It is curious that these official accounts are as silent
as the former respecting the outrages committed in the chief town of Chusan by the British soldiers. The letters describing the affitir were most minute in their &tails of thn3e wanton and shameful excesses. It can scarcely be supposed that those descriptions were without foundation, though exaggerated: and if true, why is all allusion to them suppressed in an official statement of the siege and capture? Is this suppression an omission ill the original despatches, or have they been made "fit to be seen" at the Foreign Office, before pub- lication in the Gazette ?
A tleclaration front Admiral ELLIOT provides for the government of Chusan, and " of any other Chinese towns or districts which may hereaftee be surrendered or reduced during the actual disputes with the Government of China." The laws, customs, and usages of the country, are to be observed, with the exception of torture: those on the islands %silo are not natives are to be dealt with according to the laws of England; and the ()fiver who is to admi- nister tile government " pending her .lajesty's pleasure," is
authorized, by the declaration of the Adinii.al. to " deport any person whom he may consider it expedient to send away for reasons
of public safety." The object of the expedition appears, from this declaration, to be the extension of our territorial possessions in the East.
