The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-03 00:00:00

Consul this attempt has proved a signal failure, and the in-
habitants of a portion of the suburbs of the city have been
ordered to evacuate their houses that the foreigners may oc-
cupy them. The locality allotted, though good, is not the
most favourable, being at some distance from the quarter of
the city where business is carried on. Both houses and land
are, however, to be rented very cheap—the latter at from 20
to 30 taels per mow (equal to from 21. to 31. per. acre). Mer-
chants resorting to Shanghae will probably prefer paying the
Chinese residents in the quarter of the city where business
is carried on at a somewhat higher rent, in consideration of
the facilities offered there for carrying on business; and as
the attempt to hamper the trade has preyed unsuccessful, no
difficulty will arise to prevent them from so doing. It was to
be expected that, finding themselves unable to cope with us
in the field, the Chinese would endeavour to counteract us in
carrying out the articles of the treaty ; and though they have
been foiled in this, the first instance, it will require the strict-
est
vigilance, on the part of her Britannic Majesty's officers,
to prevent restrictions from being imposed. As an instance of
the disposition of the authorities, we may quote the follow-
ing :—The schooner Mazeppa arrived at Shanghae, and de-
clared a few bales of cotton and woollen goods to pay duty as
musters ; these, however, she did not land, finding there was
no market for.them, and as she wished to depart without de-
lay, her commander applied to the British Consul to permit the
Chinese officers to suvey the goods on board. The Taou-tai took
alarm at this, well knowing that he bad been the cause of no
sales havir.gbeen effected, and proposed that, as such was the
case, no duty should be paid. The Consul, however, insisted that
the duty should be received, and next day it was accordingly
paid. Trade is extremely dull, but there is every prospect of
an improvement now that the Chinese are made aware that
their attempts to establish a monopoly will not be allowed to
succeed, and we doubt not that our next arrivals will bring
us information of a more pleasing character than the present.
We must again repeat that it will require constant vigilance
on our part, to prevent, ourselves from being overreached ;
though foiled in this instance, the Chinese will not be dis-
couraged from making other ate empts, and we hope a remon-
strance will be made by his Excellency the Plenipotentiary
on this gross attempt to• violate in the outset the terms both
of the original and supplementary treaties.
The restriction imposed by her Majesty's Consul with regard
to the carrying of fire-arms, was removed immediatly upon
the sailing of the American barque Valparaiso, and a party of
officers, who arrived from Chusan on a sporting excursion,
had no cause to regret the trouble they had taken.
(From the Canton Press, Jam. 13.)
By accounts ft om Manilla, we regret to learn that the
Spanish brig Campechano, from Liverpool, bound to Manilla,
was, on the sth of last month, totally lost on the Montufar
Shoal, in the Straits of San Bernardino. The sea was run-
ning high at the time the vessel struck, and she broke up al-
most immediately after, leaving to the crew the only alter-
native of saving their lives by swimming on shore, which
most of them reached in safety, but four were unfortunately
drowned in the attempt. The vessel bad a very valuable
cargo of piece goods, worth between 30,0001. and 40,000/.
In the Manilla paper, of the 17th December, we observe
a Government order, permitting to the Chinese of Manilla
the smoking of opium from the beginning of this year, and
directing the sale of the drug by retail to be farmed out, as
is now done at Singapore, Batavia, and other places. The
Indians and other inhabitants of Manilla are not, however,

permitted to smoke opium ; this permission applies to the
Chinese only, and these are not to be allowed to smoke, ex-
cept in such place as pointed out by the authorities. Into
the public opium smoking house no 'lndians or other inhabi-
tants are to be permitted to enter, and the magistrates are
directed strict", to enforce this regulation. We know not
whether the Manilla Indians have a taste for the drug; it is
likely they have it in common with most of the islanders of
the Archipelago, and if so, they will soon know how to cir-
cumvent the authorities in procuring the drug. The number
of Chinese alone at Manilla, although considerable, is not
likely to make the opium farm a very profitable branch of
revenue to the Government.
Her Majesty's ship Dido, Hon. Captain Keppel, returned
from Manilla on the 7th, with his Excellency Lord Saltoun,
Commander of her Majesty's military force in China. Lord
Saltoun gave over his command to Major-General d'Aguilar
on Thursday last. It is said his Lordship has taken his pas-
sage in the Charles Forbes, for Bombay. The visit of the
Vice-Admiral and the General to Manilla has been produc-

