The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-16 00:00:00

CHINA.

But in domestic affairs we are by no means
squally contented ; and it behoves those in
whose hands the decision ests to speak plainly
and intelligibly on the important topics now at
issue. The extension of the suffrage--the security
of the voter by means of the ballot—the abolition
of the Parliamentary qualification—a more equit-
arrangement of the electoral districts—and a
shorter duration of Parliaments are all impera-
tively required. The monopoly of " the Old
Lady of Threadneedle-street" must be destroyed ;
and a currency adequate to the wants and exi-
gences of the industrial community conceded to the
popular demand. There must also be a more
equitable apportionment of the Income Tax, and a
full recognition of the great distinction between
permanent and precarious incomes. Mr. Ms-
RAUL and his party paid a heavy price in that
respect for the doubtful benefit of the GLADSTONE
AllianCe. The advantage arising from the pro-
posal in the Budget of 1852 was, however, deli-
berately surrendered, and the natural consequences
must be encountered. The agitation and excite-
ment displayed just before the meeting of Parlia-
ment shattered " the pettifogging quibble," and
insured the reduction of the impost to more mo-
derate dimensions. Similar demonstrations, may
achieve its modification, and remove the
chief objections to a burden that cannot
be dispensed with for many years t) come. If
every contributor under schedule D peremptorily
refused to record his vote in favour of any can-
ilidate who will not pledge himself to advocate a
more equitable assessment, as well as the exemr -
tion of all incomes not exceeding 150/. per
3nnum, we shall find that Sir G. C. LEWIS, albeit
no EDIPUS, will discover an easy solution of the
problem that now seems so abstruse. There are
other points also to be insisted on ; for the present
we shall endeavour to impress on every voter the
vast importance of pressing for adequate measures
of Parliamentary, monetary, and fiscal reform, on
which the welfare and prosperity of the nation
tnd the liappines3 and prosperity of the people so
greatly depend.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday afternoon
at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury
in Downing•street. Thsi Ministers present were Vis-
went Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor. Earl Granvill-,
‘ne Nlarcplisi of Lai•i“lowne the Earl of Harrowby, Sir
George Grey, the Earl of Clarendon, Mr. Secretary
Labouchere, Lord Paumure, the Chancellor of the Ex-
a ooluer, lie [tight Iron. R. -Vernon Smolt, Lord S an-
ley of Alderley, the Duke of Argyll, and the Right Hon.
sl. T. Baines,
DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.—It appears to be now
reduced to a certainty that the dissolution of Parliament
viii take place within the time mentioned in our la-,t—
namely, the 25th of this wouih. Indeed we may now
pronounce all, but p)sitively that the last sitting of the
preleut Parliament will take place on to morrow (nor,-
day) week, the 231 inst., and that the proclamation
.or dissolving Parliament will immediately follow. --
Observer.
THE SPEAKER'S TITLE.—It is stated that the title
tinder which the Speaker ascends to the House of L ids
is that of "Lord Bromley," the right hon. gentleman
having property in that part of this county (Middlesex)
DEATH OF THE EARL AMHERST.--We have to record
the death of the Earl Amherst, who expired at nine
o'clock on Friday night, at Knowle Park, near Seven-
oaks, Kent. The venerable peer had been in a very in-
different state of health for some weeks past, arising
from a thorough decay consequent on old age, so that
to tke immediate members of his family the mournful
event was not unlooked for. Viscount and Viscountess
Holmesdale and Sir John and Lady Sarah Hay Williams
were with the noble earl at his dissolution.
ABOLITION OF THE SOUND DUES.—COPENHAGEN,
March 15.—The definitive Treaty for the Abolition of
the Duties on Vessels passing the Sound was signed
