The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATUR DAY EIVENI NIG, MANY 29, 1858.

of the succession of treaties and ruptures,
perpetually alternating with each other. The
sword has no sooner been beaten into a plough-
share and the spearhead into a reaping book
than the process has to be reversed inconti-
nently. The gates of the Temple of JANUS
are kept continually in vibration. There is not
much fear for the world of its armour rusting
when hung up at any partial or general epoch of
pacification. " And so from hour to hour we
ripe and ripe—and so from hour to hour we rot
and rot, and thereby hangs a tale." Upon
this as upon every other mystery of human ex-
istence SHAKSPERE has been volubly prophetic.
Yet undeniable though the truth is here referred
to—it was realty not so very long ago when not
a few amongst us were dreaming dreams of soma
possible arcadia, of some proximate Millenium.
Free Trade, according to some of its more in-
fatuated votaries, was not simply to dissipate a
monstrous system of monopoly, but was even to
inaugurate what the Laureate has designated the
Parliament of Nations, the Federation of the
World. We were to have an end of war. Forty
years' European tranquillity had so accustomed us
to peace that we were supposed to have, every one
of us, forgotten all our old bellicose propensitie,.
There was held under a palace of glass a factious
gathering of representatives of all the motley race
of man from the east and the west, and the north
and the south, wearing all the garbs, speaking all
the tongues, having all the varied complexions of
the great human family. Scarcely was the great
assemblage, however, scattered back again to the
four quarters when the day-dream was abruptly
dissipated. There was a groat war in Europe—
armies and fleets were gathered together—thou-
sands and tons of thousands were destroyed.
And when this last great Europea❑ conflict was at
length terminated in the fulness of time, the
belligerents awoke once more to the repetition,
each in turn, of their old dead and gone grievances.
England, of these, has certainly had her share—
with a vengeance. Conspicuous among her old-
new evils in this way being, beyond a doubt,
two evils that have still to be brought to a satis-
factory termination—All Indian War and a
Chinese War. Happily, neither her military
nor her maritime forces have ever been in more
perfect readiness for any emergency. Wherefore,
with a man like Lord ELGIN at the head of out
diplomatic negotiations with China, and with a
soldier like Sir Corms. CAMPBELL leading our
valiant troops against the rebel soldiers of Hiu-
,
dostan, we are justified iu looking forward hope-
fully in both directions, with the aid of heaven
—remembering that GOD helps those who help
themselves.

LATEST NEWS.

THE OVERLAND MAIL.

INDIA.

We have received our despatches from India and
China by the overland mail, via Marseilles.
The Calcutta advices by this arrival come down
to the 22d, and those from Madras to the 28th, of
April. Our letter by the Bombay mail, published
on Thursday week, was dated, as will be remem-
bered, April 24 ; the presbnt mail, therefore, adds
nothing to our news from the disturbed districts.
_ _ .

The Overland Friend of India has published the
text of the proclamation to the people of Oude.
The Oude Begum, it is reported, has taken pos-
session of a strong fort in the immediate neighbour-
hood of Khyrbad. She has 3,000 adherents and a
goodly quantity of treasure. Maun Singh has un-
dertaken to supply boats for the passage of the
Ghoorkas across the Gogra. These allies are at
Nawabgung, and have 4,000 men laden with plun-
der. Koer Singh is said to be very anxious to get
back into Behar. Nana Sihib is at Bareilly, and is
reported to be out.of health and spirits, in conse-
quence of the death of two nephews who were
killed, it is believed, at Azimghur. Khan Baha-
door is reported to have died from the effects of
opium smoking ; and this province, Bareilly, is in
a state of utter disorganisation.
Sir J. Lawrence has assumed charge of the Delhi,
Hiss ,r and Sirsa districts, and has called upon
every community and section of a. community to repay
the losses sustained by the Europeans during the re-
bellion. Tae repayment will be collected either as
a fine or by the sale of estates or property. Under
this order the Loodeanah Mission has already re-
ceived twenty-four thousand rupees. The above
is all the news relating to the rebellion.
Sir James' Outram has taken his seat in the
Supreme Council.
The Overland Friend states that all recruiting
throughout the Punjab has been put a stop to, and
that the inhabitants are being " re-disarmed."
A letter from Lucknow, dated the 16th, states
all to be quiet, and that the shopkeepers were re-
turning to their avocations in this city. A detach-
ment had gone out towards Fyzabad to aid the
Goorkbas, as they did not like their rear being un-
protected. The heat in camp was very intense,
and numbers of soldiers and officers were in
hospital.

