BLE. Li Hung-chang, Special Ambassador to Russia, and suite, were expected to arrive here on the evening of Friday last from 'Tientsin in the China Merchants' steamer Benn, Captain Wallace, and to meet him all the highest local civil and military mandarins of this port, including several officials temporarily staying here, went down to Woosung, early on Friday morning, some in house-boats towed by steam-launches and others in the gun sloop Chunko to meet the distinguished visitor, The mandarins who had not gone to Woosung and were waiting at the Kinleeyuen wharves all became alert when a telegram was received at 9 o'clock from Woosung notifying the arrival of the Haean at Woosung and with the message that " the Haean would come immediately up river and moor alongside the landing stage at, the Tientsin Wharf, Kinleeyuen, by 10 o'clock, but that H.E. would not land that night." Immediately there was a general dressing of ranks and "attention" among the four battalions from the local native garrison who were lining the French bund for a considerable distance, while a largo squadron of the Yangtze fleet, belonging to the rowboat class, moored off the wharves, made preparations to burn gunpowder" and salute the steamer when she arrived. The French Municipal authorities had also furnished a guard at the landing place, consisting of two French sergeants and fourteen constables and eight native policemen under the Deputy Inspector of the force. But shortly afterwards another telegram arrived from Woosung saying that HE. signified it to be his pleasure to remain for the night at Woosung and would take the morning tide up river on Saturday." There was then a general scattering of ranks and putting out of lights and within a quarter of an hour the wharves were completely deserted by the officials, soldiers, and native sight-secre" packed ten. and twenty, deep only a few minutes before. At daybreak on Saturday, the native troops again poured into the French bund, the gunboats were again on the qui vive, and the wharves again packed with hundreds of military and civil mandarins while the French Municipal guard was drawn up at the landing stage. 'At 6 o'clock the gun sloop Chiinho was seen steaming in from Woosung and on board of her were' Huang Taotai of this port, the Shanghai Magistrate of the same name and several others. They at once landed at the wharf, looked over the arrangements that hed been made and then awaited the arrival of the distinguished visitor, An hour later Sheng Taotai of Tientsin, Liu Taotai, exencting Taotai of this port, Shen Taotai, chief manager of the China Merchants' S. N. Ca., and dozen other mandarins of similar rank arrived at the pavilion built near the landing stage, while scores of others of lower rank crowded all around. At half-past eight the squadron of gunboats moored on the Pootung side began saluting as the Haean was observed slowly steaming round the Pootuny Point. A quarter of an hour afterwards as the steamer came alongside the wharf the American and native men-of-war fired salutes and the land troops gave aten de join. As soon as the steamer was moored along: side the wharf there was a general invasion from the mandarins anxious to kowtow to the Ambassador, but they were all stopped by the ex-Viceroy's ushers who called out in a loud voice that H.E. would not receiveany neat that moment. Considerable confusion' ensued as everyone tried to get away in order to be ready to receive the Ambassador when he should alight at the Hall prepared for his reception. As the clock struck nine a commotion was observed on board the steamer and the Ambassador was seen clad withthe celebrated Imperial Yellow Jacket with the breast and back embroidered with double dragons in a circle. His Excellency looked in splendid health and spirits as he stretched out one hand deprecatingly to the hundreds of bended knees on the wharf who saluted him in this way as he appeared on deck to enter his chair. A green baize sedan chair of the largest size with eight bearers had been provided by the magistrate Huang for Li but H.E. apparently preferred to use his own wu chair brought by him and with only four bearers. His entry to the chair was the signal for another salute from the troops lining the route of march. The procession then started along the French bund headed by detachments from the various battalions of the local native garrison, and followed by a pair of ponies with military officers carrying
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.