The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-12 00:00:00

CHINA NEWS.

BOMBAY, MARCO I.—My last letters informed you of
the resignation of Admiral Elliot, arid the continuation cf
negotiations down to the 18th of December. It was men-
tioned then that operations were expected to be corn•
menced before the end of the year. The hope proved
too sanguine. Those who looked for decision where
Captain Elliot had to determine foredoomed themselves
to disappointment. About the 25th December, as the
enemy would not be induced to violate the blockade, the
ingenious device appeared to have occurred to
our Plenr-
potentiary, that he had better do sometsing in this
way himself, and so a couple of American ships, which
went up at the commencement of the blockade, and
loaded themselves whilst it was impending, were permitted
to pass out with cargoes, in defiance of all the usages of
war. By the 6th January Chinese impudence and pro.
crastination had outrun even Captain Elliot's patience,
and on the 7th Sir Gordon Bremer was permitted
to take matters in hand. Some insigsificant fort, strongly
manned however, about a mile and a half lower down the
river:than the principal castles themselves, were attacked and
battered, while a powerful force, taking them on the land-
ward side, from a point whence they were completely can-
nonaded, committed fearful havoc, haring slain from 500 to
700 of the enemy. About the same time the junks lying
in the river were burnt, blown up, or taken, by the Ne-
mesis steamer, whose performances in shallow water, and
terrific rocket practice, made her seem to the Chinese the
very incarnation of the evil one. On the following day
(Bth January) her Majesty's ship Blenheim, and the
steamers Queen and Nemesis, took up a position off the
great Bogue fort, and the two latter vessels commenced
throwing shells. The enemy, panic struck at the very
appearance of our vessels, particularly at the infernal Ne-
mesis, who seemed as if she could go anywhere, 2nd do any-
rhisg with impunity, set off scampering the morne;:t We
b panto fire, and in all likelihood, with hilt an hour's steady
bombardment, our men might have marched round by the
r.,ar of the forts, where they were perfectly unprotected,
and marched into those strongholds without meeting a
single Chinese opponent. Before this was attempted
however, a change of measures was in view ; the cal
governor entreated a cessation of hostilities, as well he
might, till Kcshen should be consulted as to what was
next to be done; a chop was sent off by some old women
in a ranhe-boat, and the signal of recal was immediately
hoisted on board the Commodore ! We had done all the
mischief, and perpetrated all the slaughter that was neces-
sary, and stopped short when the price of et!l our labours
was within our gasp. The Chinese authorities cared
nothing for the loss of 500 of their countrymen. A glo-
sing despatch to the Emperor will get over all that.
Whereas the only thing that could not be got over, which
Iwas really calculated to inspire awe, could not be concealed.
The capture of the impregnable Bogue fort, for which all

our labour hhd been thus expended in vain, was re-
glected at the moment when it was fully within
the power of attainment. From the Bth to the
20. b, negotiations continued to be carried on betwixt the
British and Chinese Plenipotentiaries, when Captain Elliot
issued the seesaw circular, which we hope will long remain
a document unique in the annals of British diplomacy,
announcing that the preliminary arrangements were con-
cluded. The substance of the Treaty is, that we shall cede
Chusan, and all the other places we have occupied on the
Chinese coast; that in lieu thereof we shall receive the
small island of Hong-kong, in the Canton river, and be
paid an indemnity cf 6,00 u 000 of dollars (about 11 million
sterling) between this and the year 1846 ; that we shall
trade with China on a footing of equal+ty, and forget and
forgive all that is past. The value of British property
seized by the Chinese sinc.e May, 1839, is about double the
whole amount of the indemnity demanded; and ii,as has been
currently reported,only a very small part of the opium seized
was actually burned, the remainder being kept in case of
what might happen, they, the Chinese, have made a first-
rate bargain—they may, possibly, have cleared in bright
Sycee some million sterling by the transaction I Whilst
John Bull will find himself greatly out of pocket, and his
flee: and army stripped of some thousand men, and baf-
fled in every thing they have attempted to achieve, though
matters may be placed on a footing considerably worse
than they ever were before. All this is on the supposition
that perfect good faith is observed on the part of the Chinese
But what do we next find ?—after accepting terms so fa-
vourable for China, so disgraceful for England, Captain
Elliot takes good care that the fulfilment of these shall be
lel. entirely to the chivalrous hocour of the Chinese them-
selves. Long before the Union Jack can be hoisted over
Hong-kong, it is ordered to be sti ipped from the flag-staff of
Chumpee and Ty-kok-tow as quick as lightning When as
yet not one single atom of the Treaty could have been com-
pleted, a frigate is sent off to order the instant evacuation
of Ci:usan ! The expedition, in fact, is now understood to
be collecting in all haste to quit the shores of China,
without as:.ring a single guarantee for the fulfilment of the
Treaty, or remaining in a position to chastise perfidy, sti-
mulate reluctance, or compel the honest fulfilment of what
nas been promised. Would we have dreamed of treating
the most high, candle:, and chivalrous nation in the world,
within reach of our arms, with the confidence which we
have manifested towards toe most mean, cruel, and per-
fidious, at the distance of mm P than hat! the earth's cir-
cumference removed from us? The intelligence here
given, the details of which will be found amOngst the ex-
tracts from the Indian newspapers, has seen received with
one universal shout of loud, unmeasured, And um, 'leviable
indignation.