The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-13

INTERVENTION IN CHINA.-Our last advices
from China informed us that Sir George Bon
ham, British Governor of Hong Kong, had
sailed in the Hermes for Shanghae, partly
with the view Of watching the progress Of the
rebels, and partly in order to protect the Bri-
fish residents in that port. In the papers
brought by the Canada we find telegraphic
message from Trieste in advance Of the India
mail, announcing that the representatives Of
the United States, Great Britain, and France,
had agreed to combine their forces to protect
Shanehae, Nankin, and the Great Canal, against
the rebels. In other words, we are told. we
hope incorrectly, that the ENJOYS Of these
powers have voluntarily espoused the cause
ofthe Emperor. and promised their assistance
ifnot to suppress, at least to check the progress
of the rebellion. Should this intelligence prove
true the Chinese question is likely to be involved
in new and very serious complications. Neither
the government at st. James, nor Louis Napo-
leon, nor the cabinet at Washington, have
evinced any symptoms of desire to informed
die in the affairs Of China Lord John Russell
has explicitly stated that the British govern
/
learnt by experience that the East is not the
field for her arms. With the Japan expedition,
the Mexican difficulty, and the Cuban question
on our hands, we certainly cannot desire to en-
broil ourselves with a victorious and powerful
| party in China, especially when the success of
that party may result in all that the rest of the
world wish to see accomplished opening of
Ia NJ An Cav TTplo
FORE the foreign ENJOYS at Shanghae succeed in
efecting some very advantageous arrangement
with the Emperor before fresh instructions reach
them from home, it seems more than probable
that they will receive a sharp reprimand for
their hasty zeal, and civil request to withdraw
from the conflict into which they have thrust
themselves. Even if the price Of their inter-
vention has been such as to recompense them
for the expense and danger they have incurred,
their governments will probably require more
| substantial guarantees for the due payment of
that price than the rulers Of China can afford.
Should the combined forces of the United
States, England and France. give battle to the
rebels before Nankn, defeat them. and Illustrate
their revolutionary designs, the stipulated re-
ward for SO signal a service being fresh conces-
| sions to our commerce. and the admission Of 70
reign vessels to the inland ports ofChina it might
still involve second war to compel the perform
ance OF the bargain by the Emperor or require
the maintenance of a standing army in China
| to keep the defeated rebels in permanent sub
lection. Mr.. Pierce and Lord John Russell
will be apt to look with great suspicion on
any pledges from the Emperor which do not
preclude the possibility Of final resort to one
or other Of these courses. For our own part.
we candidly confess that we can conceive Of
none that would be wholly satisfactory To
obtain from the Emperor written permits
sion to trade to Nankn, with the prospect
of fighting his Imperial Majesty. to enforce
its validity, or fighting his rebellious sub
jects to protect that trade, would be obviously
futile.
Had the foreign ENJOYS who repaired to
Shanghae been men Of tried prudence and vete-
ran skill. we should have little hesitation in
discrediting the report of their Intervention.
1t was unauthorized and, SO far as we can
Judge can hardly, under any circumstances, be
productive of beneficial results. 1t wonld never
have been undertaken by able diplomatists. I'm
fortunately, the little experience in such mat
tiers Of Sir George Bonham and Mr.. Marshall
does not induce us to place very great reliance
on their caution or their wisdom. The former
is soldier ofthe Old English stamp regarding
all foreigners as semi-barbarous, the Chinese as
beneath contempt and prepared at all times to
vindcate the glory of England and the vaor of
her troops by brush with anybody about any
thing. Mr.. Marshall, though less of fireater
than the Englishman, is also soldier and pro-
badly not less anxious to signalise himself by
coup dttat
Such being the character Of the two Anglo
Saxons who represent foreign commercial in
terests in China it is just possible that. on the
receipt of the alarming intelligence that the
rebels threatened Nankin. and the foreign mer-
chants at shanghae were frightened out Of their
wits, those plenpotentiaries may have seen an
opportunity to distinguish themselves, and
boldly thrown down the gauntlet of their respec-
tive countries to the insurgent leader. Folly
and imprudence, blended with unreasoning am
bitont could alone suggest such course. But
we regret to say that we should not be surprised
to learn that il had been pursued
Further speculation. until reliable news
reaches us from the seat of war. is quite profit
less. Never were events more proptious for
opening a new era to our eastern trade than 1T
the present moment No man ever had nobler
opportunity Of earning the solid gratitude of
bis country than Mr. Marshall
tNNrXAToy or LOWER CMIFoRyIA-A curl
Gus aud rather interesting communication from
correspondent who signs himself "volun-
tecr." will be found in this days HERALD.
According 70 his statements great wrong was
inflicted ~ our government upon The people of
The pcninsul Of Lower California. in falling to
annex them in the treaty Of Guadalupe Hida-
go Many Of them bad taken up arms, and had