The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-03 00:00:00

CHINA.

BOMBAY, APRIL 21.
It appears that Keshen, the Imperial Commissioner,
though apparently invested with full powers to treat with
us, delayed the execution of the Treaty which he had
concluded with Captain Elliot, till he could obtain the
Emperor's cenfirmation of it. The Imperial Cabinet,
imperfectly acquainted with the emergency of
circumstances, has rejected the treaty, and de-
termined on war. Four Imperial Edicts have
been received, breathing hostility and defiance to the
English, ordering that since " rebellious disposition of
the foreigners have thus become manifest nothing is left
but to exterminate them." Instead of yielding an inch,
by paying down the price of the- opium, or granting them
a landing place, the Emperor describes the English " as
having rebelled against heaven and opposed reason."
" They are," says lie, " like _dogs and sheep in their dis-
position. It is difficult for heaven and earth any longer
to bear with the English, and both gods and men are in-
dignant at their conduct." " I have heard," says the
Emperor, "that four months past they have debauched
men's wives and daughters, made captives, carried away
property, 'built forts, opened water courses, and set up
a counterfeit public officer, who issues proclamations,
ordering the people to pay the duties. In sleeping or
eating I find no quiet."
The blood of the Tartar rulers is excited by their
enormities. Keshen is ordered to be delivered over to
the Board of Punishment ; still, however, retaining his
command ; and the Admiral Kevan, though descended
from the god of war, is to lose his button. Troops have
been ordered to proceed with all speed to Canton. Flying
orders have been sent to the provinces of Honan-Aghe-
zen and Kwei-Chow, to proceed immediately to Canton ;
also flying despatches to Kean-Se, to forward the two
thousand troops already stationed in Kan-Chow for
Canton ; and it is calculated that in the second moon of
the year all the troops in succession may arrive at Can-
t.m.3' Keshen is ordered to exhort and stimulate the
soldiers to advance with valorous daring, and to be the
foremost in battle, for it is absolutely necessary " that
the rebellious foreigners must give up their heads, which,
and the prisoners, are to be sent to Pekin in cages to un-
dergo the last penalty." The fate of Anstruther, and his
unfortunate companions appears to be sealed.
Captain Elliot, finding that the negotiation had thus
been broken off, seems to have roused himself from his
lethargy.

On the 25th the Bogue forts were attacked, and taken
without the loss of a single man killed or wounded on
our side. The casualities amongst the Chinese, though
not ascertained, are believed to have been great. A
thousand prisoners were taken, who were immediately
liberated.

According to the last accounts which reached us to
the Ist March, Captain Elliot intended immediately to
proceed to Canton, and, it is said, that Keshen had in-
vited the foreign Consuls to mediate between him and the
English. Thus fell to the ground all the flaming assur-
ances of Captain Elliot, that the negotiations were pro-
ceeding most auspiciously. Thus are annihilated, at one
blow, all the flattering promises held out by the Minis-
terial organs at home of a speedy and satisfactory ad-
justment of all differences.
. _ .

Of all the wars in which we have been engaged in the
East, this is likely to be the most troublesome.
The circumstances which have transpired cannot there-
fore fail to produce a radical change throughout the
whole empire ; had the Emperor quietly acceded to the
treaty, which after all, we fear was more disgraceful to us
than to him, the lofty pretensions of the Tartar dy-
nasty, and the exclusiveness of the Cabinet, might have
appeared in the eyes of his subjects to be still inviolate.
But the feeling of hostility which he has manifested will
necessarily force us to more extended operations. We
must make up our minds either to give up China and its
trade altogether, or force the Emperor into concessions
at the cannon's mouth.

The Bombay Gazette concludes by severely condemn-
ing the Government at home for its want of foresight and
bad management of the Chinese question. It is of opi-
nion that nothing effective can be done in the campaign
which is about to open.
Letters from Singapore, of the 19th March, received
by the ships John Adams and David Malcolm, state that,
on the 25th of February, the island of Chusan was given
up to the Chinese. These ships bring to Calcutta the
Bengal volunteers, Captain Elliot. in his wisdom, having
ordered their return when he was flattering himself
Keshen was behaving honestly. The other transports
with the European troops on board went fortunately to
Hong Kong, where they will be required ; whether the
volunteers are to go or return was not yet decided.
Chinese goods have risen considerably in price, and
junk teas are up from 61 Spanish dollars to 81 and 9.
An American gentleman, lately from Canton, tells
us that the- city is doomed to the flames if we spare it.
He says there are 200,000 Chinese starving in the
neighbourhood for want of employment, who are as
ready to sack the place as our sailors are.
A letter from Rangoon of the 18th of March, pub-
lished in the Hurkaru of the 12th of April, says that
a " French officer leaves this day for Calcutta, and is
said to be the bearer of a letter to the Governor of
Bourbon and the King of France from his Burmese
Majesty. It seems he has daily interviews and audi-
ences with his Majesty.
No symptoms of receiving a British Resident at Court
had yet been exhibited by his Majesty. The turn that
affairs may.take after the Court knows of our situation in
China remains to be be seen. The Palace is rising as if
by magic, though there is yet no preparation for rebuild-
ing the testroyed stockade.