The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-29 00:00:00

BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males ...
Females ...

Total ... ... ... ... ... 1,523
*ln this number are included 17 by Scarlatiga, 4
by Typhus Fever, and 20 by Diarrhoea.

VISIT OF THE REYNARD TO LOO-CHOO.
(From the China Mail, Nov. 28.)
For the substance of the following account of the
recent visit of the Reynard to Loo-choo we are in-
debted to a correspondent, who will see that we have
taken some liberties with his communication.
Her Majesty's screw-sloop Reynard, Commander
Cracroft, arrived at Shanghai on Monday, the 14th
of October, having left the greater Loo-choo island
four days previously.
The object of her visit to Loo-choo was to convey
a communication to the authorities from the British
Government, respecting the treatment of a medical
missionary, J.B. Bettelheim, M.D., for four years a
resident on that island.
Dr. Bettelheim is a converted Jew, a native of Hun-
gary, but a naturalised British subject,* and was sent
out as a missionary physician by a committee of naval
officers, under the designation of the Loo-choo Mis-
sionary Society.
With great missionary zeal and overflowing good-
ness of heart, Dr. Bettelheim is somewhat peculiar
in his views and conduct. Partly on this account,
Probably, the local authorities of Loo-choo have all
along regarded him with distrust, and the little
favour which at first he received was altogether with-
held after the marked disrespect shown to him by
Sir Thomas Cochrane during his visit in 1846, when
the Admiral declared to the authorities of Loo-choo,
who suspected the doctor of having political objects
in view, that he did not recognize him as an English-
man or a British subject. After this the authorities
gradually assumed a more inimical aspect, until at
length they prevented the otherwise friendly people
from holding intercourse with him, latterly even for-
bidding the sale of provisions, and thus rendering
him and his family dependent for subsistence upon the
scanty rations daily supplied by the police.
Repeated complaints having been made to the
British Government it was arranged that a man-of-
war should occasionally be dispatched to look in upon
Dr. Bettelheim at Loo-choo, in order to afford him
the countenance of the Government by whom he had
been adopted t
On the pre sent occasion Captain Cracroft was or-
dered to touch at Loo-choo on his way to the north,
and was instructed to intimate to the authorities that
the British Government took an interest in Dr. Bet-
telheim, and would view with displeasure any attempt
to expel him from the island by a system of persecu-
tion or annoyance.
The Reynard anchored in Napa Harbour on the 3d
October, and remained a week, during which time
two or three interviews were held with the native
authorities, both on shore and on board. It was
deemed expedient to exclude Dr. Bettelheim from all
share in the negotiations, and the Bishop of Victoria,
who was on board on his way to the northern ports
(assisted in interpretation by his Chinese amanuensis
Chun-chung, a Latin as well as a Chinese scholar), is
stated to have contributed materially to bring about
the good results which it is hoped will follow from the
firm yet conciliatory tone adopted.
At the first interview, held on the sth October,
pretexts were assigned for the absence of the chief
authorities, but Captain Cracroft having partially de
livered bis instructions, demanded an interview with
the Viceroy the next day but one, and it ultimately
took place on the fourth day. At this last interview it
was deemeed advisable for the officers of the Reynard to
appear in full dress, attended by a guard of about 50
men, who were marshalled opposite the guard of
the mandarins. The various complaints by Dr. Bet-
telheim were made the subject of conversation, and
explanatory papers were exchanged ; but it was
judged better to limit the proceedings as far as pos-
sible to the delivery of the intimation from the Bri-
tish Government, inculcating the necessity of better
treatment of Dr. Bettelheim, amongst whose com-
plaints one of the most serious seems to have been
an assault on him by some police whilst engaged in
