The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-30 00:00:00

up with small red candles their domestic joss
houses. The men pull each other's tails and play
half-drunken practical jokes in the same temples, or
strew the street in front of their doors with crackers
and set them on fire, keeping up a constant deto-
nation all over the city. Moreover, there are feasts
at the eating-houses, and sing-song girls, with
painted faces, sing turn-turn songs and make tum-
turn, music. If you want any work done you are
told., "In two three day can do." If you want to
bv.y anything, the shopkeeper tells you to come
ii.gain two three day, for that he "too muchee
drunkee that samshu." Yet there is very little or
no riotous drunkenness. They act like stupid old
children, without the innocence, the grace, or the
natural freedom of childhood.

The site of the New British Factory, or rather
settlement, has been fixed upon. The old site is
to, be abandoned, for many reasons, but chiefly be-
tau.se other European nations have claims upon it.
The new site extends from the creek which formed
the eastern boundary of the old factory eastwards
along the bank of the river to a point opposite the
Dutch Folly. The ground now taken is about four
times the extent formerly occupied, and it extends
from the river back to the city wall.
And now adieu to Canton and to its river. If
aver a chastisement was merited, it was merited by
the inhabitants of that city. If ever chastisement
was mercifully inflicted, it was so inflicted by the
expedition which, with so small amount of blood-
shed, has humbled their barbarous conceit and
muzzled their dull ferocity. If we hold that city
for two years we shall show them things by which
even a Chinaman must learn.

Having done with Canton, I may now recur to
the questions of general policy. Upon these I have
much news to tell which may be curtly told.
In a former letter I suggested the possibility
that the early spring might see alt the great civi-
lised Powers in co-operation. This has happened.
England, France, America, and Russia are now in
cordial accord.
Ten days age the American and Russiaai embas-
sies were settled at Macao doing nothing.
Soon after the intention of raising the blockade
wait announced, it became known that Mr. Reed
had made preparations for departure northwards,
and it was suggested that his object was to be out
of the way while points of difficulty arose, and to
allow them to fruetify during his absence. Again
a little while, and they who were curious in watch-
ing symptoms noted that the Hon. F. Bruce, the
secretary to the embassy, was absent. It was Rot diffi-
cult to learn that he and the French secretary to the
embassy proceeded in a gunboat to Macao, had an
interview with Count Putiatin, then, finding that
Mr. Reed had left and was already so far on his
way as Hongkong, started for Hongkong, and after
seeing the American Minister returned to Lord
Elgin at Canton. Following up this chain of public
incidents—which were known, or might have
been known, to every man in the fleet—we saw
that after this interview Mr. Reed immediately
returned to Macao and set his home in order, gave
up all thoughts of his immediate journey north-
wards, sent the Minnezota up the river as far as
she could safely go, and went on to Canton in tho
Antelope (a steamer of light draught which. he has
hired) and visited Lord Eigin on board the Furious.
About the same time a special courier arrived
from Count Putiatin, and groat activity was ob-
served in the Russian Embassy.
All these little facts, patent to the eyes of all the
world except to the lazy quid-nuncs of Hongkong,
—who find it easier to invent some ridiculous
" shave" than to observe what is passing under
their noses—showed that some unity of a Lion had
been agreed upon, and set some of us inquiring.
I have great reason to believe that the overtures
made by Lord Elgin and Baron Gros wore at once
franklyand cordially accepted by the representatives
both of America and Russia, and that every act yet
done by the belligerent allies is now adopted and
approved by the two hitherto neutral Powers. I
believe it has been agreed between the four Powers
that they shall proceed in the first instance to
Shanghai, and there, if possible, make one general
treaty. If the Court of Pekin should remain un-
impressed by the union of the four first-class Powers
of the world, reinforcements are coming out. Rus-
sia will not be long represented by a siugle ship ;
America is sending : France has vessels on their
way ; and England, if she is to keep the lead which
she has so worthily assumed and hitherto so wisely
maintained, will also strengthen her force. It is,
however, to be hoped that no further act of con-
quest will be required. Each of the four Powers
has, as I understand, sent to Pekin a general state-
ment of grievances and demands. Mr. Oliphant,
Lord Elgin's private secretary, and le Viscomte de
Coutades, Baron Gros's private Secretary, left
Hongkong yesterday in the Formosa for Shanghai ;
whether the Russian and American despatches
went by the same steamer I have not heard ' • bufthat
they are gone, or are immediately about to (-JO, is
undoubted. I think it will be found that the four
Powers, in these communications, invite the Em-
peror to send to Shanghai a Minister of high rank,
properly accredited, to treat for a new treaty upon
the basis of free trau-it throughout Ch:na under
proper protection from Chinese authority, perma-
nent diplomatic relations at Pekin, unrestricted
commerce, and indemnity for losses and expenses
incurred.
The result of these communications it would be
very rash to attempt to predict, but it is comfort-
able to know that we are now acting, not as a
single State, but in concurrence with all the civili-
sation of the world. It is the end only which can
crown the work, and I offer no unreserved congra-
tulations until I see the treaty ; but hitherto Lord
Elgin and Baron Gros have certainly clone well—
our diplomatists have been as fully up to their
work as our sailors and soldiers.

Lord Elgin and Baron Gros will go north ix
about three weeks. The Count Putiatin goes almost
immediately—for his little steamer will have a long
struggle against the monsoon. Mr. Reed goes to
Manilla, to pass the interval between the present
date and the time when he must proceed to the
rendezvous at Shanghai.
The Inflexible, with Yell on board, is gone down
to Hongkong, and is preparing to proceed with that
Mandarin—who is now the prisoner of the four
nTeat PJwers—to Calcutta.
0
Notwithstanding all the work which we have
upon our hands in India and elsewhere, the posi-
tion which England holds in this movement of the
civilisation of the West against the barbarism of
the East is worthy of her

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee—Mr. J. B. Buckstone.

On EASTER MONDAY, April 5, will be performed
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PLUTO AND PROSERPINE.
Commence at Seven.
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