The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-27 00:00:00

CHINA.

The following is the letter of our correspondent,
dated Hong Kong, March 15 :
" Political news is of a more peaceful character.
The Pekin Gazette of the 31st of January contains
an Imperial edict repudiating the despatch which
was intercepted at Shecksing, and proclaiming, in
somewhat unusual and significant terms, the deter-
mination of the Emperor to keep faith with
foreigners, and to observe in its full integrity the
Treaty of Tiensin. The following is a copy of the
edict, which is very unlike former proclamations
from the same source, and even goes so far as to
enunciate the possibility of the British and French
retaining temporary possession of Canton, without
endangering peaceable relations :-
44, We have this day received a memorial from Kwelleang
and his colleagues to the effect that they have received,
with the letters from the British, a false Imperial edict of
the kind despatched directly from the Imperial Court, and
which, they were informed, had been obtained by an Eng-
lishman in Kwan-tung.

On perusing this our surprise was extreme. From all
time China has held fast by principles of the highest jus-
tice in her benevolent measures for tranquillising the vari-
ous nations; she has never laid plans for secretly injuring
them.

Subsequently to the failure of Yeh-minty-shin we ap •
pointed Hwang-tsung-had to be Governor-General of the
two Kwang, and gave him the seal of Imperial Commis-
sioner. Our object this was the protection of our terri-
tories. As to Vice-President Lo-tun-yen and his colleagues,
they, stimulated by patriotic ardour, enrolled braves for
the defence of their country,--a perfectly delightful occu-
pation for local gentry.
" Recently, however, the amicable negotiations of Kwei-
leang and his colleagues at Tien-tsin having been finished,
Hwang-tsung-han had to busy himself with internal mili-
tary affairs only, while Lo-tun-yen and his colleague had,
in obedience to our commands, to deal solely with native
bandits. It was not in contemplation that they should
engageinhostilities with the British and French. Although
these nations have not yet re-delivered the capital of
Kwang tung, yet if they maintain proper order among
their troops, causing no annoyance to the inhabitants, they
may live together in peace, free from all troubles.
" ' A Court despatch has, however, been fabricated, giv-
ing cause to difficulties between Lo-tun-yen with his col-
leagues on the one side and these two nations on the other
and producing doubt, and therefore we command Hwang-
tsung-han to take strict measures for the seizure of the law-
less fabricators, and to punish them with the utmost rigour
of the law. Thus may all the nations know that China
transacts her affairs in an open, rightful,. and liberal spirit,
'and that, when once a settlement is arrived at, suspicions

and doubts may be given up and so no room be left for the
instigations of false mischief makers.
" As Shanghai, where the arrangements connected with
the general trade are at present being made, lies at a consi •
derable distance from Kwang-tung, we hereby appoint the
Governor-General of the two Keang,Ho-kwei-tsing, to be
jmnerial Commissioner of Foreign ffairs, and we hereby
aoramail:l Hwang-tsung-han to send a special officer to de-
liver' to him ill:, seal of Imperial CommisAioner now in use.
Respect this,"
" It will be seen that the office of Imperial Com-
missioner for Foreign Affairs is transferaed from
Canton to Shanghai.
" Lord Elgin left this on the Ist inst. for Canton,
where on the following day he met a body of mer-
chants, with reference to the sites proposed for the
new foreign settlement. No steps could be taken
previously, the community being ignorant of his
lordship's views ; and, as his Excellency left for
Singapore the same afternoon en route for England,
the matters remains almost in statu quo until the
arrival of Mr. Bruce, who, it is to be hoped, will
give his early attention to this important matter.
Lord Elgin expects to meet Mr. Bruce at Singa-
pore, after which he goes On to Bombay in her
Majesty's steamer Furious, and thence to England.
His Excellency Rear-Admiral Sir' Michael.
Seymour intends leaving on the 19th instant for
Singapore, in her Majesty's ship Calcutta, which
goes home via Cape of Good Hope, while his
Excellency proceeds by the overland route. The
departure of Admiral Seymour is the subject of
general regret.
" The gunboat expedition returned to Canton on
the 3d inst., after a successful journey of 195 miles
up the western branch of the Pearl river, as far as
the large town of Wee-than, in the province of
Kwangsi. No opposition was offered by the Chinese,
but, on the contrary, great politeness was shown
in
some instances. The river is described as easily
navigable, and flowing through a fertile country;
but the devastations of the rebels have almost
annihilated the native trade. Bands of these
banditti appear to be infesting various Parts Of
Southern China. Amoy was threatened a short time
ago, and they are now committing depredations in
the country around Swatow.
" Her Majesty's steamer Inflexible returned from
Japan on the 4th inst. having delivered at Yeddo
the letter from Lord Malmesbury to the Japanese
Government, and also distributed copies of the
notification to the British ships in harbour, and left
other copies with the Governor, to be disposed of
in like manner.
" From Cochin China -all we hear is, that an ea'
counter had taken place at Turon, while the main
body of the French and Spanish troops were absent
at Segon. The result was the defeat of the Cochin
Chinese with considerable loss, and only 15 or 16'
wounded on the other side.
" Her Majesty's ship Belleisle left this en the
10th inst. for England, via Singapore.
" From Manilla we have received advices to the
9th inst. Sugar and hemp were a shade higher?
and dealers cautious in making contracts.
change on London 4s. 2d., six months' sight, fir"
class bills. Sovereigns 4 dols. 75c. each. Freights?
Ll for sugar, and £2 7s. 6d. for hemp.
Our dates from the coast are Amoy, the 1101
inst. ; Foochow, the 9th inst. ; and Shanghai, the
sth inst.
" The export of tea from China to Great Britain
is 47,837,5001 b., against 47,193,7001 b. last season
or an increase (1858-59) of 643,6001 b.
" In Hong Kong and Canton business in imports
has been very dull, bth, within the last day or tW°
there are signs of more animation. ~,
"At Amoy trade was recovering from the-Pot
caused by the procimity of the rebels, who has
movedoff in another direction.
" At Foo-chow nothing has been done in imports
worthy of notice.
" Our latest dates are, from England, January
17, via Calcutta ; Bombay, February 1; Calcutta,
February 23 ; Singapore, March 4 ; Melbourne?
January Sydney, January 15 ; Manilla,.Mareh 9i
" The London mail of the 10th of January arrive
on the 27th ult., the day on which the last steamer
left. The 16th of January mail is now ovexclueil/°
the Calcutta. steamers which left Singapori
the Malabar have been here since the 13th, in
She may probably have put into Manilla for eettA
The Norna leaves at 2 p.m. to-day with the outward
mail."