The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-07 00:00:00

upon the plain beneath," and fertilising the grate-
ful soil, had the effect of an inundation,
destroying it. They tempted the 1 arties to
rash speculations that produced much of the
subsequent misery. But, as we have already stated,
this has also been the case in Englir d, and with
equally disastrous results. If we look to banking
statistics it will immediately be discovered that the
failures on this side of the Tweed have been in at
least a tenfold ratio to those which have occurred
in Scotland, even including the Western Bank, and
that the proportion of losses to creditors has been
still greater. The system has not been at fault.
Indeed, perhaps, its benefits have never been
more clearly illustrated, so far as the commu-
nity at large are concerned. The share-
holders are differently circumstanced, but theirs
was a risk that must be encountered by all
who desire large dividends or high interest for
their money. They unquestionably deserve deep
sympathy, but they have not been worse off than
others in this country; and it was unquestionably
our tampering with the currency laws in 1844
and 1845 that led to the very deplorable results
that have followed. If the rate of interest is to
vibrate " between 1 and 20 per cent. without the
interference of any Chancellor of the Exchequer,"
we must look for periodical repetitions of such
calamities in all parts of the United Kin

Lom.

We have concluded a treaty of peace and amity
with China, but certain Chinese subjects have re-
solved on waging more -vigorous hostilities than
ever, and that in a manner not recognised by
the laws of modern war. These men are either
encouraged by the Supreme Government, or they
are resisting its authority, trusting either to its
want of vigour or inclination, and believing that
they will, therefore, escape the severe punishment
AO to their offences. In either case our course is
dear. We must take the law into our own hands,
and display that energy and determination which
can alone produce the necessary submission of the
Celestials.

It appears that an association has been formed
at Canton and the neighbouring provinces, for the
purpose not only of expelling the foreign devils
from China, but of recalling every native who has
taken service with them, or who enters into any
trade transactions with them. A system of exclu-
sive dealing is inaugurated, by which every Celes-
tial is forbidden from supplying the wants of any
European, however tempting the price that may be
offered. Should he do so after the notice, he will
incur the supreme displeasure of " The Sun-kum,"
and must make up his mind to endure all
the pains and penalties incidental to the posi-
tion. This Chinese " Black Sheep Office " does
not merely act against the delinquent, but all
his relations and friends will be placed
in jeopardy, and subjected to Lynch law on the
most extensive and sanguinary scale. The result
has been that the Chinese are all flying from Hong
Kong, and indeed from every quarter where any
foreigners are established. The "junkmen" have
proclaimed a sort of holy war, which forbids every
Celestial to hold amicable intercourse with any
" outer barbarian," and any infraction of j" ordi-
nance will be severely expiated.

Now this uncivilised mode of attack can be easily
repelled. But it must be shown that we are
thoroughly in earnest and cannot, be quieted by any
YEil-ite arguments—that we will not wait the
action of the Chinese authorities to chastise the
wrong-doers, but, taking the law into our own hands,
will inflict exemplary punishment on the conspi-
rators. The people of canton have too long been
permitted to set the law at defiance. They have
hardened their hearts, and exult in their iniquity.
There can be but little doubt that they were en-
couraged by the local, if not by the Imperial,
authorities ; and it must be shown by some
striking examples that any aggression against
those who are at peace with. China will be re•
garded as acts of piracy, and suppressed with the
most unflinching firmness and determination.
We trust that the proclamation of Sir JOHN
BowBING will suffice to open the eyes of the con-
spirators. If, however, the language thereof can-
not persuade the members of " The Sun-kum" to
abstain from such unjustifiable proceedings, it must
be ascertained what virtue can be found in British
steel and British lead, which have proved to be the
most efficient peace-makers whenever, or wherever,
JOHN CHINAMAN was concerned.

Three elections are soon to come off. Guildford,
Leominster, and Reigate are to replenish with
wisdom a House which the attractions of the new
Indian Council have deprived of Mr. MANGLES,
Mr. WILLOUGHBY, and Sir H. RAWLINSON. The
little fact—for little, we fear, it is—attracts atten-
tion, as every election ought now to do, in the
suggestions it offers in regard to the forthcoming
Reform Bill. What, then, have these boroughs, to
tell us ? We would not be personal, but there,
unchallenged, stands, in the pages of the Parlia-
mentary hand-book, the record of the notorious fact,
that each is a borough more or less under
INFLUENCE. Mr. DOD gives the names in plain
English, and the hon. gentlemen thus signalised
probably consider themselves honoured rather than
otherwise. None of them that we ever heard of
complains of being thus gazetted ; to influence a
borough is a sort of knighthood probably in their
view, and that the influence should survive the
onslaught of 1832 only shows how great a
man the borough's lord must be. We may
be quite sure that were there anything in
the record discreditable in aristocratic circles,
both Mr. DOD, privately, and the press, publicly,
would soon have heard of it.

Another fact is, that these three boroughs re-
turn five members to Parliament, also that their
registered electors collectively do not amount to
more than 1,427, which is, of course, in the pro-
portion of 285 electors to each member. If the
metropolitan boroughs, with their constituency of
a hundred and ten thousand in round numbers, and
enough over to make a borough like one of these,
returned members in proportion, they would re-
turn considerably more than half the House of
Commons. Their share would be 387 members !
If Manchester, with a like surplus to the above
over eighteen thousand electors, were honoured in
proportion, its share in the representation would
amount to sixty-four members ; and were the
boroughs of all England to return members to Par-
liament in the same ratio as these boroughs, they
alone, setting aside the counties, would send more
than fifteen hundred representatives to the great
Council of the nation.

Now, concede what weight itiadvocates may desire
to the desirableness of representing classes, can any-
thing excuse such a monstrous disproportion ? Tak-
ing the present electoral: constituency as it stands,
why should some fourteen score of electors, in three
influence" boroughs be reckoned equal to nine
thousand electors in London, and to about the
same number in Manchester ? Are the ten pound
householders in Guildford, Leominster, and Reigate
so much better instructed by the local gentlemen
of influence than the citizens of the capital of
England by the daily press, and their daily inter-
course, that the opinion of one citizen of these
boroughs ought to weigh as much in Parliament
as the opinions of five-and-thirty in the cities ? Is