1873.
Wo hear that one of H. M.'s ships is to be specially deputed to convey the test monial to its destination.
We reprint from the China Mail, an article supporting a proposal made some weeks ago in our columns, for the establishment of a life-bent service in China. The want of such a service is forcibly argued, and we should be only too glad to see it tablished; but we fear there is not suffi-
Gient energy in the Chinese, either people or Government, to organise it; and that it is almost beyond the scope of foreign enterprise. A life-boat service for use in bad weather ona sea coast, is a very different thing from the li Chinese have instituted on some of their rivers, and requires very Unless foreigners were about, we fear the life-boats would seldom go out into danger. Chinese coolies went readily into danger under foreign leadership in the North, though Chinese soldiers are not famous for great bravery under their own mandarins. Chinese sailors are plucky in their own fishing-boats; but we doubt whether they would readily put out inadangerous sea, to rescue life, -unless led by a foreigner. The most feasible plan—at any rate for a beginning—would be to attach life-boats and crews to the several Lighthouses, with a foreigner in charge of each boat.
Our readers may remember the incident of the steamer United Service breaking her shaft last month, on her voyage from Saigon to Hongkong, and the complaint made in her report (which we quoted from the Hongkong' Times) that the French corvette d'Estrées had ignored her signals of distress. There was of course no proof that these were seen, but the United Service felt convinced at the time that her blue lights and rockets could hardly have passed unnoticed. The report, however, has been brought to the notice of the officer commanding the d'Estrées; and we are glad to publish this morning a categorical denial of the imputation, The United Service was soon, but no signal of distress was observed, although she was closely watched. Her blue-light was also seen, but was not understood to be a signal of distress, as she appeared not to alter her course or take any of the other methods open to her of explaining its meaning. We refer our readers to Captain Didot's statement, which will be found elsewhere.
Nicholas Tourkell, an A. B., of the Eaglet, lying at Hunt's Wharf, was accidentally drowned by falling from the gangway, while returning to the vessel, at 11.45 last night. One of the Trafalgar's men who had been in his company jumped in after him, but failed to find him. Deceased had been eighteen months in the ip, and was usually a sober man. His condition at the time of the accident is not exactly known, but he had been drinking, and it is believed that he was somewhat intoxicated. The ship and wharf were connected by a broad cargo gangway, but without any protection or assistance in the form of aline. Accidents of the kind are so frequent that some precaution ought to be taken to light and guard the approaches to vessels at night.
We have to acknowledge a pamphlet entitled Quellen zu Confucius und dem Confucianismus, als Einleitung zum Lehrbogriff des Confucius," by Ernst Faber: published at Hongkong.
We have to acknowledge the Customs Gazette for the 2nd Quarter of 1873. We have already noticed the Shanghai Returns, which reached us some weeks ago; and shall take an early opportunity of analysing the statistics of the other ports.
Our Trers1x correspondent continues to draw a gloomy picture of the state of the country in that neighborhood.
Whether from the heavy rain or from the surplus waters of the Yellow River, large districts are again flooded.
A startling ramour came up from Foo-enow, that the str. Cheops had been seen to founder during a typhoon off the coast of Formosa. The fact that she had not been reported from any port on her way home lent, at first, some colour to the rumour; but telegraphic enquiry from Singapore elicited the fact that she had safely arrived, coaled, and left on the 20th-21st July, and we hear that a telegram has been since received of her having passed the Canal, together with several other tea-steamers.
The Peking Gazette of the 3rd August contains further orders for the regulation of Yoxnay, Arrears of taxes previous to 1872 are forgiven; and' the Lekin is permanently abolished. The Government would do wisely to make this order universal.
The Hongkong Times says business at Swatow is almost at a standstill. The reports concerning the growing Rice in the interior are not very favorable; the market therefore keeps firm, best Saigon grain being worth $1.68 per picul. This year much sugar has been shipped by foreigners to San Francisco and New York. Now, however, the sugar season is almost over, stocks being, so far as the lower grades are concerned, very small, and holders asking excessively high prices. The freight business is dull, although there exists a small demand for the northern voyages. British bark Sally and German bark Baltic were fixed for Taku and back at 33 cents, if via Chefoo, and 38 cents per picul if via Newchwang.
A correspondent of the China Mail says some wonderful stories are afloat about a Mr, Wan, who has recently been taken into Government employ for the purpose of organizing the Canton arsenal, Ho is said, amongst ther things, to be able to construct "cannon that will fly through the air like birds and dive beneath theater like fishes."
His Satanic Majesty, however, gots the credit of these ingenious inventions, and Mr. Wan enjoys no further reputation than that of knowing how to deal with him.—A brilliant meteor seen at Canton some two months ago has awakened the attention of the Chinese in every direction. They have come to the conclusion that it was a piece of magic enacted by the Christians!—A Shek Lung junk, bound for Macao with 27 coolies kidnapped from the interior for the barracoons, was captured by a Chinese cruiser near the Bogue, and taken to Canton with those on board.
The cholera epidemic seems, after a lull, to have revived at SrNcavorr. The Straits Times of the 2nd August speaks of cases as more frequent, and of the area over which they occur as widening. Late telegrams, however give reason to hope that its virulence has again abated.
The Straits Times hears that the reports of the ravages of cholera in BaNGKox were exaggerated. The Siam Advertiser of the 17th instant says that the grand total of deaths in the city of Bangkok between June 22nd and July 18th was 5,234,—or an average of nearly 240 per day. The other towns in the neighbour. hood of Bangkok contributed nearly as many more victims of the disease, The Siamese Government took active measures to arrest the progress of the epidemic, and to provide medicines for those in need of them, the result being that relief was afforded to a large number, and many were saved from violent if not fatal attacks of the disease.
The Friend of India gives an amusing sketch of the Chinese residents in Caxcurra, who form a little society to themselves, isolated alike-from their white and black neighbours. Shoemaking, ship carpentering and pig-breeding are their principal pursuits, and in these they appear to reign supreme.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.