The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-22

The Arrivals from Europs-Gunboats. In
China. -..
Among the news brought by the Fulton and
City of Washington is an item to the effect
that the English government has jumped at
the opportunity of employing against the Chi
against Russia, and that an advance squad
ron of gunboats Is to leave directly for the
Chinese waters This is an appropriate corollAry
to the verdict of the English people On the ques-
ton submitted to them at the election. 1t is
now abundsntly evident that whatever the Eu-
peror of China, and his Governor Yeh may do or
say, the war is going to be prosecuted in
earnest.
A war with the Chinese differs from every other
war in the manner Of wsging It At our latest
accounts foreigners we're undisturbed at Shsng-
hae, and the resident Mandarins felt, or appeared
to feel no particular resentment for the lombard
ment of Canton. M. Hue assures us that the
people of the interior provinces, whose know
ledge Of navigation Is confined to q trip on the
canal, or a short voyage on the Blue or yellow
rivers, will hardly admit consequently with the
people of the sea coast, whose feelings they do
not share, and whose mode Of living they hardly
understand. Now, in warning with people thus
essentially divided and under the control of an
authority too weak TO coerce enlistment or even
resistance 70 an invader, a General will obviously
pursue policy different from that which be would
adopt in prosecuting hostilities against Power
like the United States or England. He viii con-
tent himself with iDAicting injury on those por-
tions Of the people whose positive hostility be
has made sure Of, and will do his best TO con.
ciliate the rest This may be assumed TO be the
course projected By the commsnderinchief Of
the gunboat fiotilla
There are two great rivers In China The one
1000, DE other 1900 miles long, With cortlu-
ents scarcely inferior in length. or these the
one, the Hosng-ho, mighty river which over
flows its banks every four or five years, and
tubmerges hundreds Of persons and MILLIONS of
property, may be Ravigable for boats Of light
draft during / 200 miles Of It's length, exclusive
Of lskes and tributaries The other, the Yangtse-
Keang, h even more magnificent For two hun
bred miles ships Of the line can sail up II for
two thousand II is covered with junks, trade and
pleasure boats. II has been estimated that be-
tween II and its tributaries, light vessels could
find over twelve thousand miles of inland nsyi-
cation. Besides these, there In the great osnal.
which runs at right angles TO the rivers, and
bears upon it, boeom q feet Of sailing craft
larger than the whole tonnage Of the United
States.
This wonderful network Of internal waters
is the destination of the British gunboats
Their light draft will enable them to creep
up the rivers ard lakes without obstacle,
aDd we spprebend. when they get out of the pro-
vinces Of Juan-tsung, and one or two Others on
he seaboud, they will meet with 10 obstacle.
They are likely, on the contrary, to experience
kindness, good will, and u willingness to trade |
among the Inhabitants; for such was TIE face they
showed 10 NJ Hue.
Having asceodtd these rivers 20 the great
centres OF trade aud population. Il NAV be OF.
pecttd that the gunbosts will proceed in a busi.
ness Like manner to establish forts for the purpose
Of q permanent trade. The English have inva-
risbly pursued this course ia Asia; even whore
hey have relirquished conquered territory. ss in
he Gulf of Persia, they have retained ground 70,
, fort and residence, together with perpetual
light of trade on their own terms We presume
bat we sbsll hear Of English forts being planted
It The head waters OF the Hcsngho Yang -tse.
iesng, and their chief tributaries, as well as at
convenient distances throughout their navigable
tngsb II may be assumed TIA. trade will IN
ssn.iy be established ~ well in opium ss Ia the