The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-01 00:00:00

EVENING, SEP I'EIWIB ER, 1, 1657.

AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

The following is from a letter dated Hongkong,
July 8 :
,‘ Lord Elgin has arrived.
It was quite time that something should happen
to break the dreary monotony of existence here.
The lalt mail did not arrive, an,l we have onlyjust
learnt that the steamer was wrecked. The Shan-
non, which brought Lord Elgin, brought us no
news of any description, except that the Simoom
was gone on to Calcutta with the troops from the
Mauritius.

The sickly season is doing its work. Of the, 600
men who new form the streneth of the 59th (a re-
giment sent here some eight years ago) there are
150 in hospital. The proportion is still greater
among the blue jackets and marines up the river.
Happily, however. the Hongkong fever has not re-
appeared in its old terrible malignity. Although
fever, dysentery, diarrhoea, and ague are rife, deaths
are not numerous. There is plenty of hospital-
room, and the surgeons can hold every case well in
hand. Precautions are also mutt: plied with a praise-
worthy minuteness. Every sentry has sherry and
bitters.given him to fortify his stomach against the
night miasma; the ships are alternately moved
down to the healthy islands at the Bogue • and the
expulsion of our old friend, the Mandarin Of Chnen-
pee, was because his fort was wanted for sanitary
purposes.
The few who have escaped, and who are daring
enough to go out in the sun, try to escape from
themselves by a voyage round the island or a trip
to Macao. I have accomplished both these achieve-
ments. The voyage round the island was performed
a private pleasure steamer.' and, notwithstanding
eielsraerice of a well-filled refrigerator, was the
hottest thing I ever did in my life. S'anley, at the
back of the island, is a native village and an English
barrack. It stands upon a pretty isthmus, with the
Chinese Sea breathing its south-west monsoon into
its face and a tranquil, landlocked bay, rippling
against its heels. They say that bay is not large
enough or deep enough for the fleet of merchant•
men the China trade employs. It is now used as a
bathing-place for the troops, as the shelter of small
fishing craft, and as a resource of very hungry
pirates, who at night or early dawn have sometimes
dashed into the bay and attempted to carry off
fishing boats under the eyes of the garrison. It is
a voyage of 40 miles round this little island.
It is scarcely more to Macao, and, although the
fate of the Thistle and the Queen has rendered the
perils of that passage more notorious, I doubt
whether there are more pirates lurking in the archi-
pelago between Victoria and Macao than in the
islets at the back of Hong-Kong. While we gaily
steamed along in our little toy steamer several times
did some vicious looking junks stand down towards
us, their large mat sails looking like the wings of a
bird of prey, and heavy cannon frowning mischief
from their deck. But they always stood off again i
when they found that we were a party of eight
Englishmen with revolvers in our belts and rides
lying close at hand. We grow used to precautions
in this land. Some days since I went to dinner at
a house high up upon the hill, and, expressing some
surprise at seeing all the guests solemnly depositing
their revolvers as they entered, was told that a few
weeks since a headless trunk was found in the ditch
that passes by the wall of the garden. Seven days
ago Mr. Chisholm Anstey, Her Majesty's Attorney.
General, was at Macao upon some professional bu,i-
nem, and, going out to enjoy a swim before break-
fast, took his comprador with him to guard his
clothes. Coming back to the city, the comprador,
who was a native of that neighbourhood, remarked
that six fellows, of whose antecedents he had some
knowledge, had posted themselves three on each
side of a narrow place which he and his master
trust pass. This fact being communicated to Her
Majesty's law officer, he drew his revolver and
walked up to affront the danger. The scoundrels
retired precipitately, but with many imprecations
upon their countryman, the comprador. Butab,
Chung, and Ching, and ang, and Lin, bad you but
known how rusty and unserviceable that pistol was,
you would have come on boldly with your 15-foot
spears ; the bag of dollars would have been yours.
Why so faint-hearted ?
" Quis desiderio sit snider ant modus
Tam can capitis ?"
That head was worth 500 dollars to you and Yeh.
The passage boats to Macao are little armouries.
There are cannon upon deck and revolvers in every
-beft:---'l3nt- so it was ort boar ethe Quetatew hen the
cannon was turned round and fired into the cabin
upon the passengers absorbed in tiffin. Further
precautions, however, _are now taken. In. the Fei
