We are glad to know that, though rather Jate in the day, the Chambers of Commerce of Hongkong and Shanghai have protested against the ratification of the Nelegraph Convention. The Chamber here was moved to action by its Hongkong sister, which sent it yesterday the following telegram:—Chamber Commerce Shanghai. Have wired Walsham strongly protest against rumoured convention between Telegraph Companies and Chinese Government. See Chamber's despatch 9th December, eighty-seven. Chamber of Commerce, Hongkong, 15th October 1889.
We understand that on receipt of this a meeting of the Committee of the Chamber here was called, and the following telegram despatched:—Minister Denby, Doyen Diplomatic Body, Peking. May this Chamber ask for information about position of "Telegraph Convention, This Chamber desires to protest strongly against its adoption if that likely to happen. Hongkong Chamber has telegraphed British Minister also protesting strongly. Chamber of Commerce, Shanghai, 16th October 1889.
In addition to this Mr. Vincent Smith on behalf of American merchants here, Mr. John Macgregor on behalf of British merchants, and Mr. Carl Jantzen, we believe, on behalf of German merchants, have telegraphed their respective Ministers in the xame sense. It is to be hoped that if the Convention is not already ratified, this action on the part of the two Chambers may make the highest officials pause before they sign away China's independence at the behest of an injurious monopoly, and for graph Companies offer. such a paltry compensation as the ''ele-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.