Tue information sent us by our Correspondent at Hankow is not only borne out by the advices of our Tientain Correspondent, but points in a somewhat striking manner to the fulfil-mont of predictions that we have made over and over again in these columns. From Tientsin we hent that the defence of the southern frontier has been definitively committed to P'éug Yii-lin, Admiral of the Yang-tsze, General Wa of Corean reputation, and Admiral Yang. From Hankow we learn that an aide-de-camp belonging to the staff of P'éog Yii-lin has arrived on board a Chinese gunboat, charged with the responsibility of raising recruits to the number of twenty thousand men for this frontier service, and that there will probably be no difficulty in obtaining the required force. The coolies who repaired to Hankow for the tea-senso, instead of returning to their homes in Honan and Hupei, are waiting there in order to enrol themselves as volunteers as goon as ever the bureau shall be opened for that purpose, and, raw matoris! as they are, will no doubt prove serviceable enough for such duties og may be demanded of them, Simaltaneously with this, we hear that the old rumours of activity among the agents of the White Lily Society have been again revived, and that the old foolish suspicion of Catholic complicity with the conspirators is not yet laid to rest. All this bears out our reiterated Prediotion that if war breaks out between France and China a fresh attempt will be made in the disaffected pro institute an insurrection og Government. The situation is not improving, and as far as we oan seo at Present is not likely to improve, but rather to got worse. Everywhere one sees a lack of the elements of social stability. The condition of Chinese merchants and financiors—that class which under ordinary conditions would be the very last to wish for an upheaval disastrous to a degree that has not boon known for years. Honvy failures fre reported daily among the banks, nob half-a-dozen of which, probably, are in a sound position at this port, Some of the best-known and most trusted capitalists have been forced to place their affairain liquidation; and more than one of the compradores of prominent firms have absconded with heavy liabi ties, or have otherwise succumbed to the Prevailing pressure. We do not mean, Of course, to connect the critical state of Chinese merchants and bankers in any way with the facts reported from Wuchang. Bat we tosay that ata time whau the lenders of a formidable seditious seat are credited with unceasing activity, and are only waiting for a fe ourable opportunity of striking another blow, the commercial collapse of wealthy Chinamen cannot but help to complicate matters very seriously; since there could soarcsly be a more promising moment for setting on foot a disturb. ance than when the question of peace and war is trembling in the balance, when the public mind is agitated by levies of troops for immediate service, and when serious disorganization exists among the moneyed classes. It is too early, perhaps, to venture upon more definite forecasts of what may happen auloss the horizon clears in one direction or another; but it is undeniable Uhnt the outlook at the present moment is extremely threatening, and calls for the serious attention of both the Chinese and Foreign Ministers,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.