The Sun.
London, England, 1840-06-08 00:00:00

T "

A Novel.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.
To be had at all the Libraries.

THE NEW HISTORICAL ROMANCE.
Just ready, in 3 vols., post Bvo.,
OLIVER CROMWELL;
AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE.
Edited by HORACE SMITH, Rsq.
Author of " Brambletye House," &c.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street.

HULL NEWSPAPERS.
Parliamentary Return of Stamps for the Quarter
commencing the Ist Day of January, and ending on the 31st
Day of March, 1840.
HULL ADVERTISER
Ditto. Supplement 1,650
Hull Packet lO,OOO
Hull Times
Hull Rockingham

HIS MAJESTY the EMPEROR of
AUSTRIA having AUTHORISED and GUA-
tANTEED several DISTRIBUTIONS of MONEY
PREMIUMS, which (though they are NO LOTTERIES)
offer many pouibilities of obtaining
LARGE FORTUNES,
HEINE BROTHERS, at HAMBURGH,
are NOW SELLING SHARES for the said DISTRIBU-
TIONS. Persons desirous to purchase, may receive, PRE-
VIOUS to giving anv order , the PROSPECTUS and PAR-
TICULARS, upon addressing WITHOUT DELAY, a line
to HEINE, BROTHERS, at HAMBURGH.
P. S.—THE NEXT DISTRIBUTION contains
SEVEN HUNDRED MONEY PORTIONS,
Amounting to £72,170 Sterling.
The Smallest Portion is £5O,
And the largest Portion is £25,000.

DAVIDGE'S ROYAL SURREY THEATRE.
Immense Novelty for the Holidays—Now Pieces with New
Scenery, Dresses, and Appointments.
THIS EVENING, JUNE 8,
ill be acted as entirely New Domestic Drama, by the Author
of " The Life of a Woman," entitled
THE FACTORY B )Y; OR, THE LOVE SACRIFICE'
Supported by the entire strength of the Company.
After which a New Comic Drama, called
JACK AN!) HIS NINE WIVES.
Jack, Mr. Saville.
To conclude with, not acted here these Two Years,
THE OLD OAK CHEST; OR, THE ROBBER'S
DAUGHTER AND SMUG GLER'S SON.

GRAND FASHIONABLE
PALACE OF NECROMANCY.
(Late ST. JAMES'S BA Z AAR, ST. JAMES'S-STREET.)
Regan:,e, Fashion, extreme Splentionr, intellectually inpro-
_ _ _ _

spective View of the World of Magic !
The Great WIZARD of the NORTH respectfully informs
the Nobility and Gentry, that he has fitted up the above estab-
lishment in a style of splendour unprecedented, and on WED-
NESDAY, JUNE 10th, he will commence a series of MORN-
ING and EVENING EXHIBITIONS of Mechanical, Gal-
vanic, Magnetic, and Electric Necromantic Spectacles of Won-
der, and he relies on their patronage for a continuance of that
support that has hitherto distinguished his metropolitan career
at the Strand Theatre.
Grand Fashionable MORNING PERFORMANCES

EVERY DAY.
Doors open at Half-past One ; Commence at Two o'Clock
precisely.
Classically Elegant Fashionable EVENING ENTERTAIN-
MENTS un MONDAY and FRIDAY EVENINGS.
Doors cpen at Half-past Seven ; Commence at Eight o'Clock
precisely.
Reserved Seats, 7s. 6d. ; First Circle, ss. ; Second Circle, 2s. Gd.
The Wizard will be happy to attend the Private Parties of
the Nobility and Gentry, or give Instructions in the art "Ma-
gigue," on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
WHIT MONDAY, TUESDAY, and THURSDAY.
Second Week of the PROMENADES MUSICALES, and
CARTER'S EXTRAORDINARY " LIME LIGHT."
First Performance this Season of Handel's Sublime " Hailstone
Chorus."—ERUPTION OF HECLA, with new effects
and increased splendour ! !
On MONDAY, TUESDAY, and THURSDAY NEXT,

June Bth, 9th, and 11th,
The unrivalled Band of this Establishment, composed en-
tirely of Ike most distingui,hed Instrumentalists in London,
and conducted by Mr. Godfrey, will give Three Grand Pro-
menadem Musicales et Champetres, including the new and much
admired Melange from " Robert the Devil," and the celebrated
Grand Chorus, 1. Ho gave them Hailstones," from " Israel
in Egypt."
During the day the unequalled Menagerie, and vast Pano-
rama al Fresco of the BURNING MOUNTAINS of ICE-
LAND, by Damson; between the Parts of the Concert, the
new and intensely interesting Tableau d'Action of Perils and
Adventures in the Frozen Seas; Mr. H. Carter's wonderful
Koniaphostic," brilliantly illuminating the whole Gardens,
from One Minute Central Light! ! and at Dusk the
ERUPTION OF MOUNT HECLA ! !
Admission, One Shilling.
Feeding Hoar of the Carnivora, Five o'Clock.

