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

THE ENGLISH IN CHINA.

The following extracts from a letter, dated
Hong Kong, and describing the proceedings of, the
amiable objects ofso much Parliamentary solicitude,
will be read with interest :--
"The Chinese, emboldened by their successful incen -
diadem in foreign factories, have assumed offensive ope-
rations, while the squadron, under the command of Ad-
mixed Seymour, being composed
maintainof%,ess its
eleofgulraorgnd large size,
has been unable to do more than
keep open the communications with the colony. There
appears to be no chance of the obstinacy of the mandarins
giving way until the arrival of such a force as will be able
to act against them with effect. This the gunboats on the
way hither are expected to afford, but in the meantime
the entire population seems arming against foreigners,
without distinc.ion, and some fearful hazards have
marked the progress of the last month, acts of assassina-
tion having been frequent for the purpose of obtaining
the head maney offered by the provincial Government.
"Jan. 15.—1 am hardly able to hold my pen to write
you a few lines, being under the influence of a strong
emetic taken to avoid the effects of poisoned bread eaten
at this morning's breakfast. Mr. —, Mr. and myself
.were seized with violent fits of vomiting immediately
after leaving the table, and I have just been informed
that the whole town has been more or less affected in
the same way by bread baked by a Chinese shopman.
We are so surrounded by the scoundrels that it is hardly
possible to guar] against their designs ; and the atrocious
blood-money edicts issued by the Canton Government
have set on foot a system of assassination and kidnap-
ping. How this state of things will end it is impossible to
say; but, not withstanding the injury to our interests, I
cannot regret that the Canton people are at last about
to meet their deserts. Trifling as was the original
matter in dispute, the time must have come, sooner or
later, when the humiliating position of foreigners could
be no longer endured. At the other ports it is site-
gether different ; the Canton people are as much hated
by the Northerners as foreigners are in the south, and
the Shanghaimen openly express their satisfaction at the
action of our navy. Whether this feeling will continue
when they hear of our delay in enforcing terms I do not

"The
exports of tea for the season will be 25,000,000
lb. to 30,000,000;b, deficient.
Another letter, dated Hong Kong, January 15,
from which the following is an extract, states "
The baker from whom the poisoned bread was pur-
chased is in custody, but it is feared that legal difficul-
ties will prevent a conviction. My bread, fortunately,
was baked the day before and toasted, so that we es-
caped the effects of the poison. Natives as well as
Europeans hastened to the doctors, apparently in great
pain. I mean to make my cook, a Chinaman, taste
everything in my presence before I partake of it."

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and
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vari Messrs.on
kinds of machinery. The amount of their liatilities is
not ascertained, but it is believed to be large, protably
over 100,0001. The nature of their assets is doubtful.
According to some representations, they tare fully equal
to meet all claims, but a very different impression is
generally prevalent.