Ir may be interesting, though perhaps unprofitable, to speculate upon the likely result of the present state of affairs, to the high mandarins who are responsible for the difficulty. Theoretically, the Chinese hold the Emperor personally responsible for the good or evil condit of the country; if matters go wrong, his negligence is the cause; if the people are prosperous, his virtue gains the praise. The maxim implies a strong personal Government, and in that case its application would be perfectly fair, Men like Kien-long and Kang-hi were responsible, because they really had, and exercised, power. The case is different just uow, and the young Emperor will probably escape popaler censure, whatever trouble may ensue to China from the foolish conduct of his Ministers, He cannot be held fairly responsible for the men in office; so these men will be held responsible for themselves. Prince Kung and Tseng kwo-fan are the two prominent figares; and their alternate influence will probably rise and full, as foreign or Chinese prestige seems to be in the asceudant. Tseng-kwo-fan is recognised as the hend of the war party, and is regarded as a miracle of wisdom and a tower of strength at the present moment, because twenty women and unarmed men have been butchered ander his jurisdiction, and he las not yet been compelled to punish the murderers. From various causes, the French minister has not yet been able, for the moment, to press his demands to their conclusion; but, instead of feding anger at the fail ave of the Government spontaneously to mete out justice, the Oriental mind of course infers weakness and assumes triumph. Prince Kang has been ata discount, because he is supposed to favour a compliance with French demand:; no credit is given him for being actuated in the matter by a senso of justice; he is blamed for a cowardly inclination to yield to foreigners; the trath being, probably, that he has intelligence to foresee defeat in case of a struggle.
here seems, jast at this time, a shade more likelihood of a peaceful solution. The rejection by England of the Peking Convention has had an effect on the Government, who find sources of not entirely obviated even ion; and that the present incumbent in the British Legation does not represent his country unreservedly. Bat, supposing the straygle to ensue, and the inevitable defeat to China to have occurred; supposing Tientsin and Peking occupied by foreign troops, and the people squeezed to pay the heavy indemnity which would justly be exacted, for injury done and expense caused by its Rulers' ill-faith, the people would not be slow to turn round on the party who had brought about the catastrophe, by their bad policy. Tseng-kwo-fan would be condemned for the failure as highly as he is now lauded for his success, and Prince Kung would be borne back to power by the fall force of circumstances, as the man to deal with foreigners, after all. Popular favour is short-lived everywhere; and political power is especially uncertain in Oriental countries. We should not
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.