The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-20 00:00:00

THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA.

This Chinese quarrel happens to be one of the
questions which illustrate our "solidarity" in the
family of nations in the most marked manner. Wo
import from China nearly 12 million dollars' worth
of teas, silks, dTc., every year. A large portion of
this—the tea—is an absolute necessary of our life,
and cannot be foregone or enhanced in price with-
out causing great general annoyance among our
people. Now, the effect of the war will be to cut
us off from the supply of this necessary. We must
either, therefore, do without tea, and wait till the
French and English are pleased to make peace, and
graciously admit us to the fruits of our labours, or
we must take with them the part that belongs to a
first-class nation. Any American citizen can decide
which of the two courses it best befits the country to
adopt. But we are not even left to this. Ever since

the outbreak of h ostilities our countrymeishave been
sufferers. We have heard of an American pleasure-
boat being fired upon. We have heard of Ameri-
can missionaries being kidnapped and assassinated.
We have heard of American vessels so outrageously
attacked that they felt in requisite to vindicate
their credit by capturing the fort which assailed
them.

We have heard of American heads adorn-

ing the wall at Canton ; and by the very last mail,
we learn the lamentable story of the massacre of
Americans on board the ill-fated Thistle. Now, if
there be any use at all in a national marine, that
use must surely be to vindizate the national honour
under outrages of this kind, and to avenge the
blood of our unfortunate murdered countrymen.
Such cases as these are precisely the ones contem-
plated by the national Legislature, when large sums
of money are voted for the equipment and mainte-
nance of vessels like the Niagara and the Missis-
sippi. It seems, in fact, so clear, that we are
bound to espouse the same cause as the allies—
for our own sake—that without a little reflection
one can hardly understand how the question can
ever have been mooted. Here are these Chinese,
with a civilisation somewhat akin to that of the
Mexicans when Cortes fell upon them, or still
more to that of the Chaldeans or Baylonians in the
days of Nebuchadnezzar or Senacherib ; polished
and civilised in their way, but that way a poor one,
and clearly destined to give way and disappear on
contact with stronger types of civilisation ; im-
mensely numerous, but totally devoid of the discip-
line and organisation requisite to make their num-
bers available ; with a Government highly central-
ised and once perfect of its kind, now corrupt and
in decay everywhere ; vastly rich, but knowing
none of the great and useful usages of wealth ,•
great, abnormal, preposterous anomaly for thin
world in the 19th century. Upon these Chinese
we are dependent for one of our necessaries of
life ; and they are not only denying it to us, but
are falling upon our people and murdering theca
wherever they can. But for the friendly shelter
of the British fort of Viotoria, at Hong Kong, we
should have had far more losses to deplore. Under
these circumstances, we cannot doubt but that Mr.
Buchanan will direct that hostilities be commenced
in earnest against the Chinese. There is perhaps
hardly any necessity for such a treaty as the English.
and French hive made, and it might hamper us
without doing any good ; but we can fight as well
without as with a treaty, and that is the main
thing. Not so much that additional assistance is
needd to whip the Chinese, whom no doubt either
England or France could settle single-handed ; but
because it will have the best effect among the Asiatics
to learn that the three greatest Powers of the world.
are of the same mind on this matter, and that they
will combine to achieve their purpose. This alone
would probably induce the Emperor to put an end
to the war. On every ground—policy, expediency,
justice, and humanity—it would appear that a bold
and energetic course on the part of the United. States
can be recommended. We should help to terminate
hostilities ; we could throw our influence into the
scale in their favour were any attempt made to
punish them unduly ; we could see that the final
settlement were made not only in a shape that pro-
mised to be definite, but in a form which rendered
justice as well to the Chinese as to the growing in-
terests of our o wit Pacific possessions. How this policy
should be carried into effect is a matter for future
consideration ; the impossibility of penetrating the
country with success has suggested the seizure of
the seaports—only two of which, Canton and.
Shanghai, are worth seizing at any rate ; this with,
perhaps, 'the occupation of one or two roads from
the tea-growing district to Shanghai, would be all
that might be required, until the Emperor, satisfied"
that his Russian friends were of little use, and that
his enemies were in earnest, agreed to make peac3,
and to place his affairs with the world on a footing
of fair, free, and equal intercourse for - all time to
come.—New York Herald.

ME MANCHESTER ART TREASURES
EXHIBITION.

MANCHESTER, SATURDAY.

Since our last notice of this repertory of art tt &-
sures a great addition of the choicest and most
priceless gems has been made to those then col-
lected. They consist of carvings in wood and ivory
by ancient and modern masters, and for truth, de-
licacy, and skill in execution, are, perhaps, Uri..
paralleled,
The Bishop of Exeter is a contributor to this class
of articles. One of his lordship's contributions e-
presents "The Three Wise Men from the East of-
fering their gifts to the infant Jesus." Another of
the right rev. bishop's contributions, and be Lilt-
fully executed, is the "Agony in the Garden."
A day or two ago some flue specimens of wood-
carving, by Wallis, of Louth, in Lincolnshire, ar-
rived. They consist of dead game, fruit, and a
large bouquet of wild flowers. In the centre of the
bouquet is a linnet's nest with young birds in it.
We observed also the other day, in the building,
the beautiful nine-light silver candelabrum that
was last year manufactured by Mr. J. G. Peters, of
Cambridge, at the joint (equest of the municipal
and university authorities, and by them presented
to Sir John Patteson, as a mark of their esteem for
the admirable way in which he had settled certain
long-existing differences between the corporation
and university. The Cambridge Corporation con-
tribute their regalia to the exhibition ; it consists
of three maces, silver gilt. The various colleges
of Cambridge also contribute numerous valuable
articles, among which we may name, in passing, the
foundress' cup of Pembroke College, date 14th cen-
tury ; an antique cup, silver gilt, of the 14th cen-
tury, presented by Bishop Bateman to Trinity Hall.
We have also the " loving cup" and cover from
Trinity Hall. Corpus Christi also sends its curious
old cup of the foundress, made out of a very large
buffalo horn, the mountings being silver gilt. St.
John's also sends the Salisbury cup, a rose water
dish and ewer, and a silver urn. Christ college
sends its gold cup, with its castellated base and
portcullis apex, its three gold salts and covers, its
consecrated wafer dishes, and its six " apistla
spoons," with the arms of the college engraved in
the bowl. There are also many other contributions
from the places above enumerated, which we can-
not now notice

We have made a rough calculation of the super-
ficial extent of wall space in the Great Hall, the six
picture
galleries, and the four ante-galleries, de-
stined for the reception of pictures—that is, oil
paintings exclusively ; and if we are correct (and
we have endeavoured to be within the mark), the
aggregate space is not less than 4,400 square yards,
or very nearly an acre of paintings ; the aggregate
money value of which
would certainly reach some
fabulous anunipt,—.3lanckster Guardian.