The news we have received from Peking since the decree was issued temporarily pardoning Ch'ung How has been of a nature to warrant the belief that the Russo-
Chinesedifficulty would be amicably settled. It seems, however, froma letter now to hand from the capital that matters are not progressing as smoothly as was expected, and not only does it appear doubtful whether the peace party have made any progress whatever, but the fear is foreshadowed that events may yet assume a most serious phase. Our correspondent says:—The Government is in a very divided state with regard to the Russian affair, and won't take any advice. It is the hope of moderate men that Colonel Gordon will soon arrive, or the Chinese will get into a mess from which they will scarcely escape without the dismemberment of the Empire, He adds that he knows that Colonel Gordon appointed a member of the Bombay Legis lative Council. It will give great satisfaction, not only to the Jewish community but to the public generally, to find a member of the Sassoon family again oceupying a seat at the Council Board. Sic Albert Sassoon, it will be remembered, was a member of the Legislative Council from 1868 to 1872."
The Japan Herald learns that Lord John Hay will succeed Admiral Coote in the command of the fleet of Her Majesty in China and Japan. Lord John Hay, who is a member of one of the historical houses of Scotland, is an oticer of high distinction. He will have a new and powerful fleet under his command, as the old and worn-out vessels are to be replaced by ships fit to meet all emergencies of peace or war.
The British Medical Journal says a benevolent gentleman offers a premium of 850 for the best essay on the medical means of counteracting the effects of opium-smoking in China, The President of the Royal College of Physicians in London, Dr. Sieveking (Senior Censo:), and Sir J. Fayrer, have consented to act as adjudicaters. The donor is a gentleman interested in China from having lived in the country.
Chinese, says the Daily'Press, seem to be doing well at the gold diggings by latest accounts, good evidence of which is the fact that the British steamer Crusader, Captain Rowin, which recently arrived at Hongkong brought no less than 10,000 ounces of the precious metal.
From the American Exporter for June we learn that Mr. Agee Tukato, Secretary of the Japanese Legation at Washington, committed suicide on theGth May. He was found on the floor of his parlour with a pistol in his hand, with which he had shot himself through the head. He had been educated in the United States, and was a gentleman of unusual ability and of most agreeable manners. Before being assigned a place in the Legation at Washington, he held an important official position in Japan. The only clue of the cause of the suicide was a letter left by him, written in the Japanese language, in which he stated that he had been concerned in the insurrection of 1877 im Japan, and forfeited his honour.
For a variety of news from the Gur.
Fonts, Jaras, &e., see other pages. will advise peaceful measures, but the war party is very strong; and in the unprepared state of the country war would probably mean the ruin of the present Government.
Later news tends to show that political affairs in the capital are becoming more complicated than ever. It was rumoured in tientsin that Colonel Gordon, whose departure for the North we mentioned in our last issue, had to stay in Chefoo owing to a communication he received from Sir Thomas Wade, of a nature which required consideration before he proceeded further. One correspondent goes so far as to say that the Colonel was requested to retracehis steps, but as it was his fixed desire to persuade the Chinese not to go to war with Russia, both in their own interests and in those of the world, and especially in those of England, a course in perfect accord with the policy supposed to have been pursued by Sir Thomas Wade with the Chinese authorities, it is difficult to believe that any such obstruction has been placed in his way. There is confirmatory evidence, however, that something has occurred, for when Colonel Gordon arrived in Tientsin in the Takw he expressed his intention of retuming in her to Shanghai, and when she left he stated that he should wait for the Fuagshun, which came away shortly afterwards, but he was nob among her passengers. She was the last steamer down, and therefore we know nothing further of the Colonel's movoments. Another unexpected item of news contained in two letters we have seen is to the effect that Li Hung-charly is to be removed from the Viceroyalty. It may be said that he has possession of the keys of the Enipire, and to supersede him against his will might result in grave consequences. Still, it said that his enemies have violently criticised his failure to make China prepared for war after the money he has spent with that end in view, and it is further asserted that certain Censors have discovered that he has been in clandestine communication with Ch'wny How.
Regarding this, our correspondent says a memorial has been presented to the Throne; and the outcome of it may be that an attempt is to be made to remove him from the high and enviable position he holds. We can only, however, speculate on the indefinite information we have received,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.