his missionary duties.
At the termination of the negotiations presents were
exchanged, and the Viceroy and other mandarins, in
return for their hospitality, partook of an entertain-
ment on board the Reynard. She was the first
steamer that had been seen there, and though it was
evident her arrival had made a considerable impression,
her departure was probably regarded with entire satis-
faction.
The appearance of the country about Napa is de-
scribed as very beautiful ; the fields were well culti-
vated, there is an abundance of wood, and the roads
leading to Shuidi, the capital, four miles distant from
Napa, are very broad, and have a macadamised ap-
pearance.
The people appear very friendly and well-disposed
towards foreigners, and but for political jealousy,
Loo-choo might possibly become a place of much re-
sort and traffic. We learn from some of the parties
present on the occasion above mentioned, as a proof
of the dread the people have of the Government, that
the public slaves or coolies could not be induced to
accept the dollars offered them even secretly in pay-
ment for their services as chair-bearers and porters ;
such being the course invariably inculcated by the
Japanese towards foreigners.
Loo•choo is stated to have been raised to the
dignity of a kingdom by one of the Chinese Em-
perors of the Ming dynasty, from 300 to 400 years
ago, during a war between China and Japan, when
the former sought to detach it from the interest of
the latter. In token of vassalage, a biennial
ship is dispatched with tribute to Fuh-chau,
the capital of Fokien province, to which place
the Loo-chooan scholars resort for education, the
Chinese being the polite language of the country ;
but the commonly spoken language, the physiog-
nomy, customs, and habits of the Loo•chooans are
decidedly Japanese, and the influence of the Japan
Cabinet directs all the official appointments of the
local government. It was probably the first instance
that has occurred for centuries, when recently, as we
are informed, the Japanese authorities at Loo-choo
co-operated with the Chinese Government, so as to
induce Seu, the Imperial Commissioner, to urge her
Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary to remove Dr.
Bettelheim by force.
The people generally are agriculturists, living
principally on pulse and sweet potatoes. There are a
few horses and buffaloes on the island, which is about
50 miles long by 20 wide. The people, though
outwardly free from the appearance of destitution,
are said, nevertheless, to be sunk in the lowest
poverty. The Government, as proprietors as well
as feudal lords of the soil, appropriate to them-
selves about one-half of the produce, which is dis-
tributed for the support of the officers and literati,
who, as the dominant class, live a life of in-
dolent affluence, and form about one-fifth of the
whole population. The hair is worn in a peculiar
tuft on the head, fastened by two pins, which are of
silver in the higher orders and of brass in the
lower class. A simple robe of coarse grass cloth,
fastened by a girdle, is the dress usually worn.
Whatever object the British Government had in
view in thus throwing the shield of its protection
over one of its adopted sons, it may be doubted whe-
ther the ends of the Christian mission will be perma-
nently advanced by such intervention. Indeed,
we understand that the Bishop of Victoria, who
has now had personal opportunities of learning
the true state of affairs, entertains grave doubts as to
the propriety of the mission being continued under
so many adverse circumstances. Dr. Bettelheim is
supported by a body of naval philanthropists, to whom
'
alone he is responsible • still, the advice and' opinion
of the Bishop will doubtless have considerable weight
with them.
* It is of course on the ground of his being a British
subject, that our Government now interferes in his be-
half. How he, a Hungarian born, became entitled to
claim the privilege, we do not know certainly, but pre-
sume that, as he was a sailor in his youth, he may have
served on board a British ship of war, and thus become
naturalised under the provisions of the Act 6 Geo. Iv.
cap. 109, sect. 16, 17.

