Zo the Editor of the Sre,—After the able letters that have appeared in your columns on the subject of the Chefoo Convention, it may appear presumptuous on my part to give an ini IL I think some points may be advantage, that have not yet been touched on.
At the closing of Parliament in August 1875, Her Majest3 ch contains the following paragraph I have learnt with deep regret that the expedition despatched by my Indian Government from Burmah, with a view to open com. munications with the Western Provinces of armed force while on Chinese territory. Thi China, has been treacherously attacked by an
outrage, unhappily involving the death of a Rervise, is the subject of careful inquiry; and young and promising member of my Consular no effort shall be spared to secure the puuishment of those by whau it was instigated and committed.
Again, at the opening of Parliament, in jesty says to China, relate Expedition in 1875, have been received in a friendly spirit, and we feel convinced that the present lead to the punishment of th In both of these utter Throne, the necessity of punishes most clearly stated, hence we may fairly presume that the instructions sent by the Foreign Otice to Sir Thomas Wade' were of similar tenor, yet the result is nothing, and our Minister has seemingly once more allowed himeelf to be outwitted by the Chinero; his failure, on this occasion, ig by the above quotati Again, think Iam expressing th manis of a very large majority of residents in China, when I charge our Miniater with another serious error in having consented to accept a money compensation for the murders in Yanan, Surely the British nation is sufficiently wealthy to indemnify the families of those killed, and it is moat humiliating to hear the Chinese aay on all sides, as they do, that foreigners can always be bought off for a fow lacs of taels.
In Mr. Kingsmill's articles, the weal of the commercial portion of ti tion has been clearly set forth, appears to me, that he has omitted one or two points that may be worthy of examination.
The recognition of Lekin at all, is undoubtedly an error, and a very great one, but this would have been condoned to a con ble extent had the question of transit been at the same time di tinctly settled; this not having been the case, the regulations laid down by the foreign Customs atill remain in_ force, i the Treaty of Tientsin, and tead of the payment of 2b per coi extra duty on imports covering all internal charges, it only frees the goods from the barrier dues, and #0 soon aa they arrive at the destination set forth in the pass, Sir Thomas Wade tly allows, and in fact invites, the officials to any sum they please in excess of the 74 per cent. which should free the goods throughout Chins, 3
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[If the Queen felt herself stultified, it seems within the bounds of possibility that she or her Ministers would guard their credit by refusing to ratify the Convention. But it als pounble that they have. approved. the Eire—te: the Goverateat, by the exactiowof of punishing the assumed. insti certain terms as set forth in the let section of the Convention.—Ed.}
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.