Paris, 17th August.
French newspapers announce that the King' of Annan has sent the President of the Republic a letter, in which he declares that thie treaty of 1884 between Annam and Fratite has been violated and demands back his Southern Provinces.—L'Indo-Chinois, Southern Provinces referred to are Binh-thuan and Khanh-hea, the subjection of which was accomplished about a year ago by Cochin-China. Since that time Cochin-China has held the provinces, although, as was' shown in M. de Lenessan's letter which we translated some week ago, the: belonged by treaty-right to Annany, an France had engaged in defend them for the King of that country. We observe by the Saigoniais that the Government of Cochin-China, fearful lest they should burn their fingers with this unjust acquisition, have thrown the provinces back on the hands of the Resident Minister of Tonquin. As the Tonquin Protectorate is not in a position to govern them, this action will doubtless involve the return of the provinces to the King of Annam, and doubtless by this means the threatening troubles in the country will be avoided, at least for some time to come.] speaks well, perhaps, for the climate of this muddy flat, and may encourage us during the intense heat of this fiery August, to note that two at least of our fellow first contact was lost by a small cloud pass-residents celebrate this Autumn the 40th ing over the solar disc just at one o'clock—anniversary of their arrival in Shanghai. for the actual eclipse took place half an We allude to Dr. Yates and the Rev. W. hour later than Pere Dechevrens had indi-Muirhead. 'They both arrived in 1847; cated. The right hand limb of the sun, and Mr. Muirhead was the first to reach ghai, though Dr. Yates first touched Hooking' from the earth, was first attacked, the moon passing across the upper portion Chinese soil, having landed in the first of the disc, so that at the serves cheney instance at Hongkong. Thursday, August 25th, was the day on which Mr. Muirhead the sun had the appearance of a large and perfect crescent. The thermometer fell reached Shanghai, after a voyage of 133 some seven degrees during the phenomenon, days. We congratulate our venerable recovering again as the shadow of the moon friend, and congratulate Shanghai, that he disappeared. Several guns were fired, but has been spared so long; and that the beyond that the Chinese in the Settle-snows of advancing age in no sense chill ments seemed to pay little attention to the his energy and ardour in doing good. Mr. spectacle. There was, of course, a sensible Muirhead has returned to England only diminution of the light when the obscuratwice, we believe, during this long period tion was at its height, but not enough to and more than 36 years have been spent attract the attention of those who did not wholly on Chinese soil. The claims of know that there was an eclipse in progress. Christian Mission Work amongst the Chi-It lasted little more than two hours. nese to which he devoted his heart and In continuation of our recent table we give life, and the various institutions for the below the comparative corrected readings benefit of the foreign community, have of the standard thermometer in Shanghai alike shared his ready sympathy and active for the 17th-22nd instant help. We wish him many happy returns of this Anniversary, and trust that both of 1887 1886 our venerable friends, Dr. Yates and Mr.
Mon MR. ite, Muirhead, may be with usto celebrate first Aug. 17.100965 78 7874.5 Shanghai's Jubilee, and then their own.
'A private note, from an eye-witness, 962 785 80 73 mentions an amusing contretemps that %.5 77 8688 3 occurred at Tientsin on the 18h. H.E.
9 77 88 the Viceroy gave a grand dinner to the 9.2 7 89 74 French Minister, and of course had to take The mean temperature remains from 5 to in Madame Constans, After some hesita-6 degrees over the normal mean for the last tion, and careful observation of the manner fourteen years, It is noteworthy that in which his guests did it, he offered his during the eclipse the thermometer fell arm in proper style; but after dinner, when from 96° to 89", recovering again when the the ladies rose, he rose too and looked eclipse was over. The range at Sicavei is utterly non-plussed. After a moment or steadily higher than at Shanghai. two, he walked up to Madme. Constans, looked at her from head to foot once or are being gratified this year, but though the Those who enjoy an old-fashioned summer twice, and then suddenly put his arm heat has been considerably above the average round her waist! You may guess the of the last fourteen years, it has not come surprise, but all eventually passed off up to 1879, In July and August 1879 there well, as indeed French politeness always were five days in which the maximum enables these little mishaps to do." reached in Shanghai was 100"; the highest Correspondent at Chefoo says that the registered this year in Shanghai is 98".2. Chinese there have been much excited about The average maximum for July was only the recent proceedings of H.E, Sheng, Tao-86".9. August so far is very nearly up to tai, at the N.E. Promontory. When the August, 1879, although we have had no news that the wreck of the Pantah was single day so hot as we had in that year, being plundered by pirates first arrived, The average maximum for the whole ninth the Taotai sent a deputy with two hun-in 1879 was 93°.6. This year to date it is dred of the rabble off the streets dressed 93°.5. In 1879 the great heat began on the up as soldiers. These, on arrival at the 2th of June, and continued with slight inter: Promontory, set to work to plunder the missions until the 3rd of September; this inhabitants, which led to a small revolt. it only began on the 9h of July, and This could have been easily quelled by if it is to be of the same duration as in 1879, the local authorities, had not Li Hung-it may be expected to last until the 15th of chang telegraphed to the Taotai to go him-September. Fortunately, it has been an self and cut off heads." This was done, unusually dry heat this year, and so far the and the Taotai returned to Chefoo on the health of foreigners in the Settlements has 21st with flying colours, and a number of not been seriously affected by it. prisoners, who were taken into his yamen.
The Accounts of the Hongkong and The Taotai himself is very reticent about Shanghai Banking Corporation for the first the matter, and this naturally encourages half of this year do not indicate much the spread of rumours on the subject. change in its Current business as compared After a violent thunder and rain storm with the figures at the 30th June 1886. lasting nearly the whole of Sunday, the Any difference is rather in favour of the weather had apparently broken at Chefoo, Bank. The Deposits and Notes in circula-the thermometer only marking 80° in the tion are somewhat larger, showing that shade. the credit of the Bank is extending, and Mr. Kawakami, Japanese Consul at the amount of Bills Payable is two millions Shanghai, has been appointed Japanese ay greater. And on the other side of the Consul in New York, Mr. Takahira, Secre-account, if Bills Discounted, &c., are less tary of the Japanese Legation at Seoul, than they were a twelvemonth ago, Bills becoming his successor at Shanghai.
Receivable are very considerably larger in BLE. M. E. Constans, French Minister, amount, but these variations may be owing and Madame Constans, arrived at Shanghai to some change in the manner of keeping the accounts, Taking the two items of assets the following day by the Yokohama Maru. by the Wauchang on Thursday, and left on ther they were in round figures 81 Mr. E. B. Drew, Commissioner of Cus-millions of dollars on the 30th June, 1886, toms, late Statistical Secretary, who is on and on the same day this year they were 86 his way home on two years' leave, left by the millions, the investments in Stocks remain-Zotohame Maru, and Mr. CE Hobson, ing the same. The banking business of the make a trip to Viadivostock. Mr. MIN Boyd commissioner of Customs, wi me corporation has thus increased during the
Bredon_ will be acting Commissioner here year, nobrithstanding that its operations at Some of the branches, such as Manila, must during Mr. Hobson's absence. have been contracted, while the diminution The weather on the whole was very of the export of tea from China up to the favourable on Friday (19th) for observers of closing of the accounts should have lessened the eclipse of the sun, and several success-its transactions in some important direcful photographs were taken, though the tions, This at all events, tends to show
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.