The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-29 00:00:00

M grid

LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1846,

A striking contrast is visible in the Indian and
Chinese intelligence received by the overland Calcutta
mail. The numerous disturbances which had latterly
threatened much bloodshed in the territories sur-
rounding the British possessions have all been al-
layed, while the tranquillity which had recently been
remarkable upon the frontiers of the Celestial Empire
has been signally interrupted. These circumstances,
however, merely furnish us with an additional proof
of the uncertainty of Oriental affairs, of the impossi-
bility of calculating either upon the obedience or dis-
obedience, the friendship or enmity, the pacific co-
operation or the bellicose antagonism of our Eastern
neighbours.
It is satisfactory to perceive that the portent' of a
sanguinary campaign in the Cashmerian valley are
altogether dissipated. By the determination evinced
on the part of the Governor-General to cause the
various stipulations of the treaty of Umritsir to be
fulfilled, and by the alacrity with which the English
forces abetted the Maharaja GHOOLAB SINGH in his

operations against the rebellious Sheikh EMAUM-OOD

DEEM, the latter has been reduced to a compromise,
and the domination of the former has been ensured.

Matters indeed have assumed so propitious an aspect
in this quarter, that there is every reasonable pro-
bability of the entire withdrawal of our troops from
Lahore before the commencement of the approach-

in,g January. Until then the victories achieved under the
immediate command of Lord Gooch, the judicious
policy of his Excellency Lord HARDING E, the slaughter
of Ferozeshah, the fortunate prowess of Aliwal, and
the murderous charges of Sobraon, will have been
comparatively ineffectual. Their triumph will not
have been consummated until our soldiers have
evacuated the subdued dominions. That period pro-
mises to be simultaneous with the commencement of

1847. Besides the pacification of Cashmere, there is
another cause for gratulation to the inhabitants of
India in the settlement of the differences which had
hitherto estranged the Dewan of Mooltan frum the
Durbar of Lahore. MOOLRAS has not merely con-
sented to liquidate all those debts owing to the
Durbar, from the postponement of the pay-
ment of his tribute to that Government, but
he has likewise submitted to many additional
exactions. He has quietly yielded up one-third of
the country heretofore under his solitary influence,

:o the command of a newly-appointed ruler. Be

yond this, the Dewan is henceforth required to pay
a tribute of 25 per cent. above that previously de-
manded. The thirst for warfare, the readiness for
insubordination, and the loathing of anything like
political servitude on the part of the lesser chief-
tains, appear to have considerably diminished. Those
who formerly contrived to be turbulent are now,
like the weaver in Midsummer Night's Dream, " roar-
ing like any sucking-dove." Their spurious valour
has evaporated—their independence has been ex-
changed for the most complete subserviency—their
obstinate defiance of authority has been followed by
their utmost submission to their more formidable
antagonists. From insolent rebels they have dwindled
into obsequious parasites. Nevertheless, what is thus
degradation to such men as the Dewan MOOLBAJ and
.the Shiekh Eataum-oon-DEEN, is comparative happi-
ness, because positive tranquillity, to many thousands
of the Oriental race.

While these fortunate changes have been taking
place.in Lahore and the adjacent principalities, a sin-
gular and somewhat unfortunate disturbance has
occurred upon the boundaries of the Celestial Empire-
This'disturbance, which has keen long brewing between
the Portuguese resident at Macao and the indigenous
Chinese, has at length broken out, and has excited no
little attention and originated no little inquiry. Those
children of the Brother of the Sun who live within
the above-mentioned settlement have perpetually
opposed the authority of his Excellency the repre-
sentative of MARIA DA GLORIA. With an amusing
jealousy they have refused to obey any one, raving
their own Mandarins. On the other hand, the
Portuguese Governor, Senhor JoAo MARIA PER..
IZEIIIA no AstARAL has regarded himself as
or,• invested with a serious and imperative
responsibility. lie has looked upon himself
as the conservator of local prosperity, the guardian
of local rights, and the source of local juris-
diction. The sanatory condition of the inhabitants

of Macao, their mercantile necessities, their ma-

nicipal privileges, their social organisation, have pos-
sessed for his Excellency a peculiar interest, and have

all, more or less, led to some exhibition of his provi-
dence. In proportion, however, to the interference of
the Governor, so have the passions of the
Chinese residents increased in intensity ; whenever the
former has issued a decree, the latter have striven,
with the greatest earnestness, to render it ineffectual;
whenever the former has imposed a tax, the latter
have endeavoured to evade its payment. In this
manner the Governor issued an order, requir• ,