In China there have been no great events ; except
that three more towns have been taken, at the expense of a bruise on a mid- shipman's foot. Sir HENRY Porrrronnt has undone what some of his colleagues had done, and forbidden the silly and embarrassing capture of trading-junks in the Canton waters. The opium-dealers carry on their traffic in safety under the shadow of the British flag ; the puerile austerity of the Chinese Government, a pedantic exer- cise of official virtue, falling powerless before the "progress of our arms" and the progress of a national vice among the Celestials. The British had suspended aggressive warfare in the South, the Plenipotentiary reserving his force and energy for an incursion on Imperial Pekin ; perhaps to find its Palace and its West-end deserted, and nothing left but a St. Giles's or a few beadles to negotiate withal.
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