The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-30 00:00:00

L9NDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1856.

Another Eastern difficulty ! They come thickly
upon us. Not only have we a Persian war, but
once more we are opposed to the Celestial Empire ;
the authorities whereof seem to have considered
that the proper period had arrived for insulting
n.,‘ A ltreating the Western 14
have been thought that they had quite enough of
domestic strife, and that the intestine commotions
which have deprived the "Brother of the Sun" of
so many fair provinces would have proved quite
sufficient for the most pugnacious potentate. But,
to use the language of the P.R., the present re-
presentative of the Mantchoo dynasty is " a very
glutton" in the reception of punishment." Like
the enthusiastic admirer of Smithfield in the good
old times, he has been " tossed many times, and
likes it." De gustibus n-on est disputanclum. There
is no arguing on taste, and if he is determined t•
have it, why he must get it, and no mistake !
We are happy tol say that on this occasion no
blame can be attached to the representatives of
Great Britain. Throughout the entire transac-
tion they displayed the utmost forbearance. A
gross and unwarrantable outrage was inflicted on
the British flag. The explanations temperately
demanded were contumeliously refused. The
Chinese Governor would neither return an answer
to the remonstrances of the English Admiral, nor
even grant an interview, although urgently re-
quested so to do. His instructions from head-
quarters
must have been particularly strin-
gent, when he remained insensible to argu-
ments which his countrymen generally treat
with extraordinary respect. Even a bombard-
ment was insufficient to bring him to a proper
sense of hie situation. It is by no means impos-
sible that the same inspiration which stimulated
the Court of Teheran might also have influenced
that of Pekin ; and that the notion, so industri-
ously inculcated by Muscovite agents, that the
British prestige had waned before the CZAE, en-
couraged both Sovereigns to the acts of aggression
against Herat and the lorcha, or small coasting
vessel, sailing under the British flag. No alter-
native, however, remained. Whatever the exciting
cause, the insults should be promptly and effectu-
ally repelled ; and it is gratifying to be enabled
to state that the Consul and the Admiral proved
themselves equally sensible of the honour and
interests of their country.
The initiative was taken by the " Celestials" on
the Bth of October. On that day a lorcha, under
the British flag, while at anchor of Canton, was
boarded by a Chinese force and twelve of the
crew seized. Our Consul forthwith proceeded cn
board, but he " preached to deaf adders." His
remonstrances were despised, and he was himself
grossly insulted and threatened with personal
violence. Ho appealed to the Governor-General,
YR; but with no better result. Thirteen days
were uselessly expended in trying to overcome
the proverbial obstinacy of the long-tailed aristo-
crats of the " flowery land."
At this stage of the proceedings, " words" and
" tufts of grass,' having proved ineffectual,the Con-
sul bethought him of trying the efficacy of stones, and
accordingly Admiral SEYMOUR was appealed to.
The gallant sailor gave further time, fur it was
not until the 24th, 16 days after the outrage,
that " the forts of Canton were taken and several
of them destroyed." It was hoped that this
salutary lesson would have produced a change in
the mandarin's mind. But no-; he was still per-
versely obstinate,
refusing to grant either satis-
faction or an interview. Accordingly, on the 27th,
fire was opened on the city walls and on Ych's
palace. The walls were breached and stormed on
the 29th, and the troops penetrated to the
Governor's Palace, with the trifling loss of 3
killed and 12 wounded. They were afterwards
withdrawn (for what reason is not explained),
and on the 3d and 4th November the old city was