The Correspondence on the subject of our relations with China
shows that the Government is determined to pursue a bold and firm policy. Lord John Russell's despatches to Mr. Bruce leave no doubt upon that head. Our Minister in China was instructed to abstain from receiving any overtures from the Chinese Govern- ment, unless they were accompanied by an ample apology for the wrong done to us at the month of the Peiho. If no overtures
were made, Mr. Bruce was to place himself at once in communi- cation with the Prime Minister of the Emperor, and demand his unqualified assent within thirty days, to certain conditions—that, Mr. Brae should proceed in a British vessel to Tien-tsin, and thence to Pekin, to exchange ratifications with the Emperor, the British Government, reserving to itself the right, to insist or not, as it pleased, upon the permanent residence of a British Minister at Pekin. The penalty for resistance to these demands would be an invasion of China. It is incontestable that the course pur- sued by the Government is extremely ine4erate. Lord John Russell imposes no new conditions. He asks fq an ample apology, and the ratification of the treaty, and failing that, he intimates that her Majesty's troops will proceed Co Alain the satisfaction denied. It will be interesting to see what ground in Opposition will be taken when these documents are discussed.
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