yesterday. These tolls are to be abolished from the Ist
of April next.
DRURY•LANE THEATRI.—The revival of the comedy of
a "Cure for the Heart Ache" has proved a great hit
for the ent.irprieing lessee of this theatre. Ever since
!ha first night of its production it has attracted im-
mense audiences. On Wednesday next Mr. C. Ma-
thews takes his benefit, on which occasion it is to be
again performed in conjunction with the magnificent.
pantomime of "See-Saw Margery Daw." An over-
flowing house is sure to be the result.
Mr. Lumley has announced the opening of her M. jesty's Theatre on the 14th April, He has made sevt.
ral important engagements, particularly Signor Giu-
glini, a tenor of great renown throughout Italy, and
Madame Spizia, a soprano now performing with great
success at Milan. Signor Giuglini will make hie debut
on the first night of the season. We shall also again
have Piccolomini (and the Trariata), and likewise it is
repeated ,Jo'tanna Wagner. ,
Miss M. Oliver goes to the Haymarket at Easter,
where she will make her appearance in a new burlesque
written by Mr. Francis Talfourd. Mr. Bayle Bernard's
drama will be produced on Thursday.
Madame Celeste is engaged to perform this and follow-
ing evenings, at the Theltre Royal, Edinburgh. She
re-appeo.e at the Adelphi in "Like and Unlike," and
in " The Elves" on Easter Monday.
Mr. Phelps, Mr. Robinson, and Miss Atkinson are
engaged at the Standard Theatre for a few evenings,
commencing next Saturday.
Mr. C. Dillon, having leased the Lyceum to Mr. Gye
for an Italian Opera season, has engaged with Mr. G.
Webster to appear at Sadler's Wells for twelve nights.
He appears on Easter Monday.
The fine steam-ship Pacific is, it is said, about to be
placed upon the line between Cork and Milford, for the
purpose of conveying passengers and cargo, and, it is
hoped, the mails to and from the south of Ireland.
The principal shipowners, merchants, &c., of Milford,
Haverford west, and adjacent places are about to memo-
rialise the Postmaster-General to permit all letters from
South Wales to the South of Ireland to be conveyed by
way of Milford, instead of, as at present, via Liverpool
and Holyhead.
THE REV. CANON PARKINSON.—The Oumberland
Pacquet of Tuesday rays :—" Our readers will be grati-
fied to learn that the Rev. Canon Parkinson had so far
recovered as to be able to return home to St. Bees on
Friday afternoon.
THE DOMESTIC POISONING CASE NEAR SOUTH-
AMPTON.—The maid servant, who was apprehended las
week for attemping to poison her mistresss, Mrs. Read,
of Bittern, in Hampshire, has been committed for trial.
The servant, whose name is Harriet Vassingcombe, con-
fessed that she was guilty of the offence.
FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT OFF CHATHAM DOCKYARD.
—On Saturday morning a fatal accident occurred off
Chathatu dockyard, by the capsizing of a cutter belong-
ing to one of the ye eels of war, at Chatham, by which
two -eamen, named William Thompsett, belonging to the
Fanteme, 12. and Robert Minton, of the Mercury, 42,
were drowned.
THE FORCE FOR CHINA.—The United Service gazette
says :—" When the regiments arrive from England,
there will be a force of 10,000 men at Hong Kong.
rue anniversary festival of the Royal Literary Fund
will be presided over this year by Earl Granville, an
esteemed patron of men and letters, and member of the-
commit se of the Guild of Literature and Art.
NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.—nie estimate for the
current year is 133,0861., and 60,0001. is required on
account.
The Right Hon. the Speaker of the House of Com-
mons gave his last Parliamentary (full dress) dinner on
Saturday evening last.
A letter from Belgrade of the sth, Augsburg Gazette,
says :—" The only daughter of Omar Pacha, who %LAB
married in 1853 to Tefik Pacha, a nephew of the Sirdar,
and,alter his death in the Crimea, to Omar Bey, another
ientde
jupscahseatwieddi ptaoocictsohordneed herself a few days ago. She had been
rina!htoaEcturboypetahneh abbaidtst,r
eaantdmwenats
strei v e(
xr
..,
perienced from her husband."

