To the Editor of the Siz,—It soams high time that our "able Minister," Mr. Wade, beatirred himself, and demanded satisfaction from the Chinese for the various outrages they have perpetrated on British subjects during the
oon pass out of ast fow months, otherwise the air will han Ther are no less than four outrages in three months, and no sign whatever of any satisfaction being obtained.
Contrast this with the course of action adopted by our authorities in the case of the Ocean, when a collision occurred, and no blame was imputed to the Captain by a competent Naval Court, assembled to try th;_yet this unfortunate Captain is harassed by no Jess than four different law processes at one and the same time viz, Judge in Admiralty, Supreme Court, Consular and Mixed Court, Police Magistrate and Assessors. Even the Chinese passengers value their luggage at the sum of Tls. 45,000—or more ti hip is liable for altogether, The proceedings seem to be farcical, except from a money point of view.
We have on hand now—Ist.—Murder of Mr. Margary and attempted massacre of Colonel Browne's party.
2nd,—Seizure of a British vessel on the high seas, by Chinese, and an act of war committed by firing upon her. The commander of the vessel and the man who pointed the guns being British subjects Srd.—Attack on the British Consulate at Chinkeang. 2 4th.—Attack on and attempt to murder Mr. Gooper at Quin This seems pretty good for three months and, as far as the outside world can judge, there seems little chance of any redress, unless some more active measures are employed on our side.
we are to judge by the course of events in China, the British Lion" seems played out.—I am, &e., A Harris Sunszcr.
To the Editor of the Dear Siz,—Glaneing through the of an old volume of Chambers' Edinburgh lowing passage, which, to me, appears peculiarly applicable to the it state of affairs here, and, if one may judge from the papers, elsewhere also.
'The paragraph to which I allude is embodied in an article entitled 'The History of the Bank of England," and is as follow "The History, says_a London Banker, "of what we are in the habit of calling "the 'State of Trade' is an instructive "lesson, We find it subject to various conditions, which are periodically return-"ing; it revolves apparently in an estabished Cycle. First, we find it in a state "of quiescence; next, improvement, grow-"'ing confidence, prosperity, excitement, "'over-trading, convulsion, pressure, stag "nation, distress, ending again in quite cence."
'To my idea, the writer appears in the main correct, although at the same time it would seem' an open question whether "over-trading," "convulsion," "pressure," "stagnation," and "distress," have not been forced upon us en masse in this unfortunate year of 1875; we may at any rate, however, congratulate ourselves that "quiescence" is presumed to follow the present wretched state of affairs. But he again the question arises—Js this what is wanted? Is quiescence the one and only thing needful to develope trade and increase our business relations with this vast, wealthy country? Has quiescence done this, and if so, who has derived the benefit? ' Certainly ' foreigners do not appear to me to bein happy condition at present; but with 1 With'themselves, or with their respective officials, who are sent out (I opine) to watch the interests and forward the legitimate aims of thei respective nationals? The reply to thi question, however, I beg to leave to more able heads and readier pens than mine, only intended touching on Chambers' when I commenced, thinking that the extract might possibly convoy a grain of comfort to some in these ticklish times.
I do not apologise for taking up your "valuable space," for I hope (and. feel have no room for thi you will m Iremain, dear Sir, Yours, in hopes of more prosperous times, Coznotox.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.