The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-18 00:00:00

CHINA.

The following is from the China Mail of Decem.
ber 30 :

The London mail of the 10th November arrived
here on the 27th inst,

The most important intelligence of the fortnight
comes not from China but from Japan, where trade
has been suspended by the native authorities, but
with the approval of the British Consul-General,
on account of the improper conduct of some of the
British residents there, and because of outrages
committed on Japanese by drunken sailors. Mr.
Alcock, our consul general, is distinguished by
great caution and by even a timid regard for the
good opinion of the local communities in which he
has been placed, so that it is improbable that his
severe circular, has not been more than warranted
by the circumstances of the cases. In it he asserts
that inquiry into murders committed lately on
foreigners in Japan, "marked by circumstances of
great atrocity and vindictiveness," and into alleged
insults committed by Japanese officials, " has only
tended to prove how much foreigners, in a marked
degree, have themselves to blame for so deplorable
a state of affairs." Sailors from ships of all
nations have been allowed •to go about on shore
intoxicated, offering violence and insults to
respectable Japanese ; and Mr. Aleock even
asserts that the permanent foreign residents have
given just cause for complaint by violent or inde-
corous conduct to native officials as well as to
others. The consul-general says that British mer-
chants at Yokohama have made " insane demands"
on the Japanese authorities, " often with menace
and violence," while there has been procrastination
and want of system on the part of the Japanese. In
the desire to purchase gold coins, on which there is
a profit of nearly 100 per cent., demands have been
made on the Japanese treasury in violence of the
Treaty regulations, under fictitious, often indecent,
names, and for fabulous sums which no language
can express. In addition to all this, there appears
to have been smuggling going on. It is not pos-
sible that the interests of legitimate trade in Japan
(which can only be slowly developed), and the hon-
our of England in the East, should be suffered to
be perilled by such proceedings as these.
The personal relationships of foreigners in Eastern
Asia is a subject on which little has yet been said,
but it is one of great and increasing importance, for
personal insults are rarely forgifen until they are
avenged in blood. They often exercise a very wide
influence on the progress of public affairs. The
conduct of the French at Tien-tsin last year, both
towards women and respectable Chinamen, had no
doubt a good deal to do with the determination of
the Chinese Government to close the Peiho against
foreign ships of war ; and when, as happened the
other day at Macao, some of the crew of an Ameri-
can ship entered a :respectable merchant's house
and caused the ladies to flee, we can easily under-
stand what ongoings there are in more distant
places, where there is hardly any appeal to the
public opinion of the civilised world. On this matter
the Indian mutiny has held up a terrible warning,
which appears to have been almost lost.

The deficiency of the rice crop is now telling on
the price of that necessary of life, and much suffer-
ing, if not even famine, is anticipated.
From Shanghae there is no news of any interest
except an ominous interdiction of (Roman Catholic)
missionaries travelling in disguise. This is grounded
by the Chinese on there being " a crisis in military
operations," which should not be laid open to spies.
Faint rumours of hostile preparations are still
heard.

The first ship with emigrant coolies for the West
Indies has already been dispatched, containing a fair
proportion of women and children ; and another
will soon be sent almost entirely filled with families.
A very fair idea of the knowledge which many old
English residents here (who never mingle with the
natives) have of China, is that they at first ridiculed
this scheme, and declared that not a single Chinese
family could be got to emigrate.
At Canton last week there was a conflagration in
the commissioners' yamun, which destroyed a great
part of it. A new hoppo has been appointed ;
and the customs service, after having to undo two
or three false steps, seems to be settling quietly
down as a settled and important institution.
On the evening of the 27th and yesterday morn-
ing there were two fires in this town, but neither of
any importance. The work of cutting an easy path
up to Victoria-peak, and erecting a sanatarium and
flag-staff up there continues to be carried brisklyon.
His Excellency the Governor proposes also to have
a summer bungalow upon it for his own use, and if the
experiment turns out successful, as there are many
reasons to hope it will, next cold season may see the
erection of a email town on and about the peak. We
regret to hear that the sisters of charity propose to
remove from this and locate in Macao. They have
been of much use here in administering both to
sick foreigners and Chinese, and in training up
infant children. Some annoyance has been caused
in Victoria by house property being assessed at
enormously high rates, much beyond its value or
the actual rent paid.

COMMERCIAL.
HONG KONG.
Business at Hong Kong has comparatively been at a
stand in consequence of the want of stock.
Cotton continues neglected in this market.
Yarn is lower, and there is little, if any, demand for low
numbers.

Piece Goods.—There has as yet beon barely time to test
the market with the piece goods brought out by the two
vessels above named. Small parcels have changed hands.
Six and a half catty grey shirtings are quoted at 2 dole. 65c.
White shirtings are unchanged.
Woollens.—Long ells are much wanted. llll.searlet
would readily command 12 dols., and assorted 10 dols.,
and H-goods Il dots. 50c. and 9 dole. 50c. respectively.
Exchanges has declined considerably since our last.
CANTON.

Business is extremely depressed. The new Custom
House officials seem to do their work well, and without
unnecessary impediments to trade.
Cotton as compared with last mail, occupied a much
worse position. The sales of the fortnight are 860 bales
only, the stock amounting to 13,000 bales. inclusive of the
quantity in the river.
Yarn has declined fully 2 dols. per picul, and as far as
low numbers are concerned is for the time unsaleable.
Piece O. oods.—Grey shirtings have experienced a marked
improvement. The stock is, however, small, and will soon
be exhausted. White shirtings are unchanged.