The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-12 00:00:00

••••••••• ..1..P.,.............
THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EI7ENING the performances will commence with
THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE.
With THE CONTESTED ELECTION.
After which, OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND.
And !HALLOWE'EN.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborongh
THIS EVENING, THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN
EGGS.
After which, A SCHOOL FOR COQUETTES. Misses
lawaaborough, Oliver, and Lavine.
Followed by THE VERY LATEST EDITION OF THE
LADY OF LYONS.

Commence at 7 o'clock

CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS.-
EVERY EVENING. —The Music of Verdi's Opera of
MACBETH (now first made public in England at these Con-
certs), the extraordinary Violin Performances of the cele-
brated Infant DELEPIERRE FAMILY, and the usual
Vocal Concert.
Comic Vocalists—Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish Come-
dian and Mimic), W. T. Critchfield, and E. W. Mackney.
Several interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts
Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and
beautified, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant
sights of the metropolis.

THE WEATHER.—SIIN OFFICE, SEPTEMBER 12.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
68—highest since noon yesterday.
65—lowest this morning and during the night.
66—this day at noon.
BAROMETER-30.24.
WIND, S.W. ; light, with fine summer weather.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.—Morning, 2h. 2m.—Afternoon, 2h. 17m,
To-Moßßovi-Morning, 2h. 31m.—Afternoon, 2h. 45m,

The news from China has startled the national
expectation. There, at least, everything was con-
sidered to be all smooth without any adverse tide
or bore rolling unexpectedly. But people very
often reckon without their host as much as indi-
viduals, and John Chinamen has given us another
proof of his versatile duplicity. Those who
know more of the Chinese character, from " mer-
cenary trading" with them, always looked upon
the late peace as far too good to be true, and recent
events now prove their doubts to have been too
true. Thns it has often turned out when civiliza-
tion treats with Barbarism,—as if to show by an
example of frankness, how much it trusts to the
confidence of human nature by its own generous
and undoubting conduct.
But there is such a thing as being civil overmuch,
more especially when confidence formerly misplaced,
had to repent its error. In the present instance,
however, there was really no cause to doubt the
sincerity of the Chinese, seeing that, having made
the Peace, all that was now sought was to have
that peace confirmed by the formal sanction to the
Treaty by the Emperor of CHINA. Until the ratifi-
cation of the Treaty there was no treaty at all, such
is the modern loophole invented for delay and re-
pentance, if the weaker party wish to back out I
Unfortunately for us the distance between the
highest contracting parties in the present instance,
seems only to have given additional force to this
crooked road to the fulfilment of pledged faith, and
the Chinese amply availed themselves of the circum-
stance. They not only barricaded, as it were, the
mouth of the Peiho, or Yellow River, by which
access is to be had to Pekin, by driving piles into
it at the entrance, but they also placed chains
across it so that no vessel could pass ! Nor was
this all ; the forts which we took last war and
demolished, were all repaired—not only repaired,
but strongly and invisibly fortified Indeed, so
invisibly, that our Admiral, the French Admiral,
and all their sharp ships' crews were unable to
perceive any sign of fortification, or detect a single
gun mounted on the parapets ! No ; all was dis-
guised as completely as the guileful character of
the Chinese could make it.

_ v There seems to be so much mystery about the
matter that we refrain from any comment on the
conduct of those in command of the expedition—
which was merely of a complimentary character to
do honour to the Ambassadors on their way to the
Imperial Court. The sad catastrophe which ensued
—of which we know but little, but that little is so
truly disastrous to our hopes—must sooner or later
be avenged. Meantime we have to deplore the loss
of many brave officers and gallant men, amounting
to nearly, ve hundred, with the loss of some gun-
boats sunk, and several most severely damaged ;
indeed, so much so, that the object of the expedition
was entirely defeated, and the ambassadors com-
pelled to return to Shanghai.
A rumour was spread that the Ameri-
can ambassador was received at Pekin. He
was one of the neutrals in the former
business along with the Russian ! We shall not
yet be surprised to learn that the Chinese have taken
counsel of both these same Neutrals, and organised
their present tactics accordingly. If so, had we
not better trust to ourselves in future, and let others
work out their own purposes hereafter as best they

The Great Eastern seems " born to diffieu'

ties," and yet she braves them with heroic
sturdiness of heart. If anything great could
be achieved without exertion, and that too
often, of a desperate mind resolved as fate,
greatness would sink to nothing -and be not.
Re who attempts anything beyond his fellows is,
of course, either a fool or a madman—perhaps both.
Indeed few know

" - How hard it is to climb
The steep where fame's proud temple shines afar,

Yet how many have felt the baleful influence of
that malignant star which jealousy is ever on the
watch to cast on a hapless spirit who endeavours
to enlighten the world and benefit mankind by the
labours of lonely nights and meritorious days, in
the wish for fame, and the accomplishment of the
fond ambition of his soul !

Without such aspirations life were not blessed :
with them the world has been blessed,7 enligh-
tened, and glorified in the wondrous achieve-
ments of Art, Science, and Philosophy. The mishap
which for a moment has clouded the progress of
the Great Eastern will only eventually tend to
prove how success may be achieved in very spite of
difficulties.
_

A giant may stumble, as a race-horse may trip,
but it is only to recover himself, and be again more
the cynosure of wondering and applauding
eyes.

(now living) of the
Among the greatest masters
science of diplomacy, as expressed by the foreign
policy of our English Government, Sir GEORGE
HAMILTON SEYMOUR stands forward conspicuously. \
His excellency has long occupied, in this high in-
tellectual department, one of the most prominent
positions in the estimation of his fellow-ccuntry-
//len. And deservedly he has so occupied it. His
career justifies his reputation. If not facile princeps
in his art—he is second only to such men as Vis-
count STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE, or Sir HENRY
LYTTON BULWER—Iike himself, professional ambas-
sailors and experienced plenipotentiaries.
It is a privilege to obtain an opportunity of learn-
-1u anything whatever in relation to the mechan-
AM, or the habitudes of the diplomated service
from the lips of chiefs in that very service, chiefs

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THE SUN.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1859.