The great ex-Viceroy. Li Hung-chang, the ablest and at the same time most unscrupulous statesman in China, - passed through this port in the homeward-bound French mail steamer. The vessel arrived on the morning of the Sist ult,, and prepreparations for a reception worthy of his sition had been made, but His Excellency declined to, land and accept the Governor's hospitality. Fear of the plague was the plea alleged, but this was generally regarded as a'mere excuse. The Chinese lieved that it was fear of an ancomplimentary reception from the crowd, and I hear that the rabble were quite prepared to hoot the man they regard as primarily: responsible for the loss of Formosa and all the reverses sustained during the late was as well that BLE. did not land. It would war. Perhaps under, all circumstances it have been awkward if some excited Cantonese had thrown a stone or otherwise assaulted the veteran. The loss was certainly hi He sat on deck most of the afternoon enjoying the view, it being a fine mild day, and partook of rice in that position, being observed by a carious visitor! stowing it away in true Chinese fashion from a bowl held by an obsequious kneeling attendant.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.