Tae progress of negotiations at Chefoo, and the, possibly necessary, reserve maintained by the parties engaged, have left but few subjects open for discussion at the present moment. Few, however, as are those subjects, it is more than ever necessary that a strict supervision should be kept over all attempted innovations at the various ports. We had occasion some time ago to point out how, under cover of those very negotiations, the Chinese had been taking the opportunity of making farther encroachments, and of refusing relief for past shortcomings and we showed how over-complacency on the part of our local representatives was really tending, while matters were and supposed to be in a state of rectification at head-quarters, to place us practically in a worse position than before. We notice little, if any, tendency to amend this unsatisfactory condition of affairs. encroachment complained of was with reference to the China Navigation Co.'s steamers being practically debarred from trading at Chinkeang, unless they were prepared to submit to the dictum of the foreign Commissioner of Customs, in a matter in which the Commissioner has been amply proved in the wrong. Strange to say, not only has the Customs been shown to be acting beyond its powers, but the reasons given for the obstructive regulations have been proved to rest on no foundation whatever. Yet, notwithstanding this simple state of affairs, the disability under which the C. N. Co,.'s steamers are placed, has not been removed, Again, we alluded to the matter of the Woosung Bar, and the Fore. shore, and the strange delay which had taken place—not to speak of the peculiar manner in which the Harbour-master became introduced in the latter affair. In both these respects, matters again seem to be statu quo. It would seem that, unless some one man steps forward from among the local Consuls and throws his energy into these matters, we may look forward to a continuance of the present state of do-nothingness, if not of actual injury, to our interests. It was but the other day that the ridiculous contretemps occurred with regard to the landing of the men from the ships at Woosung, and almost at the same time it was gravely proposed that no interference should take place with the proclamations of the native authorities in the Settlements. It surely required very little prevision to know what that attempt meant, and to foresee that the very first proclamations posted would be for the purpose of establishing squeeze stations within the Settlements, and referring to the proclamations as proof of their legality. We are, fortunately, only too well aware that the squeeze stations do exist within the Settlements, and we have not ceased to deprecate the action—or want of action on the part of the Consuls which has interfered with their removal; but few were prepared to find then falling into so palpable a trap 8 that laid for them in the matter of the native proclamations. Fortunately, the Council was able to produce evil dence to prove how necessary it was to exercise great caution in acceding such requests. It is. characteristic of the Chinese that the present time when there are grave difficulties under discussion, should be just the time adopted for small encroachments; and it is regrettable that those whose special function it is to prevent these small encroachments, seemingly lost it the contemplation of the large issues stake, should without thought lay tle foundation for future difficulties. By some inexplicable error in judgment,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.