The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-18
Nrom the Naval and Military Gazette.
China and Great Britain.

At no period since the termination of hostihties
before Nankn have our relations with the Celestial
Empire been more equivocal or unsatisfactory than
at present It is true, hollow semblance of amity
subsists between the two governments; but it re-
quires very high degree of political acumen to
perceive that, sooner later, account with
the willy, treacherous, and deceitful authorities Of
Canton must be settled with the sword.
Few of our readers but must remember the bar
barously insolent tone adopted by all Chinese Of
fcials, in their intercourse with Europeans, prior
to the operations which were successfully termi
mated by Lord Cough and Sir William Parker be-
fore the walls of Nankin. The effects of that cam
paign were, however, partial; and although the
salutary dread inspired by it has not quite faded
away, there is much reason to apprehend that time
viii gradually obliterate those sentiments of awe
which can alone restrain an insolent, unscrupu-
lous and exclusive people from induIging their
malevoence against those scattered communities
Of strangers that commerce has attracted to their
coast
According to the latest accounts received from
China, the were swarming with pirates; and so
audacious and formidable had these miscreants be-
come that our men-of-war were actively engaged
in their extirpation. The supineness manifested by
the Mandarins upon this subject fully sanctions the
belief that they have sinister object in disturb
ing the coasting trade carried on by Europeans,
and that they willing 10 tolerate system which
is destructive OF the best interests OF their own ira
ders provided that IL entails injury upon the traffic
Of the barbarians. Pirates have always exercised
their vocation in the Chinese seas, but il is only Of
late that such dcspcradoes have ventured 10 await
the approach of men Of war, whilst their hav-
ing been permitted to establish dockyards upon the
main land certainly tends to implicate the imperial
government One Of our correspondents lie OF opin-
ion that the ultimate destination Of the main pratt
cal feet was Macao. The murder Of the chivalrous
Senior do Almaral, governor Of that settlement,
probably instigated by the Canton authorities,
whose power and menaces he dcfed. What more
convenient method accomplishing the tragedy could
be adopted than that Of instigatng feet Of pirates
TO come down suddenly upon Macao, and in the
dead Of night wreak summary vengeance on the
inhabtantsi
The tone which Governor Bonham has found il
necessary 10 assume, In his correspondence with
the Imperial Commissioner regarding the preva-
lence OF piracy clearly indicates that his excelcncy
lie Of opinion that the Chinese government 10 re,vct-
ant TO take any part in the work Of suppression.
Finding his repeated representations OF avail,
Mr.. Bonham at length informs Commissioner Sue,
that, whether the Chinese authorities Cooperate
not he s resolved TO employ the British cruisers in
discriminating these common enemies Of the human
race wherever they may be found; and that IL any
untoward event occur, in carrying out this service,
from the want OF Chinese assistance, the blame must
rest entirely upon the commissioner himself The
last overland mail brought intelligence OF the de-
Enes and dockyard, by her majesty steamer Fury;
and, at the time Of the departure Of the mail,
icty felt regarding the result OF expedition
upon which the Fury, Columbne, Phlegethon, and
For own part, VIC entertain no apprehension
for the safety Of such squadron, whatever number
OF pirates II might chance 10 encounter. But we
have seen private letter in which fears are ex-
pressed for the safety the Phlegethon, which
sell II IL stated, had been separately detached TO
one Of the pirate haunts, and undue time
absent. The Phlegethon IL small iron steamer
belonging 10 the East India Company, and IL, there
enemies as the more powerful and heavily armed
Fury.
II is positively asserted that the murderer. Of
Captain Dacoeta and Lieutenant Dwycr had been
traced 10 one Of the pirate chief who had recently
been discounted by the Fury II this prove true Il
will afford matter for further conjecture.
II was well known at Canton that Captain Da-
costa had been employed in sketching the river
forts, and that he had minutely reconnoitred all
their various avenues Of approach.
With respect TO Lieutenant Dwyer, IL was equal
~ known that he had, whilst passenger on board
the compsnys steamer Pluto, actively participated
In an attack upon several piratical junks, which
we're destroyed about two years ago by the Pluto
and Scout.
At all events, Il IL a singular coincidence, that
thcsc two officers should have been singled out az
victims, and especially that the murders should
have taken place at period when the Canton
thoritcs had good 20 anticipate another Brit
ish expedition up the river; in which the local
knowledge Of Captain Dacosta would have been
particularly inconvenient 10 the defenders Of the
forts.
Inc Vutttion tor inc COnnocrnuOn OF ncr macs
tvs ministers now is, whether they are willing 10
allow the terms OF our intercourse with China 10
retrograde half century, not, the very first op.
portunity should be seized 10 bring Canton 10 or
der; which might unquestionably be done without
more risk Of provoking general with China
than IL incurred in chsstising that irregular
navy dehominated pirates. At present the fleet
in The eastern seas, aided by three or four strong
European regiments and few companies of srtil-
lery, would amply suffice for the service; but Il
must be borne In mind, however much we despise
the Chinese an soldiers, that they are improving
every day in their discipline and organization and
that they have emisssrics continually in Hong
Kong, collecting information upon all matters con-
ncctcd with the equipment and management of
troops. In proof Of their aptitude 10 take lessons
from in The affairs Of war, would mention
that the guns, which in 1910 were set in wooden
blocks, were found mounted in ls47 on garrison
carriages that would do credit 10 the royal arsenal
OF Woolwich; whilst most Of the pieces were fitted
with patent sights for correcting Che dispart
But in what specuations we indugngl Send
an expedition 70 China 10 uphold the treaty Of Nan
KIM The idea is preposterousi IL not Golden again
In the fieldi and are not ten thousand men 10 be
sent sdrift from our already ovcr-worked army
But the best interests Of the Manchester school are
concerned in the integrity Of the treaty. What Of
that when did professional sgitstor ever stick At