The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-16 00:00:00

A BRUSH WITH CHINESE PIRATES.

On January 11th the Algerine, British ship, on the
Chinese station, started in search of a missing French man-
ot-war. After a long cruise amongst the Chinese islands a
boat, with the letter "M" upon it, was found. As "Le
Menge" was the name of the vessel, this boat was pre-
sumed to belong to her. Finding a nest of pirates
on Tonqua, Islaud, Lieutenant Grey, Commander, attacked
them, and burnt four large soak) boats. The next day he
landed at another place and burned four more snake boats.
Nothing more was done until the sth inst., when just as the
Algerine was getting under way, with the intention of going
to 3.faca, two Chinese i❑ a small sampan hailed the gun-
boat, and informed the mandarin that they had only Just got
away from some pirates, who had captured theirjunk on the
north-east side of the island. The Algerine went round to
the spot where the junk was supposed to be, and on arriving
there Lieutenant Grey put a party of men into the junk last
released, and, proceeding on shore, soon found two junks,
from which the pirates ran away as soon as the Algerines came
up. Leaving a few men in the released junk, Lieut. Grey
pursued the fellows up a small creek, but the water soon •
became too slioally for him to proceed. The next morning
(Gth inst.) Lieut. Grey again went up the small creek with
his party. They had not proceeded very far, however,
before they observed men running before them as if watch-
ing their movements, and shortly after this the 'pilongs'
opened a smart and somewhat heavy fire from the front.
Sniders wore again called into recognition, and a few of the
rascals were seen to tumble over. The pirates, who were
evidently fighting for something good, wore bold enough
to advance on the little band of Algerines, but they soon
turned tail when a few more rounds front the Sniders had
been administered. The party and Lieutenant Grey then ad-
vanced up the creek, found some heavily-armed snake boats,
which were, of course, destroyed, and the party returned
on board the gunboat. This cruise of the Algerine has
perhaps been as fruitful as any which she has made. The
results have not been accomplished without much severe
work and danger.

It is stated that Mr. Traill, the Liberal member
for Caithness, intends to resign Lis sc at, and that the
Liberal party will bring- fo-ward either his nephew, Mr. J.
C. Traill, barrister, of London, or Si: J. G. 'l'. Sinclair, of

THE PRINCE AND THE PRINCESS OP
WALES IN TURKEY.

Se 'eras correspondents write giving some interesting
particulars of the visit of the Prince and the Princess of
Wales to Constantinople. The arrival of the royal party
and their visits to and reception of the Sultan have already
~een described. Among other incidents it is mentione
that their Royal Highnesses visited the bazaars incognito
and, after purchasing many articles, were surprised to
iind that the Sultan had given orders that no money
should he taken from them, but that he should be ere
lited with the full amount. But the great event of
,:he week took place when the British Arnhassadoi
and his lady gave a ball, which will long bt
remembered in Pera. This is described as a most mag
nificent affair. The Embassy itself, we are told, was deco
rated with an excellence of taste that could not well have
been surpassed. Outside, a gas illumination of a largt
Prince of Wales's feather, flanked on either side by
a crescent, and below by the letters "V. R.," shed
a flood of light from the entrance gateway, which,
I,ut for the double file of troops and police who
lined the way, and for the dense crowd behind them,
would have made every stone visible in the street down to
Galata-serai. Within, the avenue from the gateway to
the palace was lit by huge iron braziers filled with resi-
nous pinewood, which threw their murky light with most
picturesque effect on the crowd of rapidly moving chair-
bearers, cavasses, and Turkish servants who clustered
round the doorway. Here, under a canopy of
British bunting, that stretched far across the place,
a guard of the Ariadne's marines stood ready to
render military honours to to the illustrious guests of the
evening, Inside, the glass-roofed quadrangle was draped
with British, Ottoman, and other national flags, the royal
standard of England and the star and crescent inter-
changing in friendly folds across the opposite entrance to
the court, and above, pendent over all, the personal
escutcheon of the ambassador centring a banner of
red and white. The floor of the court itself was
richly carpeted and bordered all round, except at the
doorways, with a thick fringe of flowers and choice
exotic plants. The fine band of the Ariadne formed a
circle which nearly filled the eastern half of the enclosure,
while another strong detachment of her marines and
marine artillerymen double flanked the opposite end lead-
ing to the grand staircase. Here, again, on the first land-
ing, and up and all round the corridors, a further abundance
of the choicest plants, half hiding the many lamps which
lighted up the whole a giorno, perfected the floral decora-
tions. A very large company was assembled, including
all the diplomatic corps, and Turkish pashas in abundance.
The Sultan was received by the Prince and Princess,
attended by Mr. and Mrs. Elliot and Aali Pasha. The
Sultan gave his arm to her Royal Highness, while the
Prince similarly honoured Mrs. Elliot. Passing through
g-rooms, the royal party reached the georgeous drawin
the grand saloon, where a dais had been erected. Leading

the Princess to the dais, the Sultan sat down in the
centre chair, with the Prince on his right. After
a short pause a number of diplomatic presentations
were made, and then the dancing began, the Prince
opening the ball with the Hon. Mrs. Elliot, with
the Ambassador and the Princess for their vis-a-vis.
The dancing was kept up till after daylight. The supper
which had been given is glowingly described ; and it is
mentioned that up to the last, the Princess still seemed
wonderfully fresh, while the Prince was overheard to
declare himself "good for another couple of hours at
least." A second supper, or rather breakfast, brought the
ball to a close, the general company at once separating
after their Royal II ighnesses retired. The ball was with-
out comparison the most brilliant given within living
memory in the Turkish capital.
The opera was also intended to be a very grand
affair. Preparations—but preparations scarcely worth the
two thousand pounds which had been paid for them -had
been made to receive them. A royal box had been pre-
pared expressly for the occasion, and the exterior of the
theatre was illuminated with stars and crescents. Illumin-
ations, however, extended all along the Grand Rue of
Pera, the bamcks were lighted up, and soldiers guarded
the footway and the entrance. The opera was the " Afri-
caine," but it scarcely deserves mention.

