The following letters from Professor Douglas and Mr. A. R. Colquhoun, appear in the Zines Sir,—Although it is quite true, as has aly stated, that the reality of the Sovereignty exercised by China over her tributaries varies considerably with ti and circumstance, there is yet one prin ple to which reli us with th on her immediate frontiers, and that is to prevent, at_all hazards, European Powers from ing a preponderating influence over Dhis is the secret of her oppo tance to the French schemes in Tonquii China is by no means disposed to play the part of an earthenware pot too brass pipi fuming to the Aunam side of the question, the following letter, which was presented at Pekin by the last tributebenrillustrates the attitude of before the Tonquin difficulty had reached an acute stage.
Lam, Sir, your obsdiout servant, 19th May. Rossar K. Dovoras.
"The King of Aunam to the Kmperor of China, "Now, as look w northern hori our faithful course, our hex: sunflower, atill turned to sun of our Lord.
*Revorontly I send this \tter of congratulation; prostrate, I thi happy time, when the sky is unclouded, when the remotest domains of tosan have learnt the softening influence of a common Janguaye, how that'thesoutheru land of fire,' too, though remote should send thei rightful offerings. As L reverently spread these ice use, L fly in spirit wonly portals. 1 think, in all of your Sisjesty as of a incessantly along a pathway whose brightness increases ever; as of a Sovereign filling the first place under heaven and upholding the teaching of the Chun Ch'in, that until ty is of more worth than aught 3 of one who by love to the vassal princes and tenderness to those from a far fulfils the nine rules of the Chung Yung commission to govern the nine region:
"who displays his virtues until they ate all quarters of the kingdom'; as whois fair sight for his people and as of a king who is an all-pervading influence, "I, your vassal, in the torrid heat of the south, Was long since enrolled among the tributary Stator, and have held my fief in all reverence, ever obedient to my duty. Now that the frontier pest is laid (i.e, the rebellion under Lo Yang-ta'ai), and the general assemblage of prin ous is at hand now that no waves are raging on the sea of Chow and the auspicious gifts of every clime are collected at the Palace of Vu your vassal, relying on your kindness, hasten to do my duty as befits my station. Lam about to send my Envoy with inj offerings, and it seems as though myself az9 on the heavenly couurejoice in the rising light of sun and moon and breath of strife put down for ever. May I be enabled to re-ive your favours without end by walking the same path, and tranegressing never 3 unworthy to glance at heaven oF to gaze at the Holy Man I await your answer in most earnest expectation, Besides this letter, I have intrusted to my Envoy a 18, Old Quebec-Stieot, May 14th.
Ste,—The letter of Professor Douglas in the Times of yesterday shows clearly that the suzerainty claimed by China over fully acknowledged by the latter Power. The action of the Chin ing troops in 1877, 1878, a year into Tonquin, as well as in incronsing the garrisons along the south-oast frontier of Yunnan during the past your, clearly indicates their resolve to support their. vassal Annaut—oven by force of arms, if necessary—againat the aggressive action of the French, so as to preserve the "neutral zone" which they are determined to maintain between China and any strong neighbouring Power. M. Bouréo the Frouch Minister at the Court of Pekin, was ao certain that this policy would be carried out that, in order to avoid. seemed to him then imminent—namely, war with China—h dad referendum the treaty which was the cause of his recall.
The action of China in Corea, ax soon as its authority over that tributary State was questioned by Russia, is not unknown. Corea was occupied by Eh and there remained no doubt of the light in which China regarded the vassulaye of Corea, and of fall determination. to enforce its rights, Sume of the prepara-jons than made for war with Russia wore alluded to in the Consular reports Consul at Hankow, in his trade report for 1880, noted that the the north, which was ncoomplished without any foreign assistauoo whatever, The men were enlisted, equipped, and gathered together in Hankow, and shipped off in the steamera of the China Merchunte? Company and the Foochow transporta, with wonderful promptitude and absence advance 0 nese that of confusion, and it shows a wonderful
they could so sport, an army some 1,200 the Consul at Newehaug, in his report for same year, wrote, "Towards the close of the year most Chinese and foreign looked on it (war with Russia) as inevitable, All through the autumn troops poured into the provines, until we had over 50,000 Honan soldiers in this neighbour. hood." In recent years the Ohinese, -in their military movements, have showa less of their traditional sluggishness, and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.