All Peking was taken by surprise to learn on Saturday morning, April 12th, of the Aecease of the Marquis Tseng. To a few friends he had been known to be out of sorts, which was nothing new, but excepting the wredical men who were in attendance no one understood the gravity of his illness, On Saturday the 5th, when seen in theafternoon by his private secretary and. famil physician, he seemed in excellent healt! and complained of nothing. He had been to the Board of Revenue, and in the afternoon, as was his wont when he had any spare time, he was busy writing scrolls for lends. His beautiful calligraphy was well known and much admired, and every one desired, even the Emperor, to possess specimens of his writing or painting. In this way during the year he wrote thousands of scrolls and painted or wrote on scores of fans. On Sunday the 6th, the newly appointed Minister to the Tsung-li Yamen, Chang-tu-jen, the Minister recently returned from' the United States, gave a dinner at the Yamen. It was here that the Marquis first became ill. The Marquis very considerately did not wish to disturb his own physician, who was suffering from what seemed' to be o sharp attack of bronchitis with some rather grave sympt Dr. Mirabel, of the French Legation, was therefore called and took charge of the case. On Monday and Tuesday the fever and other symptoms were quite pronounced, and on Wednesday there was no mistaking the typhoidal character of the malady. The disease, the absence of any distinct remission and the very early hour at which the exacerbation took place, showed itself to be of a very virulent type. The Marquis's constitution was of the most delicate kind—a family inheritance—and altogether there were entertained the gravest fears for his recovery. On Friday the heart's action began to shew symptoms of failure, and stimulants with proper nutriment only temporarily alleviated the distress. On Saturday morning at 3.30, after having asked to see the manuscript copy of the Peking Gazette, he turned round, as it were to sleep, and his heart ceased to beat. Thus passed away the hope of China—the only statesman of his race. The late Marquis was often ailing and frequently caught a chill which upset him for a day or two. His heart was preternaturally weak, and he had not the strength to overcome'a typhoid attack. His death has cast agleam over Peking, both among foreigners and Chinese. The greatest praise perhaps that can be bestowed is that every one, whether native or foreigner, feels his loss to bea personal one. He added lustre to a name already highly revered in China by his deportment and ability and the discharge of difficult duties in the most trying of situations. He was greatly 1d and admired by all.
All were naturally fond of him.
He was remarkably gentle, amiable.
fitful, considerate, accessible, and.
to all.
Europe with all her atten- q tions to him had not spoiled him. His body lies in state becoming one 20 noble his late residence has been fitted up as a mortuary temple. Visits from the high officials of the capital and his numerous circle of friends are daily made to the coffin. The Seventh Prince has gone twice to mourn, in company with others, the loss of the departed statesman. The Prince said he wept three-tenths for himself and seven-tenths for the government; and well height! The government has not yet felt its loss, but China will one day know the terrible bereavement she has sustained, The entire foreign community, with the Diplomatic Body in full uniform, presented their condolences in persons to the family and the doyen of the corps addressed a few appropriate words to the two surviving sons of the late Minister of State. The entire building and courts are draped with suitable mottoes. The Imperial Eidict—Tight and dark plug hangings in silk with and no such complimentary decree ha ever been given to a deceased Vice-President of a Board—is written on yellow silk and laced before the remains. The Seventh ince hus sent a magnificent. yellow silk tablet with an appropriate inscription. The approaches are lined with fire engines, police, mourners, lions, deer, pagodas etc., ete. A life of the Into Mu is ordered to be written. At present it is too early to estimate his work. Foreigners will never know how much they have lost by his death. His services and ability were not fully recognised by his government and colleagues while he lived, " The latter seemed filled with envy and jealousy of his rank, his ability and knowledge of foreign questions, The writers in the foreign press, although their eulogisms have been not undeserved, have fallen far short of the real facts of the case and the silent influence he exerted and the still greater influence which he was destined to exert. He had enemies and opposition to encounter of which outsiders have no conception. He held on, notwithstanding, the even tenor of his way and trusted to time and other circumstances to bring everything right. Hurry and_precipit tion under such conservative circumstances would only have defeated the ends he had in view. He worked quietly and silently, and although much of a radical change was early expected from his advent, he found surer and more steadfast hope of iunprocement in the mauner in which he carried on his work. But for his early death time would most certainly have brought reward. It is an open secret that he was destined to be the next Viceroy of Chihli. He was held in high respect by the Chinese of all classes, and all mourn his untimely end, It had become common saying here, when anyone bought anything foreign, that he was imitating the Marq He stoutly opposed measures such asthe Telegraph Convention and Philadelphia Syndicate, where opposition was for the good of his country. Atpresent it is impossible to do justice to hia administration of the offices entrusted to him by his sovereign, without seriously reflecting upon many of the high officers of the governnient, They killed the prophets and now they are erecting their sepulchres. Had he chosen he might have taken a bold course and denounced abuses and irreguities, but he felt his object could be and sooner gained by waiting.
to be gained by running his brick wall; and any memorials which he might have addressed to the Throne would have been tantamount to liis addressing his colleagues, who were eaten up with envy and did all in their power to cripple his influence. He was never known to have said or done an unkind thing, even to his enemies. His Christianlike character stands out as a bright example to all posterity. We shall not soon see his like again.
No official in Peking has discharged his duties no conscientiously as the late Mar-He regularly went to Court in the mornings thereafter to the Board of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.