The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-20 00:00:00

TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC OF GREAT

BRITAIN.

I may be accused of presumption in thus addressing
you, but when the nation is about to be plunged in a
disgraceful and expensive war, which must cast a re-
proach on the name of Christianity throughout the
world, it becomes the duty of every individual, however
humble, to raise his voice against it.
It is now too notorious to require entering at large
into the subject, that the guilty traffic in opium grown
by the East India Company to be smuggled into China,
at length compelled the Chinese Government to vindi-
cate the laws of the empire, which prohibit its introduc-
tion, and to take decisive measures for the suppression
of the traffic, by the arrest of the parties concerned in it
at Canton, and the seizure and destruction of the opium
found in the Chinese waters.
It is also well known that the Superintendent of the
British trade (Captain Elliot), so far compromised his
official character and duty as to take under his protec-
tion one of the most extensive opium smugglers, and
thus rendered himself justly liable to the penalties to
which they were obnoxious ; and at the same time gave,
as far as was in his power, the sanction of the British
nation to this unrighteous violation of the Chinese laws.*
The following fact, however, is not so generally
known :—An individual, now in this country, who has
acquired immense wealth by this unlawful trade, has
been in communication with the Government, and his
advice, it is presumed, has, in no small degree, in-
fluenced the measures they have adopted, though he is
a leading partner in a firm to which a large proportion
of the opium that was destroyed belonged, and e.t the
very time he was claiming compensation, or urging a war
with China, his house in India was sending armed ves-
sels, loaded with opium, along the coast of China, and
selling it in open defiance of the laws of that empire.
It is well known that double pay has been given to
some parties engaged in hastening and accompanying
the armament to China, and that at our arsenals the
Sabbath has been employed to expedite the completion
of the required instruments of destruction ; and besides
the addition to our taxation for the increase of the army
and navy, the price of tea has advanced more than Is.
3d. per lb., which, on the annual consumption of the
kingdom amounts to upwards of two and a half millions
I sterling, chiefly paid by the working classes.
This information was some time ago communicated to
the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on authority
which he did not and could not dispute, with the names
of the vessels and the parties concerned, the number of
chests of opium on board, the enormous profits they
were realizing, &c.

It is possible that the Government, and even a ma-
jority of Parliament may resolve to trample upon laws
human and divine, in slaughtering the peaceable inhabi-
tants of China, and thus cast a deep stain upon the
Christian profession, which time will never efface. But
you who claim more than a name to Christianity have a
duty to perform. Remember that your property must
contribute to defray the large expenditure for the sup-
port of this war ; in which a nation of upwards of
300,000,000 of people, who have been at peace for aees,
arc now to be attacked and murdered by Christian Bri-
tons, because they endeavoured, in the most legitimate
manner, to enforce their laws against Englishmen, who
persisted in illegally introducing the most deadly poison
into their country, by which the lives of tens of
thousands of their people were annually destroyed.
A wholesale carnage, which it is frightful to contem-
plate, has already begun, I and surely the disciples of
the Prince of Peace cannot be held guiltless if they are
silent on this occasion. Is it not the duty of every one,
of whatever religious denomination, solemnly to protest
against such a war as this, although net prepared with
me to condemn all war as forbidden under the Christian
dispensation ; and if our legislators treat your remon-
strances with contempt or indifference, the people of
China may hereafter learn that it was not the disciples
of Him whose doctrines the missionaries have preached
who are engaged in their destruction, but a party in
power, who, though professing the name, possessed not
the spirit of Christianity.
May the blessing of the Most High rest upon your la-
bours in opposing this iniquitous war ; but should He in
His inscrutable wisdom permit it to proceed, and should
the blood of murdered nations be hereafter visited upon
us, in just retribution, may you possess the consoling re-
flection, that these crimes and calamities of your country
were evils you could not avert.
I am very respectfully,
JOSEFH STURGE.
Birmingham, 3d month, 18th, 1840.

s Sec Thelwall's " Iniquities of the Opium Trade," and
King's " Opium Crisis."
t The advocates of this war urge as its justification the
conduct of the Chinese, to which they have been driven by
our violation of their laws; but every candid man will ac-
knowledge the absurdity of this plea, even if their alleged
facts were proved.
Several of the Chinese junks have been sunk ky the
cannon of the British ships, and about 900 of their people
are said to have been destroyed on this occasion.

His Royal Highness the Duke cf Cambridge
yesterday honoured the establishment of Messrs. Hodgson and
Graves with a visit, to see Hayter's grand historical picture of
the Coronation, with which his Royal Highness was pleased to
express the greatest approbation. The Princess Mary accom-
panied his Royal Highness.
The accouchement of the Duchess of St. Al-
bans is expected to take place at Holly Grove, Highgate, where
their Graces are now staying.
The Dowager Marchioness Conyngham has
arrived at Hamilton-place, from Bifrons, Kent, for the season.
The Marquis Conyngham, and his eldest sor, Lord Mount-
charles, have arrived at Gresham's Hotel, Kinston, en route
to town, from Slane Castle.

The Nlarchioness of Ailesbury left Grosvenor.
square on Thursday, on a visit to the Earl and Countess of Car•
digan at Deene Park, their seat in Northamptonshire.

Lord and Lady Albert Conyngliam and family
are staying at Alickelham Hall, near Dorkin4., where they will
remain until alter Easter. Her Ladyship is still in delicate
health.

The Marquis of Douro is about to break up his
establishment in Belgrave-street, preparatory to leaving town
with the Marchioness fur Strathfieldsaye, wnere they purpose
staying a month and then go to Scotland, on a visit to the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Tweeddale, at Yester House.
The Lord Bishop of Lincoln has purchased an
estate at Riseholme, in Lincolnshire, for the purpose of becom-
ing the permanent episcopal house of residence of the Rev.
Prelate and his successors, instead of the present episcopal
Palace at Buckden, in Huntingdonshire.
The Earl of Catdigan has let his splendid man-
sion in Carlton-gardens, which was occupied last season by
Prince Louis Napoleon, to Mr. Spcttiswoode, and has re-
sumed the occupancy of the family residence in Portman-
square, adjoining Earl Beauchamp's.
Baron Rothschild is expected to arrive at
Mivart's Hotel to-morrow, from Paris.
Tho Marquis of Lansdowne had a dinner party
yesterday at Lansdowne House.
FIRE AT MARLEY HoUsE.—Soon after the
arrival of he Bath mail, last evening, we were informed by a
gentleman (who received the intelligence from the guard) that
Marley House, near Brent, the seat of the Dowager Lady
Carew, was on fire. On the arrival of the Nonpareil coach,
we learnt that the house was in one mass of flame, and that the
servants connected with the establishment had hastily informed
the passengers that there were no hopes of subduing the confla-
gration.—Plymouth Journal.
Lapo: to has set off express for St. Ntersburgh
to conclude a negotiation into which he has entered with the
incomparable Taglioni, who is now performing with eclat at
the Imperial Tlyzatre in that capital. Ii the mission of the ma,
stager should prove suceessful, the celebrated danseuse will ap-
pear at her Majesty's Theatre soon after Easter.