Ma the Chinese passengers are put down the hold
12 feet deep, and the ladder is taken away. A sai-
lor keeps guard over them with a drawn cutlass.
One of the Yankee Ail s has an iron cage on deck,
into whichtheChinese passengers are invited to walk,
and are then locked up. The Peeinsu'ar and Orien-
tal boat has a better but more costly precaution,
she carries no Chinese passengers. Easy, cosy I. en-
ple at home, who fear nothing but the gout or an
easterly wind, may laugh, or may even, perhaps,
be very indignant at these precautions. But two
boats out of fire have been already taken, and the
passengers put to death. Death at the hands of
those simple sons of civilisation is not an easy tran-
sit. The Bustard gunboat only a few days since,
on taking a pirate, found two men nailed to planks,
each with a stinkpot tied round his neck and slow
matches burning. By what torments the prisoners
taken in the Queen perished we do not know. She
was carried up that v, ry Fatshan Creek where the
battle of the Ist of June took place. pieces of
machinery marked by fire were seen on
a point
near the fort ; some revolvers were found in one
of the junks ; and Captain Corbett obtained a Por-
tuguese flag from a mandarin boat which after-
wards blew up. These circumstances do not abso-
lutely prove, but they strongly suggest, that some
scene of horrors was enacted in this spot, and that
the fleet we destroyed were spectators of the tor-
tures. Every man in that fleet has been a pirate,
and there would be no lack of proficients in the art
of producing agony.
Such, up to the 2d of this month, were our re-
sources iu the absence of news froth England, and
in our ignorance of the wreck of the Erin. With
these rare exceptions we sit in a half torpid state
upon our verandah, or, if we have none, then on
the club verandah, and wait till the sun goes down
and the notables of the place come forth for their
half-hour's exercise. The booming of guns gives
token that General Ashburnhain is exchanging
civilities with the French and American navies.
General Garrett appears on his Penang pony—
strong nerved old man, who alone, of all the new
comers, has affronted the first burst of the climate
without suffering a day's illness, who tells of Pen-
insular sieges and Crimean tattles ju-t as an iron
column would record them ; their dates are written
in lines upon its front, but it is tough and unworn
as when first set up. Colonels Pakenham and
Wetherell are walking together is very good pre-
servation, and doubtless think this Chinese affair
a very small matter after the battles before Sebas-
topol. Colonel Lugard is meditating deep things
about mysteries which I attempt not to fathom, for
Colonel Lugard is the head of the Engineers. I
wish he would think it necessary for some military
pureose to drive a tunnel through this Victoria
mountain and let in th© south-west monsoon. Major
Macdonald, who so promptly put Balaklava to
rights, has been at h's desk all day, and is stretch•
ing right away for a rapid walk. There are others
whose names are scarcely less known to despatches,.
but quos Wane perscribere longunt est. The ladies
of the colony are coming forth sparingly in pals-
quins or in pony chairs, and some of the residents
are dashing by in light four-wheeled match carts,
as though they could not get quick enough over
their two miles of ground. The portico of the club
has it groups of lookers-on, and in the hall there is
aHet
little
Kong m
crowdo n
ustb
surroundinge eaten the ice pails—for ices at
between 6
and 7 o'clock,
or not at all.
Suddenly from the mouth of the harbour comes
the sound of guns. We have scarcely applied our-
selves to count them when the Calcutta opens in
reply, fires 19 times in measured succession ; then
after a pause, seven more. There can be no doubt
any longer—the great man has arrived. The sun
asteasns steadily into port and comes
ce;hatbneut most of us
;hanged
a, the eowf wind
is down
stles aaina dd
tt
ee
mna tpladseeers
eche)
fna has c,
hs
wait to caastschhe
to anchor alongside of the flagship.
Lord Elgin has arrived in perfect health. Two
days were given to receptions on board. On the
third he landed under salute from all the ships and
from the fort, and the troops were turned out, and
there was a gala day, and Sir John Bowring con-
ducted him through a line of soldiers to Govern-
ment house, where he now remains a guest, and
where dinner parties, levees, and addresses are the
order of the day.
We have therefore a Plenipotentiary whom all
parties hope and believe to be the man for the oc-
casion ; and we have leaders who, if ordered to do
so, would take 10,000 men through China from the
Yellow Sea to the Himalaya, but we have not got
the 10,000 men.
It was very evident thAt Lord Elgin's position