A CHINESE MANDARIN IN THE WORLD

OF PARIS.

The Paris correspondent of the Post has obtained an
nteresting document. The mandarins in Paris are
collecting valuable information, and being men of no
ordinary intelligence, it is curious and interesting to hear
their remarks cn what they see around them. Mr. and
Mrs. Burlingame and the natives of the Chinese mission
have given a grand ball, at which what is called " all Paris"
assembled. One of the mandarins has written home an
account of this fete, and the correspondent has been
favoured with a translation of the hieroglyphics, and is
permitted to publish the same. Some of the facts and
objects conveyed were drawings, the basis of the language,
the origin of those horizontal and perpendicular lines
with which we barbarians are made familiar
by tea chests. The letter commences :—" To my
honoured and well-loving brother at Pekin, from
his affectionate Te-to-Tum,—My thoughts are borne
with wings and arc constantly taking flight for Asia, and
now I send you some sheets of written tracings. Be
happy !
How shall I begin ? Our mission, all of us, have
•
been well received by the powerful Emperor, by the
Empress, by the mandarins of the bamboo stick or
Government." The eating characteristics of the French
nation first came under criticism. "We have dined," he
says, "at their tables, where the stomach is expected
to receive with pleasure , some thirty different
objects of food, and perhaps ten different liquids.
The French and other foreigners eat until they feel very
uncomfortable, and require much medicine drugs, as may
be seen by the many chemists' shops of this city. They
have the same capacity as our pigs. Had you been here the
other night and observed bow these people rudelyscrambled
for the food at the supper table when we gave our fete !
They put their hands violently on the dishes and disputed
with each other most roughly." This leads to some remarks
on European manners. "The civilisation of these Chris-
tians is far behind ours in manners. We shall have to teach
the most polite people of the world,' the French,
the very elements of good breeding ; we shall also
have to correct their vanity and selfishness. I have
witnessed much rudeness at the palace of the Tein-tsye,
or Emperor's home, where balls and suppers are given
also. Our rooms would permit 500 men and women to
circulate with case, but we invited 2,000, because to
make fashionable people in Paris happy you must make
them uncomfortable by crowding, them thickly. They do
not wear fans, and look hot and sulky ; this originates, I
think, in their wearing light boots, and gluttony. The men
generally are very ignorant. The women look at each
other with envy and jealousy. The best-mannered
people are the waiters and the servants ; the
best dressed people the footmen. Heaven forbid
that we should import any French social habits."
The women, also, and the marriage system, come in for
great denunciation. "Oh ! if you had seen the women at
our ball. They came half undressed ; that is to say, the
upper part of the body was wholly exposed, but they are
jealous of shewing their feet, and seem to desire to hide
the floor also, as each woman drags about with her a long
robe, on which it is not etiquette to place your shoe. Their
eyes arc painted round (not all of them), and they use
colouring for the lips and a pearl powder for various
exposed sections of the frame. They purchase the hair
of the dead, and artists work it into various designs;
then the women put it on their heads with flowers; and
yet they are not a dirty people. The high caste women
are allowed every license. At our fe'te they were clasped
round the waist by men they knew not, and danced with
painful vigour, for it was hot. These females go about
the streets alone, and at the age of 15 have lost all
modesty. The immorality of the men is deplorable.
Whereas we have the one mother wife and the two or three
'travelling wives,' these French have no limited number
of wises. With us all the wives live together, but the
Frenchman's wives live in different houses, thus causing
great immorality and expense. Society is a puzzle
you can never put together and look at as a whole. The
travelling wives get all the jewels and best things." The
religion is criticised. " The religion of the Christians is
mainly used for form's sake ; few believe in its divinity in
the mandarin class, but no one dares express their
infidelity. Why should not their missionaries remain
at home and convert their own people. Never, I hope,
shall we import English and French commercial
immorality. Here great banking mandarins combine
and get together millions from the pockets of the people.
They then make the company bankrupt, and retire with
their riches without the bamboo correction. These robbers
are at Courts, wearing the Legion of Honour. Here in
England the small thief alone is punished. We have very
little to learn from the barbarians of Europe excepting
their mechanical inventions. God forbid that we should
import their man ners and customs. They have much to learn
From us, especially in manners. I must finish my written
3peech by telling you this civilisation is now mainly en-
gaged in inventing warlike instruments, which will enable
people to kill each other to extermination. 'Unhappy
men ! why are you not satisfied with frightening, each

other?"

On Tuesday it became widely known in Birming-
ham that Mr. George Solomon, who has carried on business as
George Solomon and Sons, 61, Coustitution• hill, in that city,
Lad absconded. Late last Friday he was release I from War-
wick Gaol, where he had been confined for debt, and it is
believed that he sailed on Saturday from Liverpool fcr Ame-
rica. A large number of forged bills manufactured by Solo-
man have been put into circulation, to the amount, it is be-
lieved, of at least £t,500 or £2,000. The forgeries aro on
several well-known Birmingham firms, the losers being Fin-
lu,:a? UO0111012!