised
reward.