HIGH WATER. AT LONDON BRIDGE TOMORROW.
Morning 18 minutes alter 9. 1 Evening 47 minutes atter 2

The Publication of the Evening Edition of TEE SUN COM.
mowed at 10 minutes after Three.

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LONDON:
MONDAY, JUNE 8, 1840.

Important intelligence from China, seventeen
days later than the last arrivals from the coast of
the " Central Flowery Land," will be found in
another part of The Sun. The Chinese Govern-
ment, not content with cutting off our trade " for
ever"—not satisfied with the utter exclusion of our
merchandize, by whomsoever imported—has deter-
mined so to limit the exportation of tea as to render
it impossible for other nations trading with China
to supply us at any cost with that useful and ne-
cessary commodity. In the progress of events
in the Celestial Empire, so far ,as regards the
quarrel with England, we can trace the pe-
culiar character, and extremely limited views
of the Pekin cabinet. The Emperor and his
Ministers evidently made no allowance for the ex-
tmeme distance of England, or for the time it would
take for vengeance to travel from the shores of
Britain to the Yellow Sea. Finding that Captain
ELLIOT was unable to offer any effectual resist-
ance to the first act of aggression, the Celestial Go-
vernment concluded that it had achieved a com-
plete victory, and determined to follow it up by
measures of the utmost severity. The noise made
by the thunder of its edicts inspired it at every re-
petition of the sound with fresh courage. To
such a height had this self-exaltation and all-suffi-
ciency of the Chinese Government grown, that the
question of cutting off all trade with Europe and
America, was mooted in the councils of the
EMPEROR. Perhaps this was only a scene
got up to frighten the consuls and merchants
of other nations at Canton, by giving
them a foretaste of what they might expect
in the event of their presuming to take part with
England. But, whatever might be the motive,
the Chinese Government was greatly elated with
the success of its experiment against the English—
so much so, indeed, that on the 12th of February
an Imperial Edict arrived at Carlton, commanding
the local authorities to deliberate whether all fo-
reign traffic might not safely be put
an end to at
the provincial city ; and if they resolved in the
affirmative, at once to abolish the trade and drive
out the foreigners without further consulting the
Imperial will.

This intelligence demonstrates the absolute ne-
cessity of placing our relations with China upon
an entirely new footing. It was understood at
Canton that the British Government had delegated
to the Governor-General of India the power of
conducting all future negotiations with the Celestial
Empire. We entirely approve of this measure.
The distance between England and China is too
great ; the obstacles to a direct intercourse between
London and Pekin are too numerous and insur-
mouniable; and our knowledge of the actual state i
of things in China from year to year too limited, to
permit the indulgence of a reasonable expectation
that negotiations with China could be conveniently
or safely carried on by the most wary 'Arinister sit-
ting in Downing-street. Even ford AUCKLAND
we think, will not fail to perceive that Bombay is
too remote from Canton, unless the British r e si-
dents are protected by a strong naval force, and
have secured to them the possession of one of the I
islands at the mouth of the Canton :firer. It will i ,

not do to allow the Chinese to play over again the
game of 1839—t0 paralyse trade and confiscate
property at their pleasure. They mist be com-
pelled, in trading with civilized nations, to observe
the general laws which regulate the commercial in-
tercourse of other States.

The Imperial Commissioner LIN has been re-
moved from the Governorship of Canton and ap-
pointed Governor of the two Kwang provinces.
The Commissionership was only intended to be
temporary, and LIN'S new appointment shows that
the EMPEROR entirely approves of his conduct.
To have appointed him regular Governor of Can-
ton would have been attended with a diminution
of his powers, and this would have been regarded,
both by the people and the Minister himself, as a
disgrace. A further proof of the EMPEROR'S
approval of the conduct of lAN is afforded by the
fact that the Canton authorities are to take no step
with respect to the foreigners without consulting
the ex-Governor Extraordinary. The late Go-
vernor TANG was spoken of as likely to be re-ap-
pointed as Ordinary Governor in the room of LIN.
This appointment will not displease the opium-
dealers. TANG, during his late Government, was
one of the most notorious opium-smugglers in
China.

Since the above was written, the following highly
important additional news has appeared in a Third
Edition of the Times :

" Intelligence by the India mail of the 30th of
April has reached us by express. All was still
warlike. The Emperor of China had ordered the
suspension of all trade with foreign nations, and had
(riven to Lin a discretionary power to act without
waiting for further orders from Pekin.
" Several attempts had been made to burn the
British ships, but had failed.

