The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-12 00:00:00

CHINA.

The following is from the China Nail, Hong
Kong, Nov. 29 :
" The intelligence from the north of China con-
tinues to be of great interest, as the treaty has, with
the Emperor's consent, been posted over the walls of
Pekin; the Russian ambassador has established him-
self in the city ; preparations were being made for
the reception of Mr. Bruce early in the spring;
and the whole of the allied army had left Pekin,
the greater part of it having reached Tientsin
by the 17th instant.
" In our last Overland issue we mentioned that
the ratifications of the Treaty of Tientsin had been
exchanged, and a Convention entered into con-
taining such highly important new stipulations as
the opening of Tien-tsin as a port of trade, and the
removal of the interdict on emigration from China.
The consent of the Emperor to the treaty was
received, and, having been posted all over the
walls of Pekin. was read by crowds of the
astonished natives, who could scarcely believe
their own eyes on beholding such an instance of
Imperial condescension. Our advices make no
mention of the convention of Pekin having
been published in a similar manner ; and we trust
that such an unadvisable step will not be insisted on,
as it may very likely cause new difficulties, and the
substantial results gained from the Chinese are too
important to be imperilled for the sake of subjecting
them to further barren humiliation.
" Several ceremonial visits were then exchanged
at the Imperial Palace, between Prince Kung and
the English and French ambassadors, and on these
occasions less of the undisturbed sulkiness' was
displayed. On the 7th inst. the army was under
orders to proceed to Pekin, but its departure was
delayed in order to give eclat to the introduction of
Mr. Bruce to the Chinese officials. That gentle-
man arrived on the Bth, and on the same day he
was introduced to Prince Kung by Lord Elgin, on
which occasion polite remarks were made by all
the chief parties.
" On the 9th, Lord Elgin, Mr. Bruce, and their
suite left Pekin, and proceeded by the river to Tien-
tsin. Mr. Adkins, of the Consular service, was left
in Pekin, to make preparations for Mr. Bruce's resi-
dence there. He is the only English official left in
the capital ; and, after recent events, the courage he
has thus displayed is worthy of admiration. Mr.
Adkins was in one of the gunboats sunk at the mouth
of the Peiho in 1859 ; so, for a non-combatant, he
has certainly had more than his share of the danger.
" Pekin is described to us as distinguished from
other Chinese cities by its size, the splendour of its
walls, and the breadth and regularity of its streets.
These latter are almost all unpaved. Though the
houses are neatly carved in front, they are, on the
whole, mean-looking; and the streets are either
badly paved, or not paved at all. The temples are
described as magnificent, though some of them show
signs of neglect.
" Count Ignatieff, the Russian ambassador, has
already established himself at Pekin, and intends to
remain there throughout the winter, while the Hon.
Mr, Bruce winters at Tientsin along with a portion
of the army, and does not proceed to the capital
until .early in the spring.
"The allied army left Pekin about the 10th, and
a portion of the movement onwards was partially
effected in boats. On the 17th inst., which is our
latest date, the whole of the army had reached Tien-
tsin, with the exception of 1,500 men, who were
waiting at Ho-si-wu. Our latest date from the
Taku fort is the 19th inst., at which time a portion
of the army was being rapidly sent off, and of these
troops many have already arrived at Hong Kong.
Major-General Sir Robert Napier, with a portion
of his staff, arrived here on the 27th inst. The
Chesapeake, Admiral Hope's flagship, is expected
here shortly; and it is understood that Admiral
Jones proceeds to Japan, with a squadron, in order
to make a moral demonstration.
" In the neighbourhood of Shanghai the rebels
are again displaying some activity, and it was re-
ported by the Toutae of that place that 400 boats
full of them were on their way to attack it. They
had beaten the imperialist forces at Tsinghoo and
at Sunkeong. At Ningpo, on which the rebels are
believed to be marching, the greatest terror pre-
vailed. At Amoy the dock company continues its
labours with success; and at Swatow, or in its
neighbourhood, some attempts have been made to
kidnap coolies, one lorcha full of them having been
despatched from Macao.
" At Canton an important concession has been
obtained from the Governor-General, chiefly, we
understand, through the exertions of Mr. Hart.
Permission has been given to the 80-peep, a foreign
steamer, to run in some of the inland waters, and
trade with Kum-chook, a village among the silk
villages to the west of Canton, and also to Shek-
loong, a village from whence sugar may be ex-
pected in large quantities, in the Toonkoon district.
This is the beginning of what may be an immense
carrying traffic.
" Another matter of importance at Canton is the
difficulties which are said to be arising in the way
of the emigration of coolies to the West Indies. Mr.
Austin has threatened to shut up his depot unless
some difference is made between him and the Spanish
agents. A more serious difficulty is that a number
of peasants who were coming down to Hong Kong
to emigrate, were stopped on their way by the
mandarins.

" At Fuhchau there has been a bloody and despe-
rate conflict between the mandarins and some Can-
tonese pirates. It appears that the foreign commu-
nity in that port are much in need of protection
from the British navy.
" Hong Kong is again becoming enlivened by
the presence of members of the expeditiQUAry

force. The Civil Service Abuse Commission had
had some more meetings, dragging its weary
length along.
" The exorbitant demands of the teamen had
brought business to a comparative stand. The
sales of country teas show that recent accounts
from home have restrained the impetuosity of late
operators, who must be heavy losers at last home
prices."

AUSTRALIA.
(Front the Melbourne Herald of Nov. 4.)
The colony is once more passing through the
ordeal of a ministerial crisis. This familiar event
has this time come upon us somewhat more sud-
denly and unexpectedly than usual ; nor, at the
moment we write, is it at all easy to forecast its
ultimate issues, politically speaking. At worst,
however, it will be but the substitution of one set
of Ministers who may possibly possess the confi-
dence of the country for another set of Ministers

who, once possessing it, lost it irretrievably, and
solely through their own impolitic conduct.