The Calcutta Englishman dwells very impres-
sively on the insufficiency of the European military
force now in India to restore the tranquillity of the
country, and calls for reinforcements from England.
Lord Canning has i-sue l a proclamation calling
on the commissioners of divisions to bring to the
notice of government all natives of the country► who
have rendered valuable services during the rebel-
lion. His lordship declares that he considers it
one of his first duties, so, soon as tranquillity is
restored, to seek out, acknowledge, and suitably
reward meritorious conduct on the part of the
natives.

In Bengal the magistrates are raising battalions
of police, about 150 strong. They aro composed
of all castes except Brahmins and Rajpoots.

CHINA.

The intelligence from China, the latest Hong
Kong date being April 13, zelates almost entirely
to the movements of the diplomatists. We lear❑
that the Russian envoy, Count Putiatin, arrived
at Shanghai in the steamer America, on the 22d of
March ; the United States commissioner, Mr.
Reed, by the steam-frigate Minnesota, on the 24th ;
the Earl of Elgin, in her Majesty's steam-ship
Furious, on the 25th ; and the French ambassador,
Baron Gros, in his Imperial Majesty's steam-
frigate Audacense, on the 30th.
A casual letter from Shanghai of Apt il 6 informs
us that her Majesty's ship Furious, with Lord
Elgin and suite, Fury, Pique, and gunboat Slaney,
were under orders to proceed northward immedi-
ately. The steam gun-vessel Cormorant left on the
sth, and would receive her orders at Woosung.
The Coromandel was to be at the Ruggeds on the
10th, to meet Rear-Admiral Sir M. Seymour in
the Calcutta. Two French steamers were anchored
outside.

At Shanghai Lord Elgin received at the British
consulate a body of mercantile men, who presented
an address of congratulation, in which they ex-
pressed their hope that he might be able to suhdue
the hostile spirit so long exhibited by the Can-
tonese, develop the resources of China, and extend
the blessings of a higher civilisation. To this ad-
dress, signed by about forty firms of various nation,
his lordship returned the following reply :
Gentlemen,—l am very thankful to you for this
address of wel .owe. I trust that the kindness
which has prompted it will also induce you to fa-
vour me with the valuable ai t of your experience
to enable me to judge correctly of the causes which
have contributed to give to Shanghai its eminent
position among the ports opened to trade with
China. It is satisfactory to me to learn that you
approve of what has taken place at Canton, and
that I have your good wishes for the future succe,s
of my mission. 1 should respond but indifferently
t these expressions of regard if I were to refrain
from stating to you frankly the principles on which
I have hitherto proceeded, and still intend to pro-
ceed, in the discharge of duties that have reference
to matt-ra in which you have so deep an interest.
In furnishing instructions f my guidance when I
was app inted High Comm'ssioner in China, her
Majesty's government saw fit to entrust lee with a
wAe discretion. Circumstances, however, as you
probably know, which were abogether unforseen
at the time when those instructions were framed,
rendered them in some degree inapplicable, and
thus materially enlarged the discretion originally
confided to me I found myself accordingly on my
arrival in this country compelled to act in a great
measure on my own judgment. I accepted this
task, as in duty bound, without hesit ttion, but not
I hope without a due CCU c of the respunsi,ility
attaching to an agent who, in a distant land, ly2-
yond the reach of advice, and in circumstances of
unusual difficulty, finds himself the guardian of
the good name and interests of a great Christian
nation. In my communications 'with the func-
tionaries of the Chinese government I have been
guided by two simple rules of action. I have never
preferred a demand which I did not believe to be
both moderate and just ; and from a demand so
preferred I have never receded. These principles
dictated the policy which re suited in the capture
and occupation of Cantos. The same principles
will be followed by me with the same determina-
tion to their results if it should be necessary to re-
peat the experiment in the vicinity of the capital
of the Emperor of China, It is a matter for ms of
the highest gratification to know that in pursuing
this policy of combined moderation and firmness I
call count not only on the hearty co-opera' ion and
active support of the representative of his Im-
perial Majesty the Emperor of the French, but also
tot the good-will and sympathy of the representa-
tives of other great and powerful nations inte-
rested with ourselves in extending the area of
Christian civilisation, and multiplying those com-
mercial ties which are destined to bind the E tat
and West together in the bonds of mutual adva,o-
tage. One word, gentlemen, in Conclusion, :IS to
the part which we have respectively to play in this
important work, and more especially with reference
to the last sentence of your address, in which you
express the trust that the result of my exertions
may be fully to develop the vast resources of China,
and to extend among the people the elevating in-
fluence of a higher civilisation." The expectations
held out to British manufacturers at the close of the
last war between Great Britain and China when they
were told that a new world was opened to their
trade so vast that all the mills iu Lancashire could
not make stocking stuff sufficient for one of its
provinces, have not been realised, and I am of
opinion that when force and diplomacy shall have
done all that they can legitimately effict, the work
which has to be accompli,-hi d in China will be but
at its commencement. When the barriers which
prevent free access to the interior of the c eintry
shall have been removed, the Christian civilisation
of the West will find it,elf face to face, not with
barbarism, but with an ancient civilisation in limey
respee's effete and imperfect, but in others not
without claims to our sympathy and respect. In
the rivalry which will then ensue Christian civilisa-
tion will have to win its way among a sceptical and
ingenious people, by making it manifest that a faith
which reaches to heaven furnishes better guarantees
for public and private morality than one which
does not rise :above the earth. At the same time
the machine-facturing West will be in presence of
a population the most universally and laboriously
manufacturing of any on the earth. It can achieve
victories in the contest in which it will have to
engage only by proving that physical knowledge
arid mechanical skill applied to the arts of produc-
tion are more than a match for the most persever-
ing efforts of unscientific industry. This is the
task which -is ly.fore you, and towards the accom-
plishment of which, within the sphere of my duty,
I shall rejoice to co-operate.
From Canton we hear little of importance. Bis
Excellency Peh-qui, the nominal governor of the
city, between the exigency of the allies, his masters,
and the obstinacy of his own countrymen, had
been almost harassed to death. His troubles hA
brought on a paralytic fit. During the abeyance
of his vigilance a number of coolies attached to the
t sin were kidnapped. When subsequently
recovered these men were so maimed that they
could not walk. Peh-qui says, however, that the
men deserved all they got, for when captured they
were in the act cf plundering or committing out
rages under the fancied protection of_ their cloth.
The public ripinion of Canton is finding express
siou in letters posted at the gates and. other public
places. One of these documents is entitled, "A

