in almost impossible to adequately ascertain the actual value of the events which are taking place here. Although apparently they seem to have no connexion, either with the subjects supposed to be under the consideration of the Plenipotentities of Groat Britain and China, or with each other, it would be unreasonable to separate them from a certain relation to the principal event round which they are grouped, or to exclaim that they have no practical utility beyond an isolated pur po: dependent on those who initiate or take part in them, Without assigning, th fore, to the occurrences happening at Chefoo, any importance beyond that they each contribute to the completion of the surroundings of the diplomatic conferences g held here, it may be as well what in happening, and to loave for wiser heads to discover whatever profound meaning it contain gonoral interest man each and every one is doing, or going to do, seems unabated; and it is not from any prevalent Abundant' opportunity of this sort has been afforded for His Excellency Li Hung-chang and other eminent personal gratify their wishes for giving their opinions on the world in general, and one spot of it in particular; but hitherto barren results are all that hi gathered in, so far as the initiated public is concerned.
The miniature review of Chinese troops, which was hastily got up by the native military authorities, to allow some of the foreign distinguished" visitors to recreate themselves amidst the dulness of Chefoo, was speedily followed by a display of naval power, for the special benefit of the Chinese Imperial Commissioner, The German Commodore, Count Moritz, invited His Excellency Li Hung-chang to inspect the magnificent frigate Vineta, under his command, witness theakill and warlike science evinced in the splendid armament and highly Giaciplined crow of the choicest specimen of the German Navy at present in Eastern waters. On Saturday, the 26th August, the inner bay of Chefoo seemed especially alive with excitement, and from an early hour everything betokened the approaching movement which was to complete the scene. His Excellency Li Hung-chang embarked in his own afoam-launch, and with other boats containing his numerous suite proceeded to the Vineta, where he was received with all the honor due to his exalted rank and to his special position as representative of the Emperor of China, The yards were manned, the guns thundered out a salute, and all that could interest the Chine siter was shown and explained to him with every attention, His Excellenc questions on the minute details of arma-monts, projectiles, weapons of war, and other elements of destruction, showed that he highly appreciated the scientific att ments of the German officers who made the different qualities of these terrible things apparent to him. Every one seemed struck with the information His Excellency Po on these and kindred subjects, and the ease and self-possession with which he reviewed the compact body of armed men who were paraded in his honor, A similar demonstration of manning yards and salutes accompanied his departure and the Imperial envoy was quickly agai on terra firma, to dis with his intimate friends the exhibition he had beheld.
Meanwhile, on the northern horizon a amall dark spot appeared, which increasing in magnitude betokened a steamer approaching Chefoo, and it speedily maguilied itself into the well-known Vigilant, the yacht of Vice-Admiral A. P, Ryder, which, amidst the echoes of the morning's warlike sounds, glided swiftly into the inner harbour, and swung to her moorings, Where has she come from? She has been to Te-lion-wan Bay, to take over the British Naval Commander-in-chief to visit the detached squadron anchored in that spacious roadstead, 80 memorable for having been the rendezvous of the British troops during the war of 1860, and ha returned from thence. On board the Vigilant, the Commander-in-chief brought with him Rear-Admiral Rowley Lambert, ©.B., the Admiral commanding the detached squadron; and the two Admirals quietly landed together and went to visit Sir Thomas Wade, and also called on the other Ministers at present resident here.
Speculation or imagination, or whatever faculty of the human mind it may be called, was actively employed that Saturday afternoon to discover why such an unexpected visitor had thus suddenly appeared on the Chefoo scene, to add by his presence to the general impression, and to remind them tacitly that he represented force of some two thousand British tars, and a hundred British cannon, which he held at the disposal of his Commander-in-chief and of Her Majesty's Minister, should they be required to give additional mnity to the British Plenipotentiary's visit to Chefoo, or to impart greater vigour to His Excellency's negotiations with the representative of the Emperor of China, The week ended much the same as it had begun, with this apparent advantage to the cause of Great Britain, that it was receiving increased strength from having passed through the interval without even whisper of its importance or its success being depreciated by the delay, And on the side of the Chinese, what is occurring? Are they satisfied with the progress or otherwise of their week's work of reconstructing the political world of China? It would, indeed, be difficult to measure the success of their endeavours to satisfy the demands which the treachery and culpa: bility of their Government have rendered necessary on the part of Great Britain, They make no sign of exculpation or repentance, and to judge by the hauteur and bearing of every one connected with Li Hung-chang's mission, one might imagine that their visit hero was either of congratulation to Sir Thomas Wade, or to confer a favor on the British nation, rather than that of negotiators sent to express sorrow for crimes committed under the authority of their Sovereign, and to implore condonation for. their country's misdeed:
Still, it is not all couleur de rose with the chief spokesman of the Mid-die Kingdom. On his arrival here, he retook himself to the heights above Chefoo, that he might at least enjoy a material elevation to compensate for the forced descension from his pinnacle at Pau-ting-foo, to which his Imperial master has subjected him; but the giddy heights of the Vu-kwang-mian have not altogether soothed his ruffled existence, and segregated him from the influences of care and peril which are the natural concomitants of exaltation. Rumour says that a stranger (Chines) suddenly appeared in the courtyard of the Viceroyal yamen, and demanded immediate audience of Li Hung-chang. The purport of this intrusion was ostensibly to acquaint the Tai-tze of " vision; but the Governor-General, whose mind is strictly practical on such spiritual manifestations, resented the arrival of the unwelcome visitor, and reproaching his guard for permi entrance, consigned him to bondage, with the determination of making him suffer the penalty of death inflicted by the code of Chinese laws on unlawful Viceregal and others dissuaded Li Hung-chang from carrying out the extreme puniahment of the law, by repress for his moderation in unfortunate Eh whether victim of his own hallucinat or the emissary of evil, languished in prison for some days and then was rated. But withal, the incident has disturbed the peace of Temple Hill, and Li Bung-chang on Sunday left his mountain abode, and took up his quarters in the spacious block of buildings on the plain at the rear of Chefoo, known as the Swatow Guild, There he is certainly safe from a repetition of unbidden visitors, and his own guards can watch the portals of his dwelling with greater care than they could conjoin the chain of outposts which encircled the temple where he passed the first week of his life at Chefoo, Moreover,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.