The advices from Hong Kong are fifteen days
later.

Trade was at a standstill, the attention of the
European.inhabitants of Hong Kong being chiefly
directed to means for their protection against the
Chinese. One Allure, the alleged bread poisoner,
and his associates were to be tried immediately.
Public expectation was directed to the arrival of
anticipated naval and military reinforcements, .and
the recommencement of offensive operations.
Her Majesty's steamer Samson arrived at Hong
Kong on the morning of the 23d, having on board
H. E. Admiral Sir M. Seymour, and H. E. is re-
ported to have forwarded to Indiaurgent despatches
for a large military force.
A letter from Canton, dated the 22d of January,
states that the city is nearly all destroyed.
The Samson, on her way down to Hong Kong,
fell in with a fleet of 150 Mandarin, junks and de-
stroyed several of them. These junks had
threatened an attack on Hong Kong.
With the exception of retaining Tee-to-turn fort,
it appears that Admiral Seymour has been forced
to abandon Canton, even the entrenched gardens
could no longer be retained as all the available
force is required to keep open the passage of the
river, in consequence of the wilful sinking of junks
to prevent any vessels of war or steamers passing
up with troops. Whampoa has been completely
abandoned, H.M.S. Sybille having been removed
—all the valuable property, as dockyards, &c., had
been abandoned to the Chinese who were destroy-
ing everything of value. "These events," says
the Straits Times, "prove that our position in the
Canton river is unsafe and unsatisfactory, and that
an overpowering force—naval and military—wil l
be needed to place matters on a sound footing."
The Overland Friend of China, of Jan. 30, says :
—" Since the despatch of the clipper steamer Lance-
field on the 21st instant, the only military move-
ment of importance has been the abandonment of
Canton and the Dutch Folly—the highest position
in the river now held by the squadron being Tee-
to-turn fort in the Macao passage, about two miles
below the factory ruins. Naturally, after having
contended against such odds—a thousand to a
million—so long, the retirement from the position
has given rise to expressions of regret. But no one
can deny the prudence—the necessity—of the step,
for in a short time the river will be so thick, often
during the whole day, with fug, that it would be
impossible to keep up the chain of communication
with such scanty means. The excitement 'tense-
quent on the great event of the month—the poison-
ings—is abating ; though nothing is being done by
Government to assure confidence against a similar
or worse catastrophe. The inability of Sir John
Bowring to hold a Colonial Government was never
so evident as at present.
" The deportation of some hundred and thirty
larceners nailer sentence of imprisonment, because
we were afraid to keep them in the gaol, is the
most extraordinary imbecile act ever performed by
the governor of a British colony. Why, the very
guard taken fro:n our small garrison at such a junc-
ture to take care of them on the way to their d.est:-
nation, could keep treble such a posse in check
here if properly ordered V'
On the 20th of January, when Admiral Seymour
blew up the el-lurch and club-house, the last nen-
nant of British property, previous to leaving his
station off Canton, the fleet, after
.the Dutch Folly
and Bird's Nest forts had been abandoned, dropped
down the Macao passage, and took up their stations
as follows :—The Eacounter and Niger just below
Macao Fort ; the Comes three miles below them ;
the Acorn at the Barrier Fort ; the Sybille in
Blenheim Reach, the Barracouta at Hizir Island,
and the Nankin at the Bogue ; thus keeping optic
the entire channel and line of communication,
which it was supposed will be continued until some
of the reinforcements arrive. '
A tact mentioned to show that groat caution is
necessary on board the riv(r steamers 'occurred on
the 23d. "The steamer Queen (says the Friend of
China), with a valuable cargo on board, and a lorcha
in tow, started at 1 p.m. from her anchorage off the
P. and 0. Co.'s Wharf, and just as she had cleared
the shipping a message was sent that she had save
ral bad men on board, who meditated an attack
Upon hearing this Capt. Wynn at once cast off the
lorcha, and after seeing her anchored in a safe place
proceeded on his way to Macao, keeping a sharp
'watch on the reputed robbers. When off Cap-
sing-moon the Williamette was descried in full
chase, and shortly afterwards fired two guns as a
signal for the Queen to bring to, when a boat was
lowered from the Williamette, and Messrs. May;
Caldwell and Cluff, with four policemen, pro-
ceeded in her to the Queen. After consulting
