The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-16 00:00:00

Once for all, that a considerable portion of the island is
of tie trap formation, which abounds with escarpments
wherever it is met with ; hence the common occurrence
of waterfall;. Granite occurs with it in Hong-ko• g, and
there is an enorrncus block in the delta wi:it-sh rests
upon several other lesser blocks, as if art, net ❑ature,
had been concerned in giviag it a station. The highest
part of the island has two or three lofty peaks, hi•:h is
another feature very closely connected .with the trap
formation.
11,:tween the anchorage and the delta there is a wide
and tclera'dy eve❑ slope, which is laid out in cultivated
fields and gardens. It ascends for a good distance to-
wards the medial ridge of the island, but at length ends
in a curious glen, on the borders of which huge boulders
lie strewed in the wildest confusion, while all the inter- i
spaces are filled up with vegetation in a high state of
luxuriat ce. On this slope foreigners might find build-
ing plots after having pensioned off the present tenants
of the toll, who would be glad to exchange their scanty
mode of living for one of greater amplitude.
In the arrangement lately made with the Chinese,the
harbour of Hong-kontg is expreisly mentioned as a part
of the indemnity for the wrongs which that people have
inflicted upon es. Whether that part of the Chinese
territory which intervenes between a range of hills and
the margin of the lend forming the northern -side of
the harbour be comprehended in the minds of those
who formed this treaty, it would not be easy to con-
jeeturc. A practical cession, however, of that portion
of ti,e mainland will be the result of a sett:ement,
whether Captain Elliot and his friend Kcshen thought
of it or not. This region is very desirable as a locality,
since it is composed of plains, hills, glens, and valleys,
interchanging in a most agreeable variety. In this place
are stones and excellent granite for building and paving,
which, as labour is cheap in China, may be bad on easy
forms. To this place Chinese merchants, who traverse
their own empire in quest of speculations, would flock
from all quarters, and thus, in a little time, give rise to
an emporium, which, for great commercial transactions,
might rival even Ningpo or Han-chow. The Tartar
authorities would find fault with this, but that would
be a matter of no consequence, as it is our business to
command, theirs to obey. The policy of the Tartars,
so successful sometimes in little things, but so mise-
rably deficient in matters of any magnitude, will soon
give us not pretexts, but cogent reasons for advancing
upon the Chinese territory, and of taking care that Lin,
Keshen, and the rest of the hypocritical brood of di-
plomatists, shall not for the time to come starve, poison,
kidnap and cajole British subjects for their own pastime
and amusement.

Whether Flung-kong be worth our acceptance, as an
equivalent for the injuries sustained by our commerce,
time, that unfolds error, will prove. There is no rea-
son why we should be very anxious about it ; if a man
of spirit and sagacity be appointed to govern the new
settlement, he will find ample means and most season-
able opportunities for consulting the mercantile interests
as well as the honour of this country. If the island is
not large enough, he will find plenty of room upon the
main ; if Chinese customhouse officers come to levy
inconvenient duties, or to impede the current of busi-
ness, he can dismiss them at the shortest notice ; and
if Government cruisers prowl about and harrass the
poor native in his progress to the settlement, they may
be sent to the bottom of the sea with the least possible
amount of labour on our part. And labtly, should not
this he found an eligible situation after all, we can adopt
another ; who will say us nay ?