Tue wish is often father to the thought, and s0 we must accept with a great deal of reservation Russian accounts of proceedings in Eastern Turkestan. Still there seems to be some evidence that, for good or evil, China is about to commit herself to an attack on the Ameer of Kashgar, which, whether she is successful or not, will almost certainly result in her own discomfiture. The statements made on Russian authority are so manifestly self-contradictory, that we wonder at any credence being placed in them in Europe. First, we have strange accounts of the British embassy to Kashgar, the untruth of which is too manifest to need contradiction. That mission is said to have consisted of 300 members!—150 of whom were left behind at Kashgar and Yarkand, to assist in manufactur ing arms for the Ameer! We have then an account of growing dissatisfaction against the Ameer's rule, which, read by the light of the experiences of the British Embassy, seems strange. We are told in one paragraph that the Tanganees enjoy most of the Ameer's confidence; several of his officers are of that race, and he has further strengthened himself by marriages with the "families of the chiefs. Next we are told that the Tunganees are deeply disaffected, owing to the extortions of the Kasbgarese, Thirdly, again, these oppressed Tun-ganees are governed under the Ameer by chiefs of their own, and at Manassi and Uromtsi, the ports occupied by Kuli Beg last year, enjoy perfect peace. Fourthly, these Tanganees who enjoy the confidence of the Ameer, are but a sorry lot, possessing no regular army, and armed only with cudgels, spears, a few matchlocks, and a little powder brought from Hamil (we presume our authority has forgotten the 150 British whom he left in Turkestan manufacturing arms). The affair would be absurd, were it not that greater absurd dities have been readily seized at St. Petersburg as a plea for further extensions of territory. After these absurd dities comes, however, the pith of the matter. These poor, miserable, peaceable, unarmed, hostile Tunganees, enjoying the confidence of, but deeply dissatisfied with, the Ameer, have been undertaking foraging excursionsagainst the Kalmuks in the North. No less than 6,000 (!) of them arrived at Tokhtarau, on this object intent. They planciered the Kalmuks, and on their return were absolved by Yakoob Bey on payment of a sum of money. Curiously enough, though the occupation of Urumtsi has effectually cut them off from China, they are anxious to emigrate, to escape from the constantly threatening Chinese, More curiously still, these oppressed and disaffected Tanganees chose as their place of settlement Kashgar itself (very like jumping, we should have reasoned, from the frying pan into the fire) or Kuedju. Anote on the border station of Shikho, where are entrenched camps, commanded by Chinese of utterly incomprehensible names, follows. The Chinese are stated to be desirous of interfering with the Buddhist Kalmuks, and Knowing the ridiculous obstinacy of the Chinese character, when it is bent on wrong course, we can readily believe any folly on its part. They are said to be anxious to recommence warlike operations. The troops at Barkul and Hamil (Hami) are to advance towards Kashgar, while those from the guard at Yarbagatai are to march on Urumtsi. This statement seems to tally with recent notices in the Peking Gazette. King-lien, Tu-tung of Urumtsi, was, in August last, appointed Imperial Commissioner, with Kin-shan as his second. The Gazettoof May SrdordersTsoTsungtang to take up the former office, while King-lien is to return to Peking, Kin-shun, directed on May 8rd to assist Tso, is the next day appointed commandant at Uramtsi, in King-lien's place. These changes probably indicate the intention of the Chinese to prosecute the war. Our own opinion has always been that such a policy is suicidal. Not only are the resources of the Empire taxed beyond endurance for the accomplishment of an end which would, in the case of success, prove a constant drain and source of weakness but an opportunity is afforded to Russia of interference. The latter power has been watching eagerly the progress of events in Eastern Turkestan, and has alternately been urging on each side to a contest, sure to weaken both. The British Minister, doubtless, did good service when his advice prevented war between China and Japan. However annoying such a war would temporarily have been, its effects would not have been so serious as are likely to result from the contest in Central Asia. We have no great desire for the discomfiture of the Chinese, but at the same time we cannot but think that the most fortun nate thing for the Empire would be the effectual defeat of their troops by the Ameer, and the formation of a really strong kingdom ab Kashgar,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.