IMPORTATION OF BRANDY.

The following numerous and large importations of
brandy have recently- taken place from France :
The vessel Active, from Charente, brought 29 pun-
cheons, 668 hogsheads, 304 other casks, and 600 cases;
the Charles Souchay, from Charf-nte, 63 puncheons,
250 hogsheads, 216 other casks, and 72 cases; the Ame-
rica, from Charente, 80 puncheons, 280 hogsheads, 473
other casks, and 207 cases; the Breeze, from Charente,
100 casks and 23 cases; the Royal Sovereign, from Cha-
rente, 75 puncheons, 523 hogsheads, 252 other casks,
and 371 cases; the Salem, from Charente, 64 puncheons,
667 hogsheads, 307 other casks, and 550 cases; the
Margaret, from Charente, 121 puncheons, 230 hogsheads,
120 other casks, and 120 cases; the Eleanor, from Cha-
rente, 67 puncheons, 100 hogsheads, 140 quarter-casks,
and 60 eases; the Hero, from Charente, 65 puncheons,
365 hogsheads, 376 smaller casks, and 219 cases; the
Champion, from Charente, 88 puncheons, 649 hogs-
heads, 310 smaller casks, and 523 cases; the John
Rickinson, from Charente, 59 puncheons, 440 hogs-
heads, 114 smaller casks, and 50 cases; the Claret, from
Bordeaux, 416 cases; the Orion, from Charente, 57
puncheons, 604 hogsheads, 201 smaller casks, and 350
cases; the William Joliffe, from Havre, 100 packages,
the Gypsy, from Bordeaux, 11 barrels, and 362 cases;
the Crescent, from Charente, 88 puncheons, 250 hogs-
heads, 286 smaller casks, and 538 cases; and the Hope,
from Charente, 119 puncheons, 435 hogsheads, 260
smaller casks, and 83 cases, with numerous other ar-
rivals to a less extent; the whole the produce of France.
The collective value of these numerous large cargoes
of this esteemed description of spirit, with the high duty
leviable thereon, must be very considerable.

FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE

OF TUESDAY.

DOWNING-STREET, JAN. 27, 1851.

The Queen has been pleased to re-appoint Sir Charles
Augustus Fitz Roy, Knt., to be Captain General and
Governor-in-Chief in and over the colony of New South
Wales, and to appoint him to be Captain-General and
Governor-in-Chief in and over the colonies of Van
Diemen's Land. Victoria, and South Australia, and to
be Governor-General of all the colonies of Australia,
including the colony of Western Australia.
Her Majesty has further been pleased to re-appoint Sir
William Thomas Denison, Knt., Captain in the corps
of Royal Engineers, to be Lieutenant-Governor of the
colony of Van Diemen's Land, and Sir Henry Edward
Fox Young, Rot., to be Lieutenant-Governor of the
colony of South Australia, and to appoint Charles Joseph
La Trobe, Esq., to be Lieutenant-Governor of the
colony of Victoria.
FOREIGN- OFFICE, JAN. 27.

The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint
Lieutenant-General the Earl of Westmorland, G.C.8.,
now her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary at the Court of Berlin, to be her Ma-
jesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten-
tiary at the Court of Vienna.
The Queen has also been graciously pleased to ap-
point Rear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, Bart., and
G.C.8., now her Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary to
the Swiss Confederation, to be ber Majesty's Envoy
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the
Court of Stockholm.
The Queen has also been graciously pleased to appoint
Arthur Charles Magenis, Esq., now acting Minister
Plenipotentiary at the Court of Vienna, to be her Ma-
jesty's Minister Plenipotentiary to the Swiss Confede-
ration.
The Queen has also been graciously pleased to ap-
poin the Hon. Henry George Howard, now Secretary to
her Majesty's Legation at the Court of Lisbon, to be
Secretary to her Majesty's Legation at the Court of
Vienna.

NAVAL MEDALS.
ADMIRALTY, JAN. 25.
Three years and seven months have now elapsed since
notice was first issued by command of her Majesty, in
the Gazette of Ist June, 1847, requiring all persons to
make application who should consider themselves quali-
fied to receive a medal for their services during the late
wsrs, as therein specified.
Although above 17,000 officers, seamen, and marines,
and soldiers serving as marines, have, after investigation,
been declared qualified, it is supposed that some claims
may be still outstanding:
My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty therefore
direct, that all remaining claims, under the Gazette
notices of Ist June, 1847, Ist June, 1848, and 11th
February, 1850, be brought forward without loss of time;
and notice is hereby given, that no claim will be taken
into consideration unless it is submitted before the Ist
May next ensuing.
By command of their Lordships,
J. PARKER.