PEKIN.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1712, 1 April 1862, Page 6

PEKIN.

While the social and political condition of this province, and the ancient capital of the empire, Nanking, are ia a

r state of auarchy, the northern metropolis \ is quiescent, and the representatives of j the treaty powers are on the most friendly r terms with the new Government, under • the regency of the Prince of Kung. Some 1 complaints have been mndo by the British i subjects wishing to travel through Pekin, or to locate themselves there, against * Her Majesty's plenipotentiary, the Hon. , Mr, Bruce, for restricting or refusing i (l passports. Certainly there is a good i deal of redtapeism among the offioials in China; but great caution is necessary in giving privileges to persons only who will conduct themselves with propriety, where i the smallest infraction of the treaty clauses might lead to serious complications with the authorities. As this is the winter season at Pekin, and the northern ports of Tientsin and ' Newchwang are ice- bound, the communication between them aud Shanghai is but scanty. At the latter place matters are not proceeding smoothly. The inhabitants are chary people to deal with, and the foreign residents are obliged to be upon their guard against any attack, consequently they mostly go about armed with revolvors and swords*