Public Lament," and is remarkable for an especial
degree of that excessive pathos which characterises
alike the emanations of the official and popular
mind in China. It purports to be is_ued by the
people inhabiting the streets within the eastern and
northern gates, and commences thus : "In the
midst of our difficulties our sorrows are increased ;
in the midst of death we beg for life, and pray for
assistance to keep us from the way of destruction."
The rest of the address is in the same key, and
when carefully examined amounl s to a complaint
that, owinc, to the inadequacy of the police, rob-
beries are frequent.
In order to restrain the old passions of the Can-
tonese, the authorities had published a proclama-
tion enjoining politeness to foreigners. This
curious address, grounded on reasons to which the
Chinese have not been accustomed to defer, com-
mences as follows :

The Kwang-chow-foo, together with the chief
magistrates at Nam-hoy and Pun-yue distric's,
hereby make known their commands.

Having consulted with the high officers of the
two great countries of England and France, we
have already united in putting out a proclamation,
inviting all who have houses or shops within or
without Canton to return and follow their usual
occupations, and to trade as formerly. Now, ye
people, you ought quietly to follow your duties in
making a livelihooi, and at the proper time a
nev, r ending reconcilia'ion will be effected (with
the foreigners.) Only consider—that Canton people
are perpetually calling foreigners "fan qui"—foreign
devils, when they see them coming from every
foreign country. This is certainly in opposition
to politeness, and gives offence. Truly it is want-
ing in that courtesy which has been handed down
to tis as a oustom ; and is not by any means that
deportment which should be ob,ervel between the
host and his guest. You do not seem to think-
that the people of the middle country and those
from without in the origin appertained to one body
(Adam.) Outside people are like the men of oar
provinces. Those and these should equally exercise
a pleasing countenance and yielding manner ; and
not continue t 3 insult and lo)k down °nether men as
the vulgar custom is. If men generally will observe
politeness, then the men of foreign countries will
also generally act well, and there will be no dis-
turbance. Have you not heard that at the open-
ing of a crevice or outlet it is important at once to
stop it ? Now in every street of the ancient capi-
tal of Kwangtung, why should the people without
a cause delight in putting up long red placards in
which the language is disrespectful ? In the first
one or two, perhaps, some good affair, under the
name of consultation, is spoken of, yet the ten-
dency is to originate angry strife and and
if persisted in will involve the whole Ki-fong or
vicinity. All below heaven should know that
when men treat others courteously, there are none
who do not return the compliment. And in like
manner, if you treat them with the countenances
of proud men, others will with pride retaliate—
never was it othefwise. On account of this it is
proper thus to proclaim our commands, that they
may be more fully understood. Ye men of a hun-
dred surnames, whenever you meet with men of
the great ocean, from whatever country, in the
street, walking or running, byall means treatthem
politely, and do not call men from foreign coun-
tries "fan qui"—for devils is a nickname, be-
littling and brow-beating.