New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-06-04
CHINA.
THE ALLIED PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
Csrespondenoe Of The n. Y. Tribune.

NcuefIonccnce OF The N l. Inonne
HoNG KONG, March 90, 1860.
II is te be hoped that the Home Governments Of
England and France have some idea of what is to
he done in China. We who are upon the ground
are in the most complete uncertainty The last
week has been prolific of ships, steamers troops,
stores and ere long the whole allied force will be
on hand with such fleet Is Chinese waters never
saw before. Bat every one is asking "What
comes next ." Is there to be war between En-
gland and China?
In every one Of the open ports the proteges of
the English Embassy are ia the employ of the Chi
nese Government. To be sure, il is an excellent
situation Cor each and every one since the Chinese
Inandarins can afford to pay well an English official
who viii collect their customs for them. But here
arises the strange anomaly OF which wrote by last
mail. The English Government are spending mil
lions upon this China expedition while al the same
time thew collect for the Chinese their customs IN all
tie pOit., ard pay theIa over too, minus only the
salaries III the collectors, and thus furnish the En-
t.sror with the sineWs of war. Canton alone has
forwarded more than 500, 900, the careful cOlec
fion by British officials enabling the Cantonese TO
pay up even the arrears which the early part OF the
war had caused to accumulate. Thus, IN all the
OMEN D0rts British officials, many OF them the for
ufT ATTACHES OF IOIu GuADdSois arc bOucCt-
iue from British ships, and forwarding TO the Impe-
rai treasury the very dollars which are paying for
tle repairs a tie TakU forts, and for terrifying the
road To P{kin. This strange complication Of affairs
i the decision Of numerous squabbles between indi-
yiduals " ose interests antagOnistlc One case,
inst finished before the Supreme Court Of Hong
Kong. VII, suffice as an example.
IL must Se promised that Swallow (where the Oc-
currences took place. is not properly an open port;
vet, as British ships often trade there customs
officer basibeen appointed.
A British bark having come into port the Gus
tOm-hOuse BOAT whose chef officer is an American,
attempted ito board the bark, but was beaten off,
with the loss Of one Chinese killed, and several
wounded The captain If the bark was arraigned
fr murder, but that Indictment was subsequently,
changed ia assault with intent to kill
The charge of the Chlei-J ustice to the Jury bore
very unfsyDrably upon the defendant, and yet he
was triumphanty acquitted upon hls plea Of JUSTIN
cation. twas attempted by the counsel for de-
ieDdnut 10 90 into the merits of the Customs ar
ranpementg Also, TO find out whether China Is at
war with Great Britain or not; since If a state OF
VAR exists. be would claim for the defendant tine
rrht 10 defend his property against the attack oil
an armed boat belonging 10 the enemy. Both these
points were OycrnLed by the Chiei-J Justice, nor
Eas any witness allowed to answer any question
tsaring upon either. 1t would seem as though the
very trengest points OF the defense were summary
n
sl was the result. II is hard to say what was the
effect Of the British Government IN thus volunteer
rg 10 collect revenue for nation with whom there
= af.t.ial If HOt clearlydefned war, and the whole
sle,ne is 50 universally unpopular, that il Is doubt
ful whether jury can be found 10 convict any
spasser, however daring be may be.
l The Ofsn-repeated charge that tins Customs ar
ron, ,ient is simply to provide some fat places Tor
Tnbass. dorial pTOteees and pets, VIII hardly ac-
emf for % important aud conflicting measure,
, ,,,,l,.Il,. not more than ten Or twelve oil the
trepsipo class are benefited directly
4 NOR. reasonable suggestion would De- that inc
pan was proposed WIN the nope OF curI!lng ieroi
VIII the Chinese officials, ana renewing snoin nm
al tenn of losiue their revenues. IN Olher WORDS,
wa simply forming kind OF British protectorate
t.er tine lu,perjal revenue, far as customs are
governed; and, 50 that the mandarms receiver tiS
sIslars IL was doubtless supposed that ihey "'ui1
care little who collected them An arrangement %
tbs Kind would lead, Of course 10 CERTAIN alho'
a official intercourse; and the British SUBJECTS re-
e,iving official rank from the Emperor nnSeh'
iobt be valuable either a. agents or spies, us tne
en-. rcency of the case might seem to demand
TIe Whole thing, however, is immensely unpop-
ui,r and may of any time be broken up.
Tbe more humble assistants IN the above service
ARE taken from al nations, ana are OF all grades OF
character. general average OF character "ouid
h. decidedIy below even medium standard.
- ,bis foreign protectOrate OF Chinese customs
w.. If universal application, some beneiIt might
ari.e. for in that ease legitimate Chnese ssau1 1
Would escape the ipcsitions Of their native officials
but unfortunately these are left as before % ~ ae
whoIr activity Of the new agents is expended IN col
lecting from foreign vessels.
Several instances have occurred III %incn s lne
British officials had collected the proper dunes from
native yessels The same vessels have Desh ST.,
b. the MaDdarins, and forced 10 pay 'ii0 '"''''
amount over again. -. o,..aoo
s. frequent are the complaints Of this outrage