The Legislature met for its second session on
Tuesday last, when his Excellency delivered the
following speech :-

" MR. PRESIDENT AND HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-
" MR. SPEAKER AND GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE

ASSEMBLY—
" I regret that the necessity of providing for the exi-
gencies of the public service of the ensuing year has obliged
me to call you together after the short interval allowed for

repose from the fatigues of the last session, at a time when
attendance upon your Parliamentary duti©s must be incon-

venient to you.

"I trust with your assistance, to be enabled to make
arrangements by which future sessions may commence at
a time of the year more suitable for the despatoh of public
business. To effect this object it will be the duty of my
advisers to submit for your consideration such measures
only as are indispensable for the public welfare, in order
that the present session may be brought to a elose at the
earliest possible period.
"The bill for the Better Management of the Goldfields,
which was laid before you at the close of the last session,
has since received material amendment, and together with
bills for the better Administration of Justice upon the Gold-
fields, and for authorising and regulating Gold Mining on
Private Property, subjects upon the importance of whioh I
need not dwell, will be submitted to you.
"It is my duty to call your attention to the subject of
the occupation of the Crown lands of the colony for pastoral
purposes. A series of resolutions will be submitted by my
advisers, as to the mode of dealing with these lands, and
as the basis of a bill which will be introduced for the pur-
pose. I recommend to your most earnest consideration the
means by which they may be rendered most productive to
the public revenue, and most available for the public benefit.
"The necessity for a reform in the present system of
transferring land becomes daily more apparent, and a bill to
simplify and render indefeasible titles to land will at once
be introduced.
"Your consideration will be invited to measures for the
amendment of the existing laws relating to municipal in-
stitutions, and for the establishment of district councils with
large powers of self-government, and taxation. I need not
point out to you the evils arising from excessive centralisa-
tion of the functions of Government, or the advantages to
bo derived from local institutions.
"A bill for the consolidation and amendment of the
existent insolventlaws, the defects of which are seriously
felt by the mercantile community, together with other
important measures of law reform, will also be laid before
you.
"The moral and social evils arising from the number of
neglected and deserted children in this community are
painfully conspicuous, and a bill will be introduced pro-
viding for their maintenance and education.
" Among other measures which will be brought under
your consideration, I may enumerate bills for consolidating
and amending the laws relating to the naturalisation of
aliens, and the laws between master and servant, for regu-
lating the fencing of land, for the amendment of the law
relating to the impounding of cattle, for the regulation of
harbour trusts, and of weights and measures, for postal
reform, and for the taking an account of the population of
the colony, in accordance with the desire of the Imperial
Government that a simultaneous census should be taken
throughout her Majesty's dominions during the year.
" I have had under my consideration the report of the
commission which I appointed to inquire into the state of
the civil service of the colony. A bill, based upon and
carrying out the most important suggestions contained in
that report, will be submitted to you. This measure will
effect material saving in the expenditure of the country,
and will, I trust, diminish the labours of future sessions,
and increase the efficiency of the Public Service.
" GENTLEMEN or THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

" The estimates for the ensuing year will immediately be
laid before you. They have been framed with the strictest
regard to economy compatible with the efficiency of the
Fublic service, and embrace important reductions from the
expenditure of previous years.
"HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OP THE LEGISLATIVE COVN-
CIL, AND GENTLEMEN OP THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
" Your attention will be invited during the session to the
propriety of providing a permanent and adequate supply of
water to the interior of the country, and to the necessity
for the protection of our harbours from foreign aggression.
" The subjects which I have mentioned, though few in
number, are of great importance, and I earnestly pray that
your deliberations may, under the blessing of Almighty
God, insure the continuance of the tranquillity and pros-
perity which the country now enjoys."
When the Assembly met to discuss the foregoing
speech, there were unmistakeable evidences per-
ceptible of a coming storm. Mr. Jones executed
his assigned duty in a perfunctory style, which
had the effect of concentrating the attention of the
house on the many glaring defects and omissions in
the speech. The seconder, Mr. Lyall, did not say
a single word upon it. The house then adjourned.
Next day Mr. Brooke came down prepared with
a specific amendment on the Ministerial address—
which was, in reality, an indirect vote of censure on
the Government for their non-announcement of
anything like a definite scheme of policy. The
result of the division on Mr. Brooke's amendment
was a majority against Ministers of 34 to 21. It
was clear that their hour was come. They had
hinted at the possibility of a dissolution in the event
of the motion being carried against them ; but the
division showed them to be in such perfectly hope-
less straits, that even a dissolution would not have
availed them. The only course left open to them
was simple resignation.
Mr Nicholson accordingly announced next day
that the Ministry had resigned.
The besetting sins of the fallen Ministry were an
overweening self-confidence, and weakness of intel-
lectual capacity.
Mr. Nicholson, on resigning, recommended his
Excellency to send for Mr. O'Shanassy. That
gentleman was accordingly summoned, but he
definitively declined to take office at present, for
certain strong personal and political reasons. His
Excellency, on Mr. O'Shanassy's recommendation,
sent for Mr. Ebden—who also declined, on similar
grounds. Both these gentlemen, however, dis-
tinetly stated their willingness to give their hearty
support to any Ministry that might be formed from
their side of the house. Mr. Brooke was next sent
for, as being the mover of the adverse resolution;
and that gentleman has undertaken to attempt the
construction of a Cabinet out of the thirty-four who
voted with him. The negotiations to that end are
still in progress.