ill 1

will not allow him to remain idle in Hongkong,
and no one was surprised when the rumour spread
that lie was going northward. The favourite
theory is that he is going :to Japan, and it is not
impossible that we may see the c lasts of that mys-
terious island. The course really resolved upon,
howeVer, is this. A few days after this -mail has
been dispatched the Calcutta, the Shannon, the
.Pearl, the Inflexible, the Hornet, and two gun
boats will proceed northwards, to rendezvous at
Shanghai, and to proceed thence to the mouth of
the River Pei-ho, on which river Pekin stands.
Arrived at the nearest point to the capital, Lord
Elgin will dispatch to the authorities, for trans-
, mission to the Emperor, a le•tg requiring the
Empet or within a specified - time fie her to re-
cognise or to repudiate the acts of his effiCers
at Canton. If the Court of Pekin repudiate Yeli
and pay compensation for past injuries and give
' security against their recurrence well. If,
as is most probable, either no eotice b&taken of
the letter or a disposition be shown to entangle the
ambassador in questions of cetemoniat, Lord Elgin
will declare war and thus relieve the relations of
the two Powers from their present anomalougposi-
tion. Canton will then be occupied; the trade of
the northern ports' will not be uunece=s-trity later-
fered with, but such further proceedings will be
taken as may be necessary to bring the Court: of
Pekin to reason.
Such is, I believe, the intended policy. Under
other circumstances I should question it !nest hos
tilely. It is full of risks. It seems to give autho-
rity.tn the mischievous notion that a lkiwertwjtich
• refuses to 'lie-One of the comity of nations is entitled
to all. the- courtesies and forms of intercourse .'which
nations Maintain among-til*raselves;e•
affords an' Opportunity for the eterVis Of diplo-
, matio cunning, which may compel Lord Elgin
either to fail in his mission or to adopt a tone of
decieion which may be readily represented as a
rudeness. It affords a loophole for oicape from a
position which will not recur. The answer to those
considerations, however, is this—We must do some-
thing, and we have not force to do what we ought
to do.
Lord Elgin, therefore, will either go direct to
Pekin and conclude a treaty or he will come back
and occupy Canton. In the interest of a durable
peace all the Europeans here hope that the latter
will be the course which events will take.
Many people think that there could be no diffi-
culty in carrying on our corrective measures in
India and our war with China at the same time.
There are doubtless Sepoy regiments which, al-
though not openly in revolt, are not trustworthy in
action against their co-religionists. Why not send
them to China ? Sepoys have already be.,n upon
the heights above Canton and behaved admirably.
The sun of China, under which our ruddy English
recruits grow feeble, as flies in frost, would deal
tenderly with the Hindoo.. So it was when Gough
took Canton and Elliot sold his conquest. So it
would be again.
I believe the only objection to this obvious and
ready expedient is the expense. If you bring
Indian troops here you must put all the Queen's
troops upon Indian allowances.
Since the days of General Gough the Cantonese
look upon us as robbers and booty seekers whom it
is right to exterminate when they can ; whom they
could thrash if they pleased, but whom they cm
always get rid of by tossing to us a heap of silver.
So they pointed derisively at us whenever they saw
us ; they called out after us "Tab" (" beat them"),
and "Shat" (" behead them") ; they encourage I
each other to acts of violence, and th:y wrought
that intolerable condition of things whivh makes it
necessary for us by more imposing force and by
higher conduct to take as attitude of dignity—te
show the,,e Cantonese that we are not petty pirates
and plunderers like themselves, but a mighty
necessity fur good and for evil which to them is
irreeistable as natural death.

..,We must do strong violence now, be3ause we
have baen weak and foolish in time past. But
what we do we must do thoroughly. A single re-
verie and we should have either to withdraw from
these shores or to overrun half the empire. lam
not resting a feather weight; upon my own judgment
when I affirm that with our present force we could
take this city in six hours. But I cannot resist the
weight of the authority which says that we could
not hold it as we ought to hold it. Great genius
might doubtless multiply small means. I have
heard it said by men whose deels give them right
to talk, that 500 men relieved once a fartuiglit
ought to hold the city for six months. Perhaps
the ships could find occasion for keeping the in-
habitants of the 96 -villages at home ; it was they
who attacked General Gough upon the heights, and
the terrible threat of a bombardment is always
open. The probabilities are that after the first day
tee city would be as tranquil as this city of Vic-
toria. The Chinese shopkeers here say, " You
catchee citee ; we open shop halt hour after." But
this is only a probability. Were it nut for the
danger of the insurgents being beforehand with us
precipitation would be madness. Even with this
danger impending it would not do to run the ri-k
of finding ourselves in Canton with an in adequate
force daily dwindling from overwork and disease.

