CHINA.

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 7, 19 July 1845, Page 1

CHINA.

The London Colonial Gazette, quoting from the Journal dcs Debuts, asserts that the British Missionary, who, on tl.e death of the venerable Mo» nson, acted as interpreter between Sir H, Pottinger and the Emperor, was bribed by the latter, or by some of his people, to turn traitor to his country, by causing the Chinese copy of thejTreaty ratified by Sir Henry; and afterwardsjb'y the Queen; to contain articles of a quite different nature to those which Sir Henry had agreed to sign, and which he was assuied by the British Interpreter, he had 6igned. The Journal rfc? Dcbals would have rejoiced at this forgery, had not the false treaty excluded the French, as well as all other nations, from the benefits which were secured to them in common by the true Treaty. The Emperor will, of course, not merely disclaim all knowledge of theTiealy which it was intended by Sir Henry he shouldhave signed, but it may be, that by such disclaimer, he may tell the truth. His Prime Minister, or the Mandarins under him, may have bribed our Interpreter, without informing the Emperor of the roguish fact. If the Emperor has been duped to sign a treaty so favourable to himself, hefwill, on being informed that it is a forgeiy accuse our Queen of making it, rather than any one of Ins own people. What will be the consequence if the Emperor stands by the Treaty ho signed—by which all the advantages of our victories are thrown away ? Will England send another army to China, to do all the dreadful work over again, until the Emperor agrees to* give us u ht3t we thought we had already obtained? The "mistake" is certainh most embarrassing j and it does not mgke it the less awful in the probable consequences, because there is something of the ludicrous which attaches to it. At Fuu-chow-Foo the people are represented as poor, though industrious and honest. Some non-resident capitalists have Isrge stores in the place which they supply from Canton. A ship arrives annually from Loo -Choo with 10,000 laels of gold, to purchase goods. The teas of Foo-chow-Foo are not of the best } and it is evident, thatt it will not, for some time offer facilities for large commercial transactions. Some of the offi • cers of tiie Proserpine, who had gone on shore atjthis place, were no to aly* molested butcompeHcd to retreat to theii boats, and one, of them narrow - ly escaped with life. The English party had thenfowling pieces with them, and it may bepiesuined they gave some offence, although no grounds of anger or disagreement are stated.