Sir HENRY POTTINGER is running the gauntlet in a round
of civic compliments. The splendid banquet which the merchants of Liverpool gave him on Tuesday, with its appendages of memorial and addresses, was well repaid by two things which he gave to the merchants in turn. The first was some very interesting and useful information as to the character of the Chinese. He ascribes to them high qualities of mind, broad and " statesmanlike " views ; and he does not lack evidence of the fact. Sir HENRY not only persuaded the Chinese High Commissioner that it would be well to open the trade to other countries as well as England, but convinced the Mandarin ; so that he voluntarily adopted a most important and sweeping part of the treaty, one effecting a revolution in the foreign relations of China, and one too that by its nature could have been forced upon the Chinese by no one nation. It is satisfactory to ascertain this high capacity on the part of the Chinese, since, what- ever future difficulties may arise. they must be diminished bihaving to &D.'. 'gent men. Sir Him — . . , some excellent advice for regulating our intercourse with ditinav coupled with the assurance that, if such intercourse be well regu- lated, the increase of trade must be enormous. From what Lord STANLEY said, it appears that the clause opening the trade to other countries was suggested by. Sir HENRY POTTINGER on his own dis- cretion and responsibility : it was a bold exercise of discretion,and a wise. It not only disarms much reproach that England might have encountered had she proceeded in a more exclusive spirit, but gives to her a great moral influence in claiming a share of any, ad- vantages that may hereafter be obtained by other nations. It begins the new intercourse with that vast empire by placing England in the most advantageous and exalted position from the very first, in such manner that she will easily, with moderate judgment and good faith, be able to keep the start.
