The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-25

The China Mail, published at Hong Kong,
and devoted in the main TO the interests OF
''ouiside barbarians" in that country, makes
itself merry over the numberless cases that oc-
cur to show the ignorance of the government,
press, and people of Britain in relation to the
Asiatic portions of their heritage. The story
of the mandarin" Snowman walking with the
Duke of Wellington in the train of royalty, is
related by the Mail with evident gusto; and
the descriptions of him by the various daily
journals are cited as illustrations of the guilt
bility of parties who usually claim credit for
more than an average share of dscernment
Amongst the many precious scraps picked
up by our Hong Kong friend, is the following
from the Edinburgh Witness, the organ of the
Free Kirk of Scotland, and edited by HUGH
MILLER, the well known writer on geology:
1.-TWO Chinese merchants, Ahung and Ky, are
their way to England TO visit the Exhibition.
They have preferred the overland journey through
Russia TO the voyage, which some of their asso
ciates are taking in junk"
AS the Witness never deals in any thing so
proiane as jokes, we are bound to take this as a
plain matter-of fact announcement, and in that
light il is on par with the intelligence sent
forth by LIE Constitutional, Paris paper, about
pleasure party of Chinese in junks, being on
their way to London, lowed by steamers! The
Mail remarks:
''The journey from ST. Petersburgh to Picking
was performed by Peter the Greats ambassador in
twenty months, and by the embassy described by
Bell of Antermony in sixteen; but as the Cinnamon
stated to be from Canton province, Picking is
about as far from their starting point st. Peters
burgh from their destination, and the Chinese be-
ing people deliberate in their movements, the
two pilgrims may be looked for in London two OF
three years after the Exhibition is closed.'
Here is another instance from the Glasgow
Citizen, under the head 4" India and China ~
HoNG KONG Exchange on London at 4s. Sd
to 4s. Cd. All kinds of grain meet a slow sale, bu
coffee is rather frmer."
This will be news to our merchants and ship
pers, and may be of service to them in The
present state of the tea market.
We might quote a score Of other paragraph:
equally grave in style and absurd in fact, anc
equally indicative Of the dim conceptions tina
prevail in Britain in regard to the whereabout:
and products of their Chinese possessions. NJ
doubt the Glasgow Citi-en deems it quite i'm
material whether Hong Kong be in China OF
China in Hong Kong 1t is enough that Hong
Kong deals in coffee and :" all kinds of grain
The London Spectator lately pointed ou
even a more objectionable blunder ON the par
Of the Government Emigration Commission
ers, who invited tenders for vessel TO convey
emigrants to cortland Bay, New South
Wales, South Australia" A letter addressed
to "Boston, near Halifax, Canada" would not
be more palpable violation of Biographies
propreties. We might smile at such mis-
take perpetrated by British peasant; but,
emanating from Legislative department of the
British government, it is at least "passing
strange" Good geographers ought to be at a
premium in the vicinity of the colonial office.