The Pall Malt has often distinguished itself in commenting on Chinese matters, but we have seldom read in it anything more amusing than the following quasi-serious notice of a Chinese account of the audience, which we translated same months ago The last number of the Academy—which now appears, according to previous announcement, ina popularized form, a substantial three-columned journal of some thirty pages—contains a reference to and contradiction of a ious story which has found its way from a journal into the English newspapers, The story relates to a remarkable, and to a the truth incredible, scene which was said to have taken place of the reception of the En-ambassadors by the Emperor of China, Foremost among the twelve envoys, ti account states, was the representative of G1 Britain.
"When he had read a few sentences of his credentials, he began to tremble from head to foot, and was incapable of completing the perusal. The Emperor asked, Is the prince of your country well but he could utter no reply. The Emperor again asked, You have besought permission to see me time and again, What is it you have to say to me?" But he was unable to answer. The next proceeding was to hand in the credentials; but in doing this he fell down on the ground time after time, and not a syllable could he articulate, Upon this Prince Khun laughed Joud at him before the entire Court, exclaiming, Chicken-feather and gave orders to have him assisted down the steps. He was unable to move of his owa accord, and sat down on the floor perspiring and panting for breath."
"The correspondent of the academy observes with some justice that this statement is absurd as to be hardly worthy of notice," feels justified from personal intimate kno
cally contradicting the whole story." Mr. ledge of our envoy, Mfr. Wade, in emphatic Wade, who, he says, was made Companion ofthe Bath for his services during the last war, is, the last person to be likely to "tremble from head to foot" before the youthful Emperor of China; and if he were not, Prince Khun, or tore correctly Kung, i, we are assure far too well-bred a man to have remarked, "Chicken-feather As to Mr. Wade being ataloss for wor: Linguistic attain. be no doubt that he is a far abler Chi ments are of the hi igh st order, and there can scholar than the Emperor of China himself The canard, however, isa very instructive one, as showing the peculiar development of the art of sensational reporting when tran: planted to an Oriental country. The picture of Mr. Wade "falling the and time after time" and "perspiring and panting for breath" is probably only the Chinese counterpart of those little touches of colouring with which the "graphic reporter" in that country is wont to embellish the subjects of his pictorial descriptions.—Jbid,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.