Acconpixa to information recently re-nothing has taken place at Tiontein which goes far to justify the light, vague, feeling of uneasiness respecting the progress of the Franco-Ohinese negotiations which has been floating in the air during the last few days. It is impossible to deny that, founded or unfounded, such a feeling Lins for some time existed; and when we take into consideration the complicated natare of the present political motion, it ie impossible to wonder that very serious apprebensions—and apprehensions based upon equally seri-ons grounds—shonld force themselves upon the minds of some, The French Government las acted both strangely and unwisely in this affair, Its conduct to the Minister in Shanghai has been simply inexplicable, That M. Patondtre should lave boon left without a line of information from Paris while peace between his Government and that of China was no tually being coticluded in that city: that be should hive been dependent for news of this p of Shang. he refused, and with perfect justification, to believe in the reported settlement: that the fact was eventually conveyed to him days after it had taken place, and that the despatch in which be was ordered up to 'Lientsin was, according to report, couched in somewhat brusque and' sorimonious terms: argues an absence of that suaviter in mode, it we may use the expression substan. tively, which is generally considered an indispensable element in suocesafal diplomacy. To irritate a Minister charged with delicate and important fanotions is not only discourteous, but 8 mi And, unless we t exaggerated view of the position, the difficulties of M. Putendtre's present task do not require adding to. At the very time that be, on behalf of France, is bargaining with China for the eva. enation of Tonguin by Chinese troops, and the enforcement of the Fournier will receive news of the difficulty between France and Egypt; which they will interpret as meaning that France, relying upon the restoration of peace with China, is now busily en. gaged in picking a quarrel elsewhere, in order, apparently, to embroil herself "Phot, we say, is the view wh -doubt present itself to the minds of the Chinese' statesmen: and, arguing that Russia is a traditional foo of their own country, they will scarcely be inspired with warmer sentiments towards France for its oonduot in the matter, or be deterred by chivalrous instincts from stiffening rheic backs at the expense of 'M. Patendtre. It would therefore be without the smallest surprise that we should bear of China having tarned the tables upon France, and brought forward some unexpected obstacle in the way of a speedy settlement, Rumonre, indeed, have been freely current daring the last few days that the Chinese have actually demanded an indemnity from France; and although telegrams received on Monday morning do not euppork this statement, it is difficult to jove that there has been absolutely no whatever. Such a policy would be eminently characteristic, and whatever might be its outcome it could not but harass and annoy France very considerably. The Chinese are quite shrewd enough to suspect that the sudden willingness of France to make peace in Asia sprang mainly from the imminence of still more important complications in Europe, and the imperative necessity of having her bande froe to act in Larmony with Russia, That the negoti now progressing in Tientsin may be successful, and the armistice be worked into a pence, li possible enough, in spite of all-the con! gencies we have been considering; but it is by no means cer! whatever arrangements may be arrived at apon paper we cannot but look upon the French tenure of For as exceed ingly precarious. Indeed, if France gets entangled in a European war, we have not the slightest doubt that China will turn round upon her and attern to wrest Tonquin from her gri altogether; for "forced oaths," enid Confucius, "the gods do not hear," and in spite of all the Treaties that ever were forced upon them the Chinese will make an effort to drive out the invaders the very first chance they get. And that such a chanco is not very far off the most superficial observer must perceive, The harried preparations for the defence of Vladivostok made by the Russian commander, the harried chartering of first-class steamers by the British Government in these waters, the massing of British men-of-war at Nagasaki, the sudden departure of the Daring, the receipt of im portant telegrams, and the presence of the Agamemnon at Port Hamilton,—all point to the imminence of an event, perhaps at our very doors, that will affect not the relations of Chi: and France alone, but those of countries bound to us by nearer tice, A war with Russia about the Afghan frontier does not by any means imply a struggle on the frontier itself only. It implies fighting all over the world, and the prevalence of the laws of war in every place where Russian and Euglich may be, And if France, by strange quarrel she appears to been trying to pick with Egypt, to take sides with Rassia against England, it will scarcely be in the interest of England to support French claims in Tongnin, In such a position of affairs China would see a golden opportuuily, She knows that Russia is cynically aggressive, and that Russian inflaence on Ler Western frontier has for long years been sharp thorn in ber side. -She also knows that England bus saved her from war on more than one occasion, that it is primarily due to an English officer that the Mancha dynasty is now upon the throne, and that nob one equate incl of Chinese territory is in danger from English greed. Chinero troops and Chinese war-ships officered by Englishmen would we think be able to give a good account of themselves, and the French, at least, have cause to regret the impetuosity which led them to enst their lot upon the side of Russia, Whatever the policy of France may be, let her be sure of this—that her espousal of the Russian cause against England will lead to a fi outbreak of trouble in Tonquin, and plunge her once more into hostilities with China, Still, in spite of all appearances, we are loath to believe thata country with whom we ave for so long been on cordial terms should suddenly turn against us with out cause. France and Englund have been friends for half a century or more, and at present neither hae any ground of quarrel with the other, "What we have written is, we fear, justified by the present aspect of affairs to a very ingo extent; but hitherto at airy rate there has been no rupture between Franco and England, and itis to be hoped by moderate mon in both countries that nothing of the sort will ever really lnppen, England has never inj France, and an outbreak of hostilities between the two nations would be nothing less than a world-wide calamity,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.