New-York daily tribune., 1858-09-14

The news of peace aud treaties formed with
China-the first piece of Information sent from
Europe over the Atlantic Cabe--was 1t seems,
brought to ST. Petersburg. and accomplished the
Journey from Tien-tsin in fifty days-remarkably
rapid travelling, considering the distance passed
over not much less than five thousand miles as the
bird flies, and the greater part OF the way through
very sparsely inhabited and almost desert country
II appears that the first treaty made with the
Chinese was one of limits, by which the River
Amoor was made the boundary between the two
empires. This was signed on the 2Sth OF May.
and was followed on the 18th of June by treaty
of commerce and friendship, which became the
model of three similar treaties aterward con-
cludcd, the first by Mr.. Reed on behalf OF the
United States, and the other two by the French
and English Ministers respectively. The date OF
these three last treaties is not gwen, though the
French and English treaties would appear to have
been arranged prior to the 10Th of June and to
have been signed and completed prior to the 9th,
which was the date of the dispatch from the
Russian Minister brought to ST. Petersburg. The
only further intormation in addition TO the tee-
graphic summary of the Russian dispatch sent from
st. Petersburg to London, and similar summary
published in the 81. Petersburg Gazette of August
u. is telegraphic dispatch from the French
Minister to the French Department of Foreign
Affairs, published in the Monueur. II the
English Government have received any intorma-
ton from Lord Egin, they have not thought
proper to make it public. 1t is to be noted
that the French dispatch which bears date June
10. and announces the treaties as concluded and in
the process of signature, says nothing about any
pecunary indemnity to be paid to the Allies. That
dispatch very general terms and only one point
il its information precise The laws against Chris.
tianity are 10 be revoked, and the French Mission
aries are to be admitted everywhere. similar
provision is no doubt contained in the British
treaty. These provisions it is to be hoped may be
ayailed of without those disgraceful rivalres and
quarrels between Catholic and Protestant mission.
aries which have occurred in so many other parts
of the world and which have not tended to inspire
the hesiheu with sny special respect for the Chris
tian religion.
As to the opening of China to foreign trade, we
are only told that nearly the whole of it is thrown
open to the commerce and industry of the west
but of the real extent of this concession it is diff
icult to judge before being informed what ports of
the empire are excepted, and the special regula-
tions and restrictions under which this admis-
sion should take place. Such regulations and
restrictions are no less important for the inter-
ests of European intercourse with China than for
the protection Of the Chinese themselves. Some
provision is essentially necessary to guard the in
terror OF China against being 0yerrUn by set Of
desperate European yagabonds, like those who,
since the opening of the five ports, have done so
much to confirm the Chinese in their hereditary
idea, that all foreigners no better than robbers
and pirates. AS The London Times very justly OBJ
serves il is 0fit,le consequence what the Imperial
Government may stpulate, unless means shall be
found TO diminish and overcome the prejudices of
the Chinese people against intercourse with foreign
ers 1t is an old and well.tounded observation that
treaties of commerce and friendship amount to
very little, except as they GO to give legal and
formal sanction to that which habit and the mutual
wants and nclinations Of the parties to them have
already established Thus the treaty of Nankin,
Notwithstanding the appauses it received from both
the Christian and commercial world as having
opened China alike 10 missionary and to mercantile
exertions, proved vastly more fertile in quarrels
and hatreds than either in mercantile profits or
converts TO Christianity; aud there is but too much
dsnger that these new treaties may bc attended
only with similar result.