The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-31
EDlT6a,s ooRREspoNDENcE.
[frjm our London co-respo. dent.I
I.oSpoN. 3Oth Nov,

LONDON, 3Oth Now lS45
The almost Simultaneous arrivals of the Great
Britain The Hiberfiia and The Great Western, have
produced an enormous eScitsrrsnt Every one now
expects war message, or at least oh5 which WIN
erlbsrfass SIR Robert Pees declaration in regdid 90
Oregon. Il &as smpsng, however, to see how the
appetite of the British piebs waited upon the luds-
ment, and how the men on change affected to treat
the r1rt.et comparatively of little Importance
All the papers agree shst the case is not yet despe-
rate, and all the business m6H avow, that ia the
present state OF affairs money crisis Iodd not on
ly be exceedingly announcement, but ruinous. They
ale determined have things go on smoothly, being
convinced that the better part of vaor Is discretion
Some OF the ministerial ournals--for instance, the
Herald repeat their absurd accusations against
democracy; but an agree that the relative position
of the two countries is such that II would he absurd
to 20 TO war. They again urge on tho eonsidera-
ton Of their own public the fact that Oregon us
worth nothing'f-aii assertion they made shortly
after Sir Robert Peel's threat, and IN which they
have persisted ever since. II was THO repeated
disparagement of the Oregon territory which a,
once satisfied the moneyed men in the neighborhood
Of Lombard street, that Sir Robert only meant to
brighten The republicans, and that investments were
safe. Every sensible Englishmen at once perceived
that England did not mean 10 send good money after
bad; that Sir Robert was unwilling to sacrlhce the
industry and comms.ce cf the country to the pos
session of what himself was pleased 10 call worth
less The pride of Sir Robert Peel's administration
is the balance sheet; for Sir Robert is practical
man, and the English practical people, who have
passed the age when men seek "the bubble, reputa-
ton, cen at the cannol's mouth" The policy OF
England is therefore, under Slf crc drstances, one
which can be calculated from given dad; is less
dependent on casualties than that of any other coI-
try. Carthage never made war longer than was ne
cessary TO keep Rome at arms length, and no COM
mereia power, par ereeAence, can do otherwise.
When judging of the probable action of Great
Britain, we must never lose sight Of the fact, that
while she was waging war against FRANCE, she mo-
nopolized commerce and manufactures, by stopping
the foreign trade of the whole continent. Also that
since the accession Of William of Orange and the
house of Brunswick, every war against France was
sure TO enlict the other powers Of Europe While
England was driving France from the shores Of
North America, Frederic ct PRUSSIA kept France
engaged on the continent in manner Which enabled
the elder Chatham to say, that "America was con-
quered in Germany Earlier, in Queen Anne's
time, and even under the Tudors, England never
fought without continental allies which enabled her to
reap the benefits of her insular position, while at the
same time il exposed her allies to all the vlcissudes
of the war; and made them pay the cost Of Il.
Since the revolution Of July in France, all these da
la are changed England has separated herself at the
Congress Of Verona from the holy alliance, and the
holy alliance Itself has fallen to pieces. England
has nothing TO hope in that quarter-iiot even com
merciq advantages; for though the late Congress of
the German tariff league has not levied higher du-
ty on British twists, the Prussian government de-
clared that 1t is far from considering the labors of
ry session of the congress at Berlin for the ensuing
spring. England, therefore must In future fight
her battles by land well as at 5ea with her own
men and her own treasure. And war with Amer
lea is the worst war she can engage in; for she is
sure thereby to destroy her commerce and manufac-
lures, and in the same ratio, promo those of the
continent. A war with America is 10 England
commercial and manufacturing suicide, and she
knows it, What she has aimed at, ever since $780, is
to cement her intiniacy with France. To destroy at
least the benefit which her powerful rival might reap
from the war; and in this che has partially succeed
ed. The good understanding between the cabinets
Of st. james and the Tuilleries, is undoubtedly
complete; but not SO that of the two nations The
king of the French will not go further in his friend
ship for England than is consistent with the preiu-
dices Of the people; and he knows well that beyond
a certain limit, his own dynasty and the succession
are in jeopardy Austria is still the friend and pro-
ector of the ancient Bourbons; and Prussia has no
future, independent Of close connection with the
German powers. England, therefore, is isolated
from every nation In Europe; every people on this
side of the water is grudging her supremacy, and,
since the establishment of peace, her rival in COM
merce and manufactures.
Besides this general outline of the position Of
England, let us cast glance her position in other
quarters OF the gobs. There are the difficulties in
New Zealand, where, at the latest dates, British
vaor has sustained another serious checf from the
natives, similar that which the French have ea-
perieneed in Algiers, and the Russians in the eau.
casus, and which may be looked upon the hand
writing on the wall, that the nations Of Europe are
or which enabled them, in times gone by, to con-
quer and divide the world England, therefore, will
want ships and men in that quarter.
Next in order come the difficulties in India, and
the itching Of the company for Lahore. This may
require few ships, and, perhaps, reinforcement
of troops
Far more important, however, is the condition of
British affairs in China. The English, ii is quite
certain, are sick of their treaty with the Celestials
They were outdone by the Chinese in diplomacy
and honesty, and are now laboring hard for pre-
text to renew hostilities. II is in this quarter,
think, we must look for an explanation Of the ac-
tivty which now regns in the British dock-yaiis
II is quite characteristic of John Bull to hear him
reason on the treachery and cunning of the Orien-
tails. The. English 60 to war against China, be-
right enough; because England, being gradually
expelled from the European markets, must seek else
where for commercial advantages and for the means
of feeding her starving millions. Nothing is more
natural than that British vaor should triumph over
ihe civilized Iarars, and that, consequently the Ce
lestlas should sue for peace.
Great Britain is always generous in never de-
stroying more human lives than Is necessary to at
tam her object for she wants the remainder 10 be-
come her customers. England, therefore, lent
gracious ear to the solicitations of China but here
the honesty and straightforwardness of John Bull
were deceived by the fraud and rickery Of the
Aslatics What do you want said the Chinese
commissioner con to the enpoy6 of Sir Henry Potinger
Whereupon Sir Henry demanded the island of
Hong Kong. and the opening of FIVE ports which he
named. "fou shall have all you want replied the
rcacherous mandarin, ''and the money you ask to
boot" Did one ever see such knaveryS Not one
mandarin there was who told England that the ISL
ana OF Hong kong-though capalIy situated for the
smuggling trade, which made it valuable to British
opium merchants--was unhealthy and unfit for Eu-
ropears to .nhabit. Neither did the Chinese COM
missioner, who was SO generously entertained at
Or Henry's table, hint to him the advantages which
England would derive from the possession of Chu-
san: This island commands the road to the very
capital OF the Chinese empire, and this it was the
duty OF the Chinese, as honest men, to tell their in
vaders before signing the treaty. As to tantalize
ana mock the British they allowed them to retain
inc island I'LL the last nstalment of the tribute should
oe paid, and-ean you conceive of their vilany.--
they actually didpay the whole amount agreed upon
thus taking from England all reasona HE nre,ev, Co.