The Sun.
London, England, 1844-02-07 00:00:00

CHINA.

(From the Bombay Overland Courier).
We last mouth gave news from China to the 30th of October,
and our present advices extend to the let of December, having
been brought by her Majesty's steamer Spiteful, which left Hong.
Kong on that day. The most prominent points of the intelligence
are signing of the supplementary treaty, the occurrence of a large
and destructive fire at Canton, and the death of Major E
Pottinger. The treaty was signed on Sunday, the Sth of October,
in a building erected for the occasion near the Anunghoy fort,
and not far, it is said, from where the opium was destroyed by
Lin. Sir Henry Pottinger bad proceeded thither the previous
evening, accompanied by his suite and several other gentlemen ;
and after the signatures of the two Chinese officers, the Imperial
Comniissioner Keying, and the Governor of Canton, Ke Kung, to-
gether with that of her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, had been duly
affixed to the document, the whole party were regaled with a
dinner. They returned to Macao Roads the same night. The
Emperor had consented to ratify the treaty without
waiting for her Majesty's ratification, and a copy was accordingly
dispatched to Pekin for that purpose. This, on its return, would
be dispatched to England; and it was expected to be received by
the 20th December. Kijor Eldred Pottinger, who had arrived in
China on a visit to Sir Henry, was selected as the bearer, and
would have left in that capacity, had he not unhappily fallen a vic-
tim to disease at Hong-Kong. He expired at Government House,
Victoria, on the 15th of November. "It were needless," says
the Friend of China, " to pass an eulogy upon the character or
merits of the Hero of Herat and Caubul; his name will be en-
rolled by posterity amongst the foremost of those who, by their
prudence, talent, and bravery, have served their country in emer-
gencies which had appalled less noble minds." The Supplementary
Treaty is promulgated by the Plenipotentiary, and to which, until
the treaty itself is "duly ratified, exchanged, and published,"
obedience is strictly enjoined. We also give a number of official
documents of different descriptions, comprising proclamations
and notifications both from the British and Chinese au.
thorities. The Government of India has been famed for
Its proclamations ; but the Government of Hong-Kong
seems to surpass it immeasurably. Short as has been
the period of the latter's existence, its " State papers"
would already, we should think, form a portly volume.
Amongst the documents to which we allude, the most important
are :—A Government notification, under date 4th October, calling
the attention of the " Masters, Owners, and Consignee s" of all
merchant vessels sailing under British colours, to the law for mer.
chant seamen, commonly called Sir James Graham's Act ; a pro-
clamation by the Imperial Commissioner, and his colleagues, de.
elating " that the warehouses belonging to the new merchants
(outside men), and those which appertain to tho old merchants (1. e.
Hong merchants), are now to be considered identical, without any
difference whatsoever," and the object of which also is " to encour-
age and promote a wider extension of the trade, inasmuch as the
merchants of all nations resort to the province of Cat.ton for the
purposes of traffic ;" a proclamation by Sir Henry Pottinger, pub.
lishing an order by the Queen in Council, and copies of a commu-
nication received from the Imperial Commissioner, and of the reply
afforded to it, relative to the resort of merchant vessels to other
ports than these thrown open by the treaty, a thing which, as our
readers are aware, has been expressly forbidden ; and filially, a
" General Memorandum," addressed to the Commanders of her
Majesty's vessels, and those of the Indian navy, in the China seas,
calling attention to such parts of the Plenipotentiary's proclama-
tion last noticed as impose particular duties on the naval force.
The Hong merchants have again petitioned Ke Kung, the Gover-
nor-General of Canton, on the subject of their debts and liabili-
ties ; but their memorialcontains nothing worthy of special notice
beyond a modest request that Government would lery contribu-
tions on the merchants engaged in trade under the new system, to
aid in releasing them from their pecuniary obligations. The Go-
vernor of Canton, in reply, informs them that their suggestion can-
not be complied with, and recommends them to cease petitioning,
and wait patiently till proper officers are appointed to give the matter
deliberation.

The latest accounts describe trade at Canton as having slightly
recovered from its late depression, a circumstance owing to the
relaxation in some measure of the injudicious regulations which
formerly trammelled it. The Chinese Government, it is believed,
intends remitting its claims, to a good extent, on the Hong mer-
chards, and this act of consideration, should it really be bestowed,
will no doubt tend greatly to improve the state of commercial al.
fairs. The fire, which took place on the 24th and 25th of Deter.
ber, completely destroyed the Danish and Spanish Hongs, and a
portion of the French, together with about twelve hundred houses,
and a vast amount of property of every description. The British
Consulate was burnt out, but the papers were saved. It is esti.
mated that the value of the goods belonging to the Chinese, which
were lost during the tire, amounts to 300,000 dollars. Another
fire broke out on the 26th, but was fortunately got under before
any considerable injury was done. Reason exists to believe that
both were the acts of incendiaries. The ground formerly occu.
pied by the British and Dutch factories has been rented by the
British authorities, who propose erecting thereupon the necessary
Consular offices, and letting the remainder to private parties.
The Consuls for Amoy and Shanghai have arrived at their desti.
nations. Henry Gribble, Esq., is Consul for Amoy; Captain G.
Balfour, of the Madras artillery, for Shanghai. R. Thorn, Esq., has
been appointed off►ciating Consul at Ningpo, and by the last accounts
had proceeded, or was about to proceed, to the scene of his duties.
The importation of goods at Ningpo, even according to the new
Ural, is prohibited pending his arrival. Trade at Chusan had been
active, but by the latest advices was rather fiat. No Consul has at
yet been appointed at Foo.chow.foo.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
(From the Overland Price Current, Jan. 1.)
A fair extent of business has been done since our last, but owing
to the heavy importations of many articles, combined with a dimi-
nution in the number of buyers, attributable to the continued un-
settled state ofthe Punjaub, prices have in several instances some-
what receded.

Mr.TALs.--There is little alteration to notice in the prices of
copper. Tile braziers, and raised bottoms are in fair demand at our
quotations. Sheeting has been sold at 53 rs. 5 as. per cwt., and
within the last week 53i rs. have been refused for it. South
American has slightly advanced, a sale having been made at 47 rs.
to 47 !,;, rs. British bar lion sold freely in the beginning of the
month at advanced prices, but the inquiry has latterly been limited,
and it has declined again to near the previlus rates, Swedish bar
was disposed of a short time since at 48 rs. 10 as., but more re-
cently dealers have offered 51rs., and we hear of a sale as high as
51 A IC. Other docriptiona of iron are all &lightly dearer,
.Steel