Few men have passed through a chequered career with more singleness of purpose that Colonel Gordon, Pew have occupied positions sphere the facilities for private pelf were ssu great, and for have succeeded in passing the temp tions to private Mere with a more unsullied character, It was therefore source of gene suction to Colonel Gordon's friends in the Far Ex that they heard of his appointment as Private Secretary to the new Governor. General of India, So wise an app ment, and one so seeming! with the usual shiftless policy of a Government just appointed on purely party grounds, seemed to old sidents in China to indicate a desire at least to do well, while Colonel Gordon's ki ledge of China and thi a guarantee that the India and China would receive at least a due amount of attention, and not be slurred over as things tuo remote for Government busy in unsettling Home opinion tetraable itself about, A greater surprise, however, was in store for Euglish residents in China whenthetelegraph conveyed the news of Colonel Gordon's acceptance of office in Chiva, and this surprise was greatest to those who knew best the character of the old commander of the "Ever Victorious" force. That an English officer should be appointed in the present unsettled state of affairs in China was a not unexpected event, and the most likely officer to be applied to was Colonel "Chinese" Gordon. Judging from the late temper of the Chinese Government, few would have anticipated that such terms would have been offered as would have been acceptable to Colonel Gordon. No man knew better than he the weak points of Chinese adn tration, as no man had experi extent, and appointment without adequate authority and control would be acceptable to an officer who lind before experienced the evils of divided authority, Lhe appel was not offered to or to one embarked on a distasteful career. The office of confidential Seeretary to the Viceroy of India was one well snited to Colonel Gordon's al and afforded him the opportunity of exercising that strict love of justice combined with energy in council which has marked his career. Still, like many others whose career has called them to China, Colonel Gordon imbibed Renter has not favoured us with any particulars of the appointment accepted by Colonel Gordon, but the circumstances of the ense as well as the charneter of the man, point to it as one of high authority, As to the judiciousness of the appoint. went from x Chinese point of view, there can he no mistake. The undisciphued rabble which his energy developed into the "Ever Victorious were sufficiently formidable to tax the energies of better troops and more able generals than are likely ty be engaged in a contest with China, ud China feels at the mon that. diplomacy at St. Petorsbarg is being employed to force on a quarrel in which the Government at Peking shall be made to appear in the wrong. Under such circumstances it is that the appointment of Colonel Gordon meets with disfavour at the Ras Court, The Court which bat the other day returned thanks for the change of Ministry in England, and which has not been able to restrain within decorous limits the joy the downfall of the viad Mi afforded it, not unnaturally feels s placed in the way of a project it had set its heart, The hea present. Mi has shown himself amidst his devious career consistent in but one thing, and that was his readiness to favour on every occasion Russian ends. He is met in his own Cabinet by Ministers contrary policy. We pointed out but the other day how, owing to this curious and extraordinary position of affairs in England, the Kuldja question in China was likely to assume an importance which did not of right belong to it. The progress of events seems to be justifying our prediction. Wo know how previously Russian objections to appointments of a less decided' character than that of Colonel Gordon have been withdrawn on remonstrance from that power. We know how the late Mr. Shaw's appoint. ment to Yarkand was cancelled because St. Petersburg protested, and we also know how Colonel Burnaby was ordered Home from Central Asin because his presence there was distasteful to the Russian Government. To those in China who have been watching the course of events, the appointment of Colonel Gordon seems to afford an assurance of pence, inasmuch as Russia is unlikely to have resort to arms when confronted by a Chinese army led by so redoubinble a commander, At the same time, Colonel Gordon may be depended on not to encourage the Chinese Government in any quixotic crusade against the progress of civilian tion in general, The anti-foreign school, headed by Prince Cl'on, is as unlikely to derive satisfaction from his counsels. On the whole moderate men will view with pleasure the appoint ment of an able and conscientious man to undertake the duties of the import ant post to which we may feel assured Colonel Gordon has been appointed, Outports.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.