tive of much gaiety there, and balls and dinners were almost
daily given to the distinguised visitors by Spanish and foreign
residents of Manilla. Her Majesty's ship Cornwallis had left
Manilla for Singapore.
(From the Canton Press, Jan. 20.)
Her Majesty's ship Dido, Hon. Captain Keppel, is now at
Whampoa to receive three millions of dollars from the Chi-
nese, as part of the money due by them according to the
treaty. The Honourable Company's steamer Proserpine ar-
rived here yesterday morning from Hong• Kong, and ieft
again for Canton a few hours after, with Mr. Stewart, the
treasurer to the superintendent. A portion of this sum will,
we understand, be applied to the use of the Hong-Kong Go-
vernment ; part will be sent to England ; and about two-
thirds be remitted to Calcutta.

(From the Hong-Kong Register, Jan. 30.)
EDICT OF THE KWANG CHOW POO TO THE

HONG MERCHANTS.

Hwang, the treasurer, issued directions to the acting pre-
fect of Canton, Lew, to inquire into tho payment of money,
amounting to about 3,600,000 taels owed by the Hong mer-
chants to the public treasury.
1. For Ginseng.—The Hong merchants received this ar-
ticle and sold it, but have not yet paid for it.
2 Tribute forwarded to the court.—They engaged of their
own accord to discharge this in yearly instalments, but when
it comes to the point, they want to throw it upon the new
merchants.
3. Payments made to the army in Turkestan.—lt was
agreed in 1832, that this sum should be forwarded in annual
instalments. But though the term for discharging this
liability is extended, still they must not endeavoer to escape
the obligation.
4. Payments made to the superintendent of the grain de-
partment and other small items. They ought not to think,
that on account of the newly-established regulations they
will avoid the discharge of these sums.
5. The payment of 2,800,000 taels to foreigners for which
they gave a bond.—This they have to pay within four years.
Already has one year's respite been granted to them in con-
sideration of their remaining debts, but let them not cherish
delusive hopes, because we have postponed the time, for no
farther delay will be allowed.
Now, in the original petition, the Hong merchants state,
that on each pecul of tea they will pay five mace, and on
cotton two mace. But they can form no estimate of the
sum of mosey they would be able thus to furnish annually.
They, also say, that tea and cotton should not be the only
articles that ought to pay towards the clearing of the debts.
Moreover, they show that the new establishments, without
specifying them, should likewise bear a share in liquidating
the sums they owe.
They must, however, first pay up their instalments, as
they have become due, and, we shall then take into conside
ration and report to the throne whatever items ought to be
remitted. Thus the new merchants will have no pretext to
excuse themselves of being involved on behalf of others,
neither can the old merchants get rid of their liabilities.
Let the Hong merchants,-therefore, after mature delibera-
tion, report on the above.
Taoukwang, 23d year, 11th month, 20th day,
9th January, 1844.
THE HONG MERCHANTS' REPLY.
We now beg to lay before your Excellency, in obedience to
the orders received, the following statement :7
Hitherto all the sums either paid on public a. count or to
discharge debts were taken from the Consoo Fund and levied
upon the trade, which is on record.
We are willing to pay for Ginseng and other items, and
although the time when the money was due has elapsed, still
we shall make up for the delay.
Respecting the six millions of dollars, paid in 1841 to the
English, we received orders from the officers of Government
to contribute in the first instance two millions of dollars,
whilst four millions were advanced from the public treasury ;
and the remaining expenditure on account of public emer-
gency, is not below several laks of dollars. To this we must
add the three millions of Hong debts which we discharged to
the foreigners, and moreover, above 310,000 taels on account
of the conflagration of the factories. Our non-payment and
discharge of liabilities, did therefore not arise from any un-
willingness on our part, but was owing to the heavy contri-
butions we had to make for public purposes.
Our distressed circumstances have frequently been laid
before Government, and since the Hong monopoly is now
abolished, and our privileges have ceased to exist, it is only
proper, that the new mercantile establishments who share in
the same advantages, should also bear the same burdens.
And for this purpose they should give a bend, and a certain
sum whi-h they could annually furnish in payment of
debts should be stipulated. Nor should these contributions
solely fall upon tea and cotton only. And though these are
the staple articles of trade, and the consumption may vary
from year to year, still we shall be enabled to fix an average
sum, which they annually will yield, payable in instalments
according to the extension of the terms, to be fixed by the
Supreme Government. We should, moreovor, feel deeply
obliged, if the result of our deliberations were communicated
to the Court.

