TAOU KWANG, THE EMPEROR OF CHINA.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 37, 6 December 1842, Page 3

TAOU KWANG, THE EMPEROR OF CHINA.

According to the best-informed authorities, Taou Kwang is at present (if, indeed, the crisis be not already passed) in a situation of exceeding peril, both as regards life and empire; as, from circumstances that have lately taken place in China, the invincibility of our arms, and our national character, now rapidly developing itself, an opinion is gaining ground among the intelligent and influential Chinese at Ningpo, and in the province surrounding it, that the Tartar dynasty is tottering to its fall. Startling as this may appear to those conversant with the character of Eastern despotism, it' appears far from improbable. For the Emperor to lose face, as it is called in China, by the utter defeat of his best troops, and the capture of his strongest forts by the barbarians, whom he has taught his people to regard as the very scum of the earth, is equivalent to' loss of empire, where empire is based on the claim of superiority to all the nations of the earth; and for this reason it is as impossible for the Emperor to yield to our demands, and preserve His throne, as it would be for us, after what has happened, to expect a peace of any duration with the present dynasty. The Chinese are far too wise not to see the advantages of our just laws, giving protection to life and property,- when contrasted with the arbitrary rule of their Tartar conquerors.

On the arrival of the expected reinforcements from India and England, the campaign, it has been said, would begin by the capture of that important position at the south point of the Great Canal. The utility of this proceeding is much canvassed, for many contend that the British expedition ought to proceed at once to the attack of the Imperial province of Pekin, which being, by the constitution of the Chinese empire', placed under the immediate government of his Celestial Majesty, any attack on it would oblige the Emperor in person to examine the causes of the war, and to come to a speedy decision. The great blunder of the late plenipotentiaries was their riot persisting in 1840 to demand a settlement of the disputes, when Keshen hoaxed them back to Canton. Sir H. Pottinger must go to Pekin in order to bring the war to a termination; for the mandarins at Ilang-kow-foo seem resolved rather to carry on their operations in their own fashion, although they appeared to make an offer of negopiations. The sacred province itself must be assailed, and even the British troops may have march towards the capital, before the obstinaey of the Emperor will yield; The possession of the imperial province isy besides, to be considered as an occupation of the government, and then the Emperor will have either to abdicate or submit to proper terms. It is known that the inhabitants at Ningpo, and for many miles round it, have implored us to take them under our protection; and without wishing to see this country add to the extent of its dominion unnecessarily, it will ere long become a grave consideration whether we can, either in honour or policy, abandon the people of the province—the scene of our late conquests —to certain destruction, by again yielding them up with Ningpo and its dependencies, to their former rulers; or if we do so, how can we avoid the British name being execrated whereever it has been known, and arinihilating alt hopes for the future in the good-will of the inhabitants of any part of China? Out of evil sometimes Cometh good, and the' opium trade, which is little understood in this country, may have been the means intended by Providence for introducing the Gospel, and altering the condition of that benighted country, for that such an event is sooner or later to take place; no Christian can doubt. Speaking of the opium trade as carried on with Bengal and China, it should be observed, that whatever objections there may be to it in a moral point of view, the opprobrium that has been heaped upon'it as having been the cause of the war, is totally unfounded; the real cause may be easily traced in the many years’ submission to insult during the period of the East India Company’s charter, and subsequently by the apathy shown to the indignities offered to Lord Napier. The renowned Lin (thanks to him for having put an end to our degradation) might well be justified in acting as he did without fear of consequences, when he reviewed the past, and saw our flag prostrate so long before one of the weakest and most arrogant governments on earth, and on two occasions endeavouring to purchase favor by costly presents in the character of tribute-bearer to his Celestial Majesty. An immense field for British commerce is about to be opened, and the advantages offered must not be lost by a mistaken policy.