Staunton Spectator

English And Chinese Hostilities.

The last foreign steamer brought intelligence of hostilities having been commenced between the English and Chinese at Canton. The immediate cause of the collision is represented to be the forcible seizure of some English seamen by the Mandarin authority, and insults subsequently offered to the British Consul. This may be the proximate provocation for resorting to forcible measures; but there is good reason for supposing that other and more impressive objects are influencing the British. That government has never been satisfied with the manner in which their last contest with the Cathayans—known as the opium war of 1846—was closed.

An American merchant of standing and influence, Mr. Cunningham, is wantonly murdered, and our Commissioner, Dr. Parker, goes up to Foo Choo to ask why they did it: and thus far the only thing that has been done toward reparation, is that American merchants there refused to pay any export duties till the murderer be given up. The other day a French missionary named Fourcade was terribly tortured, and afterwards butchered. Louis Napoleon has a French fleet on the coast of China to demand and enforce redress. John Bull, without the blood of any of his citizens being spilt, throws shot and shell into the great Southern Chinese city.

The recent bombardment of Canton, by Admiral Seymour, is but another act of the English drama in the Orient, whose conclusion is to be the cross of Saint George floating over Chusan.