THE ANTI-CORN-LAW LEAGUE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE.
SIR,—As from the statement in your paper this morning,
that I was on the platform yesterday at Covent-garden, some
of my constituent may be induced to suppose that I agree in
all the opinions of the Anti-Corn-law League, I beg that you
will do me the favour to correct this error of your reporter.
Differing from the Council of the Anti-Corn-law League
with respect to the pledge which they appear to have given
against a fixed duty, I should probably not have offered to
put my name on the list of their subscribers, had not this
accident given me the opportunity of stating my opinion
publicly.
Some small tax on corn should, I think, be always main-
tained for statistical purposes ; but whether we should pass
on to this at once, or through the intermediate stage of a
fixed duty, I hold to be simply a question of expediency, on
which I never will consent to bind myself.
I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant,
BENJAMIN SMITH.
5, Blandford-square, Thursday, May 2.
[We understand that Mr. Smith's subscription of 100/. to
the fund was accepted yesterday morning.]

OUTRAGE IN SUFFOLK.—(From a Correspondent.)
—Suffolk and Norfolk appear to be in a dreadful state,
and require prompt measures to suppress crime of so
diabolical a description as the following—On Sunday,
about three A.M., the passengers travelling by the Nor-
wich mail were much alarmed by the coach being sud-
denly and violently jolted, whereupon the coachman,
guard, myself, and other passengers were all upon the
look out, when we detected for about three miles on
the road several gates taken from the fields adjoin-
ing, together with harrows, parts of ploughs, &c.,
amounting at least, altogether, to about 40, placed at
distances of 50 or 100 yards, some placed two or three
together, and others flat in the middle of the high road ;
the guard descended continually and threw them to the
side of the road. We considered it providential that the
horses were not thrown down in the first instance, the
coachman thinking it was only some wet on the road.
It was a moonlight night, otherwise it is dreadful, to
contemplate what might have been the result. The road
in which the gates, &c.. were placed was between Stoke
and Brockford-gate, and between Ipswich and Scole Inn.

MEDICATED VAPOUR IN DEArsEss.--The appli-
cation of medicated vapour, not only more readily clears the
air-cavities by diluting and attenuating the viscid and in-
durated mucus, but by some specific effect upon the mucous
secreting surface, so far controls the morbid action, that it
prevents the further secretion of morbid mucus, and thus
effects a permanent cure ; while the air douche, when success-
ful, only effects a temporary relief, and the disease returns,
requiring a re-application of the remedial means.—Dr. Cronin
on Nervous Deafness.
CHESTER RACES.--Bell's Life in London of Sunday
next will contain the fullest and most authentic particulars
of Chester Races; Observations by Pegasus, and fore-
gatherings of the Second Spring Meeting at Newmarket;
'Thrf Nominations; Alphabetical List. of Winning Grey-
hounds; English Sportsmen in Rome; Angling; Aquatics;
Chess ; Pedestrianism ; and the usual Sporting, &c.--Office
of Bell's Lift, 170, Strand.