It is satisfactory to Jearn that the Chinese Government has been at length persuaded to acknowledge the existence of the Telegraph Cable. Hitherto they have declined to recognise it officially, and the local officials, following their lend, have refused to treat cases of outting it by boatmen, otherwise than as pilfering. It is difficult enough to detect onses of theft, where sections of the cable are really cut out and taken away for sale; but it is next to impossible to detect cases of cutting it as it often is cut, merely to free an anchor which has got entangled in it: and only severe punishment when aoulprit is found out, can be expected to prevent such wilful damage. About a year ago, the Superintendent of the Great Northera Telegraph Ca. explained to the Taotai of Ningpo, how junks could free anchors in case of entanglement, and Mis Excellency had proclamations embodying the explanation sent to the coast and islands. These had a good effect at the time, but latterly the cable has again been frequently dama; and the Taotai has been again appealed to, to protect it, The agents of the Company somehow found out who wore the culprits in certain cases, and the Acting Superintendent, Mr. Bahr, through the U.S. Consul at Ningpo, furnished t Taotai with theft names and address, His Excellency showed and promised that steps should be at once taken to punish the offenders. The Intter were found to live in the Chinhai district, and instructions were sent to the magistrate to pursue them.—Theso instructions have been carried out, and the Taotai has ince issued a proclamation, acknowledging the receipt of complaints from the Superintendent of the G. N. Ca., regard ing the damage done to the cable, and stating that the Chinhni magistrate h: arrested and punished one offender—bamboo and caugue—he being undoubtedly too poor to pay for the damage done, The proclamation conclud "The submarine telegraph cable belonging to foreigners is of immense value and a very important affair. Inow warn you fishermen tat, if in the future any person cut or damage the wire, he will not only be severely punished, but moreover, even if ho la poor, be liable to pay the expense of repairing the cable."
A atill_more important proclamation, which we subjoin, has been issued by the Paoshan magistrate, acknowledging the receipt of orders from the Tsungli-yamen (through, of course, the provincial and local authorities) to see tothe protection of the cable. The importance and value of the cable is fully acknowledged; and it is likely that now orders to protect it have been issued from Peking, depredators will be punished ina way that will convince them more clearly of the necessity of care and the unprofitableness of theft.
Fung, by Imperial appointment district magistrate of Paoshan, &., &c., ismness for General Information the following Proclamation I have been honoured with a despatch from H. E. Fung, the Superintendent of Customs in the province of Kiangnan and Taotai, in which it was stated "that the Taotai was honoured with an order from the Viceroy of Nanking H. E. Li, H.E. Lihas received from the Tsungli-yamen an offcial note stating that the Foreign Ministers spate to th Northern telegraph Company which has established a submarine telegraph line from Hongkong to Shanghai, that Chin merchant vessels and fishing boats, cit being unaware of the fact or being careless, whau they raised their anchors, also raised the cable and then ent it; moreover that there are people who go out in boats, drag the cable, steal it, and sell it for money therefore, the Foreign Ministers have asked for sufficient protection for the cable and for measures against it being damaged; the Viceroy was, therefore, ordered by the Teung I-yamen to issue orders to the Jocal authorities alan; provide means for the safety and protect of the cables, and therefore the Taotai ig instructed to order the different district Magistrates that they shall pay full atten. tion to have this affair settled in a sat factory way."
I think when the Foreigners have laid cables at the bottom of the sea for sending messages, those cables could not in any way have been in the way of your shi From th with Foreigners, there have always been weak points in our amicable relations them. Foreign Merchants from all parts of ived in our country, and naturally they wish to be in correspondence with their own people at home. Now-adays our countrymen also go abroad, and they also use the telegraph for sending imessnges and communications, The telegraph therefore has indeed great advantages both for us and for Fore and therefore it is not to be permitted t malicious people fish up the cables, them, and destroy them. Accordingly, I will make careful n this alfnir and establish a ay close protection, and therefore I issue this proclamation to you, trading-janks, fishing-boats, seamen, and all other people, that you cannot and must not anchor with your ships where the Foreigners have laid their cal If, storms, it should be inevitable to anchor on thos then you must be very careful cable should be raised on your you must place i again in its original Position in the sea; you muar not move it about, nor destroy Should he after, through carelessness, the exile be destroyed, or purposely out, and you be convicted of thin fact, then I will arrest you and severely punish you, avi L shall not pardon you.
Tremble and obey, ete.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.