Now that the negociations which led to M. de Rochechouart's expedition up the Yangtze are ended, it may be well to give a connected sketch of his proceedings, and of the results he has gained. He had, it will be remembered, four distinct claims to settle. Cath-olio missionaries, or their converts, had been injured in Anhwei, in Kiangsi, in Szechuen, and in Kweichow; and the settlement of these difficulties involyed visits to the three capital cities—Nanking, Nanchang and Wachang. We have already described M. do Rochechouart's proceedings at Nanking, where he was received with marked courtesy, and met ready compliance with his demands. A proclamation was issued by the Viceroy, condemning the action of the literati at Nganking, and the punishment of the culprits was promised. Passing on to Nganking, to assure himself that these promises were executed, His Excellency learned that one of the rioters had been condemned to 100 blows and two months cangue, and several others degraded and excluded from the examinations; the proclamations were posted thoughout the city; and arrangements were made for the grant of a piece of Innd to the Jesuits, as a site for a mission house anda church. Father Seckinger and two delegates from the viceroy have since arrived at Nganking, in order to complete details of the purchase; a house has been set apart for the former's residence, pending the negociations; and the affair may now be considered fully and satistnetorily settled. The people thoroughly understand that the missionaries have a right to reside, and acquire land, in the city, and that the officials are to buy it for them. It is said that they are very dissatisfied with the Putai who, it will be remem-Vered, was in Nganking during the nut; and to whose inertness at the time, the visit of the French and the a-Jarm which it has caused, are attributed.
disturbance which occurred at Kinto-hsien, in the same province, has been also satisfactorily settled. A number of Christian converts in this district were attacked, at the instigation of the resident gentry and literati; several wore killed, their houses burned, and themselves pursued across the bor: der to the town of Punitze in Kiangsi, where seven others were murdered. Who culprits in this case have been arrested and brought to Nganking, for trial before Lin Taotai, who has been specially appointed for the purpose; the sufferers are to be compensated, sind re-established in their homes.
de Rochechouart's next visit was to Kiukiang, where five matters were pending—some of them from old date. The first that claimed attention was the destruction of a church in the neighbourhood of the port; but it was found that the prospect of the French squadron's arrival had impelled the Taotai to effect a summary compromise of this matter. by paying the missionaries their full claim of Tls. 1,500, in compensation for the damage. Other similar outrages, involve ing persecutions of converts, remained and the Taotai came on bourd the Scorpion, immediately on its arrival, announce that he had settled one, and would arrange the others immedi: ately. The French Charge d' Affaires remarked, however, that he had not come from Peking to be satisfied with a verbal promise; such had been made before; he must have some snbstantial proof that an cement would be effected. The Taotai pleaded that immediate solution was impossible; he could li gate and decide matters in one day. But he was told that he should, then, have begun long before, and averted the necessity for this visit. The only arrangement that could now be accepted, was the summary payment of Ts. 6,000 us compensation. The Taotai refused; and MI de Rochechoaart declared, if it were not given next morning, he would go to Nanchang-fa, the capital city, and prosecute his demand. The Tavtai uttered grave warnings as to the probable violence of the people, who had never yet been visited by a Foreigner; and, knowing there was only three feet of water in the Poyang Lake, whereas the gun boats drew eight feet, persisted in refusal. M. de Roche-chou art, however, having made the threat, was determined to execute it. Ho accordingly started the next morning with the Gostlogon and Scorpion, for the entrance of the Lake. Here, at Hakow, the former was obliged to stop; but the Scorpion managed to get 15 miles farther, when she also was brought up; and the journey had to be prosecuted in a steam Iaanch,—towing a boat with an escort of armed sailors. Starting in the morning, it was hoped to reach, before night, a place called Hoochin, at the entrance of the Nanchang river, where there is a mission-bat what with the dark-frequent getting aground, and ignorance of the country, they had at last to stop and to sleep on the deck, on one of the coldest nights in January. The next morning they made the entrance; and teand that news of their approach had been sent overland from Kiukiang; the local mandarins bad been ordered to send two gun boats as an escort; and, ten miles from Nanchang, three others were met, bringing greeting from the Fatal, and a suggestion that the matter could be settled quite as satisfactorily on the spot, as by prosecuting the journey to the capital. Holding a different opinion, however, M.de Roche-chou art pursued his way—through crowds of fishing, cargo bonis and junks among which the steamer created-immense sensation—up to the walls of the city. Here, great crowds had assembled on both sides of the river; whole fleets of gunboats were flying their gaudy flags; and the walls, judging from a similar display, were manned by the local militia. "The launch anchored opposite the principal gate, where were 50 gunboats in line, with the men all standing to their guns, and—three splendid house-janks prepared for the intruders' accomodation. Di-reetly they arrived, cards were sent by the city authorities, and servants were told off to supply everything that was wanted. The three mandarins who had conveyed the hopeless invitation to halt and negotiate, anchored on the opposite side of the river; and, next morning, the French Interpreter went on board their boat to open negociations. Here, unfortunately, he was caught and wind bound by a storm, and prevented, for twenty-four hours, from getting back to his Chief. A continuance of the storm, with only slight abatement, kept matters at a stand still also on the morrow; and it was not fill the third day after arrival, that an interview with the Futai could take place. It was with much difficulty that this was finally arranged; the mandarins acted with extreme ill-will; and, though courtesy was shown, it was only under the influence of continued pres= sare. The Kiakiang Taotui's argument was renewed—of danger from unruly crowds; and the Fatal professed himself so anxious to do honor, that he would come himself to the French Minister, rather than the latter should ran avis, But M. Rochechouart was firm; he insisted on entering the city he insisted on having n kung-kwan and the officials at length gave way as usual, before his pressure, A kang Kwan was allotted; the people proved curious, but quiet; and the Fatal received the Minister with all proper ceremony. He acquiesced in the de~ mands for satisfaction, gave the Tle,,000 as a guarantee, recognised the right of the Missionaries to reside, entertained his visitors at a collation; and took leave of them as he had received them—always under the same carefal pressure, He fried, even at the last moment, to avoid escorting M, de Rochechouart the prescribed distinct towards his chair; but the latter waited, and the Chinaman was obliged to come on.
Being in hourly fear that they might be stopped by a farther fall of the water, the French left directly the interview was over; and returned to sinkiang, where they learned that the taotai had been severely reprimanded by the Fatal, for his clumsiness and for not yielding the Tls. 6000, in allowing them to visit Nanchang,
or any other demand, in order to prevent such a catastrophe. Probably ed as his superior, at M. do Hech. the Taotai was as much disappoint-
chovart's successful journey; for he wrote an unfavourable letter to Bishop, regarding the missionary claims, on the morning the gunboats started; but begged that it might be returned to him, and a more fuvourabl one substituted, directly he hoard that the French had reached Nanchang.
Having settled matters satisfactorily in the Kiangsi province, M. de Rochechonart pursued his journey to Wuchang, to urge a settlement of the Kweichow and Szechuen outrages—Lihung-chang having been specially delegated to arrange the missionary troubles in those provinces. Li, however, had already gone to Szechuen on his errand; and negociations were conducted through Fatai,—the same high official who visited Shanghai three years ago, to arrange the Belgian treaty with Baron, Kint von Rodenbeck. The grievances which had to be settled were three—the destruction of 67 houses and a church at Tien-men, a hien city on the Han river, some: 360 li above Hankow; a similar outrage,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.