To the Editor of the Sm,—The announcement that Mr, Wade has been gazetted a K.C, B." is one which has taken many residents in China by It is not that Mr. Wade who are will have been altogether undeserving of an a long experi 'a mark of respect. On the contrary, has made many sincere and attached friends, and he has for long been an intelligent and cduscientious worker, who has fairly earned, by diligent attention to his duties, each step he has yamed in his public career, But even Mr. Wade's personal friends, and they are many, will searcely be abl to get rid of the idea that, in a measure, the time and circumstances are inopportune for the conferring of this latest reward. Hitherto, at Knighthood of the Bath has been held to be the mark of some conquest achieved, for some work accomplished; but in the present case, the essential feature of the completion of the work is wanting. True it is that he has obtained from the Chinese Government promises of amendment, but promises of this nature are as plentiful as blackberries in autumn, and of about little practical us it is that for the present war is averted but there was not at any period of the negotiations, of which we are aware, any fear that the Chinese Government was about to declare war of its own motion. On the contrary, it was moat anxious to avoid such a contretemps; and Mr. Wade has the honour of having assisted it to this end; but, at the same ie, has he gained one single practical advantage, or approached one step nearer the settlement of the matters in di between the two nations?
Eight months have now el: the murder of Margary, yet no steps have been taken to bring its authors gone up the river, but their lives and to justice. An expedition has, indeed, Tonour are entrusted to the same people who so grossly betrayed their trust in the first instance. At all events, no results have as yet come to hand of any nature whatsoever; so that, even in the case of eventual success, it is premature to reward with any distinction the originator of a mission which at the present moment seems one of the most. Quixotic ever inaugurated by a British Minister.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.