JULY 10.
The following is Lord Elgin's answer to the ad-
dress that has been presented to him :
" Gentlemen,—l am much gratified by the welcome
which you are pleased to proffer to me on my arrival at
Hong Kong.
"I am aware of the deep interest uhich you have iu
the re-establishment of a solid peace, and of the weight
which deservedly attaches to your opinion,—not only on
the points specifically adverted to in this address, but
also on the larger question of the r, -adjustment of our
relation§ with the Chinese Empire. I belt therefore at
' all times listen with attention and respect to any repre-
get tations which you may see fit to make to me on these
subjects, although the interests of the public service for-
bid that I should discuss the instructions with which
our Sovereign has honoured me, or the course which, in
pursuance of those instructions, it is my intention to

pursue.
" Without, however, departing from the reserve which
a sense of duty prescribes to me, I may venture to state
that I concur with you in the opinion that no settlement
of our present difficulties will be satisfactory which shall
fail to teach the Cantonese a wholesome respect for the
obl gations of their own Government in its relations with
independent Powers, and for the l tws of hospitality to•
wards strangers who resort to their shores for peaceful
purposes of trade.
" The powerful fleet already assembled on these coast,
which will soon be supported by an adequate military
force, is a pledge of her Majesty's determination to
afford protection to her faithful sullects in this quarter,
and to maintain the rights to which they are by treaty
entitled.

" It is essential to the permanence of pacific relations
with China, and to the security of trade, that the Court
of Pekin should be apprised that an arrogant refusal to
treat with other Powers on the terms prescribed by the
comity of nations, or the alleged wilfulness of provincial
authority, will no: henceforth be held to release it from
the responsibility of faithfully :tittering to engagements
contracted with independent and sovereign States.
" You refer in language of much force and justice to
the difficulties which beset the mission:on which I am en-
tering. lam not insensible to those difficulties. But
knowing as I do that the Government which I serve is
pursuing no selfish objects, that we may count on the
n,rdial sympathy and active co-operation of other great
and generous rations, interested with ourselves in the
spread of commerce and the extension of civilt,at:on
—knowing, moreover, the valour and discipline of the
forces, both military and naval, which, under able
and experienced commanders, are prepared, if need be,
to support the honour of our country's flag,—l see no
reason to doubt that, by prudence and patience, modera-
tion and firmness, they may be overcome.
"To Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co.,
" Dent and Co., and others.
"Hong Kong, July 8,"

The Edinburgh, Oourant announces that the office
(unpaid) of chairman of the new Scotch Lunacy Board
has been offered to Viscount Melgund, M.P. The two
paid commissioners are likely to he Dr. James Cox?, of
Edinburgh, and Dr. Browne, of the Crichton Institu-
tion, Dumfries.
PLYMOUTH, Saturday.—ln consequence of easterly
gales several wind-bound ships are in the Channel,
among others, the Cairngorm, Captain /yakle•
john, with rice, linseed, &c. She left Calcutta, May
' 31, and on rounding the Cape of Good Hope
experienced a very severe gale which induced
her to call at St. Helena July 5, where about 40
(Ahem had taken refuge, including the Historian, from
Calcutta for New York, and the Wugoola, from Ran-
goon for Cork. After leaving the island she spoke the
British Lion, from Calcutta, and the Davenport, froth
Akyab for Falmouth. The bark Pharamond, Captain
Phillips, which left Launceston, Tasmania, May 3
rounded the Horn June 18, and crossed the line
July 23, experienced very mild weather and little
wind all the voyage home, and has landed passengers
and a small mail here. She spoke, June 6, the.Ameth -
rican whaler Sea Gull, from New Zealand,
l
for New Bedford ; July 4, Star of the Sea, steering
eastward ; July 27, ship Marathon, 120 days from Bom-
bay, for London ; 28th, Elizabeth Y eo, 94 days from
Bombay, for Hull ; 31 t, Jane Boodie, from Campbel-
town.for Denmark ; August 4, the Cuba, 97 days from
Bombay, for London ; 6th, Perek r, 99 days from Born.
bay, for London ; and 15th, Hercules, 102 days from
Padang, for Amsterdam.