To the Editor of the re Sra,—It has seldom fallen to my lot to '80 dismal and objectless a letter as that ned 'Q," in your paper of the 27th instant.
The announcement of the subject " Pro-88 in China," led one naturally to look for some tidings as to the further opening of the gates of this great empire Instead of this, we are assured that the Chinese are wholly bent upon excluding foreigners from a share in the introduction of foreign improvements; and that their ancient policy of excluding foreigners from the interior is but intensitied.
The announcement from Peking, re
the effect that a general massacre of Euro-pid Caloutia and London a few days peans is imminent within two years, was scarcely more dismal and alarming Now, had "Q" given us some practical suggestions as to the cure for this Chinese malady, or had he indulged in some hopeful predictions as to its eventual removal, it had been well. He contents himself, however, with recommending us to resign ouraolves to our fate; and as a sedat and soporific, he reminds us that missi aries and rowdies have caused this state of things, I leave rowdies to answer for themselves before *Q" and the public.
My own impression is, that the state of things is not quite so hopeless. The Chinese must soon find out that they cannot manage railways, winning, engineering works, &c., without foreign help; and then, a8 a consequence, the country must be opened. Meanwhile, nothing is yamed by misrepresenting or underrating the achievements of those well intentioned men," who have been bold enough to puted clauses of the Treaty, and who have demonstrated in some instances to the great surprise of official minds, that it is not 0 much the Chinese who object to residence in the interior, as timid politicians in the far off and ignorant West.
I mention also, for the information of 4Q," that Protestant Missionaries have not stolidly refused to abandon their hard-won foothold in the interior, when desired to do so by their Consuls; this was done in 1859 at the time of the Taku disaster; it has been done twice since; and if the Shanghai Courier is correct, the lingness to yield within the be son to Chinese prejudice is at this moment being manifested by certain Protestant Missionaries in Hangchow.
The Consular officials have, however, been forward in noticing the extreme impolicy of hastily abandoning positions in the interior acquired with the knowledge, connivance, or, as in many instances, recognition of the Chinese officials.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.