might still be considered indulgent, and therefore it was that from
all our ports the sycee leaked out as the opium rushed in: now, however,
the Great Emperor, on hearing of it, actually quivers with indignation,
and before he will stay his hand the evil must be completely and entirely
done away with.' But these denunciations are not unmingled with
incitements to fear in another direction: 'You are separated from your
homes by several tens of thousands of miles, and a ship which comes and
goes is exposed to the perils of the great and boundless ocean, arising
from curling waves, contrary tides, thunders and lightnings, and the
howling tempest, as well as the jeopardy of crocodiles and whales!
Heaven's chastisements should be regarded with awe. The majesty and virtue
of our Great Emperor is the same with that of heaven itself! Our celestial
dynasty soothes and tranquillizes the central and foreign lands, and our
favor flows most wide. Our central empire is exuberant in all kinds of
productions, and needs not in the slightest degree whatever the goods of
the outer seas.' As matters are about proceeding to an open rupture with
the 'red-bristled foreigners,' and preparations are making to 'fire upon
them with immense guns,' there ensues a bit of Chinese diplomacy, which is
especially rich. After a long interview by a committee with the _Chefoo_,
during which all sorts of arguments are urged upon Snow, the American
Consul, and VAN BASEL, the Netherlands Consul, to induce them to sign a
'duly-prepared bond,' that none of their countrymen shall thenceforth
bring opium to China, the audience is suddenly closed with: 'To-morrow the
Chefoo will be at the Consoo-house, and wait from nine till night to
receive the bonds. _Now go home and go to bed!_' But enough for the nonce
of JOHN CHINAMAN. . . . IN alluding to Mr. COLE'S graphic account of the
_Ascent of Mount AEtna_, in our last issue, we spoke of its late eruption.
While reading the proof of that portion of our 'Gossip,' a friend handed
us a letter lately received from an American missionary lady at the
Sandwich Islands, from which we extract the subjoined vivid description of
the great volcano at Hawaii: 'You know,' says the writer, 'something, I
suppose, of the geological character of this island. It seems as though a
vast crater had boiled over and poured its fiery liquid in every
direction. This lava, having cooled and hardened, forms the basis of the
island. The district of