Yoram Reitions We turn, now, from the category of missionary troubles which occupied oar first chapter, to x record of more general ing has not been prolific of news the year; though it has, as usual, contributed largely to official literature. But the shower of despatches which have fallen from the Capital upon the Provinces and upon the Lesser States, have rather chronicled inaction than indicated acti In fact, with the exception' of the missionary troubles, the negocintions for the new treaty, and various duims which merchants have pressed on his attention, H. B. M. Minister has had no special objects to enlist his care. On the first of these subjects; we have alvoarly written at full length, the second we defer considering for the present of the third, we have only to say that, though the Nanzing silk claims have been admitted-at Peking, they remain unpaid -in the provinces; and that, though the. Russian merchants have been compensated for: the teas and money lost by them,-during the disturbances which followed the Sung-yang-mutiny, the "English claimants have-appealed in vai Another country has added its name to the list of treaty Powers. Austria has sent an expedition to the East, with the design of pushing lier commerce, and one of her first steps was to establish relations with the celestial empire. No disinclination was expressed by the Chinese Government, but a-significant incident was an objection made to characterise the Emperor of Austria by the term Hwang-ti, which the Chinese consider the exclusive peruisite of the Central Sovereign. The innness ofthe Austrian Bavoy however, overcome their scruples. Many cireumstances have occurred daring the year, to prove that the Peking magnates d as firmly as ever to the theory of universal supremacy, though they have learned better than to perpetually flaunt the absurd claim in the face of Foreign Ministers. These, however, are still excluded from personal audience of the Emperor,—unless, of course, they would choose to go through the nine prostrations and other symbols of feudal inferiority, incumbent on the " tribatebearers" from Siam, Coren, the Liu-chins and other of the Outer States from whose acknowledged inferiority, China derives her notion of universal sway. And if this were not enough, a son of the Queen of England has been included in the ban. The Dake of Edinburgh visited Peking in October, asa private individual. "After n royal reception from the Ruler of Jxpan, he experienced utter neglect from the Emperor of China; and the Chinese, judging from traditional usage, inferred that be had been refused an audience. They can only conceive a Foreign Prince visiting the Celestin! Capital, to crave the favour of an interview with his Feudal Lord; and the refusal of this interview involves, in their eys, both disappointment and degradation. The common expression, accordingly, as the Dake retarned to Tientsin, was " pu kien mien" he has not had an audience; and beand the prestige of England fell accordingly in public esteem. It is to be hoped that this instance may open the eyes of people at Home as to the error of the views which they hold, in regard to Chinese good-will, large-mindedness, appreciation of her backwardness, and anxiety to enter into the comity of nations. The assertions which have satisfactory tone orate. Barlingame's been made by sinologues, as to the un-
credentials, receive support from these circumstances. It is averred that, if not in distinct terms, at least by implication, he is accredited as from a superior to inferior nations; and the haughty neglect which our English Prince experienced, supports this view. Probably the question of personal audience may, in consequence of this neglect, be pressed to a solution. It is impossible that foreign nations can much longer.accept the inferior position which exclusion "from the Emperor's presence implies.
On the other hand Peking has lost a Foreign Minister who, during his short stay, shewed " remarkable appreciation of the trae political position, and gave promise of an energetic and useful career, had he been allowed to retain his post. We refer to the departure of Mr. J. Ross Browne, who succeeded Mr. Burlingame as U. 8. Minister at Peking. The circumstances of his resignation are still fresh in the minds of our readers; and we need only refer to the 0. Herald of the 29th July, as containing the address of the Shanghai community to him on his departure, avd the admirable expose of the political situation conveyed in his reply. Since his return to America, Mr. Browne has further urged his views; and has contributed greatly to our knowledge of the origin of the memorandum on the subject by fir. Barlingamo Mission, by publishing 9
Hart, with annotations by himself which are remarkable for lucidity of statement and accuracy of view. For this document, we also refer our readers to the N. 0. Heral.t of November 9th.
One more chunga in the diplomatic world remains to be chronicled; that of Mr. Wade for SirR. Alcock, as head of the British Legation. The Jatter has gone home, after signing the new treaty, on-a well-earned leave of absence. say "well-earned" for, however mach people may differ as to his political carriage, none can deny him the credit of thoroughly. hard work. Indeed, the complaint has been made against bim, that he wrote so much as to allow himself no time for thought, and hence the vacillation often perceptible in his views and conduct, At times he wrote manly expositions of political questions to the Home ment; at others he scolded Shanghai merchants with the petulance of an over-worried usher addressing his class. His closing act, the revision of the Tientsin treaty, has of course been a chief subject of comment; and it has been variously viewed. No one likes the treaty; the most that can be said for it has been said by
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.