Tue China Mail gives some farther news of French proceedings in Tonquin. Two ships of war had left for the Annames capital, with a French official on board who was empowered to make final arrangements, and to fix the date of the opening of Tonquin to Foreign trade. He was expected back in Saigon on the 20th April, and it was assumed that Lo would bring news that the event would be fixed for some day in June next. It had been the intention of the French Admiral to visit Hué in person, but the King: put so many obstacles in the way, that the idea was abandoned until the Court of Hué could be persuaded to be less abstractive. The difficulties raised, remind'us very much of our early intercourse with China, and towards which we seem to be gradually drifting back. One objection was that the treaty forbade the ascent of the river as far as Hué by men-of-war, and that, consequently, the Admiral must travel overland from Tonron to the capital;—just as the Chinese caused Lord Macartney to travel overland to Peking, and more recently opposed by force Sir Frederick Bruce's attempt to go up the Peiho. The Annamese also desired to be excused from firing any salutes. 'When the -Avitilope left' on her-second trip, her commander was instructed inform the Hué authorities that: all these objections must be withdrawn, or the treaty would''be annulled and, says the Mail, it is: highly probable that the Annamese yielded. If so, Tonquin will, within the next eight or ten weeks, Be opened to trade. The China Mail also publishes a very curious letter, derived ostensibly from 2 Chinese source, regarding some recent proceedings of the French in Tonquin: which it is very difficult to comprehend. We shall try to make what we can of it, When Lieutenant Garnier was at Hannoi, certain malcontents came and offered their services, "Laos" the letter calls them, we presume Laotians, or the primitive inhabitants of the district. When the French found it advisable to retire, the Laotians were left to their own devices, and the Government pressed them so much that they rose in actual rebellion. They tried to get French assistance, but only succeeded in obtaining a promise of French neutrality. The French, however, were desirous of renewing relations with Annam, and succeeded in getting a treaty signed in the beginning of last year. As an inducement apparently tothe Hué Government to carry out its stipulations, they seem to have turned round on their old allies the Laotians, Possibly the fact is that, the latter having made themselves masters of two provinces on the French frontier, there was a prospect of affairs bee coming unsettled with a rebellion raging next door. At all: events, the letter states that the French interfered, and nearly exterminated the "Laos." Hereon, another disturb ing element, which too often manages to crop up in the negotiations of the French with Eastern nations, came to the front. We find M.
Calomer, a missionary bishop, negotiate ing between the French General'and the Laotians, with the object of placing the latter under the protection of the French flag, in order to preserve them from the attacks of the Hué
Government. Once more the counsels of the latter prevailed, and the French again desert the Laotian and send assistance to the Anna. mese. Hereupon, naturally, results a cry from the Laotians. They had twice been made tools of by the French, and promised assistance against their natural enemies the intrusive Annamit and twice they had been deserted at their hour of need. Now, itis only necessary to add that the charge is entirely ex parte, The French Commandant's version of the matter is, doubtless, something very different, and would show. that there was little if any of the: ill-faith practised which is attributed to: the French. Still'the latter ought to have. learned by this time that edged tools are dangerous. We cannot help sympathising with M. Calomer's attempt to screen the Laos from the persecution overhanging them; but.a minister of the Gospel is seldom in more unsuitable
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.