" The British forces embarked at Madras on the
16th of April. The date of the latest intelligence
from China was the 13th of March."

We print, from the Votes of the House of Com-
mons, the petition which Mr. WARBURTON pre-
sented on Friday evening, from Mrs. ROBERTS,
describing the treatment which her husband has
received in Fisherton Gaol, and praying that the
House will interfere to procure his release, or pro-
cure for him treatment agreeable to the common
and ordinary rules of humanity. Mr. ROBERTS
is a solicitor, and was convicted of sedition in last
March, for attending public meetings near Trow-
bridge. He was sentenced to two years' imprison-
ment, and to find security at the end of the term in
the sum of 1,0001.
His wife alleges that his offences were of a most
venial character, yet she was not allowed to speak
to her husband previous to his incarceration. Why,
the worst felon in the land would not be refused
that privilege. She was abruptly refused, too,
as if passion dictated infliction of the cruel
privation. An application to leave with him a
great=coat, he being in weak health, and accus-
tomed to wear that garment, was next refused.

For several weeks his wife had no correspondence

with him, and a motion made before the Magis-
trates that he should be permitted to correspond
with his family was allowed to drop, and the relaxa-
tion was determinedly opposed. He was,
however, subsequently allowed to write once
a week, under the surveillance of the gaoler,
on the subject of his children's education, and his
wife was allowed to answer him. His hair was
cropped, like that of felons ; his clothing and
money were taken from him ; and he is limited to
the prison diet, bread and gruel. He is confined
in a separate cell, and when he goes out to exercise,
the silent system is enforced on him. Books are
refused, even those necessary for his profession ;
and this man, so treated, labours under a pulmonary
complaint.

Mr. CARRIER, convicted of the same offence, was
sentenced to hard labour—hard labour for a politi-
cal offence. A great deal has lately been written
and said about the severities exercised towards some
Italian gentlemen by the Austrian 'Government,
they having been accused of engaging in a secret
conspiracy to throw off the Austrian yuke ; but
they were not subject to greater indignities than
have been inflicted on Messrs. ROBERTS and
CARRIER. The silent system, hard labour, the
head shaved, are now, it appears, the punishments
in England for political offences of a trifling cha-
racter. These persons are not conspirators ; they
shed no blood; their utmost guilt consisted in de-
nouncing an unjust law, in bold, indignant, and
perhaps very unjust language.
But there is a worse feature in these punish-
ments than their cruelty. At the period when most
of those trials for sedition took place we felt our-
selves constrained to observe that juries were impli-
cated in the dispute. The meetings concerned cer-
tain political questions, on which all men took dif-
ferent sides, such as the exclusive privileges of the
enfranchised, and the establishment of universal
suffrage. They were looked on with very unneces-
sary horror by juries, and in many cases we have
no doubt verdicts were given which, though legally
correct, were substantially unjust. But the same
apprehension and the same terrors which were felt
by the jurors were shared by the magistrates, and
we are afraid that severe punishments were the off-
spring of vindictiveness. That such a mischievous

passion can in this country and in this age, with
all the safeguards which a public press and a public
administration of the law can supply, find its brutal
gratification by means of the instrumentality of
the law, that great contrivance to protect men
against the effects of such passions, is for us a more
serious evil than the personal cruelties which never-
theless deserve the severe reprobation of all reflect-
ing and humane men.

Some similar indignities and cruelties practised
on the Poles by the Emperor of RUSSIA, who is
a law to himself, have roused the indignation of all
Europe. Public meetings have been held, and no
j bounds have been set to the vituperation justly
heaped on the laws and practices of the Russians.
Similar, but not worse, indignities, and for offences
not more venial, inflicted on men with skins of a
sable hue, kindled the just and holy zeal of our
humane and Christian people, and they rested not
till the Negroes were rescued from the partial tri-
bunals and severe punishments of the West India
planters. But an indignity, clothed with the name
of law, and a cruelty, sanctioned by the forms and
technicalities of our Courts, and supposed to be
necessary to preserve the present distribution of
political power, or to secure society against some of
those changes which nature has decreed to be the
inevitable lot of every society, though growing
from vindictiveness, are practised without a shadow
of repugnance by the very men who loudly denounc-
ed similar conduct in the 'West India planters, and
in the Muscovite CZAR. That such practises are
u
sanctioned by our enlightened
c nto
ofry menthe
because they are inflicted in the name
law, acd according to its ordinary forms, shows I
that we are all liable to be so treated, for
the instrument of protection is made the meani of
annoyance. We know that it is a common opi-
nion, that what the law ordains must be reverer-
tially submitted to, but justice is of far higher au-
thority than the law, and when the law coinmands I
or inflicts what is unjust, to reverence its decrees
is not a duty but a crime.

that we were
We observed, on this day week,
afraid that there are many such cased as that of