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 Kau is a rich, luxuriant spot, surrounded by desolate fields of scoriae, which renders it difficult of access. We are situated six miles from the sea, sufficiently elevated to give us a commanding view of its vast expanse of waters. We can occasionally spy a sail floating like a speck on its surface. From the shore, the country gradually rises into a range of verdant mountains, whose summits appear to touch the clouds. Proceeding northward toward Hilo, there is a gradual rise, until you reach the Great Volcano, about six miles distant. In making the tour to Hilo, we camped here the second night, on the brink of the burning gulf. Suppose a vast area of earth, as large as the bay of New-York, to have fallen in to the depth of several thousand feet. At the bottom of this great cauldron, you behold the liquid fire boiling and bubbling up, partly covered with a thick black scum. There are two or three inner craters, which have been formed by the lava cooling on its sides while the liquid sunk below. The gentlemen mostly descended into this crater, but I was fully satisfied with a look from above. The earth is cracked all around at the top, and portions of it are continually falling in. Steam issues from open places in all the region. This volcano has been in action from time immemorial, as the natives all assert, and has been with them an object of idolatrous worship. The range of mountains continues for some thirty miles beyond this, and terminates in the