together the Queen returned with her passen-
gers to Hong Kong, and on their arrival the
disposedmajority were 1.. t once conducted to the police
station. Some of the
concealedinfjl. their plans of attack,
Wynn that the
roafsetahles,plavrenohgtevirs poleaecdeabolaept. and well
had furnished themselves with sand and gunpowder
to throw into the eyes of the crew and blind them,
while two piratical boats were awaiting them at a
certain point outside, to aid in the completion of
their work."
The same journal says :
But little time was lost by the "Braves" in sig-
nalising the flitting of -Hen S. Sybille from
Whampoa by a glorious burn of everything foreign-
owned burnable ; the destruction, including the
dock-yard buildings of Hunt and Co., an American
firm, and a very large quantity of other American
though nominally English property. That Commo-
dore Armstrong, Commauder-in-Chief of the United
States naval forces in this quarter, had most ex-
cellent reason for leaving Whampoa, when he did,
and taking up a position off the United States
Naval Stores in Hong Kong at the present junc-
ture, wo do not entertain a doubt ; but to us, un-
initiated as we are in the mysteries of American
statesmanship, there.also appears some justice in the
complaints heard from " citizens" on all hands
—that commercial interests are not properly cared
for in these waters, and American property has
been unjustifiably sacrificed. This, however, is
subject for comment by American rather than by
English journalists ; but it may be that they, too,
may think, as we do, that it would have been wiser,
as it would have been more generous in Commodore
Armstrong, to have joined the English throughout
in the demonstration they are making, and not
have remained contentedly on his arms after the
simple destruction of the Barrier Forts.
The following account of the poisonings is from
the Hong Kong Register
In an extra which we published on Thursday
last we had just time to call attention to the fact
that an attempt had been made to poison all the
consumers of bread supplied by a Chinese baker.
This has naturally caused great stir and excitement
during the week, and been the fertile cause of many
rumours, true or false. The following is, as nearly
as we can collect, a statement of facts. We believe
it is the custom of the Parsees and other
natives of India to eat an early first breakfast.
Early on the morning of Thursday a medical
gentleman resident with us was called upon to pre-
scribe fur several Parsees and Moorinen lal,ourin;
under the effects of what appeared to be pt icon.
As the persons applying were from different houses,
and having servants of their own country, the only
suspicious article was, naturally, the bread, supplied
to them from the Esing shop, a Chinese bakery. As
the morning advanced numerous cases of sickness
occurred, and our attention was so much occupied
in giving what assistance We could render that we
were unusually late in breakfasting, °wing to which
thq cause of the sickness being apparent, we escaped
it by not eating any bread. After being tolerably
satisfied of the nature of the case, our first course
was to go to the police and report it, and advise that
every man in the Esing shop should be arrested.
The arrest was effected after some time, the per-
sons taken into custody amountin gto 49-; but Al-
lum, the principal partner, and hisfamily, consisting
of himself, his father, son, two Women and children
were missing, and on inquiry it was discovered that
the family had started fur Macao in the Shamrock
at 8 a.m. Fi om various sources we learned that Al-
lum had been busily engaged the previous day in

Here at Singapore matters have settled down to
something like quiet, the Chinese
,being afraid of
the great military preparations that were made to
punish them if they carried out their threat of ex-
terminating the European residenst. The danger,
however, will continue SO long as the war lasts in
China.

Her Majesty's ship Spartan, Captain Sir Wm.
Hoste, is the only vessel of war at Singapore.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ships Manilla and Rajah, intended to run between
negotiationSillgapowith t
Singapore
C l M ila;are here. It appears the
Spanish Government has been
broken off, so the Rajah proceeds to China and the
Manila to Bombay.
We are daily expecting the arrival of the gun-
boats and ships from England.
Troops are anxiously looked for from England
and India for service in China.

---
The Madras Athenceum, of Feb. 14, says :
" A message was received by electric telegraph,
late on Wednesday evening, ordering troops to be
sent to Singapore on account of tha d;sturbances
in China. •In cons?quence of this request the