It is so difficalt for a for-Political.
eigner to acquire reliable information regarding the political condition of China, that we can only attempt a very superficial sketch of the occurrences which have come to our knowledge during the past year. Without railways, telegraphs or newspapers, [it cannot be expected that detailed information of events should find its way over sovastacountry. London, before these appliances were introduced, was probably ill-informed of what happened in Wales; much less can Shanghai get accurate accounts of events in Yunnan or Kansuh, We know, only, that the Rebellion in those provinces drags along its weary length; and that the Imperiulist geuerals seem to make little progress towards restoring order. At the close of 1869, the prospect appeared more hopefal; theMahomedanshadeither been dri-yener retreated from Shensi andShanso into far Kansuh, and it was hoped that the large sams placed at the disposal of the Viceroy Tso would have enabled him to pursue his success to a climax, Suddenly, however, we heard of a renewed irruption, and then again of variouscombinations on the part of the Impenalists, which were to result in the extinctionof the rebellion—when a large portion of their army fell into an ambush cade, and was cut to pieces. Hither the reverse was really a serious one, or it was used san excuse to assemble largo forces in the North without exciting foreign suspicion. Considerable alarm was either felt or simulated at Peking and Li-bung-chang was at once ordered to march northward, with the large army he had retained under his com mand after the extinction of the Nienfei, With these troops, he was reported to have gained some successes, when ho was suddenly ordered to Tientein, to fave the complication which had arisen there with Foreigners. Of the Mahomedan rebellion, we have since heard no more; but shall likely be startled by intelligence of a new raid, as the returning cold weather causes distress to be felt among the seminomad people of Kansuh.
Our knowledge of the position of affairs in Yunnan is not much clearer. Wo had news, during the summer, of various successes achieved by the Impenalists, with the help ofan Hoglish officer who was managing their artillery; but orders were received from Peking to dispense with his services, and lately, if we may trust information received across Barmah, the Mabomedans have regained the ascendant, Disturbances have also occurred in the adjoining provinces of Kwangsi and Kweichow; the Miautze are giving trouble in Szechuen; and there has been an outbreak in Hunan, which seems to have beer quelled on the appointment to the chief military command of a member of the Tseng family, whose influence in these districts is dominant.
each case the insurgents seem to aim at brigandage rather than at any political object; but the misery and desolation which they cause in the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.